I wonder if the packets were drawn to look like they're watching the people!

I think that depends on how you define 'civilisation'. My inclination is that most people would say civilisation has ended if life is drastically different to how they perceive their life/world they live in. Think 'civilisation as we know it' rather than a dictionary definition.

However, I disagree that it's not an existentisl threat, if only on the basis of possible crop failiures on a massive scale (reduced crop yields are a global issue already). Don't underestimate the impact of food shortages on everything else, we in the west have become accustomed to easy access to food.

And so you just 'lost'. The far right only interacts with the non far right to invoke a reaction. They don't care what anyone thinks. Invoke chaos, distract with 'pettiness' and take advantage of the fallout.

The smell is enough for me in the morning!

I drink decaf and it still has the same effect for me.

A couple of posts back on my feed was about nasa sending a video of a cat via a laser beam. Can't help thinking they've been intergallactically rick-rolled!

Every once in a...

Jeff, leave it will you?!

Me too, dammit!

They haven't transferred the money to anyone else. An ethical investment fund just selects businesses that meet certain criteria, e.g. no weapons manufacturers or tabacco companies. They haven't given a penny back to anyone, not even made a donation to e.g. a non-royal family charity or good cause, as far as I'm aware. They've just changed the source of funds for the renovations that this particular income was reported to being used for.

Don't worry, lead isn't that toxic. It takes a lot more exposure than the occasional handling to get heavy metal poisoning from it. But yes, odd to use lead as a weight (or put a weight in, perhaps it's a heat-sink?) it's fairly expensive. It could be a lead alloy which makes it more malleable, though a small peice of pure lead like that I'd expect to be easily bendable, but not compressable like clay.

You can get tree protection orders for single or groups of trees. I have a feeling you can make an application to get them protected without them being on your land.