#blowhard — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #blowhard, aggregated by home.social.
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The Cane, the Conference, and the Curious Case of Self-Sabotage by Lawson Akhigbe
Behold the main character of British politics in 2026: a white, elderly gentleman, clearly leaning on a sturdy wooden cane for support, accredited badge swinging proudly from his neck at the Reform UK conference. Mouth open in mid-roar, eyes locked in righteous fury, he has somehow decided that the greatest threat to civilisation in that moment is a young woman holding a handbag. The crowd of fellow pensioners and patriots looks on with varying degrees of encouragement. Somewhere in the background, the usual sea of white hair and earnest lanyards nods along -
The Cane, the Conference, and the Curious Case of Self-Sabotage by Lawson Akhigbe
Behold the main character of British politics in 2026: a white, elderly gentleman, clearly leaning on a sturdy wooden cane for support, accredited badge swinging proudly from his neck at the Reform UK conference. Mouth open in mid-roar, eyes locked in righteous fury, he has somehow decided that the greatest threat to civilisation in that moment is a young woman holding a handbag. The crowd of fellow pensioners and patriots looks on with varying degrees of encouragement. Somewhere in the background, the usual sea of white hair and earnest lanyards nods along -
The Cane, the Conference, and the Curious Case of Self-Sabotage by Lawson Akhigbe
Behold the main character of British politics in 2026: a white, elderly gentleman, clearly leaning on a sturdy wooden cane for support, accredited badge swinging proudly from his neck at the Reform UK conference. Mouth open in mid-roar, eyes locked in righteous fury, he has somehow decided that the greatest threat to civilisation in that moment is a young woman holding a handbag. The crowd of fellow pensioners and patriots looks on with varying degrees of encouragement. Somewhere in the background, the usual sea of white hair and earnest lanyards nods along -
The Cane, the Conference, and the Curious Case of Self-Sabotage by Lawson Akhigbe
Behold the main character of British politics in 2026: a white, elderly gentleman, clearly leaning on a sturdy wooden cane for support, accredited badge swinging proudly from his neck at the Reform UK conference. Mouth open in mid-roar, eyes locked in righteous fury, he has somehow decided that the greatest threat to civilisation in that moment is a young woman holding a handbag. The crowd of fellow pensioners and patriots looks on with varying degrees of encouragement. Somewhere in the background, the usual sea of white hair and earnest lanyards nods along -
The Cane, the Conference, and the Curious Case of Self-Sabotage by Lawson Akhigbe
Behold the main character of British politics in 2026: a white, elderly gentleman, clearly leaning on a sturdy wooden cane for support, accredited badge swinging proudly from his neck at the Reform UK conference. Mouth open in mid-roar, eyes locked in righteous fury, he has somehow decided that the greatest threat to civilisation in that moment is a young woman holding a handbag. The crowd of fellow pensioners and patriots looks on with varying degrees of encouragement. Somewhere in the background, the usual sea of white hair and earnest lanyards nods along -
The Safe Place for Bigotry and Crime by Lawson Akhigbe
It has no postcode. It does not appear on Google Maps. There are no street signs pointing towards it. Yet, whenever one of its inhabitants is caught saying something outrageous or doing something politically or legally questionable, suddenly we are told that the offending words or conduct belonged there.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/05/the-safe-place-for-bigotry-and-crime-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Safe Place for Bigotry and Crime by Lawson Akhigbe
It has no postcode. It does not appear on Google Maps. There are no street signs pointing towards it. Yet, whenever one of its inhabitants is caught saying something outrageous or doing something politically or legally questionable, suddenly we are told that the offending words or conduct belonged there.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/05/the-safe-place-for-bigotry-and-crime-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Safe Place for Bigotry and Crime by Lawson Akhigbe
It has no postcode. It does not appear on Google Maps. There are no street signs pointing towards it. Yet, whenever one of its inhabitants is caught saying something outrageous or doing something politically or legally questionable, suddenly we are told that the offending words or conduct belonged there.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/05/the-safe-place-for-bigotry-and-crime-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Safe Place for Bigotry and Crime by Lawson Akhigbe
