Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 2d

Planning reforms should make bidets compulsory in new builds so we're not filling with wet wipes and causing millions of pounds worth of damage & disruption. Health and sanitary benefits to bidets also obvious. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thames Water removes 100-tonne fatberg from west London sewer

Toxic mass chiselled out of Feltham pipes amid campaign to stop people tipping harmful substances down drains

www.theguardian.com

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 3d

An unexpected benefit of Brexit, to be sure.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 4d

Cosy and skilled af.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 6d

I will never forget going in 2023 and the shared experience of hearing a familiar dating app sound in the queue, prompted everyone waiting to reach for their phones.

The sly giggles broke into open laughter as someone said 'That was mine, stand down all.'
Really quite lovely, warm moment.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 6d

Devastating to lose such a pivotal queer nightlife venue in Soho. G-A-Y was often the first queer bar visited after coming out, like a rite of passage for so many. Old Compton Street will struggle to replace it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

G-A-Y Bar to close as Old Compton Street 'has lost LGBT identity' - BBC News

Owner Jeremy Joseph says it is "time to say goodbye" as he hopes to keep his other venue open.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 6d

Will never miss the opportunity to share this performance from Danny la Rue at the Royal Variety Performance in 1969. Drag at its most vintage, outrageous, camp and authentic. youtu.be/dGXslU0H4qY?...

Danny La Rue - The Royal Variety Performance 1969

YouTube video by MoonlightMusic Remasters

youtu.be

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 9d

I don't know if I'm comfortable with the memeification of our party politics. Embarrassing for all involved, especially Bell.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 10d

*whisper* I don't think Thamesmead should count as a New Town when it's already (and historically been) a site of significant regeneration...

But good news nonetheless. Extend that DLR out to Belvedere and Erith and then we're golden.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 10d

Difficult crowd for the crowdwork acts on this list. Feels like a weird mix of cancel culture punchlines and irrelevant pop culture references.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 12d

And space-age hippie hypnotherapists chase both. Takes all sorts.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 12d

When I get bored at work I look at memes and pictures of cats. You're on another level of nuclear awesomeness.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 19d

I'm sure the students handing out copies of The Communist newspaper outside Kingston Station have hearts in the right place, but I don't think the Yardley-Drummonds of the borough were interested.

Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 9

It's happened before but I do think a Tube strike exposes a glaring divide in London's transport system: the sudden realisation that other forms of public transit exist.

Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 6

To be Mayor of London, you have to have a positive, inclusive vision for the city. Describing your home as lawless, bleak and terrifying to live in is not that vision.

London would significantly more unsafe with a Mayor who thinks hate speech should be decriminalised.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Nowhere’s safe in London, claims Reform rising star who wants to be mayor

British Muslim Laila Cunningham wants an end to hate-speech prosecutions - and the former CPS lawyer says Muslims who want Islamophobia laws should leave the UK

inews.co.uk

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 5

Alan Campbell leaving the Chief Whip for the Commons Leader role, with Jonny Reynolds demoted to Whips Office is one to watch for backbench discipline...

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 5

There's a group of influential former London local policians holding offices with direct and obvious lines of benefit for improving the city. So far, I can't say that it's helped very much. High hopes not pulling through.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 5

Truly sad to lose one of the Labour Party's most authentic, genuine voices speaking from experience. There's been lots of disgraced former ministers but Angela Rayner isn't going to be one of them.

Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 4

Local firms are especially bad. Underresourced across the board thanks to an ageing workforce. There's generally a shortage of conveyancers, surveyors, appraisers and other property agents essential to development.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 4

Truly banal, tiny tinfoil hat conspiracy theory to think Angela Rayner planned her stamp duty scandal to get the Treasury to agree on abolishing it altogether... www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e67d46a...

I feel sorry for Angela Rayner, even I didn’t know about the tax rule she broke

The mess our Deputy Prime Minister is in proves Britain’s tangled tax system needs reform

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Daniel Reast

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · Sep 4

Case against Powell's Rivers of Blood speech was one of principle - that it was "racialist in tone and liable to exacerbate racial tensions" as the Conservative Party leader said in sacking him - rather than one of politics and popularity of "taking people with you" as Jenrick thinks.

Times leader

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 3

Fully agree with this great report. Devolving Homes England to mayoral authorities will support place-based partnerships which are vital to build more homes at scale.

In London, devolving to the GLA has built thousands of affordable homes in opportunity areas. Absolutely right to roll out further.

Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · Sep 3

The UK won’t hit 1.5 million homes without a shake-up - could mayors be the answer?

In our latest Re:Think, Researcher, @seaneke.bsky.social, explores why devolving Homes England’s powers could unlock more housebuilding.

Check it out here👇
re-state.co.uk/rethink/devo...

Devolving to build - Re:State

re-state.co.uk

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 2

🏛️ Come work with me!

@centreforlondon.bsky.social is kicking off an exciting and provocative research programme - and we're looking for a researcher to build a commanding body of work.

Enquiries via link or reach out if you have any questions. Thrilling times! centreforlondon.org/vacancy/rese...

Advert for new job at Centre for London: Researcher/Senior Researcher, £30,000-£36,000. Full time. Apply by 9am, Monday 22 September.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Sep 1

Not sure it's going to have much effect locally either. Hillingdon may well pick up a few Reform councillors next May, who will undoubtedly oppose Heathrow expansion. Tories and local Labour do too to be fair...

Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Aug 26

Good for gaming but for spreadsheets and reports I much prefer my triple screen setup. Invaluable for quant work while also watching background YouTube. Plus it makes me feel like I'm in Minority Report.

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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · Aug 21

"Brian you're a 43 year old director and you earn 120k a year. You're not a park ranger"

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