@BitchinRob@weird.autos @davidwilkins@mastodon.online I suspect that a full 360° is a lot more invigorating in the wee hours of cold winters morning while driving a Volvo 140 (in my defence the car at the time was new to me and I hadn't yet worked out that "Made in the CCCP" on the tyres translated to absolutely no grip in anything other than perfect driving conditions and even then don't be too confident about it 😱 )

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

A trio of interesting articles from The London Economic for your Easter Monday reading.
_________

Voting poll puts Green Party JOINT TOP for the first time
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/green-party-poll-top-reform-voting-intention-2026-404751/

These two striking poll findings could reshape assumptions about British politics
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/greens-polling-against-reform-british-politics-tactical-voting-404742/

Brits would overwhelmingly back Rejoin in new referendum
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/brits-would-overwhelmingly-back-rejoin-in-new-referendum-2-404739/

thelondoneconomic.com

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

As it is apparently ListenBrainz Monday here is a pretty picture from ListenBrainz showing my five most listened to albums for the previous week.

#ListenBrainzMonday #ListenBrainz #happyCurrentListening

mastodon.sdf.org

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

@spytfyre@mastodon.scot @ParadeGrotesque@mastodon.sdf.org @miguelpergamon@kolektiva.social

I should add it's tor browser on android and I'm stuck with combining the dsearch?query=%s bit with the mypage.pl?prfe=… bit

http://eu.startpagel6srwcjlue4zgq3zevrujfaow726kjytqbbjyrswwmjzcqd.onion/do/dsearch?query=%s

and

http://eu.startpagel6srwcjlue4zgq3zevrujfaow726kjytqbbjyrswwmjzcqd.onion/sp/search?query=%s

work fine but is obviously without my preferences

eu.startpagel6srwcjlue4zgq3zevrujfaow726kjytqbbjyrswwmjzcqd.onion

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

@spytfyre@mastodon.scot @ParadeGrotesque@mastodon.sdf.org @miguelpergamon@kolektiva.social

anyone any idea how to add

http://eu.startpagel6srwcjlue4zgq3zevrujfaow726kjytqbbjyrswwmjzcqd.onion/do/mypage.pl?prfe=c95d00faf40935a2a195bc34715fb3126cfec73961b5997956fe8d161b6bcc14c3b230e90c52993c46d239a4120471117a07ce37564f925ca81e43f3577a6850363d3d819c214a9156c338dba64e7c792e1c

to the default list of search engines (so I can search via the url bar rather than load the page via bookmarks)?

eu.startpagel6srwcjlue4zgq3zevrujfaow726kjytqbbjyrswwmjzcqd.onion

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@bustikiller@mastodon.social @acallegaro@mas.to +1 for Feeder on Android

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@Moss @saphire @Retreival9096 If I was making a decision on email provider today I am not entirely sure I would go for Proton (I think I might be giving Tuta a thorough look) but at the moment I cannot face moving it all again and yes the ethical choices Proton make could going forward prompt me to overcome my reluctance to move everything again.

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@saphire @Retreival9096 I am wondering where you got the idea that the phrase Big Tech is a conservative thing given it is a phrase that has been around for as long as I have had an interest in computers (so when I was first aware it would of referred to companies like IBM & DEC) - if its usage has changed or if it's a British English/US English thing, or generational I'd love to know how, when, where, etc (I'm not trying to be obtuse or awkward just a genuine curiosity).

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@saphire @Retreival9096 Regarding the "murky" political stance you might find the following article of interest https://medium.com/@ovenplayer/does-proton-really-support-trump-a-deeper-analysis-and-surprising-findings-aed4fee4305e

medium.com

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@tezoatlipoca @StefanThinks In the UK the Firkin in pubs were originally the branding for the pubs set up by David Bruce with his Bruce's Brewery, ales were brewed on the premises. There is a story (or possibly urban myth) than when David Bruce sold the chain he went round each of the pubs arriving mid evening and locking the doors with the drinks on the house for the rest of the night.

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@ParadeGrotesque We'll see. I did say that a decade after the UK fully left the EU the UK would seriously start exploring either rejoining or moving to a relationship that would be be compliant with the terms of EFTA membership - I'm still reasonably confident in that guesstimate.

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

The view from Ireland
_________

Enda Brady: Keir Starmer has set the clock running on Britain rejoining the European Union

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41821850.html

irishexaminer.com

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 9mo ago

Replying to

@lonespur I'm lucky enough to benefit from the NHS but looking in on the US system from the outside I'm surprised that the health provision, and insurance markets aren't dominated by mutual organisations (thus taking the pressure for excessive profits out of the equation). Does the US have something against mutual organisations?

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 7mo ago

Currently enjoying a nice cup of tea made with H. R. Higgins excellent Masala Chai blend #tea

mastodon.sdf.org

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

So will Canada join the EU before the UK rejoins?
____________

Canadians are open to joining the European Union in a bid to distance themselves from the United States, according to a new poll

https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/08/canadians-open-joining-european-union-end-reliance-us-new-poll-finds-27885696/

metro.co.uk

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 6mo ago

Replying to

@ParadeGrotesque "Interesting times ahead" I think we can agree on that.

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Feeling a little left out as there are no local elections in my neck of the woods today 😐

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

"Co-op College announces meeting to vote on winding up"

https://www.thenews.coop/co-op-college-announces-meeting-to-vote-on-winding-up/

#CoOperative #Education

thenews.coop

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

"In Britain, life expectancy dropped in a decade - Austerity is the killer"
https://mondediplo.com/2020/06/08uk-inequality

#Paywall #UKPolitics

mondediplo.com

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

"Is Irish reunification back?"
https://mondediplo.com/2026/05/10northern-ireland

#Paywall

mondediplo.com

User name cannot be blank 🇪🇺 @happy@mastodon.sdf.org

· 5mo ago

Replying to

@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf I'm not so sure, as I understand it the UK state pension when compared to those of its European neighbours struggles to be described as average. ________ A very quick search of the interwebs returned this dated April 26 "The UK on the other hand, sits just 26% above the breakeven point, leaving retirees with a buffer of just £220, and falling behind its neighbours Ireland and France" https://www.almondfinancial.co.uk/pension-breakeven-index-how-does-the-uk-state-pension-compare-to-the-rest-of-europe/

almondfinancial.co.uk