It has no postcode. It does not appear on Google Maps. There are no street signs pointing towards it. Yet, whenever one of its inhabitants is caught saying something outrageous or doing something politically or legally questionable, suddenly we are told that the offending words or conduct belonged there.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/05/the-safe-place-for-bigotry-and-crime-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Safe Place for Bigotry and Crime by Lawson Akhigbe
It has no postcode. It does not appear on Google Maps. There are no street signs pointing towards it. Yet, whenever one of its inhabitants is caught saying something outrageous or doing something politically or legally questionable, suddenly we are told that the offending words or conduct belonged there.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/09/05/the-safe-place-for-bigotry-and-crime-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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When the FCT Became a Personal Fiefdom: Wike, His Underlings, and the Quiet Death of Oversight by Lawson Akhigbe
This is not merely a personality clash. It is a blot on the democratic experiment. It reveals how thin the democratic impulse runs in the organs of government and the people who staff them. Effectively, the FCT is under non-democratic governance inside a country that still insists on calling itself a democracy. The Minister acts. The Senator is sidelined. The President remains serenely above the fray. The National Assembly discovers urgent business elsewhere. The circle is complete. -
When the FCT Became a Personal Fiefdom: Wike, His Underlings, and the Quiet Death of Oversight by Lawson Akhigbe
This is not merely a personality clash. It is a blot on the democratic experiment. It reveals how thin the democratic impulse runs in the organs of government and the people who staff them. Effectively, the FCT is under non-democratic governance inside a country that still insists on calling itself a democracy. The Minister acts. The Senator is sidelined. The President remains serenely above the fray. The National Assembly discovers urgent business elsewhere. The circle is complete. -
When the FCT Became a Personal Fiefdom: Wike, His Underlings, and the Quiet Death of Oversight by Lawson Akhigbe
This is not merely a personality clash. It is a blot on the democratic experiment. It reveals how thin the democratic impulse runs in the organs of government and the people who staff them. Effectively, the FCT is under non-democratic governance inside a country that still insists on calling itself a democracy. The Minister acts. The Senator is sidelined. The President remains serenely above the fray. The National Assembly discovers urgent business elsewhere. The circle is complete. -
When the FCT Became a Personal Fiefdom: Wike, His Underlings, and the Quiet Death of Oversight by Lawson Akhigbe
This is not merely a personality clash. It is a blot on the democratic experiment. It reveals how thin the democratic impulse runs in the organs of government and the people who staff them. Effectively, the FCT is under non-democratic governance inside a country that still insists on calling itself a democracy. The Minister acts. The Senator is sidelined. The President remains serenely above the fray. The National Assembly discovers urgent business elsewhere. The circle is complete. -
When the FCT Became a Personal Fiefdom: Wike, His Underlings, and the Quiet Death of Oversight by Lawson Akhigbe
This is not merely a personality clash. It is a blot on the democratic experiment. It reveals how thin the democratic impulse runs in the organs of government and the people who staff them. Effectively, the FCT is under non-democratic governance inside a country that still insists on calling itself a democracy. The Minister acts. The Senator is sidelined. The President remains serenely above the fray. The National Assembly discovers urgent business elsewhere. The circle is complete. -
The Moths to the Flame: Why Do Populist Movements Always Attract Such “Enterprising” Characters? By Lawson Akhigbe
There is an eternal, almost Newtonian law of modern politics: wherever a politician loudly proclaims they are "standing up for the forgotten working man," you will inevitably find a discreet corner table in a private Mayfair club where someone is eagerly trying to launder foreign money. -
The Moths to the Flame: Why Do Populist Movements Always Attract Such “Enterprising” Characters? By Lawson Akhigbe
