Simon Gray
@protexblue.bsky.social
Part-time philosopher & historian.
Full-time Student Adviser at University College Dublin. 🇮🇪
Blogger 🖊 / Podcaster 🎤
Husband, brother, playlist-&-bad-jokes lover
(he/him; all views my own)
Full-time Student Adviser at University College Dublin. 🇮🇪
Blogger 🖊 / Podcaster 🎤
Husband, brother, playlist-&-bad-jokes lover
(he/him; all views my own)
Pinned
Simon Gray
@protexblue.bsky.social
· Nov 9
The Missives | Simon Gray | Substack
A free blog approaching unreasonable ideas with reasonable philosophy. (Plus bonus material). Click to read The Missives, by Simon Gray, a Substack publication. Launched 5 months ago.
open.substack.com
The Missives is my blog/podcast. It's my Socratic take on political philosophy and is an invitation to conversation. It's free and always will be.
open.substack.com/pub/themissi...
open.substack.com/pub/themissi...
The latest Missive (my blog about politics and philosophy) connects a bad 80s song with neoliberalism.
Not enough time? Here’s a TL;DR
🧵
[1/14]
Not enough time? Here’s a TL;DR
🧵
[1/14]
14. Driving Home with Hayek
....or, what does a bad 80s song have to do with neoliberal politics?
themissives.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The latest Missive (my blog about politics and philosophy) connects a bad 80s song with neoliberalism.
Not enough time? Here’s a TL;DR
🧵
[1/14]
Not enough time? Here’s a TL;DR
🧵
[1/14]
I've been spoiling my vote since I started The Missives*.
Now, the one time I actually vote for a candidate (in Ireland's presidential election) loads of people spoil their votes.
This is a fairly resounding victory for Connolly -- but that 7%? All spoiled votes.
* my blog; see pinned post
Now, the one time I actually vote for a candidate (in Ireland's presidential election) loads of people spoil their votes.
This is a fairly resounding victory for Connolly -- but that 7%? All spoiled votes.
* my blog; see pinned post
October 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I've been spoiling my vote since I started The Missives*.
Now, the one time I actually vote for a candidate (in Ireland's presidential election) loads of people spoil their votes.
This is a fairly resounding victory for Connolly -- but that 7%? All spoiled votes.
* my blog; see pinned post
Now, the one time I actually vote for a candidate (in Ireland's presidential election) loads of people spoil their votes.
This is a fairly resounding victory for Connolly -- but that 7%? All spoiled votes.
* my blog; see pinned post
Reposted by Simon Gray
Politics is a tough old business. Tougher than senior hurling it seems! Ballymount Recycling Centre this afternoon. #Aras25 @electionlit.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Politics is a tough old business. Tougher than senior hurling it seems! Ballymount Recycling Centre this afternoon. #Aras25 @electionlit.bsky.social
In politics as in science, Occham's Razor holds true -- even if this excellent article challenges and then refines it:
"To paraphrase Einstein, we should try to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler."
"To paraphrase Einstein, we should try to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler."
October 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In politics as in science, Occham's Razor holds true -- even if this excellent article challenges and then refines it:
"To paraphrase Einstein, we should try to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler."
"To paraphrase Einstein, we should try to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler."
Friedrich Hayek explains MAGA:
"Much of our occasional impetuous desire to smash the whole entangling machinery of civilisation is due to the inability of man to understand what he is doing."
"Much of our occasional impetuous desire to smash the whole entangling machinery of civilisation is due to the inability of man to understand what he is doing."
October 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Friedrich Hayek explains MAGA:
"Much of our occasional impetuous desire to smash the whole entangling machinery of civilisation is due to the inability of man to understand what he is doing."
"Much of our occasional impetuous desire to smash the whole entangling machinery of civilisation is due to the inability of man to understand what he is doing."
Reposted by Simon Gray
If this intends to make it legally compulsory for every adult in Derry to carry something called a "Brit Card", then I'm willing to offer some high-paid consultancy on why this plan might be flawed.
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
Every adult in Britain to require new ‘Brit Card’ ID
www.independent.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If this intends to make it legally compulsory for every adult in Derry to carry something called a "Brit Card", then I'm willing to offer some high-paid consultancy on why this plan might be flawed.
Buckle up everybody -- we could be heading for another spot of turbulence. And get the sick bags ready.
Elon Musk just sold Grok to U.S. government for 42 cents – and signals warmer ties with Trump | Fortune
Washington is quietly handing Musk a foothold in the AI race with a licensing deal.
fortune.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Buckle up everybody -- we could be heading for another spot of turbulence. And get the sick bags ready.
