Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
Geeking out about writing, entrepreneurship, journalism, food, tech — or ideally a combination.
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
European, living/writing in France & running a business in UK.
https://www.steveparks.me
Pinned
Steve Parks
@steveparks.me
· May 7
I'm working on a Digital Detox.
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
It's a process of reviewing online services I use to prune out those with bad business practices, or who fund/support fascism and hate.
In this thread I'll collate my blog posts in which I document my findings.
Hopefully it can be useful to you too.
#DigitalDetox
Can somebody run Trump's DNA through this test? Would account for an awful lot
Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals
The Nazi dictator had Kallmann syndrome, which hinders normal puberty and the development of sexual organs, according to groundbreaking research
www.thetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Can somebody run Trump's DNA through this test? Would account for an awful lot
Is Louis Theroux available?
"Louis and the Lawyers" has a ring to it
"Louis and the Lawyers" has a ring to it
I think the BBC should go to court with Trump and film the whole thing as an award winning documentary.
November 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Is Louis Theroux available?
"Louis and the Lawyers" has a ring to it
"Louis and the Lawyers" has a ring to it
It's always been the case with the US far-right, that every accusation is a confession...
Qanon believers, you are in for a hell of a plot twist.
November 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It's always been the case with the US far-right, that every accusation is a confession...
And here's a key problem with such huge companies being so dominant in the market.
They feel no need and so no risk in simply killing the trade of a small business. Shoot first, and don't even bother to ask questions later.
So so important we figure out how to have a healthier ebook market.
They feel no need and so no risk in simply killing the trade of a small business. Shoot first, and don't even bother to ask questions later.
So so important we figure out how to have a healthier ebook market.
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
And here's a key problem with such huge companies being so dominant in the market.
They feel no need and so no risk in simply killing the trade of a small business. Shoot first, and don't even bother to ask questions later.
So so important we figure out how to have a healthier ebook market.
They feel no need and so no risk in simply killing the trade of a small business. Shoot first, and don't even bother to ask questions later.
So so important we figure out how to have a healthier ebook market.
I can't bear booking travel anywhere these days.
It's a constant feeling of hassle, and that you're being screwed over one way or another.
Should I book today or will the price drop tomorrow? If I don't book today will it spike? Where am I being tricked in the small print?
It's a constant feeling of hassle, and that you're being screwed over one way or another.
Should I book today or will the price drop tomorrow? If I don't book today will it spike? Where am I being tricked in the small print?
November 12, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I can't bear booking travel anywhere these days.
It's a constant feeling of hassle, and that you're being screwed over one way or another.
Should I book today or will the price drop tomorrow? If I don't book today will it spike? Where am I being tricked in the small print?
It's a constant feeling of hassle, and that you're being screwed over one way or another.
Should I book today or will the price drop tomorrow? If I don't book today will it spike? Where am I being tricked in the small print?
Reposted by Steve Parks
This is essential reading shedding light on what is a far-right attack on the BBC as a public broadcaster
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This is essential reading shedding light on what is a far-right attack on the BBC as a public broadcaster
Reposted by Steve Parks
This is an appalling judgment to read. Two Chief Constables found in contempt of court for misleading the court about the existence of video footage. But this was only discovered when the matter made it to the Court of Appeal. Incredible perseverance.
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Judges set to decide fate of police chief constable guilty of contempt of court
Exclusive: Ivan Balhatchet, Northamptonshire’s chief constable, could face up to two years in jail or a fine for repeated failure to obey rulings
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
This is an appalling judgment to read. Two Chief Constables found in contempt of court for misleading the court about the existence of video footage. But this was only discovered when the matter made it to the Court of Appeal. Incredible perseverance.
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Reposted by Steve Parks
At Byline Times we’ve published dozens of articles on Sir Robbie Gibb’s role at GB News, the Jewish Chronicle, and of course BBC News for nearly five years
Tomorrow’s headlines today
bylinetimes.com?s=Sir+Robbie...
Tomorrow’s headlines today
bylinetimes.com?s=Sir+Robbie...
You searched for Sir Robbie Gibb – Byline Times
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
At Byline Times we’ve published dozens of articles on Sir Robbie Gibb’s role at GB News, the Jewish Chronicle, and of course BBC News for nearly five years
Tomorrow’s headlines today
bylinetimes.com?s=Sir+Robbie...
Tomorrow’s headlines today
bylinetimes.com?s=Sir+Robbie...
Catching up on the latest Slow Horses.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Catching up on the latest Slow Horses.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
Can’t think of many authors who could be as consistently delighted with their adaptations. Note perfect all the way through.
