Notices by Patrick Hadfield (patrickhadfield@mastodon.scot)

An open call for Scottish artists, from Edinburgh Science Festival:

"We’re looking for a Scottish-based or Scottish-born artist to create a large-scale commission that explores the historic, social and cultural dynamics of science

The opportunity culminates in a major installation at the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery during the 2026 Edinburgh Science Festival..."

#Scotland #Edinburgh #art #science #commission
https://www.edinburghscience.co.uk/festival/open-artist-call/

@CloudyMrs they haven't done everything the Westminster govt does. They've put up income tax (and I'm pleased to pay it).

But yeah, the cuts suck.

I joined the Strand Up To Racism anti far right rally in Edinburgh this morning. About 2000, I'd guess (though it's hard to tell), outside the Scottish Parliament.

Good speeches by Tommy Sheppard, former MP for the area, Patrick Harvie MSP, and a Labour councillor who made a good speech which seemed counter to Labour policy!

Another speaker recounted how he mobilised the Anti Nazi League in the 1970s. We're still fighting the same shit!

#StandUpToRacism #StopRacism #FuckTheFash #Edinburgh

@CloudyMrs as someone who grew up in the 60s and 70s, and marched against the NF and for Rock Against Racism in the 70s and 80s, all the flags surrounding the UK prime minister are fucking freaking me out!

This is really interesting. It had long been my contention that the Blair government bottled it (after catastrophically losing the referendum on devolution to NE England, with opposition lead by Dominic Cummings), and that asymmetric devolution and a failure of local representation lead to the loss of the Brexit referendum.

Maybe Starmer and Rayner will finish what Blair couldn't.

"Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner to kickstart new era of devolution"
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/08/keir-starmer-and-angela-rayner-to-kickstart-new-era-of-devolution?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

@CloudyMrs oh god YES!

Victimise people who raise a voice in Britain? Then destroy their families? Not in my name
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/19/victimise-people-protest-britain-destroy-families-not-in-my-name?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The idea that parliament would even consider a bill which didn't comply with UK and international law shows how low the government has sunk.

"In all, peers backed five changes to the bill on Monday night, including ensuring it complied with the rule of law and that parliament cannot declare Rwanda to be safe until the treaty with its promised safeguards is fully implemented."

Lords pass five amendments to Rwanda bill in heavy defeat for Rishi Sunak
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/04/lords-pass-five-amendments-to-rwanda-bill-in-heavy-defeat-for-rishi-sunak?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

This is just utter bollocks.

"Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned police chiefs of a "growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule".

...He wants more robust police responses that he says are needed to protect politicians and democratic processes.

Now police bosses have been summoned to Downing Street, where the PM urged them to use existing powers to crack down on intimidation, disruption and subversion "urgently"."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68429902

Who on earth would let this psychopath anywhere near their brain?!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-68137046

@goatsarah your critique of Musk is brilliant, and spot on!

@ravenbait @Funktious @me I've not bothered with Bluesky, because when I moved here I wanted to make sure I gave it a chance. And after that it provided most of what I wanted!

@Funktious @me that's interesting - I found the move from Twitter surprisingly easy once I'd got over the initial shock - "what's an instance? Where should I join?!"

But I still miss many of the people from there, and the ability to communicate with politicians, writers and other "public figures". I must admit I'd have thought this place might have attracted more.

But I too love it here!

@futurebird @irenes thirteen is known as a baker's dozen in Britain, stemming medieval laws controlling bread supply - to make sure they complied, bakers would over supply.

https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-a-bakers-dozen-13

@CloudyMrs @JackTheCat I've always assumed it the possessive, New Year's, rather than a plural - a contraction of New Year's [Day][Eve], or whatever.

Though your explanation may be more likely!

I volunteer at a charity bookshop.

We've just had this book on Berlin come in - which has the *COOLEST* bar code in the form of the Brandenburg Gate!

@ChrisMayLA6 ... And elsewhere in the north Atlantic, they push ahead with the extraction of fossil fuels.

I'm furious!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-66933346

Talisker sitting on my lap listening to some jazz.