Phillip Rees
@phillip-rees.bsky.social
Dedicated to limitarianism, the promotion of the narcissistic collapse of oligarchs and the application of Magnitsky legislation to get us out of this unholy mess.
Pinned
Phillip Rees
@phillip-rees.bsky.social
· Mar 24
Catastrophic dehumanization: the psychological dynamics of severe conflict
YouTube video by Oxford Martin School
youtu.be
In 2012 Thomas Homer-Dixon gave a lecture at the Oxford Martin School. The title of the lecture was Catastrophic Dehumanization: The Psychological Dynamics Of Severe Conflict.
youtu.be/iAs3cm_PSg4?...
youtu.be/iAs3cm_PSg4?...
Reposted by Phillip Rees
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
An impressive number of graduate applications this year used the phrase “curiosity-driven approach” 🤔
January 17, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I have some bad news. One, if you need to use ChatGPT for your graduate application letter, you are not ready for graduate school.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Two, no, not "everyone is doing it" and those who don't do it aren't "losing out." ChatGPT is not an advantage.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
January 17, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by Phillip Rees
"It is the most shattering experience of a US President‘s life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself 'I will never defeat the Dane.'
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
January 17, 2026 at 9:59 PM
"It is the most shattering experience of a US President‘s life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself 'I will never defeat the Dane.'
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Eric Swalwell answering a question on how the next governor of California will protect Californians from ICE.
“They're going to lose their immunity. They're not going to be able to drive. I will take your driver's license. Good luck walking to work, assholes.”
“They're going to lose their immunity. They're not going to be able to drive. I will take your driver's license. Good luck walking to work, assholes.”
January 17, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Eric Swalwell answering a question on how the next governor of California will protect Californians from ICE.
“They're going to lose their immunity. They're not going to be able to drive. I will take your driver's license. Good luck walking to work, assholes.”
“They're going to lose their immunity. They're not going to be able to drive. I will take your driver's license. Good luck walking to work, assholes.”
Reposted by Phillip Rees
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Reposted by Phillip Rees
"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 AM
"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."
Reposted by Phillip Rees
My People’s Economist Tour across Australia and New Zealand is a month away.
This Feb and March, I’ll be taking my journey from the trading floor to the public stage, sharing my perspective on inequality and challenging how we think about our economies.
au.thinkable.events/gary-stevens...
This Feb and March, I’ll be taking my journey from the trading floor to the public stage, sharing my perspective on inequality and challenging how we think about our economies.
au.thinkable.events/gary-stevens...
Gary Stevenson Live in Australia | The People's Economist Tour
Join former trader and bestselling author Gary Stevenson on his first Australian tour. Discover the truth about economic inequality and how money really works. Get tickets for The People's Economist l...
au.thinkable.events
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 PM
My People’s Economist Tour across Australia and New Zealand is a month away.
This Feb and March, I’ll be taking my journey from the trading floor to the public stage, sharing my perspective on inequality and challenging how we think about our economies.
au.thinkable.events/gary-stevens...
This Feb and March, I’ll be taking my journey from the trading floor to the public stage, sharing my perspective on inequality and challenging how we think about our economies.
au.thinkable.events/gary-stevens...
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Elon Musk is deadset on speed running through every single horror show the Gilded Age Robber Barons ever gave us, from company towns to pseudoscientific racism.
“Psychologically Western.” In the Gilded Age, America’s elite embraced the pseudoscience of eugenics to justify their own sense of superiority and provide backing for racist and anti-immigrant policies. Pretty rich for Musk and his internet-broken brain to be judging the psyches of others.
January 15, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Elon Musk is deadset on speed running through every single horror show the Gilded Age Robber Barons ever gave us, from company towns to pseudoscientific racism.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness
January 14, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness
Reposted by Phillip Rees
NATO member Sweden has sent military personnel to Greenland, to help defend the island against a US attack. I feel like I went mad typing that sentence. www.dn.se/direkt/2026-...
Kristersson: Svenska militärer anländer till Grönland i dag
Tidigare under dagen meddelade Danmarks regering att man ska skicka militär personal och utrustning till Grönland.
www.dn.se
January 14, 2026 at 7:56 PM
NATO member Sweden has sent military personnel to Greenland, to help defend the island against a US attack. I feel like I went mad typing that sentence. www.dn.se/direkt/2026-...
> “Influence operators are attracted to Wikipedia because it is a means of shaping perceptions in large populations,” said Alberto Fittarelli.
