Chris Davies
@crd37.bsky.social
Complexity, politics, public policy and helping things be better. Welshman in south London.
Reposted by Chris Davies
One question I have started asking at job interviews which is a bit full on is "what's the most difficult thing about working here" and if nobody gives a non-bullshit answer I don't want the job.
what's the most insane hiring shibboleth you've ever heard, non-coffee edition
September 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM
One question I have started asking at job interviews which is a bit full on is "what's the most difficult thing about working here" and if nobody gives a non-bullshit answer I don't want the job.
Reposted by Chris Davies
I absolutely agree, but what a lot of people are doing is competing for status within an organization, institution or movement, with not so much thought as to the success of that institution and in that context, harnessing the McVibes can be personally advantageous.
September 26, 2026 at 5:57 PM
I absolutely agree, but what a lot of people are doing is competing for status within an organization, institution or movement, with not so much thought as to the success of that institution and in that context, harnessing the McVibes can be personally advantageous.
This is an endemic problem extending outside the dating world. People don’t know how to have conversations any more.
So many interactions are just people talking at each other and there’s zero curiosity - as though you can make people like you by overwhelming them with your content
So many interactions are just people talking at each other and there’s zero curiosity - as though you can make people like you by overwhelming them with your content
I have lost count of the number of dates I’ve gone on where I’ve not been asked a single follow up question to a thing I’ve said. The bar is so low.
September 26, 2026 at 5:11 PM
This is an endemic problem extending outside the dating world. People don’t know how to have conversations any more.
So many interactions are just people talking at each other and there’s zero curiosity - as though you can make people like you by overwhelming them with your content
So many interactions are just people talking at each other and there’s zero curiosity - as though you can make people like you by overwhelming them with your content
Reposted by Chris Davies
"The Bank of England was set up by Tony Blair"
It's easy to forget that Tony Blair had been in power since 1694 when the Bank of England was founded. Good job Brain of Britain Liz Truss is here to remind us.
It's easy to forget that Tony Blair had been in power since 1694 when the Bank of England was founded. Good job Brain of Britain Liz Truss is here to remind us.
September 25, 2026 at 8:18 PM
"The Bank of England was set up by Tony Blair"
It's easy to forget that Tony Blair had been in power since 1694 when the Bank of England was founded. Good job Brain of Britain Liz Truss is here to remind us.
It's easy to forget that Tony Blair had been in power since 1694 when the Bank of England was founded. Good job Brain of Britain Liz Truss is here to remind us.
How did Americans survive urban living before they had their massive water bottles?
September 25, 2026 at 9:16 PM
How did Americans survive urban living before they had their massive water bottles?
Absolute scenes in Clapham
Customised 4x4 with a label ‘Chelsea Truck Co’ screwing up the traffic by trying to create a third lane in the middle of the road when there’s a queue, and then hitting someone else
Bingo card completed in one go
Customised 4x4 with a label ‘Chelsea Truck Co’ screwing up the traffic by trying to create a third lane in the middle of the road when there’s a queue, and then hitting someone else
Bingo card completed in one go
September 25, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Absolute scenes in Clapham
Customised 4x4 with a label ‘Chelsea Truck Co’ screwing up the traffic by trying to create a third lane in the middle of the road when there’s a queue, and then hitting someone else
Bingo card completed in one go
Customised 4x4 with a label ‘Chelsea Truck Co’ screwing up the traffic by trying to create a third lane in the middle of the road when there’s a queue, and then hitting someone else
Bingo card completed in one go
Gillray levels of great
#TBT to this from 2012 in honour of Michael Gove starring as an invasion-battling leader in Sky's new show The Wargame. If you don't know what or who this comic is about... just count yourself lucky and scroll on, no worries.
![[Opening scene is WESTMINSTER, LONDON. Over Downing Street a huge ALIEN SPACECRAFT hovers, silent, still, filling the whole sky a la Independence Day].
[Cut to INSIDE 10 DOWNING STREET. The (then) prime Minister DAVID CAMERON is looking out of his office window at the ship.]
VOICE FROM OFF-SCENE, BEHIND CAMERON:
Prime Minister…
CAMERON [addressing the person behind him, still keeping his eyes fixed ahead in dread at the spaceship]:
Yes?
