Col Bond
@colinbond.bsky.social
Music, books, nature. Walks like a jerk, but he could eat you with a fork and a spoon. Judgy introvert. Bespoke librarian. Wales.
Reposted by Col Bond
the epstein files as rick owens fall/winter 2024
December 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
the epstein files as rick owens fall/winter 2024
Reposted by Col Bond
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
December 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
Reposted by Col Bond
John is talking about a dirty secret of British politics here BTW: if you speak out against the far right - or indeed, if you just e.g. provide services for migrants - then you risk being targeted with actual criminal harassment, in an environment where no help or solidarity will be forthcoming.
Interesting isn’t it, to note in which circumstances there is no fear at all about giving your personal view in the most extreme and offensive terms, and in which ones there is great reticence to open your mouth at all.
December 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
John is talking about a dirty secret of British politics here BTW: if you speak out against the far right - or indeed, if you just e.g. provide services for migrants - then you risk being targeted with actual criminal harassment, in an environment where no help or solidarity will be forthcoming.
Reposted by Col Bond
In 1988 Umberto Eco wrote Foucault's Pendulum.
The plot is: a bunch of guys working at a self-publisher house, for fun, take their huge crackpot and crank slush pile and jam it all together using a simple markov chain program written in BASIC.
They create a Grand Unified Conspiracy Theory.
The plot is: a bunch of guys working at a self-publisher house, for fun, take their huge crackpot and crank slush pile and jam it all together using a simple markov chain program written in BASIC.
They create a Grand Unified Conspiracy Theory.
July 21, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In 1988 Umberto Eco wrote Foucault's Pendulum.
The plot is: a bunch of guys working at a self-publisher house, for fun, take their huge crackpot and crank slush pile and jam it all together using a simple markov chain program written in BASIC.
They create a Grand Unified Conspiracy Theory.
The plot is: a bunch of guys working at a self-publisher house, for fun, take their huge crackpot and crank slush pile and jam it all together using a simple markov chain program written in BASIC.
They create a Grand Unified Conspiracy Theory.
Reposted by Col Bond
It's bad - really bad: "At the end of 2024, 4.5m children – 31% of all UK children – were in relative poverty, living in households earning less than 60% of the UK’s median income. And 18% of all children were growing up in food-insecure households, without consistent access to nutritious food."
Child poverty: how bad is it in the UK?
Four and a half million children are growing up without basic necessities in the UK.
theconversation.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM
It's bad - really bad: "At the end of 2024, 4.5m children – 31% of all UK children – were in relative poverty, living in households earning less than 60% of the UK’s median income. And 18% of all children were growing up in food-insecure households, without consistent access to nutritious food."
Reposted by Col Bond
Reposted by Col Bond
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Note how these awful people are getting exactly the exclusions of children that they demanded and *that still isn’t enough for them*: they demand everyone be delighted about it and kiss their arses for being brilliant.
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Reposted by Col Bond
The FT’s analysis of autism and ADHD prevalence is deeply worrying www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/12...
The FT’s analysis of autism and ADHD prevalence is deeply worrying
I have, for a while, thought that John Burn-Murdoch, who works for the Financial Times, is one of the best statistical journalists in the business. I had, in fact, grown accustomed to accepting his da...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:09 AM
The FT’s analysis of autism and ADHD prevalence is deeply worrying www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Col Bond
The real treasure was all the disassociation we did along the way.
December 17, 2025 at 6:26 AM
The real treasure was all the disassociation we did along the way.
Reposted by Col Bond
her shield stops the quick strike, while the slow blade may pass
December 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
her shield stops the quick strike, while the slow blade may pass
Reposted by Col Bond
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Reposted by Col Bond
Ich thynke but litel of a Mondaye bleake
Tuesdaye grey and Wednesdaye eke
Thursdaye Ich care nat for thee
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Mondaye thou kanst fall awaye
Tuesdaye, Wednesdaye, myne herte slaye
No mirthe ys founde upon Thursdaye
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Tuesdaye grey and Wednesdaye eke
Thursdaye Ich care nat for thee
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Mondaye thou kanst fall awaye
Tuesdaye, Wednesdaye, myne herte slaye
No mirthe ys founde upon Thursdaye
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
December 13, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Ich thynke but litel of a Mondaye bleake
Tuesdaye grey and Wednesdaye eke
Thursdaye Ich care nat for thee
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Mondaye thou kanst fall awaye
Tuesdaye, Wednesdaye, myne herte slaye
No mirthe ys founde upon Thursdaye
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Tuesdaye grey and Wednesdaye eke
Thursdaye Ich care nat for thee
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Mondaye thou kanst fall awaye
Tuesdaye, Wednesdaye, myne herte slaye
No mirthe ys founde upon Thursdaye
Yet Fridaye Ich do love
Reposted by Col Bond
Reposted by Col Bond
It crops up every Xmas and I always post it, because I love it.
