Dr. Matt Loten
@intheinaka.bsky.social
Japanese Political Communication PhD | Working in Linguistic Validation by day; posting about politics on the internet by night
One of my favourite little things about working in a clinical trial-adjacent field is the lengths researchers will go to jerry-rig a good acronym.
A personal favourite is the understated yet very effective Sino-Nasal Outcome Test - 22 Item (SNOT-22).
A personal favourite is the understated yet very effective Sino-Nasal Outcome Test - 22 Item (SNOT-22).
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
One of my favourite little things about working in a clinical trial-adjacent field is the lengths researchers will go to jerry-rig a good acronym.
A personal favourite is the understated yet very effective Sino-Nasal Outcome Test - 22 Item (SNOT-22).
A personal favourite is the understated yet very effective Sino-Nasal Outcome Test - 22 Item (SNOT-22).
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
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 Dr. Matt Loten
There should be a tax on ridiculously bloated road boats registered in urban areas, because (a) they cause obvious problems in such areas (b) they are bad for the environment (c) they are dangerous for children (d) they are awful, and driving them should be expensive and socially stigmatised.
Cars the U.K are up to 55% larger today than they were in the 1970s and there are twice the number of motors on our roads as there were 30 years ago, but anti-Low Traffic Neighbourhood and anti-cycle lane campaigners keep claiming they 'cause congestion'.
Okay.
Okay.
November 4, 2025 at 9:50 AM
There should be a tax on ridiculously bloated road boats registered in urban areas, because (a) they cause obvious problems in such areas (b) they are bad for the environment (c) they are dangerous for children (d) they are awful, and driving them should be expensive and socially stigmatised.
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
My AMA is live @askhistorians.bsky.social ! Ask away! www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
October 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
My AMA is live @askhistorians.bsky.social ! Ask away! www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
If anyone needs a freelance researcher in London (or across the UK), I'm your person!
I've reasonable rates, lots of archive experience & great recommendations from academics globally. I'm only teaching 1 module this term, as the job market is what it is. Therefore, I'm open to all work. DM me!
I've reasonable rates, lots of archive experience & great recommendations from academics globally. I'm only teaching 1 module this term, as the job market is what it is. Therefore, I'm open to all work. DM me!
October 3, 2025 at 8:49 AM
If anyone needs a freelance researcher in London (or across the UK), I'm your person!
I've reasonable rates, lots of archive experience & great recommendations from academics globally. I'm only teaching 1 module this term, as the job market is what it is. Therefore, I'm open to all work. DM me!
I've reasonable rates, lots of archive experience & great recommendations from academics globally. I'm only teaching 1 module this term, as the job market is what it is. Therefore, I'm open to all work. DM me!
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
This new database will fix almost everything annoying about driving (FREE TO READ!)
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/fix-annoyi...
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/fix-annoyi...
This new database will fix almost everything annoying about driving
The government is quietly building something excellent
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 6:07 AM
This new database will fix almost everything annoying about driving (FREE TO READ!)
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/fix-annoyi...
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/fix-annoyi...
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Conversely, plenty of non-UK-headquartered companies, such as Google, have thousands of highly paid employees in this country. What's the rational basis for the Government encouraging you to sell your shares in Google and buy Antofagasta?
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Conversely, plenty of non-UK-headquartered companies, such as Google, have thousands of highly paid employees in this country. What's the rational basis for the Government encouraging you to sell your shares in Google and buy Antofagasta?
I used to work at the Turf Tavern in central Oxford while I was an undergrad. We claimed to be the pub at which Bill Clinton 'did not inhale' and Bob Hawke knocked back a yard of ale in record time, and countless historical figures frequented. Let's just say the evidence was...sketchy, at best.
October 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I used to work at the Turf Tavern in central Oxford while I was an undergrad. We claimed to be the pub at which Bill Clinton 'did not inhale' and Bob Hawke knocked back a yard of ale in record time, and countless historical figures frequented. Let's just say the evidence was...sketchy, at best.
Really sad news. One of my personal favourite Pompey players of the last few years, and I would have loved to have seen him back in the Championship with us last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Joe Morrell: Ex-Wales and Portsmouth midfielder Morrell forced to retire
Former Wales midfielder Joe Morrell has been forced to retire at 28 after a lengthy spell out with a knee injury.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Really sad news. One of my personal favourite Pompey players of the last few years, and I would have loved to have seen him back in the Championship with us last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Someone on the AWS service desk is about to get the bollocking of their life
October 20, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Someone on the AWS service desk is about to get the bollocking of their life
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
"There is no universe in which Sam Ashworth-Hayes – or any of Britain’s array of overpaid columnists, commentators and ideological wonks – is more valuable to this country than a care worker"
I wrote for @samfr.bsky.social's Substack on benefits and "contribution" samf.substack.com/p/the-someth...
I wrote for @samfr.bsky.social's Substack on benefits and "contribution" samf.substack.com/p/the-someth...
The "something for nothing" myth
How should we value people's contribution to the country?
samf.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
"There is no universe in which Sam Ashworth-Hayes – or any of Britain’s array of overpaid columnists, commentators and ideological wonks – is more valuable to this country than a care worker"
I wrote for @samfr.bsky.social's Substack on benefits and "contribution" samf.substack.com/p/the-someth...
I wrote for @samfr.bsky.social's Substack on benefits and "contribution" samf.substack.com/p/the-someth...
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
You're absolutely right — starting a land war in Asia wasn't just a bad call, it's 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. Thank you for calling me out on that — really. I'll be extra-strategic from now on.
Would you like me to get cracking on those 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿?
