robsmithmt.bsky.social
@robsmithmt.bsky.social
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Wearing a cross outside the mustard suit brings the ensemble all together.
January 30, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Wearing a cross outside the mustard suit brings the ensemble all together.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Was just saying to @benansell.bsky.social - I think looking at predictions about the internet from 1995/6 is a useful exercise.
Here’s a randomly picked Economist leader from 1995
Here’s a randomly picked Economist leader from 1995
January 29, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Was just saying to @benansell.bsky.social - I think looking at predictions about the internet from 1995/6 is a useful exercise.
Here’s a randomly picked Economist leader from 1995
Here’s a randomly picked Economist leader from 1995
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
This is well worth a read... (also, it's not short!)
Minneapolis is a place that means a lot to me, so I wrote a short Substack about the city, its people, and what we all owe them.
benansell.substack.com/p/my-minneap...
benansell.substack.com/p/my-minneap...
My Minneapolis
An ode to a city that knows who it is
benansell.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:59 AM
This is well worth a read... (also, it's not short!)
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
They're there to stop American athletes defecting
BREAKING: ICE agents will have a security role during the upcoming Winter Olympics, U.S. embassy sources confirm.
ICE agents will have a security role at Milan-Cortina Olympics, US sources say
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have a security role during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, according to sources at the U.S. embassy in Rome.
bit.ly
January 27, 2026 at 10:50 AM
They're there to stop American athletes defecting
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
I like to put cold callers at ease by saying "Berlin told me in 1974 that this number was safe. Your resourcefulness in finding it intrigues me. Speak".
January 17, 2026 at 8:31 AM
I like to put cold callers at ease by saying "Berlin told me in 1974 that this number was safe. Your resourcefulness in finding it intrigues me. Speak".
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Handy guide to the British Aristocracy from GDH Cole’s The Simple Case for Socialism 1936. Particularly like the fact that both ‘Poor Relations’ and ‘Company Directors’ appear to be ejected from the charmed spiral.
December 28, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Handy guide to the British Aristocracy from GDH Cole’s The Simple Case for Socialism 1936. Particularly like the fact that both ‘Poor Relations’ and ‘Company Directors’ appear to be ejected from the charmed spiral.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
My theory about municipal sclerosis is that it's just easier to credit claim with your constituents by opposing things than actually improving the services they use.
E.g. it's far simpler for LA council members to have a tantrum over the gondola than actually doing things for people without cars.
E.g. it's far simpler for LA council members to have a tantrum over the gondola than actually doing things for people without cars.
December 7, 2025 at 12:34 AM
My theory about municipal sclerosis is that it's just easier to credit claim with your constituents by opposing things than actually improving the services they use.
E.g. it's far simpler for LA council members to have a tantrum over the gondola than actually doing things for people without cars.
E.g. it's far simpler for LA council members to have a tantrum over the gondola than actually doing things for people without cars.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Lovely short thread (with a v good piece at the end). I think Ruth's point at the end is entirely right. Also I think shows that 'being an effective minister' is a skillset in itself. Castle was not a transport wonk or labour market wonk or a welfare wonk, yet she was v effective in all three roles.
This week is Road Safety Week & a chance to talk about Barbara Castle!
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Lovely short thread (with a v good piece at the end). I think Ruth's point at the end is entirely right. Also I think shows that 'being an effective minister' is a skillset in itself. Castle was not a transport wonk or labour market wonk or a welfare wonk, yet she was v effective in all three roles.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
November 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
If parties want credit for telling hard truths, they need to tell them when they're genuinely hard.
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
If Labour had told the truth about taxes & the costs of Brexit before the election, its majority would be smaller.
But it would have more real power & the public would put more faith in its judgment
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
New post just out:
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
On the edge
My week in the NHS
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
New post just out:
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
October 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
This shows my age, but whenever I see offices in old movies, I wonder what people did all day without computers. Like did you just mail letters and fill out forms?
October 3, 2025 at 9:38 PM
This shows my age, but whenever I see offices in old movies, I wonder what people did all day without computers. Like did you just mail letters and fill out forms?
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
I remembered the other day that people of my generation grew up before the cassette recorder and it was very rare to hear recordings of your own voice. Most people were very surprised, even shocked, to hear what they actually sounded like.