Ian Curtis at his office Xmas party.
Ian Curtis at his office Xmas party.
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
It crops up every Xmas and I always post it, because I love it.
Ian Curtis at his office Xmas party.
Ian Curtis at his office Xmas party.
Reposted by Col Bond
Nice one, Spidey.
December 12, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Nice one, Spidey.
Reposted by Col Bond
Martin Parr, absolute mensch.
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
December 11, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Martin Parr, absolute mensch.
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
Reposted by Col Bond
2003 reunion. Good backstory.
web.archive.org/web/20030813...
web.archive.org/web/20030813...
December 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
2003 reunion. Good backstory.
web.archive.org/web/20030813...
web.archive.org/web/20030813...
Reposted by Col Bond
things Copilot has tried desperately to help me with this morning: a thread
1) suggesting '10 compelling titles' for a spreadsheet I use to log student attendance
1) suggesting '10 compelling titles' for a spreadsheet I use to log student attendance
December 9, 2025 at 9:22 AM
things Copilot has tried desperately to help me with this morning: a thread
1) suggesting '10 compelling titles' for a spreadsheet I use to log student attendance
1) suggesting '10 compelling titles' for a spreadsheet I use to log student attendance
Reposted by Col Bond
Reposted by Col Bond
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
December 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I'm sorry but a country where the legislature sells jerk seasoning as gift shop tat is not one where the engines of multiculturalism can be rolled back to 1948
Reposted by Col Bond
"House of Commons Jerk Seasoning" is 1) an extremely funny concept and more importantly 2) a sign of a complete and total victory for cultural pluralism in a way that is kind of difficult to concieve
Look, I know things aren’t great at the moment for (a) anyone, and (b) the Labour Party, but fuck me that’s bleak
December 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"House of Commons Jerk Seasoning" is 1) an extremely funny concept and more importantly 2) a sign of a complete and total victory for cultural pluralism in a way that is kind of difficult to concieve
Reposted by Col Bond
this other one from that "The Cost of Living" series. really complicated image. those guys back there. full three dimensional space with two apertures playing against each other. that rainbow sweater, the flowers, forlorn young parents and look out here comes a baby head
December 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
this other one from that "The Cost of Living" series. really complicated image. those guys back there. full three dimensional space with two apertures playing against each other. that rainbow sweater, the flowers, forlorn young parents and look out here comes a baby head
Reposted by Col Bond
Martin Parr was so good at color, too. Look at these people. Conservative “Midsummer Madness” Party, Bath, Avon, 1986–1989:
December 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Martin Parr was so good at color, too. Look at these people. Conservative “Midsummer Madness” Party, Bath, Avon, 1986–1989:
Reposted by Col Bond
The sheer laziness is one of the things that bothers me most about the style of column writing Phillips embodies.
If I make a small mistake in a post I spend all day wanting to crawl into hole but these guys will just happily write any bollocks without any research at all.
If I make a small mistake in a post I spend all day wanting to crawl into hole but these guys will just happily write any bollocks without any research at all.
Because of course Henry had got the full roll call from Dulwich College and of course Trevor Phillips couldn’t even be bothered to read the stories he’s writing about
On a purely factual point, Trevor Phillips’s column in the Times misrepresents our reporting in casting doubts on claims that there were more boys called Patel than Smith at Dulwich in 1980 (we did not report 1976 as the year it occurred). 1980 roll shows 13 Patels and 12 Smiths.
December 8, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The sheer laziness is one of the things that bothers me most about the style of column writing Phillips embodies.
If I make a small mistake in a post I spend all day wanting to crawl into hole but these guys will just happily write any bollocks without any research at all.
If I make a small mistake in a post I spend all day wanting to crawl into hole but these guys will just happily write any bollocks without any research at all.
Reposted by Col Bond
so look, some of the 'tells' of AI in here are things I feel by instinct, and I could be wrong about any individual one, but apart from the obvious stuff (lists of three, 'not this but that') and the less obvious (no personal recollection, all just abstract nouns) there's a *meaning gap*...
Also something like “groundedness”. Not about physical details but a sense of a mind reflecting on its own experiences.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
I’m sure Sarah Friar of OpenAI feels it’s great to “write” with ChatGPT so I can explain with hers.
There is no thinking about the person in here.
December 6, 2025 at 3:39 PM
so look, some of the 'tells' of AI in here are things I feel by instinct, and I could be wrong about any individual one, but apart from the obvious stuff (lists of three, 'not this but that') and the less obvious (no personal recollection, all just abstract nouns) there's a *meaning gap*...