#Manchester Unity Building

[csmeatonimages]

Manchester Unity Building, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

[coachtfd]

If I were Nuno, I’d troll so hard. “First, I would like to thank Tottenham for giving me this opportunity…” 😂

Congratulations on your second Manager of the Month award this season Coach. People thought I was crazy for saying I’d have taken him at United, but there’s a reason. It’s not just his ability to lead teams to win games, it’s the environment and culture he creates; it’s a very unifying energy he brings if you let him stay and build. Could we have used that United? DEFINITELY, because we’re united in name only these days. Nuno doesn’t just build teams, he builds families at his clubs. Can this run last until the end of the season? Can he do it again next season? Probably not because let’s be realistic, Forest is still solidifying its Premier League status. But I promise you, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more beloved coach in the whole of England when this man’s career is over. 🧐

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Every complex ecosystem has parasites

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me at NEW ZEALAND'S UNITY BOOKS in AUCKLAND on May 2, and in WELLINGTON on May 3. More tour dates (Pittsburgh, PDX, London, Manchester) here.

Patrick "patio11" McKenzie is a fantastic explainer, the kind of person who breaks topics down in ways that stay with you, and creep into your understanding of other subjects, too. Take his 2022 essay, "The optimal amount of fraud is non-zero":

https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/optimal-amount-of-fraud/

It's a very well-argued piece, and here's the nut of it:

The marginal return of permitting fraud against you is plausibly greater than zero, and therefore, you should welcome greater than zero fraud.

In other words, if you allow some fraud, you will also allow through a lot of non-fraudulent business that would otherwise trip your fraud meter. Or, put it another way, the only way to prevent all fraud is to chase away a large proportion of your customers, whose transactions are in some way abnormal or unexpected.

Another great explainer is Bruce Schneier, the security expert. In the wake of 9/11, lots of pundits (and senior government officials) ran around saying, "No price is too high to prevent another terrorist attack on our aviation system." Schneier had a foolproof way of shutting these fools up: "Fine, just ground all civilian aircraft, forever." Turns out, there is a price that's too high to pay for preventing air-terrorism.

Latent in these two statements is the idea that the most secure systems are simple, and while simplicity is a fine goal to strive for, we should always keep in mind the maxim attributed to Einstein, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." That is to say, some things are just complicated.

20 years ago, my friend Kathryn Myronuk and I were talking about the spam wars, which were raging at the time. The spam wars were caused by the complexity of email: as a protocol (rather than a product), email is heterogenuous. There are lots of different kinds of email servers and clients, and many different ways of creating and rendering an email. All this flexibility makes email really popular, and it also means that users have a wide variety of use-cases for it. As a result, identifying spam is really hard. There's no reliable automated way of telling whether an email is spam or not – you can't just block a given server, or anyone using a kind of server software, or email client. You can't choose words or phrases to block and only block spam.

Many solutions were proposed to this at the height of the spam wars, and they all sucked, because they all assumed that the way the proposer used email was somehow typical, thus we could safely build a system to block things that were very different from this "typical" use and not catch too many dolphins in our tuna nets:

https://craphound.com/spamsolutions.txt

So Kathryn and I were talking about this, and she said, "Yeah, all complex ecosystems have parasites." I was thunderstruck. The phrase entered my head and never left. I even gave a major speech with that title later that year, at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference:

https://craphound.com/complexecosystems.txt

Truly, a certain degree of undesirable activity is the inevitable price you pay once you make something general purpose, generative, and open. Open systems – like the web, or email – succeed because they are so adaptable, which means that all kinds of different people with different needs find ways to make use of them. The undesirable activity in open systems is, well, undesirable, and it's valid and useful to try to minimize it. But minimization isn't the same as elimination. "The optimal amount of fraud is non-zero," because "everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Complexity is generative, but "all complex ecosystems have parasites."

America is a complex system. It has, for example, a Social Security apparatus that has to serve more than 65 million people. By definition, a cohort of 65 million people will experience 65 one-in-a-million outliers every day. Social Security has to accommodate 65 million variations on the (surprisingly complicated) concept of a "street address":

https://gist.github.com/almereyda/85fa289bfc668777fe3619298bbf0886

It will have to cope with 65 million variations on the absolutely, maddeningly complicated idea of a "name":

https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-believe-about-names/

In cybernetics, we say that a means of regulating a system must be capable of representing as many states as the system itself – that is, if you're building a control box for a thing with five functions, the box needs at least five different settings:

http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/REQVAR.html

So when we're talking about managing something as complicated as Social Security, we need to build a Social Security Administration that is just as complicated. Anything that complicated is gonna have parasites – once you make something capable of managing the glorious higgeldy piggeldy that is the human experience of names, dates of birth, and addresses, you will necessarily create exploitable failure modes that bad actors can use to steal Social Security. You can build good fraud detection systems (as the SSA has), and you can investigate fraud (as the SSA does), and you can keep this to a manageable number – in the case of the SSA, that number is well below one percent:

https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF12948/IF12948.2.pdf

But if you want to reduce Social Security fraud from "a fraction of one percent" to "zero percent," you can either expend a gigantic amount of money (far more than you're losing to fraud) to get a little closer to zero – or you can make Social Security far simpler. For example, you could simply declare that anyone whose life and work history can't fit in a simple database schema is not eligible for Social Security, kick tens of millions of people off the SSI rolls, and cause them to lose their homes and starve on the streets. This isn't merely cruel, it's also very, very expensive, since homelessness costs the system far more than Social Security. The optimum amount of fraud is non-zero.

Conservatives hate complexity. That's why the Trump administration banned all research grants for proposals that contained the word "systemic" (as a person with so-far-local cancer, I sure worry about what happens when and if my lymphoma become systemic). I once described the conservative yearning for "simpler times," as a desire to be a child again. After all, the thing that made your childhood "simpler" wasn't that the world was less complicated – it's that your parents managed that complexity and shielded you from it. There's always been partner abuse, divorce, gender minorities, mental illness, disability, racial discrimination, geopolitical crises, refugees, and class struggle. The only people who don't have to deal with this stuff are (lucky) children.

Complexity is an unavoidable attribute of all complicated processes. Evolution is complicated, so it produces complexity. It's convenient to think about a simplified model of genes in which individual genes produce specific traits, but it turns out genes all influence each other, are influenced in turn by epigenetics, and that developmental factors play a critical role in our outcomes. From eye-color to gender, evolution produces spectra, not binaries. It's ineluctably (and rather gloriously) complicated.

The conservative project to insist that things can be neatly categorized – animal or plant, man or woman, planet or comet – tries to take graceful bimodal curves and simplify them into a few simple straight lines – one or zero (except even the values of the miniature transistors on your computer's many chips are never at "one" or "zero" – they're "one-ish" and "mostly zero").

Like Social Security, fraud in the immigration system is a negligible rounding error. The US immigration system is a baroque, ramified, many-tendriled thing (I have the receipts from the immigration lawyers who helped me get a US visa, a green card, and citizenship to prove it). It is already so overweighted with pitfalls and traps for the unwary that a good immigration lawyer might send you to apply for a visa with 600 pages of documentation (the most I ever presented) just to make sure that every possible requirement is met:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/2242342898/in/photolist-zp6PxJ-4q9Aqs-2nVHTZK-2pFKHyf

After my decades of experience with the US immigration system, I am prepared to say that the system is now at a stage where it is experiencing sharply diminishing returns from its anti-fraud systems. The cost of administering all this complexity is high, and the marginal amount of fraud caught by any new hoop the system gins up for migrants to jump through will round to zero.

