Dr Nick
@nmwilkinson.bsky.social
Hey, everybody!
Not that kind of doctor.
Embodied cognition, AI and robotics, eating behaviour, flavour & the senses
Mostly cathartic ranting
Personal account
Not that kind of doctor.
Embodied cognition, AI and robotics, eating behaviour, flavour & the senses
Mostly cathartic ranting
Personal account
Pinned
Dr Nick
@nmwilkinson.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Ok fine.
Hey everybody, I'm Dr Nick!
I kibbitz #neuroscience and #ai and #embodiment conversations, insert jokes and takes and challenges and share papers.
But mostly, sorry it's cathartic rants about the state of things. I mean, wtaf?
Hey everybody, I'm Dr Nick!
I kibbitz #neuroscience and #ai and #embodiment conversations, insert jokes and takes and challenges and share papers.
But mostly, sorry it's cathartic rants about the state of things. I mean, wtaf?
Reposted by Dr Nick
My Stop the Presses newsletter is free. Why not give it a try? If you conclude that I’m as crazy as Trump, unsubscribe with a single click. If you keep reading every week, you’ll get fact-based criticism of a news industry that often falls down on the job.
Stop the Presses | Mark Jacob | Substack
A weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism, and what we can do about it. Click to read Stop the Presses, by Mark Jacob, a Substack publicati...
www.stopthepresses.news
November 25, 2025 at 11:40 PM
My Stop the Presses newsletter is free. Why not give it a try? If you conclude that I’m as crazy as Trump, unsubscribe with a single click. If you keep reading every week, you’ll get fact-based criticism of a news industry that often falls down on the job.
So much this. This is how we in the RoW can beat Trumpofascism - work his stupidity. Not by being scared of upsetting him and half going along with his plans, which will obvs be both malevolent and stupid.
The threats against Mark Kelly are the Trump administration in miniature: wildly authoritarian ambitions limited by their own terrible strategic and tactical choices www.vox.com/politics/470...
Why is Trump accusing a former astronaut of treason?
How MAGA’s war on Mark Kelly is a sign of a deeper weakness.
www.vox.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
So much this. This is how we in the RoW can beat Trumpofascism - work his stupidity. Not by being scared of upsetting him and half going along with his plans, which will obvs be both malevolent and stupid.
Reposted by Dr Nick
Whose side is he on? Whose side are we on? Spoiler alert: We already knew the answers. This just confirms them.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Whose side is he on? Whose side are we on? Spoiler alert: We already knew the answers. This just confirms them.
Reposted by Dr Nick
If you are on BBC live, you know what to do
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
If you are on BBC live, you know what to do
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
The true depth of Trump's evil exposed by my timeline
November 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The true depth of Trump's evil exposed by my timeline
Exactly this. Looking at you, Europe-UK. Each cowardly action strengthens the Trumpofascist threat, each brave (and smart) action weakens it. And we cannot afford to lose this one. We must be prepared and willing to take worthwhile hits so we can use strikes, or we will lose.
The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Exactly this. Looking at you, Europe-UK. Each cowardly action strengthens the Trumpofascist threat, each brave (and smart) action weakens it. And we cannot afford to lose this one. We must be prepared and willing to take worthwhile hits so we can use strikes, or we will lose.
Reposted by Dr Nick
The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense
Reposted by Dr Nick
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
le fuck
France, Odoxa poll:
Presidential run-off election
Bardella (RN-PfE): 53%
Philippe (HOR-RE): 47%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 58%
Glucksmann (PS/PP-S&D): 42%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 74%
Mélenchon (LFI-LEFT): 26%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 56%
Attal (RE-RE): 44%
Fieldwork: 19-20 November 2025
Sample size: 803-689
Presidential run-off election
Bardella (RN-PfE): 53%
Philippe (HOR-RE): 47%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 58%
Glucksmann (PS/PP-S&D): 42%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 74%
Mélenchon (LFI-LEFT): 26%
Bardella (RN-PfE): 56%
Attal (RE-RE): 44%
Fieldwork: 19-20 November 2025
Sample size: 803-689
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
le fuck
Reposted by Dr Nick
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
"my dad was a racist toolmaker"
How long before Starmer starts telling everyone he was even more racist in school in his continuing efforts to out-fascist Reform and Farage?
Still can't quite believe that "I only said 'gas the Jews' in a non-hurtful way" was the strategy Nigel Farage opted to go for
November 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
"my dad was a racist toolmaker"
Europe is acting like a plumply prosperous market town unable to believe the ravening nomadic horde and the neighbouring evil empire would *really* eat it all up
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Europe is acting like a plumply prosperous market town unable to believe the ravening nomadic horde and the neighbouring evil empire would *really* eat it all up
This. And the point is not so much to peel off his existing fans and voters, but to put off potential new ones. Sanitizing and mainstreaming his toxic shit makes it to easy for him to be a protest vote or a "ah well fukkit everyone else is shite so let's give him a go" vote
All the supposedly progressive people saying 'Nigel Farage's racism doesn't matter. His fans love it'.
