Now we must oppose Starmer’s two-tier benefit system
counterfire.org/article/now-we…
Protest has made Starmer U-turn on disability benefits; but we have to keep the pressure on, argues Steph Pike For three days.Counterfire
The military order removes the last legal barriers to the wholesale demolition and displacement of 12 Palestinian villages in the southern West Bank.Amos Brison (+972 Magazine)
Image from @ThoughtfullObserverFromDownUnder.Minds
Touching the back wall of the Apple store
Link: blog.lauramichet.com/touching-…
Discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4…
Here's a dumb story. When I was in high school, my friends and I had a game we used to play at the mall: we would go into the Apple store and try to make it ...Laura Michet's Blog
Yes, Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. But the far bigger menace is the monstrous growth in wealth concentration over five decades that made a Trump presidency possible—and maybe inevitable. Here’s how we let it happen.The New Republic
A leftist CNN contributor committed one of the worst blunders in recent television history on Saturday while attempting to fact-check Scott Jennings and critique President Trump regarding a historic peace agreement signed between two Africa…Cullen Linebarger (Where Hope Finally Made a Comeback)
According to the newspaper, the sides exchanged views on Turkey’s and international efforts to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the enclave and ensure immediate relief deliveries thereTASS
Tackling a bathroom renovation, a kitchen upgrade, or a flooring refresh? You're likely after tiles that look sleek, feel high-end, and stand up to daily use. That's where luxury bathroom tiles come in.
The question everyone faces: Porcelain or ceramic? Both are often pitched as premium bathroom tiles, sitting side by side in stores, but they're not the same. Choosing the right one is key for spaces that need to impress and last.
Here's the no-frills breakdown to help you decide.
Porcelain is a type of ceramic, but it's denser, fired at higher temperatures, and less absorbent. This makes it tougher, more resistant to cracks, and better suited for demanding conditions. Ceramic is lighter, easier to work with, and typically more budget-friendly.
Think of porcelain as ceramic's sturdier, more elegant sibling.
For high-end spaces, porcelain often takes the win. It's built for durability, making it ideal for premium bathroom tiles or high-traffic floors. You'll see it in luxury homes, upscale hotels, or custom-designed offices. It handles radiant heating, heavy foot traffic, and even outdoor settings effortlessly.
Porcelain's low water absorption makes it perfect for wet areas like bathrooms or patios. It resists mold, stains, and swelling better than ceramic. Plus, it can mimic high-end materials like marble or stone with less maintenance.
Ceramic isn't second-rate—it's just better for specific uses. It's great for walls, backsplashes, or low-traffic areas. It's easier to cut, install, and more affordable.
But for luxury bathroom tiles or busy floors? Ceramic might not deliver the durability or premium vibe you're aiming for.
Both porcelain and ceramic offer endless styles—matte, glossy, textured, or patterned. You can find premium bathroom tiles in either category. But porcelain has a solid, weighty feel that elevates a space. It's like the difference between a good chair and one that feels crafted—one just feels more luxurious.
Porcelain costs more upfront. That's the reality. But its longevity and low maintenance can save you money over time, with fewer repairs or replacements needed.
On a tight budget? Ceramic works well for walls or less demanding spaces. But for a luxury space, cutting corners on materials can hurt the final result.
Tile quality varies widely. A reliable tiles supplier will guide you to premium bathroom tiles that fit your project. They'll share details on the tile's origins, durability, and performance—not just push a sale.
Shopping online? Check reviews thoroughly. In a showroom? Ask about quality and suitability. A good tiles supplier ensures you get tiles that look great and last.
For high-end, high-use areas, porcelain is the smarter pick. It's tougher, more elegant, and perfect for luxury bathroom tiles. Ceramic is fine for walls or secondary spaces but doesn't match porcelain's durability or upscale feel.
Start with a trusted tiles supplier to find the right tiles. It's about creating a space that's as durable as it is stunning.
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is facing growing dissatisfaction since a leaked phone call last month. @AssociatedPress reports:
Nanook likes this.