Which poses a problem for Trump and trumpists: having whipped up a national panic about out of control immigration and open borders, the only way to make the system better at catching the infinitesimal amount of fraud it currently endures is to make the rules simpler, through the blunt-force tactic of simply excluding people who should be allowed in the country. For example, you could ban college kids planning to spend the summer in the US on the grounds that they didn't book all their hotels in advance, because they're planning to go from city to city and wing it:

https://www.newsweek.com/germany-tourists-deported-hotel-maria-lepere-charlotte-pohl-hawaii-2062046

Or you could ban the only research scientist in the world who knows how to interpret the results of the most promising new cancer imaging technology because a border guard was confused about the frog embryos she was transporting (she's been locked up for two months now):

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/horrified-harvard-scientists-ice-arrest-leaves-cancer-researchers-scrambling/ar-AA1DlUt8

Of course, the US has long operated a policy of "anything that confuses a border guard is grounds for being refused entry" but the Trump administration has turned the odd, rare outrage into business-as-usual.

But they can lock up or turn away as many people as they want, and they still won't get the amount of fraud to zero. The US is a complicated place. People have complicated reasons for entering the USA – work, family reunion, leisure, research, study, and more. The only immigration system that doesn't leak a little at the seams is an immigration system that is so simple that it has no seams – a toy immigration system for a trivial country in which so little is going on that everything is going on.

The only garden without weeds is a monoculture under a dome. The only email system without spam is a closed system managed by one company that only allows a carefully vetted cluster of subscribers to communicate with one another. The only species with just two genders is one wherein members who fit somewhere else on the spectrum are banished or killed, a charnel process that never ends because there are always newborns that are outside of the first sigma of the two peaks in the bimodal distribution.

A living system – a real country – is complicated. It's a system, where people do things you'll never understand for perfectly good reasons (and vice versa). To accommodate all that complexity, we need complex systems, and all complex ecosystems have parasites. Yes, you can burn the rainforest to the ground and planting monocrops in straight rows, but then what you have is a farm, not a forest, vulnerable to pests and plagues and fire and flood. Complex systems have parasites, sure, but complex systems are resilient. The optimal level of fraud is never zero, because a system that has been simplified to the point where no fraud can take place within it is a system that is so trivial and brittle as to be useless.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/24/hermit-kingdom/#simpler-times

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

I’m an OG fan. I ship L/H but how ships are meant to be - your fave pairing, fun, fantasy, fandom activity, not something to discuss publicly much less with the celebs - but I never interacted much in fandom bc I disliked the bizarre obsession with ships being “real”. The “truth” of their sex/love lives is none of our business & was never their value to me. (i’d be much more interested in the truth about their friendships/coworker dynamics but we’ll never get it.) I drifted from the fandom when they went solo bc I saw how Harry was “Timberlake’ing”. No one seemed to see how calculated & ruthlessly ambitious he is, vapid, & fame obsessed. how he only befriends/dates rich, well-connected people. It’s refreshing to learn that blogs like yours exist - that people see him & see what he did to the other guys. Zayn, Louis, Liam - were all at times villainized and scapegoated while he’s treated like a naive princess who can do no wrong. His interviews are so pointless bc he never answers anything honestly. he’d never admit to being a cokehead who purposely deceived & fucked over the others to make sure he could launch his solo career without competition. Zayn tried to outmaneuver him but didn’t have the powerful team behind him & has too much integrity to ever be the kind of “star” Harry is. tbh I enjoy how much it irks harry that Zayn sees through him. It’s wild how sincere the others stayed, how they matured, how they have bigger priorities than money or fame. Harry mimicked Louis’ personality when they were younger, pretending he couldn’t wait to have kids & marry - when really he just wanted to be as rich, promiscuous, and famous as humanly possible. He bootlicks anyone in showbiz, so he has a glowing reputation in the industry - it’s laughable. “TPWK” unless it’s your bandmates who you can’t deign to acknowledge unless it benefits you - hosting SNL or winning an award? ok, mention the band so you get headlines. But like one of their promo posts or even follow them back on IG? heaven forbid, bc that won’t benefit him more than them. It shows his true character that he’s SO successful but still won’t be openly supportive or even seen with them. I don’t think he’s evil but I do think he’s lost to the industry… which is sad, bc there’s once a lot of sweetness there. His eyes have lost their sparkle; he traded it for “success”.

Hi anon,

I was reading this ask and nodding my head right along each sentence. A lot to unpack here, but mostly you’ve said everything I’ve tried to say. I’m not sure if anyone is listening, to be honest! Like you wrote, blogs who don’t worship Harry never become popular. So here I am talking to the air lol. Insanity.

I don’t think Harry is evil either. I think he realizes the trade-offs now, watching his ex-bandmates’ careers slowly build with intentions very different from his, their old ties fading to nothing except when tragedy yokes them back together. He has gazillions in wealth, industry kissing his feet, a lot of women (+ a few men) fantasizing about him, but nothing inside, the lights gone from his eyes years ago. It must feel awkward to stand next to his bandmates again?

Here’s the thing. I’m sure in every circumstance, forever for the foreseeable future, Louis is always going to be the bigger man and speak well of Harry. No matter how many times Louis refutes the idea of Larry, Louis has always said he’s proud of Harry, and I am sure he means it. 100%. No matter what Harry says or does, Louis considers him part of One Direction, his band, and that concept is sacrosanct to him. “We move as one.”

What Louis has in his heart is worth a million Manchester Co-ops. It is priceless. No one can take it away— no Kardashian money, no Rolling Stone cover, no Anna Wintour, no A-list actress or acting role. Nothing. What Louis has is the feeling of loyalty and unity that is the epitome of the song he wrote, Strong. “I don’t care, I’m not scared of love.” It’s not romantic love, at least not anymore, but what Louis describes in Only The Brave— the love that comes from the deepest pain, from uncomfortable truths, alienation, grief— broken beaks and dead birds— the love that requires moral courage. “Because love is only for the brave.” Louis earned it by going through fire, the love that endures because he chose to respect it, intentionally, over all the other things.

Last, Zayn’s intentionality is also transparent for those who open their eyes and see. I’m glad to see that Zayn is touring, and choosing to play the same smaller venues as Louis when he first started his tour. I’m also glad to see Louis communicating via social media. It’s not actual friendship, but a step! It means so much.

Louis and Zayn aren’t perfect people— far from it— but they chose to stay grounded and chose to preserve some part of their humanity. I know they haven’t always been their best selves. But who they are, especially who Louis is, is so endearing, and so inspiring.

[blackstarlineage]

George Padmore (1903–1959) was a prominent Trinidadian intellectual, journalist, and Pan-African activist who became one of the most influential figures in the global struggle for African liberation. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on June 28, 1903, Padmore was originally named Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse. He changed his name to George Padmore after his involvement in political activism.

Padmore’s early life in Trinidad was marked by his exposure to the conditions of colonialism, which inspired his later commitment to Pan-Africanism and social justice. He studied at the University of Chicago but became increasingly politically active during his time in the United States, where he was introduced to Marxist and socialist ideologies.

Padmore's activism truly flourished after he moved to the Soviet Union in the 1920s, where he became involved in the Communist International, or Comintern. He worked with anti-colonial movements, helping to organize efforts to fight European imperialism in Africa and the Caribbean. His experiences and disillusionment with Soviet policies eventually led him to break from Communism in the 1930s, after which he turned more decisively to Pan-Africanism.

As a journalist, writer, and political theorist, Padmore became a key intellectual figure in the Pan-African movement. He was closely associated with prominent African leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and contributed to the ideological foundation of Africa’s independence struggles. He wrote extensively on issues of colonialism, racism, and African liberation. One of his most influential works was Pan-Africanism: The Idea and the Movement (1945), in which he traced the history of the Pan-African movement and advocated for the unity of African nations as a means of achieving independence and freedom from colonial rule.

Padmore played a crucial role in the convening of the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress, which was a significant moment in the history of the Pan-African movement, bringing together various African, Caribbean, and African-American leaders in a shared commitment to independence and self-determination.

