David Merrett
@snakeydave.bsky.social
Social researcher, runner, climber, silly gaming man
Pinned
David Merrett
@snakeydave.bsky.social
· Jan 12
Games completed 2025:
1. Lorelei and The Laser Eyes. Superb puzzle game with some narrative heft, improved no end by its use of survival horror aesthetics. Vivid, stylish, satisfying, I loved it.
1. Lorelei and The Laser Eyes. Superb puzzle game with some narrative heft, improved no end by its use of survival horror aesthetics. Vivid, stylish, satisfying, I loved it.
Reposted by David Merrett
Spot on. The terms of the plan 2 loan are utterly usurious. Notably the budget has not frozen just the threshold for repayments at a marginal rate of 9%, dragging more and more graduates into it, but it also freezes the interest of those loans which is as much as 6.2%! Which is ridiculous!!
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Rachel Reeves hits young graduates with a double stealth tax
The Chancellor plans to raise as much money from freezing loan repayment thresholds as from the mansion tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Spot on. The terms of the plan 2 loan are utterly usurious. Notably the budget has not frozen just the threshold for repayments at a marginal rate of 9%, dragging more and more graduates into it, but it also freezes the interest of those loans which is as much as 6.2%! Which is ridiculous!!
Reposted by David Merrett
My friend just sent me this t-shirt design and I need it so much.
November 22, 2025 at 10:10 AM
My friend just sent me this t-shirt design and I need it so much.
Reposted by David Merrett
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
November 27, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
Reposted by David Merrett
Going to be on Novara Live later this evening (I think about 6:45PM?) discussing the Rockstar firings and the union's efforts to get those employees reinstated
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
Carer’s Allowance Crisis Leaves Hundreds Of Thousands In Debt | #NovaraLIVE
YouTube video by Novara Media
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Going to be on Novara Live later this evening (I think about 6:45PM?) discussing the Rockstar firings and the union's efforts to get those employees reinstated
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjc...
Reposted by David Merrett
Sorry to keep banging on about it but it's literally *they are on Twitter and think it's the majority view*
This is pretty striking and makes me wonder exactly what Labour have been up to in making policy seemingly in response to / fear of the former rather than the middle group.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Sorry to keep banging on about it but it's literally *they are on Twitter and think it's the majority view*
Reposted by David Merrett
"This is a government that was engineered by the politico-media caste to thwart the left, eject the hapless Tories before they did any more damage, and otherwise just sit tight until something turned up to give the economy a boost." More ...
fromarsetoelbow.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-to...
fromarsetoelbow.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-to...
A Touch on the Tiller
This is a government that refuses to publicly choose between the interests of capital and labour and believes it can steer a course between the two.
fromarsetoelbow.blogspot.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
"This is a government that was engineered by the politico-media caste to thwart the left, eject the hapless Tories before they did any more damage, and otherwise just sit tight until something turned up to give the economy a boost." More ...
fromarsetoelbow.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-to...
fromarsetoelbow.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-to...
Reposted by David Merrett
I've always enjoyed the empty calories of an Ubisoft open world game, but I think the only response to this is to just stop playing their games altogether. Only way to be safe.
Ubisoft boss believes generative AI is as big a revolution for games as the shift to 3D, as tech is embraced company-wide
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I've always enjoyed the empty calories of an Ubisoft open world game, but I think the only response to this is to just stop playing their games altogether. Only way to be safe.
Reposted by David Merrett
the nominees were
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
For Women Scotland wins Public Campaign or Campaigner of the Year at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in association with ScottishPower
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
#politicianawards25
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
#politicianawards25
November 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
the nominees were
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
Reposted by David Merrett
Showing up in the Epstein Files because you were a thorn in the side of one of his buddies is a serious flex. Rebecca Watson has been doing great work for a long time now.
youtu.be/VNLdyWPAz18?...
youtu.be/VNLdyWPAz18?...
