Continuing the whimsical theme, my Bulldog is 9 today. He is the bestest boy. Georgi made him cake, and I swear to God the boy just swallowed it whole.
Some random homeless geezer cheered me on during my incredibly laboured 5km. Who said people can't be nice?
You cannot reason with stupidity, and that is what a large part of this is. Yes, mainstream parties have consistently let people down. They deserve our ire & anger. But wanting simple answers to complex questions, cakeism, and denying reality - the very things he leans into via grievance - is on us.
Alex Andreou@sturdyalex.bsky.social · yesterdayThis work of genius by @paulnoth.bsky.social in the NYT has always been the perfect summary of people like Farage and their voters.
One of the fires that turned into a major incident last week was less than a mile from my house. No, I'd rather we take climate change seriously. The village that could have burnt down for one would appreciate it. As would I.
Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social · 8h agoBritish people should “enjoy” multiple heatwaves and shrug off warnings of dangerous climate change while enjoying more English fizzy wine, the deputy leader of Reform UK has said. www.ft.com/content/49ea...
New YIMBY Pod: THE TRUTH ABOUT DOBBY'S GRAVE @mjrobbins.com and I try to to understand whether the viral planning story of the week actually happened or not. And then we nerd out with London Assembly Member @neilgarratt.bsky.social about his awesome new map. www.abundancepod.com/p/the-truth-...
The truth about Dobby's grave
Plus what an awesome map of London's travel times tells us about the capital
abundancepod.com
Kemi Badenoch, after seeing both her party and Labour get eaten up by attempting to copy the far right has decided that this is the best approach to take under her leadership. Where does she think the votes to gain a majority going to come from in a three way tussle for Reform and Restore voters?
The genius of Kemi remains unparalleled in the ability to not think beyond the immediate action one is taking.
Dr Jo Kershaw@mthrjo.bsky.social · 10h agoI’m not a great fan of Mordaunt’s politics, but - or perhaps precisely because of that! - if there’s no place for her in the Tory Party then the Tory Party is done being anything other than a hard right enclave (and Reform will probably eat their lunch)
Athletics is not my lane, but this is pretty darn impressive. Ticket sales aside, it's been a good European Championship for Team GB. Hunt, in particular, was outstanding. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athlet...
European Athletics Championship: Hunt wins her fourth gold as Great Britain win mixed 4x100m relay
Great Britain win the first mixed 4x100m relay ever staged in the European Athletics Championships as Amy Hunt takes her fourth gold in the competition.
bbc.co.uk
Press release on the new changes to planning policy now out. We're expecting the details later today. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Full steam ahead to fast-track more homes near stations
Thousands of quality homes to be built closer to stations, cutting commute times and helping families live closer to work, school and transport
gov.uk
Yes, very much this. You can't change him. He's definitely not BF material, and you should treat him with the same disdain you treat all cold blooded killers. Regardless of whether the broad politics aligns with your views, he's a douche.
Farage rolling out the scrutiny avoidance playlist. Big figure / eye catching headline that is entirely lacking in serious detail or ability to deliver, made up grievances and obfuscation. The British media really do need to be better at seeing this, and countering accordingly.
Fox News attacking the troops? America is speed running its populist fascism era.
MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 22h ago🚨 FOX MOCKS SAILORS: Fox News host Joey Jones lashed out at U.S. sailors speaking out about dire conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, calling them “weak” and warning America has “nothing left.”
There are some absolute horror stories in here. Combination of people, systems, and processes being awful. Very few of my mates have separated, those that have, for the most part, were able to ensure this stuff is avoided. Really feel for the folks cited. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Parents pushed to breaking point by Child Maintenance Service, BBC told
Mothers, like Katy, describe battles to make ex-partners pay, while fathers say they have been wrongly charged thousands.
bbc.co.uk
Belatedly getting round to reading Middle Ground by 'Joe Carpenter'. A first hand, tradey, account of working for a housing association in their repairs teams. A lot of very familiar sector themes regarding systems, competency and complacency.
This seems as well thought out as a shart in an elevator.
Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · yesterdayThe gift that keeps on giving…..
Simon Woolley spoke to BBC Broadcasting House (33 minutes in to the programme) about his friend Jason Arday, and his efforts with others to support him after his resignation from Cambridge University. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Broadcasting House - Wildfires and emergency alerts - BBC Sounds
South Wales Chief Fire Officer: wildfires and arsonists stretching service to the limit.
bbc.co.uk
English Rugby: we're losing players in the community game and need to be more accessible to fans. Also English Rugby: £120 for a replica kit so bland even the Women's Institute has suggested using some spices next time. castore.com/products/lei...
Leicester Tigers Men's 2026/27 Home Pro Shirt
Features: Pro textured fabric Aertek technology GPS pouch Silicone gripper Cut & sew cuffs Angled side seams Cut & sew underarm and side body panels Bar tack reinforced seams Description: Rep...
castore.com
Plenty to reflect about re: the Arday affair, but I'm going to repeat this one thing. The playbook the right used here is effective even though it's not especially sophisticated, as it relies on the audience to do the dirty work. I've been calling it "Trojan horse propaganda", let's go with that. 1/
So, this is actually worse than the headline suggests, and not just for the current state of play. A combination of a new Decent Homes Standard that is in-flight, with the expected Awaab's law expansion to the PRS will leave a costly bill & greater accountability. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Royal estates rent out homes that fail to meet legal energy efficiency standards
Exclusive: More than 100 homes on King Charles and Prince William’s inherited estates have EPC ratings of F or G
theguardian.com
Count Binface is having to make a serious statement following unsubstantiated allegations from a man fired for lying about his tax affairs.
Count Binface@countbinface.bsky.social · 2d agoA brief note for Nadhim Zahawi.
I wrote a thing. I'll try not to make it a habit but it was either start typing or keep furiously pacing. dmitryopines.substack.com/p/listening-...
Listening to the Monsters
A scream into the void about Professor Arday and flawed institutions in a bad faith ecosystem.
dmitryopines.substack.com
A lot of bad takes going on here. Putting aside the seemingly very clear deficiencies of the individual. Who benefits from extrapolation of one case to the whole suite of EDI initiatives?
From this review- “Think of all the diligent, decent black academics who have been lumbered with the embarrassment of having Arday as a figurehead” - no, think of *why* black academics are held collectively responsible in ways that white academics are not
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 3d agoI think functionally all of the post-resignation coverage that was about him rather than Cambridge was excessive (e.g. this poisonous review of a book nobody is going to buy - why)
Citizen of the country that attempted to regain ownership of the Suez canal here. This sort of situation does not end well for the colonial power.
Chairman Moët@chairmanmoet.bsky.social · 2d agoWould this mean anyone born there would automatically become a US citizen? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
100% this. It is a casus belli for folks who want to attack EDI/DEI.
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 2d agoSell the “much more boring” to someone who is in the market for it. The truth is that most of the coverage was not about his eyecatching fabulism - it was about arguing that diversity initiatives have gone too far and airing grievances about other cultural issues, which black ppl.