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oldcremutius.bsky.social
Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
@oldcremutius.bsky.social
170 followers 1.1K following 180 posts
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Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
runningdog.bsky.social
Do political journalists ever reflect on whether their own stories including the spiciest available anonymous bitching from MPs and advisors affect the public’s attitude towards politicians? Would be good to know.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Jellyfish’ and ‘doormat’: why is Keir Starmer so deeply unpopular?
From his public persona to a sense that he sold the country a pup, many factors seem to feed a sense of ‘great dislike’
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
lousadzak.bsky.social
So, it looks like the new DfE guidance on trans students in schools incorporates recommendations from the Cass report. Suffice to say that is an *incredibly awful* decision.

Here's a thread with my analysis of Cass on social transition from back in 2024.
lousadzak.bsky.social Ethel Weapon @lousadzak.bsky.social · Apr 17
In Chapter 12, Cass considers social transition.

As per §12.2, this might include haircuts, clothing, name change, and pronoun usage.
SCREENSHOT: 12.2 The approach taken to social transition is very individual but it is broadly understood to refer to social changes to live as a different gender such as altering hair or clothing, name change and/or use of different pronouns. There is a spectrum from relatively limited gender non-conforming changes in appearance in adolescence to young people who may have fully socially transitioned from an early age and be ‘living in stealth’ (that is, school friends/staff may be unaware of their birth-registered sex)
February 12, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
willowcatelyn.bsky.social
I'm running a Larry Fessenden series for my horror column this month, and first up is HABIT. I'm quite excited to dive into more of his movies. I liked this one a lot. It's available on Shudder

www.patreon.com/posts/monste...
a 16mm still image from Larry Fessenden's HABIT. A blustery dusk New York, obviously cold, and Fessenden (Sam) stands on a street corner wearing a black winter coat as cars zoom by. Larry Fessenden summed up his love for the classic archetypes of horror when he said that he loved looking for new truths in old clichés. He’s made a Frankenstein movie (Depraved), a werewolf picture (Blackout), and a vampire tale (Habit), and he’s one of those rare disciples of genre, like Abel Ferrara, or George A. Romero, or Kinji Fukasaku, who doesn’t cooperate with the easily discernible qualities of genre mechanics. To put it more bluntly: he gives credence to the necessity of genre by uncoupling it from the public consciousness of what it means by re-routing it to what it means for him in a contemporary and personal sense. He has a passion for what can be found inside of the old-fashioned devices he wishes to expound upon, and in Habit, his lens is low-to-the-ground, hip and modern for its time. Habit is like a great Indie rock version of a vampire movie, whose d.i.y. credentials evoke the bare-bones slacker riff-less jangle of an open, bleeding heart. He’s anything but ironic, or condescending. He pushes himself into the Gothic tendrils of the old pictures, and of the sadness of Boris Karloff, and of a ship like the Demeter arriving in the fog, underneath the world trade center, and he finds average, everyday, universal pains and epiphanies through the guise of a bloodsucking romance. We follow bartender Sam (Fessenden) as he dwells in the news of the sudden, and recent passing of his archaeologist father, but by taking one look at him, scruffy, bedraggled, with loose-limbs, and whisky on his breath, it’s clear that things haven’t been going well for a long time. His old girlfriend Liza (Heather Woodbury) has recently moved out after hitting her limit of taking care of him. She’s well-put together, with boho-chic, and judging by the murals that Sam transports from his place to hers, she’s a painter who has worked at honing her art. The only thing that we see Sam working on is becoming a better alcoholic. He’s a lovably familiar fuck-up, easy to root, as he smiles with a visibly missing front tooth, and as we watch him gently take care of his white cat, dubbed with the cute, ironic name “Mud”. We see him telling his friends Rae (Patricia Coleman) and Nick (Aaron Beall) that he’s “committing suicide on the instalment plan”. It sounds like something Bill Hicks might say, and they laugh it off, but they know that things have gotten bad. All of these qualities of his are unconsciously felt from the first frame, and that is a credit to Fessenden’s careful, intimate form—shot on 16mm—guerrilla style on the streets of New York. Fessenden suggests more than he shows, but his withholding isn’t endemic to a goal of high-art, as we frequently see today in horror. It’s rooted more clearly in quotidian observation, and through an accumulation of provocative mise-en-scene. Fessenden said when filming that he was always in pursuit of crumbling Gothic buildings, or a certain color painted on a wall on a shop, or the occult-ish possibilities of junk taverns scattered on the streets of the East end of 90s New York. He described the location work as finding the “line’s on a persons face.”. He wanted the scum, because the scum would tell us more about Sam.
February 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
marisakabas.bsky.social
NEW: Substack founders finally respond to Substackers Against Nazis. They say Nazis publishing and earning money on their platform is fine with them.

