Echinatum

@echinatum

Here to read more than post. Feel free to like or follow - or not. I'm not here for the numbers. My likes are sometimes acknowledgements rather than endorsements.

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Echinatum@echinatum· 10d

It wouldn't usually be news, or worth posting, but it is raining right now in Wales! A definitely audible splish splash, wet ground, water on table, etc.

Image of a paved patio slab showing pattern of remaining dry areas and lots of wet areas from rain.

Echinatum@echinatum· 10d

Once someone has had a significant political role, they are always politicians. Saying you were not a politician is, at best, pedantry, sophistry, making words mean what you want them to mean.

Screenshot of Humpty Dumpty passage fro Alice through the looking glass

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,’” Alice said.

Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t—till I tell you. I
meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!’”

“But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knock-down argument,’” Alice objected.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it
means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”

“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many
different things.”

“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty
began again. “They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they’re the
proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I
can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!”

“Would you tell me, please,” said Alice “what that means?”

“Now you talk like a reasonable child,” said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much
pleased. “I meant by ‘impenetrability’ that we’ve had enough of that subject,
and it would be just as well if you’d mention what you mean to do next, as I
suppose you don’t mean to stop here all the rest of your life.”

“That’s a great deal to make one word mean,” Alice said in a thoughtful tone.

“When I make a word do a lot of work like that,” said Humpty Dumpty, “I always
pay it extra.”

“Oh!” said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.”
“They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they’re the
proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I
can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!”

“Would you tell me, please,” said Alice “what that means?”

“Now you talk like a reasonable child,” said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much
pleased. “I meant by ‘impenetrability’ that we’ve had enough of that subject,
and it would be just…

Echinatum@echinatum· 13d

Farage has adopted something from the greens! 😀 Even if it is only a single word. And likely out of ignorance of its origins.

Screenshot of text only from politico:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/17/steve-bannon-populist-ralph-nader-215839/

'But while “the Uniparty” may be trendy among the Breitbart set, it wasn’t born there. In fact, if you go back to the contentious presidential race of 2000, you’ll find it arose as a political barb among supporters of Ralph Nader, running as the nominee of the Green Party.'

Echinatum@echinatum· 14d

The first hospital picture at least had a check shirt. But if he was really trying, he'd be in the full nine yards of woollen weave.

Wiki image of the poster for the film "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" - with Steve Martin and a tartan/plaid "shadow" effect. Rest of poster is largely dark/shadowy with all the usual words that film posters have of those credited.

Echinatum@echinatum· 14d

Don't miss that Wales is well and truly affected: www.emishealth.com/news-insight...

Screenshot of EMIS website headline:

Every GP practice in Wales is now using EMIS Web
Friday 12 June 2026

Echinatum@echinatum· 16d

Shingles is truly horrible - whoever has it. And I had failed to realise: People can have it repeatedly. Nor that post-herpetic neuralgia can continue for many years. Nor that NHS won't supply capsaicin cream - which works for me.

A photo of lower neck and part of shoulder showing scabbed blisters. Some of the blisters were infected and required antibiotics.

About half of all the skin is relatively unaffected. The rest various from red to deep scars. Impossible to shave hence long stubble.

These same areas (and more) continue to be painful more than four years later.

Echinatum@echinatum· 20d

If you reform Britain, you get Tribnia. "The plots in that kingdom are usually the workmanship of those persons who desire to raise their own characters of profound politicians..."

Screenshot of text about Tribnia from Gulliver's Travels

Echinatum@echinatum· Jul 11

Feels odd going to the beach late evening, and still being warm enough to want an ice-cream! Still, late enough to get free parking. Atmosphere so calm - no dogs, no BBQs, no music, people just enjoying being there.

A beach photo facing towards the setting sun at 20:12 on 2026-07-10. West Wales.

Foreground - large shingle.
Midground - sand from the shingle to the waterline about two thirds up. About twenty people - all towards silhouette in appliance. Thin band of sea with sun near centre glinting. Sharp rock sticking up at right end.
Background - sky with orange setting sun about the middle of the sky - starting to make most of the sky somewhat orange.
All colours very much affected by sun colour.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jul 3

Is the effect on transthryetin sufficient to affect thyroid hormone transport? What does Selenoprotein P actually do? But looks very encouraging for coffee - growers to drinkers and everyone in between.

