The way Arsenal fans have effortlessly pivoted from extolling the purity of Wenger’s prissy beauty to reconnect with George Graham/Don Howe-style pitiless efficiency is a great example of how football clubs having a specific soul or identity is marketing bullshit dressed up as woo-woo spiritualism.
February 1, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The way Arsenal fans have effortlessly pivoted from extolling the purity of Wenger’s prissy beauty to reconnect with George Graham/Don Howe-style pitiless efficiency is a great example of how football clubs having a specific soul or identity is marketing bullshit dressed up as woo-woo spiritualism.
Darren bringing good knowledge to this issue. I feel I have learnt and forgotten this information a number of times.
She was filming Too Hot to Handle in Borehamwood at the time. Stirling Moss was supposedly the first choice.
January 30, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Darren bringing good knowledge to this issue. I feel I have learnt and forgotten this information a number of times.
Reposted by Peter Watts
This position seems profoundly self-evident to me.
Everything, EVERYTHING good in life stems from a place of security, not insecurity.
Everything, EVERYTHING good in life stems from a place of security, not insecurity.
"Not only don't people work less when they are guaranteed an income, they might actually put in more effort at work. And the fact that they have more money to spend leads to the creation of more jobs."
Nobel Prize–winning economists Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo
Nobel Prize–winning economists Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo
January 30, 2026 at 12:52 PM
This position seems profoundly self-evident to me.
Everything, EVERYTHING good in life stems from a place of security, not insecurity.
Everything, EVERYTHING good in life stems from a place of security, not insecurity.
Found my absolute favourite London sign at Chiswick flyover on Wednesday. 10/10 for everything.
January 30, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Found my absolute favourite London sign at Chiswick flyover on Wednesday. 10/10 for everything.
Reposted by Peter Watts
UNCUT
‘Beautiful Reimagining of the folk singer’s rich back catalogue’8/10
Shindig
‘it’s in cases like this that us winter sceptics have to capitulate to the chilly charm’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LouderTharWar
‘The words,the voice,the guitar,their timeless strength’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kloff ‘Soulful reimagining of her work’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautiful Reimagining of the folk singer’s rich back catalogue’8/10
Shindig
‘it’s in cases like this that us winter sceptics have to capitulate to the chilly charm’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LouderTharWar
‘The words,the voice,the guitar,their timeless strength’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kloff ‘Soulful reimagining of her work’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 30, 2026 at 12:05 PM
UNCUT
‘Beautiful Reimagining of the folk singer’s rich back catalogue’8/10
Shindig
‘it’s in cases like this that us winter sceptics have to capitulate to the chilly charm’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LouderTharWar
‘The words,the voice,the guitar,their timeless strength’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kloff ‘Soulful reimagining of her work’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautiful Reimagining of the folk singer’s rich back catalogue’8/10
Shindig
‘it’s in cases like this that us winter sceptics have to capitulate to the chilly charm’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LouderTharWar
‘The words,the voice,the guitar,their timeless strength’⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kloff ‘Soulful reimagining of her work’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reposted by Peter Watts
'Still in a Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock, 1984–1994' , a New @simonreynolds.bsky.social book on the way via @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social
ra.co/news/84452 #shoegaze
ra.co/news/84452 #shoegaze
Simon Reynolds documents rise of shoegaze in new book · News ⟋ RA
Still in a Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock, 1984–1994 will be published by White Rabbit Books.
ra.co
January 29, 2026 at 7:03 PM
'Still in a Dream: Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock, 1984–1994' , a New @simonreynolds.bsky.social book on the way via @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social
ra.co/news/84452 #shoegaze
ra.co/news/84452 #shoegaze
Rough Trade, a London landmark, is 50 in 2026. I talked to Geoff Travis and Nigel House about the history of both shop and label, as well as hearing about their birthday plans. My latest for The Times. www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...
Vinyl justice for punk pioneers as Rough Trade turns 50
Having weathered the CD age and the rise of streaming that finished off its high-street rivals, the stalwart record shop is getting ready to celebrate
www.thetimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Rough Trade, a London landmark, is 50 in 2026. I talked to Geoff Travis and Nigel House about the history of both shop and label, as well as hearing about their birthday plans. My latest for The Times. www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...
