I didn't mean to turn this into a short thread, but once I started ranting ...
So here it is, on one page: skywriter.blue/@georgemonbi...

love bluesky because the replies to this post immediately descend into people fighting about whether the minions would have worked for stalin

Need your bike looking at?

The wonderful Cath Palgrave is running a Dr Bike at Moseley Hive (93A Alcester Road) tomorrow, 10am until 1pm. Bring your bike for a check up and minor repairs.

👀 You could also pick up an window poster while you're there. 👀

Will you make Birmingham's roads safer? Better Streets joins with 15 organisations to make ten asks of tomorrow's politicians to address road safety.

🚸 We are calling on all those standing for election in Birmingham to back practical steps for safer streets.
Ask 8:  Make residential streets greener and calmer.
👉Read the ten asks and co-sign: betterstreetsforbirmingham....

🧵Wind down your day by catching up with what you've missed:

🎥Our weekend read was on The Electric cinema – and plans to save it.
🗞️Yesterday's briefing unpacked whether Birmingham is heading for a 'mad coalition.'

Both can be read on our website at the link below🔗

We need more people talking about taxing extreme wealth and reducing inequality - an important message from @garyseconomics.bsky.social to get involved

New research shows private firms made £1.6bn in profit from the NHS over the last two years. That money could have paid for over 19,000 nurses.

Private companies shouldn’t be profiting from the terrible state of the NHS.

Read: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Some boys skipped class to see the Beatles. Ringo Starr snapped a photo of them.
50 years later, the group recreated the photo.

Love these posters from @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org.

Only three weeks till the #LocalElections2026. Have you had any canvassers at your door yet? Please tell them you support policies that will lead to #CleanAir 💚.

Will the UK’s food supply really collapse by 2030? Experts believe that cyberattacks on supermarkets or physical attacks on distribution centres or ports could lead to serious shortages

#FoodSecurity - as @greenparty.org.uk has long been warning, government neglect of this issue is a huge dereliction of basic duty

www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

🚨If you do one thing this Sunday, sign this petition to STOP BLACKROCK IN OUR NHS.

If we don’t fight back against corporate takeover of our NHS from US corporations like Palantir and BlackRock, we will lose it.

Take action now before it’s too late. #NoToBlackRockInOurNHS

vist.ly/4y6jh

It may seem like nerdy detail that the increasing weight of cars is worsening potholes, but it matters.

The car makers push to sell wider and heavier cars is increasing road maintenance costs and that affects us all.

Not to mention worse crash outcomes and less space to pass (wider) parked cars.

🗳️ The local elections are weeks away—and we need to elect candidates who stand up for climate and nature.

📝 By 20 April: Register to vote
📨 By 21 April (5pm): Apply for a postal vote
🆔 By 28 April (5pm): Apply for a proxy vote or free Voter ID
➡️ 7 May: Elections

✅ Register, sort your ID, and vote!

There's such a small window where we function (almost) normally isn't there 🙄

Dark tortie cat sitting on top of a pile of papers in a box file. No I don't know why either.

#Caturday my cat has decided to file herself away. My husband was sorting out the car insurance, so I suppose she's only one letter out.

This everyday job can activate climate behaviour | Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe Get more from Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe on Patreon

What if one of the most powerful climate solutions isn’t technology—but conversation? This week in Talking Climate, we're talking about hairdressers inspiring climate convos, war supercharging emissions, and more positive content creators to follow. Read on!

Bless Pope Leo For Ripping Hegseth’s Fascist Christianity Nailed it.

Bless this Pope for loudly condemning the fascists.

