Simon Payne
@simonpayne.bsky.social
Semi-professional curmudgeon. What I lack in enthusiasm, I make up for in complacency. Not the target market for anything.
Reposted by Simon Payne
Reposting for the late shift: my best books of 2025 round-up, over at @ds228.bsky.social's blog:
eigermonchjungfrau.blog/2026/02/14/j...
eigermonchjungfrau.blog/2026/02/14/j...
February 15, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Reposting for the late shift: my best books of 2025 round-up, over at @ds228.bsky.social's blog:
eigermonchjungfrau.blog/2026/02/14/j...
eigermonchjungfrau.blog/2026/02/14/j...
Reposted by Simon Payne
Absolutely we should fear terrorism and seek to prevent it.
But we should also fear those who use either real terrorism or bogus claims about terrorism to boost their own powers, restrict our freedoms and corrode our democracy.
Both present major threats to public life.
But we should also fear those who use either real terrorism or bogus claims about terrorism to boost their own powers, restrict our freedoms and corrode our democracy.
Both present major threats to public life.
February 13, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Absolutely we should fear terrorism and seek to prevent it.
But we should also fear those who use either real terrorism or bogus claims about terrorism to boost their own powers, restrict our freedoms and corrode our democracy.
Both present major threats to public life.
But we should also fear those who use either real terrorism or bogus claims about terrorism to boost their own powers, restrict our freedoms and corrode our democracy.
Both present major threats to public life.
Reposted by Simon Payne
Here is my cartoon about Mr Jon Kudelka www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My friend Jon has died | First Dog on the Moon
Jon Kudelka loved his beautiful family and was fiercely intolerant of greed and hypocrisy
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Here is my cartoon about Mr Jon Kudelka www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Simon Payne
Here’s the whole SMH article by highly respected Prof Ben Saul that I was quoting bits from from here yesterday.
He makes the case so clearly & succinctly that it’s a pleasure to read.
He makes the case so clearly & succinctly that it’s a pleasure to read.
February 12, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Here’s the whole SMH article by highly respected Prof Ben Saul that I was quoting bits from from here yesterday.
He makes the case so clearly & succinctly that it’s a pleasure to read.
He makes the case so clearly & succinctly that it’s a pleasure to read.
Good to see Barnaby Joyce giving the benefit of his experience in how people should conduct themselves in public.
February 10, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Good to see Barnaby Joyce giving the benefit of his experience in how people should conduct themselves in public.
Reposted by Simon Payne
🧪Is this the most disgusting medical mystery of all time?
It takes us back to 1977 and a dodgy batch of berries traced to Dundee, Scotland.
#Dundee #Scotland #microbiology #science #medicine
It takes us back to 1977 and a dodgy batch of berries traced to Dundee, Scotland.
#Dundee #Scotland #microbiology #science #medicine
February 9, 2026 at 9:33 PM
🧪Is this the most disgusting medical mystery of all time?
It takes us back to 1977 and a dodgy batch of berries traced to Dundee, Scotland.
#Dundee #Scotland #microbiology #science #medicine
It takes us back to 1977 and a dodgy batch of berries traced to Dundee, Scotland.
#Dundee #Scotland #microbiology #science #medicine
Imagine thinking Angus Taylor is the answer.
February 9, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Imagine thinking Angus Taylor is the answer.
Reposted by Simon Payne
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Simon Payne
Big batteries are on track to pump more electricity into the grid than gas next year & could bring down electricity prices
We have the technology to transition and bring down prices - we need to ensure that the benefits flow to Australian households.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
We have the technology to transition and bring down prices - we need to ensure that the benefits flow to Australian households.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
January 26, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Big batteries are on track to pump more electricity into the grid than gas next year & could bring down electricity prices
We have the technology to transition and bring down prices - we need to ensure that the benefits flow to Australian households.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
We have the technology to transition and bring down prices - we need to ensure that the benefits flow to Australian households.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
Idea of a concept of a framework of a plan
January 26, 2026 at 4:26 AM
Idea of a concept of a framework of a plan
Reposted by Simon Payne
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
Reposted by Simon Payne
Today is the most humiliating day in the history of the United States of America.
