Phil Edwards

Motivational email OTD

Coming to the end of a very pleasant afternoon working my way along the bar of @torrside.bsky.social Monsters at @petersgatetap.bsky.social . Tempted by the Podkovan svetly lezak, but a man’s got to know his limitations!

Microsoft announce exciting new venture into ransomware.

Just blamed Margaret Thatcher for something, which felt appropriate (obviously) but also a bit off for me, not really my style. Feeling the need to get back to my old stamping ground.

So it's satisfying (unless you're the target) to load antisemitism onto the Greens, just as – at the risk of sounding pious – it was satisfying to load Islamophobia onto Reform. Where's racism? Over there! We can point to it!

Just blamed Margaret Thatcher for something, which felt appropriate (obviously) but also a bit off for me, not really my style. Feeling the need to get back to my old stamping ground.

If racism's an undesirable but culturally ingrained attitude reflecting historic patterns of exploitation, anyone saying "I'm not a racist but..." can be answered with "Well, you probably are, a bit. Lots of people are." If racism's a career- and friendship-ending character flaw, that's unthinkable.

Just blamed Margaret Thatcher for something, which felt appropriate (obviously) but also a bit off for me, not really my style. Feeling the need to get back to my old stamping ground.

If, as a product of the 60s or 70s, you've ever braced yourself to have the Well, Different People Look Different conversation with your kids, then realised they literally don't know what the issue might be or why you apparently care about it, thank the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Just blamed Margaret Thatcher for something, which felt appropriate (obviously) but also a bit off for me, not really my style. Feeling the need to get back to my old stamping ground.

Reflecting on the Zionism is Racism brouhaha, and the shocking ease with which the "antisemitism" banhammer could be brought down on the Green Party of E+W, I think Tony Blair has to bear some of the blame.

Glad I'm Retired Dept: "Before I share this week’s update, I want to thank you personally for the commitment, care and professionalism you continue to demonstrate every day." This is not normal management behaviour; they only do it when they're in distress.

"I know recent months have been challenging, and I acknowledge the additional pressures many of you continue to face" Blimey. Things are worse than I thought.

Dems like Buttigieg are trying to recuperate the energy people have fighting Trump back into support for the Dems - and *that's a good thing*, because they can only credibly do that by appropriating parts of the tactical and ideological repertoire of the active Left.

It's certainly much better than – and (this is the crucial point which people seem weirdly ready to overlook) very different from – the alternative, which is being denounced, anathematised and outlawed by the institutional (centre)-Left.

Dems like Buttigieg are trying to recuperate the energy people have fighting Trump back into support for the Dems - and *that's a good thing*, because they can only credibly do that by appropriating parts of the tactical and ideological repertoire of the active Left.