Michael Bell
@mbellcoop.bsky.social
Used to be a bigwig in the Co-op Party
UK politics, NUFC & non-league football, playlists, chess, Eurovision, conlangs, cribbage
Chess Dot Com username: Heaton Bellington
FPL team: Bellwich Albion
(he/him)
UK politics, NUFC & non-league football, playlists, chess, Eurovision, conlangs, cribbage
Chess Dot Com username: Heaton Bellington
FPL team: Bellwich Albion
(he/him)
Reposted by Michael Bell
“I would like some handles for forks please”
February 18, 2026 at 10:10 PM
“I would like some handles for forks please”
I'm happy using Tidal instead of Spotify but one area it does fall down is the Daily Mixes don't really recommend you anything, as they're composed predominantly of stuff they know you already listened to, with like four songs out of thirty being similar stuff based on that
February 18, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I'm happy using Tidal instead of Spotify but one area it does fall down is the Daily Mixes don't really recommend you anything, as they're composed predominantly of stuff they know you already listened to, with like four songs out of thirty being similar stuff based on that
Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes. As a HUGE fan of the original & new franchises, that was truly dire & so much wrong. Didn't watch again until a year ago when I watched with @avaoftyne.bsky.social . At the end she sarcastically went "Oh is it gonna be Ape Lincoln?" and I just put my head in my hands
fun question: what’s the maddest you’ve ever been leaving a movie theater? not necessarily worst movie you’ve seen, but the one that just pissed you off the most. mine is Batman v Superman
February 18, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes. As a HUGE fan of the original & new franchises, that was truly dire & so much wrong. Didn't watch again until a year ago when I watched with @avaoftyne.bsky.social . At the end she sarcastically went "Oh is it gonna be Ape Lincoln?" and I just put my head in my hands
I am so happy for the Bodø Glimt fans. They must be ecstatic and I love it for them
February 18, 2026 at 9:53 PM
I am so happy for the Bodø Glimt fans. They must be ecstatic and I love it for them
So if Mark Kelly was to become President, would his identical twin need a security detail similair to the President's own? Cos I assume family members would get security, but if he could be constantly mistaken for the President when out and about then...
February 18, 2026 at 9:51 PM
So if Mark Kelly was to become President, would his identical twin need a security detail similair to the President's own? Cos I assume family members would get security, but if he could be constantly mistaken for the President when out and about then...
Reposted by Michael Bell
Badenoch must be great fun to play at word association.
‘I’ll start, and you just say the first thing that comes to mind, Kemi. Dubai.’
‘Net zero’
‘I’ll start, and you just say the first thing that comes to mind, Kemi. Dubai.’
‘Net zero’
February 18, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Badenoch must be great fun to play at word association.
‘I’ll start, and you just say the first thing that comes to mind, Kemi. Dubai.’
‘Net zero’
‘I’ll start, and you just say the first thing that comes to mind, Kemi. Dubai.’
‘Net zero’
Relistening to Robyn's 'Body Talk' ahead of the release of her new album, and I wonder is "Call Your Girlfriend" fairly unique in being a breakup song sang from the perspective of the new partner?
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Relistening to Robyn's 'Body Talk' ahead of the release of her new album, and I wonder is "Call Your Girlfriend" fairly unique in being a breakup song sang from the perspective of the new partner?
Not sure letting someone who's on a hat trick take a second penalty is a great move from a leadership standpoint. Should have been Woltemade
#NUFC
#NUFC
February 18, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Not sure letting someone who's on a hat trick take a second penalty is a great move from a leadership standpoint. Should have been Woltemade
#NUFC
#NUFC
As someone who loves Leeds so much and has spent so much time there, whenever I talk to people about it they're always shocked I've not been to the Royal Armouries. Well today I went and omg now I understand why people were shocked I hadn't. Easily one of the THE best museums in England
February 17, 2026 at 7:25 PM
As someone who loves Leeds so much and has spent so much time there, whenever I talk to people about it they're always shocked I've not been to the Royal Armouries. Well today I went and omg now I understand why people were shocked I hadn't. Easily one of the THE best museums in England
After this FA Cup match, we'll have played Man City ten times in three seasons. That's ridiculous
February 17, 2026 at 9:53 AM
After this FA Cup match, we'll have played Man City ten times in three seasons. That's ridiculous
Woke up this morning with a start from an idea that must've crossed my mind in sleep. A shot of white rum in a cup of tea, and call it a Cuppa Cabana?
February 17, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Woke up this morning with a start from an idea that must've crossed my mind in sleep. A shot of white rum in a cup of tea, and call it a Cuppa Cabana?
Mark Kelly on Newsnight 100% testing out his primary pitch while pretending he's not really thought about running
February 16, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Mark Kelly on Newsnight 100% testing out his primary pitch while pretending he's not really thought about running
Reposted by Michael Bell
I know Kier Starmer isn’t popular but bloody hell this is a twist.