Would you like me to get cracking on those 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿?
dawg we are gonna lose a war because ChatGPT has this guy mobilizing divisions that don't exist and tasking real troops with holding mountain passes and ports an LLM hallucinated
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 AM
You're absolutely right — starting a land war in Asia wasn't just a bad call, it's 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. Thank you for calling me out on that — really. I'll be extra-strategic from now on.
Would you like me to get cracking on those 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿?
Would you like me to get cracking on those 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿?
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Okay. So. Amazing scenes playing out at the vets when i arrived to pick up Napoleon.
Names changed/removed. But get ready for a lost kitty story with a happy ending.
It starts late last year, when the elderly neighbour of a young couple went into a care home /1
Names changed/removed. But get ready for a lost kitty story with a happy ending.
It starts late last year, when the elderly neighbour of a young couple went into a care home /1
October 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Okay. So. Amazing scenes playing out at the vets when i arrived to pick up Napoleon.
Names changed/removed. But get ready for a lost kitty story with a happy ending.
It starts late last year, when the elderly neighbour of a young couple went into a care home /1
Names changed/removed. But get ready for a lost kitty story with a happy ending.
It starts late last year, when the elderly neighbour of a young couple went into a care home /1
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Afternoon.
Much to unpack.
Much to unpack.
October 9, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Afternoon.
Much to unpack.
Much to unpack.
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Been to the youngest’s harvest assembly.
Theory: every primary school built pre about 1980 in Britain has some version of this equipment. It is referred to as something like ‘the apparatus’.
No one has any memory of it ever being used.
Theory: every primary school built pre about 1980 in Britain has some version of this equipment. It is referred to as something like ‘the apparatus’.
No one has any memory of it ever being used.
October 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Been to the youngest’s harvest assembly.
Theory: every primary school built pre about 1980 in Britain has some version of this equipment. It is referred to as something like ‘the apparatus’.
No one has any memory of it ever being used.
Theory: every primary school built pre about 1980 in Britain has some version of this equipment. It is referred to as something like ‘the apparatus’.
No one has any memory of it ever being used.
For someone who has watched more than one film and indeed some television shows during his life, I think I have a real black hole for a lot of cultural touchpoints simply *because* they are so ubiquitous.
Inspired by a post I just saw in which someone admitted they hadn’t seen a single episode of Friends nor the film Love Actually… what cultural hole do you have that’s a bit weird for your generation?
I’ll go first: I haven’t seen Dirty Dancing.
I’ll go first: I haven’t seen Dirty Dancing.
October 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
For someone who has watched more than one film and indeed some television shows during his life, I think I have a real black hole for a lot of cultural touchpoints simply *because* they are so ubiquitous.
'Despite only making up 4% of the population...'
Wait until Liz finds out what percentage of the UK mammal population are meerkats…
October 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
'Despite only making up 4% of the population...'
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
The second part of David’s conversation with @robertsaunders.bsky.social marking the 40th anniversary of Neil Kinnock’s party conference speech attacking the Militant tendency takes the story up to the present and beyond.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
The second part of David’s conversation with @robertsaunders.bsky.social marking the 40th anniversary of Neil Kinnock’s party conference speech attacking the Militant tendency takes the story up to the present and beyond.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
The second part of David’s conversation with @robertsaunders.bsky.social marking the 40th anniversary of Neil Kinnock’s party conference speech attacking the Militant tendency takes the story up to the present and beyond.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
The second part of David’s conversation with @robertsaunders.bsky.social marking the 40th anniversary of Neil Kinnock’s party conference speech attacking the Militant tendency takes the story up to the present and beyond.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
Labour seem to hate their own voters. You know whose voters would be cool though? People who voted for Reform, or who want to do so now. That’s the ticket. That such people might disagree with almost every value Labour MPs and voters hold dear? Well that just makes them cooler. Hard to impress. 5/n
September 30, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Labour seem to hate their own voters. You know whose voters would be cool though? People who voted for Reform, or who want to do so now. That’s the ticket. That such people might disagree with almost every value Labour MPs and voters hold dear? Well that just makes them cooler. Hard to impress. 5/n
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n
British Politics' Midlife Crisis
Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters
benansell.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM
On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n
Reposted by Dr. Matt Loten
The biggest puzzle in the UK economy is why non pension savings are so high
For decades no one could get Brits to save. Now they won’t stop.
That this has happened without a recession shows UK economy under last and this govt is not the basket case I read about
For decades no one could get Brits to save. Now they won’t stop.
That this has happened without a recession shows UK economy under last and this govt is not the basket case I read about
September 30, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The biggest puzzle in the UK economy is why non pension savings are so high
For decades no one could get Brits to save. Now they won’t stop.
That this has happened without a recession shows UK economy under last and this govt is not the basket case I read about
For decades no one could get Brits to save. Now they won’t stop.
That this has happened without a recession shows UK economy under last and this govt is not the basket case I read about
I've just watched Starmer's response to Laura K about the threat of Reform and the nature of Farage's politics. It's actually really good - pitched note perfect.
It's just a shame it's taken this long and, y'know, all the terrible governing.
It's just a shame it's taken this long and, y'know, all the terrible governing.
September 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I've just watched Starmer's response to Laura K about the threat of Reform and the nature of Farage's politics. It's actually really good - pitched note perfect.
It's just a shame it's taken this long and, y'know, all the terrible governing.
It's just a shame it's taken this long and, y'know, all the terrible governing.
Rewatching Office Space and getting angry about Jacob Rees-Mogg
September 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Rewatching Office Space and getting angry about Jacob Rees-Mogg
I work adjacent to the pharmaceutical/clinical trial industry, and this is a really wonderful story at a time when, globally, we sadly need a reminder of the power of modern medicine to save and transform lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I work adjacent to the pharmaceutical/clinical trial industry, and this is a really wonderful story at a time when, globally, we sadly need a reminder of the power of modern medicine to save and transform lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...