James Austin
@jamesdaustin.bsky.social
This again. Outdoors. Politics. Sport. Not always in that order. Labour. Trade Unionist. Trying to do community things. Views entirely my own
*stops at services en route to Snowdonia, looks at notifications*
Dear god, what is going on here
Dear god, what is going on here
December 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
*stops at services en route to Snowdonia, looks at notifications*
Dear god, what is going on here
Dear god, what is going on here
Reposted by James Austin
I already agree with this in principle - citizenship is an untouchable status or it is nothing - but also for reasons of prudence. “The Home Sec can revoke citizenship when he/she deems someone’s online output sufficiently offensive” is a v dangerous precedent to set with Reform leading all polls.
Hell, I'm not convinced we should revoke citizenship at all.
But certainly not for being a twat online.
But certainly not for being a twat online.
December 29, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I already agree with this in principle - citizenship is an untouchable status or it is nothing - but also for reasons of prudence. “The Home Sec can revoke citizenship when he/she deems someone’s online output sufficiently offensive” is a v dangerous precedent to set with Reform leading all polls.
Fundimentally the alt-right (and increasingly the right's) position is: don't tread on me, let me tread on others
There is a more general context which is that the current hard right has two unifying political demands, which are freedom from consequences for them and punishment for the (increasingly broadly defined) outgroup
December 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Fundimentally the alt-right (and increasingly the right's) position is: don't tread on me, let me tread on others
I don't think we should revoke citizenship because of some tweets
December 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I don't think we should revoke citizenship because of some tweets
Reposted by James Austin
Ask this question and its follow-up. Like Begum before him, Alaa el-Fattah is being used as a crowbar to shift reasonable people - even some progressives - into a space of thinking that full citizenship, if granted recently or dual, is retroactively conditional or attracts a lower class of rights.
December 29, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Ask this question and its follow-up. Like Begum before him, Alaa el-Fattah is being used as a crowbar to shift reasonable people - even some progressives - into a space of thinking that full citizenship, if granted recently or dual, is retroactively conditional or attracts a lower class of rights.
Whether conciously or not he wants to betray Ukraine and return it to Russian servitude
Trump: "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices."
December 29, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Whether conciously or not he wants to betray Ukraine and return it to Russian servitude
Probably the single strongest year - just a mental number of exceptional games.
Loved many of these games: Battlefront, Advance Wars, Black and White, Timesplitters, COD2, AoE3, CIV...
But the winner then and now is Shadow of the Colossus. Profound and beautiful in a very rare way.
Loved many of these games: Battlefront, Advance Wars, Black and White, Timesplitters, COD2, AoE3, CIV...
But the winner then and now is Shadow of the Colossus. Profound and beautiful in a very rare way.
Quote this with your favourite game NOW that was released in 2005, and what your favourite was THEN (if you had one)
Localisations/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations/early access count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Probably the single strongest year - just a mental number of exceptional games.
Loved many of these games: Battlefront, Advance Wars, Black and White, Timesplitters, COD2, AoE3, CIV...
But the winner then and now is Shadow of the Colossus. Profound and beautiful in a very rare way.
Loved many of these games: Battlefront, Advance Wars, Black and White, Timesplitters, COD2, AoE3, CIV...
But the winner then and now is Shadow of the Colossus. Profound and beautiful in a very rare way.
We all need to appreciate that she ran a 2.58, dressed like this, while hanging.
We wall among gods.
We wall among gods.
December 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We all need to appreciate that she ran a 2.58, dressed like this, while hanging.
We wall among gods.
We wall among gods.
Reposted by James Austin
Step 1 might be to check whether his name is actually Tommy Robinson. Step 2 might be to call up the Quilliam Foundation (which doesn't exist anymore) and ask about the time that he became an anti-extremist working with them
Tommy Robinson says he found Jesus in prison. Churches disagree about how to respond
Tommy Robinson says he found Jesus in prison. Churches disagree about how to respond
C of E faces dilemma as far right claims Christianity to push agenda that often clashes with gospel message
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Step 1 might be to check whether his name is actually Tommy Robinson. Step 2 might be to call up the Quilliam Foundation (which doesn't exist anymore) and ask about the time that he became an anti-extremist working with them
Reposted by James Austin
It’s crazy to me there’s not been *one* decent intervention by a senior politician on AI, what it’s for, should be about and our society. Unless I missed it? It’s just people saying ‘productivity’ and ‘jobs’ with literally no thought, thinking or ideas. But then I suppose same on everything.
December 28, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It’s crazy to me there’s not been *one* decent intervention by a senior politician on AI, what it’s for, should be about and our society. Unless I missed it? It’s just people saying ‘productivity’ and ‘jobs’ with literally no thought, thinking or ideas. But then I suppose same on everything.
Reposted by James Austin
I've long been saying this - the centrality of video (and especially short-form video) as a medium is deeply corrosive to society and culture
will also add - yes, this is my personal crusade - that turning podcasts into videos implicitly asks women to once again make more effort than men, as the bar for "camera-ready" for one gender is obviously higher than for the other
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
December 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I've long been saying this - the centrality of video (and especially short-form video) as a medium is deeply corrosive to society and culture
Reposted by James Austin
Getting sick of Epstein files headlines that are like “files reveal Epstein and friends abused girls” etc etc.
This is not a reveal. The girls told us. They told police. Partners. Press. Courts. They told it over and over. The victims/survivors revealed everything.
People chose not to listen.
This is not a reveal. The girls told us. They told police. Partners. Press. Courts. They told it over and over. The victims/survivors revealed everything.
People chose not to listen.
December 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Getting sick of Epstein files headlines that are like “files reveal Epstein and friends abused girls” etc etc.