As one of the top sources of AI training data, the rich and powerful are eager for Wiki pages to cast them in the best light
Volunteer editors are great at disrupting this – but demand for 'Wikilaundering' has never been higher
And one British PR firm turned it into an exclusive service👇
Volunteer editors are great at disrupting this – but demand for 'Wikilaundering' has never been higher
And one British PR firm turned it into an exclusive service👇
London PR firm rewrites Wikipedia for governments and billionaires
Founded by Keir Starmer’s comms chief, Portland helps rich clients ‘protect their reputation’ – with a shady, off-the-books service
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:54 PM
> “Influence operators are attracted to Wikipedia because it is a means of shaping perceptions in large populations,” said Alberto Fittarelli.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Good to see the @tbij.bsky.social reporting on this phenomenon, which seems to be widespread. Here is a job ad that was posted publicly on LinkedIn, seeking someone to edit Wikipedia to brush up the image of a "premium spirits brand"
January 14, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Good to see the @tbij.bsky.social reporting on this phenomenon, which seems to be widespread. Here is a job ad that was posted publicly on LinkedIn, seeking someone to edit Wikipedia to brush up the image of a "premium spirits brand"
Reposted by Phillip Rees
In my life time, I never thought I would see a delegation from Denmark walk into a formal meeting with a US administration to persuade them not to invade a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, an ally in NATO.
January 14, 2026 at 2:40 PM
In my life time, I never thought I would see a delegation from Denmark walk into a formal meeting with a US administration to persuade them not to invade a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, an ally in NATO.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Safe to say most scientists, and I think most journalists, disagree with his a view. Good journalism should do its best to represent what science says, rather than treat it as a debate where every view is equally valid and readers just need to figure it out.
Director Bhattacharya received an award from the Brownstone Institute.
He devoted some of his time to criticize the press, including about "taking sides" on global warming.
1/10
He devoted some of his time to criticize the press, including about "taking sides" on global warming.
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Safe to say most scientists, and I think most journalists, disagree with his a view. Good journalism should do its best to represent what science says, rather than treat it as a debate where every view is equally valid and readers just need to figure it out.
Many of my favorite activists are knitters. Whenever I don a wool hat I think to myself, "I'm yarnbombing my brain."
Whenever we have an event, our highest ticket tier includes a handknit hat made by yours truly as a thank you.
Anyways, I made my favorite hat ever today for one of those tickets. I hope they like it :-)
Anyways, I made my favorite hat ever today for one of those tickets. I hope they like it :-)
January 13, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Many of my favorite activists are knitters. Whenever I don a wool hat I think to myself, "I'm yarnbombing my brain."
Reposted by Phillip Rees
This is the online court docket for KELLY v HEGSETH - worth bookmarking
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131...
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131...
January 12, 2026 at 7:28 PM
This is the online court docket for KELLY v HEGSETH - worth bookmarking
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131...
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131...
Reposted by Phillip Rees
BREAKING: Senator Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth, DOD, and others over Hegseth's censure of Kelly and effort to reduce his retirement grade, alleging violations of the First Amendment, due process, Speech & Debate Clause, and federal laws.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
January 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Phillip Rees
For those joining Bluesky from the Bad Place: welcome.
Yes, you could/should have made the decision sooner, but it is never too late to make a good decision.
And there is a lot on this site which will remind you of the Bad Place before it was bad.
Yes, you could/should have made the decision sooner, but it is never too late to make a good decision.
And there is a lot on this site which will remind you of the Bad Place before it was bad.
January 12, 2026 at 3:50 PM
For those joining Bluesky from the Bad Place: welcome.
Yes, you could/should have made the decision sooner, but it is never too late to make a good decision.
And there is a lot on this site which will remind you of the Bad Place before it was bad.
Yes, you could/should have made the decision sooner, but it is never too late to make a good decision.
And there is a lot on this site which will remind you of the Bad Place before it was bad.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
In the old days, good writers got famous for selling books.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
I can’t stop thinking about a rejection letter a friend had from a publisher for his manuscript which said, “I think I’d have really liked this, if you were more famous.”
An actual person, who is paid to read books, said that.
An actual person, who is paid to read books, said that.
January 12, 2026 at 3:05 PM
In the old days, good writers got famous for selling books.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Nowadays, bad writers sell books by being famous.
Reposted by Phillip Rees
Slightly diminish a band:
Kilodeath
Kilodeath
Slightly diminish a band:
Imagine Chickens
Imagine Chickens
Slightly diminish a band:
Smashing Acorn Squash
Smashing Acorn Squash
January 11, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Slightly diminish a band:
Kilodeath
Kilodeath
Slightly diminish a band:
Sgt. Prepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Prepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Slightly diminish a band:
INModeration
INModeration
Slightly diminish a band:
Velour Underground
Velour Underground
January 11, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Slightly diminish a band:
Sgt. Prepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Prepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Post your favorite Star Trek character, wrong answers only.
January 10, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Post your favorite Star Trek character, wrong answers only.