October 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I remembered the other day that people of my generation grew up before the cassette recorder and it was very rare to hear recordings of your own voice. Most people were very surprised, even shocked, to hear what they actually sounded like.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
“Never again to this vile land where machines behave like humans and humans like machines.”
Heine, on England. Written in 1830.
Heine, on England. Written in 1830.
October 2, 2025 at 8:15 AM
“Never again to this vile land where machines behave like humans and humans like machines.”
Heine, on England. Written in 1830.
Heine, on England. Written in 1830.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Since the interviewee must remain anonymous, we are now calling this Moynihan's Law:
"The easier a governmental task looks to an outsider, the more likely it has been found to be impossible by many smart people in the past."
"The easier a governmental task looks to an outsider, the more likely it has been found to be impossible by many smart people in the past."
Coding interviews from people who left government earlier this year, and this is a fantastic quote in response to a question about what DOGE tech folk don't understand.
August 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Since the interviewee must remain anonymous, we are now calling this Moynihan's Law:
"The easier a governmental task looks to an outsider, the more likely it has been found to be impossible by many smart people in the past."
"The easier a governmental task looks to an outsider, the more likely it has been found to be impossible by many smart people in the past."
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
This a cracking article on the background of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
Excellent local journalism - please click and read.
Excellent local journalism - please click and read.
Last night brought the shock news of Ozzy Osborne's passing, just weeks after he and Black Sabbath reunited for a Villa Park homecoming show.
Richard Franks traced the Aston roots of the rockers for us earlier this year.
Richard Franks traced the Aston roots of the rockers for us earlier this year.
How 1960s industrial Brum shaped world-conquering Black Sabbath
Heavy metal pioneers were forged in a heavy metal environment
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
July 23, 2025 at 7:10 AM
This a cracking article on the background of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
Excellent local journalism - please click and read.
Excellent local journalism - please click and read.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Blimey, this is some story and scandal
For 2 years, 2 govts used a secret court to hide the truth: they put 100,000 Afghans at risk of death. They used constitutionally unprecedented methods to prevent reporting.
My reflections on two years on this story and why it must ever happen again.
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/my-two-yea...
My reflections on two years on this story and why it must ever happen again.
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com/p/my-two-yea...
My two years in secret court: How UK governments hid a national scandal
The government put 100,000 Afghans at risk of death. Then used the force of law in a constitutionally unprecedented way to prevent anyone finding out.
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Blimey, this is some story and scandal
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Martin Lewis, "You have 14 days after delivery in which to tell them you're sending an item back"
"And 14 days after the point at which you told them to actually send it back"
An excellent explainer from Martin Lewis on the right to return items bought on-line 👏
"And 14 days after the point at which you told them to actually send it back"
An excellent explainer from Martin Lewis on the right to return items bought on-line 👏
July 7, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Martin Lewis, "You have 14 days after delivery in which to tell them you're sending an item back"
"And 14 days after the point at which you told them to actually send it back"
An excellent explainer from Martin Lewis on the right to return items bought on-line 👏
"And 14 days after the point at which you told them to actually send it back"
An excellent explainer from Martin Lewis on the right to return items bought on-line 👏
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
This site’s failing? I’ll go down with the thinking ship.
June 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
This site’s failing? I’ll go down with the thinking ship.
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Remembering Curtis Mayfield on his birthday. Here are three episodes of the Midnight Special that he hosted, starting with this one from June 1973. It boasts his performances of Superfly and Back To The World, plus appearances by Leroy Hutson, José Feliciano and Ravi Shankar
youtu.be/jyP2w8TeF1E
youtu.be/jyP2w8TeF1E
EP 19 - The Midnight Special | June 8, 1973
YouTube video by The Midnight Special
youtu.be
June 3, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Remembering Curtis Mayfield on his birthday. Here are three episodes of the Midnight Special that he hosted, starting with this one from June 1973. It boasts his performances of Superfly and Back To The World, plus appearances by Leroy Hutson, José Feliciano and Ravi Shankar
youtu.be/jyP2w8TeF1E
youtu.be/jyP2w8TeF1E
Reposted by robsmithmt.bsky.social
Ah that’s a classic. 💕
Wanna see something cool?
At the Grammy's in 1976, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme explained what jazz is.
The result? The crowd losing its mind. 🔥
At the Grammy's in 1976, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme explained what jazz is.
The result? The crowd losing its mind. 🔥
May 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Ah that’s a classic. 💕