[We see the speaker is MICHAEL GOVE, then Education Secretary]:
GOVE:
Let me do it.
CAMERON:
For God's sake, Michael, you're the Education Secretary! You've never flown a fighter plane in your life!
GOVE:
But I know I could do it, David. I could fly a fighter plane into the big space- ship...
...and shoot all the aliens.
CAMERON:
But you have no military training!
GOVE:
David
I haven't told you this, but...
I used to be a journalist. For The Times.
[Cameron reacts, turning to look at Gove with awe and respect, as if only now truly seeing him for the first time].
GOVE:
I wrote two articles about planes, David.
I've got strong opinions about aliens.
I know I can do this job.
[Cut to a title card panel]:
AND SO:
[Then cut again to Cameron on the roof of Number 10, watching a Michael Gove pilot a fighter jet up towards the spacecraft, and then completely miss it, careering towards Earth, as Cameron buries his face in his hands].
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreictdw36myuavccr5oqqgsfb2jzkicnjrxhcexhned7ux7ws6oq5ny)
September 24, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Gillray levels of great
Yeah but we shouldn’t be pursuing Net Zero because no one else is… 🙄
Europe's largest economy has just said it will to all intents and purposes stop using oil, coal, and gas in less than 20 years. A child born today will leave full time education into a European economy that should be almost fully decarbonised.
September 24, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Yeah but we shouldn’t be pursuing Net Zero because no one else is… 🙄
I think they should deal with him like British TV did with Gerry Adams in the 90s and voice his words with an actor
LOL -- The White House pool is boycotting Trump, but Real America's Voice is trying to fill in the gap. Unfortunately they haven't yet figured out how microphones work so Trump is still yelling into the void.
September 23, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I think they should deal with him like British TV did with Gerry Adams in the 90s and voice his words with an actor
Always a good sign when we get to ‘you can’t make this up’
Tommy Tuberville: Many airline pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers are part of the furry community. It's terrifying.
September 23, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Always a good sign when we get to ‘you can’t make this up’
Such a beautiful piece about an amazing series
"Last night on ITVX, a boy brought up on a rural Yorkshire farm who became a nuclear fusion scientist spoke about his life, three days before his death." After the last episode of 70 Up, I woke up today with a fire in my belly desperate to review it and write about it...
September 23, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Such a beautiful piece about an amazing series
Reposted by Chris Davies
You're going to be needing specialists in: languages, narrative, history, psychology, information, mythology, conspiracies, etc, etc. then?
#humanities
#socialscience
#humanities
#socialscience
New UK agency will tackle ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham says
New UK agency will tackle ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham says
PM aims to ‘stem poisonous tide’ of disinformation and deepfakes with National Centre for Information Defence
Security chiefs will set up a new national centre to tackle disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia, Andy Burnham has announced, saying the government had a duty to “stem the poisonous tide” from damaging British interests.
The National Centre for Information Defence will “detect, attribute and disrupt” information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by AI, bringing together the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and social media companies. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 23, 2026 at 7:15 AM
You're going to be needing specialists in: languages, narrative, history, psychology, information, mythology, conspiracies, etc, etc. then?
#humanities
#socialscience
#humanities
#socialscience
The numbers on this are pure, multidimensional BlueSky
September 22, 2026 at 10:09 PM
The numbers on this are pure, multidimensional BlueSky
Reposted by Chris Davies
The complete and total collapse of state function in the face of far right extremists.
It is frankly ludicrous that Daniel Thomas continues to be at large given the series of crimes committed which he has literally filmed.
It is frankly ludicrous that Daniel Thomas continues to be at large given the series of crimes committed which he has literally filmed.
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
September 22, 2026 at 5:53 PM
The complete and total collapse of state function in the face of far right extremists.
It is frankly ludicrous that Daniel Thomas continues to be at large given the series of crimes committed which he has literally filmed.
It is frankly ludicrous that Daniel Thomas continues to be at large given the series of crimes committed which he has literally filmed.
Reposted by Chris Davies
Started watching Sky’s War Game last night where Michael Gove is the PM during the Russian attack and I’m afraid it is just very difficult to watch it without thinking of this, one of the great cartoons ever published
September 22, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Started watching Sky’s War Game last night where Michael Gove is the PM during the Russian attack and I’m afraid it is just very difficult to watch it without thinking of this, one of the great cartoons ever published
Reposted by Chris Davies
Dan Neidle looking at your taxes is the financial equivalent of the MenswearGuy examining your trousers.
