Neil J Smith
@neiljsmith.bsky.social
Singer/songwriter/musician and semi-autonomous biped from the badlands of the Buckinghamshire/Berkshire borders, UK
My lovely band Plynthology: https://linktr.ee/plynthology
My solo exploits: https://linktr.ee/neiljsmith
My lovely band Plynthology: https://linktr.ee/plynthology
My solo exploits: https://linktr.ee/neiljsmith
Reposted by Neil J Smith
We celebrated FREE SPEECH in the village yesterday.
We called each other bastards & fuckers.
Everyone said Jill in the village shop was a bitch & should be jailed.
I called Dean our paperboy a lying wanker and Bunty said Simple Sally should be burnt for being a slut.
🇬🇧
We called each other bastards & fuckers.
Everyone said Jill in the village shop was a bitch & should be jailed.
I called Dean our paperboy a lying wanker and Bunty said Simple Sally should be burnt for being a slut.
🇬🇧
September 13, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We celebrated FREE SPEECH in the village yesterday.
We called each other bastards & fuckers.
Everyone said Jill in the village shop was a bitch & should be jailed.
I called Dean our paperboy a lying wanker and Bunty said Simple Sally should be burnt for being a slut.
🇬🇧
We called each other bastards & fuckers.
Everyone said Jill in the village shop was a bitch & should be jailed.
I called Dean our paperboy a lying wanker and Bunty said Simple Sally should be burnt for being a slut.
🇬🇧
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Can someone please explain why it is that too many politicians only seem to want the votes of the prejudiced and the ignorant? To the extent that they are actively repelling anyone capable of rational thought and decency. Why the pathetic need to appease the bigot vote, at everyone else’s expense?
July 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Can someone please explain why it is that too many politicians only seem to want the votes of the prejudiced and the ignorant? To the extent that they are actively repelling anyone capable of rational thought and decency. Why the pathetic need to appease the bigot vote, at everyone else’s expense?
Reposted by Neil J Smith
I hoped never to see concentration camps like the ones I grew up in appear again in this country. Reading this breaks my heart.
July 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I hoped never to see concentration camps like the ones I grew up in appear again in this country. Reading this breaks my heart.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Anyone who knows the first thing about literary translation knows that direct translations are often impossible, and that creative, nuanced, sympathetic solutions must be found due to unfamiliar idioms, imagery, rhyming schemes, etc while balancing author motifs and style. AI simply can't do that.
Writers! Note that AI translation (under the guise of "global access") is being seen/used as the weak point to get AI into publishing (possible bc Eng lang publishing is weak on translation). Stand with translators & for more human translation, fairly paid!
The founders of independent publisher Bloodhound Books have launched a new AI fiction translation service, Globescribe.ai 👇 #BookSky
July 7, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Anyone who knows the first thing about literary translation knows that direct translations are often impossible, and that creative, nuanced, sympathetic solutions must be found due to unfamiliar idioms, imagery, rhyming schemes, etc while balancing author motifs and style. AI simply can't do that.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
'Mothra' live by Plynthology at Other Space Arts, Windsor. What an amazing night we had at Other Space Arts! Mega thanks to Ruby Dawn and Vinna Bee for truly off-the-scale performances, Mr C for superb dad jokes and compering, Steve the sound and all at OSA for hosting us at their wonderful venue.
'Mothra' live by Plynthology at Other Space Arts, Windsor
YouTube video by Plynthology
youtu.be
June 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
'Mothra' live by Plynthology at Other Space Arts, Windsor. What an amazing night we had at Other Space Arts! Mega thanks to Ruby Dawn and Vinna Bee for truly off-the-scale performances, Mr C for superb dad jokes and compering, Steve the sound and all at OSA for hosting us at their wonderful venue.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
V good letter in The Guardian on Labour’s flailing hopelessness in the face of Reform.
Come on, Labour. The country is crying out for better. We’re sick of this ugly rightwing agenda. It brings nothing but failure.
It’s disloyal to your voters and to the country. You’ve got power and time. Use them.