This is not a reveal. The girls told us. They told police. Partners. Press. Courts. They told it over and over. The victims/survivors revealed everything.
People chose not to listen.
This is not a reveal. The girls told us. They told police. Partners. Press. Courts. They told it over and over. The victims/survivors revealed everything.
People chose not to listen.
Reposted by James Austin
Even just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable for a major political party to have tolerated this sort of behaviour as long as Reform UK Ltd has tolerated Parry
Non-Christians must eat bacon for a month, says Reform candidate Chris Parry.
Reform UK are turning a blind eye to this racist.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Reform UK are turning a blind eye to this racist.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Non-Christians must eat bacon for a month, says Reform candidate
Chris Parry, standing to be mayor of Hampshire and the Solent, seems to be preoccupied with pork
www.thenewworld.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Even just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable for a major political party to have tolerated this sort of behaviour as long as Reform UK Ltd has tolerated Parry
I'll be honest: i have no idea why they did this to a horse.
December 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I'll be honest: i have no idea why they did this to a horse.
Reposted by James Austin
This was the government's position on "human rights defender" Abd El-Fattah in 2023, while Robert Jenrick sat in cabinet, Cleverly was Foreign Sec, and Sunak was PM - a position confirmed no fewer than ten times on the floor of both the Commons and the Lords.
Did Bob object back then? Thought not.
Did Bob object back then? Thought not.
December 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This was the government's position on "human rights defender" Abd El-Fattah in 2023, while Robert Jenrick sat in cabinet, Cleverly was Foreign Sec, and Sunak was PM - a position confirmed no fewer than ten times on the floor of both the Commons and the Lords.
Did Bob object back then? Thought not.
Did Bob object back then? Thought not.
I was almost at the end of this (excellent) piece and was going to share with a comment about how reality is important, hard things aee food and add value etc....
And he just wrote it. Strongly recommend this.
And he just wrote it. Strongly recommend this.
December 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I was almost at the end of this (excellent) piece and was going to share with a comment about how reality is important, hard things aee food and add value etc....
And he just wrote it. Strongly recommend this.
And he just wrote it. Strongly recommend this.
Reposted by James Austin
Will Stancil is such a magnet for a big subset of the internet's most toxic dipshits that it functions almost like content moderation. They spend so much time on him they don't have much left for others.
That's not a comment on good/bad; it's an observation of online phenomena.
That's not a comment on good/bad; it's an observation of online phenomena.
most of the people obsessed with Will Stancil are living out a fantasy where they get to be the school bullies for once, and it's pretty sad.
May 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Will Stancil is such a magnet for a big subset of the internet's most toxic dipshits that it functions almost like content moderation. They spend so much time on him they don't have much left for others.
That's not a comment on good/bad; it's an observation of online phenomena.
That's not a comment on good/bad; it's an observation of online phenomena.
Finally watching Across the Spiderverse and these things are just absurdly beautiful arent they? Just the most gorgeous animation
December 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Finally watching Across the Spiderverse and these things are just absurdly beautiful arent they? Just the most gorgeous animation
Reposted by James Austin
Everyone you see here risks arrest for participating in this peaceful march.
Under a new Georgian Dream law adopted on Dec 12, citizens must notify police 5 days in advance of any protest—even on a sidewalk. Police then have 3 days to respond and may dictate a different place, route, or time. 1/n
Under a new Georgian Dream law adopted on Dec 12, citizens must notify police 5 days in advance of any protest—even on a sidewalk. Police then have 3 days to respond and may dictate a different place, route, or time. 1/n
December 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Everyone you see here risks arrest for participating in this peaceful march.
Under a new Georgian Dream law adopted on Dec 12, citizens must notify police 5 days in advance of any protest—even on a sidewalk. Police then have 3 days to respond and may dictate a different place, route, or time. 1/n
Under a new Georgian Dream law adopted on Dec 12, citizens must notify police 5 days in advance of any protest—even on a sidewalk. Police then have 3 days to respond and may dictate a different place, route, or time. 1/n
I repeat.
Who doesnt love Ellis Genge?
December 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I repeat.
I hope Your Party members know this is their life now. Arcane debates about The Rules.... forever
December 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I hope Your Party members know this is their life now. Arcane debates about The Rules.... forever
(He's right: this is why a strong welfare state is vital - its the only thing that scales)
Guys I know you’re all going to yell at me here but mutual aid is not meaningfully distinct from the kind of privatized community charity system where poor people go to the church and hope someone has donated a hot meal. It’s not progressive, it’s not effective, it’s not good service provision.
"poor enough to need mutual aid"
Everyone needs mutual aid.
Everyone needs mutual aid.
December 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
(He's right: this is why a strong welfare state is vital - its the only thing that scales)
Reposted by James Austin
generationally good insult, awe inspiring
Nobody is calling Rory Stewart "Gollum.dragged through Moss Bros" because they don't entirely agree with his opinions
December 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
generationally good insult, awe inspiring
I think there is (far) more hope for the states because the regime hasnt consolidated and there is far greater open opposition...
...but this is clearly the case. Its a far more powerful state and its leaders are fixated on regime/cultural change here in a way China isn't
...but this is clearly the case. Its a far more powerful state and its leaders are fixated on regime/cultural change here in a way China isn't
Genuinely think anyone who's not an all out fascist should see the current united States as a threat as big as Russia or China
JD VANCE THINKS BRITAIN & FRANCE ARE AMERICAS LIKELY ENEMIES.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
December 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I think there is (far) more hope for the states because the regime hasnt consolidated and there is far greater open opposition...
...but this is clearly the case. Its a far more powerful state and its leaders are fixated on regime/cultural change here in a way China isn't
...but this is clearly the case. Its a far more powerful state and its leaders are fixated on regime/cultural change here in a way China isn't