April 12, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Dan Neidle looking at your taxes is the financial equivalent of the MenswearGuy examining your trousers.
Reposted by Chris Davies
Someone from Exeter was buried on Friday and one of their wishes was to have dinosaurs and the Grim Reaper present.
Legend.
Photo source: Exeter & Devon Crematorium and Memorial Gardens
Legend.
Photo source: Exeter & Devon Crematorium and Memorial Gardens
September 21, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Someone from Exeter was buried on Friday and one of their wishes was to have dinosaurs and the Grim Reaper present.
Legend.
Photo source: Exeter & Devon Crematorium and Memorial Gardens
Legend.
Photo source: Exeter & Devon Crematorium and Memorial Gardens
A beautiful part of the world that takes *forever* to get to
At some point trail runners are going to discover Theth and go utterly bonkers over it.
Some of the most runnable, beautful trails I've done and... i think we've seen... 4 runners total
Some of the most runnable, beautful trails I've done and... i think we've seen... 4 runners total
September 21, 2026 at 9:49 PM
A beautiful part of the world that takes *forever* to get to
Hard for those of us who are of a certain age to understand…but it is true that UK GDP per capita is meaningfully higher than Japan’s
Or you could compare to Japan. Invests a far higher proportion of GDP than Britain does but has far lower GDP per head.
September 21, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Hard for those of us who are of a certain age to understand…but it is true that UK GDP per capita is meaningfully higher than Japan’s
Reposted by Chris Davies
It is both really obvious and seemingly often forgotten that an awful load of pressing economic problems would be an order of magnitude easier if the Strait of Hormuz was open.
September 21, 2026 at 11:20 AM
It is both really obvious and seemingly often forgotten that an awful load of pressing economic problems would be an order of magnitude easier if the Strait of Hormuz was open.
Reposted by Chris Davies
NASA picture of the day today is a real 🏴beauty! This is a composite image of the ~5000yo Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis. The amazing Giuseppe Petricca has only gone and photographed the Sun at noon there, every few days, for a whole year. #Dedication 🔭🧪👌
ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/image-articl...
ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/image-articl...
September 20, 2026 at 11:10 AM
NASA picture of the day today is a real 🏴beauty! This is a composite image of the ~5000yo Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis. The amazing Giuseppe Petricca has only gone and photographed the Sun at noon there, every few days, for a whole year. #Dedication 🔭🧪👌
ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/image-articl...
ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/image-articl...
Reminded of the marvellous Geoffrey Burgon score for the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Is that the last kids TV show to have proper symphonic music?
youtu.be/oClLr_qw9oc?...
Is that the last kids TV show to have proper symphonic music?
youtu.be/oClLr_qw9oc?...
BBC Chronicles of Narnia OST
YouTube video by Andrew Schoen
youtu.be
September 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reminded of the marvellous Geoffrey Burgon score for the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Is that the last kids TV show to have proper symphonic music?
youtu.be/oClLr_qw9oc?...
Is that the last kids TV show to have proper symphonic music?
youtu.be/oClLr_qw9oc?...
Bottom left literally made me laugh out loud
As Liberal Democrat conference gets properly underway our new polling finds that the “Gail’s test” continues to hold true. Lib Dems over perform their national polling by 7 points among those who say they have a Gail’s on their high street, same with Pret!
September 20, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Bottom left literally made me laugh out loud
Reposted by Chris Davies
Although the cost of housing in London is insane and makes life difficult for anyone under 50, youngsters are mostly unaware much of the city used to look like this
September 20, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Although the cost of housing in London is insane and makes life difficult for anyone under 50, youngsters are mostly unaware much of the city used to look like this
Read this thread and fuck the fascists.
A level of bravery they just cannot understand
A level of bravery they just cannot understand
Every year on 19 December, the famous Christmas lights at Mousehole in Cornwall are dimmed between 8 and 9pm, leaving just the Cross and Angels shining down across the village and out to sea.
September 18, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Read this thread and fuck the fascists.
A level of bravery they just cannot understand
A level of bravery they just cannot understand