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
This. And the point is not so much to peel off his existing fans and voters, but to put off potential new ones. Sanitizing and mainstreaming his toxic shit makes it to easy for him to be a protest vote or a "ah well fukkit everyone else is shite so let's give him a go" vote
"science nerd" or "neo-nazi terrorist"? you decide.
oops, no. wankers in the shite-press decide
oops, no. wankers in the shite-press decide
I am so angry at the all-too-believable levels of racism in the justice system, media, and politics right now.
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
"science nerd" or "neo-nazi terrorist"? you decide.
oops, no. wankers in the shite-press decide
oops, no. wankers in the shite-press decide
Britain doesn't want this obscene, slathering extremism, but it's being forced down our throats by shitheaded elite arseholes anyway. These fuckers should be unable to show their face in public
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Britain doesn't want this obscene, slathering extremism, but it's being forced down our throats by shitheaded elite arseholes anyway. These fuckers should be unable to show their face in public
Reposted by Dr Nick
Imagine praising "Latino parents are now so afraid to be seen out and about that they have a rota to walk the Latino children" and not wondering where your humanity went?
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Imagine praising "Latino parents are now so afraid to be seen out and about that they have a rota to walk the Latino children" and not wondering where your humanity went?
Hero vs Nero
I swore an oath to the Constitution in 1986. I've upheld it through 25 years of service and every day since I retired.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
November 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Hero vs Nero
Reposted by Dr Nick
RFK Jr. Denies Ever Laying Eggs In Olivia Nuzzi https://theonion.com/rfk-jr-denies-ever-laying-eggs-in-olivia-nuzzi/
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
RFK Jr. Denies Ever Laying Eggs In Olivia Nuzzi https://theonion.com/rfk-jr-denies-ever-laying-eggs-in-olivia-nuzzi/
Make Self-Impoverishment Work
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Make Self-Impoverishment Work
Reposted by Dr Nick
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)
November 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
** Recruiting a postdoc ** We are looking for a postdoc to work on emotion, mental health, and interoception, based in London at @ucl.ac.uk in my lab (Clinical and Affective Neuroscience). Part of a large Wellcome Grant (co-led with the brilliant @camillanord.bsky.social)
Europe is guilty of enabling this farce, instead of bursting the bubble. We should be undermining Trump's pretended authority to decide here, by supporting and massively arming Ukraine
US and Ukraine didn’t make any progress, come on.
US told Ukraine to bow down to Putin in various ways, Ukraine went point by point explaining why they won’t do that, and the US president berated them more.
The whole thing remains a farce, since the US keeps pretending Russia isn’t the problem.
US told Ukraine to bow down to Putin in various ways, Ukraine went point by point explaining why they won’t do that, and the US president berated them more.
The whole thing remains a farce, since the US keeps pretending Russia isn’t the problem.
Ukraine and U.S. Cite Progress in Talks on Ending War With Russia
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Europe is guilty of enabling this farce, instead of bursting the bubble. We should be undermining Trump's pretended authority to decide here, by supporting and massively arming Ukraine
Reposted by Dr Nick
Disappointed that the phrase "bot girl summer" only just occurred to me, so late into the LLM companion epidemic.
Simultaneously looking forward to the CHI 2026 paper "Bot Girl Summer: Understanding keyword term through the lens of methodology". Hope you got R&R.
Simultaneously looking forward to the CHI 2026 paper "Bot Girl Summer: Understanding keyword term through the lens of methodology". Hope you got R&R.
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Disappointed that the phrase "bot girl summer" only just occurred to me, so late into the LLM companion epidemic.
Simultaneously looking forward to the CHI 2026 paper "Bot Girl Summer: Understanding keyword term through the lens of methodology". Hope you got R&R.
Simultaneously looking forward to the CHI 2026 paper "Bot Girl Summer: Understanding keyword term through the lens of methodology". Hope you got R&R.
they call this horizontal management structure, y'know what i mean
noah smith used to regularly DM me about the fact that his silicon valley venture capitalist buddies were going off the right-wing deep end because they were afraid they would get MeTooed for the fact that promotions for young employees at the startups they were funding were gated by sex
he once DM’d me and a couple of other people to tell us that we were wrong for calling him dumb about lab leak conspiracies and that some people he knew were working on a story that would make it crystal clear and it that was getting ready to drop soon, this was like, 2021, maybe earlier
November 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
they call this horizontal management structure, y'know what i mean
Reposted by Dr Nick
I want Peace more
Than anyone can imagine
Not political peace
Not negotiated silence.
I want the kind where children
Sleep without fear and my friends stop
Dissapearing from my phone.
But don’t ask me to call capitulation “peace”
I’m not ready to bury my country to make Someone else comfortable
Than anyone can imagine
Not political peace
Not negotiated silence.
I want the kind where children
Sleep without fear and my friends stop
Dissapearing from my phone.
But don’t ask me to call capitulation “peace”
I’m not ready to bury my country to make Someone else comfortable
November 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I want Peace more
Than anyone can imagine
Not political peace
Not negotiated silence.
I want the kind where children
Sleep without fear and my friends stop
Dissapearing from my phone.
But don’t ask me to call capitulation “peace”
I’m not ready to bury my country to make Someone else comfortable
Than anyone can imagine
Not political peace
Not negotiated silence.
I want the kind where children
Sleep without fear and my friends stop
Dissapearing from my phone.
But don’t ask me to call capitulation “peace”
I’m not ready to bury my country to make Someone else comfortable