Mike Shevdon
@shevdon.bsky.social
Contemporary Fiction Writer, Archer, Cook, Ukulele Player, Collector of Curiosities, Spinner of Stories, Renewable Energy, DIY Refurbisher, Undiagnosed Neurodivergent
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
There's so much I love about this speech and I hope you read the full text when you can - it's worth it.
But I love how it paints imagination as an act of service to others and a way to resist domination.
It helped me articulate some of why I think stories are so powerful and why we NEED them.
But I love how it paints imagination as an act of service to others and a way to resist domination.
It helped me articulate some of why I think stories are so powerful and why we NEED them.
So I was invited to accept an award for "imagination in service to society." This forced me to think a bit about what "imagination," "service" and "society" mean to me.
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
Here's the speech I delivered last night:
buttondown.com/charliejane/...
"The Enemy of Imagination": Here's the Speech I Gave Last Night
I had such an incredible day yesterday, y’all. First I was at the Trans Day of Literature at George Mason University, talking with incredible authors...
buttondown.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
There's so much I love about this speech and I hope you read the full text when you can - it's worth it.
But I love how it paints imagination as an act of service to others and a way to resist domination.
It helped me articulate some of why I think stories are so powerful and why we NEED them.
But I love how it paints imagination as an act of service to others and a way to resist domination.
It helped me articulate some of why I think stories are so powerful and why we NEED them.
Has anyone else noticed that Farage‘s daily press conferences have stopped since Nathan Gill was convicted? And Farage‘s defence is that he made pro-Russia statements without needing to be bribed. Hmm 🤔
November 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Has anyone else noticed that Farage‘s daily press conferences have stopped since Nathan Gill was convicted? And Farage‘s defence is that he made pro-Russia statements without needing to be bribed. Hmm 🤔
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
NEW There's no overstating how significant the Nathan Gill case is. On Friday, the close associate of Nigel Farage was jailed for over 10 years for taking bribes ultimately from a friend of Putin. It's a complex, detail-heavy story that raises questions about Farage’s claim Gill was ‘one bad apple’🧵
November 23, 2025 at 11:53 AM
NEW There's no overstating how significant the Nathan Gill case is. On Friday, the close associate of Nigel Farage was jailed for over 10 years for taking bribes ultimately from a friend of Putin. It's a complex, detail-heavy story that raises questions about Farage’s claim Gill was ‘one bad apple’🧵
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Hope HMRC are investigating whether Gill evaded tax on the bribes he received.
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
November 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Hope HMRC are investigating whether Gill evaded tax on the bribes he received.
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
Why would you outsource parts of your decision-making to someone who is consistently, demonstrably and objectively wrong about random things?
November 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Why would you outsource parts of your decision-making to someone who is consistently, demonstrably and objectively wrong about random things?
The number of adverts taking the line of, “if you don’t use our Ai product, your competitors will” is staggering, from company to personal level.
Let me say, the premium skill for the future is the ability to think and articulate your thinking to others.
Let me say, the premium skill for the future is the ability to think and articulate your thinking to others.
November 21, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The number of adverts taking the line of, “if you don’t use our Ai product, your competitors will” is staggering, from company to personal level.
Let me say, the premium skill for the future is the ability to think and articulate your thinking to others.
Let me say, the premium skill for the future is the ability to think and articulate your thinking to others.
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Thanks @helenebismarck.bsky.social!
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Thanks @helenebismarck.bsky.social!
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
The Prescott review was basically, the BBC should be anti-woke, pro-Trump, anti-immigrant, anti-trans, pro-Israel, and against discussion of colonialism.
So no bias there, then?
Why are the BBC employing these people?
So no bias there, then?
Why are the BBC employing these people?
November 20, 2025 at 8:43 AM
The Prescott review was basically, the BBC should be anti-woke, pro-Trump, anti-immigrant, anti-trans, pro-Israel, and against discussion of colonialism.
So no bias there, then?
Why are the BBC employing these people?
So no bias there, then?
Why are the BBC employing these people?
Could it be that “Quiet, Piggy” is a phrase that he’s used before, frequently perhaps? Is that what he says to his wife when she asks questions he doesn’t want to answer?