Screenshot from actual paper:

https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(26)00404-0/abstract

Rest of paper behind paywall.

Results
Over a median 13-year follow-up, higher coffee intake showed a graded reduction in liver outcomes, with ≥5 cups/day group having risk reductions of cirrhosis (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.79), hepatocellular carcinoma (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.34–0.83), and liver-related mortality (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.74). Protective associations were similar for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and persisted among those adding sugar or artificial sweeteners, although additive use correlated with modestly higher iron-corrected T1. Higher coffee intake corresponded to lower hepatic fat, iron, and fibroinflammation. Proteomic analysis revealed consistent patterns: higher levels of hepatocellular synthesis and complement proteins (transthyretin, selenoprotein P, complement factor H-related protein4/5) and lower levels of fibrogenic and macrophage-activation markers (microfibril-associated protein 4, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2, transthyretin) with coffee drinking.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 26

So glad the weather is a bit cooler. The beaches won't be as busy as they have been...

A simple beach panorama - sun dropping but still bright in sky towards top left, sea on left, land to the right, a few minor clouds, acres of sand - much without even a footprint. 3/4 people in sea to left, maybe a dozen on beach to right. The rest of the vista there virtually no identifiable people.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 16

The big wins are coming soon. Or they were in 2022... Or they weren't then and still aren't...

Screenshot of front page:

COMING SOON!
BREXIT'S BIG WINS FOR BRITAIN
EXCLUSIVE
By David Maddox
BREXIT will transform Britain and deliver such dividends that within a decade nobody will want to rejoin the European Union, Jacob Rees-Mogg has vowed.
In his first interview since being appointed as the Minister for Brexit
TURN TO PAGE 4
AMBITION: Jacob Rees-Mogg

Sunday Express Front Page 13th of February 2022

(Turning to Page 4 didn't actually help...)

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 15

Always check your rearview mirror...

A picture of a small Citroen van - showing red bonnet and windscreen, through which you can see two German shepherd dogs - one behind the wheel, the other on the passengers seat.

Genuine photo taken the other day - though not actually taken in the mirror.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 12

Biotin doesn't only interfere with thyroid tests. And doesn't affect all thyroid-related assays. For example: edinburghlabmed.co.uk/sites/defaul...

Table 1 Potential for biotin interference in Roche immunoassays (interference threshold indicated in
brackets).

Immunoassays not susceptible
to biotin interference (up to
1200 ng/mL)

ACTH
AFP
FSH
Free T3
NT-proBNP
PSA
PTH
Testosterone
Thyroglobulin
Thyroglobulin Antibody
Troponin T
TSH
Total T3

Immunoassays that may be
falsely elevated with biotin
interference

Vitamin B12 (50 ng/mL)
Cortisol (70 ng/mL)
DHEAS (70 ng/mL)
Digoxin (100 ng/mL)
Folate (21 ng/mL)
Free T4 (100 ng/mL)
Oestradiol (36 ng/mL)
Progesterone (30 ng/mL)
TRAb (600 ng/mL)
Vitamin D (30 ng/mL)

Immunoassays that may be
falsely decreased with biotin
interference

AMH (30 ng/mL)
hCG (70 ng/mL)
CA125 (70 ng/mL)
CEA (70 ng/mL)
C-peptide (60 ng/mL)
Ferritin (50 ng/mL)
GH (30 ng/mL)
Insulin (60 ng/mL)
LH (50 ng/mL)
Prolactin (40 ng/mL)
SHBG (70 ng/mL)
PlGF (30 ng/mL)
sFlt-1 (30 ng/mL)

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 8

4th June 2026 - at last we see some pleasant weather! Hopefully now returning for another period instead of rain and cloud and wind.

A wide image of a bright blue sky, with some white puffy clouds, down to the sea horizon, a band of sea with waves and white tops, and a very narrow band of beach at the bottom. At left and right are people using what might be paragliders - the ones that stay in/on the water.

West Wales - Pembrokeshire.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 4

UK's NICE says ferritin must be over 30. But many local labs/NHS management units have lower levels. I don't see how they can justify that but no-one holds them to account. cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaem...