Padmore’s life was not without controversy. Though he was an advocate for African liberation and was instrumental in building the intellectual framework for anti-colonial struggles, his break with the Soviet Union and some of his political associations led to tensions within the broader international left-wing community.

Padmore spent the last years of his life in London, where he continued to write and support the Pan-African cause. He died on September 23, 1959, at the age of 56. His death marked the loss of one of the leading voices in the Pan-African movement and an important figure in the intellectual history of African liberation. The cause of his death was likely complications from an illness, but the exact details remain unclear.

Today, George Padmore is remembered as a key figure in the development of Pan-African thought and a tireless advocate for African independence and unity. His contributions to the intellectual and political struggle for liberation have made him an enduring influence on African and global movements for justice and equality.🇹🇹

[frenchcurious]

Bâtiment Manchester Unity Building à Melbourne, Australie. Construit en 1932. Architecte Marcus Barlow (1890-1954). - source Dhona.

[weirdowithaquill]

Traintober 2023: Day 19 - Revolutionary

Where did that Iconic Phrase come from?:

To understand the struggles that the steam and diesel engines faced in the 1950s and 1960s, we must first understand what exactly was meant by Diesel when he said: “We are revolutionary.” It’s a single line that holds a lot of hidden weight, particularly when considering how the diesels came to not only know such a line, but regurgitate it over and over again. It’s a common line from diesels – they claim that they are revolutionary, that they are superior, and that steam engines spoil their image – but why?

What led the diesels to hold such deep prejudices against steam locomotives, and why is it that they are so adamant about their superiority? Well, I have two theories:

Firstly, that this bravado was designed as propaganda by British Railways to justify their actions in scrapping thousands of steam engines as well as to increase loyalty for the company through diesel locomotives, a plan which utilised the railway rulebook to reinforce their ideology in these diesels’ minds and create a generation of unquestioningly loyal engines to a company that was notably suffering from strikes, low revenue and pre-nationalisation infighting.

Secondly, that this bravado was invented by the diesels to try and cover up their own shortcomings caused by the rushed nature of the Modernisation Plan of 1955, which saw British Railways give up on their original plan to slowly electrify the railway network while keeping steam engines until electric engines could replace them in favour of scrapping all the steam engines and replacing them with diesels.

Let’s break these two different ideas down and I’ll let you all decide which you like more.

Option 1:

British Railways was losing £300,000 a day as early as 1961, and it can be easily surmised that this extremely unprofitable position was not a new one. British Railways was disliked by the extremely antagonistic pre-nationalisation employees or engines – LNER, LMS, GWR and SR locomotives could be often found arguing in stations, further degrading public opinion of the company. Early BR steam locomotives were often sent to bad areas – such as London and Manchester – to try and create unity through a desire to mentor the younger engines. This in part worked, were it not for the scores of pre-nationalisation designs still being produced – especially of GWR designs. This extremely divided workforce left BR with very few options on how to bring unity to the company and restore their public image.

Enter diesels. These were almost completely new to the railways of Britain, with only a few experimental types and shunting classes existing before the 1950s, partially due to the work of Sir Nigel Gresley and his A4 Pacifics, which matching the diesels of the 1930s in terms of speed while hauling significantly more. This meant that they were different to what had existed in the British Isles prior to the war, and their differences would make it harder for steam engines to integrate these new diesel classes into their own cliques. British Railways decided that in order to protect their own image, as well as phase out the ‘more difficult’ steam engines, they would develop a banner for diesels to group themselves under – they found a unifier for diesels: “We are Revolutionary.”

It’s strong branding, for starters. The diesels now have a simple, catchy slogan to rally behind and that gives them a sense of importance that leads them to utilise it against the steam engines (as suggested “gently” by British Rail), leading to the diesels developed a single, united clique which is loyal to their railway company against the ‘old, outdated’ steam engines. It also was given to them by British Railways, furthering the company’s control over their engines and building a strong connection between the image of modern diesels and being a loyal part of the company. In other words, this was propaganda fed to the diesels purely so they would repeat it and create an image on both the railways and in the public’s mind of diesel traction being this great, modern revolution to Britain’s railway network that would change everything.

This, of course, failed badly – but considering that in the 1960s and 1970s Japan, Germany and France all developed high-speed electric trains capable of 200 kph while Britain’s railway closed rail lines, dealt with innumerable failed diesel types and lost its profitable freight traffic to the roads.

Option 2:

This option is perhaps a more interesting one, personally – because this option sees British Railways adopt the slogan after its invention in order to try and recover public face. Instead, the slogan “We are revolutionary” was developed by early diesel locomotives in the 1950s to try and promote themselves as modern and exciting as a way to cover up their own shortcomings – and let’s be clear; these diesels had a lot of shortcomings. The Metrovicks alone had enough mechanical faults to make an engineer run away screaming, while also having windows that fell out at speed. Other diesels caught fire, or belched out thick smoke, or just didn’t work almost all the time. The Pilot Scheme of the 1950s and 1960s was an absolute failure, all things considered – and while there were successful designs which became the backbone of the British Network (the Class 20s, Class 47s and Class 37s are all still in revenue-earning service, sixty years later), most of these classes were a terrible investment. And they knew it.

The public knew it too – the failings of British Railways was major news, both in parliament and in everyday households. The diesels needed a Public Relations victory – and fast. Remember, the Modernisation Plan of 1955 was a modification of the original intention of BR, which was to use steam locomotives until they electrified (a method used across continental Europe) and were diesels to fail any more than they already were, the company could have very easily shelved dieselisation in favour of this potentially safer (and less likely to catch on fire) option.

So, they developed a slogan to recite to the public: “We are Revolutionary”, and they got their most promising diesel classes (the Class 08s, Deltics, Class 40s and other successful designs) to repeat the line as often as possible around the public. The public caught on, and while it did not reverse the fortunes of the company, it did renew BR’s interest in diesel engines.

Either way, the slogan “We are Revolutionary” was developed specifically for diesel engines, and was used as propaganda against steam engines to try and cement the modernity and superiority of diesel traction in the minds of the public.

Back to Master Post

[salantami]

Manchester Unity building 

Built:1929-1932. Architect: Marcus Barlow

The tallest building in Melbourne in 1932 and the first building in Victoria to have escalators.

Photo credit :

[unitedbydevils]

A dressing room leakier than Old Trafford's roof: why fans must ignore the nonsense

Another day of drama for Manchester United. Another day of ridiculous media coverage because guess which club has the biggest news pull.. that's right, it's the (temporarily not so) mighty reds.

Unity is needed to fix our poor form, but I think an inquisition is needed to root out the leakers because it's boring. Years of shit being passed out from Carrington like it's a paper note in a classroom. Grow up.

Does Erik Ten Hag have favourites? Perhaps. Does this mean you should down tools? Absolutely not. The attitude here forgets several things:

You are an asset in of yourself. If you give up, other teams notice. This will lessen your value for a sale.

It also reduces your personal growth as a player. 6 months of not trying might have been the period where you level up your skill set and playstyle.

Football is a game of small margins. Anything less than your best could be the difference between a salvaged point and a painful defeat.

The rumoured leakers are obvious: Sancho, Maguire, McTominay, and maybe Donny Van de Beek (I doubt this last one). Henderson was also rumoured to be leaking before, as was Eric Bailly. Disgruntled players are the obvious suspects, and normally it's correct.

Roy Keane, seen here on Sky Sports, has the right take: players are failing to take responsibility for their poor performances, and are giving up too easily. Could ETH make better subs or quicker tactical changes? Sure. But it's his second season, having finished 3rd, won the League Cup, and reached the FA Cup final, all with Weghorst up front for crying out loud. Give the man a chance, believe in his plans. We can't keep cycling through managers. United will just be a graveyard for talent and a money pit.