Could really do with an explainer from the Reply All podcast rn. The kind that it used to make before it turned out to be toxic. 😔
As a colleague mentioned yesterday, Gamergate is one of the five most significant developments in US politics since the Cold War
September 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Could really do with an explainer from the Reply All podcast rn. The kind that it used to make before it turned out to be toxic. 😔
I do love getting old books out of the library.
Here a spiffy undergrad, circa 1980, says what they really think of Hayek's (admittedly cranky) idea for democratic representation.
Here a spiffy undergrad, circa 1980, says what they really think of Hayek's (admittedly cranky) idea for democratic representation.
September 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I do love getting old books out of the library.
Here a spiffy undergrad, circa 1980, says what they really think of Hayek's (admittedly cranky) idea for democratic representation.
Here a spiffy undergrad, circa 1980, says what they really think of Hayek's (admittedly cranky) idea for democratic representation.
Guys, I know we fret a lot over AI here. But sometimes we get reminders of how dumb it is. And we should laugh and worry less.
Taco Bell rethinks AI drive-through after man orders 18,000 waters. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Taco Bell rethinks AI drive-through after man orders 18,000 waters
The fast food chain is reassessing its use of the tech after a number of errors were shared widely online.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Guys, I know we fret a lot over AI here. But sometimes we get reminders of how dumb it is. And we should laugh and worry less.
A beautiful thought for nihilists:
Bees make the most wonderful honey from the nectar of fire weed -- which proliferates on ground recently cleared by flame.
#CheerfulNihilism
Bees make the most wonderful honey from the nectar of fire weed -- which proliferates on ground recently cleared by flame.
#CheerfulNihilism
Chamaenerion angustifolium - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:39 PM
A beautiful thought for nihilists:
Bees make the most wonderful honey from the nectar of fire weed -- which proliferates on ground recently cleared by flame.
#CheerfulNihilism
Bees make the most wonderful honey from the nectar of fire weed -- which proliferates on ground recently cleared by flame.
#CheerfulNihilism
I gotta say I'm getting sick to the back teeth of hearing about POTUS on BlueSky. But my lord there are some funny humdingers going around tonight....
In the absence of any news to the contrary, I assume the White House press conference involves Trump slowly and shakily taking off some glasses, ordering everyone out of the room except Keitel, Krebs, and Jodl, before reminding them that Steiner's counterattack was ein Befehl.
September 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I gotta say I'm getting sick to the back teeth of hearing about POTUS on BlueSky. But my lord there are some funny humdingers going around tonight....
Reposted by Simon Gray
i'm afraid donald trump is in a classic Death Becomes Her situation. he drank isabella rosellini's eternal life potion 20 years ago but he's fallen down so many staircases that the seams holding his torso together keep melting under studio lighting conditions. he's very much alive if in total agony
September 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
i'm afraid donald trump is in a classic Death Becomes Her situation. he drank isabella rosellini's eternal life potion 20 years ago but he's fallen down so many staircases that the seams holding his torso together keep melting under studio lighting conditions. he's very much alive if in total agony
Reposted by Simon Gray
Wicklow Wolf x Gubeen Farmhouse, Mór Bier
(6% ABV)
7/10
This “big beer” packs a punch. The marketing says it contains “aromas of dark bread, caramel and subtle dried fruit”. And yeah, you can taste most of these. I love everything Gubeen so I'm biased. This beer lives up to most of my hype.
#BeerSky
(6% ABV)
7/10
This “big beer” packs a punch. The marketing says it contains “aromas of dark bread, caramel and subtle dried fruit”. And yeah, you can taste most of these. I love everything Gubeen so I'm biased. This beer lives up to most of my hype.
#BeerSky
August 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Wicklow Wolf x Gubeen Farmhouse, Mór Bier
(6% ABV)
7/10
This “big beer” packs a punch. The marketing says it contains “aromas of dark bread, caramel and subtle dried fruit”. And yeah, you can taste most of these. I love everything Gubeen so I'm biased. This beer lives up to most of my hype.
#BeerSky
(6% ABV)
7/10
This “big beer” packs a punch. The marketing says it contains “aromas of dark bread, caramel and subtle dried fruit”. And yeah, you can taste most of these. I love everything Gubeen so I'm biased. This beer lives up to most of my hype.
#BeerSky
Reposted by Simon Gray
"In the broader history of warfare", though, this does make sense. Albeit in a sinister way. The history of warfare is the history of distancing the killer from the victim. The makers of arrows would have marketed in the same way to governments; as would the Scotsman who invented the cannon.