Come on, Labour. The country is crying out for better. We’re sick of this ugly rightwing agenda. It brings nothing but failure.
It’s disloyal to your voters and to the country. You’ve got power and time. Use them.
May 6, 2025 at 6:32 AM
V good letter in The Guardian on Labour’s flailing hopelessness in the face of Reform.
Come on, Labour. The country is crying out for better. We’re sick of this ugly rightwing agenda. It brings nothing but failure.
It’s disloyal to your voters and to the country. You’ve got power and time. Use them.
Come on, Labour. The country is crying out for better. We’re sick of this ugly rightwing agenda. It brings nothing but failure.
It’s disloyal to your voters and to the country. You’ve got power and time. Use them.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
April 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Reposted by Neil J Smith
What the US constructed over 8 decades, Trump is destroying in days. And once destroyed, it will be almost impossible to resurrect. Trump is congenitally unable to understand the strategic value of allies--US competitors might not be so foolish.
April 10, 2025 at 7:56 AM
What the US constructed over 8 decades, Trump is destroying in days. And once destroyed, it will be almost impossible to resurrect. Trump is congenitally unable to understand the strategic value of allies--US competitors might not be so foolish.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Just as a reminder, not a single state gave in to Trump’s tariff threats. Not one. He’s blown up US economic credibility for nothing.
April 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Just as a reminder, not a single state gave in to Trump’s tariff threats. Not one. He’s blown up US economic credibility for nothing.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Everyone loves sausage dogs, but are you familiar with the other sausage animals? Here's a handy guide.
If you like this cartoon, I can draw one for you. www.worldofmoose.com/products/sau...
If you like this cartoon, I can draw one for you. www.worldofmoose.com/products/sau...
April 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Everyone loves sausage dogs, but are you familiar with the other sausage animals? Here's a handy guide.
If you like this cartoon, I can draw one for you. www.worldofmoose.com/products/sau...
If you like this cartoon, I can draw one for you. www.worldofmoose.com/products/sau...
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Reposted by Neil J Smith
I think liberals in the West need to understand that they have not stumbled across any kind of contradiction or hypocrisy in the Global far right. When they said “people have a right to free speech” they simply never saw racialised people as people to begin with 🧵
People in the USA & beyond are being punished, fired, defunded, deported, disciplined & silenced by Trump’s administration for their opinions & beliefs. In unprecedented numbers. I thought the ‘anti-woke’ warriors really hated this stuff? They all seem to have disappeared…
March 29, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I think liberals in the West need to understand that they have not stumbled across any kind of contradiction or hypocrisy in the Global far right. When they said “people have a right to free speech” they simply never saw racialised people as people to begin with 🧵
Reposted by Neil J Smith
‘Okay which one of you accidentally added Robert Cecil to the chat?’
March 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
‘Okay which one of you accidentally added Robert Cecil to the chat?’
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Hi all, just sent out my free weekend update. Started with the most important and least surprising story of the week. The Trump-Putin call showed that the US is now a vehicle to help Putin achieve his policy goals, nothing more, nothing less. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #125: The Trump-Putin Call; Stop Being Shocked!
An "Energy" Only Ceasefire Makes No Sense; Stop Being Shocked 2—Witkoff Speaks
open.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Hi all, just sent out my free weekend update. Started with the most important and least surprising story of the week. The Trump-Putin call showed that the US is now a vehicle to help Putin achieve his policy goals, nothing more, nothing less. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
I've been making music and doing videos under the name of @plynthology.bsky.social. I hope this tickles your fancy.
We dun a vidgeo. What do you think? is an instrumental piece - an art rock mini symphony in four-ish movements, if you will. We're so bloody pretentious!