The latest 'leak' or drama is about David De Gea's departure. People have short memories. He was a good goalkeeper, and kept United alive for many shitty seasons, but his last few years saw his shot stopping - the star attribute - fall off in terms of stats and success. This is an issue. Onana is a solid replacement for the keeping metrics, but with great feet to help play out from the back.

Our current form isn't derived from Onana playing badly. It's derived from an injured Varane showing the gulf of skill between him and Lindelof, and how important Varane is to getting the best out of Lissandro Martinez. Hence the need for Kim Min Jae in the summer.

Beyond that, Eriksen starting games at 31 with a heart condition. What the fuck. Casemiro looks overweight and slow and needs to be eased in to the season. Last year he played more games in the season than he EVER did at Madrid. Ever. They're playing though because Mount, Amrabat, Mainoo are all injured. All three would be playing if they were fit. They might all feature tomorrow versus Burnley, and they'll make a huge difference going forward.

The media is to blame as much as the players though. The Daily Mail published an article about Onana dropping his car keys. How is that journalism? The same goes for Samuel Luckhurst, seen above. There's a lot of stirring the pot to cause drama, to generate clicks.

The reality is that people shouldn't be taking the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N) seriously because they're clickbait these days. The death of local/regional news; clamouring for clicks and views rather than offering actual substance and building loyalty and respect.

United are in a rough spot, and perhaps this poor start means we fail to make the top 4 this season, but if - in the grand scheme of things - Ten Hag gets United playing the way he wants to then so be it. I want us fixed, and I'm willing to back this manager to get it done. If everyone was pulling the same way, trying, and it just wasn't working then fair dos, Erik might not be the man, but no. He hasn't had his preferred first XI. He hasn't had players properly trying. He's had issues with leaks, player insubordination, scandals off the field, and the takeover farse.

There are better managers, but I guarantee they cannot be arsed with United and the Glazers. Lets get behind Ten Hag, back his authority, lose the dregs and crybabies, and see what we can achieve with a committed squad of battlers and ballers. Up the reds.

[champagnetowerhire12]

How to Make Your Party Shine with a Champagne Tower in the UK

Looking to make your next event truly unforgettable? Whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday bash, or corporate soirée, champagne tower hire is the show-stopping centre piece that brings elegance and excitement to any occasion. Across lavish weddings and stylish parties, the growing demand for champagne tower hire services continues to rise — and for good reason. If you’re planning a memorable event and want to explore the trend of a champagne tower in the UK, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is a Champagne Tower?

A champagne tower is a visually stunning structure made by stacking coupe glasses in a pyramid shape. When champagne is poured into the top glass, it overflows and cascades down into the layers below, filling each glass in a mesmerising display of luxury and celebration. Often used as a symbolic gesture during weddings and milestones, the champagne tower represents joy, abundance, and unity.

Why Choose Champagne Tower Hire?

Instead of trying to build one yourself (and risking a spectacular mess!), champagne tower hire services ensure that everything from the structure to the setup and glassware is handled professionally. Here’s why hiring makes all the difference:

Hassle-Free Setup

Professionals manage the tower design, safe assembly, and seamless execution of the pour.

Premium Glassware

Expect polished coupe glasses in pristine condition, often tailored to match your theme.

Dramatic Presentation

Paired with LED lighting, dry ice, or florals, the tower becomes an iconic centre piece.

Perfect Photos

Capture that magical champagne cascade moment — it’s a favourite for wedding and party photographers.

The Rise of the Champagne Tower in the UK

In the UK, we’ve seen a surge in champagne tower popularity at events both big and small. Once reserved for high-society galas and royal celebrations, champagne towers in the UK have become accessible to everyone through specialist providers. From stately homes to modern hotel ballrooms, the tower trend has popped up everywhere from Edinburgh to Essex.

Trending Occasions for Champagne Towers:

Weddings: The perfect way for newlyweds to toast their new chapter.

Milestone Birthdays: Make a 30th, 40th or 50th birthday shine.

Corporate Events: Impress clients or reward staff in style.

New Year’s Eve: Ring in the new year with sparkle and flair.

Luxury Product Launches: Elevate your brand experience with a visual centrepiece.

Types of Champagne Tower Hire Services

When selecting your champagne tower hire, you’ll find a range of services depending on your event area, budget, and theme:

1. 5-Tier Champagne Towers

Perfect for intimate gatherings or boutique weddings, these are elegant yet compact.

2. 7 to 9-Tier Towers

These provide a taller, grander impact and are ideal for medium to large venues.

3. Bespoke Towers

Fully customisable with additional styling — think gold-rimmed glasses, fresh florals, or a synchronised champagne pour during your speech.

4. With Attendant Service

Many champagne tower hire services offer attendants to manage the pour and clean-up, ensuring no stress for the host.

What’s Included in Most Champagne Tower Hire Packages?

Though offerings vary, here’s what you can typically expect:

Full delivery and collection

Tiered setup with professional-grade glassware

Decorative options (e.g. LED lighting, flowers)

Optional staff for pouring or supervision

Safety stands or drip trays

Optional extras like prosecco, rosé, or even non-alcoholic bubbly

Where to Find Champagne Tower Hire in the UK

There are dosens of reputable champagne tower hire services across the UK. Look for companies that specialise in luxury event features and check their reviews, photo galleries, and insurance policies.

Hotspots for Champagne Tower Hire:

London: Chic city venues love a modern champagne tower setup.

Manchester & Liverpool: Northern elegance meets timeless tradition.

Bristol & Bath: Popular for weddings and historic venues.

Surrey & Kent: Ideal for countryside weddings.

Scotland: Castles and stately manors set the perfect scene.

Tips for a Flawless Champagne Tower Moment

To make the most of your champagne tower hire, keep these expert tips in mind:

Time the Pour

Plan the champagne pour to occur during a speech, toast, or song for dramatic effect.

Set the Scene

Use up lighting, flowers, or a mirrored base to make the tower pop in photographs.

Choose the Right Champagne

Not all sparkle is created equal. Make sure your bubbly is chilled and dry for the perfect pour. Prosecco is a popular budget-friendly option.

Why the General Public Loves Champagne Towers

Gone are the days when champagne towers were only for the elite. Today, they’re celebrated by the general public for their fun, flair, and Instagrammable presence. With affordable options and mobile services, anyone can enjoy this luxury.

Whether you’re hosting a garden party or booking a city rooftop, the champagne tower trend fits any vibe. It’s all about creating unforgettable experiences.

Book Your Champagne Tower Hire Early

As with many event features, popular dates book out quickly — especially during wedding season (May to September) and Christmas. Secure your champagne tower hire services well in advance to avoid disappointment.

When you book, discuss:

Guest numbers

Alcohol preference

Venue layout

Power sources (if lights or fountain attachments are included)

Timing of the pour

Final Thoughts: Raise a Glass to Style & Celebration

Whether you’re tying the knot, hosting a milestone party, or simply want to wow your guests, a champagne tower in the UK delivers drama, elegance, and timeless charm. With expert champagne tower hire services, you don’t need to lift a finger to enjoy this iconic display.

Cheers to creating unforgettable memories — one glass at a time.

