Matt Houlbrook
@tricksterprince.bsky.social
Cultural history, Britain, cities, sexuality & gender, #20s30s.
Now - Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London (MUP)
Next - The Self-Improvers: The people who remade themselves and made the modern world
Now - Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London (MUP)
Next - The Self-Improvers: The people who remade themselves and made the modern world
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
You’re Dead To Me is going on tour! We’re playing London, Cardiff, Edinburgh & Manchester in the Spring — come along, it’s gonna be so much fun!
Www.YoureDeadToMeLive.com
Www.YoureDeadToMeLive.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:27 PM
You’re Dead To Me is going on tour! We’re playing London, Cardiff, Edinburgh & Manchester in the Spring — come along, it’s gonna be so much fun!
Www.YoureDeadToMeLive.com
Www.YoureDeadToMeLive.com
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
well there’s an instant switch
Mozilla will allow Firefox users to entirely block current and future generative AI features on the browser after user feedback revealed many who wanted an AI-free browser experience.
New Mozilla Firefox version to allow AI features to be blocked
Mozilla will allow Firefox users to entirely block current and future generative AI features on the browser.
www.siliconrepublic.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:22 AM
well there’s an instant switch
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
People kept telling me this is exactly the old Muppet Show and they were absolutely correct. A pure joy to watch. (And I'm VERY picky about my muppet canon.)
sabrina carpenter singing islands in the stream w the muppets has healed me in ways i did not know i needed
February 7, 2026 at 8:07 PM
People kept telling me this is exactly the old Muppet Show and they were absolutely correct. A pure joy to watch. (And I'm VERY picky about my muppet canon.)
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Person who lied to become Labour leader, and threw trans people, immigrants, Palestinians, and human rights under a bus is somehow a decent person and a man of integrity.
It’s tragic that a decent PM will be brought down by Mandelson’s sleaze – but it’s a matter of when, not if | Polly Toynbee
It’s tragic that a decent PM will be brought down by Mandelson’s sleaze – but it’s a matter of when, not if | Polly Toynbee
With three years left and a huge majority, Labour can govern with more humility and deliver real change. But with Starmer at the helm? I can’t see it, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Person who lied to become Labour leader, and threw trans people, immigrants, Palestinians, and human rights under a bus is somehow a decent person and a man of integrity.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Suitably inspired by today’s trip, looking for film tips in one of my favourite genres - post war London docklands decline, 50s to 80s eg Pool Of London, Jubilee, Long Good Friday
February 7, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Suitably inspired by today’s trip, looking for film tips in one of my favourite genres - post war London docklands decline, 50s to 80s eg Pool Of London, Jubilee, Long Good Friday
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Theeeeeyre heeeere! Finished copies!!!
February 7, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Theeeeeyre heeeere! Finished copies!!!
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
This might sound like hyperbole.
It is not.
They took a decision they were warned would cause trans kids to die. Trans kids died. They covered that up and attacked those trying to expose their cover up.
They deserve to go to prison and nobody will ever be held accountable.
It is the UK way.
It is not.
They took a decision they were warned would cause trans kids to die. Trans kids died. They covered that up and attacked those trying to expose their cover up.
They deserve to go to prison and nobody will ever be held accountable.
It is the UK way.
Wes Streeting and Louis Appleby should go to prison over this. It's a massive scandal and they covered it up. They knew what they were doing restricting access to care and they did it anyways because of politics.
February 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
This might sound like hyperbole.
It is not.
They took a decision they were warned would cause trans kids to die. Trans kids died. They covered that up and attacked those trying to expose their cover up.
They deserve to go to prison and nobody will ever be held accountable.
It is the UK way.
It is not.
They took a decision they were warned would cause trans kids to die. Trans kids died. They covered that up and attacked those trying to expose their cover up.
They deserve to go to prison and nobody will ever be held accountable.
It is the UK way.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
This is creepy when we recognise contemporary AI is all humans all the way down, just obfuscated behind the screen or dashboard. Based on stolen data, stolen labour, stolen humanity... AI is not currently emancipatory and just serves the privileged and deskills those who think this is automation.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
February 7, 2026 at 7:40 AM
This is creepy when we recognise contemporary AI is all humans all the way down, just obfuscated behind the screen or dashboard. Based on stolen data, stolen labour, stolen humanity... AI is not currently emancipatory and just serves the privileged and deskills those who think this is automation.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
This would be a great essay question.
February 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM
This would be a great essay question.
The first film adaptation of #WutheringHeights (A.V. Bramble, UK, 1920) is now sadly lost.
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
"It is a credit to the British film industry that the screen version of the book... should be so good. In many ways it is as fine." - Manchester Guardian, 7 August 1920 www.theguardian.com/books/2019/a...
February 7, 2026 at 10:09 AM
This would be a great essay question.
February 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM
This would be a great essay question.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
The trans panic is a men's rights movement in drag.
Trans teacher followed home by right-winger Tommy Robinson
A teacher was approached at home by Tommy Robinson after parents complained about them allegedly requesting to use the title 'Mx'.
www.thepinknews.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:51 AM
The trans panic is a men's rights movement in drag.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Hate having to do this:
"I’m sorry I must decline your invitation,. Routledge signed an agreement with MS to feed its author’s work into generative AI training. Contracts have no opt-out option. They are shamelessly predating on the publishing requirements of academic careers...
"I’m sorry I must decline your invitation,. Routledge signed an agreement with MS to feed its author’s work into generative AI training. Contracts have no opt-out option. They are shamelessly predating on the publishing requirements of academic careers...
February 7, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Hate having to do this:
"I’m sorry I must decline your invitation,. Routledge signed an agreement with MS to feed its author’s work into generative AI training. Contracts have no opt-out option. They are shamelessly predating on the publishing requirements of academic careers...
