Ollie Wright

British values

Simon Reynolds - Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers And The Reinvention Of Rock, 1984–1994 book cover. Blurred pink, red and orange with the names of some of the bands covered within appearing in a slightly darker pink, so that they're a little difficult to make out.

Last week we shared the news that Simon Reynolds next book will be Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers And The Reinvention Of Rock, 1984–1994

We’ve updated #ThePortal with pieces on several of the artists featured in the book, as well as an archive Simon Reynolds interview

buff.ly/RjqnUou

It’s £5.50 per year.

YouTube video by SpaceOdyssee0 Television - Elevation

Richard Lloyd just announced that Television bassist Fred Smith died in hospice today

RIP to one of the greats

Reform faces police investigation after distributing letters from ‘concerned neighbour’ in byelection campaign Material did not have legally obligatory imprint clarifying that it was funded and distributed by political party Reform UK will face a police investigation in Gorton and Denton after admitting that it sent out letters from a “concerned neighbour” which did not state that they had been distributed and funded by the party. Greater Manchester police confirmed it had received a report about the breach of electoral law and said it would investigate. The Electoral Commission said the omission was a matter for the police, stressing that failing “to include an imprint in candidate election material is an offence.” Continue reading...

Reform faces police investigation after distributing letters from ‘concerned neighbour’ in byelection campaign

I regret to say I think we will need to hang this in the Louvre

Just a quick note to @greenparty.org.uk and @greenpartyhan.bsky.social - I was not consulted on being quoted on your leaflets and I have not endorsed your campaign (or any campaign in this seat). I think this note, like the bar chart next to it, is misleading and out of context.

In 2013, Jeffrey Epstein invited Elon Musk to hang out with him and Woody Allen, of all people!, in the Caribbean.

Musk said ‘Yes.’ (Per DOJ files).

He has so much explaining to do.

The Gorton and Denton by-election: a tale of two Manchesters? Unpopular incumbent + fragmented opposition + unusual seat = unpredictable contest

I know I'm biased, but I honestly can't see the point of reading anything else but @robfordmancs.bsky.social's deep dive on the Gorton and Denton contest. Tells you all you need to know.

Slightly faded colour photograph of David Berman, wearing a western shirt, sitting on the stoop of a house.

Darran Anderson offers ten points of entry into the inimitable work of David Berman in Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, and as a poet

The Strange World of… #DavidBerman

buff.ly/wf8j77h

not sure this is the classiest response from the Tories to the latest defection to Reform UK

Avoid a basic election analysis error with this one neat trick… Don't build conclusions on voter movements from change in aggregate vote share

Written a short explainer on one of the most common and avoidable errors in election analysis at the moment: building conclusions on how voters are moving from vote change.

Share it with anyone who needs to see it, which includes an alarming number of people in Westminster.

Why is Donald Trump changing his mind every five minutes and saying completely mad stuff an embarrassment for Keir Starmer? It feels like it should chiefly be seen as an embarrassment for the United States.

YouGov poll out today:

Reform 24 (-)
Labour 19 (-)
Tories 18 (-2)
Greens 17 (+3)
Lib Dems 14 (-2)

Changes on last week. 17% for Greens is the joint highest YouGov ever polled Greens.

Who were your favourite interviews for this book? Did you speak to Tim or Laetitia?

I can't wait to read this. It was about time that somebody wrote a book about the 'lab! One of the GOATs of UK* indie

(*🇫🇷)

The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.

interesting to see if Jenrick still believes this

Robert Jenrick becomes the latest Tory Cabinet minister to stand up at a Reform event and say the country is in an appalling state. You have no idea of the self-control required not to yell: "YOU WERE IN FKING GOVERNMENT!"

Politicians: don't use AI to make your maps.

The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.

"The wall looks permanent until the day it comes down."

data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-wall-l...

Several people I know have used the word "beautiful" for this piece, and that's exactly right. A beautifully phrased essay on the bind we're in— until we aren't.

Recommended, in an extreme way.

The odds of at least one team being detained or prevented from coming to the World Cup seems super high to me at this point

Daily Express headline saying elderly living in poverty 'could exceed 2 million'.

So half as many as the number of children living in poverty, then - but maybe they're not the Express's key demographic.

thanks @resident-music.com! The signing hand is all well, rested and ready for the month ahead.

88C NEWS WORLD BBC News (World) 008 @BBCWorld Follow Owner of Swiss ski resort held in custody after deadly New Year's Eve fire BREAKING bbc.com.NEWS 3:11 PM 09 Jan 26 41.3K Views 27 Reposts 5 Quotes 92 Likes 4 Bookmarks

The DG of the BBC said this week that it remains on X because it has to reach a worldwide audience.

40m followers....

40k views and 92 likes.

A local Facebook group has more reach.

Some thoughts from me on #dcfc's home defeat to Leeds in the FA Cup, the state of the squad in general - plus life in general as a Rams' fan at the moment.

www.patreon.com/posts/derby-...

A free seven-day trial is available to join as a new Patron! #dcfcfans

State of the squad | The Derby County Blog Get more from The Derby County Blog on Patreon

State of the squad

Here's my department by department look at #dcfc's current personnel and where Eustace might be looking to bring new bodies in this January - bearing in mind the need to get players out to make squad space first.

www.patreon.com/posts/state-...

(£/free seven-day trial)

Only steering towards the iceberg can save the Titanic