Here, a Ukrainian woman is joining a volunteer fire service in Saitama. The article mentions that, as a foreigner, there are some duties she will not be permitted to perform. saitama-np.co.jp/articles/76167…

And this was the Bakhmut central shopping mall and Silpo grocery store located just in front of the main central market. It was always humming with activity. I did all my shopping here for two years.

Top left photo: under Russian occupation. Next two photos are mine from summer…

This is/was Bakhmut’s Palace of Culture, located on the city’s central square and the beating heart of the community. It held theater performances and concerts, children’s events and much more.
Left: under Russian occupation this month. Other photos mine: winter 2011; autumn…

This is one of the locally famous historic central Bakhmut buildings. My second apartment in the city was in the adjacent building on the left and just out of view. Catty corner was the city hall building and across the road was the central park and fountain from the first tweet…

This was the Bakhmut Ferris wheel in the city’s upper central park. It usually operated on holidays and was a meeting place for families. Left: under Russian occupation this month. Right: my photo from 2011.

Russia’s occupying forces in Bakhmut just published on one of their Telegram channels new video footage and photos of the eastern Ukrainian city almost a year after it was destroyed and captured. The photos are stomach-churning and I admit they fill me with rage. I’ll post them…

Just watched the much-discussed season finale of Bluey with my family. Dad gets an incredible job in another city, whole episode deals with the fear and uncertainty of a big move (resonated with my kids), and then at the end they don't move because the buyer backs out?? Wtaf?

>it’s now springtime
>cherry blossoms are out
>weather has been beautiful for multiple days in a row

For some reason I’ve got a whole bunch of new followers & as a treat I’m going to point you at my long thread of stories & content I’ve done - enjoy!

Every politician in the country should read this thread and weep. This is what we are up against ⬇️

Absolute eye-popping How The Sausage Gets Made stuff here.

If we want more evidence to be used in local economic development, then we need to create incentives for central and local government that encourages and rewards the use of it.

Interesting take here on the new West Midlands mayoral elections poll:

This is a poor showing for the Labour candidate, running 10 pts behind the Labour vote intention.

In fact, this poll shows that the Labour candidate is underperforming (by 10 pts) rather than Street overperforming.

Not sure why, maybe just name recognition? It's odd though.

Counterpoint:

I actually think this is a great poll for Street that shows he could still win.

Reform will not get 13%. People know it's a two-horse race. Street will benefit from that. It could be close.

Finally, a W Mids poll. And it's a pretty grim if not surprising one for Andy Street.

He's doing slightly better than national polling, which would have him 19 points behind.

It is 1419. I am being carried to a window in Prague by a Hussite mob.

It is 1483. I am being carried to a window in Prague by a Hussite mob.

It is 1618. I am being carried to a window in Prague by a Hussite mob.

I am tired of these Czechs. These defenestrations.

Here we go again. Another “this is a good thing, therefore there should be a VAT exemption” argument. These arguments are deeply dumb:

'Residents say they are not nimbys - but...'