August 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"In the broader history of warfare", though, this does make sense. Albeit in a sinister way. The history of warfare is the history of distancing the killer from the victim. The makers of arrows would have marketed in the same way to governments; as would the Scotsman who invented the cannon.
Reposted by Simon Gray
"Deploy millions of weapons without risking millions of lives"?
Military AI companies sell fantasies. The reality: more violence, more instability.
Don’t fall for the hype.
📖 Our latest Substack: stopkillerrobots.substack.com/p/dont-belie...
✏️ @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
Military AI companies sell fantasies. The reality: more violence, more instability.
Don’t fall for the hype.
📖 Our latest Substack: stopkillerrobots.substack.com/p/dont-belie...
✏️ @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
August 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"Deploy millions of weapons without risking millions of lives"?
Military AI companies sell fantasies. The reality: more violence, more instability.
Don’t fall for the hype.
📖 Our latest Substack: stopkillerrobots.substack.com/p/dont-belie...
✏️ @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
Military AI companies sell fantasies. The reality: more violence, more instability.
Don’t fall for the hype.
📖 Our latest Substack: stopkillerrobots.substack.com/p/dont-belie...
✏️ @elkeschwarz.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon Gray
Let’s be honest here: they were hoping the anti-refugee protests turned ugly because then there would be sexy telegenic violence. The reason that the progressive protests aren’t news is because they don’t. Which shows the warped priorities of our tv news coverage and is not a great signal to send.
I don’t want to be too shrill about this but I think the BBC, ITV and Sky have disgraced themselves in their coverage of the anti-refugee protests. A massive failure of judgement. But now we know the next time a progressive protest “isn’t news” that it’s nothing to do with numbers
August 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Let’s be honest here: they were hoping the anti-refugee protests turned ugly because then there would be sexy telegenic violence. The reason that the progressive protests aren’t news is because they don’t. Which shows the warped priorities of our tv news coverage and is not a great signal to send.
I'm often criticised for being too strict at gigs. But here's a picture of a woman at a Father John Misty gig looking up "Father John Misty" on AI while Father John Misty is introducing a song about the effects of capitalism on mental health.
August 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I'm often criticised for being too strict at gigs. But here's a picture of a woman at a Father John Misty gig looking up "Father John Misty" on AI while Father John Misty is introducing a song about the effects of capitalism on mental health.
On a post-war Ukraine:
"Endorsing the principle that invasions can legally change the borders of countries puts in jeopardy the international order that was built after 1945."
"Endorsing the principle that invasions can legally change the borders of countries puts in jeopardy the international order that was built after 1945."
As Ukrainian and European leaders travel to Washington for discussions in the White House this Monday about ending Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Americans would do well to remember ten principles of negotiation.
snyder.substack.com/p/common-sen...
snyder.substack.com/p/common-sen...
Common Sense about Negotiations
For Americans about Ukraine
snyder.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
On a post-war Ukraine:
"Endorsing the principle that invasions can legally change the borders of countries puts in jeopardy the international order that was built after 1945."
"Endorsing the principle that invasions can legally change the borders of countries puts in jeopardy the international order that was built after 1945."
Reposted by Simon Gray
August is holiday season. On 12th August 1839 the Chartists declared a Grand National Holiday to bring down capitalism. It did happen, unfortunately it didnt work
kmflett.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/a...
kmflett.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/a...
August is holiday season. On 12th August 1839 the Chartists declared a Grand National Holiday to bring down capitalism
August is holiday season for many. On 12th August 1839 the Chartists declared a Grand National Holiday to bring down capitalism Yet 186 years ago at the start of the development of the liberal mark…
kmflett.wordpress.com
August 12, 2025 at 6:05 PM
August is holiday season. On 12th August 1839 the Chartists declared a Grand National Holiday to bring down capitalism. It did happen, unfortunately it didnt work
kmflett.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/a...
kmflett.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/a...
Reposted by Simon Gray
That's the problem with anarchy: too many rules.
August 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
That's the problem with anarchy: too many rules.
Episode 12 of The Missives tells the story of the Irish Revolution, 1916-1923, and asks, “How do revolutions lead to the wrong republics?” Text and audio versions are available here.
Pushed for time? Here’s a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)
[1/18]
Pushed for time? Here’s a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)
[1/18]
12. The Lazy Republic
...or, How the Revolution was Lost
open.substack.com
August 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Episode 12 of The Missives tells the story of the Irish Revolution, 1916-1923, and asks, “How do revolutions lead to the wrong republics?” Text and audio versions are available here.
Pushed for time? Here’s a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)
[1/18]
Pushed for time? Here’s a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)
[1/18]