Screenshot of UK's NICE guidance:

NICE Serum Ferritin Must Be Over 30
30 May 2021
08:53
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency. However:
* Ferritin levels are difficult to interpret if infection or inflammation is present, as levels can be high even in the presence of iron deficiency.
* Ferritin levels may be less reliable in pregnancy.

From <https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/>

Access might not be possible outwith the UK.

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 3

The first time I have ever been offered this opt-out. It's true - Father's Day can be a tough time for many reasons and a torrent of marketing emails precludes just ignoring it.

A screenshot of a Aldi regular promotional email. Text as below:

Would you prefer not to receive our Father’s Day emails?

Hello,

We understand that Father’s Day can be a tough time for some, so if you’d prefer not to receive our Father’s Day emails please click the link below.

Opt out of Father's Day Button

Echinatum@echinatum· Jun 3

Completely agree. On gov.uk - I use MHRA quite a bit. They have a bsky account but don't use it. And they use the www.blog.gov.uk - but that is hardly ever mentioned.

Screenshot of MHRA Follow Us list text is:
Follow us
The following links open in a new tab

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
MHRA Inspectorate Blog
MedRegs Blog
Instagram

Echinatum@echinatum· May 28

Last night at bed-time.

Clouds in front of moon 22:48 on 27/05/2026.
A complex pattern of almost black to bright at cloud edges but overall, very dark, very blue.

Echinatum@echinatum· May 26

Oh that Hannan...

Screenshot of Telegraph cuttings - text below:
REWRITING HISTORY 2
"The triggering of Article 50 sets in motion a
legal process. By the end of March 2019, deal or
no deal, we shall be out. Some commentators
see this deadline as a disadvantage to Britain,
but I'm blowed if I can understand why. Imagine
the alternative. If there were no cut-off, the EU
would be able to string the process out
indefinitely... The formal triggering of Article
50 ought to jolt the last irreconcilables out of
their fantasies. .. Me? I'm delighted."
— Daniel Hannan, Telegraph online,
20 March 2017
"Mrs May... [made] basic tactical blunders.
Consider, for example, the decision to trigger
Article 50, not only before putting all the
requisite contingency arrangements in place but,
unbelievably, before deciding on a preferred
outcome... Having initiated the countdown, the
PM absurdly found herself having to ask for an
extension... That mistake was to set the pattern
for what followed." — Daniel Hannan,
Sunday Telegraph, 24 March 2019

Echinatum@echinatum· May 13

One of the brightest of rainbows! Taken just a few minutes ago.

Near square image with a rainbow from bottom, just to the right of centre, up towards the top left. A largely grey cloud background. Tops of trees just in view along the bottom. A gull with black wingtips (I think) flying to the right of the centre of the image.

Echinatum@echinatum· May 3

Reminded that three years ago, June 2023, I visited Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire with mists swirls rising from the wet sand of the beach with strong sun beating down. Which looks odd against a clear blue sky.

A photograph from June 2023 of Broad Haven beach in Pembrokeshire, South Wales.

Showing sand and shingle, clear blue sky, people enjoying lying out in the sun, or sitting. At the same time strange mist wraiths coming up from the actual beach itself.

The mist makes it a bit cooler but still warm enough and possible to get sunburn.

Echinatum@echinatum· May 2

Happened upon a BP road safety booklet I have had since the very early 1960s in Berlin. The inside is full of horrendous injuries done in a child-like form. Whatever else, it was how I first learned road signs...

A bizarre picture of two gigantic teddy bear police wearing flat hats, belts, and white gauntlets for directing traffic. They are about the height of a 12-story building and are shown over a very naive cartoon-y version of a German-style town. With a prominent "BP" sign on one building.

This is the front cover of a 16-page pamphlet style booklet produced for BP to promote road safety - to be given to children.

Title:
Was sagt die Teddypolizei?
AUGEN AUF IN DER PUPPENSTADT

Automatic translation into English:
What does the Teddy Bear Police say?
EYES OPEN IN DOLL CITY

A pair of pictures showing first a young girl under the wheels of a VW-type van. Then the girl in a hospital being stuck together with tape - with a background including drawers marked Eyes, Ears, Arms, etc.

