Paul Brownjohn @Paulos_the_fog@qoto.org
Retired software engineer & woodworker.
Anglo-francophone.
Detest tories. Subscribe to green, leftish radical politics but not to any particular political party!.
Love the EU and all it stands for, moreover, I spent the last 10 years of my career working at an EU agency.
Enthusiastic photographer, especially wildlife and most especially butterflies.
Slightly knowledgeable gardener.
Atheist; loathe almost all religions and pity the people deluded enough to follow them. I make exceptions for Buddhism as it isn't really a religion in the strictest sense of the word as it doesn't postulate the existence of any god, and Jainism which is the epitome of peace.
For anyone who is interested, my header photo is of the most stupendous sunset I have ever seen. On the right is the waterfront of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on the left is Thailand and in the middle, acting as the border between the two countries is the mighty Mekong river.
Joined Nov 2022
Well, well, well!
What a surprise
Crumbling schools many of which are unsafe, the NHS on its knees due to tory cuts and Brexit, NHS dentistry almost non-existent, so many potholes that damage to vehicles' tyres and suspension is commonplace, local councils going bankrupt right left and centre, who wouldn't want to get the hell out the UK!
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
So, just in case you needed the heads up - noauthority.social is a fascist server; appears to be a refuge for nazis who got tired of having their previous server, noagenda.social, defederated by literally everyone. I just caught some nazi rando in my replies and after blocking him, hopped over to his timeline to see who he's talking to and it's literally all other fascists from noauthority.social. Strong defederate with extreme prejudice recommendation for admins but it's your life.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
@jeffgilchrist I was a kid before the vaccines for measles and rubella were available, so I've actually had measles and can vouch for everything in this thread. I've never been as sick as I was when I was six and had measles. The fever, the headaches, the upset stomach, I was very ill for about a month. It took me years to fully recover and I still came out the other end with balance problems (inner ear damage) and arrhythmia. Not getting your child vaccinated should be considered child abuse.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Reminder !
Tackling air ventilation and PPE can protect against other infections as well as Covid-19. An influenza B virus (Yamagata) - has not been seen since 2020 when Covid measures were brought in. Flu vax components now being revised accordingly to not include this lineage. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00697-7/fulltext?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=81fbbcb95d-briefing-dy-20240306&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b27a691814-81fbbcb95d-52117944
Wonderful! I have been locked out of Facebook (and Instagram) for calling out a racist; albeit in an extremely barrack room manner!
That's two time-sinks out of my life perhaps I shall get a bit more done now!
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
(March 3, 2024)
Trump’s White House Was ‘Awash in Speed’
The "Medical Unit was “like the Wild West,” & staffers had easy access to powerful stimulants & sedatives"
In Jan., "the Defense Department’s inspector general released a report detailing how [Trump's White House] distributed controlled substances with scant oversight & even sloppier record keeping. Investigators repeatedly noted that the unit had ordered thousands & thousands of doses of the stimulant modafinil"
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-white-house-drugs-speed-xanax-1234979503/
was just about to buy some avocados yesterday when I noticed that they were marked as grown in Israel - no thanks - I will not support the Israeli economy whilst they are committing mass murder against Palestinian civilians.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
I keep seeing media reports about all the things proven to "lift your mood and improve mental health." I do not see similar media reports about all the things that grind people down and cause them to suffer.
Without enough money to live on, people get depressed. No amount of walks in the countryside are going to be able to counteract that one fact.
#MinimumIncomeGuarantee #CorruptToriesUnfitToGovern
#TheUKisFallingApart
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
George Galloway once asked the late Donald Dewar why it was that folk seemed to take an instant dislike to him. Dewar replied, "It saves time, George."
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
“Israel has not yet provided evidence to back Hamas 7 October attack claims against UNRWA. 112 dead in chaotic scenes as Israeli troops open fire near aid trucks.” Why are politicians especially in the USA and UK supporting this obvious genocide? #Gaza
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Gaza Massacre
Just going to say what everyone else is saying, because it’s important:
- Hamas’s action was wrong.
