DMHardc
@dmhardcc.bsky.social
Interested in everything. Gen X, further left than you think, exhausted. 🇯🇲🇬🇧
Reposted by DMHardc
This is an outstanding essay from @arealmattgreene.bsky.social, where I found myself highlighting multiple sections (check out his latest novel, The Definitions, which is also excellent)
lithub.com/on-the-rise-...
lithub.com/on-the-rise-...
On the Rise of ChatGPT and the Industrialization of the Post-Meaning World
When you teach children to analyze, or appreciate, poetry, you get used to a certain complaint, that you’re making it up, that the writer did not give that much thought to choosing a colon over a c…
lithub.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This is an outstanding essay from @arealmattgreene.bsky.social, where I found myself highlighting multiple sections (check out his latest novel, The Definitions, which is also excellent)
lithub.com/on-the-rise-...
lithub.com/on-the-rise-...
Reposted by DMHardc
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by DMHardc
"I look at some of my school friends who never bothered and entered “benefits street”. They have nice local authority houses, cheap rent, subsidised heating and considerably more than me in disposable income each month."
Compared to a combined salary of £195k? Chinny reckon. 🤔
Compared to a combined salary of £195k? Chinny reckon. 🤔
December 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
"I look at some of my school friends who never bothered and entered “benefits street”. They have nice local authority houses, cheap rent, subsidised heating and considerably more than me in disposable income each month."
Compared to a combined salary of £195k? Chinny reckon. 🤔
Compared to a combined salary of £195k? Chinny reckon. 🤔
Reposted by DMHardc
Good morning.
Gonna have a pop at multi-millionaire Dicky Tice this morning.
The same Dicky Tice that hates foreigners in our country, hates muslims, is an MP for Boston & Skegness but lives in Dubai under SHARIA LAW!
Having a pop at children wearing ear defenders because he's a class 1 knobhead.
Gonna have a pop at multi-millionaire Dicky Tice this morning.
The same Dicky Tice that hates foreigners in our country, hates muslims, is an MP for Boston & Skegness but lives in Dubai under SHARIA LAW!
Having a pop at children wearing ear defenders because he's a class 1 knobhead.
December 1, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Good morning.
Gonna have a pop at multi-millionaire Dicky Tice this morning.
The same Dicky Tice that hates foreigners in our country, hates muslims, is an MP for Boston & Skegness but lives in Dubai under SHARIA LAW!
Having a pop at children wearing ear defenders because he's a class 1 knobhead.
Gonna have a pop at multi-millionaire Dicky Tice this morning.
The same Dicky Tice that hates foreigners in our country, hates muslims, is an MP for Boston & Skegness but lives in Dubai under SHARIA LAW!
Having a pop at children wearing ear defenders because he's a class 1 knobhead.
Reposted by DMHardc
This is off the top of my head.
These sorts of inefficiencies happen on quite literally a daily basis. Everybody in the system knows this. Everyone.
Yet what is the government’s diagnosis?
“Juries. They are the problem. Get rid of juries.”
It is absolutely mind-boggling.
These sorts of inefficiencies happen on quite literally a daily basis. Everybody in the system knows this. Everyone.
Yet what is the government’s diagnosis?
“Juries. They are the problem. Get rid of juries.”
It is absolutely mind-boggling.
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This is off the top of my head.
These sorts of inefficiencies happen on quite literally a daily basis. Everybody in the system knows this. Everyone.
Yet what is the government’s diagnosis?
“Juries. They are the problem. Get rid of juries.”
It is absolutely mind-boggling.
These sorts of inefficiencies happen on quite literally a daily basis. Everybody in the system knows this. Everyone.
Yet what is the government’s diagnosis?
“Juries. They are the problem. Get rid of juries.”
It is absolutely mind-boggling.
Reposted by DMHardc
14. The government artificially restricting court “sitting days” - effectively closing perfectly usable courtrooms and forcing judges to stay at home, to make a tiny saving on court staff.
