Notices by Patrick Hadfield (patrickhadfield@mastodon.scot)

Another Reform councillor resigns, just two months after they were elected.

"Councillor Jennifer Gerrard, who represented Billinge and Seneley Green [St Helens], has stepped down from the authority after being elected in May's local elections."

#ReformUK

https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/26263808.reform-cabinet-member-resigns-councillor-st-helens/

The breakup of the UK has been "thinkable" since the SNP won a majority in 2011, and the behaviour of Tory and Labour governments since 2015 have made it increasingly likely.

"The rise of Nigel Farage has prompted political leaders across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to game the unthinkable: the breakup of the United Kingdom."

"Celtic nations begin to plan for breakup of UK in event of Reform election win."

#UKpol #Scotland
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/04/uk-ireland-leaders-fear-union-future-nigel-farage-led-government?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

This is some headline.

"Films more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60, study finds."

#ageism #misogyny

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/25/films-more-likely-to-star-an-actor-called-chris-or-a-talking-animal-than-a-woman-over-60-study-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Out-and-out corruption.

"Trump has created a slush fund of taxpayer money to give to his friends."

#Trump #USpol

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/trump-slush-fund-anti-weaponization?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The Lego marketing team have been watching social media ...

@ChrisMayLA6 if their business model relies on cheating low paid employees to keep going, I can't help thinking maybe it isn't a viable business. (Similarly, relying on government to top up wages through tax credits.) Just a thought...!

This is a genuine article from the Daily Torygraph. Let's get back to Victorian values!

#UKpol #ChildExploitation

"Neil Young gifts Greenland free access to his music and withdraws it from Amazon over Trump."
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jan/27/neil-young-gifts-music-greenland-removes-from-amazon-over-trump?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

It's my contention that jazz, a music born out of slavery and the freedom rights movement, is intrinsically of the left - creative freedom, open minds and experimental.

This makes sense.

"Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled after Trump name added to building."

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-12-24/kennedy-center-christmas-eve-concert-canceled-after-name-change

Edinburgh Community Bookshop - where I volunteer - is having another sale of crime books on Thursday: we have so many crime books that to free up space, we're selling books by weight!

(A kilo of crime is likely to be around four books, and we'll round down to the nearest 500g!)

Ian Rankin, Lee Child, Val McDiarmid, James Patterson, Peter May, and many, many more!

December 18th - 4 to 7pm
179-181 Great Junction Street, Edinburgh EH6 5LQ

#Edinburgh #bookshop #CrimeBookSale

I heard about this on the radio and now I'm earwormed by Ultravox!

"Entire Scottish village invited to Austrian capital by tourist board."

#Dull #Vienna

https://news.stv.tv/north/entire-scottish-village-of-dull-invited-to-austrian-capital-by-tourist-board

This just seems nasty. It brings to mind that the Nazis confiscated the property of Jews and others fleeing their regime.

Where's the compassion gone?

"Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister."
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/17/refugees-jewellery-asylum-home-office?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I think Talisker objected that I had stopped stroking him to take a photograph.

#cat #CatsOfMastodon #caturday #EveryDayIsCaturday

It's a long time since I've been to the Citz - long before it closes for refurbishment. Still a key place in Scotland's cultural scene. I'm sure a visit, I think.

"Small Acts of Love review – tragedy and tenderness in Lockerbie eulogy."
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/sep/15/small-acts-of-love-review-lockerbie-citizens-theatre-glasgow?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Where I spent a couple of hours this afternoon - supporting those protesting the right to protest!

There were perhaps 80 people showing their support for Palestine Action. They sat in silence for an hour.

There were a couple of thousand people showing their support.

There were a lot of police. There were no arrests, though they videoed everyone, and I wouldn't be surprised if people were arrested later at their homes, away from the large press presence.

#RightToProtest #Edinburgh #Palestine

Walking back from a gig tonight, I noticed lots of people in Castle Street taking pictures. So I turned around to see what they were photographing.

And this is what I saw.

#Edinburgh #castle #moon #photography #clouds

TIL that including "from:me" in the search box in Mastodon will search my own posts.

So obvious that I feel like an idiot for not realising before!

@drgeraint

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.