I highly disagree. Transphobia is not a majority opinion, and the only reason trans issues have gotten a political spotlight as of late is as a scapegoat. For instance, take the results of a poll of US citizens by Pew Research Center in 2022:
I would thus argue that opposition of trans rights has in recent history been radical. Very few US voters stood in opposition of protections of trans Americans less than 3 years ago.
Most favor protecting trans people from discrimination, but fewer support policies related to medical care for gender transitions; many are uneasy with the pace of change on trans issues.Travis Mitchell (Pew Research Center)
According to your link, 60% think that your sex must be the sex assigned at birth (54% in 2017, better but not great). Kind of at odds with the first number that has most people in favor of protecting trans people from discrimination. Using trans people as scapegoats wouldn't work if a lot of people weren't already at least on the fence about trans people.
It's true that according to that poll, I've overestimated the transphobia of the average american, though.
We accidentally solved robotics by watching 1M hours of YouTube
Link: ksagar.bearblog.dev/vjepa/
Discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4…
this: you've just spent $640 billion training the chonkiest language model known to humanity (lol) and decide to call it "Behemoth". it can annoy you on wh...atharva's blog
Finding a former Australian prime minister’s passport number on Instagram (2020)
Link: mango.pdf.zone/finding-former-…
Discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4…
Do not get arrested challenge 2020mango.pdf.zone
Ray, Goodman & Brown: Special Lady - on American Bandstand - March 29, 1980 (My "Stereo Studio Sound" Re-Edit) With Dick Clark Interview. For additional vid...YouTube
Amerikanischen Söldnern - bekannt für ihre Zimperlichkeit - sind ihre israelischen Kollegen zu schießfreudig. Noch Fragen?
bird.makeup/users/zeteo_news/s…
EXCLUSIVE: American Security Contractor Unloads On US-Israeli ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’"The Israeli military will take any opportunity available to fire... Any excuse the military can come up with to say someone is a threat, they’ll take."
zeteo.com/p/exclusive-american…
EXCLUSIVE: American Security Contractor Unloads On US-Israeli ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’
I thought I was signing up for an aid mission. But what I've witnessed in Gaza is horrific.Anonymous (Zeteo)
Sozan reshared this.
Fox On The Run · Sweet Composer, Lyricist: Brian ConnollyComposer, Lyricist: Steve PriestComposer, Lyricist: Andy ScottComposer, Lyricist: Mick TuckerYouTube
Image from @ThoughtfullObserverFromDownUnder.Minds
of all my pants, one pair of heavy, black denim magnifies farts tremendously
I am working on a way to weaponize this feature
suggestions welcome
reshared this
The British government published its new “defence” strategy on June 2. According to a summary carried by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), it “aims to put a ‘stronger, more lethal’ Nato at the forefront of British defence plans as the country boos…Friends of Socialist China
I had a friend who worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
At its peak, it was an amazing force helping to protect everyday americans from the usurious behavior of banks, lenders, and anyone in the money business
Annie Lowrey also has a friend who works there -- but who was caught up in Musk/DOGE/Trump's push to dismantle the agency ...
... even as her friend got cancer
Lowrey wrote a remarkable story: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Unpaywalled: archive.is/BmG7e
The quiet heroism of my friend in governmentAnnie Lowrey (The Atlantic)
#ChrisHedges | Gaza’s Hunger Games
"The blockade of food and humanitarian aid, imposed on Gaza since March 2, is reducing Palestinians to abject dependence. To eat, they must crawl towards their killers and beg. Humiliated, terrified, desperate for a few scraps of food, they are stripped of dignity, autonomy and agency. This is by intent."
chrishedges.substack.com/p/gaz…
#Gaza #Genocide #IsraelIsATerrorState
Israel is weaponizing starvation. The objective is to dismantle all remnants of civil society and reduce Palestinians to herds of desperate scavengers who can be driven from historic Palestine.Chris Hedges (The Chris Hedges Report)
Soul-destroying —>
Arwa Mahdawi: "It’s clear now that nothing will shame the West into stopping Israel from carrying out its “total victory” in #Gaza. But I’ve written this to serve as yet another reminder that we all knew what was coming. Nobody can feign ignorance. Nobody can pretend they didn’t know.”