Their full statement here: substack.com/@hamish/note...
Hamish McKenzie Disiointed • Subscribe 1h Edited Hi everyone. Chris, Jairaj, and I wanted to let you know that we've heard and have been listening to all the views being expressed about how Substack should think about the presence of fringe voices on the platform (and particularly, in this case, Nazi views). liust want to make it clear that we don't like Nazis either-we wish no-one held those views. But some people do hold those and other extreme views. Given that, we don't think that censorship (including through demonetizing publications) makes the problem go away- in fact, it makes it worse.
December 21, 2023 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
slooterman.bsky.social
This website has the juice.
A series of posts in which Mueller She Wrote claims you can’t trust the BLS numbers and gets corrected by the former commissioner.
February 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
tommills.bsky.social
Pat McFadden complained to Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC that none of the media had raised the issue of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein after he was appointed. So why was it being so harsh on Sir Keir?

So, is that true? Well, for the most part, yes.
February 11, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
eschatonblog.com
"compromised .txt file" should not be a thing
portalrealm.bsky.social Portalrealm @portalrealm.bsky.social · 22h
The AI features added to Notepad created a critical exploit vulnerable to loading a compromised txt file.

The fix is part of Patch Tuesday, so update your systems.

AI is not a feature I ever desired in Notepad. I should look into some alternatives...
AI-upgraded Notepad now exposes Windows users to critical exploit
A critical remote code execution vulnerability found in the AI-upgraded Windows 11 Notepad has fueled renewed criticism of Microsoft's forced AI feature creep.
cybernews.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
beequammie.bsky.social
"Fight against being ass" is a message that more people need to receive, tbh
February 11, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
wariotifo.bsky.social
they cry about not being invited to debate and they cry about being invited to debate. can't fucking win with these pathetic, gutless crybullies can you?
Matt Goodwin @GoodwinMJ tweet Statement: As you know, from my media contributions, I’ve never been one to shy away from a free and fair debate. However, I have serious concerns about the impartiality of the hustings that have been organised for tonight. Previous statements by the organising group give the clear impression that a fair and level platform will not be provided for all candidates, so on that basis I will not be attending. I look forward to future opportunities to discuss the issues that matter most to those in the local area and answer questions from local residents in a genuinely neutral setting - including at the forthcoming Manchester Evening News hustings and the BBC’s by-election debate on Monday. I cannot wait for these debates. Tonight, I shall be canvassing local people as I have been doing three times a day every day since this campaign began. I am very much looking forward to the forthcoming debates! Vote Reform, Get Starmer Out. Matt
February 11, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
miriamelder.bsky.social
OpenAI fired a VP who opposed their erotica rollout (and had started a company-wide peer mentorship program for women), allegedly telling her it was because she discriminated against a man 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
Exclusive | OpenAI Executive Who Opposed ‘Adult Mode’ Fired for Sexual Discrimination
Ryan Beiermeister, who served as the vice president leading OpenAI’s product policy team, had raised concerns about the upcoming launch of erotic content.
www.wsj.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM
oldcremutius.bsky.social
Implied investment in NHS and renewables is positive, good noises about closing regional gaps (though no plan for how). Stuff like aligning tax policy with growth plus a new department for growth feels like it risks giving decisions that should be political to civil servants.
libdems.org.uk Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 1d
🚨BREAKING: Lib Dems announce plan to replace Treasury with new Department for Growth based in Birmingham.

It's time to get Britain growing again.
Graphic under the heading 'get Britain growing again' showing Daisy Cooper announcing plans for a new UK department for Growth.
February 11, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
transsexual.bsky.social
Anas Sarwar calls for Keir Starmer to resign (2026, colourised)
"call an ambulance / but not for me" meme the image has been edited to show the older guy hunched over in both panels and the caption reads "call an ambulance / for me"
February 10, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
dismalchips.bsky.social
You know, the Labour peer who was key to Starmer's operation and was mates with a paedophile even after they found out about.