What Do You Think? by Plynthology
YouTube video by Plynthology
www.youtube.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I've been making music and doing videos under the name of @plynthology.bsky.social. I hope this tickles your fancy.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
The news has been more than a bit grim of late, so hooray for @carbonbrief.org providing some genuine and really meaningful **good** news: the UK's carbon emissions in 2024 were the lowest since 1872, because demand for fossil fuels just keeps decreasing.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
March 12, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The news has been more than a bit grim of late, so hooray for @carbonbrief.org providing some genuine and really meaningful **good** news: the UK's carbon emissions in 2024 were the lowest since 1872, because demand for fossil fuels just keeps decreasing.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
Reposted by Neil J Smith
In a world of Matts, be a Derek.
March 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In a world of Matts, be a Derek.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
1. You feel powerless? Don’t know what you can do to resist the rise of fascism?
Here is an answer: Good Things.
Fascism inflicts pain and harm as a matter of doctrine.
Kindness, care and conviviality defend us from it.
The more we build community, the less it can take root.
🧵
Here is an answer: Good Things.
Fascism inflicts pain and harm as a matter of doctrine.
Kindness, care and conviviality defend us from it.
The more we build community, the less it can take root.
🧵
March 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
1. You feel powerless? Don’t know what you can do to resist the rise of fascism?
Here is an answer: Good Things.
Fascism inflicts pain and harm as a matter of doctrine.
Kindness, care and conviviality defend us from it.
The more we build community, the less it can take root.
🧵
Here is an answer: Good Things.
Fascism inflicts pain and harm as a matter of doctrine.
Kindness, care and conviviality defend us from it.
The more we build community, the less it can take root.
🧵
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Tusk is really rising to the occasion www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/w...
March 8, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Tusk is really rising to the occasion www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/w...
I've loved the the arrangements, and particularly the busy, baroque bass playing on Serge Gainsbourg's album 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' for a long time.
Serge Gainsbourg/JC Vannier - Melody Nelson as played by Dave Richmond (Bass Cover with Tabs)
YouTube video by The sound of Dave Richmond
www.youtube.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I've loved the the arrangements, and particularly the busy, baroque bass playing on Serge Gainsbourg's album 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' for a long time.
Reposted by Neil J Smith
President Zelensky will meet King Charles at Sandringham tomorrow. A spokesman for the King said the purpose of the meeting was "to annoy the fuck out of that dreadful orange shithead"
March 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
President Zelensky will meet King Charles at Sandringham tomorrow. A spokesman for the King said the purpose of the meeting was "to annoy the fuck out of that dreadful orange shithead"
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Are we starting to see now? He's a madman. He's an idiot. An old man pissing himself in the corner of a room, muttering paranoid fantasies about his imaginary enemies. Ignore it until it happens.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump vows to slap 25% tariffs on EU and claims bloc was ‘formed to screw US’
President says at first cabinet meeting that levies would be applied ‘generally’ and that more details would come soon
www.theguardian.com
February 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Are we starting to see now? He's a madman. He's an idiot. An old man pissing himself in the corner of a room, muttering paranoid fantasies about his imaginary enemies. Ignore it until it happens.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Let’s be clear: a free and sovereign Ukraine is not only in the European interest.
It’s also in the interest of the entire world.
An investment in Ukraine’s sovereignty is an investment in the prevention of future wars.
My statement in Kyiv ↓
europa.eu/!JQGJm8
It’s also in the interest of the entire world.
An investment in Ukraine’s sovereignty is an investment in the prevention of future wars.
My statement in Kyiv ↓
europa.eu/!JQGJm8
February 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Let’s be clear: a free and sovereign Ukraine is not only in the European interest.
It’s also in the interest of the entire world.
An investment in Ukraine’s sovereignty is an investment in the prevention of future wars.
My statement in Kyiv ↓
europa.eu/!JQGJm8
It’s also in the interest of the entire world.
An investment in Ukraine’s sovereignty is an investment in the prevention of future wars.
My statement in Kyiv ↓
europa.eu/!JQGJm8
Reposted by Neil J Smith
Less than 20% of Germans voted for Nazis.
Compared to nearly 50% of Americans.
Compared to nearly 50% of Americans.
February 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Less than 20% of Germans voted for Nazis.
Compared to nearly 50% of Americans.
Compared to nearly 50% of Americans.