[brookston]

Holidays 5.22

Holidays

Abolition Day (Martinique)

Air Force Day (Brazil)

Bălți Day (Moldova)

Battle of Saint Albans Anniversary Day

Buy A Musical Instrument Day

Canadian Immigrants' Day

Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)

The Carter’s Race (Ancient Scotland)

Children’s Day (Switzerland)

Crater Lake National Park Day

Dia do Abraço (National Hugging Day; Brazil)

EMS Save-a-Life Day

Ethernet Day

Ewokalypse

Find Your Soul Mate Day

The Ghosts of the Battle of St. Alban Day (Ancient England)

Girl Scout Day (Japan)

Harvey Milk Day (California)

Heat Awareness Safety Day

International Being You Day

International Building Safety Day

International Coco Mom Day

International Day For Biological Diversity (UN)

International Day of Syndrome 22q11

International Sherlock Holmes Day

Kids Ocean Day (California)

Lee Rigby Memorial Day

Leiria Day (Portugal)

Manchester Arena Remembrance / 22 Angels Day (UK)

Mattie Stepanek Day (Rockville, Maryland)

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood Day

National Boss Babes Day

National Coco Mom Day

National Curly Hair Day

National Day of First Nations Fishing Rights (Canada)

National Desert Storm Reservists Day

National Emergency Services for Children Day

National Gout Awareness Day

National Heroes Day (Sri Lanka)

National Maritime Day

National Psychopath Day

National Share Scheme Day (UK)

National Solitaire Day

National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)

National Toothpaste Tube Day

NF2 & Schwannomatosis Awareness Day

143 Day (Pennsylvania)

Pac-Man Day

Recliner Day

Republic Day (Sri Lanka)

Sherlock Holmes Day [also 1.6]

The Sisko Day (Star Trek)

The Soot Cat Games (Ancient Scotland)

Toothpaste Tube Day

Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari (Ukraine)

Truman Doctrine Day

United States Colored Troops Day

Unity Day (Yemen)

Watch Movies All Day Day

World Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Day

World Goth Day

World Pre-Eclampsia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bitcoin Pizza Day

National Cheese Blintz Day

National Craft Distillery Day

Vanilla Pudding Day

World Paloma Day

Nature Celebrations

Arbor Day (Ecuador, Guatemala)

Bear Waking Day (Norway)

Clover Day (French Republic)

Day of Hungarian Nature (Hungary)

Fuchsia Day (Enthusiastic Heart and Mind; Korean Birth Flowers)

Growing Flavor in the Garden Day

Jumping Frog Jubilee Day (Angel's Camp, California)

Loch Ness Monster Day

Wolves Back Day (Minnesota)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Ceylon (Declared Republic, Changed Name to Sri Lanka; 1972)

Dale Empire (Declared; 201) [unrecognized]

Flag Adoption Day (Australia)

Montenegro (from Serbia, 2006) [observed]

Yemen (Reunification Day; 1990)

4th Thursday in May

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day [Thursday of Memorial Day Weekend]

International Chardonnay Day [Thursday before Memorial Day]

National Mortgage Processors Day [4th Thursday]

Thinking Thursday [4th Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thuringer Thursday [4th Thursday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 22 (3rd Full Week of May)

None Known

Festivals On or Beginning May 22, 2025

Cannon River Rendezvous - Cannon Falls, Minnesota) [thru 5.26]

Grand Prix de Monaco (Monte Carlo) [thru 5.25]

Hay Festival (Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales) [thru 6.1]

Jambalaya Festival (Gonzales, Louisiana) [thru 5.25]

Kerrville Folk Festival (Kerrville, Texas) [thru 6.8]

Kodiak Crab Festival (Kodiak, Alaska) [thru 5.26]

Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival (Port Clinton, Ohio) [thru 5.26]

Saint Petersburg International Book Fair (Saint Petersburg, Russia) [thru 5.25]

Strawberry Festival (Beaver Dam, Kentucky) [thru 5.26]

Feast Days

Aigulf of Bourges (a.k.a. Ayoul; Christian; Saint)

Basiliecus, Bishop of Corinna (Christian; Saint)

Biological Diversity Day (Pastafarian)

Bobo (Christian; Saint)

Caer Gwydion (Milky Way Day; Celtic Book of Days)

Castus and Emilius (a.k.a. Cactus and Æmilius; Christian; Martyrs)

Conall (Christian; Saint)

Elphinstone Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Feast of Elen Ludyddog, of the Ways, of Old Track and Wells (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Feralia (Day of Purification; Pagan)

Fulk (Christian; Saint)

Helen of Carnavon (Christian; Saint)

Humilita (Christian; Saint)

Joachima de Mas (Christian; Saint)

Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger (Artology)

Julia of Corsica (Christian; Martyr)

The Mackerel (Muppetism)

Michael Hồ Đình Hy (Christian; One of Vietnamese Martyrs)

Quiteria (Christian; Saint)

Ragnar Lodbrok (Viking)

Rita of Cascia (Christian; Saint)

Romanus of Subiaco (Christian; Saint)

Scottish Sports Games Celebration (Ancient Scotland)

St. Cyprian (Positivist; Saint)

St. Nicholas Day (Serbia)

Toad-Pinching Day (Pixies; Shamanim)

Yvo (Christian; Saint)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 4 (Xin-Si), Day 25 (Xin-Mao)

Day Pillar: Metal Rabbit

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Open Day (開 Kai) [Auspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Charles Aznavour (Entertainment)

George Best (Sports)

Félix Bracquemond (Art)

Richard Brakenburgh (Art)

Max Brooks (Literature)

Mary Cassatt (Art)

Claude Closky (Art)

Gervais-Francois Couperin (Music)

Belmiro de Almeida (Art)

Arthur Conan Doyle (Literature)

John Flanagan (Literature)

Thomas Gold (Science)

Daniel Gran (Art)

Hergé (Art)

Julius Klinger (Art)

Amalia Lindegren (Art)

Peter Matthiessen (Literature)

Margaret Mee (Art)

Morrisey (Music)

George Olah (Science)

Laurence Olivier (Entertainment)

Sun Ra (Music)

Hubert Robert (Art)

Tansy Rayner Roberts (Literature)

Tomás Sánchez (Art)

Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger (Art)

Willy Stöwer (Art)

Jean Tinguely (Art)

Fritz von Uhde (Art)

Richard Wagner (Music)

Paul Winfield (Entertainment)

Worthington Whittredge (Art)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alien 3 (Film; 1992)

The Army Mascot (Pluto Disney Cartoon; 1942)

Beau Best (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1933)

Bold King Cole (Rainbow Parade Cartoon; 1936)

Bomb Voyage (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

Bone Sweet Bone (WB MM Cartoon; 1948)

A Boy and His Dog (Columbia Favorites; 1958)

Bullwinkle Goes to Press or All the Moose That’s Fit to Print (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 52; 1960)

Cartoons in the Barber Shop (The Animated Grouch Chaser Cartoon; 1915)

The Chipmunk Adventure (Animated Film; 1987)

Circus Today (Blue Ribbon Hit Parade Cartoon; 1948)

Claws for Alarm (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Clean Pastures (WB MM Cartoon; 1937)

Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto, by Vine Deloria Jr. (Political Theory; 1969)

The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Novel; 1974)

Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett (Novel; 1978)

Far and Away (Film; 1992)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Film; 1998)

Flashman, by George MacDonald Fraser (Novel; 1969)

The Four Seasons (Film; 1981)

The Girlfriend Experience (Film; 2009)

Goodbye My Lady Love (Fleischer Song Car-Tune Cartoon; 1926)

Great Expectations (Film; 1947)

Gunga Din, by Rudyard Kipling (Poem; 1890)

Headquarters, by The Monks (Album; 1967)

Horses, Horses, Horses (Aesop’s Film Fable Cartoon; 1927)

An Ice Boy (Ebenezer Ebony Cartoon; 1925)

I Don’t Want to Make History (Fleischer Screen Songs Cartoon; 1936)

Imperial Woman, by Pearl S. Buck (Novel; 1956)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Film; 2008)

The Italian Girl in Algiers (L’italiana in Algeria), by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1813)

Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes (Fleischer Out of the Inkwell Cartoon; 1924)

Leap Year (The Boob Weekly Rube Goldberg Barre Cartoon; 1916)

Live and Help Live (B.D.F. Film Cartoon; 1925)

