niko_himself
@niko-himself.bsky.social
I care about languages, politics, housing, and trains. YIMBY, Social Democrat. | 🇬🇧🇬🇷🏳️🌈
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niko_himself
@niko-himself.bsky.social
· Sep 18
I have a good friend, he used to be a hasan fan before the war, and an active guy in his community, in 2022 he asked “why can’t you get me or any other Ukrainian leftist on stream so we can tell you our side of the story” and got banned everywhere
The end
The end
Very unusual for US leftists to overlook imperial oppression when the perpetrator isn't a Western country /s
Reposted by niko_himself
Some thoughts on Bondi Beach, the sliding doors surreality of knowing my sister could have been there, and how it feels to be lighting candles tonight to celebrate our resilience
www.newstatesman.com/world/2025/1...
www.newstatesman.com/world/2025/1...
The Bondi Beach shooting was an attack on Jews
This Chanukah, I finally understand the meaning of resilience
www.newstatesman.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Some thoughts on Bondi Beach, the sliding doors surreality of knowing my sister could have been there, and how it feels to be lighting candles tonight to celebrate our resilience
www.newstatesman.com/world/2025/1...
www.newstatesman.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by niko_himself
You joke but I do think there is an element of resentment here, the ideal migrant is one who desperately wants to come here but isn't allowed, not one who comes then leaves
December 13, 2025 at 9:47 PM
You joke but I do think there is an element of resentment here, the ideal migrant is one who desperately wants to come here but isn't allowed, not one who comes then leaves
Reposted by niko_himself
Stop saying “Caucasian” when you mean “European white folk” because Caucasian is literally a racist term made up by people who claimed the world was only like 7000 years old
December 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Stop saying “Caucasian” when you mean “European white folk” because Caucasian is literally a racist term made up by people who claimed the world was only like 7000 years old
Reposted by niko_himself
It's wild. We have so many real problems as a country, and instead a large chunk of our political class would rather hallucinate that one of the safest big global cities in the world is actually dangerous.
The "London = most dangerous place on the planet" discourse is still going strong on Twitter
I've actually been surprised by how little I've felt threatened as a woman in London (having lived in Tooting and Peckham)
I loved growing up in Nottingham, but I had much, much worse experiences there tbh
I've actually been surprised by how little I've felt threatened as a woman in London (having lived in Tooting and Peckham)
I loved growing up in Nottingham, but I had much, much worse experiences there tbh
December 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
It's wild. We have so many real problems as a country, and instead a large chunk of our political class would rather hallucinate that one of the safest big global cities in the world is actually dangerous.
Reposted by niko_himself
Kind of funny how on the American right getting prayer into public schools to "reChristianise America" is a massive goal, while in the UK basically every primary school puts on a nativity play this time of year and the Muslim and Jewish kids participate and people hardly notice it is religious
December 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Kind of funny how on the American right getting prayer into public schools to "reChristianise America" is a massive goal, while in the UK basically every primary school puts on a nativity play this time of year and the Muslim and Jewish kids participate and people hardly notice it is religious
Reposted by niko_himself
On the one hand, I’ve seen Zarah Sultana with my own eyes. On the other, everything else increasingly suggests she can’t possibly be a real person.
Zarah Sultana voted with the Tories in every vote on the Employment Rights Bill last night.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
December 9, 2025 at 12:15 PM
On the one hand, I’ve seen Zarah Sultana with my own eyes. On the other, everything else increasingly suggests she can’t possibly be a real person.
Reposted by niko_himself
It might stop the Greens hitting 30%, but the Greens aren't trying to hit 30%, and they don't need to hit 30% to cause Starmer problems
But there's another issue - it could make people who *do* care about this stuff likelier to try and stop *Labour* at GE29 for fear of govt dependent on the Greens
But there's another issue - it could make people who *do* care about this stuff likelier to try and stop *Labour* at GE29 for fear of govt dependent on the Greens
FWIW, the NATO line worked on Corbyn which is why I suspect that Starmer thinks that it will work on Polanski.
Ahh a low-salience issue and then a vote for Bart is a vote for anarchy. You can see the political geniuses behind the present disaster at work.
December 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It might stop the Greens hitting 30%, but the Greens aren't trying to hit 30%, and they don't need to hit 30% to cause Starmer problems
But there's another issue - it could make people who *do* care about this stuff likelier to try and stop *Labour* at GE29 for fear of govt dependent on the Greens
But there's another issue - it could make people who *do* care about this stuff likelier to try and stop *Labour* at GE29 for fear of govt dependent on the Greens
Reposted by niko_himself
The essence of Blue Labour thought is that somewhere in Downing Street there is a button marked “reindustrialise” that Tony Blair could have pressed, but instead he opted for the “more Woke Studies” button.
My brother in Christ, reindustrialization is based on international capital flows, not dumbass ideas to move down the value chain by turning colleges into vocational schools. You do realize that modern industry is almost always *high* skilled automation?
Read your Michael Pettis, you utter clown.
Read your Michael Pettis, you utter clown.
No reindustrialising? Our academic institutions are a part of the problem, overproducing elites and funnelling them into bullshit unproductive jobs. Half the universities need to close or become vocational colleges. You didn't even mention productivity.
Brexit is in the past. That ship has sailed.
Brexit is in the past. That ship has sailed.
