Notices by Ben Thompson 🐕 (jbenjamint@mastodon.scot)

First fruits of the year.

@mhoye every time the lidar picks up a person nearby, a polite British-accented "good day".

Drivers should be encouraged to tip their hats at the same time.

Please tell me this is actually true.

Today's swim spot.

#Lochaber

The view the other way.

#blossom #Lochaber

Eigg and Rum, on the horizon, looking like one distant island.

#Lochaber #ScottishHighlands

Ben Nevis from a higher viewpoint today.

#ScottishHighlands

First flower in the garden for 2024 (that's not a daffodil).

@pete I don't know how well known the Scottish system is south of the border but England needs community right-to-buy as it exists in Scotland - it would have given the community group first attempt at any sale and prevented the transfer to a new owner.

@evan new proposal for @elk "zen" mode : hide everything but likes.

@forteller Er det ikke sånn at det fungerer bare for Threads-kontoer basert i USA? 'Federation' i kun et land!

@forteller Ti?! Kjenner bare Sandviks/Akers/Lysakerelva....

@stpaultim @the_roamer With respect it is not at all like a commercial Mastodon server. A bridge contributes to a social media platform that's not (yet) proven its bona fides as regards being anti-monopolistic.

@mmasnick I too hope it succeeds. Am still wondering how it succeeds i.e. how does it get to be financially sustainable?

Hwæt!

One of my very favourite things about Mastodon are the many great book recommendations. Someone here - can't recall who, sorry - spoke of Maria Dahvana Headley's Beowulf. Bro, it is incredible. Get it in your word-hoard.

#beowulf #bookstodon

@otfrom The Labour councillors I knew were largely of the old guard - had come up with the unions and for them the class struggle didn't stop at the border. The situation may well have changed now of course...

The local Lib Dems were very pro-independence, almost universally. The Tories were a mixed bag. Some identified more with Kate Forbes and Fergus Ewing than their own colleagues!

@otfrom Can't answer your Q, but anecdotally, in my local govt career I had several dozen councillor colleagues. There were Yes voters in every party except for Labour. Those in the Lib Dems or Tories would only admit to this privately of course but it was well known. Labour seemed to be the only party where it was a career death knell to admit to colleagues to being pro-independence.

Pinks and blues on Ben Nevis today.

#lochaber #Scotland #ScottishHighlands

Wasn't sure if it was just me, but Mastodon seemed really 'busy' the last couple of weeks, including with new folk. Turns out November is rocking 🚀

https://fedidb.org/

**British English** speakers only, please help me settle a bet - what do you call this animal? Poll in replies below.

#Poll