"I’m sorry I must decline your invitation,. Routledge signed an agreement with MS to feed its author’s work into generative AI training. Contracts have no opt-out option. They are shamelessly predating on the publishing requirements of academic careers...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
This is an excellent question for @thetimes.com. What would be the threshold racism had to cross for you to recognize it as racism, and not as “racism”?
Hey @thetimes.com what is ’racism’ - surely depicting the Obamas as monkeys is just old fashioned racism?
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
This is an excellent question for @thetimes.com. What would be the threshold racism had to cross for you to recognize it as racism, and not as “racism”?
... because I wanted him. Do you understand? Because I wanted him!
The 🇬🇧British neo-noir suspense film "VICTIM" directed by Basil Dearden and starring Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms, Dennis Price and Anthony Nicholls premiered #OnThisDay in 1962 at the Cinema I and Cinema II theaters in New York City
🎥 Rank Film Distributors 🇬🇧
🎞 Neo-Noir
🎥 Rank Film Distributors 🇬🇧
🎞 Neo-Noir
February 6, 2026 at 9:19 PM
... because I wanted him. Do you understand? Because I wanted him!
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Laughing at testimony from the Port of London Solicitor. They never won a theft case in the West Ham quarter sessions, as all the households in the area were all dockers or stevedores relatives and workers who knew the defendants. PLA had never got a single conviction from the West Ham sessions...
February 6, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Laughing at testimony from the Port of London Solicitor. They never won a theft case in the West Ham quarter sessions, as all the households in the area were all dockers or stevedores relatives and workers who knew the defendants. PLA had never got a single conviction from the West Ham sessions...
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
No, it really isn't.
February 6, 2026 at 8:47 PM
No, it really isn't.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
I have spent years explaining that the characters in my historical novels almost never smoke because I can't be bothered to manage the stage business of cigarettes.
I am now in 2nd draft of a MS with a smoking character and I'm pleased to say I was right all along: it is a *huge* pain in the arse.
I am now in 2nd draft of a MS with a smoking character and I'm pleased to say I was right all along: it is a *huge* pain in the arse.
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 PM
I have spent years explaining that the characters in my historical novels almost never smoke because I can't be bothered to manage the stage business of cigarettes.
I am now in 2nd draft of a MS with a smoking character and I'm pleased to say I was right all along: it is a *huge* pain in the arse.
I am now in 2nd draft of a MS with a smoking character and I'm pleased to say I was right all along: it is a *huge* pain in the arse.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
As someone who is in an academic department that is positively pullulating with global talent, I would just like to note the gratuitous, excessive emotional and financial stress and strain suffered by talented globals in the context of swingeing visa regimes and hostile environments.
Government to explore expansion of UK Global Talent Fund.
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Government to explore expansion of UK Global Talent Fund - Research Professional News
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:23 PM
As someone who is in an academic department that is positively pullulating with global talent, I would just like to note the gratuitous, excessive emotional and financial stress and strain suffered by talented globals in the context of swingeing visa regimes and hostile environments.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
This line Starmer's supporters keep reciting about him being "a decent man" is honestly just disgusting to me.
A self-degrading thing to say out loud.
A self-degrading thing to say out loud.
When I paid my annual subscription for “Force-feeding the British public Peter Mandelson’s sleaze in ten easy steps,”, I did not expect that the British public would then be force-fed Mandelson’s sleaze. This is an outrage and a tragedy
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
This line Starmer's supporters keep reciting about him being "a decent man" is honestly just disgusting to me.
A self-degrading thing to say out loud.
A self-degrading thing to say out loud.
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
DECENT? The 'island of strangers' guy? The 'they do have that right' guy? The '10 pledges' guy? The 'I did know' guy?
Are you fucking serious?
Are you fucking serious?
February 6, 2026 at 12:28 PM
DECENT? The 'island of strangers' guy? The 'they do have that right' guy? The '10 pledges' guy? The 'I did know' guy?
Are you fucking serious?
Are you fucking serious?
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with Dr Sam Rutherford (@echomikeromeo.bsky.social) and learn more about the last 150 years of trans history in Scotland. More info and tickets (free): edin.ac/4tecKoD
#Lgbtq #Lgbtqhistorymont #Transhistory #Scottishistory #History #Edinburgh #WorldDayOfSocialJustice
#Lgbtq #Lgbtqhistorymont #Transhistory #Scottishistory #History #Edinburgh #WorldDayOfSocialJustice
February 6, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with Dr Sam Rutherford (@echomikeromeo.bsky.social) and learn more about the last 150 years of trans history in Scotland. More info and tickets (free): edin.ac/4tecKoD
#Lgbtq #Lgbtqhistorymont #Transhistory #Scottishistory #History #Edinburgh #WorldDayOfSocialJustice
#Lgbtq #Lgbtqhistorymont #Transhistory #Scottishistory #History #Edinburgh #WorldDayOfSocialJustice
Reposted by Matt Houlbrook
Pressure building on govt to come clean about Mandelson's role in bringing US spy-tech firm Palantir into the heart of our NHS.
The fingerprints of Mandelson and his lobbying firm are all over these deals.
The rot goes to the heart of this Labour govt
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The fingerprints of Mandelson and his lobbying firm are all over these deals.
The rot goes to the heart of this Labour govt
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals
Opposition MPs urge Labour to pause public contracts with the US tech firm after attempts to examine deals blocked
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Pressure building on govt to come clean about Mandelson's role in bringing US spy-tech firm Palantir into the heart of our NHS.
The fingerprints of Mandelson and his lobbying firm are all over these deals.
The rot goes to the heart of this Labour govt
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The fingerprints of Mandelson and his lobbying firm are all over these deals.
The rot goes to the heart of this Labour govt
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...