Keiner hört drauf, wie man sieht,
Bis das Schreckliche geschieht:
Brigitte läuft zur Straße rüber
Und schon fährt sie ein Auto über!
Der Mann am Steuer ist entsetzt,
Sprachlos stehn die Mädchen jetzt,
Und der Teddy fragt Brigitte,
Ob sie arge Schmerzen litte.
Der Doktor sehr bedenklich spricht:
„Ob das noch heilt, das weiß ich nicht!"
Jedoch versucht er nun, Brigitten
Mit Pflasterband den Kopf z u kitten.
Der Zwergen-Pit sitzt still dabei.
Was sagt die Teddy-Polizei?
„Ihr dürft nicht auf der Fahrbahn spielen,
Und wer nicht hören kann, muß fühlen!"

No one listens, as you can see,

Until the terrible thing happens:

Brigitte runs across to the street

And then a car runs her over!

The man at the wheel is horrified,

The girls stand speechless now,

And Teddy asks Brigitte,

If she's in a lot of pain.

The doctor speaks very worriedly:

"Whether it will heal, I don't know!"

However, he now tries to patch Brigitte's head
with adhesive tape.

Dwarf Pit sits quietly by.

What does the Teddy Police say?

"You're not allowed to play on the road,

And those who can't hear must feel!"

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 27

How come persons with sig. control do not mention Centrovalli. But accounts for y/e 31/12/2024 do? find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/1310...

Screenshot of extract from company accounts at Companies House:

RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Creditors include loans totalling £1,928,472 owed to Centrovalli Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY
The company is controlled by Centrovalli Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 27

And many guidelines let patients down in numerous ways. E.g. NG146 pretty much ignores hypothyroidism due to endocrine disrupting chemicals. But they become embedded and the "Your responsibility" bit is routinely ignored. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG145

Screenshot for text in NG145 and present in most/all NICE guidelines.

Your responsibility

The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 5

We always do that. (Not waste it!) So long as it is well chilled before opening, and is put straight back, it will be fine. We have a wine stopper - doesn't maintain pressure but helps keep oxygen out. Pressure tops just are not worth it.

Picture of a bright chrome wine stopper - with a ridged rubber collar.

Ball shaped top with a pointed bit that goes into the neck of a bottle.

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 5

An example of a single 100" screen, claimed typical usage of 240W, works out about 1.5 times my whole home usage. Sign = 2102 kWh Home = 1338 kWh Obviously there are lots of factors which could move these figures in either direction.

Power usage from a recent (March 2025) UK flyer for a 100" advertising screen.

https://www.e-screen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/100DM66E_Datasheet_V2.pdf

Power

100” 4K UHD Digital Signage Display
Power Supply AC 100~240V (50/60Hz)
Power Consumption (Typ.)
Power Consumption (Max.)
Standby Consumption
240W
450W
<0.5W (Standby Mode

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 4

"Originally marmalade was made from quince, and meant quince cheese." And I have some I made myself in the kitchen. Marmalade has meant MANY things. "Citrus Marmalade" is sensible - though I'd prefer the specific fruit to be identified. Some have to be careful with pomelo and seville oranges.

Screenshot of text from Title: The Suffrage Cook Book

Compiler: L. O. Kleber
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/26323/26323-h/26323-h.htm

"Broiled Salt Mackerel

Wash and scrape the fish. Soak all night, changing the water at bed time for tepid and again early in the morning for almost scalding hot. Keep this hot for an hour by setting the vessel containing the soaking fish on the side of the range. Wash next in cold water with a stiff brush or rough cloth, wipe perfectly dry, rub all over again with salad oil and vinegar or lemon juice and let it lie in this marmalade for a quarter of an hour before broiling. Place on a hot dish with a mixture of butter, lemon juice and minced parsley."

Echinatum@echinatum· Apr 1

Bees on bushes in breezes are difficult to photograph. But so nice to see!

A photo of a bumble bee visiting flowers on a beberis in full yellow flower.

Bee is at centre and occupies about the middle ninth of the image area. The rest is largely the actual flowers and some out of focus background.

Echinatum@echinatum· Mar 29

Really? 180.9 for unleaded looks VERY MUCH like price gouging to me. Ready for Easter... (Though I suppose it could be a mistake?)

Screenshot of Petrol Prices petrol price today:

LLANTEG SERVICE STATION
(6)
Address: A477, SA67 8QD
UNLEADED
180.9p
Last updated: 29.03.2026

Echinatum@echinatum· Mar 24

The govt. STILL links to facebook and the other place - but not bsky.