December 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The essence of Blue Labour thought is that somewhere in Downing Street there is a button marked “reindustrialise” that Tony Blair could have pressed, but instead he opted for the “more Woke Studies” button.
Reposted by niko_himself
Farage's anti-Semitism is a non-story; who hasn't wished death on their Jewish classmates? No, the real scandal is Rachel Reeves' claim to have been UK under-14 girls chess champion when she was actually UK girls under-14 chess champion. That stinks.
Read Chris Mason's latest at BBCNews.com.
Read Chris Mason's latest at BBCNews.com.
December 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Farage's anti-Semitism is a non-story; who hasn't wished death on their Jewish classmates? No, the real scandal is Rachel Reeves' claim to have been UK under-14 girls chess champion when she was actually UK girls under-14 chess champion. That stinks.
Read Chris Mason's latest at BBCNews.com.
Read Chris Mason's latest at BBCNews.com.
Reposted by niko_himself
This is the key point. It gets Tory/Reform to 35% and delivers a huge, country-changing majority that brings us out of the ECHR, tears up our relationship with the EU, initiates mass deportations, ends judicial independence, takes control of the Electoral Commission etc. We'd be totally screwed.
But those Conservative voters who dislike Reform also *hate* Labour. So I'd guess plenty would be willing to hold their nose and back Farage
December 2, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This is the key point. It gets Tory/Reform to 35% and delivers a huge, country-changing majority that brings us out of the ECHR, tears up our relationship with the EU, initiates mass deportations, ends judicial independence, takes control of the Electoral Commission etc. We'd be totally screwed.
Reposted by niko_himself
I will never forget Grace Blakeley sitting alongside Maurice Glasman and making the case for Brexit at a New Statesman event in 2019. They were up against Paul Mason and Stella Creasey and arguing that the EU was a barrier to international socialism and that Brexit would be the start of something.
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I will never forget Grace Blakeley sitting alongside Maurice Glasman and making the case for Brexit at a New Statesman event in 2019. They were up against Paul Mason and Stella Creasey and arguing that the EU was a barrier to international socialism and that Brexit would be the start of something.
Reposted by niko_himself
This is a borderline psychotic thing to put in a newspaper.
This is the point where the anti-Reeves stories tip into madness. Criticise her performance all you like but what the hell is this?
December 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This is a borderline psychotic thing to put in a newspaper.
Reposted by niko_himself
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
Reposted by niko_himself
In a grim world, this story is a necessary source of joy and laughter.
news.sky.com/story/jeremy...
news.sky.com/story/jeremy...
Jeremy Corbyn declines to call Zarah Sultana a friend as Your Party holds first conference
Ms Sultana had previously claimed she was being "sidelined" by a "sexist boys' club" within the fledgling party.
news.sky.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In a grim world, this story is a necessary source of joy and laughter.
news.sky.com/story/jeremy...
news.sky.com/story/jeremy...
Reposted by niko_himself
Most first-term governments have a disastrous first year. It's the 'not visibly having learnt any lessons from it' that is new.
If the Government do go ahead with the mooted plan in here to (effectively) remove workplace pensions from salary sacrifice schemes I am genuinely a little in awe of how bad their "growth strategy is."
www.ft.com/content/ca5e...
www.ft.com/content/ca5e...
The four audiences Reeves’ ‘high-wire’ Budget must satisfy
Chancellor needs a lot to go right if she is to somehow reconcile interests of Labour MPs, markets, business and the public
www.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Most first-term governments have a disastrous first year. It's the 'not visibly having learnt any lessons from it' that is new.
Reposted by niko_himself
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
Reposted by niko_himself
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reposted by niko_himself
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
November 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Reposted by niko_himself
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
November 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
Reposted by niko_himself
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
Unzoomed #675 5/6 🟡🔴🟡🔴🟢⚪️
unzoomed.com 😅
unzoomed.com 😅
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Unzoomed #675 5/6 🟡🔴🟡🔴🟢⚪️
unzoomed.com 😅
unzoomed.com 😅
Reposted by niko_himself
This (from: www.ft.com/content/75ce...) is something you can *feel* if you are in the UK, especially if you've experienced living abroad. But infuriatingly successive governments and our entire media are somehow absolutely committed to suggesting anyone who wants to change this is the devil...
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM
This (from: www.ft.com/content/75ce...) is something you can *feel* if you are in the UK, especially if you've experienced living abroad. But infuriatingly successive governments and our entire media are somehow absolutely committed to suggesting anyone who wants to change this is the devil...
Reposted by niko_himself
The Tories made the same mistake with the Red Wall fixation on Lee Anderson types rather than "estate agent in Workington" or "Woman who shops at the new(ish) M&S Food in Leigh". But at least they had an excuse for not understanding those voters.
November 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The Tories made the same mistake with the Red Wall fixation on Lee Anderson types rather than "estate agent in Workington" or "Woman who shops at the new(ish) M&S Food in Leigh". But at least they had an excuse for not understanding those voters.
Reposted by niko_himself
Terrific, thought-provoking piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social:
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Terrific, thought-provoking piece by @chrisdillow.bsky.social:
Unzoomed #664 1/6 🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com 😏
unzoomed.com 😏
Unzoomed
Identify cities using satellite images in this daily puzzle game, where each guess zooms out for enhanced clues.
unzoomed.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Unzoomed #664 1/6 🟢⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
unzoomed.com 😏
unzoomed.com 😏