Matthew Bates
@thatmattbates
Actor/voiceover/audiobook narrator/ adoptive dad and doodle wrangler. Scotland, London, Dudley. Brought up on LFC and narrow boats. All views are personal.
Dial-A-Take reaches perverse new heights in this corruscating Birchill broadside against… all the *other* people with disabilities. 🤪
Not wanting to start any new media pile-ons, but anyone that can write this sort of incoherent bollox and still call himself an academic has no business at any respected university.
If you want an illustration of male privilege in action, check out Nige’s police tip off about a credible threat of… embarrassment.
In my 18thC literature module at university the big theme was that novels were seen as MORALLY BAD because they appealed predominantly to women, who should have been busy having babies and sewing. Men (like Richardson, Defoe and Fielding) wrote them, but the readership was not predominantly male.
“Wandering and getting lost affects 70% of dementia patients. Symptoms include the urge to "go home" (even when at home), being pursued by red-eyed super soldiers for draft-dodging, or reverting to past routines like going to work. “ Melania better watch out.
Pretty sure that’s not how to spell “Colourwashing a racist regime” but I’m sure FIFA know best. #WorldCup
"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," said Dumbledore brightly, into the silence. "Following in his father’s footsteps, with the stud marks to prove it, Giuliano Simeone."
Poking fun at people’s appearance to attack their position is suspect- but doing it with a byline cartoon like this is genuinely weird. How deep is his self-loathing?
Three- count em, 3! audiobook titles I narrated in the Audible History Hot 100*🔥 * this is clearly not a thing, they call them bestsellers, but I’m trying to sex it up because only middle aged/old white guys tend to read this stuff.
If a political figure seeking power wanted to disable our rational brains, reduce our capacity for empathy and control media reactions to the world to suit their narcissistic, kleptocratic agenda, what would they do..?
A note to sports enthusiasts who are not UK residents: this is the prime sporting fixture being covered live by the netionsl broadcaster. Cheese rolling on the BBC. Stand by for Sky and TNT to swoop in for the rights.
I see Trump’s playing the tough guy again. *checks calendar* It’s a Saturday, the financial markets are closed. TACO will resume business once the DOW reacts. 🙄
A shot of the BBC complaints reply today justifying the Reform UK chyron during purdah.
Forget Kristi Noem’s husband, what do you reckon Donny dresses up as to compose these epically shrill Queen Bee rants?
Possibly a good opportunity to point out that Gary Davies is now at the helm of the Radio 2 breakfast show, and has been clean as a whistle of scandal since starting at the BBC in 1982. Also, he still looks like this in my head. Which means I am still young. I will not be taking questions.
The Broligarchs are so focused on trying to steal the Promethean fire from writers, musicians, actors and reduce Art to 1s and 0s, and yet the one person they could replace with a slightly shonky algorithm tomorrow (and improve on the real thing) they all kneel to as if he’s some Chaos God. 🤦♂️
It’s almost exactly 548 years since a King’s brother was last arrested. The Duke of Clarence was executed for treason in the Tower of London on 18 February 1478. But while George was was supposedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey, while Andrew is currently being held in custardy.
Outwardly charming & engaging, privately Machiavellian and would sell his own grandmother for a quick buck? Are we still talking about Epstein, Peter?…
Apparently, this is a *perfect response* when you want to prove you’re not a predator who bullies victims into silence.
Consummated?! 😳 Only Trump could try and sound statesmanlike and just come off even more like a creepy old man leering over your glacier.
An illustrated guide to how Trump’s signature rhetorical move - The Weave ™️ - actually works.
“That’s a beautiful ice sheet you have above your country. It would be a pity if someone who doesn’t believe in climate change were to accidentally melt it.”
If we have a whip round, could we get this delivered to DJT with a note of thanks from Vlad?
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Big Beautiful Brother is watching you.* *unless he’s sundowning in the middle of a meeting.
Remember that story he loved to tell about the snake…? (Image courtesy of Tamara Knoss)