There is an eternal, almost Newtonian law of modern politics: wherever a politician loudly proclaims they are "standing up for the forgotten working man," you will inevitably find a discreet corner table in a private Mayfair club where someone is eagerly trying to launder foreign money. -
The Moths to the Flame: Why Do Populist Movements Always Attract Such “Enterprising” Characters? By Lawson Akhigbe
There is an eternal, almost Newtonian law of modern politics: wherever a politician loudly proclaims they are "standing up for the forgotten working man," you will inevitably find a discreet corner table in a private Mayfair club where someone is eagerly trying to launder foreign money. -
The Moths to the Flame: Why Do Populist Movements Always Attract Such “Enterprising” Characters? By Lawson Akhigbe
There is an eternal, almost Newtonian law of modern politics: wherever a politician loudly proclaims they are "standing up for the forgotten working man," you will inevitably find a discreet corner table in a private Mayfair club where someone is eagerly trying to launder foreign money. -
The Moths to the Flame: Why Do Populist Movements Always Attract Such “Enterprising” Characters? By Lawson Akhigbe
There is an eternal, almost Newtonian law of modern politics: wherever a politician loudly proclaims they are "standing up for the forgotten working man," you will inevitably find a discreet corner table in a private Mayfair club where someone is eagerly trying to launder foreign money. -
Who Voted for Lord Denning? – When the Street Cross-Examined the Bench by Lawson Akhigbe
The slogan gained prominence in the aftermath of the Birmingham pub bombings and the subsequent conviction of six Irish men the now infamous Birmingham Six. Their case quickly became a lightning rod for allegations of coerced confessions, police misconduct, and a justice system more interested in closure than correctness. -
No Victor, No Vanquished? Gowon’s Memoir Reopens Biafra’s Bloody Ledger by MARCEL MBAMALU
His new memoir, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance”, points a finger from the grave of history at Chukwuemeka Ojukwu — accusing the dead Biafran leader of lying about Aburi, arming the East for war, and dragging Nigeria into bloodshed. Ojukwu, buried since 2011, cannot answer. -
Reform UK’s Brexit immigration impact
Reform UK’s perspective on Brexit and immigration is central to its identity: Brexit was meant to deliver control over borders and lower overall migration, but post-2016 (especially post-2021) governments primarily Conservative, failed to use that control effectively, leading to a non-EU migration surge that the party labels the “Boriswave.” Reform argues this undermined the Brexit promise, strained public services, housing, wages, and cultural cohesion, and necessitates far tougher policies.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/28/reform-uks-brexit-immigration-impact/
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Reform UK and others – Immigration Policy Compared
Reform UK’s immigration policies stand out as the most restrictive among major UK parties, emphasizing a sharp reduction in both legal and illegal migration, prioritisation of British citizens, and radical enforcement measures. They position immigration as a core driver of housing shortages, NHS strain, wage suppression, cultural change, and public service overload.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/28/reform-uk-and-others-immigration-policy-compared/
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Born Free, Housed First: Reform UK and the Return of the Birth Certificate as Political Document by Lawson Akhigbe
Reform UK has now taken that quiet administrative habit and turned it into an actual policy platform, delivered at a press conference rather than buried in a PDF. Deputy leader Richard Tice has confirmed the party will prioritise British-born workers under 35 for social housing, alongside military veterans and married couples with children, should Reform enter government. The pitch comes wrapped in an infrastructure promise, 50,000 affordable homes a year, financed, the party insists, without new taxes or borrowing, which is the political equivalent of promising a birthday cake that requires no oven, no flour and no birthday. -
The Tragedy of Victory Reviewers: Alfred Ilenre
The Tragedy of Victory is a book written by Brigadier General Alabi Isama, providing the inside knowledge and information about the separatist war in Nigeria from 1967- 1970https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/23/the-tragedy-of-victory-reviewers-alfred-ilenre/
