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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 16m

If Norwegians believe you can placate Trump by gifting the prize he covets to someone notionally 'aligned' with him in some theoretical way, they're stupider than I thought.

Does he strike you as a man who feels genuinely glad to see allies get their dues?

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Reposted by Steve Williams

Brutalismbot @brutalismbot.com · 8h

Lecture hall at University of Maribor ( Slovenia) r/brutalism

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David Timoney @fromarsetoelbow.bsky.social · 22h

Because 1) no govt has challenged the Thatcherite dispensation in the economy, welfare or housing; 2) the Tory papers remain forever grateful for her indulgence of them; and 3) liberals were happy she did their work for them (and took the flak).
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Thatcher was born 100 years ago and her reign feels a lifetime away. Why is her effect on the country still so huge? | Martin Kettle

Today’s politicians need to learn that she is not the answer to contemporary problems, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

www.theguardian.com

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 22h

I teach Academic English, not IT. But my students use AI for all sorts of tasks, ranging from helpful to not. I'd rather have my voice be part of their decision-making process, which means I need to talk to them about how it can and can't help them, not leave it to IT.

Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 22h

Of course, I don't know your context and what you're being asked to do. If the students' use of AI doesn't affect your class, or your students' learning, then cool, you're home free! But probably it doesn't stay contained to 'AI class', does it.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 23h

OK, but if you changed this from 'hammers' to 'guns' and then a consider a society like the US where gun elimination is not possible, it becomes a bit clearer to understand why you might want to teach people who are open to using them why and how they should do so responsibly.

Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 1d

This also indicates the essential dishonesty of saying “it’s just a tool.” A hammer is a tool. Nobody writes about the “inevitability” of hammers. Nobody has ever studied the harmful effects of hammers on learning and concluded that teachers must all hit their students with hammers “responsibly.”

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 1d

It's very fortunate that feverish efforts are being expended in the days leading up to the committee deciding who should get the Peace Prize, and I imagine this diligence and sheer force of effort will be in no way undimmed after the winner has been announced.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Trump says Gaza peace deal ‘very close’ and he may travel to Middle East in days

US president optimistic after US, Qatari and Turkish officials join third day of indirect Israel-Hamas talks in Egypt

www.theguardian.com

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 1d

I agree. That's a pathetic effort Mast. Seventy lashes.

Extract from FT article about Trump's lobbying for the Nobel Peace Prize: 'At least five Republican lawmakers have sent formal letters nominating Trump to the Norwegian committee. "The only thing that irks me about it is that I wasn't the first one to do this," Brian Mast, the Republican congressman from Florida who chairs the House Foreign Relations Committe [and a truly massive asshole - ed.], told the Financial Times.

Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 1d

For years, I had an enormous, gnawing, gaping emptiness at the heart of my life, yet I could not name it, nor see it clearly. It was thanks to social media that I finally realised . . . I just hadn't properly understood the extent of the administrative reforms undertaken by the Qianlong Emperor.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 2d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 1d

Literally hundreds of comments from Americans delighting in the refined accuracy of this map, and not one of them has noticed that 'Hawaii' is just one thing with no variation.

They show it no respect. We need to free it and kick that bum Ellison out while we're at it.

William Hazen @williamhazen.bsky.social · 2d

This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.

Reposted by Steve Williams

Running Dog @runningdog.bsky.social · 2d

“Our companies need access to all the things right now to avoid bankruptcy, I’m afraid ‘complying with the law’ is completely out of the question. What, do you want CHINA to win? Anyway on the plus side if everything goes to plan it’ll destroy your livelihood LOL.”
bsky.app/profile/thev...

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 2d

No, it's not. It's all a lie. The blunt truth is across the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them.

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 2d

Outstanding piece by Stephen Daisley.

Ethnicity is no barrier to Britishness - it's culture and integration.

That means 'smaller cohorts and aggressive integration policies' - and tackling the institutions that 'have amplified grievance narratives and radical anti-Western ideologies'.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

People for whom being against immigration is their most important priority already have no faith in the Tory party, and are excited to vote for an alternative nowadays.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

I obvs agree with this, but note that this does not fit *at all* with asking that the THE to add an editorialising comment saying 'we don't believe the Tories would do this bad thing for higher ed if they won power'. They did bad things for higher ed all the time! It would not be out of character!

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

The problem with your plan is if you assert that there's simply no way to know what anyone would do in power, then there's no particularly good reason not to vote for people promising to do horrible things but who also seem more 'fun' or 'relatable' or that they can neck a pint.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

You're correct, Keir Starmer is a massive liar, but this is a) unprecedented in scale, and b) not something that we should just accept as a new norm now.

We should insist that words have meanings, that promises are promises, and go on accordingly.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

You're overthinking this. It's completely reasonable to treat things people say they would do in power as their plans for what they would do in power.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

Simon triggered by the claim that wealthy white people are dividing the country and not acknowledging that his wife hosts a primetime show on GBeebies is it? Quelle surprise.

Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

That's fine, he's welcome to me. Don't let me go to waste.

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 2d

Data indicates that dogs are considerably MORE likely to eat their owners after they die than cats are.

I like to periodically remind people of this

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 2d

we spent thousands of years breeding dogs to like humans and collaborate with us - we have more of a “begrudging standoff between equals” thing going on with pigs

However to be fair dogs eat humans way more than most people know or want to know

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 2d

Why should THE do them a favour like saying it's 'unlikely to be introduced should they ever get back into power?' It's not the trade press's job to soften the blow on their behalf.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 3d

I'm sorry that we don't share the centrist sorrow at the disappearance of the Tories/Republicans/Les Republicains of yore, but it would make no difference at all if we did.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 3d

This is taking the 'the left are the only ones in politics with agency' idea to whole new levels. Of what difference is it whether someone on the left or centre 'wants' this or not? Right wing voters get to choose from multiple right wing options what best represents their interests.

Lakshya Jain @lakshya.splitticket.org · 4d

A big reason you should want a *modestly* strong, establishment-friendly opposition party is that people don't stop becoming conservative just because their party stops existing.

What comes after the Conservatives in the UK is going to make the Tories look like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa.

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 4d

It's fascinating how there are still replies on this, and indeed on every post about the decline of the Tories, with people on the left and centre-left people going 'good'. Honestly, I don't know how big of a warning sign you need that the death of the Tory party is bad for your politics!

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 3d

this is the jacket's breast pocket lining pulled up to make it look like a pocket square

Stephen Miller in a gray suit, white shirt, and gray tie.

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 3d

Smart woman, easily sidestepping the danger of being called 'Old Dry Kemi'

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 4d

A work of art

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Steve Williams @iloatheskies.bsky.social · 3d

no messing around, just the facts sir

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