Neil Hocking
@studiobloke.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Hocking
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Went to Belfast for a weekend away with my wife. Saw a parade going past and assumed it would a great Gay Pride event. It turns out I know very little about Northern Ireland and the orange people don't want to be joined by lesbians. That said, we had a lovely weekend.
December 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Went to Belfast for a weekend away with my wife. Saw a parade going past and assumed it would a great Gay Pride event. It turns out I know very little about Northern Ireland and the orange people don't want to be joined by lesbians. That said, we had a lovely weekend.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study explains it:
a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Reposted by Neil Hocking
In a way, I find the authoritarian takeover of our media system even more disturbing than the authoritarian takeover of our political system.
Our political system has been failing basically my entire adult life. But, the media system provided accountability and sort of worked. Now it’s collapsing.
Our political system has been failing basically my entire adult life. But, the media system provided accountability and sort of worked. Now it’s collapsing.
November 3, 2025 at 4:18 PM
In a way, I find the authoritarian takeover of our media system even more disturbing than the authoritarian takeover of our political system.
Our political system has been failing basically my entire adult life. But, the media system provided accountability and sort of worked. Now it’s collapsing.
Our political system has been failing basically my entire adult life. But, the media system provided accountability and sort of worked. Now it’s collapsing.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
When we say “No Kings” this should include the nasty billionaires who use their money to control all media and the government.
October 12, 2025 at 12:27 AM
When we say “No Kings” this should include the nasty billionaires who use their money to control all media and the government.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Peaceful assembly isn’t an insurrection.
Storming the Capitol to hang your own vice-president and end democracy is.
Storming the Capitol to hang your own vice-president and end democracy is.
October 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Peaceful assembly isn’t an insurrection.
Storming the Capitol to hang your own vice-president and end democracy is.
Storming the Capitol to hang your own vice-president and end democracy is.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
If eating scotch eggs in an Austin Allegro had a face.
October 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
If eating scotch eggs in an Austin Allegro had a face.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
October 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
In the month of the 100th birthday of Margaret Thatcher, let us pause to reflect on what a cruel, heartless twat she was.
October 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In the month of the 100th birthday of Margaret Thatcher, let us pause to reflect on what a cruel, heartless twat she was.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
Reposted by Neil Hocking
"And let us enforce the same rules. When you have a newspaper, you are responsible for what is published in it. When you have a social network, you must be responsible for what is published on it."
October 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
"And let us enforce the same rules. When you have a newspaper, you are responsible for what is published in it. When you have a social network, you must be responsible for what is published on it."
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Today people went around my neighborhood in north east London spray painting St George’s crosses onto people’s homes. Many of these houses have non British people living in them.
This is getting very dark, very quick.
This is getting very dark, very quick.
September 13, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Today people went around my neighborhood in north east London spray painting St George’s crosses onto people’s homes. Many of these houses have non British people living in them.
This is getting very dark, very quick.
This is getting very dark, very quick.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Google Maps has alerted me that your mum is walking towards me.
September 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Google Maps has alerted me that your mum is walking towards me.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
In a previous life, Keir Starmer was in some '70s sitcom playing the role of a dithering, indecisive vicar faffing about on a bicycle.
August 7, 2025 at 10:55 PM
In a previous life, Keir Starmer was in some '70s sitcom playing the role of a dithering, indecisive vicar faffing about on a bicycle.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
“Superman is too woke!”
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
July 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
“Superman is too woke!”
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
Reposted by Neil Hocking
52% voted for Brexit. "It's the will of the people!" - Farage.
But 60% of Brits now want a closer relationship with Europe.
Times and attitudes have changed. So should our relationship with Europe.
The only people standing in opposition to the "will of the people" today are the Tories & Reform.
But 60% of Brits now want a closer relationship with Europe.
Times and attitudes have changed. So should our relationship with Europe.
The only people standing in opposition to the "will of the people" today are the Tories & Reform.
May 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
52% voted for Brexit. "It's the will of the people!" - Farage.
But 60% of Brits now want a closer relationship with Europe.
Times and attitudes have changed. So should our relationship with Europe.
The only people standing in opposition to the "will of the people" today are the Tories & Reform.
But 60% of Brits now want a closer relationship with Europe.
Times and attitudes have changed. So should our relationship with Europe.
The only people standing in opposition to the "will of the people" today are the Tories & Reform.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Sample sentence: "This yearning to “reset” Britain doesn’t stem from a plan to build something better – it stems from a refusal to imagine anything new."
Indeed. A great article.
Indeed. A great article.
Reform UK says it’ll ‘reset Britain inch by inch'. But to what? Smog, slums and Section 28? Their nostalgic fantasy hides a dangerous truth.
This is a clear-eyed breakdown of what’s really on offer ⤵️
This is a clear-eyed breakdown of what’s really on offer ⤵️
Reform UK offers nostalgia, not solutions
Reform UK trades on national nostalgia – but behind the slogans lies regression, not renewal or reform
eastangliabylines.co.uk
May 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Sample sentence: "This yearning to “reset” Britain doesn’t stem from a plan to build something better – it stems from a refusal to imagine anything new."
Indeed. A great article.
Indeed. A great article.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
"But of course, the sudden bout of whatever-the-f*ck is not the only reason I’m not in a good place. Another is that the place I am in is Britain, where the governing party seems to have convinced itself that, “the far right is correct. Vote Labour” is in any way a winning strategy."
Things Can’t Only Get Better
This week: I have bloody well had it with the sodding Labour party. Also: an early modern way of having too many browser tabs open; and some maps dropped on other maps.
jonn.substack.com
May 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"But of course, the sudden bout of whatever-the-f*ck is not the only reason I’m not in a good place. Another is that the place I am in is Britain, where the governing party seems to have convinced itself that, “the far right is correct. Vote Labour” is in any way a winning strategy."
Reposted by Neil Hocking
A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.
May 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Also, I have been avoiding pope coverage because I find it annoys me when people (popes) who think gay people are disordered, abortion is murder, humanity is intrinsically broken, and a bit of child abuse is something to be covered up are described as ‘liberal’.
May 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Also, I have been avoiding pope coverage because I find it annoys me when people (popes) who think gay people are disordered, abortion is murder, humanity is intrinsically broken, and a bit of child abuse is something to be covered up are described as ‘liberal’.
Reposted by Neil Hocking
New Pope Leo blasts non-religious people, saying (quite shockingly) that 'lack of faith' comes from 'the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity'
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
A hateful thing to say. People whose approach to life is not faith-based have done enormous good, majority non-religious societies have been some of the strongest proponents of human dignity and solidarity. Why is the BBC just printed this unchallenged? If it's "news", it should be balanced.
May 9, 2025 at 4:46 PM
New Pope Leo blasts non-religious people, saying (quite shockingly) that 'lack of faith' comes from 'the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity'
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
We'll remain composed in the face of such abject nastiness, but it's untrue to say the least
Reposted by Neil Hocking
Happy 80th anniversary of Hitler killing himself in his bunker to all who celebrate, which, as I now understand it, is not everybody
April 30, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Happy 80th anniversary of Hitler killing himself in his bunker to all who celebrate, which, as I now understand it, is not everybody