One of the greatest frustraitions I have with the 'One Nation' bloc is just the supineness of what is, in theory, the largest bloc of the modern Conservative party. Just no attempt to leverage influence or steer the party

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · yesterday

There are newborn children with greater survival instincts than moderate Conservative MPs.

If only the UK had some ancient fable of someone trying to pay off people who kept coming back for more...... no Ethelred we've not agreed what Unraedy means yet

Lee Hurley@hleehurley.com · 5d ago

They're never fucking happy. That's why you should just tell them to fuck off.

"They were all Avengers worlds"

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social · 5d ago

I genuinely adore Infinity, it has a properly operatic scope that is really hard to separate from the wider Hickman 20 year master plan, and I think its one weakness is that it does benefit so much from that context it's hard to recommend outside it. It's a rare comic that feels "epic."

The Grindr Serial Killer wrote a suicide note from one of his victims *in his own fucking handwriting* and the Met's response to the family pointing out that the note wasnt in their sons handwriting was to claim that their son had been on drugs.

John Oxley@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 6d ago

Amazing how many British policing scandals seem to boil down to "What do you expect us to do? Our jobs?"

"Your post has been liked and reposted by 9th century Gaels, Franks and Britons. You've been added to the following blocklist: "People hating on my bitching mercs" by the Byzantine Empire"

Alex Says Stuff@alexsaysstuff.bsky.social · last wk.

9th Century Saxons:

Jools Holland live. I was dragged to so many of these when I was a small kid. Then my parents took me to see Humphrey Littlton. Such a better experience

James Austin@jamesdaustin.bsky.social · last wk.

what is the world's most offensively beige band and why is it Belle and Sebastian?

I'm so fucking tired of this arguement. Bluntly employees need to be able to afford to eat, have a roof over their head etc. The cost of living required the gov to make an intervention: in this case raising the costs on employers. What would your solution have been instead?

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social · last wk.

I note Stephen doesn't go into it here, because it is its own column, but my observation would be that the net impact of the government's changes to minimum wage and NI thresholds is that early careers staff are a lot more expensive than they once were, the other side of "it's the economy, stupid."

Dan Stevens first big role post Downton was playing a delightfully deranged (and oddly media savvy) super soldier. It would appear he is coming full circle

Jordan@jordanpfot.bsky.social · last wk.

Dan Stevens post Downton Abbey is quietly constructing a rather sensational and peculiar filmography.

The short answer: the WRE was a much more tempting, vulnrable target. Also the ERE funneled threats towards them. The ERE had a brief ressurection thanks to Belisarius but continued to undergo the same decline once the big tempting lure of the WRE collapsed and was replaced by the HRE.

Joel@storywonker.bsky.social · last wk.

Hi, yeah, quick question: why did that not happen in the east

Theres a similar effect in Edinburgh. Plus you need to consider the "Fringe factor": ie can you get throuhh august without throwing your own faeces at the interprative bagpipe dance group beneath your window

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · last wk.

The occasional moments of 'I can't afford this, yet it is smaller and less nice' are very sustaining though.

I'm sorry, but *Secular Jews champion a café open on Shabbat because it really, really pisses off Strictly Orthodox Jews, only to find out that the café is owned by Jews for Jesus* really does sound more like a comedy film than reality. www.jewishnews.co.uk/a-jerusalem-...

A Jerusalem cafe became a symbol of secular defiance — until Israelis learned it was run by Jews for Jesus - Jewish News

Hapoel Jerusalem retracted its offer to give Cafe Basimta free advertising

jewishnews.co.uk

See also some of the earlier Arthur tales: which can mostly e viewed as " 101 ways to kill Sais and kidnap churchmen"

Sara Straw@oneoneder.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is Beowulf too. There are segments that read as "let me tell you all about the AWESOME BATTLE AND BLOODSHED aww shit the priest's here, uhh and it was very sad and terrible, so pointless etc - oh good he's gone, back to the good stuff"

King in the North: Broke King of the Isles: We're retaking Dublin

Sam Lowe@samuelmarclowe.bsky.social · 2w ago

Put it in the Outer Hebrides, cowards

The damage the 2010 SDSR (or Army2020 for those of us forced to read it as part of our Sandhurat applications) is one of the most damaging British military reforms since the delay to scrapping the ability to buy ranks in the Army. (Thread to follow)

Joel@storywonker.bsky.social · 2w ago

AND why people keep going on about "aircraft carriers without any aircraft" - because the Harriers that the QECs would've flown before F35 delivery were scrapped in the 2010 SDSR

The Nolan film that shares most of the themes with The Odessey? Its The Dark Knight Rises. Its an adaptation of a story of a hero returning after a self inflicted tragedy to a hom that doesnt recognise him until he adopts the mantle of a hero once more

Tom Roberts@tpgroberts.bsky.social · 2w ago

"Oh, so he really did just make Oppenheimer again but instead of making the atom bomb, he made a horse."

