Grant McDougall
@grantkmcdougall.bsky.social
Quite interested in music, books, film, sport and politics
If it's anywhere near as good as his book on post-punk, it'll be a fantastic read.
Last week we shared the news that Simon Reynolds next book will be Still In A Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers And The Reinvention Of Rock, 1984–1994
We’ve updated #ThePortal with pieces on several of the artists featured in the book, as well as an archive Simon Reynolds interview
buff.ly/RjqnUou
We’ve updated #ThePortal with pieces on several of the artists featured in the book, as well as an archive Simon Reynolds interview
buff.ly/RjqnUou
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
If it's anywhere near as good as his book on post-punk, it'll be a fantastic read.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
Paris, January 29, 1972
February 2, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Paris, January 29, 1972
Reposted by Grant McDougall
I'm thinking about starting the New Zealand "No Billionaires Party", which doesn't just tax billionaires at 100%, but also restricts them in every other possible way the moment they set foot here. Petty stuff. A cup of coffee costs $37, but only for them.
February 1, 2026 at 2:07 AM
I'm thinking about starting the New Zealand "No Billionaires Party", which doesn't just tax billionaires at 100%, but also restricts them in every other possible way the moment they set foot here. Petty stuff. A cup of coffee costs $37, but only for them.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
Middle East advertisment on American products.
January 31, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Middle East advertisment on American products.
Classic 😆
💯 accurate
Hope the fire guy doesn’t get in trouble but 🤣🤣🤣🤣😊🤣😊😊😊🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 (watch the fire guy at the end)
January 31, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Classic 😆
Reposted by Grant McDougall
So, we’re NOT all the same are we David Seymour? Slaves deserve less human rights than non slaves, according to the ACT party, so effectively he’s blown up his whole ‘Trojan horse plan’ to appeal to the masses, proving that not all psychopaths are geniuses🤦♀️ #nzpol #OneTermGovernment
January 29, 2026 at 7:22 PM
So, we’re NOT all the same are we David Seymour? Slaves deserve less human rights than non slaves, according to the ACT party, so effectively he’s blown up his whole ‘Trojan horse plan’ to appeal to the masses, proving that not all psychopaths are geniuses🤦♀️ #nzpol #OneTermGovernment
Pretty much says it all.
I think JuCo deserves a fitting tribute from a colleague so here's an old Bill English quote about her.
"pushed beyond her capacity ..... with an unfortunately high estimation of her own competence"
#nzpol
"pushed beyond her capacity ..... with an unfortunately high estimation of her own competence"
#nzpol
January 28, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Pretty much says it all.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
January 27, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Reposted by Grant McDougall
January 26, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Grant McDougall
I am very proud that at a pre-Oscars party when The Return Of The King was grabbing a huge clutch of rewards, a friend of mine was obliged to kick a gatecrashing "celebrity" off a red carpet that was reserved for cast and crew.
The "celebrity" in question is currently resident in the Whitehouse.
The "celebrity" in question is currently resident in the Whitehouse.
January 26, 2026 at 11:12 PM
I am very proud that at a pre-Oscars party when The Return Of The King was grabbing a huge clutch of rewards, a friend of mine was obliged to kick a gatecrashing "celebrity" off a red carpet that was reserved for cast and crew.
The "celebrity" in question is currently resident in the Whitehouse.
The "celebrity" in question is currently resident in the Whitehouse.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
January 26, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
This is a fantastic, little read.
Went for a walk on Dartmoor yesterday & found these little water spouts bubbling up in a place that's bone dry in Spring & Summer. Today, an ecologist has explained to me these are 'ephemeral springs': where the bedrock on Dartmoor is impermeable granite, the water can't sink past the bedrock.
🧵1/4
🧵1/4
January 27, 2026 at 2:41 AM
This is a fantastic, little read.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
i've been out in minneapolis all day, talking to locals and trying to wrap my head around the murder of alex pretti. it's 11.23pm, and this is what i've arrived at. please RT, it's free to read: www.webworm.co/alexpretti/
"Say His Name: Alex Pretti"
David Farrier's Webworm reports that Alex Pretti's gun never left its holster - before ICE agents removed it and killed him at point blank range.
www.webworm.co
January 25, 2026 at 5:24 AM
i've been out in minneapolis all day, talking to locals and trying to wrap my head around the murder of alex pretti. it's 11.23pm, and this is what i've arrived at. please RT, it's free to read: www.webworm.co/alexpretti/
Reposted by Grant McDougall
lol i did not realize there is an NZ version of the famous nyc 'lunch atop a skyscraper' photo (this is from the 1950s construction of auckland's harbour bridge)
January 25, 2026 at 3:42 AM
lol i did not realize there is an NZ version of the famous nyc 'lunch atop a skyscraper' photo (this is from the 1950s construction of auckland's harbour bridge)
Reposted by Grant McDougall
they are of course, the same men who will accuse you of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' when you post about ICE, Greenland or the 'board of peace'
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-...
