Joe bowman

every which way but loose

[Charlie @charliecolecc]

Excellent article in the Wall Street Journal on Britain's unsustainable welfare spending:

— 7 million people (over 10% of the UK population) now claim at least one or more sickness or disability benefit. This is up 60% in the past 6 years.

— The UK will spend over £100 billion pound this year on sickness and disability benefits. This is projected to increase to £130 billion a year by 2030.

— No other Western country has seen such a rise in disability claims. In the US, 10.6 million people claim some form of federal disability payment, despite the population being 5x larger.

— 1 in 7 new cars sold in the UK are under the Motability scheme; however, only 10% of cars are modified for a disability. In one dealership, 25 out of 26 cars they sold in August were all under the Motability scheme.

— Charities, consultants, YouTubers and TikTokers have all sprung up, telling people how to maximise benefit access. Some of these videos receive hundreds of thousands of views. Over 1,000 people a day are signing on for PIP.

— According to a Government survey from 2024, 25% of the UK's working age population could theoretically be classed as disabled under the current criteria and access these benefits.

— A minimum wage worker who works 40 hours per week would take home around £1,880 per month after tax; however, if you are classed as too sick to work and claim PIP, you can take home £2,000 tax free per month.
https://t.co/ftFzSax9VH

[Patrick Christys @PatrickChristys]

Classic BBC intro to the plane hijacking story here...had to get the far right in there somewhere

[Scott G @scttfrnks]

Nobody needs to be “held accountable” for failing to share your global interests ffs

The guy plays guitar and sings songs and people go to his shows to have a good time. It never needs to be more than that.

[The Boston Globe @BostonGlobe]

A lesbian bar in Greenfield eased its stringent mask mandate, a decision that has splintered the queer community in the city and beyond. https://t.co/FuaTxqqjso

[SP @sspencerukk]

We’re regressing back to 2020 levels of performative activism aren’t we

[A Funny Old Game @sid_lambert]

It’s 25 years since Alan Shearer and Roy Keane had a mild difference of opinion on the football pitch.

Bring yer dinner.

[History Calendar @HistoryCalendar]

President George W. Bush standing at Ground Zero in New York City following the September 11 Attacks. “I can hear you.”

[2001 Live @25YearsAgoLive]

FDNY Fire Chief Orio Palmer’s team announces that they have successfully freed several civilians from a trapped elevator on the 78th floor of the South Tower.

Palmer radioes that he will begin walking them downstairs now.

[2001 Live @25YearsAgoLive]

12-13 Marsh McLennan workers jump together from the 95th floor of the still-burning North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Firefighters on the ground are frustrated that they can’t do much to help.

[Russell Findlay @RussellFindlay1]

After running scared of a BBC documentary exposing the crime, drugs and filth in parts of Glasgow, Susan Aitken is now trolling us.

With a straight face, this shameless SNP politician says the city is a "better place" since she became council leader in 2017.

[Nick, 30 @an0n_Nic]

They are starting to realise that we aren’t going to infinity welfare, triple lock and tax our way to prosperity.

Maybe there is some hope.

[no me llamo vicenta @kansaita_]

cuando decido ir al plan al que jamás quise ir "porque tengo que socializar"

[Kayhooz @KayLifeStyles]

this shit felt illegal to listen to man this beat is still insane

[R @RJL_07]

Never seen anything so soulless in my entire life it’s such a Dystopian image wtf is wrong with people man

[Tags @tagsbo]

A Scottish referee 10000000000% gives Celtic a free kick for a phantom foul on McCowan, that's why he stops, they're conditioned by it.

They'd probably do better in Europe if wee Willies refs in Scotland didn't give them everything.

[Kyle Chan @kyleichan]

This is the most impressive to me, more than the 100m world record.

This requires autonomous real-time planning and action in response to a fast-moving target and dynamic environment.

Galbot is one of China’s top humanoid robot startups.

[Football on TNT Sports @footballontnt]

Hull fans were enjoying themselves after taking a 2-0 lead against Man United 🐯

📺 Watch live on TNT Sports & HBO Max

[Zelex @OBEhizele]

An understated virtue of Britain is the space it gives the eccentric, weird and unconventional to simply exist. Sometimes, you’re just a bit odd. And that’s fine. 😃

[Paul Graham @paulg]

How should universities respond to the Arday scandal? Should they crack down on plagiarism and academic fraud? Ghent University's response, apparently, will be to fire the person who reported it.