Dr. Matt Hanley

Last Thursday, after years of steady decline, Tinks finally succumbed. She just became too ill. After 19 years together we're devastated. It's true that that decision you need to make at the end is the terrible price you have to pay for decades of love & company. So long, Tinks. You were best.

If I have any credibility with you from 20 years of reporting on rightwing & fascist movements, please listen when I beg you not to celebrate Charlie Kirk getting shot. Leave aside morality: this isn’t a match in dry grass, it’s a torch. We do not want what this could ignite & we would not win.

Corbyn's Labour policies were largely popular across the board, but voters who are historically wary of Lab wouldn't go anywhere near him. Greens have no such baggage, so opportunities to show how our current politics is damaging us all, regardless of socioeconomics, could be fertile ground.

The challenge I see for the new leadership is to not allow the vote to coalesce around one type of voter (urban, progressive, uni town), but use the non-sectarian goodwill the Greens have across most voting blocks to show how we're ALL being screwed - working class, middle class, farmers, urban etc

Draw the line. Join the Green Party today ⤵️

join.greenparty.org.uk?utm_source=s...

Pleased to report that she survived this night. Turns out that high blood pressure caused her retina to detach, which caused her blindness in 1 eye. So she's now on monthly painkiller shots, twice daily cream for her hyperthyroidism, and daily tablet for her blood pressure.

I once sent an email to tens of thousands of the org's supporters and donors encouraging them to 'spread the word fart and wide'.

Love that we now have a Jewish politician from London, a northern Muslim gardener, & a community & arts campaigner from the midlands as our new vocally socialist leadership team. Been in the party for over 20 years, and have genuinely never been this excited for the party & hopeful for the future

So, a London Jewish former actor, a northern Muslim gardener, and a community arts and conservation champion from the midlands are the new Green Party leadership team. If nothing else, this is going to absolutely annoy all the right people! greenparty.org.uk/members/inte...

Finally finished submitted PhD thesis revisions. Now with added Foucault! 6 months of revisions has transformed my thesis from a shoddy mess into something that actually isn't too bad (I hope). Spending the rest of the day reading *fiction* (vaguely remember that!) in the corner of a cosy pub.

- Hey, John. I'm making some silly kids film about dinosaurs. Wanna do some music?

<some time later>

- Here you go, Steven. I have distilled the very essence of awe, magic and majesty for your dinosaur film score. This is my gift to you, and to the world.

- Sound. Cheers, John.

Watching the Proms playing John Williams'woderful film music on BBC4.

I always imagine how the Jurassic Park conversation went between Williams and Steven Spielberg:

This is a dark, long night. We think Tinks is fading fast - this evening she started staggering around, banging into things, staring at the wall for ages, looks really confused & a bit scared. So I'm standing vigil tonight to make sure she's comfortable until we take her to the vet in the morning...

Arsenal complete world-record £1m Olivia Smith signing from Liverpool The first £1m transfer in women’s football has been completed by the Canada forward Olivia Smith, who has described joining Arsenal as ‘an honour’

The Trevor Francis of women's football (if you know, you know!). Positive news, I suppose, raising the profile of women's football & valuing the player's worth in the hyper-capitalist f/ball market. Just bummed it had to be my beloved LFC losing an amazing player

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

*waits for the general murmur of discontent, anger and resignation to subside*

*taps own pinned post*

*goes to back yard with a shovel and easy-build shelter from B&Q*

Has...has anyone congratulated @zaltzcricket.bsky.social on his sterling cover star turn on indie royalty Half Man Half Biscuit's new album All Asimov and No Fresh Air? Talk about hiding your light under a bushel, Andy. @thebugle.bsky.social @lastweektonight.com

Britpopple - Heardle for Britpop fans Guess the Britpop song from the intro in as few tries as possible.

Don't mess with me and my Gorky's!

Britpopple #1043

🔊🟩⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️

#Britpopple #Heardle @Britpopple

britpopple.glitch.me

Ever since I joined the Greens (20-odd years ago) I've always argued that we are unique in having the policies and vocabulary to talk & appeal to all working people in all areas: farmers, small businesses, uni grads, minimum wage workers, public & private sector employees, & even environmentalists!

The cruelty is the point. That's largely the frame through which I view MAGA behaviour, and it mostly makes sense. Unfortunately.

🥀 Labour as you knew them are dead; don’t let Starmer hold your vote hostage any longer.

🤝 Help us build better, for the many.

Step 1: join.greenparty.org.uk

Step 2: Vote for Zack in the leadership election. #BackZack

I made a Downfall video

The "unapoletic", eh?!😒 "Unapologetic", of course.

We can be the unapoletic voice in UK politics standing up for ALL working people (whatever their colour or nationality), tackling climate change, challenging neoliberalism & going toe-to-toe w/ Reform and other fascists (because nobody else seems to be willing).

Right behind you, Zack ✊️

Yes. Had planned to see & stay with friends in New York for 10 days, but I absolutely cannot guarantee I won't be detained and/or deported at the airport if they take a look at my record (climate change protests in my 20s etc). Plus, you know, not wanting to legitimise fascism, either.

Some happier times when Eurovision came to Liverpool in 2023 and I actually got to indulge in all my Eurovision joy and silliness (even managed to get a ticket to one of the live shows).

.@eurovision.tv has been the highlight of my year since I can remember. I even tune into the national heats of other countries & follow them for months leading up to the big day. But as of last year I refuse to celebrate a competition that cheers a state that dances & sings while it commits genocide

So hats off to @ericidle.bsky.social and the rest of the Pythons. 50 years on, Holy Grail is still as utterly hilarious and bewildering as always.

Met Samuel Jackson in a Liverpool cafe when he was filming 51st State. Because I was/am a giggling idiot, I just went over and said 'Are you Samuel Jackson'. To which he simply peered over his coffee and said, 'Sometimes, yeah.' I wilted in his brilliant shadow and retreated, far too cool for me 🤣

Our Tinkerbell turns 19 this year. Born in 2006. She was alive when Milosovich & Saddam were, when you could still smoke in pubs, Blair was still PM, Obama was still a Chicago senator, financial markets hadn't crashed. She's older than the iPhone. She's... seen things other cats wouldn't believe!

Just watched Holy Grail at the cinema. The last scene, ending the film like that, is Python's greatest, most enduring joke they've ever played on us. As soon as the film finished the lights went up & I turned to look at rows of bemused faces (mostly young) nervously wondering what just happened! 👏👏👏