The Lonesome Mouse (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1943)

Mexican Boarders (WB LT Cartoon; 1962)

Mission Impossible (Film; 1996)

The Negotiator, by Frederick Forsyth (Novel; 1989)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Film; 2009)

The Opposite of Sex (Film; 1998)

Out (SparkShorts Pixar Cartoon; 2020)

Outland (Film; 1981)

Padding the Bill (Paramount Cartoon; 1921)

The Pink Quarterback (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Popeye’s Birthday (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Popeye’s Mirthday (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Preacher (TV Series; 2016)

Rocketman (Film; 2019)

A Song a Day (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1936)

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1963) [Jeeves #13]

That’s What You Get, by the Castiles featuring Bruce Springsteen (Song; 1966)

Thousand Cranes, by Yasunari Kawabata (Novel; 1952)

Tintin and Alph-Art, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1986) [Tintin #24]

Tomorrowland (Film; 2015)

Water on the Brain or The Deep Six and 7/8 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 51; 1960)

The Weary Blues, by Langston Hughes (Poem; 1925)

Well Worn Daffy (WB LT Cartoon; 1965)

When Marnie Was There (Animated Film; 2015)

The Wind and the Lion (Film; 1975)

You’re My Best Friend, by Queen (Song; 1976)

You Turn Me On, by Ian Whitcomb (1965)

Today’s Name Days

Julia, Ortwin, Rita (Austria)

Julija, Rita (Croatia)

Emil (Czech Republic)

Castus (Denmark)

Leivo, Oliver (Estonia)

Hemminki, Hemmo (Finland)

Émile, Quitter, Rita (France)

Julia, Ortwin, Renate, Rita (Germany)

Emilios, Kodros (Greece)

Júlia, Rita (Hungary)

Rita, Valente (Italy)

Emīlija, Mile (Latvia)

Aldona, Eimantas, Elena, Julija, Rita (Lithuania)

Henning, Henny (Norway)

Emil, Helena, Jan, Julia, Krzesisława, Rita, Wiesław, Wiesława, Wisława (Poland)

Vasilisc (România)

Júlia, Juliana (Slovakia)

Joaquina, Julia, Rita (Spain)

Hemming, Henning (Sweden)

Jolee, Joleen, Jolene, Jolie, Marshall (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Arthur Day

National Julie Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 142 of 2025; 223 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 4 of Week 21 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Xin-Si), Day 25 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 14 Bashans 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Chestnut (May 15-24) [Day 8 of 10]

Hebrew: 24 Iyar 5785

Islamic: 24 Dhu al-Qada 1446

Julian: 9 May 2025

Moon: 27%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 2 Saint Paul (6th Month) [St. Cyprian]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 9 of 15] (thru 5.28)

Season: Spring (Day 63 of 92)

SUn Calendar: 22 Magenta; Oneday [22 of 30]

Week: 3rd Full Week of May

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Gemini (Day 2 of 31)

Sidereal Zodiac: Taurus (Day 8 of 32)

Schmidt Zodiac: Cetus (Day 11 of 26)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Aries (Day 9 of 39)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Aries (Day 9 of 37)

[csmeatonimages]

Manchester Unity Building by Christopher Smeaton Via Flickr: Manchester Unity Building Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3000

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.22

Holidays

Abolition Day (Martinique)

Air Force Day (Brazil)

Bălți Day (Moldova)

Battle of Saint Albans Anniversary Day

Buy A Musical Instrument Day

Canadian Immigrants' Day

Carpet Day (Turkmenistan)

The Carter’s Race (Ancient Scotland)

Children’s Day (Switzerland)

Crater Lake National Park Day

Dia do Abraço (National Hugging Day; Brazil)

EMS Save-a-Life Day

Ethernet Day

Ewokalypse

Find Your Soul Mate Day

The Ghosts of the Battle of St. Alban Day (Ancient England)

Girl Scout Day (Japan)

Harvey Milk Day (California)

Heat Awareness Safety Day

International Being You Day

International Building Safety Day

International Coco Mom Day

International Day For Biological Diversity (UN)

International Day of Syndrome 22q11

International Sherlock Holmes Day

Kids Ocean Day (California)

Lee Rigby Memorial Day

Leiria Day (Portugal)

Manchester Arena Remembrance / 22 Angels Day (UK)

Mattie Stepanek Day (Rockville, Maryland)

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood Day

National Boss Babes Day

National Coco Mom Day

National Curly Hair Day

National Day of First Nations Fishing Rights (Canada)

National Desert Storm Reservists Day

National Emergency Services for Children Day

National Gout Awareness Day

National Heroes Day (Sri Lanka)

National Maritime Day

National Psychopath Day

National Share Scheme Day (UK)

National Solitaire Day

National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)

National Toothpaste Tube Day

NF2 & Schwannomatosis Awareness Day

143 Day (Pennsylvania)

Pac-Man Day

Recliner Day

Republic Day (Sri Lanka)

Sherlock Holmes Day [also 1.6]

The Sisko Day (Star Trek)

The Soot Cat Games (Ancient Scotland)

Toothpaste Tube Day

Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari (Ukraine)

Truman Doctrine Day

United States Colored Troops Day

Unity Day (Yemen)

Watch Movies All Day Day

World Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Day

World Goth Day

World Pre-Eclampsia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bitcoin Pizza Day

National Cheese Blintz Day

National Craft Distillery Day

Vanilla Pudding Day

World Paloma Day

Nature Celebrations

Arbor Day (Ecuador, Guatemala)

Bear Waking Day (Norway)

Clover Day (French Republic)

Day of Hungarian Nature (Hungary)

Fuchsia Day (Enthusiastic Heart and Mind; Korean Birth Flowers)

Growing Flavor in the Garden Day

Jumping Frog Jubilee Day (Angel's Camp, California)

Loch Ness Monster Day

Wolves Back Day (Minnesota)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Ceylon (Declared Republic, Changed Name to Sri Lanka; 1972)

Dale Empire (Declared; 201) [unrecognized]

Flag Adoption Day (Australia)

Montenegro (from Serbia, 2006) [observed]

Yemen (Reunification Day; 1990)

4th Thursday in May

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day [Thursday of Memorial Day Weekend]

International Chardonnay Day [Thursday before Memorial Day]

National Mortgage Processors Day [4th Thursday]

Thinking Thursday [4th Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thuringer Thursday [4th Thursday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 22 (3rd Full Week of May)

None Known

Festivals On or Beginning May 22, 2025

Cannon River Rendezvous - Cannon Falls, Minnesota) [thru 5.26]

Grand Prix de Monaco (Monte Carlo) [thru 5.25]

Hay Festival (Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales) [thru 6.1]

Jambalaya Festival (Gonzales, Louisiana) [thru 5.25]

Kerrville Folk Festival (Kerrville, Texas) [thru 6.8]

Kodiak Crab Festival (Kodiak, Alaska) [thru 5.26]

Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival (Port Clinton, Ohio) [thru 5.26]

Saint Petersburg International Book Fair (Saint Petersburg, Russia) [thru 5.25]

Strawberry Festival (Beaver Dam, Kentucky) [thru 5.26]

Feast Days

Aigulf of Bourges (a.k.a. Ayoul; Christian; Saint)

Basiliecus, Bishop of Corinna (Christian; Saint)

Biological Diversity Day (Pastafarian)

Bobo (Christian; Saint)

Caer Gwydion (Milky Way Day; Celtic Book of Days)

Castus and Emilius (a.k.a. Cactus and Æmilius; Christian; Martyrs)

Conall (Christian; Saint)

Elphinstone Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Feast of Elen Ludyddog, of the Ways, of Old Track and Wells (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Feralia (Day of Purification; Pagan)

Fulk (Christian; Saint)

Helen of Carnavon (Christian; Saint)