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The Inquisitor’s Gavel: Oshiomhole, MOWAA, and the High Cost of Political Spite by Lawson Akhigbe
Central to the indictment was the breathless lamentation over the demolition of the old Benin Central Hospital. Listening to the rhetoric, one would assume the facility was a pristine sanctuary of modern medicine arbitrarily flattened to make way for art. -
Kemi Badenoch’s maiden speech in the Commons
I am also burdened by the weight of expectation. You see, Madam Deputy Speaker, Saffron Walden has not had a maiden speech since Rab Butler’s in 1929. He held three of the great offices of state, but I am most proud that, as a Conservative Minister, he introduced the Education Act 1944, which gave every British child a statutory right to free secondary education.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/19/kemi-badenochs-maiden-speech-in-the-commons/
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The Invisible Invasion: Britain’s Immigration Panic and the Arithmetic It Cannot Face By Lawson Akhigbe
Black people account for roughly four percent of the population of England and Wales. More of them are in the EastEnders cast than are arriving on the asylum route in any given year. Yet Britain has contrived to make this the defining political question of the age. We should talk about that. -
Most. Corrupt. Racist. Incompetent. President of the USA
In his farewell address to the American people in 1989, Ronald Reagan spoke of America as a "shining city upon a hill"—a beacon of freedom, opportunity, democracy, and prosperity. The phrase itself was borrowed from a much older tradition, but Reagan made it uniquely American. The United States was not merely a powerful nation; it was an example to others. A place where institutions mattered, where the rule of law prevailed, and where anyone, regardless of background, could aspire to succeedhttps://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/16/most-corrupt-racist-incompetent-president-of-the-usa/
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The Sky Becomes a Minefield: How Drone Swarms Are Ending the Age of Air Superiority by Gandalv
NN reports that the pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, shot down over Iran in April, described a sight that immediately triggered debate inside the U.S. Intelligence Community: multiple Iranian drones in the air, apparently interconnected or coordinated, moving as one. One source described larger drones with smaller drones beneath them, “like legs.” Another described it as a “minefield of drones” in the sky. -
UK anti-immigration social media accounts traced to Sri Lanka and Vietnam ByMarianna Spring
The "Great British People" Facebook page, which purports to be from Yorkshire, has had 1.3 million views for its latest video of an elderly white British man crying about his pension. Other videos show reporters discussing "the overwhelming scale of mass immigration" and asking viewers if they miss "the Britain we used to know". -
The Law Is a Blunt Instrument by Lawson Akhigbe
In the fearful months and years following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, Western democracies faced an unenviable dilemma. Their citizens demanded protection from an enemy that recognised no borders, wore no uniforms and deliberately targeted civilians.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/12/the-law-is-a-blunt-instrument-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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Accountability Is Not a Presidential Favour by Lawson Akhigbe
The response by the President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Cardinal John Onaiyekan's television interview reveals a troubling misunderstanding of constitutional democracy. It also exposes a growing tendency within this administration to confuse criticism with disloyalty and accountability with discourtesy.https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/02/accountability-is-not-a-presidential-favour-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Eternal Quartermaster By Lawson Akhigbe
Nigeria's army has been described as mighty on paper many of its soldiers 'ghosts' who exist only on the payroll, much of its equipment stolen and sold to insurgents."The Economist, October 2021https://lawakhigbe.com/2026/08/01/the-eternal-quartermaster-by-lawson-akhigbe/
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The Two-Week Presidency: Trump, Obamacare, Iran and the Politics of Perpetual Promises by Lawson Akhigbe
Whether the subject is healthcare, trade, infrastructure, peace in the Middle East or now Iran, there is a familiar rhythm. An announcement. A flourish. A declaration that success is “very close.” Then another announcement. Then another. Like a magician whose favourite trick is promising that the rabbit will appear in just one more hat. -