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Here is a collection of 20 of the more outrageous statements by Israeli lawmakers or public figures since 7 October 2023Arwa Mahdawi (The Guardian)
Dmitry Peskov, the official spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated on Sunday that Moscow hopes the dates for the third round of negotiations with Kyiv will be determined soon.www.saba.ye
this would be a good pose for kate capshaw
but what sane woman would ever do laundry wearing that underwear?
some people say you are using over-intellectual words to hide a bad argument
this would be true of people who were able to change their phraseology for that purpose
but it is also true that we have a right to speak in the way that's most natural for us
(if you think I'm bad now, wait till I get a head of steam going)
I am starting to form the opinion that a lot of artists get hands wrong because they worry too much about getting them perfect.
they detract from a picture
Image from @ThoughtfullObserverFromDownUnder.Minds
big ciies are basically unfixable
they are like bucking broncos that you succeed with if you can just keep from being thrown off
big cities are always behind in getting infrastructure to match population, and they always will be
for example-- the Hong Kong metro at rush hour
US society is at a critical crossroads. The path society takes can lead the country into a stronger democracy that allocates its resources for the good of humanity over the profits of private monopolies. Conversely, society can also move further…Tyler Rosen NWU Member (Labor Today)
You know, “this” used to be a perfectly innocent word. Nothing special, but a solid citizen of the grammar ecosystem. Who could have predicted it would turn into a major clickbait villain, meaning “We’re not going to tell you what this article is about until you click on it.”
FWIW I think I’m not alone in consciously avoiding clicking on such links.
The $25k car is going extinct?
Link: media.hubspot.com/why-the-2500…
Discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4…
Would anyone six months ago have predicted this headline in an establishment journal like Foreign Policy ? Even I assumed it would take Trump years to get to this point #uspol
foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/27/t…?
CEU’s experience in Hungary shows that no amount of prestige or endowment can shield a university from determined state hostility.Maciej Kisilowski (Foreign Policy)
reshared this
Theaitetos (Рцяэыоод) likes this.
like this
like this
Source: libsoftiktok
Trans person faces 30 years for allegedly torching Teslas in Kansas City.
Owen recently started hormone therapy according to Daily Mail.
We need to talk about what’s in these hormone drugs.
Original tweet : xcancel.com/libsoftiktok/statu…
Dr. Rainer #Klement
youtu.be/G8mF_vTDdqo
Jasmin #Kosubek
#Carnivore #Fleischzeit #RFK #RFKennedy #Gesundheit #Ernährung #Pflanzenöle #LeakyGut
❤️ WOLLT IHR MEINE ARBEIT UNTERSTÜTZEN?💳 ÜBERWEISUNGNAME: Jasmin Dantas KosubekIBAN: DE46 5001 0517 5423 7119 78BIC: INGDDEFFXXX💰PAYPAL: info@jasminkosubek...YouTube
like this
Coded Artist likes this.
reshared this
so you visit for the first time this alternative-type girl you met by accident.
your both out on the balcony. suddenly she strips down to her underwear
your challenge: what do you do next?