February 16, 2026 at 2:26 PM
I know Kier Starmer isn’t popular but bloody hell this is a twist.
Imagine having to walk past people in a city
Please be careful in London. I have spent 25 years there, but I have never heard a story as frightening as this one from today in which nothing at all happened.
February 15, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Imagine having to walk past people in a city
This is why I've never watched When The Wind Blows
February 15, 2026 at 10:13 PM
This is why I've never watched When The Wind Blows
Decided my next tattoo will be the Esperanto flag. It's unapologetically nerdy, it's utopian, it's a symbol of bringing people together, creating a shared space for people who are different.
February 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Decided my next tattoo will be the Esperanto flag. It's unapologetically nerdy, it's utopian, it's a symbol of bringing people together, creating a shared space for people who are different.
Talking to a friend recently who's still in Labour about the govt's messaging, and he said "I just wish people would see this is the most leftwing govt in decades!" and I said "most *economically* leftwing", and you could see the point he remembered my partner is trans, and see him hit a wall
February 15, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Talking to a friend recently who's still in Labour about the govt's messaging, and he said "I just wish people would see this is the most leftwing govt in decades!" and I said "most *economically* leftwing", and you could see the point he remembered my partner is trans, and see him hit a wall
I think even that is too generous. The appeal of this global reactionary movement we've dealt with for so long as that it allows people to shrug off literally any other consideration or policy area as trivial for the reward of being allowed to be racist
The basic appeal of Reform is as a "maybe smashing everything will work" party.
But it just seems like insane nihilism to do that when even you think it will turn out terribly.
But it just seems like insane nihilism to do that when even you think it will turn out terribly.
Like, I'm sure you have your struggles, but your life as an NHS manager is nowhere near bad enough that you simply have to consider the fascist party. If you wish to vote against the government there are plenty of non-fascist options available.
February 15, 2026 at 7:50 PM
I think even that is too generous. The appeal of this global reactionary movement we've dealt with for so long as that it allows people to shrug off literally any other consideration or policy area as trivial for the reward of being allowed to be racist
During the referendum campaign I spoke to many people (of a certain age) who genuinely thought that Brexit would mean we went back to pounds, shillings, and pence (and that that was a reason they were voting).
February 15, 2026 at 7:45 PM
During the referendum campaign I spoke to many people (of a certain age) who genuinely thought that Brexit would mean we went back to pounds, shillings, and pence (and that that was a reason they were voting).
The most genuine north/south divide thing in Britain is hating the French. First few times I met southerners doing it I was surprised and they were like "everyone hates the french though" and like tbh up north we don't really think about them. We just hate the next town over
February 15, 2026 at 7:29 PM
The most genuine north/south divide thing in Britain is hating the French. First few times I met southerners doing it I was surprised and they were like "everyone hates the french though" and like tbh up north we don't really think about them. We just hate the next town over
Now that my council ward is a proper marginal for the first time in history, I dunno whether I'm looking forward more to telling Reform or Labour canvassers to fuck off. With the Labour ones it'll be a longer conversation for sure
February 15, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Now that my council ward is a proper marginal for the first time in history, I dunno whether I'm looking forward more to telling Reform or Labour canvassers to fuck off. With the Labour ones it'll be a longer conversation for sure
Reposted by Michael Bell
Exclusive: Labour politicians raised concerns about Keir Starmer’s plans to give Matthew Doyle a peerage in the weeks before it was confirmed, citing intimidating behaviour, particularly towards women.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
MPs and peers complained to whips over Starmer plans to m...
The veteran Labour strategist has been accused by several former staffers of abusive behaviour
observer.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Exclusive: Labour politicians raised concerns about Keir Starmer’s plans to give Matthew Doyle a peerage in the weeks before it was confirmed, citing intimidating behaviour, particularly towards women.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Also included in that list, The United States of America
some past “multicultural economic zones” you may recall include the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
while all of these had significant problems “no one will die to defend them” was memorably not among them
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Also included in that list, The United States of America
This is something I think about a lot, like the way they often define "western civilization" as some vague nod to the marriage of Abrahamic religion and Greek philosophy, I just don't see how you can define it in that way without including Islam *within* the definition
(worth saying here that this formulation of “western civilization” curiously isolates Europe from the Middle East and Africa, as if you can understand European “civilization” outside the context of its interactions with and integration into those worlds)
February 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
This is something I think about a lot, like the way they often define "western civilization" as some vague nod to the marriage of Abrahamic religion and Greek philosophy, I just don't see how you can define it in that way without including Islam *within* the definition
Reposted by Michael Bell
Something extremely funny could happen tomorrow
🚨 PICTURED: Liz Truss meets with Donald Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach
February 15, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Something extremely funny could happen tomorrow