Left of the Dial
@lotd.bsky.social
Just moved over from the other place and settling in. No idea which box I packed the spoons in.
We've already got a cold war of sorts going with Russia and Trump has indicated that if he's on board with anyone, it's them.
European leaders need to seriously evaluate our relationship with the US and take off the rose-tinted glasses of years past.
European leaders need to seriously evaluate our relationship with the US and take off the rose-tinted glasses of years past.
December 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We've already got a cold war of sorts going with Russia and Trump has indicated that if he's on board with anyone, it's them.
European leaders need to seriously evaluate our relationship with the US and take off the rose-tinted glasses of years past.
European leaders need to seriously evaluate our relationship with the US and take off the rose-tinted glasses of years past.
How should we view things here in Europe though? Trump has basically decided that we're not racist and xenophobic for him so he will either a) step away from the continent or b) attempt to bolster far-right parties here. At the very least, he's no longer an ally, and you could argue he's an enemy...
December 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
How should we view things here in Europe though? Trump has basically decided that we're not racist and xenophobic for him so he will either a) step away from the continent or b) attempt to bolster far-right parties here. At the very least, he's no longer an ally, and you could argue he's an enemy...
To suggest that this is what Trump thinks is a level of intellectual dishonesty so extreme that the author can't even fool themselves to the contrary. So how does a person look in the mirror, acknowledge "I'm full of shit" but submit it for publication anyway? I just don't get it.
December 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
To suggest that this is what Trump thinks is a level of intellectual dishonesty so extreme that the author can't even fool themselves to the contrary. So how does a person look in the mirror, acknowledge "I'm full of shit" but submit it for publication anyway? I just don't get it.
It's also a problem we have in the UK in that the press will dance around it, but rarely call it out on explicit terms.
December 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
It's also a problem we have in the UK in that the press will dance around it, but rarely call it out on explicit terms.
I guess my angle was more that he's said clearly racist things in the past, but media doesn't always call it out as such. Occasionally they get close to the line with things like 'racially charged' but tend to shy away from calling something unequivocally racist?
December 11, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I guess my angle was more that he's said clearly racist things in the past, but media doesn't always call it out as such. Occasionally they get close to the line with things like 'racially charged' but tend to shy away from calling something unequivocally racist?
I'm from the UK and this feels like some of the most nakedly racist stuff he has said yet (though I understand that's likely to be a crowded field). Is it being reported in those terms though domestically?
December 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I'm from the UK and this feels like some of the most nakedly racist stuff he has said yet (though I understand that's likely to be a crowded field). Is it being reported in those terms though domestically?
The only thing that remains is the WH Smith shops in railway stations and airports - basic newsagents that will price gouge you to an extraordinary degree.
A most detestable lot, wearing the colours and name of something from my childhood that I quite liked.
🤮
A most detestable lot, wearing the colours and name of something from my childhood that I quite liked.
🤮
December 8, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The only thing that remains is the WH Smith shops in railway stations and airports - basic newsagents that will price gouge you to an extraordinary degree.
A most detestable lot, wearing the colours and name of something from my childhood that I quite liked.
🤮
A most detestable lot, wearing the colours and name of something from my childhood that I quite liked.
🤮
Saw the 'by WH Smith' part and it sent a chill down my spine.
They used to be a well-known variety chain of sorts in the UK. Mainly stationary but also books, DVDs etc. I went there often as a kid.
They went downhill for years and finally sold off all their retail stores in 2025.
They used to be a well-known variety chain of sorts in the UK. Mainly stationary but also books, DVDs etc. I went there often as a kid.
They went downhill for years and finally sold off all their retail stores in 2025.
December 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Saw the 'by WH Smith' part and it sent a chill down my spine.
They used to be a well-known variety chain of sorts in the UK. Mainly stationary but also books, DVDs etc. I went there often as a kid.
They went downhill for years and finally sold off all their retail stores in 2025.
They used to be a well-known variety chain of sorts in the UK. Mainly stationary but also books, DVDs etc. I went there often as a kid.
They went downhill for years and finally sold off all their retail stores in 2025.