screenshot of google doc that says the following: Trans Metal Comp; Hi!! We're putting together a compilation album comprised of metal tracks composed by trans musicians and are currently seeking submissions! The album will be released on Bandcamp on June 26th and all sales will go directly towards individual trans folks' fundraising campaigns. We had initially planned on donating to an organization, but the fact of the matter is that right now, trans people need money, and the best way to help is by giving directly. We will be as transparent as possible with where the money goes and boost who we can. If that sounds good to you, read the guidelines below and come headbang along with us! \m/ ALL subgenres of metal permitted. Power metal, deathcore, crossover thrash; as long as it's some flavor of metal or has clear metal crossover influence to it, we'll likely accept it. Whether or not specific submissions are accepted is at the sole discretion of the organizers. If we end up not using your work for any reason, don't feel discouraged! It likely just didn't fit the vibe we're going for. NO tracks made with or containing anything regurgitated by "generative" AI NO Nazi shit. If you're trans and also a Nazi for some fuckass reason, look elsewhere. And get your damn life together. NO cis-led solo acts. If your band or project has cis people involved, that's fine!! As long as at least one member is trans and plays an active role in the performance and/or songwriting, feel free to submit. Up to TWO tracks per artist; up to two songs under the same name will be accepted. If you have or are involved with multiple projects, as long as they're distinct from each other and under different names, feel free to submit up to two tracks for each. You must own the rights to the music you submit; any tracks submitted must be owned by you or with the permission of whoever does, and you must personally be involved in the track in either its composition, performance on the recording, or…

are you:
trans?
a metal musician?
want to contribute to a compilation album that will raise money directly for trans people in need?

then what the fuck are you waiting for?? get in the pit!!
forms.gle/dhtLGhurrwQs...

Sakura in Kyiv has started to bloom.

I captured it today.

News headlines don’t notice the beauty.
I do.

NATO is an alliance of autonomous states

Article 5 means others will come to the assistance of a state that has been attacked

This has nothing to do with an attack on Iran launched by Israel and the USA

I don't know why I'm bothering to say this because fact are irrelevant in the White House

Endorsement of All That Is Made by Keren Dibbens-Wyatt "I love reading Keren Dibbens-Wyatt's work" - Richard Rohr

Are you interested in #contemplative #prayer ? In my book "All That Is Made" you will find out what it is, why it helps those of us who feel small, sick or confined, and why, like #JulianofNorwich I find it deeply comforting. #spoonies #SevereME #chronicillness #ME #faith see pinned post

Factcheck: Nine false or misleading myths about North Sea oil and gas - Carbon Brief Carbon Brief factchecks some of the most common claims about North Sea oil and gas.

The UK doesn't use oil to generate power, so no, Nigel, new drilling wouldn't reduce energy bills (it would make your mates very rich though...)

This and 8 other North Sea oil and gas myths busted by Carbon Brief.

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-ni...

My husband, my son and my cat. However they make me want to pull my hair out too! 🙊 🤪

Screenshot of a headline from the Financial Times: "BlackRock to boost investment in NHS property. Asset manager teams up with Greater Manchester Pension Fund for £1bn joint venture as government seeks more private finance". Accompanying this is a photo of a hospital under construction, dominated by two tall yellow cranes.

🤦‍♀️The government says PFI was a 'costly mistake'. They promise a new form of public private partnership in their 10-year plan for the NHS.
🤐They just haven't told us what it is yet.

🧐Yet here we are...asset manager Blackrock getting their hands on another piece of our NHS.

Image shows Jill Scott on the left, stood next to Sian. Both are smiling at the camera and holding a green placard. In yellow writing it reads: Access to green spaces, is a right, not a privilege. Behind them, two pull-up banners can be seen that read: Fields in Trust, 100 years of protecting our parks. In Britain today, 1 in 3 children do not have a playground near their home.

A treat to meet Jill Scott and talk about why we must protect playing fields and green spaces from predatory development.

Young people should not be denied community spaces to play sports, spend time with their friends and enjoy all the benefits that come with being outdoors!

A screenshot of known fascist, racist, and failed actor Laurence Fox getting owned by leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski in a truly delightful way.

When @zackpolanski.bsky.social destroyed old Looza Fox with just one word… and it was an absolute delight!

Engaging fully with landlord organisations like NRLA should ensure they get the balance right.

Have you spotted a Blackbird nest near you? Blackbird Detectives is a Uni of Bham citizen science project - in collaboration with BTO - inviting people across #Birmingham to help track Blackbird breeding success across the city. No experience needed! Get in touch at blackbirddetectives@gmail.com

Birmingham marches together against the far right

🧵

And it's not counting the many many people (like myself) who would have liked to have been at the protest but who were unable to attend for a whole range of reasons.