John B
@johnb78.bsky.social
Yes, that one. Australian. Saying things; around the place. On the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. He/him.
Pinned
John B
@johnb78.bsky.social
· Sep 5
Nobody's going to get any special kudos for supporting Mandela in 1988, but we remember the MPs and conservative commentators who were still calling him a terrorist then, and "not being remembered as one of those bastards" is probably worth considering
Reposted by John B
My favourite thing is that he went through security, transferred landside, queued for a paper ticket rather than just using contactless, went back through security, was kindly allowed to jump the queue, nevertheless managed to make his flight, and yet somehow this demonstrates that the UK is broken.
November 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My favourite thing is that he went through security, transferred landside, queued for a paper ticket rather than just using contactless, went back through security, was kindly allowed to jump the queue, nevertheless managed to make his flight, and yet somehow this demonstrates that the UK is broken.
Reposted by John B
The collapse of Noah Smith from 'interesting writer whose occasionally a bit random' into 'complete idiot and mentalist' is one of the most clear cut cases of twitter-poisoning I've seen
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?
A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...
onemileatatime.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The collapse of Noah Smith from 'interesting writer whose occasionally a bit random' into 'complete idiot and mentalist' is one of the most clear cut cases of twitter-poisoning I've seen
It's very Chicago, granted, but High Fidelity, Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller and Mean Girls is a solid list
Pope Leo has shared his four favorite movies of all time, as the Vatican prepares to host dozens of actors and directors in a “World of Cinema” gathering on Saturday at his official residence. See which films made the pope's list. nyti.ms/4p3exK9
Pope Leo Shares His Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event
The list leans heavily on uplifting classics.
nyti.ms
November 12, 2025 at 7:56 AM
It's very Chicago, granted, but High Fidelity, Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller and Mean Girls is a solid list
This is a pretty meaningless statement, given that it encompasses everything from "they fired the devs and now all their characters have six fingers" through to "they summarise team meetings using Copilot like every actually-existing company"
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:52 AM
This is a pretty meaningless statement, given that it encompasses everything from "they fired the devs and now all their characters have six fingers" through to "they summarise team meetings using Copilot like every actually-existing company"
Reposted by John B
You are essentially stuck between an ageing society desiring nostalgia and / or risk removal and a shrill social media cacophony demanding everything is sorted out now. With glib supposedly edgy one-liners far too often passing as serious commentary.
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 AM
You are essentially stuck between an ageing society desiring nostalgia and / or risk removal and a shrill social media cacophony demanding everything is sorted out now. With glib supposedly edgy one-liners far too often passing as serious commentary.
100% this
You are essentially stuck between an ageing society desiring nostalgia and / or risk removal and a shrill social media cacophony demanding everything is sorted out now. With glib supposedly edgy one-liners far too often passing as serious commentary.
November 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
100% this
Reposted by John B
My last word on the matter
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
My last word on the matter
Reposted by John B
The most striking thing about Lewis' thread is that there aren't actually any examples given of the BBC itself "suppressing" anything: all the examples cited are of pieces reformatted or cancelled due to the actions of external invited guests/interviewees, not BBC staff.
Helen Lewis is questioning Lewis Goodall on Twitter.
Her grievance boils down to:
- She wasn’t “allowed” to debate trans rights on Newsnight
- The evidence for this is that Freddie McConnell and Paris Lees exercised their right to withdraw their participation
xcancel.com/helenlewis/s...
Her grievance boils down to:
- She wasn’t “allowed” to debate trans rights on Newsnight
- The evidence for this is that Freddie McConnell and Paris Lees exercised their right to withdraw their participation
xcancel.com/helenlewis/s...
xcancel.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:38 AM
The most striking thing about Lewis' thread is that there aren't actually any examples given of the BBC itself "suppressing" anything: all the examples cited are of pieces reformatted or cancelled due to the actions of external invited guests/interviewees, not BBC staff.
