John B
@johnb78.bsky.social
Yes, that one. Australian. Saying things; around the place. On the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. He/him.
Pinned
John B
@johnb78.bsky.social
· Sep 5
Nobody's going to get any special kudos for supporting Mandela in 1988, but we remember the MPs and conservative commentators who were still calling him a terrorist then, and "not being remembered as one of those bastards" is probably worth considering
Reposted by John B
Apparently Spielberg asked Tom Stoppard to write the screenplay for Jaws, but Tom said he couldn’t as he was writing a play for the BBC.
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
December 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Apparently Spielberg asked Tom Stoppard to write the screenplay for Jaws, but Tom said he couldn’t as he was writing a play for the BBC.
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
Reposted by John B
If the entirety of your op/ed compares demographic changes in London to the Khmer Rouge's mass murder of millions of people, you are willingly engaged in stochastic terrorism, and should be held responsible for any and all violent actions committed by fascists against non-white people
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
If the entirety of your op/ed compares demographic changes in London to the Khmer Rouge's mass murder of millions of people, you are willingly engaged in stochastic terrorism, and should be held responsible for any and all violent actions committed by fascists against non-white people
Sean Thomas is one of the nastier figures to have made it into the UK blogger-to-columnist scene; it's probably lucky for him that his books are too tedious for anyone to actually read (also bloody hell re the 2002 reviewer's indulgence) www.theguardian.com/books/2002/n...
Review: The Cheek Perforation Dance by Sean Thomas
Phil Daoust on Sean Thomas's true-to-life courtroom drama, The Cheek Perforation Dance
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Sean Thomas is one of the nastier figures to have made it into the UK blogger-to-columnist scene; it's probably lucky for him that his books are too tedious for anyone to actually read (also bloody hell re the 2002 reviewer's indulgence) www.theguardian.com/books/2002/n...
Reposted by John B
The Khmer Rouge mood board has been a key inspiration in many of those loft conversions. Having a pyramid of skulls in the corner is the new Love Laugh Live.
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The Khmer Rouge mood board has been a key inspiration in many of those loft conversions. Having a pyramid of skulls in the corner is the new Love Laugh Live.
Reposted by John B
The FT comments on Stephen‘s newsletter are full of people accusing him of a pro-Labour bias for arguing that their latest budget is fundamentally flawed and unsustainable. I am actually losing my mind.
December 1, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The FT comments on Stephen‘s newsletter are full of people accusing him of a pro-Labour bias for arguing that their latest budget is fundamentally flawed and unsustainable. I am actually losing my mind.
Reposted by John B
Feel like I'm going mad. The Budget's 'headroom' is based on frankly irresponsible and wildly optimistic claims about what Labour will do in the final year of the forecast, and on ignoring a bunch of upward pressures on spending, and the claim is that she was being exaggeratedly *pessimistic*?
Suggestion Rachel Reeves exaggerated fiscal pressures is absurd
Chancellor was instead far too optimistic about public finances and government’s ability to secure cuts
www.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Feel like I'm going mad. The Budget's 'headroom' is based on frankly irresponsible and wildly optimistic claims about what Labour will do in the final year of the forecast, and on ignoring a bunch of upward pressures on spending, and the claim is that she was being exaggeratedly *pessimistic*?
Reposted by John B
But overall, "lanyard class" is *such* a stupid phrase. Hospital porters wear them. Secondary school teachers generally do. Peers of the realm, including Glassman, are meant to wear them around parliament and most are polite enough to do so.
December 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
But overall, "lanyard class" is *such* a stupid phrase. Hospital porters wear them. Secondary school teachers generally do. Peers of the realm, including Glassman, are meant to wear them around parliament and most are polite enough to do so.
Replies really missing the point of this one - at the moment we have right wing newspapers that fawn uncritically on right wing parties and hate the centre/left, and centre/left newspapers that report broadly fairly on everyone and unsurprisingly, correctly critique centre/left governments a lot
Sometimes I do think we should have more media outlets that just go 'Labour good' – you know, for balance
Anyway, here are some front pages from the day after the most disastrous fiscal event in the UK since Robert Peston started a run on Northern Rock...
December 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Replies really missing the point of this one - at the moment we have right wing newspapers that fawn uncritically on right wing parties and hate the centre/left, and centre/left newspapers that report broadly fairly on everyone and unsurprisingly, correctly critique centre/left governments a lot
Reposted by John B
Sometimes I do think we should have more media outlets that just go 'Labour good' – you know, for balance
Anyway, here are some front pages from the day after the most disastrous fiscal event in the UK since Robert Peston started a run on Northern Rock...