A. run out sweating?
B. walk straight up to her and pull down her pantiess?
C. taking a sip of your coke, you say, "Sorry, I'm gay" to which she responds, "As if I give a fuck."
tichyseinblick.de/kolumnen/ale…
Schauspieler Moritz Bleibtreu ist neuerdings auch als Regisseur tätig. Als Schauspieler zählt er zweifellos zu den Besten, die wir in #Deutschland haben. Um nur eine herausragende Leistung zu benennen, sei seine Darstellung des Bruno #Klement in Oskar #Roehlers Verfilmung aus dem Jahr 2006 des Weltbestsellers „Elementarteilchen“ von Michel #Houellebecq erwähnt. Was für eine Zusammenarbeit mit Bernd #Eichinger und Oliver #Berben als Produzenten und Corinna #Harfouch sowie weiteren hochkarätigen deutschem Personal auf der Besetzungsliste. Die Frankfurter Allgemeine nannte den Film damals zwar eine „kleine lebenszeitvernichtende Ewigkeit“, andere aber schauen #Elementarteilchen heute schon wie einen #Kultfilm in Widerholungsschleife. So verhält sich eben bisweilen die Diskrepanz zwischen Filmkritik und Filmpublikum. Zwischen Geschmack und Gefallen.
[…]
Zunächst einmal bezieht Moritz Bleibtreu seine überraschende Kritik auf die Situatin des deutschen Films. Der wäre am Boden, weil die Deutschen ihre nationale Identität verloren hätten. So hätte es der deutsche Film beispielsweise verlernt, von Heldenfiguren zu erzählen, mit denen sich der Zuschauer identifizieren könnte. Interessant dürfte hier sein, inwieweit Bleibtreu erst im Rahmen seiner eigenen Regiearbeit erahren musste, was gerade auch in der Filmförderung, auf die fast jeder neue deutsche Film angewiesen ist, wie da mittlerweile schon verbindliche Diversity-Checklisten #Grundbedingung für den Antrag von #Fördergeldern sind.
Und wenn der alte weiße heterosexuelle deutsche Bleibtreu in seinem Regiedebüt auch gleich die Hauptrolle spielt neben der deutschen weißen Nadja Uhl, dann kann es eben eng werden für #Fördergelder – aber das bleiben #Mutmaßungen.
Moritz Bleibtreu möchte von diesem „blöden Minderwertigkeitskomplex“ der Deutschen wegkommen. Das wäre aber auf „absehbare Zeit“ kaum zu schaffen, angesichts besagter „kaputter nationale® Identität“ sei das leider nicht möglich, sagte er in einem kurzen Interview mit der Nachrichtenagentur Teleschau. Jetzt ist die Vita von Bleibtreu alles andere als geprägt von einer Suche nach einer deutschen Identität. Seine Filmografie erzählt bisweilen eher das Gegenteil als einen künstlerischen Blick in die deutsche Seele – wie auch immer. Jedenfalls dann, so man davon ausgeht, Bleibtreu verstehe unter „nationaler Identität“ das Gleiche wie mutmaßlich die Mehrheit der Deutschen. Diese Mehrheit allerdings ist aktuell zunächst unter dem Eindruck einer jahrelangen Massenmigration und zuletzt den Corona-Maßnahmenpaket der Regierung nachhaltig verstört.
#Förderstaat = #Sozialismus = #Propaganda
Schauspieler Moritz Bleibtreu ist neuerdings auch als Regisseur tätig. Als Schauspieler zählt er zweifellos zu den Besten, die wir in Deutschland haben.Alexander Wallasch (Tichys Einblick)
Günter likes this.
Fabian #Kowallik
#Colesterin wurde mit dem Geld der #Zuckerindustrie verteufelt, um z.B. #Eier Umsätze in Zuckerumsätze umzuwandeln
Günter likes this.
On June 28, the Ukrainian military released footage showing an attempt to take down a Russian Forpost-R combat drone using...Anonymous1199 (South Front)
China Dominates 44% of Visible Fishing Activity Worldwide
Link: oceana.org/press-releases/chin…
Discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4…
Oceana released an analysis of China’s global fishing* activity worldwide between 2022 and 2024, showing 57,000 of their industrial fishing vessels dominated 44% of the world’s visible fishing activity during this period.Oceana
Forests, roads and mega fires
"More roads are associated with more fires"
"A problem arises when forest managers look at forests exclusively “through the lens of timber and dollar signs on trees."