Reposted by John B
have we all seen Noah Smith managing to book a flight from Dublin to Paris with a 90 minute layover in London and concluding this demonstrates Britain is doomed
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
have we all seen Noah Smith managing to book a flight from Dublin to Paris with a 90 minute layover in London and concluding this demonstrates Britain is doomed
Reposted by John B
Reposted by John B
Help mom I’m being bullied by 87 year old novella writer Joyce Carol Oates again can you pick me up
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Help mom I’m being bullied by 87 year old novella writer Joyce Carol Oates again can you pick me up
Reposted by John B
Oh, so he totally stole the money
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Oh, so he totally stole the money
The last person to be guillotined in France could have watched Star Wars: A New Hope, although he wouldn't have been able to follow the plot very well because the French dub didn't come out until a month afterwards.
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 AM
The last person to be guillotined in France could have watched Star Wars: A New Hope, although he wouldn't have been able to follow the plot very well because the French dub didn't come out until a month afterwards.
Reposted by John B
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Reposted by John B
at one point in his life, Andreesen invented the graphical browser. Ever since then, he has done his level best to make sure that rather than this, his obituary will read "That Shitco Guy".
It amuses me how low the Conehead has fallen. open.substack.com/pub/infinite...
Marc Andreessen as Avatar for Societal Decay
How one venture capitalist represents everything wrong with social media
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
at one point in his life, Andreesen invented the graphical browser. Ever since then, he has done his level best to make sure that rather than this, his obituary will read "That Shitco Guy".
Reposted by John B
I mean - that's just pretty much all racism when you get down to it. It's just convincing yourself that the rattle of the pipes really *is* a ghost, but with a longer historical pedigree.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I mean - that's just pretty much all racism when you get down to it. It's just convincing yourself that the rattle of the pipes really *is* a ghost, but with a longer historical pedigree.
Blind spots around never having been poor absolutely exist, even/especially in well-meaning liberals, but this isn't that: it's psychotic nonsense that nobody who had thought about the topic for more than 20 seconds could believe, no matter how out of touch their personal experience of wealth was
It is incredible — the blind spots you develop when you’ve never, ever been poor.
Trump claims that food stamps "puts the country in jeopardy. People that are able-bodied can do a job, they leave their job because they figure they can pick this up, it's easier."
November 11, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Blind spots around never having been poor absolutely exist, even/especially in well-meaning liberals, but this isn't that: it's psychotic nonsense that nobody who had thought about the topic for more than 20 seconds could believe, no matter how out of touch their personal experience of wealth was
Reposted by John B
As it's that particular anniversary just reposting a link to my article re pre-Dismissal polling and other pseph themes kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2021/12/psep...
Psephology And The Palace Letters
Tasmanian and Australian psephology, opinion poll analysis, election analysis and political commentary by Dr Kevin Bonham.
kevinbonham.blogspot.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
As it's that particular anniversary just reposting a link to my article re pre-Dismissal polling and other pseph themes kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2021/12/psep...
It's true that Whitlam was unlucky to be in office for the oil shock and the public backlash to incumbents that it created. So were Ted Heath and Gerald Ford.
November 11, 2025 at 12:47 AM
It's true that Whitlam was unlucky to be in office for the oil shock and the public backlash to incumbents that it created. So were Ted Heath and Gerald Ford.
Reposted by John B
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
Reposted by John B
A few years ago there was a terrible Gen Z tweet everyone dunked on about how people should get their car insurance payments back if they don’t use it. Anyway it’s fun to discover this is now the stated position of the GOP
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
A few years ago there was a terrible Gen Z tweet everyone dunked on about how people should get their car insurance payments back if they don’t use it. Anyway it’s fun to discover this is now the stated position of the GOP
I'm glad the other two cars survived
New Delhi has raised its security alert after three cars exploded in the city, killing one.
Indian security officials say they have not ruled out terrorism. An investigation is ongoing.
Indian security officials say they have not ruled out terrorism. An investigation is ongoing.
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I'm glad the other two cars survived
It is interesting to see what even the current court views as obviously-well-beyond-settled
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
It is interesting to see what even the current court views as obviously-well-beyond-settled
"support your local newspaper", etc
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
"support your local newspaper", etc
Reposted by John B
Really is ridiculous we don't have cheap venison easily available in Scotland. They're delicious and it's an environmental duty to eat them!
Politicians, academics and conservationists agree that Scotland’s deer herd must be managed, but there are splits on what the process should look like
theferret.scot/nearl...
theferret.scot/nearl...
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Really is ridiculous we don't have cheap venison easily available in Scotland. They're delicious and it's an environmental duty to eat them!