Reposted by Peter Watts
🎢Very sad news just announced, that the historic Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate is to permanently close. Built 1920, the Grade II* listed timber ride is of international importance as the oldest surviving rollercoaster in Britain, second oldest in Europe and among the five oldest in the world.
January 27, 2026 at 4:08 PM
🎢Very sad news just announced, that the historic Scenic Railway at Dreamland Margate is to permanently close. Built 1920, the Grade II* listed timber ride is of international importance as the oldest surviving rollercoaster in Britain, second oldest in Europe and among the five oldest in the world.
Nick Cave becoming an enthusiastic wild swimmer must be among the ten most Guardian-coded things of all time.
January 22, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Nick Cave becoming an enthusiastic wild swimmer must be among the ten most Guardian-coded things of all time.
Reposted by Peter Watts
"Lizards are fairly popular but demand for the mongoose has gone out and monkeys don't seem to be wanted ..." (1911)
January 22, 2026 at 2:10 PM
"Lizards are fairly popular but demand for the mongoose has gone out and monkeys don't seem to be wanted ..." (1911)
Reposted by Peter Watts
Fascinating essay on *why* some cultures are terrified of reheating rice and others just...do it every day.
The justification cycle - racialised thinking, call to science, appeal to long past and/or 'traditional' wisdom - seems universal for this sort of food story #histFood
The justification cycle - racialised thinking, call to science, appeal to long past and/or 'traditional' wisdom - seems universal for this sort of food story #histFood
Grain of Terror
Why is the Western world so afraid of reheating rice? Joe Zadeh reports. Illustration by Ibrahim Rayintakath
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Fascinating essay on *why* some cultures are terrified of reheating rice and others just...do it every day.
The justification cycle - racialised thinking, call to science, appeal to long past and/or 'traditional' wisdom - seems universal for this sort of food story #histFood
The justification cycle - racialised thinking, call to science, appeal to long past and/or 'traditional' wisdom - seems universal for this sort of food story #histFood
Anybody who thinks banning kids from social media will stop kids from using social media has never had, met or been a kid.
Banning children from using devices won't stop kids going online.
It creates secrecy, it will stop kids from talking to trusted adults when they come across dangerous content.
It also takes the responsibility from companies like X cleaning up their act on misinformation, abusive/dangerous content.
It creates secrecy, it will stop kids from talking to trusted adults when they come across dangerous content.
It also takes the responsibility from companies like X cleaning up their act on misinformation, abusive/dangerous content.
From what Australian friends tell me - kids who wanted to, just got round the ban and lied to parents and guardians.
Not convinced that's progress at all.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Not convinced that's progress at all.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
January 22, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Anybody who thinks banning kids from social media will stop kids from using social media has never had, met or been a kid.
Reposted by Peter Watts
i went to mcdonalds, twice: edjefferson.com/blog/i-went-...
I went to the best and worst McDonald’s In London because I place no value on my time even though I will be dead one day
For a while I had a very interesting hobby. Every time Google Maps prompted me to review something, I would rate the thing 5 stars and write a single line reading “It was a pub.”, “This It a supermark...
edjefferson.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:13 PM
i went to mcdonalds, twice: edjefferson.com/blog/i-went-...
Arsenal are going to seriously injure a goalkeeper at one of their set pieces at some point.
January 20, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Arsenal are going to seriously injure a goalkeeper at one of their set pieces at some point.
Reposted by Peter Watts
If you were going to be teleported there and back, and could only enter one place, I’d suggest Dennis Severs’ House, 18 Folgate Street, a Spitalfields row house refurbished to look and feel as if its 18th/19th century residents have only just stepped out for a moment. Extraordinarily experience.
Mr. Gibson, when I think about London I think about you and strange calculators in the boot of a car. My wife and I are going, so I thought I would ask: If you had a place to recommend seeing what would it be?
January 19, 2026 at 7:19 AM
If you were going to be teleported there and back, and could only enter one place, I’d suggest Dennis Severs’ House, 18 Folgate Street, a Spitalfields row house refurbished to look and feel as if its 18th/19th century residents have only just stepped out for a moment. Extraordinarily experience.
Reposted by Peter Watts
From Guardian Weekend magazine May, 2008 article entitled 'Guess who their favourite band is then, A portrait of extreme fans'.