Humilita (Christian; Saint)

Joachima de Mas (Christian; Saint)

Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger (Artology)

Julia of Corsica (Christian; Martyr)

The Mackerel (Muppetism)

Michael Hồ Đình Hy (Christian; One of Vietnamese Martyrs)

Quiteria (Christian; Saint)

Ragnar Lodbrok (Viking)

Rita of Cascia (Christian; Saint)

Romanus of Subiaco (Christian; Saint)

Scottish Sports Games Celebration (Ancient Scotland)

St. Cyprian (Positivist; Saint)

St. Nicholas Day (Serbia)

Toad-Pinching Day (Pixies; Shamanim)

Yvo (Christian; Saint)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 4 (Xin-Si), Day 25 (Xin-Mao)

Day Pillar: Metal Rabbit

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Open Day (開 Kai) [Auspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Charles Aznavour (Entertainment)

George Best (Sports)

Félix Bracquemond (Art)

Richard Brakenburgh (Art)

Max Brooks (Literature)

Mary Cassatt (Art)

Claude Closky (Art)

Gervais-Francois Couperin (Music)

Belmiro de Almeida (Art)

Arthur Conan Doyle (Literature)

John Flanagan (Literature)

Thomas Gold (Science)

Daniel Gran (Art)

Hergé (Art)

Julius Klinger (Art)

Amalia Lindegren (Art)

Peter Matthiessen (Literature)

Margaret Mee (Art)

Morrisey (Music)

George Olah (Science)

Laurence Olivier (Entertainment)

Sun Ra (Music)

Hubert Robert (Art)

Tansy Rayner Roberts (Literature)

Tomás Sánchez (Art)

Johann Nepomuk Schödlberger (Art)

Willy Stöwer (Art)

Jean Tinguely (Art)

Fritz von Uhde (Art)

Richard Wagner (Music)

Paul Winfield (Entertainment)

Worthington Whittredge (Art)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alien 3 (Film; 1992)

The Army Mascot (Pluto Disney Cartoon; 1942)

Beau Best (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1933)

Bold King Cole (Rainbow Parade Cartoon; 1936)

Bomb Voyage (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

Bone Sweet Bone (WB MM Cartoon; 1948)

A Boy and His Dog (Columbia Favorites; 1958)

Bullwinkle Goes to Press or All the Moose That’s Fit to Print (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 52; 1960)

Cartoons in the Barber Shop (The Animated Grouch Chaser Cartoon; 1915)

The Chipmunk Adventure (Animated Film; 1987)

Circus Today (Blue Ribbon Hit Parade Cartoon; 1948)

Claws for Alarm (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

Clean Pastures (WB MM Cartoon; 1937)

Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto, by Vine Deloria Jr. (Political Theory; 1969)

The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Novel; 1974)

Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett (Novel; 1978)

Far and Away (Film; 1992)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Film; 1998)

Flashman, by George MacDonald Fraser (Novel; 1969)

The Four Seasons (Film; 1981)

The Girlfriend Experience (Film; 2009)

Goodbye My Lady Love (Fleischer Song Car-Tune Cartoon; 1926)

Great Expectations (Film; 1947)

Gunga Din, by Rudyard Kipling (Poem; 1890)

Headquarters, by The Monks (Album; 1967)

Horses, Horses, Horses (Aesop’s Film Fable Cartoon; 1927)

An Ice Boy (Ebenezer Ebony Cartoon; 1925)

I Don’t Want to Make History (Fleischer Screen Songs Cartoon; 1936)

Imperial Woman, by Pearl S. Buck (Novel; 1956)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Film; 2008)

The Italian Girl in Algiers (L’italiana in Algeria), by Gioachino Rossini (Opera; 1813)

Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes (Fleischer Out of the Inkwell Cartoon; 1924)

Leap Year (The Boob Weekly Rube Goldberg Barre Cartoon; 1916)

Live and Help Live (B.D.F. Film Cartoon; 1925)

The Lonesome Mouse (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1943)

Mexican Boarders (WB LT Cartoon; 1962)

Mission Impossible (Film; 1996)

The Negotiator, by Frederick Forsyth (Novel; 1989)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Film; 2009)

The Opposite of Sex (Film; 1998)

Out (SparkShorts Pixar Cartoon; 2020)

Outland (Film; 1981)

Padding the Bill (Paramount Cartoon; 1921)

The Pink Quarterback (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

Popeye’s Birthday (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Popeye’s Mirthday (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1953)

Preacher (TV Series; 2016)

Rocketman (Film; 2019)

A Song a Day (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1936)

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1963) [Jeeves #13]

That’s What You Get, by the Castiles featuring Bruce Springsteen (Song; 1966)

Thousand Cranes, by Yasunari Kawabata (Novel; 1952)

Tintin and Alph-Art, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1986) [Tintin #24]

Tomorrowland (Film; 2015)

Water on the Brain or The Deep Six and 7/8 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 51; 1960)

The Weary Blues, by Langston Hughes (Poem; 1925)

Well Worn Daffy (WB LT Cartoon; 1965)

When Marnie Was There (Animated Film; 2015)

The Wind and the Lion (Film; 1975)

You’re My Best Friend, by Queen (Song; 1976)

You Turn Me On, by Ian Whitcomb (1965)

Today’s Name Days

Julia, Ortwin, Rita (Austria)

Julija, Rita (Croatia)

Emil (Czech Republic)

Castus (Denmark)

Leivo, Oliver (Estonia)

Hemminki, Hemmo (Finland)

Émile, Quitter, Rita (France)

Julia, Ortwin, Renate, Rita (Germany)

Emilios, Kodros (Greece)

Júlia, Rita (Hungary)

Rita, Valente (Italy)

Emīlija, Mile (Latvia)

Aldona, Eimantas, Elena, Julija, Rita (Lithuania)

Henning, Henny (Norway)

Emil, Helena, Jan, Julia, Krzesisława, Rita, Wiesław, Wiesława, Wisława (Poland)

Vasilisc (România)

Júlia, Juliana (Slovakia)

Joaquina, Julia, Rita (Spain)

Hemming, Henning (Sweden)

Jolee, Joleen, Jolene, Jolie, Marshall (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Arthur Day

National Julie Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 142 of 2025; 223 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 4 of Week 21 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Xin-Si), Day 25 (Xin-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 14 Bashans 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Chestnut (May 15-24) [Day 8 of 10]

Hebrew: 24 Iyar 5785

Islamic: 24 Dhu al-Qada 1446

Julian: 9 May 2025

Moon: 27%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 2 Saint Paul (6th Month) [St. Cyprian]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 9 of 15] (thru 5.28)

Season: Spring (Day 63 of 92)

SUn Calendar: 22 Magenta; Oneday [22 of 30]

Week: 3rd Full Week of May

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Gemini (Day 2 of 31)

Sidereal Zodiac: Taurus (Day 8 of 32)

Schmidt Zodiac: Cetus (Day 11 of 26)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Aries (Day 9 of 39)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Aries (Day 9 of 37)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Object permanence

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me at NEW ZEALAND'S UNITY BOOKS in AUCKLAND on May 2, and in WELLINGTON on May 3. More tour dates (Pittsburgh, PDX, London, Manchester) here.