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-...
It sure looks like people are never going to get over Jacinda Ardern | The Spinoff
The former PM retired three years ago. The very mention of her name still has the power to send grown men spiralling,
thespinoff.co.nz
January 24, 2026 at 8:20 PM
they are of course, the same men who will accuse you of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' when you post about ICE, Greenland or the 'board of peace'
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-...
thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-...
Dead C
Alpaca Brothers
Acid Mothers Temple
Rowland S Howard
Afrirampo
Alpaca Brothers
Acid Mothers Temple
Rowland S Howard
Afrirampo
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen:
Diamanda Galas
Beth Gibbons
Beth Orton
Bob Mould
Jawbox
bsky.app/profile/aund...
Diamanda Galas
Beth Gibbons
Beth Orton
Bob Mould
Jawbox
bsky.app/profile/aund...
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen:
Gorillaz
Tegan & Sara
Interpol
Jay Z
X
Gorillaz
Tegan & Sara
Interpol
Jay Z
X
January 23, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Dead C
Alpaca Brothers
Acid Mothers Temple
Rowland S Howard
Afrirampo
Alpaca Brothers
Acid Mothers Temple
Rowland S Howard
Afrirampo
Reposted by Grant McDougall
Imagine becoming custodian of a century of accumulated cultural and political capital, possibly the worlds’ largest such hoard, and blowing it all on Greenland.
January 22, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Imagine becoming custodian of a century of accumulated cultural and political capital, possibly the worlds’ largest such hoard, and blowing it all on Greenland.
Absolutely stunning. What a one in a million band they were.
The Gun Club performing the incendiary "Jack on Fire" on Spanish show La Edad de Oro in 1985, Kid Congo Powers on guitar. Song from the group's 1981 debut album Fire of Love. m.youtube.com/watch?v=n6to...
The Gun Club - Jack On Fire (Live on Madrid TV, Spain, 1985)
YouTube video by Cherry Red Records
m.youtube.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Absolutely stunning. What a one in a million band they were.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
politics is being a guy with multiple houses and millions of dollars and saying ‘times are tough’ with a straight face
January 19, 2026 at 6:23 PM
politics is being a guy with multiple houses and millions of dollars and saying ‘times are tough’ with a straight face
Hard agree.
100% tariff on the MM/DD/YY format.
January 19, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Hard agree.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
#nzpol The Prime Minister spent longer managing his Spotify Playlists than writing that speech. Nothing new, nothing to help manage growing unemployment, more cuts signalled to government investment. That wasn't a State of the Nation - it was asking people to forget the past two years.
January 19, 2026 at 12:33 AM
#nzpol The Prime Minister spent longer managing his Spotify Playlists than writing that speech. Nothing new, nothing to help manage growing unemployment, more cuts signalled to government investment. That wasn't a State of the Nation - it was asking people to forget the past two years.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
Great to see Luxon condemn Trump's stance on Greenland and call in the US ambassador.
My mistake, he's still on holiday 15 days after he promised he would be back at work.
My mistake, he's still on holiday 15 days after he promised he would be back at work.
January 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Great to see Luxon condemn Trump's stance on Greenland and call in the US ambassador.
My mistake, he's still on holiday 15 days after he promised he would be back at work.
My mistake, he's still on holiday 15 days after he promised he would be back at work.
Reposted by Grant McDougall
#BREAKING Lionel Richie has given me one of his Grammys. Mr. Richie told reporters he had made the presentation “as a recognition for Patrick’s unique commitment to dancing on the ceiling.” I in turn called it a “a wonderful gesture”
January 16, 2026 at 3:05 AM
#BREAKING Lionel Richie has given me one of his Grammys. Mr. Richie told reporters he had made the presentation “as a recognition for Patrick’s unique commitment to dancing on the ceiling.” I in turn called it a “a wonderful gesture”
😅🤣😂
And here I thought only Americans use weird measurement units
January 17, 2026 at 7:08 AM
😅🤣😂