- Israel’s genocide is wrong.
- The people of Gaza are innocent, and could be any of us.
#GazaGenocide #CeasefireNow
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
BREAKING: Lauren Boebert's son robbed a woman who is suffering with a brain tumor.
In unrelated news, Tyler Boebert is proof that the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Happy Leap Day!
Y'all—we need 185 leaders to donate to hit our end of month goal. We have 14 hours to go!❤️
My campaign for US Congress in IL-11 is 100% people funded. My opponent is funded by Exxon, Amazon, & Big Banks.😳
$1 or $1000 — can you join us?
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/newleadershipforil11
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
@ChrisMayLA6 did you see this in the Guardian? "Amid a financial crisis hitting town halls across England, councillors in Southwark have resorted to a crowdfunding scheme to raise £6m over the next six years to help fund climate-friendly projects."
A complete abdication of responsibility by central government!
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
For those who missed that livestream, my much cruder and off-the-cuff explanation was that I find Zionist apologists disgusting and embarrassing for denying what everyone can see is very clearly happening. It's not just that history will judge them. The present is judging them
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
@TimWardCam @HereToChewGum @riggbeck
Yes, It could have been a managed decline over time though, as new jobs came in to replace those old jobs. It didn't have to destroy livelihoods and communities in the deliberately brutal way that Thatcher chose, in a vile exhibition of performative cruelty. Too many people had their lives destroyed, to satisfy her twisted ideology. It is what Tories do.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Legitimate concerns about the safety of MPs are leading to a mistaken focus on demonstrations & the 'mob'.... as Stephen Reicher concludes:
If MPs 'make collective protest more difficult, it will increase rather than decrease the dangers they face & undermine rather than safeguard our democracy'.
As so often the #Tories are using a real issue to push forward a different agenda... #democracy cannot faction without a right to protest, but the Tories don't want democracy!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/25/protests-crowds-police-mps-violence
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Side note I missed this week:
MTG's case to reclaim her salary she lost due to mask mandate fines ($100k) was rejected by the Supreme Court. This is a final decision. It is getting expensive to be a loudmouthed fascist imbecile.
Does anyone have one of those fundraising thermometers to keep track of the money-where-your-mouth-is crowd?
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Many companies now ask if you wish to opt out of things like mailing lists for Mother's Day. Sadly Microsoft doesn't give a damn and just imposed it on the search bar today - mostly so they could direct to to buy "great Mother's Day gift ideas".
Fuck you, MS, many of us find that day very difficuly to deal with, a reminder of the worst loss in our lives, so to hell with you shoving it right on my screen like that.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Stop sending me your novels or texts written by an AI.
I definitely don't want to read or be exposed to AI output. I don't want to AI-poison my imagination with the most statistical tropes, and a big mix of story data that might be plagiarism from I don't know what source. Furthermore, I think that feeding my imagination with human-made imaginary is a better diet to train my own ideas.
(I thought it was obvious, but apparently it's not. I'm writing this to pin to my profile.)
Retired software engineer & woodworker.
Anglo-francophone.
Detest tories. Subscribe to green, leftish radical politics but not to any particular political party!.
Love the EU and all it stands for, moreover, I spent the last 10 years of my career working at an EU agency.
Enthusiastic photographer, especially wildlife and most especially butterflies.
Slightly knowledgeable gardener.
Atheist; loathe almost all religions and pity the people deluded enough to follow them. I make exceptions for Buddhism as it isn't really a religion in the strictest sense of the word as it doesn't postulate the existence of any god, and Jainism which is the epitome of peace.
For anyone who is interested, my header photo is of the most stupendous sunset I have ever seen. On the right is the waterfront of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on the left is Thailand and in the middle, acting as the border between the two countries is the mighty Mekong river.
Joined Nov 2022
