I saw the heavily edited Trump-Zelensky smackdown video and couldn’t help but think of Trump as Emperor Ming the Merciless to Zelensky’s Flash Gordon. Vance as General Klytus. Keir Starmer made a grovelling cameo as Prince Thun (RIP).

Trump is an evil narcissist for publicly humiliating Zelensky because Zelensky refuses to negotiate a peace deal with Putin because Putin is “the aggressor”, illegally occupies Ukrainian land, and “wants to kill them all”.

Netanyahu illegally occupies Palestinian land and reneges on a peace deal he negotiated with “the aggressor” Hamas who “want to kill them all”.

Israel blocks entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza: bbc.com

On yer bike! (Your voice matters)

Last week we had the local cycling group at the school offering free bikes and training to families.

We’d love free bikes, of course.

Two problems for me, though:

  1. There’s nowhere safe and secure to keep them.
  2. The roads and drivers around here are downright dangerous, and no dedicated cycle lanes.

I couldn’t help myself imparting this information in no uncertain terms to the two smiley elderly ladies handing out the marketing leaflets.

Afterwards, big kid gave me some feedback.

“Dad, when you shout it makes me want to freeze out of fear.”

Me: “Oh no, sorry, did I shout at those ladies?”

“No, you didn’t shout at them. You used your political voice. Your political voice makes me want to listen.”

‘The UK currently has schemes for some Afghans, Ukrainians and people from Hong Kong to come to the UK but no route for Palestinians.’

Keir Starmer pledges to close loophole that let Gazan family settle in UK bbc.co.uk

‘Under UK law, it is now an offence to enter the country without permission, while international law states that refugees should not be penalised for illegal entry.’

Gotta love that rules-based international order.

UK to refuse citizenship to refugees arriving on small boats bbc.com

Helicopter crews exposed to benzene twenty years ago now dying from cancer.

MoD investigates air crew cancers after helicopter claims bbc.com

‘The BBC contacted Biden’s talent agency, which recently signed him, but no response was immediately forthcoming.’

My talent agency said, “WTAF?!”

Trump says he is revoking Joe Biden's security clearance bbc.com

‘Find someone your base already dislikes. Attack them. Make it personal. Make it cruel. Make it loud. Then monetize the outrage- both from your supporters who love the show and your opponents who can’t look away.’

The Cruelty Market joanwestenberg.com

‘“Cultural evidence”, also used in far-right and religious extremist cases… does not equal guilt.’

Youth culture experts could help avoid stereotyping of young black men, say lawyers theguardian.com

A better all round social work experience for everyone involved. They should be able to move to a four day week.

Ealing Council slashes admin work by 44% with new AI tool ealing.nub.news