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
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Two horses die on the first day of #CheltenhamFestival
Highland Hunter, 11, died after being injured in the final stages of Tuesday's third race. Ose Partir, four, was injured in a fall three races later and so, because of insurance purposes, was destroyed.
How much longer are we going to tolerate this?
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
@PhilipCJames The way things appear to be going down the toilet in England and I mean England, not Britain, I can see English people looking at Rwanda as an attractive alternative.
Personally, I think AirBnB should be banned throughout the world as they have been an appalling influence in many big cities (like Barcelona, for example)
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
You need not remember
where you were
four years ago today
when you first heard
that the WHO
had officially characterized
COVID as a pandemic
at home or work
at school or online
the specifics are unimportant
what matters
is that you remember
you are still in that pandemic.
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
When privileged folks tell me at my talks “I don’t care about my privacy / I have nothing to hide / Give me one example of the ramifications of surveillance capitalism / etc.”, I tell them “you will care when your health insurance premiums go up because your Smart Fridge tells the insurance companies what you’re eating/drinkjng.” This is basically the same thing. Sad that it takes things hitting their own wallets for privileged folks to pay attention.
I keep dreaming that I have lost my wallet, mobile phone, passport or all of the above!
WHY???
It's not every night but at least once a week and it is a real off-piss as I wake up in a bit of a panic state and it often takes me a few minutes to realise that it was just a dream!
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
sending consensual and platonic forehead kisses to antifascists everywhere. We need each other more than ever 
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
We can reach our full potential only if we use all our talent and diversity.
Gender equality is a core principle of the EU, but it is not a reality yet.
To make sure changes happen, the #vdLCommission:
🟣 set rules on pay transparency,
🟣 adopted the “Women on boards” directive,
🟣 adopted the first ever legislation on combating gender violence,
Together, we are working tirelessly to achieve gender equality.
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/
Paul Brownjohn
boosted
Europe's very low teen pregnancy rates, nice low numbers of teens with STDs, and low ages of consent do not cause each other. Europe's respectful attitude toward young adults aged 13-18 cause all three.
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
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
