Dan O'Brien
@danopedia.bsky.social
I'm anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericombobulations... Cricket, Whisky and Mountains, given half a chance.
Pinned
Dan O'Brien
@danopedia.bsky.social
· Jun 11
So to try to reduce the number of podcasts and increase the ammount of music in my daily listening habit I've decided to listen to the top-500 albums of all time as suggested by Rolling Stone in 2023. Thread, I suppose...
No triangulation against fascism
Almost 20 European leaders, incl Emmanuel Marcon & Friedrich Merz, plus VDL, have posted in support of @ZelenskyyUa after White House showdown.
Notably, Keir Starmer has not. No 10 is referring reporters to PM’s comments this week on a just & lasting peace, with Ukraine at heart of talks.
Notably, Keir Starmer has not. No 10 is referring reporters to PM’s comments this week on a just & lasting peace, with Ukraine at heart of talks.
February 28, 2025 at 9:39 PM
No triangulation against fascism
I am once again left wondering who they think their median voter is
Keir Starmer scrapped Angela Rayner's plans to close the loophole allowing foreign billionaires like Elon Musk to bankroll UK political parties, following an intervention by a major Labour donor www.thetimes.com/article/3bb4...
Labour dropped plan to ban foreign donors after Lord Alli intervened
The party’s fundraising chief, is said to have scuppered the proposal, due to have been announced while it was in opposition
www.thetimes.com
February 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I am once again left wondering who they think their median voter is
I only read the phrase "hero voters" for the first time the days ago and I'm already on the mood to tar and feather anyone who uses it unironically
February 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I only read the phrase "hero voters" for the first time the days ago and I'm already on the mood to tar and feather anyone who uses it unironically
Starmer needs to sort. this. the. f*ck. out.
📊 Reform lead at 4pts
Westminster voting intention
REF: 27% (+1)
LAB: 23% (+1)
CON: 21% (-2)
LDEM: 11% (-1)
GRN: 10% (-)
via @FindoutnowUK, 29 Jan
Chgs. w/ 22 Jan
Westminster voting intention
REF: 27% (+1)
LAB: 23% (+1)
CON: 21% (-2)
LDEM: 11% (-1)
GRN: 10% (-)
via @FindoutnowUK, 29 Jan
Chgs. w/ 22 Jan
Is Reform leading in the opinion polls?
Two polls now put Reform ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives, but...
buff.ly
February 3, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Starmer needs to sort. this. the. f*ck. out.
Turns out he did mean most of it and we're so f*cked as a result. These idiots are going to triangulate themselves in knots for five years then hand the country to the far right aren't they.
A bit disappointing that the next hope for meaningful change in this country is that the guy who's going to be the next prime minister doesn't mean anything he says ngl
February 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Turns out he did mean most of it and we're so f*cked as a result. These idiots are going to triangulate themselves in knots for five years then hand the country to the far right aren't they.
Dems should be much better on conflict. Just going on Fox every day and talking about how Trump is just a puppet of Musk or whoever. You *know* he'll be watching and it will drive him nuts
Reminder that elite conflict, elite blunders, and changing public opinion often topple authoritarian regimes 👇🏼
Social movement scholarship is clear that elites, despite trying to appear all powerful, often screw up in ways that lead to their decline. These are three common political environment factors related to elite behavior that contribute to social movement success.
February 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Dems should be much better on conflict. Just going on Fox every day and talking about how Trump is just a puppet of Musk or whoever. You *know* he'll be watching and it will drive him nuts
On the plus side, only 62 days to go until the start of the #CountyChampionship
February 1, 2025 at 9:49 AM
On the plus side, only 62 days to go until the start of the #CountyChampionship
Paging the Labour Party
Lessons to be learned:
1. Centrists align with far-right to look tough on immigration
2. Centrists gain nothing
3. Far-right wins more power
1. Centrists align with far-right to look tough on immigration
2. Centrists gain nothing
3. Far-right wins more power
January 31, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Paging the Labour Party
January 30, 2025 at 7:45 AM
No need to follow the news closely if you just assume that whatever the issue or challenge is that the government will do the stupidest thing in response.
January 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
No need to follow the news closely if you just assume that whatever the issue or challenge is that the government will do the stupidest thing in response.
Off to Jodrell Bank today lads youtu.be/OR7Gw9xcC1Y
January 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Off to Jodrell Bank today lads youtu.be/OR7Gw9xcC1Y
So many so called leftys still stuck in the 2000s arguing for Osbornomics smdh
January 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
So many so called leftys still stuck in the 2000s arguing for Osbornomics smdh
"It's the children who come first" and that's why we're making sure that more teachers than ever are giving up the profession because they can make more money and have a better work life balance doing *checks notes* almost literally anything else.
