Mark Slater
@markslater74.bsky.social
Dismayed optimist, cautiously considering the possibility that idiocy and hubris will undermine evil before it can do too terrible or permanent damage, and that something new and much better will eventually rise from from the chaos and destruction.
I also think they like to think their prejudice is rationally justified and is just them being honest about what they think is reality. Other people are very prejudiced in their eyes, especially the targets of their hatred, for denying 'the truth', but not them, oh no...
November 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I also think they like to think their prejudice is rationally justified and is just them being honest about what they think is reality. Other people are very prejudiced in their eyes, especially the targets of their hatred, for denying 'the truth', but not them, oh no...
The worst people in politics have been pushing the idea that all politicians are the same as it excuses their worst excesses and drags everyone else down to their level. The idea has sunken in so deep that taxation is now seen as theft because government is regarded as entirely useless. Bad times..
November 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The worst people in politics have been pushing the idea that all politicians are the same as it excuses their worst excesses and drags everyone else down to their level. The idea has sunken in so deep that taxation is now seen as theft because government is regarded as entirely useless. Bad times..
I doubt it. He has to deliver actual, real, huge results to get the trillion. I think those days are long gone for Musk.
November 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I doubt it. He has to deliver actual, real, huge results to get the trillion. I think those days are long gone for Musk.
Neurodiversity doesn't make people into assholes - being an asshole does.
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Neurodiversity doesn't make people into assholes - being an asshole does.
It's happened to me. It was a cable I'd only used once or twice over fifteen years before I chucked it and never needed it again - until the week after I binned it... FFS!
November 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
It's happened to me. It was a cable I'd only used once or twice over fifteen years before I chucked it and never needed it again - until the week after I binned it... FFS!
As you should. I had a big clear out several years ago and the following week, desperately needed a cable I'd just thrown away that I hadn't used for at least fifteen years and would have sworn I wouldn't use again... It was awful.
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
As you should. I had a big clear out several years ago and the following week, desperately needed a cable I'd just thrown away that I hadn't used for at least fifteen years and would have sworn I wouldn't use again... It was awful.
As a former music producer, I have many boxes of cables. I had a big clear out several years ago and, I swear, literally one week after chucking out a bin bag full, I needed a cable I'd just thrown away that I hadn't needed for at least fifteen years previously. Never again!
November 24, 2025 at 9:50 AM
As a former music producer, I have many boxes of cables. I had a big clear out several years ago and, I swear, literally one week after chucking out a bin bag full, I needed a cable I'd just thrown away that I hadn't needed for at least fifteen years previously. Never again!
Not to mention fragile...
November 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Not to mention fragile...
Microscopes don't intentionally invent things to show you what they think you want to see.
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Microscopes don't intentionally invent things to show you what they think you want to see.
It just occurred to me that Trump craves attention more than anything else, so when everything has undeniably and irredeemably gone tits up, he may well go woke...
November 22, 2025 at 10:07 AM
It just occurred to me that Trump craves attention more than anything else, so when everything has undeniably and irredeemably gone tits up, he may well go woke...
Spot on. Trump flatters his supporter's ignorance and glorifies their worst impulses. He tells them they are free of responsibility to others and nothing is their fault. This is what a favoured child raised by a sociopath learns, and it is now happening to the US.
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Spot on. Trump flatters his supporter's ignorance and glorifies their worst impulses. He tells them they are free of responsibility to others and nothing is their fault. This is what a favoured child raised by a sociopath learns, and it is now happening to the US.
Quite right too. I don't think parents should have the right to prevent their child being vaccinated. We don't allow them to put them at risk in lots of other ways, and we intervene if their child is consistently putting other children at risk in any other context.
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Quite right too. I don't think parents should have the right to prevent their child being vaccinated. We don't allow them to put them at risk in lots of other ways, and we intervene if their child is consistently putting other children at risk in any other context.
Trump believes whatever he wants is the undeniable will of the USA. He truly thinks he rules everything just by wanting to. To be fair, he hasn't had that much contrary evidence thanks to the monumental gullibility of the US electorate and the craveness of all those sliming along behind him.
November 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Trump believes whatever he wants is the undeniable will of the USA. He truly thinks he rules everything just by wanting to. To be fair, he hasn't had that much contrary evidence thanks to the monumental gullibility of the US electorate and the craveness of all those sliming along behind him.
I've seen Primal Scream four times, and Mani elevated them to another level while he was with them. Also saw him in the Roses at Finsbury Park. He was immense both times I saw him - haven't seen a better bassist in thirty years of gigs and festivals (except maybe Thundercat, but he's different).