#20yrsago Free Culture Movement turns one https://web.archive.org/web/20050426022041/http://www.lessig.org/blog/archives/002838.shtml

#15yrsago India’s copyright bill gets it right https://web.archive.org/web/20100425031519/https://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4974/196/

#15yrsago Hitler’s pissed off about fair use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBO5dh9qrIQ

#10yrsago Fascinating, wide-ranging discussion with William Gibson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmh29gwEy7Y

#10yrsago Tory chairman accused of smearing party rivals’ Wikipedia entries https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/21/grant-shapps-accused-of-editing-wikipedia-pages-of-tory-rivals

#10yrsago John Oliver on patent trolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxcc3SM_KA

#5yrsago Disney heiress slams top execs' compensation https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/22/filternet/#castmembers

#5yrsago Covid burns through Charter Cable employees https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/22/filternet/#thomas-rutledge-murderer

#5yrsago Unmasking the registrants of the "reopen" websites https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/22/filternet/#krebs

#5yrsago Apartment buildings didn't cause the pandemic https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/22/filternet/#kate-wagner

#5yrsago Web-wide copyright filters would be a disaster https://pluralistic.net/2020/04/22/filternet/#filternet

#1yrago Paying for it doesn't make it a market https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/22/kargo-kult-kaptialism/#dont-buy-it

[manchestertrust]

Guiding the Next Generation: The Purpose and Power of the Islamic Educational Trust

In today’s fast-paced, modern world, the pursuit of knowledge must go hand in hand with moral and spiritual development. This is the foundation upon which the Islamic Educational Trust stands. Created to serve both the intellect and the soul, IETs are essential institutions in many communities, promoting excellence in education through the lens of Islamic values.

Whether managing schools, funding scholarships, or providing religious education, the Islamic Educational Trust continues to play a critical role in shaping future leaders who are confident in their faith and capable in their professions.

What Is the Islamic Educational Trust?

An Islamic Educational Trust is typically a non-profit organisation dedicated to offering accessible, high-quality education rooted in Islamic principles. These trusts operate across the globe and are known for managing:

Islamic primary and secondary schools

Qur'an memorisation and Arabic language programmes

Weekend madrasahs

University scholarship initiatives

Teacher training and curriculum development

Community learning events and workshops

The core vision is clear: to provide a balanced education that nurtures not just academic achievement, but strong character and Islamic identity.

A Vision of Balanced Excellence

The Islamic Educational Trust doesn't just aim to teach—it aims to inspire. It brings together religious knowledge with academic rigour, producing students who are intellectually sharp and ethically grounded.

Its core goals include:

Faith-Based Learning: Offering Islamic studies alongside subjects like science, mathematics, and literature

Identity Formation: Helping young Muslims build confidence in their heritage and faith

Community Upliftment: Supporting families, empowering women through education, and fostering civic responsibility

Leadership Development: Training youth to be leaders in both religious and secular spaces

Success Stories and Global Impact

Across countries like the UK, Nigeria, India, and South Africa, Islamic Educational Trusts have made lasting contributions to communities. For example:

In Nigeria, the Islamic Education Trust (IET Minna) has educated thousands of students since 1969, combining Islamic studies with modern disciplines.

In the UK, trusts like Manchester Islamic Educational Trust have developed schools that are both academically competitive and spiritually enriching.

In India, Islamic trusts are actively supporting girls’ education in rural communities, changing social attitudes while improving literacy rates.

These institutions are not just schools; they are cultural pillars fostering peace, knowledge, and understanding.

Challenges on the Path Forward

Despite their great work, Islamic educational trusts face some common challenges:

Funding limitations due to reliance on donations

Navigating regulatory requirements while maintaining Islamic ethos

Combating misinformation and overcoming societal stereotypes

But their resilience is driven by a strong sense of purpose and deep community support. By embracing technology, forming strategic partnerships, and engaging the wider public, IETs are finding innovative ways to overcome these barriers.

Conclusion:

The Islamic Educational Trust is much more than an educational provider—it is a movement rooted in faith, committed to raising generations of knowledgeable, ethical, and empowered individuals. In a time when the world craves both intelligence and integrity, the work of these trusts has never been more vital. As they continue to expand their reach and modernise their methods, Islamic Educational Trusts remain a cornerstone of hope, progress, and unity in the global Muslim community.

[uklearnquran]

Experience the Spiritual Joy of Quran Lessons Online in the UK

In today's fast-paced lifestyle, spiritual nourishment is often the first thing we unintentionally put on hold. But with evolving technology, reconnecting with faith has never been easier. Taking Quran lessons online in the UK is now a popular, flexible, and meaningful way to engage with the holy teachings of the Quran—right from the comfort of your home.

Learn from Anywhere, Anytime

Whether in a busy city like Manchester or a quiet town in the countryside, your location no longer limits your access to sacred knowledge. Quran lessons online are designed to bring quality education directly to your screen.

Students can choose times that work best for them—before school, after work, or even on weekends. This makes learning consistent, manageable, and stress-free, especially for those with tight schedules.

Tailored Learning for All Ages

Everyone's Quranic journey is different, and online lessons are built to reflect that. Children, teenagers, and adults can all benefit from personalized learning plans. From basic Arabic alphabets to advanced Tajweed and Tafseer, each student gets what they need to grow.

One of the standout features of Quran lessons online is the option to choose between male and female tutors, which creates a more comfortable and encouraging environment—particularly for sisters and younger children.

Deep Spiritual Connection Through Screens

While online learning may seem impersonal initially, many students quickly discover the opposite. These sessions often build strong spiritual bonds between students and teachers. Qualified instructors bring warmth, care, and passion to every class.

Their guidance goes beyond pronunciation and grammar—they help students reflect on the meanings of verses, apply lessons in daily life, and grow spiritually. With regular sessions, students often find their connection with Allah (SWT) strengthening week by week.

A Safe and Nurturing Space for Learning

Online Quran classes offer a safe and supportive environment, especially for younger learners. Parents have peace of mind knowing that lessons take place in the security of their own homes.

Reputable academies ensure all tutors go through rigorous background checks and have strong references. Parents can monitor lessons, communicate with instructors, and track progress at every stage.

This approach to online Quran lessons empowers families to take charge of their spiritual development while ensuring high teaching and safety standards.

The Best of Technology and Tradition

Online Quran classes brilliantly blend timeless teachings with modern tools. Live video sessions, digital whiteboards, audio recordings, and progress-tracking apps make learning interactive and practical.

Students can record classes for revision, get instant feedback, and use additional digital resources to enhance their studies. This blend of tradition and tech makes Quran lessons online more engaging than ever.

Join a Wider Community of Believers

Enrolling in online classes means you're not just signing up for one-on-one tuition—you're joining a vibrant community. Many platforms host group classes, Quran recitation competitions, and spiritual reminders that unite learners.

This shared journey fosters motivation, unity, and a sense of purpose. No matter your background or age, you have a place in this global circle of learners.

Consistency that Fits Your Life

Whether you're working shifts, juggling family responsibilities, or studying at university, Quran learning can easily become a consistent part of your routine. Online classes eliminate the need to commute or rearrange your schedule.

Quran lessons online make it possible to remain consistent without any compromise. You get the freedom to grow at your own pace without ever missing a class due to external challenges like traffic, weather, or distance.

Affordable, Flexible Options for Every Home

Many families are pleasantly surprised by how affordable online Quran classes can be. With various packages, discounts for multiple siblings, and flexible payment options, spiritual education becomes accessible.

Several platforms offer free trial classes, allowing you to explore and choose what works best for your family. Quality, affordability, and flexibility combine to provide a learning experience that suits every home.

The Journey Starts with a Single Step

The Quran is not just a book—it's a lifelong guide and companion. Taking Quran lessons online gives Muslims of all ages a chance to develop a stronger connection with the Quran without stepping outside their door.

This journey is about more than just reading—understanding, reflecting, and transforming. With the right tutor and consistent effort, every session brings you one step closer to spiritual peace, wisdom, and clarity.

Final Thoughts

In every verse lies a lesson. In every lesson, there's a chance to transform. Quran lessons online in the UK open a world of knowledge, compassion, and divine connection for anyone willing to begin.

No matter your age, background, or experience level—this spiritual path welcomes you warmly. Begin today, and let the words of Allah (SWT) guide your heart, shape your values, and illuminate your life.