December 1, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Sometimes I do think we should have more media outlets that just go 'Labour good' – you know, for balance
Reposted by John B
I like how they’ve spliced in an extra section but they really needed some hair dye.
December 1, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I like how they’ve spliced in an extra section but they really needed some hair dye.
Reposted by John B
Media coverage is written at the pace of Twitter gossip, and processed by a public that are largely asking the question "there was a budget?"
Another day of 6 music running on a ludicrous made up scandal that makes no sense but gets Dan Hodges excited.
December 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Media coverage is written at the pace of Twitter gossip, and processed by a public that are largely asking the question "there was a budget?"
Strong floor, no ceiling
December 1, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Strong floor, no ceiling
Strong floor, no ceiling
December 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Strong floor, no ceiling
Reposted by John B
Strong Floor. No Ceiling. 1 Bedroom. 1/2 Bathroom. Toilet Next To Stove. You Can’t Afford It.
Strong Floor, No Ceiling, Can Lose
December 1, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Strong Floor. No Ceiling. 1 Bedroom. 1/2 Bathroom. Toilet Next To Stove. You Can’t Afford It.
Reposted by John B
okay, it looks like the prompt itself got caught by the much simpler, for various well-justified technical reasons, red-text filter rather than the model's own safety training. this is the right behavior even if it's annoying.
November 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
okay, it looks like the prompt itself got caught by the much simpler, for various well-justified technical reasons, red-text filter rather than the model's own safety training. this is the right behavior even if it's annoying.
Reposted by John B
this is a perfectly good theory which presents the problem that it has not happened once in american history
Independent, pro-worker, class warrior candidates can absolutely beat Republicans in red states if they are not tainted by the Democratic Party brand. The labor movement can make this happen systematically.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
How to Win Red States With a Labor Party
We can take political power without asking Democrats for it.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:56 PM
this is a perfectly good theory which presents the problem that it has not happened once in american history
Reposted by John B
Proposed new tax on complaining to the media about how your business / sector / house is being treated unfairly
November 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Proposed new tax on complaining to the media about how your business / sector / house is being treated unfairly
It's not the coffee, it's the bunk!
"Strong floor, no ceiling" is a terrible slogan because it doesn't express anything clearly, it's just noises. If you have to explain a slogan it doesn't fucking work.
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 AM
It's not the coffee, it's the bunk!
Reposted by John B
one day we'll study the trans rights movement of 2015-now and a story of lost opportunity and own goals. if you asked me today, trans rights will be won by straight liberals commitment to bodily autonomy, legacy LGBT organizations and cis gays, parents of trans youth, and frustrated trans Gen Alpha
December 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
one day we'll study the trans rights movement of 2015-now and a story of lost opportunity and own goals. if you asked me today, trans rights will be won by straight liberals commitment to bodily autonomy, legacy LGBT organizations and cis gays, parents of trans youth, and frustrated trans Gen Alpha
Reposted by John B
Regarding the latter, one could argue there is a level of seniority below which it is not reasonable to expect service members to exercise their own judgement about that.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
Refusing to follow a “kill the survivors of the previous strike who are clearly hors de combat” order SHOULD BE significantly more clear-cut than refusing one due to “this entire operation is unlawful because citing inherent Article II authority is insufficient.”
There must be accountability.
There must be accountability.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Regarding the latter, one could argue there is a level of seniority below which it is not reasonable to expect service members to exercise their own judgement about that.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
Reposted by John B
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
November 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
Reposted by John B
the Michelin man is kinda like a Greek god in the sense that he presides over tires and which restaurants are good
November 30, 2025 at 5:01 AM
the Michelin man is kinda like a Greek god in the sense that he presides over tires and which restaurants are good
Reposted by John B
Five (this one courtesy of @seanpdailey.bsky.social)
November 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Five (this one courtesy of @seanpdailey.bsky.social)
Reposted by John B
just spitballing here: a good slogan for dems in 2026 or 2028 might be BAN SCAMS
November 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
just spitballing here: a good slogan for dems in 2026 or 2028 might be BAN SCAMS
Reposted by John B
sorry everyone, Your Party was a skit I organized on leftist factionalism that got out of hand. I honestly thought the name was a big enough clue.
Zarah Sultana uses Your Party Conference Day Two address to talk about how unacceptable the Your Party Conference Day One was.
November 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
sorry everyone, Your Party was a skit I organized on leftist factionalism that got out of hand. I honestly thought the name was a big enough clue.