Simon Williams
@urmstonguy78.bsky.social
Music | Film | TV | Martinis
A 'glass half empty' kind of guy
A 'glass half empty' kind of guy
Reposted by Simon Williams
They've invested billions of dollars to create a Labour MP
This New Yorker piece about Claude is in turns scary and hilarious: www.newyorker.com/ma...
February 11, 2026 at 8:57 AM
They've invested billions of dollars to create a Labour MP
#5DebutAlbums0509
Honourable mention for The Earlies - 'These Were The Earlies'.
Released in the US in 2005, but released a year earlier in the UK. Would most definitely have been in my top 5, otherwise.
Honourable mention for The Earlies - 'These Were The Earlies'.
Released in the US in 2005, but released a year earlier in the UK. Would most definitely have been in my top 5, otherwise.
February 10, 2026 at 11:15 PM
#5DebutAlbums0509
Honourable mention for The Earlies - 'These Were The Earlies'.
Released in the US in 2005, but released a year earlier in the UK. Would most definitely have been in my top 5, otherwise.
Honourable mention for The Earlies - 'These Were The Earlies'.
Released in the US in 2005, but released a year earlier in the UK. Would most definitely have been in my top 5, otherwise.
Long list for #5DebutAlbums0509
This period falls directly in my 'getting married, buying a house, having kids' fallow period. Not the greatest era of music, but still a fair few that have had the legs and stayed the course.
#musicsky
This period falls directly in my 'getting married, buying a house, having kids' fallow period. Not the greatest era of music, but still a fair few that have had the legs and stayed the course.
#musicsky
February 10, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Long list for #5DebutAlbums0509
This period falls directly in my 'getting married, buying a house, having kids' fallow period. Not the greatest era of music, but still a fair few that have had the legs and stayed the course.
#musicsky
This period falls directly in my 'getting married, buying a house, having kids' fallow period. Not the greatest era of music, but still a fair few that have had the legs and stayed the course.
#musicsky
Reposted by Simon Williams
Reposted by Simon Williams
arguably the biggest news of the week that Lisa Nandy is currently doing something related to her brief
Only three cabinet ministers have not Tweeted or put out a message of support for Starmer:
Wes Streeting
Shabana Mahmood
Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics)
This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
Wes Streeting
Shabana Mahmood
Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics)
This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
arguably the biggest news of the week that Lisa Nandy is currently doing something related to her brief
Reposted by Simon Williams
Keir Starmer sitting at his desk, knowing that he can struggle on or by 6pm he could be knocking back his second Kingfisher whilst waiting for his butter chicken and plain naan to turn up.
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Keir Starmer sitting at his desk, knowing that he can struggle on or by 6pm he could be knocking back his second Kingfisher whilst waiting for his butter chicken and plain naan to turn up.
This is exactly why this guy earns the big bucks.
“A communications professional is only as good as the communications that they are communicating.”
Thanks Chris.
Thanks Chris.
February 9, 2026 at 11:32 AM
This is exactly why this guy earns the big bucks.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Just saw a post with George Clinton citing the Beatles as his favorite band, which reminded me of this quote he once gave me
February 6, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Just saw a post with George Clinton citing the Beatles as his favorite band, which reminded me of this quote he once gave me
Reposted by Simon Williams
They bent over backwards to please this roaring crackpot. Hasn’t gone quite as planned.
February 8, 2026 at 10:45 PM
They bent over backwards to please this roaring crackpot. Hasn’t gone quite as planned.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Kids can't hang out in parks. They can't hang out at the mall. They don't have 3rd spaces because no one wants kids around and then we are surprised when they rely on SM for connection.
If you take that away, what do they have left?
If you take that away, what do they have left?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
‘I’ve lost my friends’: advocacy groups warn Australia’s social media ban risks isolating kids with disabilities
Despite the ban’s aim to protect young people, experts are concerned that those in marginalised communities or living with disabilities could lose vital support networks
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Kids can't hang out in parks. They can't hang out at the mall. They don't have 3rd spaces because no one wants kids around and then we are surprised when they rely on SM for connection.
If you take that away, what do they have left?
If you take that away, what do they have left?
All timer. Love this record.
The Ibrahim Khalil Shihab Quintet :: Spring
aquariumdrunkard.com/2021/01/14/t...
Recorded in the late 1960s by Cape Town pianist Ibrahim Khalil Shihab and his group, Spring calls to mind Atlantic-era Coltrane at its breeziest...
aquariumdrunkard.com/2021/01/14/t...
Recorded in the late 1960s by Cape Town pianist Ibrahim Khalil Shihab and his group, Spring calls to mind Atlantic-era Coltrane at its breeziest...
February 8, 2026 at 9:38 AM
All timer. Love this record.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Horn toot! For _The Wall Street Journal_, author George Newman chose my book _Our Band Could Be Your Life_ as one of "Five Best: Books on the Creative Spark."
In there with Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Patti Smith, and Alice Flaherty.
In there with Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Patti Smith, and Alice Flaherty.
Five Best: Books on the Creative Spark
Selected by George Newman, the author of “How Great Ideas Happen.”
www.wsj.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Horn toot! For _The Wall Street Journal_, author George Newman chose my book _Our Band Could Be Your Life_ as one of "Five Best: Books on the Creative Spark."
In there with Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Patti Smith, and Alice Flaherty.
In there with Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Patti Smith, and Alice Flaherty.
Reposted by Simon Williams
I need everyone to know that on the crochet subreddit the mods made a big post about how they're taking a week off because there was too much fighting/political posts. so there's currently no mods on r/crochet and people are being absolutely insane
February 5, 2026 at 1:46 PM
I need everyone to know that on the crochet subreddit the mods made a big post about how they're taking a week off because there was too much fighting/political posts. so there's currently no mods on r/crochet and people are being absolutely insane
Reposted by Simon Williams
I wanna personally congratulate Hunter Biden for not only being nowhere near the Epstein files but for having rock-solid reviews from sex workers for respectfulness and tipping
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
I wanna personally congratulate Hunter Biden for not only being nowhere near the Epstein files but for having rock-solid reviews from sex workers for respectfulness and tipping
Reposted by Simon Williams
bro just one more ‘the left is bad’ speech bro, I swear one more speech shitting on the left and it’ll fix politics bro
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 11:38 AM
bro just one more ‘the left is bad’ speech bro, I swear one more speech shitting on the left and it’ll fix politics bro
Reposted by Simon Williams
The thing is Mandelson is by far the worst example but it is astonishing to see the return of Dougie Alexander and Jacqui Smith, two utter wastes of space from the New Labour administration, and the looming presence of Yvette Cooper presented as "reassuring" and not "intellectually bankrupt."
this is vicious and correct www.economist.com/britain/2026...
February 5, 2026 at 10:58 AM
The thing is Mandelson is by far the worst example but it is astonishing to see the return of Dougie Alexander and Jacqui Smith, two utter wastes of space from the New Labour administration, and the looming presence of Yvette Cooper presented as "reassuring" and not "intellectually bankrupt."
Reposted by Simon Williams
He just tweeted it out …
February 5, 2026 at 1:39 AM
He just tweeted it out …
Reposted by Simon Williams
Starmer — a prosecutor with a huge majority, coming in after years of sleaze and mendacity — could have weaponised the corruption of his opponents to incredible advantage. Instead he will be ruined by the living avatar of corruption in his own party. To not see that coming is a serious skill issue.
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Starmer — a prosecutor with a huge majority, coming in after years of sleaze and mendacity — could have weaponised the corruption of his opponents to incredible advantage. Instead he will be ruined by the living avatar of corruption in his own party. To not see that coming is a serious skill issue.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Latest from me: on Listening Position's reissue of Kelan Phil Cohran's 1993 album African Skies, one of the deepest post-1970s spiritual jazz records. Features two double basses, two harps, lots of percussion, cornet, voice and the Frankiphone, an electrified kalimba that Cohran built himself.
February 4, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Latest from me: on Listening Position's reissue of Kelan Phil Cohran's 1993 album African Skies, one of the deepest post-1970s spiritual jazz records. Features two double basses, two harps, lots of percussion, cornet, voice and the Frankiphone, an electrified kalimba that Cohran built himself.
Reposted by Simon Williams
Thirty-five years. What more can I say?
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
February 4, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Thirty-five years. What more can I say?
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
Reposted by Simon Williams
Mamdani is proving what we all suspected. The Democrats didn’t want him to win because they knew he’d succeed and show how it’s not just possible to fix things- it’s actually pretty fucking easy.
Incredible contrast between this and Keir Starmer running a delivery driver over
Mamdani Forces Delivery Apps to Pay Back $4.6 Million Cheated From Drivers
New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has already scored a major win for deliveristas working for three delivery giants.
futurism.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:38 AM
Mamdani is proving what we all suspected. The Democrats didn’t want him to win because they knew he’d succeed and show how it’s not just possible to fix things- it’s actually pretty fucking easy.
Reposted by Simon Williams
"Having been invited in 2010 to an Epstein dinner with Woody Allen and then Prince Andrew in New York, the magazine editor, Tina Brown, replied: “What the fuck is this . . .? The paedophile’s ball?” Brown’s reaction should have been everyone’s."
"In a self-valuing democracy, the only defensible stance is to call for release of all remaining files." My column on why the latest Epstein dump gives America the opposite of closure. as.ft.com/r/9553eceb-2...
The Epstein rot goes deep
[FREE TO READ] America must now ask itself if it can restore a culture of shame
as.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:43 PM
"Having been invited in 2010 to an Epstein dinner with Woody Allen and then Prince Andrew in New York, the magazine editor, Tina Brown, replied: “What the fuck is this . . .? The paedophile’s ball?” Brown’s reaction should have been everyone’s."
Reposted by Simon Williams
incredible, even when it's for his paramilitary fascist goon squad, trump still doesn't pay his bills
ICE Employees Vent on Reddit, Saying They're Not Getting Paid and Still No Insurance Despite Promises
Staff claim promised bonuses and insurance have failed to materialise, with some reporting they cannot afford medical care for sick children
www.ibtimes.co.uk/ice-employee...
Staff claim promised bonuses and insurance have failed to materialise, with some reporting they cannot afford medical care for sick children
www.ibtimes.co.uk/ice-employee...
ICE employees on Reddit complain about late salaries and missing insurance, despite promises made upon hiring
ICE employees have reported delayed pay and missing health insurance on Reddit, while critics question how staff tolerate dangerous duties for little or no compensation.
www.ibtimes.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:19 PM
incredible, even when it's for his paramilitary fascist goon squad, trump still doesn't pay his bills
Reposted by Simon Williams
Reposted by Simon Williams
I loved Shooting Stars so much, and this has just reminded me of one of the central mysteries: how was Mark always able to guess whatever Vic was singing in the club style?
www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
‘We put a stink bomb in Stephen Fry’s shoe’: Vic and Bob on the inspired idiocy of Shooting Stars
‘Christians complained about the stuffed buzzard wearing a crucifix round its neck. Birds can’t be Christians, they said. It’s the most complaints we ever got’
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:27 PM
I loved Shooting Stars so much, and this has just reminded me of one of the central mysteries: how was Mark always able to guess whatever Vic was singing in the club style?
www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...