andrewducker | Interesting Links for 24-09-2018

Majority Of Voters Back Urgent Reform Of Westminster System: (tags: reform voting uk )
Why it matters that Bert and Ernie are gay, which they are: (tags: lgbt muppets SesameStreet )
Octopuses on MDMA reveal genetic evolution link to human social behaviors: (tags: social octopus ecstasy psychology )
Continental Drift - It's amazing how recent anything even vaguely resembling modern continents arise: (tags: geology geography video time )
How the World Map Looks Wildly Different Than You Think: (tags: video maps world size )
Solar panels replaced tarmac on a motorway. Here are the results.: (tags: solarpower roads fail )
App update rejected for mentioning iPhone XR in release notes: (tags: apple wtf )
Chechnya starts concentration camps for gay men, first time after Hitler: (tags: lgbt homosexuality Chechnya fascism bigotry OhForFucksSake )
Labour's new Brexit referendum would not offer option to remain in EU, says John McDonnell: (tags: Labour UK Europe OhForFucksSake )
No one understands why DC is now removing Batman’s penis from comic: (tags: comics penis censorship )
Malware Disguised as Job Offers Distributed on Freelance Sites: (tags: jobs malware virus OhForFucksSake )
“Unadoptable” shelter cats get second chance at life by chasing mice: (tags: cats mice jobs )

If anything the results of the solar road are worse than I expected.

Given that Bert and Ernie have such different outlooks on life I had always assumed that they were either lovers or had been in a foxhole together in the Ardenne. If they were just mates Bert would have strangled Ernie about 18 months in to their flat share.

I think my takeaways from the octopus link is that octopuses are basically depressed and that scientists have too much time and drugs on their hands.

What is John McDonnel going to do if the result of a binary referendum is a close vote between a deal he doesn't like and no deal?

(The actual answer is nothing, because he's not going to be in a position to do anything about it because he works for Corbyn and also has no route to a general election in 2019.)

I notice it says that correlates with vote leave -- maybe that's a worthwhile target for "everything is fucked, something must change" feelings?

It isn't going to happen as there isn't time to pass the legislation to make it happen, decide on the wording, organise it, arrange for the balloting, allow for sufficient campaigning etc. before B-day on March 29 next year. Wishful thinking on the subject isn't going to help.

A referendum can't be made binding on Parliament which is sovereign even over the EU, despite the claims of the Loony Leavers. Retail politics, the horrible gooey stuff on the underside of the rock you lift to examine the process, demanded the victors on the day got their A50 declaration from the seated Government of the time because failing to do so would mean Opposition status for the next decade or two due to millions of ukippers walking away from the Conservatives. It's the same reason Labour is so antsy about reversing A50 even if they were given the chance as a seated Government. It's very unlikely May or her successor will offer them that chance by calling yet another General Election soon. She could do it after B-day and leave them to clean up the mess, of course.

Out means out. We're leaving, unless the current Government is willing to commit electoral suicide for a generation or more by recalling their Article 50 declaration. Worst case, say hello to Prime Minister Farage. Don't think it couldn't happen here.

I can't even click on the Chechnya article - the title is distressing enough. So much malice everywhere.

However, the unadoptable cats patrolling warehouses was very comforting. I think whoever thought up the "Blue Collar Cats" name for the program in warehouses was/is brilliant.

Solar Roads

Bert and Ernie

Octopuses

Labour Brexit Means ???

Majority Of Voters Back Urgent Reform Of Westminster System

2nd Referendum on Brexit

Blue Collar Cats