Thomas D. Lee

80s font meme that says "Time for Butlerian Jihad"

Because they don't want people to think. They don't want to be held accountable. They don't want people to write about the massacres and the atrocities and the crimes against humanity. They want to be able to carry out those crimes with impunity.

It's why they want AI to succeed, it's why they want children glued to their screens, it's why they want libraries to close, it's why they're content for tech companies to keep stealing from authors. It's why we have to keep writing books, keep promoting reading, keep standing our ground.

Watching a documentary about Seymour Hersh, in which he says "books taught me how to think" - detailing how he got to attend the University of Chicago, despite the odds, and later became the journalist who reported the My Lai Massacre. Can't help thinking that that's why fascists want books to die.

That's why they want AI to succeed, it's why they want children glued to their screens, it's why they're content for libraries to close and for tech firms to steal from hardworking authors. It's why it's so important for us to keep writing books, keep promoting reading, keep standing our ground.

They know that nobody wants to use their AI bullshit so they're tying more and more stuff to it to try and make people pay more

Microsoft Word used to let you view a document's 'version history' which was stored locally on your hard-drive. I used to do it on a fairly regular basis. Now 'version history' is tied to OneDrive and only possible if you enable 'Connected Experiences' (e.g. CoPilot). #Enshitification intensifies.

Did you lure it out with ginger?

Why did Keir Starmer really block Andy Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton?

And that's enough procrastinating for one day. Follow me for more weirdly specific takes on the aesthetics of the original Star Trek movies.

Another view of the bridge of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) showing the tasteful red facings on the commsnd consoles

Black upholstery contrasts with white lighting strips for a bright and optimistic effect, capturing the thrill of exploration. Subtle nods to the original Enterprise include red facings on the command consoles and polished mahogany safety railings, as well as blue mood lighting above the viewscreen.

A 3D image of the bridge of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) showing a planet on the viewscreen.

And finally, here we have the bridge of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A). After a thirty year space career and a reputation for flaunting the rules, Kirk surprised the review panel by submitting a modest design for the bridge of his new command.

Winner of the Starfleet Citation for Excellent Interior Design 2292, Captain Sulu's design is often studied by students on the Starship Ergonomics module at Starfleet Academy. He later redecorated the Palais de la Concorde in the same style after being elected President of the Federation in 2326.

A 3D closeup of the bridge of the USS Excelsior, showing Captain Sulu's coffee table and cup of herbal tea

Uncomfortable with the traditional throne-like isolation of the command chair, Captain Sulu requested that a low angular coffee table be placed in front of the command chair, placing comfort and diplomacy at the heart of his command style (and enabling his fondness for drinking tea whilst on duty).

A 3D model of the bridge of the Federation starship USS Excelsior, showing the chic blue colour scheme

After taking command, Captain Hikaru Sulu entirely redecorated the bridge of the Excelsior, favouring a warmer royal blue colour scheme combined with tasteful backlighting on the control surfaces, and a more conventional overall layout.

Matte black bridge chairs are combined with turqoise underlighting to emphasise the raw power of the Excelsior's experimental transwarp drive, drawing power from the bridge emergency life support systems: yet another indication of how captain Styles acquired his nickname of 'Styles-over-substance'.

A 3D model of the bridge of the Federation starship USS Excelsior

Captain Lawrence H. Styles of the USS Excelsior advocated a radical departure from traditional orthodoxies of bridge interior design in favour of a clean and brutally minimalist aesthetic, inspired by the Andorian concept of than'travien-shang (loosely translated as 'military ergonomics')

A 3D model of the bridge of the Federation starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Captain Spock of the USS Enterprise has opted for a subtle off-teal pattern, bright enough to add a pop of colour without clashing with the overall gunmetal grey colour scheme. It also looks good in 'red alert' mood lighting. Highly logical.

A 3D model of the bridge of the Federation starship USS Reliant

It's interesting to compare the Grissom to other design choices from the late 23rd century. Captain Clark Terrell of the USS Reliant favours a robust tan-brown colour scheme but opts for a darker charcoal grey for the command chair, as an understated reinforcement that his is the superior intellect.

A screenshot from Star Trek: The Animated Series, showing three Klingon warriors wearing cunty pink armour

This may also explain some of the colourful uniform variations seen within the ranks of the Klingon imperial navy in the late 2260s

Chancellor Gorkon lying slain on the deck of the IKS Kronos One, covered in magenta pink blood, attended by his daughter and the traitorous Colonel Chang.

Of course this choice may have had fatal consequences due to cultural miscommunication. To humans, pink is a peaceful colour with no aggressive connotations. 'We're just a cute little science ship, don't hurt us!' But to Klingons, of course, pink is the colour of BLOOD

A 3D model of the bridge of the Federation starship USS Grissom, clearly showing cunty pink upholstery throughout

This led me to wonder if all of the bridge chairs on the USS Grissom are upholstered in the same colour or whether it was just Saavik. Pleased to be able to report that Captain J.T. Esteban ordered 'cunty pink' from the bridge interior design catalogue.
(3D bridge model courtesy of Donny Versiga)

A TV screen showing a shot from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, detailing Lieutenant Saavik's cunty pink bridge chair

My sister messaged me last night saying, and I quote 'watching search for spock and obsessed with saavik’s cunty pink chair'

Ah I didn't spot the 'international' in your post, sorry for correcting what didn't need to be corrected!

Came here to say this. Coleman was a pioneering trailblazer in her own right but Eugene Bullard deserves to be remembered - he lived an incredible life.

Stack of the book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, edited by Daniel Frost and Evan Smith

To celebrate the publication of @d-j-frost.bsky.social and mine’s book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, I am giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who reposts this post by 11.59pm ACST Sunday 1 Feb.

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/

As usual Clan McSweeney are more interested in spineless self-preservation than they are in the good of the country or of the Labour party

I'm glad you're enjoying it ☺️

Book: Perilous Times by Thomas D Lee, perched on a pile of books in front of an overfull bookcase.

I’ve just started reading Perilous Times by @thomasdlee.bsky.social. Enjoying the premise/writing style; reminds me of Tom Holt. Set in (maybe) the near future, the planet is burning, cities are drowning and society is collapsing. It is England’s hour of need. Who you gonna call? Who’s interfering?

Kay and Mariam hide in one of these old ROC bunkers in the first few chapters of Perilous Times. I've poked around inside one of them in Lincolnshire. They're a fascinating relic of the Cold War (and yes, one of them falling into the sea is a sure sign that subtlety is dead).