He's absolutely right though.
I've seen Jaws several times since I was a kid, but only ever on TV. I went to see the 50th anniversary re-release this year and it blew me away with just how good it was.
Up to that point I 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 I'd seen Jaws, but it was a wholly different experience.
I've seen Jaws several times since I was a kid, but only ever on TV. I went to see the 50th anniversary re-release this year and it blew me away with just how good it was.
Up to that point I 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 I'd seen Jaws, but it was a wholly different experience.
December 7, 2025 at 12:06 AM
He's absolutely right though.
I've seen Jaws several times since I was a kid, but only ever on TV. I went to see the 50th anniversary re-release this year and it blew me away with just how good it was.
Up to that point I 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 I'd seen Jaws, but it was a wholly different experience.
I've seen Jaws several times since I was a kid, but only ever on TV. I went to see the 50th anniversary re-release this year and it blew me away with just how good it was.
Up to that point I 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 I'd seen Jaws, but it was a wholly different experience.
Love the fact that when he's told who it came from, he just leans into it - "Apparently, I was spot on" 😂
December 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Love the fact that when he's told who it came from, he just leans into it - "Apparently, I was spot on" 😂
When he talks about the pop culture of the era and how that was pretty racist - especially when viewed through today's lens - it's worth noting that even against that backdrop, he stood out in the minds of dozens of his contemporaries as being *particularly* racist and unpleasant.
December 6, 2025 at 8:57 AM
When he talks about the pop culture of the era and how that was pretty racist - especially when viewed through today's lens - it's worth noting that even against that backdrop, he stood out in the minds of dozens of his contemporaries as being *particularly* racist and unpleasant.
How many times has he boycotted the BBC now?
December 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
How many times has he boycotted the BBC now?
Is this guy Tarek Mansour's grandfather?
December 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Is this guy Tarek Mansour's grandfather?
Betteridge's law strikes again.
(Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word 'No')
(Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word 'No')
December 1, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Betteridge's law strikes again.
(Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word 'No')
(Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word 'No')
Agreed. Tesla had a good headstart on the competition when it came to electric vehicles but at some point, the rest of the pack were always going to close the distance, and, with their history of automotive know-how, probably overtake.
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Agreed. Tesla had a good headstart on the competition when it came to electric vehicles but at some point, the rest of the pack were always going to close the distance, and, with their history of automotive know-how, probably overtake.
Such weasel language
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Such weasel language
I've got pink shirts, pink tops, and even a pair of pink guitars - but I'm definitely not a fan of said jumper. Maybe it's the shade?
That said, it's been insane to begrudge anyone else wearing it if they wanted to and madder still to start reading things into their choice to do so.
That said, it's been insane to begrudge anyone else wearing it if they wanted to and madder still to start reading things into their choice to do so.
November 23, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I've got pink shirts, pink tops, and even a pair of pink guitars - but I'm definitely not a fan of said jumper. Maybe it's the shade?
That said, it's been insane to begrudge anyone else wearing it if they wanted to and madder still to start reading things into their choice to do so.
That said, it's been insane to begrudge anyone else wearing it if they wanted to and madder still to start reading things into their choice to do so.
It's freaking me out - he's *actually* smiling
November 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It's freaking me out - he's *actually* smiling
So we're expected to believe that Nathan Gill was parroting Kremlin speaking points for cash, while Nigel Farage was just parroting Kremlin speaking points for free?
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
So we're expected to believe that Nathan Gill was parroting Kremlin speaking points for cash, while Nigel Farage was just parroting Kremlin speaking points for free?
Oh, and I almost forgot - he then looks to make some cash for himself (building Gaza-a-Lago, extorting Ukraine's rare earth minerals, getting Russian sanctions dropped so he can get his trotters on some oligarch roubles or a Trump Tower, Moscow etc. etc.)
November 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Oh, and I almost forgot - he then looks to make some cash for himself (building Gaza-a-Lago, extorting Ukraine's rare earth minerals, getting Russian sanctions dropped so he can get his trotters on some oligarch roubles or a Trump Tower, Moscow etc. etc.)