January 17, 2026 at 7:29 AM
From Guardian Weekend magazine May, 2008 article entitled 'Guess who their favourite band is then, A portrait of extreme fans'.
Reposted by Peter Watts
🚨 New on Substack, my post on Clay Cross's famous 1972 Rents Rebellion that resisted the Conservative Government's plans to raise council house rents: 'Clay Cross Council: ‘doing our job – and that’s to help the working class, the cream of the nation’
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/clay-cross...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/clay-cross...
January 15, 2026 at 8:13 AM
🚨 New on Substack, my post on Clay Cross's famous 1972 Rents Rebellion that resisted the Conservative Government's plans to raise council house rents: 'Clay Cross Council: ‘doing our job – and that’s to help the working class, the cream of the nation’
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/clay-cross...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/clay-cross...
Reposted by Peter Watts
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
I thought Jenrick was already in Reform as it is quite hard to keep track of the defections.
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
January 15, 2026 at 11:45 AM
I thought Jenrick was already in Reform as it is quite hard to keep track of the defections.
Reposted by Peter Watts
It was 30 years ago today that BBC Two transmitted the opening episode of Our Friends in the North - one of the greatest television dramas the BBC has ever made.
For the anniversary, I've been down to Caversham to take a look through the show's files and explore some of the tales they tell...
For the anniversary, I've been down to Caversham to take a look through the show's files and explore some of the tales they tell...
Our Friends in the North
30 years on from the first episode of this groundbreaking drama, we take a closer look into the programme’s archive to reveal a time capsule of a turbulent era.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 8:53 AM
It was 30 years ago today that BBC Two transmitted the opening episode of Our Friends in the North - one of the greatest television dramas the BBC has ever made.
For the anniversary, I've been down to Caversham to take a look through the show's files and explore some of the tales they tell...
For the anniversary, I've been down to Caversham to take a look through the show's files and explore some of the tales they tell...
Got to love Adrian Chiles.
January 15, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Got to love Adrian Chiles.
Reposted by Peter Watts
There's too many primary school places in London for not enough kids. So schools are competing to stay alive, copying private school marketing tactics with Instagram ad campaigns — and in one case offering a £50 Amazon voucher referral scheme for parents. www.londoncentric.media/i/184437718/...
Amazon vouchers to fill school places
Plus: How engineers installed phone signal on the London Underground, how many freemasons can you fit in a police force, and the house with a swimming pool in the middle of the living room.
www.londoncentric.media
January 15, 2026 at 9:19 AM
There's too many primary school places in London for not enough kids. So schools are competing to stay alive, copying private school marketing tactics with Instagram ad campaigns — and in one case offering a £50 Amazon voucher referral scheme for parents. www.londoncentric.media/i/184437718/...
Reposted by Peter Watts
Yorkshire folk!
The daughter of a friend's friend is making a film about the bands that played at Minsthorpe High School in the late 80s/early 90s – the likes of the Weddoes, Cud, House of Love etc.
They're trying to track down the teachers who put the bands on – Mel and Trev. Anyone know them?
The daughter of a friend's friend is making a film about the bands that played at Minsthorpe High School in the late 80s/early 90s – the likes of the Weddoes, Cud, House of Love etc.
They're trying to track down the teachers who put the bands on – Mel and Trev. Anyone know them?
January 14, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Yorkshire folk!
The daughter of a friend's friend is making a film about the bands that played at Minsthorpe High School in the late 80s/early 90s – the likes of the Weddoes, Cud, House of Love etc.
They're trying to track down the teachers who put the bands on – Mel and Trev. Anyone know them?
The daughter of a friend's friend is making a film about the bands that played at Minsthorpe High School in the late 80s/early 90s – the likes of the Weddoes, Cud, House of Love etc.
They're trying to track down the teachers who put the bands on – Mel and Trev. Anyone know them?
Reposted by Peter Watts
Given the number of recent literary adaptions (Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Hamnet) I wonder if any cinemas have thought to have a little book stand at the box office. Lots of people will leave a film wanting to read the original, would be easy money surely
Thought I would work in the Picturehouse cafe this morning. Had not counted on arriving shortly before a baby-friendly screening of Hamnet
January 14, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Given the number of recent literary adaptions (Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Hamnet) I wonder if any cinemas have thought to have a little book stand at the box office. Lots of people will leave a film wanting to read the original, would be easy money surely