James Graham

Were they ever really different groups? If you look at the people who circle Davos or hung out with Epstein, there seems to be an awful lot of crossover. I’m not claiming a conspiracy, just that both sides’ anti-democratic narratives seem to have converged. 3/3

But we’ve now reached the situation where 4D chess playing technocrats have just adopted the simplistic narratives of the populists, and yet are arguing that they’re justified in doing so because it’s all so complicated and we just don’t understand. Meanwhile the populists have embraced elitism 2/3

A thought occurred to me today: I’ve always felt that politics is split between the technocrats who assert that politics is impossibly complex and the populists who assert that politics is absurdly simple - and we should reject both 1/3

I mean it’s audio. It just isn’t easy listening

Honestly he has a point about breaking up the EHRC. There were deep misgivings about it under Trevor Philips who as its first chair was also a case of being appointed more because of his celebrity status than particular expertise. It doesn’t seem to have ever functioned the way it was intended.

The rich must be incentivised; the poor must be disciplined.

The political economy of the super-elite in one headline.

More than fifty private schools shut since Labour put VAT on fees Department for Education defends ending tax breaks for independent institutions, after parents lost a legal battle at the High Court this year — view map

The headline here should say:

"Number of private schools increases by 35 - showing fears of an exodus to be unfounded".

(The increase is mentioned way down the article.)

www.thetimes.com/article/19ef...

Numbers of students are down 1.9% as opposed to the 25% predicted by the Independent Schools Council and various right wing think-tanks.

My wife asked what I really wanted and I told her it was a 52 part podcast examining every episode of Blake's 7. Turns out, she meant korma or jalfrezi.

rfk jr talks a lot of shit for a guy who looks like the necronomicon

I’m surprised Americans don’t talk more about the fact that drug companies now pay them 14 times more what they used to pay every time they get drugs off of them. That sounds incredible.

Sydney Sweeney's Republican voter registration revealed amid jeans ad controversy The Guardian

find the US system where it is normal in a lot of states to publicly register what political party you support deeply weird. You have fewer voting rights unless you deny your claim to a secret ballot.

I’d really love to see how the great Strange New Worlds cast would have evolved with a more traditional 20-odd episode format, instead of this gimmick of the week thing they have going on.

The ads were a lifeline. I think the crucial difference is that all of the ads are hobby-relevant and not (eg) trying to sell crypto, blatant dropshipping scams or gambling

39,511 Individual Signatures from 160 Countries

Not In Our Name NION Not in our name: Women in support of the trans+ community 2 Sign petition 40,057°

Two petitions one supporting the total elimination of trans people, the other signed by cis women opposing transphobia

No 1. took SIX YEARS to get 39,500 signatures.

No 2. took just 10 weeks to get 40,000 signatures

Now tell me transphobia is more popular than trans people’s human rights.

8. Love in the Time of Seið by @jmstar.bsky.social and Matthijs Holter. Another one shot game that does a lot with very little and feels different each time you play. www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/1...

Cover to Thousand Year Old Vampire

7. Thousand Year Old Vampire by @timhutchings.bsky.social

I don’t actually get on with journaling games as I have really poor concentration. But I play this in real time with another player and it’s always a blast.

Not for nothing it’s an incredible money maker 👀 leisuregames.com/products/tho...

Lady Blackbird text. Image is of a space ship flying above some clouds

6. Lady Blackbird by @johnharper.bsky.social: ladyblackbird.org

I’m amazed this hasn’t ended up being given the full book treatment like Agon. Nonetheless, in a few pages the free downloadable version gives you a free setting, set up and rule system which you can start playing immediately

More precisely, it was the idea that the rest of the world was sitting around fiddling their fingers until the Americans announce that they have a plan. In my case I recall less cheers and much more an audible groan.

But that’s what the essay says. That’s literally the main argument.

Britain’s MPs charge VPNs to expenses as minister urges caution Technology Secretary Peter Kyle appeared to suggest that VPN use could put children at risk.

Oh LMAO Brit MPs after voting through identity restrictions on adult sites are using VPNs to avoid it

And billing this in expenses..

www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it

Plus, he’s right about the new Skunk Anansie album as well.

Finally read this and, boy, does the response to it online highlight the problem it raises. I’m sure there are criticisms of it, and if I read more closely I’d be able to nitpick a few bits, but what I’ve seen is just a wall of noise from people who clearly haven’t read past the headline.

BBC launches probe into Strictly cocaine use after claims two stars took drug

Wait. There’s a spin off show called Strictly Cocaine Use? Presumably you get disqualified if you’re caught using ketamine?

It used to seem a stretch to argue that if ID cards were introduced it might be a problem if we went onto elect a fascist government; now it’s a likely result of the next election. And we’ve seen in the US how such governments treat databases. But then, the current Labour one isn’t much better.

Isn’t that basically the current Conservative Party?

Bunch of terfs holding up a banner saying "we are all sandie peggie"

What's that you say, GC movement? "You are all Sandie Peggie?" Sandie Peggie, the omni-racist? The workplace bully? The bigot so vile that she has at least five separate bigotries on the go at any one time, who spends so much time hating that it's basically her hobby?
I believe you, GC movement.

Why does he put his own name in scare quotes?

orange cat lying on floor with square lights reflected on his flank that resembles lit windows

live action catbus looking pretty sweet