At least until tomorrow.
At least until tomorrow.
January 21, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Today is the most humiliating day in the history of the United States of America.
At least until tomorrow.
At least until tomorrow.
Reposted by Simon Payne
It will become increasingly important for people to take video and protect and save that video so that when there is finally an accounting for what’s happening, there will be evidence.
January 16, 2026 at 12:29 AM
It will become increasingly important for people to take video and protect and save that video so that when there is finally an accounting for what’s happening, there will be evidence.
Reposted by Simon Payne
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:42 AM
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Reposted by Simon Payne
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/915257...
Yikes pipe bombs found on paths around Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen, Canberra - not something I ever expected to have to worry about
Yikes pipe bombs found on paths around Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen, Canberra - not something I ever expected to have to worry about
'Several' dangerous pipe bombs found around Belconnen
ACT police are urging the public to be vigilant.
www.canberratimes.com.au
January 14, 2026 at 10:22 AM
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/915257...
Yikes pipe bombs found on paths around Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen, Canberra - not something I ever expected to have to worry about
Yikes pipe bombs found on paths around Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen, Canberra - not something I ever expected to have to worry about
Reposted by Simon Payne
“The notion that [Trump] claims this is somehow making the country safer is absurd. It’s making the country more dangerous. The domestic terrorists are ICE. It’s hard to believe we have a criminal president running a lawless government trying to intimidate the people of this country through force.”
January 10, 2026 at 5:14 PM
“The notion that [Trump] claims this is somehow making the country safer is absurd. It’s making the country more dangerous. The domestic terrorists are ICE. It’s hard to believe we have a criminal president running a lawless government trying to intimidate the people of this country through force.”
Reposted by Simon Payne
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 AM
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
Reposted by Simon Payne
Get ready for Phase Two: a raid on Oslo to seize the Peace Prize.
January 3, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Get ready for Phase Two: a raid on Oslo to seize the Peace Prize.
Reposted by Simon Payne
Where’s Congress?
January 3, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Where’s Congress?
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a wanker
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a wanker
January 3, 2026 at 11:13 AM
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a wanker
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a wanker
Reposted by Simon Payne
We need to tread carefully
We need to know exactly what we stand for
We need to ensure that anything we do to protect one group protects all groups and allows for appropriate dissent and protest
We need to be what we want to see: respect, empathy, courage, inclusion, honesty 🌏
We need to know exactly what we stand for
We need to ensure that anything we do to protect one group protects all groups and allows for appropriate dissent and protest
We need to be what we want to see: respect, empathy, courage, inclusion, honesty 🌏
December 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
We need to tread carefully
We need to know exactly what we stand for
We need to ensure that anything we do to protect one group protects all groups and allows for appropriate dissent and protest
We need to be what we want to see: respect, empathy, courage, inclusion, honesty 🌏
We need to know exactly what we stand for
We need to ensure that anything we do to protect one group protects all groups and allows for appropriate dissent and protest
We need to be what we want to see: respect, empathy, courage, inclusion, honesty 🌏
Reposted by Simon Payne
I don’t subscribe to the WSJ but was able to listen to the audio of the story, tho the text is firewalled.
Gift link, probably the funniest thing the Wall Street Journal has done this year.
We Let AI Run Our Office Vending Machine. It Lost Hundreds of Dollars.
An AI agent ran a snack operation in the WSJ newsroom. It gave away a free PlayStation, ordered a live fish—and taught us lessons about the future of AI.
www.wsj.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I don’t subscribe to the WSJ but was able to listen to the audio of the story, tho the text is firewalled.
Reposted by Simon Payne
This is not the video I had planned to make.
YouTube video by Just Have a Think
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM