Joe Woolley

Looks like Pynchon is having a moment. #pynchon #lot49 #iykyk

The Diwali celebration was so civilised, there was no trouble, just people communing, eating, drinking and generally having a nice time. Even the fireworks were quiet.

The early 21st century is amazing, so far today, I've watched Flo and Eddie open for Steven Stills in 1975, eaten some cheese from the French Alps, enjoyed a coffee made with beans from Ethiopia, recorded a version of a song I'm working on and been to the Diwali celebration in the market square.

The EU Prohibition: Why Rejoin is Impossible
From the EU Commission on State Aid:
"Parliament stresses that State aid should support ecological transformation and foster the development of services, knowledge, and infrastructure rather than providing support to specific companies."
1/5

The Daily Beast writes: "Kim Kardashian's brand SKIMS has sold out its synthetic pubic hair thongs and is now accumulating a waitlist for the product." Their tweet is accompanied by a link to a post with the story.

the year is 2030. a doctor solemnly informs you that you have plastic in your testicles bc millions of people persuaded by celebrity marketing bought synthetic pubic hairs that were eventually consumed by fish that you ate

On The Road by Jack Kerouac or John Renbourn's Folk, Jazz and Celtic guitar manual.

But, Bob Flowerdew's The No Work Garden might prove most influential in the long run.

'Stunned?' Farage's Admission He Knew Nathan Gill but Not His Kremlin Associates Does Not Stand Up to Scrutiny Insiders have told Byline Times it is 'inconceivable' the Reform Leader did not know about his close aide's pro Russian statements

The thing I'm "stunned" about is why this isn't the biggest domestic news item on every flipping platform

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/11/s...

Sign the Petition Urge DEFRA to lift import ban on unpasteurised cheeses under three months

@canyonsnn1.bsky.social c.org/MrkZYJjCs8ht...

Is anyone else enjoying Shadow Ticket?

That should be career ending.

Eternally grateful to Heather Marsh and Binding Chaos for helping me break free from Authoritarian endoreality and the curse of 19th century Anglo Germanic thought.

This really reflects how technocratic neoliberal logic has captured the centre of political spectrum. The argument against it is not moral or ethical, it's on cost and feasibility grounds. It's the logic of managing the numbers is what gets you elected.

No immigrant has ever sacked me, or cut my wages, or offshored my job, or closed my hospital, or stopped my mum's disability benefits, or crashed the economy.

Those things were all done by white English men who went to Oxford and wore a nice suit.

If every single bicycle in the world disappeared cars would be just as slow as they are today.

If every single car in the world disappeared bikes would be multiple magnitudes faster than they are today. A 40 minute urban bike ride would go down to 20 minutes.

Michael Rother was superb last night, so dreamy. Hallogallo!

Is Russia violating YOUR airspace? ‼️

Try this solution today!

Shoot down the plane. Let Dmitry Medvedev rant about it until he passes out from drinking too much nail polish again. Go out to dinner.

The reviews are in!

“Worked as intended! 10 out of 10 ⭐️!”

- Turkey

How algorithms are breaking democracy The rise of the far-right is being fed by information disorder, says Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins

🔴 NEW: How disinformation spreads, why trust in institutions is collapsing, and how social media platforms fuel conspiracy movements and populist surges.

Highly recommend this conversation with @eliothiggins.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/how-algori...

I want my country back. The country that welcomed my Grandfather fleeing from the Armenian genocide. That welcomed the Polish grandfather of our political editor, who then fought against Hitler. That welcomed the Indian parents of our editor-in-chief, as citizens of the British Empire. That country

Loving our neighbours means dismantling the systems that oppress them.

Happy #SocialistSunday to those who celebrate

‘Business secretary Peter Kyle was asked by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning if the demonstration – organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson – “disturbed” him.

Kyle said the number of people who turned out for the protest shows free speech is “alive and well” in the UK.’

For shame

There has been far too much 'understanding' and far too little condemnation on the part of politicians and media of the flag movement. It is a far right campaign of vandalism and criminal damage. It is not a patriotic movement.

This is one of the many reasons I no longer have a Facebook account.

Excellent thread on how the UK media currently functions.

When was the last time an extreme right winger conceded a point, or softened their views? There’s never any actual debate, only dogma and proselytising

Even the drummer sounds like he has a sense of humour.

Folky!

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.

Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.

That, right there, is the problem.