This happened regularly under the last government. The new lot are still doing it.
This happened regularly under the last government. The new lot are still doing it.
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
14. The government artificially restricting court “sitting days” - effectively closing perfectly usable courtrooms and forcing judges to stay at home, to make a tiny saving on court staff.
This happened regularly under the last government. The new lot are still doing it.
This happened regularly under the last government. The new lot are still doing it.
Reposted by DMHardc
10. Not enough barristers to cover cases. Often - especially in serious, specialised and difficult work such as Rape and Serious Sexual Offences - the CPS will not be able to find an available barrister, due to so many having quit. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/barrist...
Barristers to quit RASSO work, survey suggests
Barristers cite poor pay and emotional exhaustion for wanting to quit rape and serious sexual offences work.
www.lawgazette.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
10. Not enough barristers to cover cases. Often - especially in serious, specialised and difficult work such as Rape and Serious Sexual Offences - the CPS will not be able to find an available barrister, due to so many having quit. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/barrist...
Reposted by DMHardc
6. The nationwide breakdown of the Crown Court Digital Case System and/or Common Platform.
Happens pretty much weekly. All cases are now digital. When the abysmal infrastructure (which has been in Beta for years) freezes or breaks, everything grinds to a standstill.
Happens pretty much weekly. All cases are now digital. When the abysmal infrastructure (which has been in Beta for years) freezes or breaks, everything grinds to a standstill.
November 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
6. The nationwide breakdown of the Crown Court Digital Case System and/or Common Platform.
Happens pretty much weekly. All cases are now digital. When the abysmal infrastructure (which has been in Beta for years) freezes or breaks, everything grinds to a standstill.
Happens pretty much weekly. All cases are now digital. When the abysmal infrastructure (which has been in Beta for years) freezes or breaks, everything grinds to a standstill.
Reposted by DMHardc
1. The defendant not being produced at court from prison. 🚚
A classic. It happens due to the private contractors simply not bothering, knowing that the contracts negotiated by government include no meaningful penalty for failure.
Trials every day in every court are affected.
A classic. It happens due to the private contractors simply not bothering, knowing that the contracts negotiated by government include no meaningful penalty for failure.
Trials every day in every court are affected.
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
1. The defendant not being produced at court from prison. 🚚
A classic. It happens due to the private contractors simply not bothering, knowing that the contracts negotiated by government include no meaningful penalty for failure.
Trials every day in every court are affected.
A classic. It happens due to the private contractors simply not bothering, knowing that the contracts negotiated by government include no meaningful penalty for failure.
Trials every day in every court are affected.
Reposted by DMHardc
Today the news will be about the government's proposals for juries.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
December 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Today the news will be about the government's proposals for juries.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Please read this thread so as to be informed about the actual practical problems in the criminal justice system - problems which will not be solved by this misconceived and illiberal tinkering.
Reposted by DMHardc
Glorious, from a pal on FB
December 2, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Glorious, from a pal on FB
Reposted by DMHardc
And I speak of spiritual suffering! Of people seeing their talent, their work, their lives wasted. Of good minds submitting to stupid ones. Of strength and courage strangled by envy, greed for power, fear of change.
December 2, 2025 at 8:42 AM
And I speak of spiritual suffering! Of people seeing their talent, their work, their lives wasted. Of good minds submitting to stupid ones. Of strength and courage strangled by envy, greed for power, fear of change.
Reposted by DMHardc
Come round ours, the new boiler that was installed yesterday isn't working.
The gift I really want this year is the feeling of an ephemeral breeze through a dappled meadow just before it's lightly blanketed with frost.
December 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Come round ours, the new boiler that was installed yesterday isn't working.
Reposted by DMHardc
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
A good call on the part of @weirdbristol.bsky.social in his latest non-fiction outing
December 1, 2025 at 10:34 PM
A good call on the part of @weirdbristol.bsky.social in his latest non-fiction outing
Reposted by DMHardc
“So the plan is to replace all their jobs with AI”
Five minutes later: “what do you mean, broke people don’t spend as much?”