>>
grist.org/wildfires/wildfire-p…
Char Miller, "Burn Scars: A Documentary History of Fire Suppression, from Colonial Origins to the Resurgence of Cultural Burning" (Oregon State UP, 2024)
>>
osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/…
#LoggingImpacts #LoggingIndustry #NSWLogging #roads #bushfires #timber #extractivism #thinning #PrescribedBurns #FireSuppression #megafires #colonialism #CounterNarratives #IndigenousPeoples #CulturalBurning #ecology
Experts say repealing the "Roadless Rule" won't help stop fires, but it will help loggers.Joseph Winters (Grist)
The billions and billions of dollars this bill pumps into ICE far exceed any conceivable legitimate need the agency could have, even if you agree with its mission.
This bill takes the same masked, anonymous gunmen who have been kidnapping people off the streets and gives them a budget the size of a military.
This is not about honoring the law. This is not even about immigrants.
This is about creating a police state.
I see no other way to read these numbers.
mastodon.world/@MJmusicinears/…
Attached: 1 image "If the Nazi death party reconciliation bill passes, Gestapo ICE gets funding through FY2029: - $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion - $14.Mastodon
reshared this
theguardian.com/world/2025/jun…
Iran's government has blocked international communication by internet for most people, which has made it hard for Iranians in Iran to communicate securely with each other. Reportedly the state fears a student uprising.
Desperate for news and contact during a 13-day shutdown, Iranians searched for proxy links outside the country• Middle East crisis – live updatesDeepa Parent (The Guardian)
Exposing secrets of the Israeli national security stateRichard Silverstein (Tikun Olam תיקון עולם)
Sensitive content
In this video, I cover how to grow the legendary "Big Beef" hybrid tomato. This may just be the top garden beefsteak, and growing it from seed to harvest cou...YouTube
Canada orders Chinese CCTV biz Hikvision to quit the country ASAP
PLUS: Broadband blimps to fly in Japan; Starbucks China put ads before privacy; and more! Asia In Brief Canada’s government has ordered Chinese CCTV systems vendor Hikvision to cease its local operations.…
#theregister #IT
go.theregister.com/feed/www.th…
Asia In Brief: PLUS: Broadband blimps to fly in Japan; Starbucks China put ads before privacy; and more!Simon Sharwood (The Register)
Within California's system of 116 community colleges, 31% of applications last year – or 1.2 million – were found to be likely fraudulent.Anna Poff (Just The News)
Our socials: fediverse.blog/~/ActaPopuli/fo…
Follow us on social
(main) @actapopuli@friendica.vrije-mens.org
(backup) @actapopuli@friendica.rogueproject.org
Going to do a quick reboot of everything now. OS updates.
Good to see. Hopefully the beginning of the end for that authoritarian creep Órban.
---
They tried to ban Pride. Instead, they got Hungary’s biggest anti-government protest in years
#Hungary #Pride smh.com.au/world/europe/they-t…
More than 180,000 protesters took over the streets of Budapest, many saying they marched not just for LGBTQ rights but in opposition to what they see as an increasingly authoritarian government.Rob Harris (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Dragged off by ICE in front of her kids. No warrant. Neighbors thought it was a kidnapping. Her kids cried: “Don’t let go!” “I can’t lose my mom!”
ICE came back — took her anyway — then admitted they got the wrong person. “Blatantly unconstitutional” to detain someone without reasonable suspicion — LA County officials. ktla.com/news/local-news/ice-a… #press
reshared this
RESPECT w/ Mark: Child Trafficking w/ Patriot Streetfighter
rumble.com/v6vhqqb-respect-w-m…
TONIGHT ON RESPECT, I have the honor and pleasure of sharing the stage with THE PATRIOT STREETFIGHTER himself, SCOTT MCKAY! Patriot Streetfighter is extremely passionate about many subjects, but none as strongly as CHILD TRAFFICKING. Don’t miss this enlightening, powerful discussion with SCOTT MCKAY, THE PATRIOT STREETFIGHTER, only on RESPECT!
relentless_eduardo
in reply to 『VRISKA』 • • •zonk
in reply to 『VRISKA』 • • •『VRISKA』
in reply to 『VRISKA』 • • •