Stephen Pihlaja

I hate when the algorithm picks up on you being interested in a thing you're trying to low key avoid.

I feel like I should be here more, what's going on here, what are we talking about.

Man on the DLR: Are you prepared for today’s meeting?
Woman: No.
Man: It’s at 9am.
Woman: I know it’s at 9am, Dave. And I remain, unprepared.

That’ll be a no from me dawg. Call your local asshole and explain that this ain’t it

The sound after the sound In which I try to write an ending

Take, take, take // The Sound after the Sound

V good: 'My Socialism is a Christian Socialism, an actual redemption of a Christian Evangelicalism I have rejected, where I had read, 'Blessed are the poor', and immediately amended it with 'in spirit' to deflect it, to not have to deal with the open wound in our society that Socialism addresses.'

How to disappear completely In which I lose a local byelection for city council, reportedly with grace and dignity

I'm which I reflect on losing a city council byelection

open.substack.com/pub/stephenp...

Great to be out over the weekend with my good friend @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social campaigning in the Moseley by-election for @stephenpihlaja.bsky.social.

Friends in politics are very important. Jess is loyal, feisty, kind, and you know exactly what she’s about. Politics needs more like Jess.

Please follow my Candidate FB page for updates about my candidacy at Labour Councillor for Moseley Ward.

Moseley Farmers Market! Ftw!

The art of the FB argument is giving a person the last work right as it makes them look like an asshole.

Here we go 💪

If you are a thoughts and prayers person, please keep me and my family in them over the next month, particularly as parts of this work can be quite unsafe and we live in challenging times.

I love being able to show some care to people who suddenly open up to you about things you wouldn't expect to hear people open up to about: the death of a husband or the pain an obscure policy has caused them. I love listening to people talk about what matters to them.

I don't think everyone should be a politician, but after completing my first doorknocking session as a candidate, I am certain this is the right path for me. I absolutely love it. I love speaking to people about their concerns, I love arguing about policy.

This has been a difficult decision for me, as the groups and people I have worked with over the years have been dear friends to me, and I will miss seeing all of them so regularly. The fight continues, just from different perspectives.

Taking on this partisan role means that I need to resign my leadership positions at Birmingham Citizens, the community organising charity I have worked with over the last nine years.

Regardless of whether I win or lose this by-election, I will also stand in the citywide election next year in May.

For those unfamiliar with the UK council system, to be a city councillor in Birmingham means to represent one part of the city, around 21,000 people in Moseley. It is a part-time post and I will continue my day job at Aston.

She was deeply respected and worked incredibly hard on behalf of the people of Moseley. In a fairer world, I would not be standing in this election, but in this imperfect world, I'm so honoured to be given a chance to take her legacy forward.

🧵Big news thread incoming🧵
Tonight, I participated in my first doorknocking session as a Labour candidate in the Moseley Ward for the city council by-election on 23 October. This summer, the Labour councillor in this Ward, Kerry Jenkins, passed away after a sudden illness.

I challenged my colleagues yesterday to come up with a seven-word definition of Stylistics. This is as close as I could get:

Stylistics is the study of how language choice affects meaning.

It was not a dream In which I return to and from Japan, and in which I am honest

Take, Take, Take // It was not a dream open.substack.com/pub/stephenp...
In which I go and come back

Now we have state sanctioned grieving?

If a Union or a political party is having an internal election, they should not tell you how to vote in that election. Honestly.

Threatens to call the police. I love it.

I love a BBC interview with an American gun expert where the gun expert is going on and on and on about things like muzzle velocity like there moment has finally come, someone will finally listen to them and the BBC interviewers is like, You realise this whole thing is completely crazy, right?

A new standing desk is great and I have solved the wobble. Yes.

Aaaaaand the internet is terrible there.

I have a place to work in my home for the first time in about 11 eleven years and it's incredible.