“Could”
Trump is positioning himself as the savior of TikTok—and in turn, looking to get more young Americans supporting the MAGA movement. However, his plans for the new domestically owned TikTok could turn the app into a new propaganda tool. From Thomas Riley:
trib.al/ajpOUwd
trib.al/ajpOUwd
Can Trump Turn TikTok MAGA? - The American Prospect
After making the case that TikTok was a national-security threat, Trump did a 180 in the weeks leading up to his re-election. The president has since admitted that he would like to see the platform become “100 percent MAGA.”
trib.al
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
“Could”
Research that shows why people like Robbie Gibb and his backers were so desperate to grab the reins at the BBC and harness it to their interests... and why we must protect it and restore it to health
As the BBC faces fresh scrutiny, what does our research say about it?
Here's an updated version of a piece by @rasmuskleis.bsky.social @annisch.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social and Craig T. Robertson originally published in 2020
📱 Full piece here buff.ly/iLaMzHa
🧵 4 findings in thread
Here's an updated version of a piece by @rasmuskleis.bsky.social @annisch.bsky.social @richardfletcher.bsky.social and Craig T. Robertson originally published in 2020
📱 Full piece here buff.ly/iLaMzHa
🧵 4 findings in thread
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Research that shows why people like Robbie Gibb and his backers were so desperate to grab the reins at the BBC and harness it to their interests... and why we must protect it and restore it to health
Reposted by Steve Parks
Of course, the BBC didn’t even *need* to edit the video of Trump’s speech to make the point that he was inciting insurrection. His second impeachment was for doing exactly that.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Of course, the BBC didn’t even *need* to edit the video of Trump’s speech to make the point that he was inciting insurrection. His second impeachment was for doing exactly that.
Reposted by Steve Parks
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
Reposted by Steve Parks
In the interest of 'balance' at the BBC, can't we have a counter-coup to turf out Tory embed Robbie Gibb?
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
In the interest of 'balance' at the BBC, can't we have a counter-coup to turf out Tory embed Robbie Gibb?
Reposted by Steve Parks
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
The entire BBC board is being booked as we speak…
BREAKING: BBC has officially announced the second series of The Celebrity Traitors. It will air in 2026.
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The entire BBC board is being booked as we speak…
Reposted by Steve Parks
This is actually… worse than the BBC edit?
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
This is actually… worse than the BBC edit?
Reposted by Steve Parks
I suspect there's also a strong element here of far too many journalists and BBC managers spending too much time on X and getting a wholly misleading impression of how big a story the Trump edits were. They're excessively influenced by right-wing activist opinion, and particularly US opinion.
The BBC is hopeless at reporting on itself. The idea that a minor, if misleading, edit is the most serious crisis in its history is ludicrous self-absorption, even allowing for the context of a Faragite desire to break it. It's certainly not as serious as the Iraq-Gilligan crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I suspect there's also a strong element here of far too many journalists and BBC managers spending too much time on X and getting a wholly misleading impression of how big a story the Trump edits were. They're excessively influenced by right-wing activist opinion, and particularly US opinion.
Reposted by Steve Parks
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
One of the best things the UK's government digital service did was establish the gov dot uk standard for public sector domains. It means you can work out if you can really trust a site much more easily.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
One of the best things the UK's government digital service did was establish the gov dot uk standard for public sector domains. It means you can work out if you can really trust a site much more easily.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
France has not done the same, and keeps doing official domains that look dodgy.
Reposted by Steve Parks
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"Brexit has reduced GDP by 6% to 8%"
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
So actually worse than 'project fear'. Great job everyone.
cc @mrjamesob.bsky.social
And what an important piece too.
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
The 'Womanosphere' Is Coming for Teen Girls
How beauty and wellness influencers are part of a misinformation ecosystem pushing traditional values on girls.
www.teenvogue.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
And what an important piece too.
I decided to spend this remembrance day educating myself about the sacrifices we're supposed to be remembering.
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
November 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I decided to spend this remembrance day educating myself about the sacrifices we're supposed to be remembering.
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I now live on the atlantic coast of France, so decided to learn something about of the second world war here.
As a result, I've been down the most amazing rabbit hole of discovery...
I used to subscribe to The Economist, but for such expensively-educated people I found they could be really really thick...
Friend sent me this from The Economist’s newsletter. The ‘related’ article makes it even better.
November 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I used to subscribe to The Economist, but for such expensively-educated people I found they could be really really thick...
Reposted by Steve Parks
Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Paramount Has Blacklist for Stars Deemed “Overtly Antisemitic” — World of Reel
It sure looks like the likes of Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo won’t be making movies for Paramount in the foreseeable future.
www.worldofreel.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."