From Nuclear-Free Nonsense to Net-Zero Farce: The Loony Right Joins the Schoolyard Antics Club by Lawson Akhigbe
History doesn't repeat, but it does enjoy a good remix. The Loony Left had its turn playing council-level foreign policy. Now the Loony Right is giving it a go with environmental policy. Same schoolyard energy, different decade, fresh set of headlines. One can only wonder what the right-wing papers will call them. The Sensible Pragmatists? Or will the satire wheel turn full circle? -
The Art of the Doorstep Inquest: Why Every Voter Needs to Channel Their Inner Clacton Resident
A viral video recently captured a doorstep exchange between Justin a Reform UK campaigner and Essex County Councillor out canvassing for Nigel Farage and an exceptionally sharp local voter. What followed wasn't just a quick chat about local bins; it was a masterclass in civic accountability. -
Major Chip Hazard Goes to Washington: When Toy Soldiers Run the War Department by Lawson Akhigbe
Donald Trump’s return to the White House marked the triumph of image over expertise. Cabinet positions increasingly resembled casting decisions. Loyalty became more important than experience. Television skills became more valuable than administrative competence. -
When Tactical Brilliance Meets Strategic Confusion: Washington’s Iran Problem by Lawson Akhigbe
But wars are not graded like Olympic gymnastics. There are no medals for technical execution if the end result leaves your opponent intact, emboldened, or—worse—adapted. -
The Presidential Echo Chamber: From Buhari’s Attack Dogs to Tinubu’s Spin Doctors By Lawson Akhigbe
Daniel Bwala One of the easiest ways to understand a President is not to listen to his speeches. Listen to his spokesmen. A President’s spokesman is like a family portrait hanging in the living room. It may not be the President himself, but it tells you everything about the owner of the house. Spokesmen do not accidentally become spokesmen. They are selected, promoted, protected and retained. They are trusted with the most valuable commodity in politics: the President’s voice. That […] -
The Karma of the Beautiful Game: How Spain’s 2026 Victory Rewrote the Script for Trump and the Aggies
In many ways, Spain’s 2026 triumph stands as a glorious, inescapable metaphor for what happens when performative ego, systemic meddling, and brute gamesmanship run smack into the unyielding wall of competence and poise. -
The Art of the Political Seance: How to Deconstruct a Presidential Address by Lawson Akhigbe
When Donald Trump took to the podium on July 16, 2026, he wasn’t just delivering a speech he was conducting a political seance, summoning ghosts of conspiracies past and layering them over a very meticulously curated reality. -
From “Worst Deal Ever” to Quiet Regret: The Shifting Discourse on Trump’s JCPOA Withdrawal
From "Worst Deal Ever" to Quiet Regret: The Shifting Discourse on Trump's JCPOA Withdrawal -
They should build wind turbines all over Mar-a-Lago. The bag of wind who lives there could generate enough electricity to power the entire east coast.
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On The Heights (Tummo), Nicholas Roerich
Sometimes I get bored and I read a book lately that said something like, "sink into the boredom, this is your actual life, and boredom is what life is." The boredom fills up with love. haha
There's a scene in the Shining where Jack Nicholson is talking to the butler and the butler says, "Sorry to differ with you sir. You are the caretaker. You've ALWAYS been the caretaker.... I should know, sir. I've ALWAYS been here." It's a dark scene but it has stuck in my mind forever and I hear it now and then in response to stimuli like this.
#art #mountains #blowhard #cold #sun #infinite #peace #breathing #air #love
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Your irregular occasional reminder...
"Hacker" "News" is neither.
Pretty much anything you see there will be misinterpreted, misapplied, misclassified, misattributed, misappropriated, misbegotten, or just plain mistaken. [1] [2]
Simply reading it makes you less informed about the world. Some would argue it actively makes you dumber. Using it supports Y Combinator, which is most famous for turning deadbeats into leeches and funnelling VC money and power to fascists.
Get your tech news, opinion, and discussion somewhere else. Anywhere else. The #fediverse is a great alternative. Tell your friends.
[1] A.K.A. "wrong"
[2] See what I did there?#HackerNews #YCombinator #misinformation #blowhard #wrong #tech #news #TechNews #alliteration #ChooseWisely