Simon

🚨HAPPENING NOW: Hundreds arrested in Parliament Square in protest organised by Defend Our Juries

The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.

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Whilst the police in London arrest blind pensioners in Wheelchairs for being anti-genocide, in Portsmouth the leader of UKIP makes a nazi salute at an anti migrant demo and the police do nothing. Welcome to Britain 2025.

We went to see Salò at the Scala in MGM's murdered version. Emerged numbed into the desolate cold of King's Cross. A wave of anger came over me. The pathetic nature of British life: no Pasolini, Genet, or Barthes, no-one here really.

Derek Jarman on the ‘pathetic nature of British life: no Pasolini, Genet, or Barthes’:

The contrast in reporting these stories is nuts, right? It's not just me?

I imagine I wouldn't be best pleased if I were an act in that venue who had printed flyers at my own expense that now have the venue wrongly named on them.

Learned this today not because I wanted to go to a show there but because I'd seen it last week and fancied some chicken. Then it wasn't there and this Greek place was there instead. Astonishing for a Fringe venue (listed in the programme!) to change names mid-Fringe.

Doing the Fringe is expensive (especially for an Aussie) but Zoe is donating a portion of her ticket sales to All Our Relations supporting families impacted by the genocide in Gaza so even more reason to go see her. www.instagram.com/_allourrelat...

After an enforced sabbatical, Eric Meat is back at the office he calls home. Between water cooler gossip, trips to Honkers (everyone's favourite post-work pub) and a looming appraisal, his loyalty faces its final test. Hilarious, heartfelt and absurd, it's a story of loyalty, nostalgia and knowing when to let go. How can you come back if you never leave? Best Show Nominee Comedians' Choice Awards 2022. 'Ali Brice is funny... a master of the absurd' **** (List). 'Comic genius' **** (Skinny). 'Side-splittingly comical' ***** (TheUpcoming.co.uk). 'Hilarious, unique... surprisingly moving' **** (Chortle.co.uk).

Ali Brice: Eric Meat Gets The Chop www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

Unprecedented! We went to see Ali Brice's show AGAIN because we love his energy with a crowd. This time we got more of his character work and he has a parody song that is maybe my highlight of this year's Fringe.

Strap in. Let’s go. Welcome to The Splash Zone. Known for award-winning, high-concept meta-comedy, this is Zoë stripped back: her funniest, most straight-shooting stand-up hour yet. A joyfully untethered ADHD stream of consciousness about leaning into discomfort and talking to strangers. Let's chat. You might've seen Zoë's Amazon Prime special or on Harry Hill's Club Nite (Channel 4). Zoë's performed at Netflix Is A Joke in LA and JFL Montreal, been nominated for Best Show in Edinburgh and won Best Show in Melbourne. 'A master-class' ***** (Herald). 'Perfectly-pitched' **** (Scotsman). **** (Guardian). ***** (Chortle).

Zoe Coombs Marr: The Splash Zone www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

Love an Australian comedian and Zoe has a really strong stand-up set about being a person in the world, ADHD, and designing T-shirt guns. She brings a terrific energy even in the crowd work.

Back at the Edinburgh Fringe today!

Caitriona Dowden: Dance Like Everyone's Dancing www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...

Saw Caitriona last year and we're big fans of her deadpan delivery on really niche ecclesiastical history. Fascinating parallels between 11th and 21st Century apocalyptic thinking.

The fact that it's all the First Book nominees that are pulling their books is frankly embarrassing for the authors on the main longlist

We tend to be the same. Wander round, focus on the Free Fringe, and see what takes our fancy.

It is 1974, America only just leads Russia in technology. SQL promises to let users become programmers without writing code.

It is 1980, America only just leads Japan in technology. 4GLs promise to let users become programmers without writing code.

In 2023, we got loads of flyers for choir acts at the Fringe. This year, it's magicians that we've been seeing loads of promotion for. 2025 is the year of magicians.

*young me, developing a strong sense of justice*

This is gonna be great, what an asset, this will never drive me insane

When this confirms, cis people please CALL your MP and say you're not going to carry your birth certificate everywhere and ask what are you supposed to do if someone says you're trans? Say this is an absurd law based on absurd assumptions and it LIMITS YOUR FREEDOM.

It's cool how in the UK AI chat bots are now beginning to be treated with more respect than transsexual human beings.

I am Sober app message for UK users when you try to access the community feature: 6 Aug 2025 Custom • Day One Community access temporarily unavailable. Due to the UK Online Safety Act, community features are currently unavailable for UK users. Your personal tracking, daily pledges, milestones, and all other app features remain fully accessible. We expect to restore community access soon once we implement the required age verification systems.

I decided I want to go back to not drinking, I use this great app I Am Sober a huge part of which is the community feature where you can make friends and get support and motivation, it’s now unavailable for UK ppl due to the online safety act….in case teenagers are illicitly trying to get sober?

A banner advert for the University of Warwick, which says "Beyond ignores curiousity". This is a spelling error.

The University of Warwick has paid a lot of money, I'm guessing, for their internet banner ads on the Guardian and elsewhere.

But they can't spell "curiosity". This isn't a US-UK variant. They just, genuinely, have a massive spelling error in their banner ads.

I hope they never get a Scottish actor to play the Highlander. It's tradition.

bsky.app/profile/simo...

None of this is permanent. You're building sand castles anywhere you post.

Stop debating this website's growth potential. I don't care. I'm a digital hermit crab. If it dies, I'll find another shell as I've done a dozen times before.

I got the same from KLM yesterday. Maybe airlines should find a new software solution for this data.

My prediction for Avengers: Doomsday is that they won't even address the time disparity when the Fantastic Four travel over to the main MCU universe.

Everyone in the UK Government throwing public money to the companies selling "AI" should be asked on camera if they would get in the ChatGPT submarine.

There's a clear link between BDS and reclaiming the kind of digital sovereignty that all governments should be reaching for. Divest from Microsoft and invest in the kind of open source software that @patrickharvie.bsky.social has already advocated for throughout his career.

🚨 I have submitted proposals for the Scottish Government to implement the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel as far as we can within devolved powers

The perpetrators of genocide must face consequences 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💚🇵🇸

Boycott and divest from Microsoft. opensauce.simonxix.com/bds-and-prop...