The DfE last night issued a strongly worded statement on the NEU's "extraordinary decision" to ballot members on striking over pay
"In 3 years, teachers have had a combined pay increase of over 17%...
...union leaderships need to think long and hard about whose interests they are putting first."
"In 3 years, teachers have had a combined pay increase of over 17%...
...union leaderships need to think long and hard about whose interests they are putting first."
January 10, 2025 at 7:57 AM
"It's the children who come first" and that's why we're making sure that more teachers than ever are giving up the profession because they can make more money and have a better work life balance doing *checks notes* almost literally anything else.
So they're rebranding spam bots and bringing them in house?
Meta confirms they plan to add tons of AI-generated users to Facebook and Instagram
They will have bios, profile pics and can share content
(via Financial Times)
They will have bios, profile pics and can share content
(via Financial Times)
December 30, 2024 at 8:18 AM
So they're rebranding spam bots and bringing them in house?
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
What is technically a W but feels like an L? I'll start...
December 29, 2024 at 8:12 AM
What is technically a W but feels like an L? I'll start...
What is technically a W but feels like an L? I'll start...
December 29, 2024 at 8:12 AM
What is technically a W but feels like an L? I'll start...
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
"you'll be visited by three spirits"
The three spirits
The three spirits
December 24, 2024 at 8:38 AM
"you'll be visited by three spirits"
The three spirits
The three spirits
"you'll be visited by three spirits"
The three spirits
The three spirits
December 24, 2024 at 8:38 AM
"you'll be visited by three spirits"
The three spirits
The three spirits
That moment before you latch the top hold and the send resolves itself #bouldering
Saw these climbing shoes on sale earlier… there’ll be articles on quantum bouldering before you know it
December 23, 2024 at 6:57 PM
That moment before you latch the top hold and the send resolves itself #bouldering
Incredible that Labour are treating an American far right billionaire trying to buy the next general election as just part of the natural order of things and any steps to prevent this as "political interference". Proper status quo Stockholm syndrome...
December 22, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Incredible that Labour are treating an American far right billionaire trying to buy the next general election as just part of the natural order of things and any steps to prevent this as "political interference". Proper status quo Stockholm syndrome...
The reaction to the winter fuel thing is so interesting. Watching the media show that it is possible to get exercised about hardship but only when it's a favoured demographic.
December 20, 2024 at 9:29 AM
The reaction to the winter fuel thing is so interesting. Watching the media show that it is possible to get exercised about hardship but only when it's a favoured demographic.
Remind me why it would be legal for a non UK citizen or resident to donate to a UK political party when, to pick a country at random, it would be illegal in the US?
Conservative shadow business minister Andrew Griffith has urged Elon Musk to take another look at the Tories before donating to Reform UK, highlighting his party’s low-tax and anti-woke credentials
www.ft.com/content/e0b8...
www.ft.com/content/e0b8...
Senior Tory urges Elon Musk not to back Reform UK
Andrew Griffith showers praise on Tesla billionaire before asking him to also consider the Conservatives
www.ft.com
December 19, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Remind me why it would be legal for a non UK citizen or resident to donate to a UK political party when, to pick a country at random, it would be illegal in the US?
Remember when they introduced an energy price cap and then every time the price of energy went up they just raised the cap? That was a lark, I muse, as I watch the smart meter spin line a top when we try to use the hot water...
December 19, 2024 at 7:31 AM
Remember when they introduced an energy price cap and then every time the price of energy went up they just raised the cap? That was a lark, I muse, as I watch the smart meter spin line a top when we try to use the hot water...
Starmer and Reeves in Downing Street mashing the Toryism button harder and harder and wondering why nothing is changing
DB on the UK GDP print:
UK GDP surprised to the downside for the third time in the last four months.
There’s probably more bad news on the horizon.
downside risks to our Q4-24 GDP growth projection have emerged
The risk of a quarterly contraction is no longer negligible.
* crikey
UK GDP surprised to the downside for the third time in the last four months.
There’s probably more bad news on the horizon.
downside risks to our Q4-24 GDP growth projection have emerged
The risk of a quarterly contraction is no longer negligible.
* crikey
December 13, 2024 at 8:01 AM
Starmer and Reeves in Downing Street mashing the Toryism button harder and harder and wondering why nothing is changing
UKGov: Why do we have such a persistent productivity problem in this country?
Also UKGov: *squashes the earnings of public servants for decades*
Also UKGov: *squashes the earnings of public servants for decades*
December 13, 2024 at 7:59 AM
UKGov: Why do we have such a persistent productivity problem in this country?
Also UKGov: *squashes the earnings of public servants for decades*
Also UKGov: *squashes the earnings of public servants for decades*