Neil Hocking

In a way, I find the authoritarian takeover of our media system even more disturbing than the authoritarian takeover of our political system.

Our political system has been failing basically my entire adult life. But, the media system provided accountability and sort of worked. Now it’s collapsing.

When we say “No Kings” this should include the nasty billionaires who use their money to control all media and the government.

Peaceful assembly isn’t an insurrection.

Storming the Capitol to hang your own vice-president and end democracy is.

If eating scotch eggs in an Austin Allegro had a face.

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

In the month of the 100th birthday of Margaret Thatcher, let us pause to reflect on what a cruel, heartless twat she was.

Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."

"And let us enforce the same rules. When you have a newspaper, you are responsible for what is published in it. When you have a social network, you must be responsible for what is published on it."

Political cartoon depicting Uncle Sam purchasing “Control of Internet Speech” from a “Corporate Media” representative. The Corporate Media rep is asking “How would you like this wrapped?”, while behind him are wrapping paper rolls labeled “Anti-terrorism” and “Protect Kids”. The cartoon suggests that control of internet speech is being sold by corporate media and purchased under the guise of anti-terrorism and protecting kids.

Today people went around my neighborhood in north east London spray painting St George’s crosses onto people’s homes. Many of these houses have non British people living in them.

This is getting very dark, very quick.

Google Maps has alerted me that your mum is walking towards me.

In a previous life, Keir Starmer was in some '70s sitcom playing the role of a dithering, indecisive vicar faffing about on a bicycle.

“Superman is too woke!”

Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:

52% voted for Brexit. "It's the will of the people!" - Farage.

But 60% of Brits now want a closer relationship with Europe.

Times and attitudes have changed. So should our relationship with Europe.

The only people standing in opposition to the "will of the people" today are the Tories & Reform.

Sample sentence: "This yearning to “reset” Britain doesn’t stem from a plan to build something better – it stems from a refusal to imagine anything new."

Indeed. A great article.

Things Can’t Only Get Better This week: I have bloody well had it with the sodding Labour party. Also: an early modern way of having too many browser tabs open; and some maps dropped on other maps.

"But of course, the sudden bout of whatever-the-f*ck is not the only reason I’m not in a good place. Another is that the place I am in is Britain, where the governing party seems to have convinced itself that, “the far right is correct. Vote Labour” is in any way a winning strategy."

A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.

Also, I have been avoiding pope coverage because I find it annoys me when people (popes) who think gay people are disordered, abortion is murder, humanity is intrinsically broken, and a bit of child abuse is something to be covered up are described as ‘liberal’.

New Pope Leo blasts non-religious people, saying (quite shockingly) that 'lack of faith' comes from 'the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity'

We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least

Happy 80th anniversary of Hitler killing himself in his bunker to all who celebrate, which, as I now understand it, is not everybody

Doctor Who really needs to take a deep look at Star Trek Strange new Worlds to learn how to balance camp episodes, with experimental episodes, with serious episodes…oh and how to structure episodes

Absolutely damning.

Seems that the British government made not attempt to find out if the Russians had interfered in the EU Brexit referendum.

Starmer needs to realise that we're in 2025 not 2017

I used to be afraid of ghosts but then I found out they're not real so now I guess I'm afraid of the living Victorian child that stands at the foot of my bed screaming every night.

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social raises an important question about the corruption of the justice system. Why was not one farmer arrested for blocking roads & bringing the whole country to a standstill? Climate protesters are in prison, farmers aren’t, why? What happened to equality under the law?

Nation Could Have Sworn Russell Brand Was Already Convicted Sex Offender NEW YORK—Stressing that the memory seemed so fresh and vivid in their minds, the confused nation announced Monday that they could have sworn British entertainer Russell Brand was already a convicted s...

Nation Could Have Sworn Russell Brand Was Already Convicted Sex Offender

Forgot I was on a phone call about council tax

Them: What band are you in

Me: Erm, The Charlatans

Them: Your council tax band?

😬

Mine did the same and saw the robot mower, like star crossed lovers. We’ve named them Gromeo and Hoovliet.

Gordon Ramsey: what's the special, sweetheart?
Waitress: blackbird pie
Gordon Ramsey: blackbird pie?
Waitress: yes, four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie
Gordon Ramsey: four and twenty, wow, fuck me, blackbird pie, jesus. what happened to your nose?