November 19, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Could it be that “Quiet, Piggy” is a phrase that he’s used before, frequently perhaps? Is that what he says to his wife when she asks questions he doesn’t want to answer?
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
This is perfect…
BBC Under Attack: Pot and Kettle Special
The new Private Eye is out now.
The new Private Eye is out now.
November 12, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This is perfect…
For those who are trying to understand the position of the Democrats in the US Senate, try picturing the Charlie Brown cartoon with Lucy holding the football ready for Charlie Brown to kick…
November 10, 2025 at 9:14 AM
For those who are trying to understand the position of the Democrats in the US Senate, try picturing the Charlie Brown cartoon with Lucy holding the football ready for Charlie Brown to kick…
Let me get this straight.
GB News is accusing the BBC of bias?
GB News is accusing the BBC of bias?
November 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Let me get this straight.
GB News is accusing the BBC of bias?
GB News is accusing the BBC of bias?
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Yes
BBC News is a news organisation. It is there to do proper news not "represent the views of its viewers" - as funneled through right wing press/social media. If the next DG understands that it will be in a far better place.
November 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Yes
Prison, is what needs to happen.
Gobsmacking
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Prison, is what needs to happen.
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Remember the time Obama personally caught a fainting woman during his speech — rather than just blankly staring like a sociopath?
Character isn't something you tell people about.
It's something you live.
Character isn't something you tell people about.
It's something you live.
November 7, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Remember the time Obama personally caught a fainting woman during his speech — rather than just blankly staring like a sociopath?
Character isn't something you tell people about.
It's something you live.
Character isn't something you tell people about.
It's something you live.
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? — Researching the impartiality of political news
In UK-wide media, the Caerphilly by-election result was framed around Reform UK’s defeat, the terminal decline of Labour in Wales, and the implications for Keir Starmer’s UK government in Westminster....
www.enhancingimpartiality.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
New impartiality study: Contrasting media coverage of the Caerphilly by-election in Wales with UK-wide news: how did broadcasters balance parties and leaders? Thread 1/10 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/caerphi...
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
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November 1, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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Who are the flag-raisers? This would be funny if it wasn’t so sinister:
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/the-men-who-...
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/the-men-who-...
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Who are the flag-raisers? This would be funny if it wasn’t so sinister:
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/the-men-who-...
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/the-men-who-...
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Whenever the talk turns to taxing the rich, the Reform or Tory always says that the rich will leave. BBCQT last night. They need reminding that their Brexit caused over 440 firms in the financial sector alone to move to the EU taking up to £1.3 trillion in assets with them, plus the jobs.
October 31, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Whenever the talk turns to taxing the rich, the Reform or Tory always says that the rich will leave. BBCQT last night. They need reminding that their Brexit caused over 440 firms in the financial sector alone to move to the EU taking up to £1.3 trillion in assets with them, plus the jobs.
“Spending cuts are easy“
The last government cut spending and it failed. So they cut spending again, and again, and again. It all failed.
Why can politicians not see that this doesn’t work? Efficiency savings are just more cuts. Cuts don’t work. Put it on your wall where you can see it.
The last government cut spending and it failed. So they cut spending again, and again, and again. It all failed.
Why can politicians not see that this doesn’t work? Efficiency savings are just more cuts. Cuts don’t work. Put it on your wall where you can see it.
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
October 30, 2025 at 9:13 AM
“Spending cuts are easy“
The last government cut spending and it failed. So they cut spending again, and again, and again. It all failed.
Why can politicians not see that this doesn’t work? Efficiency savings are just more cuts. Cuts don’t work. Put it on your wall where you can see it.
The last government cut spending and it failed. So they cut spending again, and again, and again. It all failed.
Why can politicians not see that this doesn’t work? Efficiency savings are just more cuts. Cuts don’t work. Put it on your wall where you can see it.
Reposted by Mike Shevdon
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights. goodlaw.social/v3qy
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights | Good Law Project
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR. His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster.
goodlaw.social
October 29, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights. goodlaw.social/v3qy