No, not him, the other one.
February 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
seamas.bsky.social
The only route to accepting Mandelson or Andrew's "silly me!" version of events, is to believe that they only ever exhanged sensitive information or access in exhange for cash or favours or sex to one man, and by sheer dint of bad luck it was the one man on Earth whose emails everyone gets to read.
February 4, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
jwsal.bsky.social
Fake and AI generated 'experts' are being quoted in articles in the UK press. "Out of a sample of 250 expert-quoting articles published in The Sun, Daily Express, Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Star in 2025 and late 2024, 28 experts do not exist".
pressgazette.co.uk/news/faces-o...
Faces of fakery: More fake and AI generated experts con their way into media
New research from Press Gazette has uncovered a fresh tranche of likely fake and AI-generated experts making their way into UK publications.
pressgazette.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
netpol.org
“The admission of lying to the public in order to justify banning Palestine Action shows how baseless the proscription truly is”.

Claims about links between the protest group and Iran appear to have originated from pro-Israel lobbyists novaramedia.com/2026/02/09/g...
Government Terrorism Advisor Casts Doubt on Palestine Action Iran Link
Exclusive: In a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, says he’s “not aware” of any evidence behind the government’s claim...
novaramedia.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
jbendery.bsky.social
An incredible turn of events here. 10/10, no notes. 😂
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
junlper.beer
i love that for the average american, activism is just watching TV the correct way
February 9, 2026 at 12:52 AM
oldcremutius.bsky.social
Al Carns is so well known that he does not turn up at all in the YouGov Most Famous/Popular Labour Politicians data. This makes him less well known/popular than the previous "former military man and future of the Labour Party", Dan Jarvis.
February 8, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
adambienkov.bsky.social
The Times calls Keir Starmer's decision to hire Peter Mandelson an "egregious error" which deserves an "inquiry into the appointment process."

Not included is any demand for an inquiry into their own appointment of him, long after his post-conviction relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was exposed
February 8, 2026 at 7:29 PM
oldcremutius.bsky.social
Back in Jan last year there was an article where an unnamed Labour source said that none of them knew how to run a department except Ed with his energy brief, and they wanted him to fail if they were to win the next election.
Stephen Bush: The moment that summed up the approach was the failed attempt to move Ed Miliband to MHCLG. Literally imagine going 'well l, I don't agree with this guy's instincts on energy policy. What if we put him in the brief we think is central to our re-elect?'
February 8, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social
The Home Office tweet here - referring to asylum seekers legally here and legally supported by the government as “illegal migrants” - is a deliberate attempt to stir up resentment and racial hatred.

I can’t see how else you describe it.
sundersays.bsky.social Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 4d
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
dexanderson.com
IF THIS WORKED, SHE WOULDN'T NEED TO SELL THE TECHNIQUES TO YOU
sarahweinman.com Sarah Weinman @sarahweinman.com · 4d
“If I can generate a book in a day, and you need six months to write a book, who’s going to win the race?” God this is bleak
The New Fabio Is Claude
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
gregk.co.uk
Ah yes, Starmer’s problem is that he’s politically inept due to being over attentive to things like human rights, maintenance of the liberal international order and opposition to apartheid; things which, as we all know, have been indelible signatures of this style of governance.
flyingrodent.bsky.social flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 4d
What kind of arsehole ever thought this dickhead was any good? Certainly not me, nor anyone I have ever commissioned to write about him and his political project.
February 8, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Ray Gun Virus
flyingrodent.bsky.social
That’s what the emails reveal, unfortunately: a clique of fascist billionaires are working to destroy democracy to maximise their personal freedom and power, and your governments are ideologically subservient to them, if not actively on the take.
Adam Bienkov • @adambienkov.bsky... • 2h This is the man whose company Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm represents. Keir Starmer visited its HQ last year, at the request of Mandelson, shortly before it was handed a £240m Government contract * Aine )*(@whoa-magic.lol • 11h Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the 'end of modernity' currently happening-and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example fortune.com/2026/02/04/p... *Not satire. Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the 'end of modernity' currently happening—a... The Gen Z Swedish climate activist is a legionnaire of the Antichrist, Thiel claims,...
February 8, 2026 at 11:15 AM