So I'm in the Epstein Files
YouTube video by Rebecca Watson (Skepchick)
youtu.be
November 19, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Showing up in the Epstein Files because you were a thorn in the side of one of his buddies is a serious flex. Rebecca Watson has been doing great work for a long time now.
youtu.be/VNLdyWPAz18?...
youtu.be/VNLdyWPAz18?...
Reposted by David Merrett
This is powerfully embarrassing
November 16, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is powerfully embarrassing
Reposted by David Merrett
maybe if he takes more consultant advice to move to the right on immigration he can turn those numbers around
November 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
maybe if he takes more consultant advice to move to the right on immigration he can turn those numbers around
I finished Indika this morning. Deftly written, literate, with excellent performances. Understated mechanically, appropriately so, but occasionally its gameplay conceits feel underexplored or clumsily executed. Some superb bits of narrative design however, some overt, some wonderfully un-signposted.
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I finished Indika this morning. Deftly written, literate, with excellent performances. Understated mechanically, appropriately so, but occasionally its gameplay conceits feel underexplored or clumsily executed. Some superb bits of narrative design however, some overt, some wonderfully un-signposted.
Reposted by David Merrett
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by David Merrett
Ignoring the pathetic, tragic jingoism of popping a bunch of nylon flags on the posts of road signage along a bypass, but these are such obvious hazards it should genuinely merit a national restraining order on the flag twats.
November 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ignoring the pathetic, tragic jingoism of popping a bunch of nylon flags on the posts of road signage along a bypass, but these are such obvious hazards it should genuinely merit a national restraining order on the flag twats.
Reposted by David Merrett
This story is infinitely more important than GTA getting delayed. Don't let me catch you moaning about waiting longer for a video game if you're not mad about why it happened.
"Rockstar, Rockstar, you're disgusting, we charge you with union busting," the protesters declared.
'All you had to do was follow the damn law, Rockstar!': Workers are protesting outside Take-Two after GTA 6 dev's alleged 'brazen' union-busting
"They can get used to seeing us on their doorstep."
www.pcgamer.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This story is infinitely more important than GTA getting delayed. Don't let me catch you moaning about waiting longer for a video game if you're not mad about why it happened.
This article totally captured how I feel about Ball X Pit. It's totally empty, a pure lizard brain tickler, and nothing more. However, shamefully, I will finish it.
Beware of Falling into Ball x Pit
Ball x Pit is a hollow, repetitive roguelite that cynically preys on players' weakness and offers little in return--and I need to go play it again.
www.endlessmode.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This article totally captured how I feel about Ball X Pit. It's totally empty, a pure lizard brain tickler, and nothing more. However, shamefully, I will finish it.
Reposted by David Merrett
It is time to admit that Republicans won the 2024 election by running to the center.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
November 1, 2025 at 12:01 PM
It is time to admit that Republicans won the 2024 election by running to the center.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
Reposted by David Merrett
This seems outrageously cruel.
And just a handful of months before these folks would have been set to enjoy the release of one of the biggest games of their careers too.
The imbalance of power in the games industry remains utterly fucked.
And just a handful of months before these folks would have been set to enjoy the release of one of the biggest games of their careers too.
The imbalance of power in the games industry remains utterly fucked.
BREAKING: Yesterday Grand Theft Auto VI maker Rockstar Games fired dozens of people, all of whom were involved in union efforts. A British union calls it "blatant and ruthless" union-busting. Take-Two Interactive says it was due to misconduct.
Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Here's the scoop: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
‘Grand Theft Auto’ Studio Accused of Union Busting After Firings
Union says 30 and 40 people were terminated. Rockstar Games’ parent company cites ‘gross misconduct’
www.bloomberg.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This seems outrageously cruel.
And just a handful of months before these folks would have been set to enjoy the release of one of the biggest games of their careers too.
The imbalance of power in the games industry remains utterly fucked.
And just a handful of months before these folks would have been set to enjoy the release of one of the biggest games of their careers too.