The right at the time, and now, is represented by parties that would have howled 'traitor' had the gov showed any kind of pushback to the 'Raise the Flags' operation. Just a monumental failure of leadership that summer

John Oxley@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 2w ago

Absolutely true on the right too. The voters hate coked up trouble makers.

I'd comment on Lithuanian fans behaiviour but that would require them to play internationally. Still. I'm sure they wouldn't make monkey noises at the multi ethnic england players like many other eastern european fans.

open all borders. stop having them be closed 🇺🇦🇱🇹🇵🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿@dov.bsky.social · 2w ago

100% of theories that english fans would be better than someone else's fans are almost definitionally wrong

'Starmer with rizz' sounds like the latest challenge on Love Island for pick up line

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 2w ago

Good piece this. One problem with 'Starmer with rizz' is that yes, people get more excited by the stuff that they agree with (in my case, devolution) but they are also more likely to notice the stuff they explicitly disagree with:

I mean wee Eck died as he lived: in the arms of a woman who wasnt his wife after reaching slightly too far.

Jack Tindale@jacktindale.bsky.social · 2w ago

We are now in the longest period between Westminster by-elections (contested or otherwise) triggered by the incumbent dying in modern and probably all history. Most of this is explained by the fact that people are a lot healthier but it's an interesting contrast with the United States Congress.

My gripe about including Sinon is that 1) Sinon's portrayed as an innocent rather than a double agent. 2) If you're going to have Sinon I want my sea snakes

Elizabeth Taylor@elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 2w ago

Also - having a trans man play a pivotal role as Sinon really does feel quietly boundary breaking. (You can tell trans men are men because his character had more interiority in this then his pre transition role in Inception, despite getting less than a quarter % of comparable screentime)

In Edinburgh I agreed to meet an old flame at "the place where the spark first started" (dont judge me, it was rebound o'clock). Anyway turns out theres multiple Brass Monkeys

Jonn Elledge@jonnelledge.bsky.social · 3w ago

agreed to meet a mate in the same pub as last time and ended up in two entirely different pubs on different sides of the River Thames

agreed to meet a mate in the same pub as last time and ended up in two entirely different pubs on different sides of the River Thames

Well this was the old system: GC's screamed bloody murder and we ended up with blanket bans

James Austin@jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 3w ago

I'd suggest a case by case basis would be sensible rather than blanket approach.

Ah could be worse. We could have had our head of state tarnish the national team and then get humiliated when we faced our first bit of decent opposition.

Alejandra Caraballo@esqueer.net · 3w ago

IT'S NOT COMING HOME.

@alexsaysstuff.bsky.social I appear to have earned myself a block for the below. Do let me know if his arguements improve

Will Bone@williambone.bsky.social · 3w ago

Sure thing. You have no idea of the history of UK trans activism/inclusion, determined to give GC activists the shadow of the doubt while claiming trans activists need to reflect. When your inconsistencies are pointed out you resort to swearing. You are no different to what we faced 20 years ago.

Considering the brand of femisnism in this case labels trans people as barely contained predators.... not sure if you want to pearl clutch

I've found my fav US discourse. My postion remains: statehood for DC and all US overseas territories annexed as part of US military action.

Alex Says Stuff@alexsaysstuff.bsky.social · 3w ago

This is a major reason why I insist on DC statehood with no compromises or carveouts. If Republican politicians and lobby groups want to operate in DC, then they have to accept and abide by DC law. That DC is 90% blue is their problem.

Funny coincedence but Sean did play Ceasar in a BBC docu drama series on the fl of Rome: which included a young Michael Sheen as Nero

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social · 4w ago

For starters, I would’ve cast Sean in Rome (2005)

Its this level of international representation that makes me proud to be british

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt@nadinebh.bsky.social · 4w ago

So I got to the bar in Italy 4 hours early because I’m English and now I’m already bottle of Prosecco down and questioning whether we timed this right