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I've seen Primal Scream four times, and Mani elevated them to another level while he was with them. Also saw him in the Roses at Finsbury Park. He was immense both times I saw him - haven't seen a better bassist in thirty years of gigs and festivals (except maybe Thundercat, but he's different).
I started switching Johnson over/off during the pandemic, and have successfully avoided all but the odd word of mendacious waffle ever since. His words are useless as a source of information other than telling you what he wants you to think at that moment, and I have no interest whatsoever in that.
November 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I started switching Johnson over/off during the pandemic, and have successfully avoided all but the odd word of mendacious waffle ever since. His words are useless as a source of information other than telling you what he wants you to think at that moment, and I have no interest whatsoever in that.
Well done, and toot away - richly deserved!
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Well done, and toot away - richly deserved!
Released, but with all Republican names redacted. He's not going to support exposing himself is he?
November 17, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Released, but with all Republican names redacted. He's not going to support exposing himself is he?
I think in this is case it's much more the media making a scandal out of the flimsiest of pretexts.
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I think in this is case it's much more the media making a scandal out of the flimsiest of pretexts.
This kind of sexual exploitation and abuse of underage girls was more or less totally acceptable and normalized for stars in the music and entertainment industry before it started being widely questioned in the 80s. I'm sure this has something to do with a lot of people's excusing of this abuse.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This kind of sexual exploitation and abuse of underage girls was more or less totally acceptable and normalized for stars in the music and entertainment industry before it started being widely questioned in the 80s. I'm sure this has something to do with a lot of people's excusing of this abuse.
I just want to know what is actually happening, not what people say or think is happening, and I don't care if it's particularly scandalous, exciting or remarkable. Just report the f-ing news please - if I want gossip and scandal, there will never be any shortage of it, but proper news is now rare..
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I just want to know what is actually happening, not what people say or think is happening, and I don't care if it's particularly scandalous, exciting or remarkable. Just report the f-ing news please - if I want gossip and scandal, there will never be any shortage of it, but proper news is now rare..
I think much of the media's issues come down to laziness resulting from the endless stream of scandals, outrages, breathtaking dishonesty and staggering hypocrisy they have grown fat and sluggish on during the first Trump and Brexit eras. The modern RW is clickbait personified.
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I think much of the media's issues come down to laziness resulting from the endless stream of scandals, outrages, breathtaking dishonesty and staggering hypocrisy they have grown fat and sluggish on during the first Trump and Brexit eras. The modern RW is clickbait personified.
Yes he did, but if you watch the clip as broadcast it appeared he said them right after each other, & this has provided rocket fuel to the endless bad-faith attacks from the BBC's usual enemies. To do this with the most litigious, thin-skinned, dishonest & powerful crybaby in the world was idiotic.
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Yes he did, but if you watch the clip as broadcast it appeared he said them right after each other, & this has provided rocket fuel to the endless bad-faith attacks from the BBC's usual enemies. To do this with the most litigious, thin-skinned, dishonest & powerful crybaby in the world was idiotic.
It hasn't worked out how to cover the modern right-wing's alternative reality they pretend is real instead of having an attractive set of policies. It needs far greater political protection by legislation, and major reforms to rebuild, strengthen and fiercely defend its independence.
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 PM
It hasn't worked out how to cover the modern right-wing's alternative reality they pretend is real instead of having an attractive set of policies. It needs far greater political protection by legislation, and major reforms to rebuild, strengthen and fiercely defend its independence.
Nevertheless, foolish editing that implied two of his statements in that speech were adjacent despite being forty-odd minutes apart gives fuel to the fire of endless bad faith complaints from the BBC's implacable enemies. It was an unecessary and foolish journalistic mistake the BBC can ill afford.
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Nevertheless, foolish editing that implied two of his statements in that speech were adjacent despite being forty-odd minutes apart gives fuel to the fire of endless bad faith complaints from the BBC's implacable enemies. It was an unecessary and foolish journalistic mistake the BBC can ill afford.
People with poorly insulated/ventilated houses - which is a hell of a large percentage of the UK population. I'm all for heat pumps, but the insulation/ventilation problem is just as big a part of the problem as the heat sources themselves.
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
People with poorly insulated/ventilated houses - which is a hell of a large percentage of the UK population. I'm all for heat pumps, but the insulation/ventilation problem is just as big a part of the problem as the heat sources themselves.