The imbalance of power in the games industry remains utterly fucked.
Reposted by David Merrett
Reposted by David Merrett
It was an Issue on which serious people were expected to have opinions.
Over and over again we’ve seen the media refuse to create Issues out of anything related to right-wing radicalization. If they get any mention, they’re in stories about ‘polarization,’ a misstatement of the actual problem.
Over and over again we’ve seen the media refuse to create Issues out of anything related to right-wing radicalization. If they get any mention, they’re in stories about ‘polarization,’ a misstatement of the actual problem.
October 24, 2025 at 7:29 AM
It was an Issue on which serious people were expected to have opinions.
Over and over again we’ve seen the media refuse to create Issues out of anything related to right-wing radicalization. If they get any mention, they’re in stories about ‘polarization,’ a misstatement of the actual problem.
Over and over again we’ve seen the media refuse to create Issues out of anything related to right-wing radicalization. If they get any mention, they’re in stories about ‘polarization,’ a misstatement of the actual problem.
Reposted by David Merrett
This is a huge part of the media’s role in a democracy, not simply reporting the facts but collecting them into Major Political Issues to which the citizenry and politicians pay attention.
In 2021 when homicide rates spiked, for example, we got a wave of stories about causes, fixes, fallout, etc.
In 2021 when homicide rates spiked, for example, we got a wave of stories about causes, fixes, fallout, etc.
October 24, 2025 at 7:23 AM
This is a huge part of the media’s role in a democracy, not simply reporting the facts but collecting them into Major Political Issues to which the citizenry and politicians pay attention.
In 2021 when homicide rates spiked, for example, we got a wave of stories about causes, fixes, fallout, etc.
In 2021 when homicide rates spiked, for example, we got a wave of stories about causes, fixes, fallout, etc.
Reposted by David Merrett
It’s true that these incidents appear in the news section, but they’re rarely collected into trend pieces or framed by the media as part of a single, urgent story.
Compare this to ‘campus free speech,’ which had magazine covers, entire verticals and dedicated beat reporters.
Compare this to ‘campus free speech,’ which had magazine covers, entire verticals and dedicated beat reporters.
October 24, 2025 at 7:18 AM
It’s true that these incidents appear in the news section, but they’re rarely collected into trend pieces or framed by the media as part of a single, urgent story.
Compare this to ‘campus free speech,’ which had magazine covers, entire verticals and dedicated beat reporters.
Compare this to ‘campus free speech,’ which had magazine covers, entire verticals and dedicated beat reporters.
Reposted by David Merrett
Consider how few anecdotes it took for the media to declare a Free Speech on Campus crisis.
Every day we get more evidence that the Republican Party is teeming with white supremacists yet elite institutions refuse to frame this as a crisis that needs the nation’s attention.
Every day we get more evidence that the Republican Party is teeming with white supremacists yet elite institutions refuse to frame this as a crisis that needs the nation’s attention.
DHS posted a disturbing video today featuring a song that’s popular with Nazi creators
DHS Posts Video Featuring Song Popular With Nazi Creators
The agency denied making
gizmodo.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Consider how few anecdotes it took for the media to declare a Free Speech on Campus crisis.
Every day we get more evidence that the Republican Party is teeming with white supremacists yet elite institutions refuse to frame this as a crisis that needs the nation’s attention.
Every day we get more evidence that the Republican Party is teeming with white supremacists yet elite institutions refuse to frame this as a crisis that needs the nation’s attention.
Reposted by David Merrett
This person is one hundred percent correct and it’s scary af. We will never “media literacy” our way out of this as a society. We are about to reap the whirlwind when it comes to misinformation, disinformation, and informational warfare.
October 23, 2025 at 12:25 AM
This person is one hundred percent correct and it’s scary af. We will never “media literacy” our way out of this as a society. We are about to reap the whirlwind when it comes to misinformation, disinformation, and informational warfare.