Five minutes later: “what do you mean, broke people don’t spend as much?”
Gen Z Shoppers Aren’t Spending Like Retailers Need Them To
More than other generations, 20-somethings are tightening their holiday-season budgets because of economic pressures.
www.wsj.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
“So the plan is to replace all their jobs with AI”
Five minutes later: “what do you mean, broke people don’t spend as much?”
Five minutes later: “what do you mean, broke people don’t spend as much?”
Reposted by DMHardc
This sounds like modern slavery to me. I've clients who've been recognised as victims with similar facts. People in authority shouldn't be afraid to make this connection and it will push back on the government's narrative that these people are somehow scamming the system.
December 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
This sounds like modern slavery to me. I've clients who've been recognised as victims with similar facts. People in authority shouldn't be afraid to make this connection and it will push back on the government's narrative that these people are somehow scamming the system.
Reposted by DMHardc
Everything about work has got worse over decades from business not sharing success via pay rises, reduction in benefits including pensions, “headcount reductions”, lack of stability increased workloads etc and you want 66 year olds to have the grind mindset?
December 1, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Everything about work has got worse over decades from business not sharing success via pay rises, reduction in benefits including pensions, “headcount reductions”, lack of stability increased workloads etc and you want 66 year olds to have the grind mindset?
Reposted by DMHardc
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by DMHardc
Millionaire Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick billed the taxpayer £24,587.67 in rent expenses in 2024/25 for his constituency home in Newark, Notts
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
Revealed: MPs rack up huge rent expenses while pushing through cuts to benefits
MPs are allowed to rent a second home, but while they are simultaneously cutting benefits for the vulnerable, the cost feels hard to swallow.
www.bigissue.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Millionaire Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick billed the taxpayer £24,587.67 in rent expenses in 2024/25 for his constituency home in Newark, Notts
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
His monthly claim is 77% higher than the average privately rented four-bed home in the Newark and Sherwood local authority area
Reposted by DMHardc
Greenwash
England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record.
Industry dumps tons of raw sewage in rivers, lakes and seas. Destroys marine life, biodiversity; creates health hazards.
And spineless regulators call them green bonds. Travesty.
England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record.
Industry dumps tons of raw sewage in rivers, lakes and seas. Destroys marine life, biodiversity; creates health hazards.
And spineless regulators call them green bonds. Travesty.
England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record
River Action says use of issuance tied to environmental benefits is ‘corporate greenwash on steroids’
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Greenwash
England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record.
Industry dumps tons of raw sewage in rivers, lakes and seas. Destroys marine life, biodiversity; creates health hazards.
And spineless regulators call them green bonds. Travesty.
England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record.
Industry dumps tons of raw sewage in rivers, lakes and seas. Destroys marine life, biodiversity; creates health hazards.
And spineless regulators call them green bonds. Travesty.
Reposted by DMHardc
Just left the house and jumped on a bus. Angry blokes with access to a cherry picker have been busy again overnight. Barely a lamppost in Braintree without a flag attached, successfully communicating the message “you live near some racists”, which of course I knew already
November 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Just left the house and jumped on a bus. Angry blokes with access to a cherry picker have been busy again overnight. Barely a lamppost in Braintree without a flag attached, successfully communicating the message “you live near some racists”, which of course I knew already
Reposted by DMHardc
And it required labour to produce it. Who wants to be the sole night watchman at a data centre, keeping out the homeless people seeking warmth and shelter?
November 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM
And it required labour to produce it. Who wants to be the sole night watchman at a data centre, keeping out the homeless people seeking warmth and shelter?
Reposted by DMHardc
at least fossil fuel companies were producing something people wanted when they destroyed the planet to enrich themselves
November 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
at least fossil fuel companies were producing something people wanted when they destroyed the planet to enrich themselves
Reposted by DMHardc
“You’re in my seat”
November 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
“You’re in my seat”