Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Brendan Loper. #NewYorkerCartoons

I may have my frustrations and disappointments about Starmer as a domestic politician, but internationally, I think he’s serious, responsible and trying to do his best for U.K. in unbelievably complex int’l environment, despite treasonous ghouls like Farage doing their best to undermine him.

The irony of a man complaining about aesthetics when the wall behind his right shoulder looks as if it was projectile vomited by Louis XIV will not go unnoticed in a nation which understands irony. Neither will the crude racism of Trump's Islamaphobia & sneering reference to "indigenous people".

On the train back from Manchester with reading matter that could prove costly.

Missile hits a school in Iran; missile hits a school in Israel. Maybe there’s no need to fire any of these missiles. Maybe the precious lives lost could still be here today but for the evil delusions of cruel men.

New blog post, And Another Thing….Another Misconception About Amending Section 106 Agreements simonicity.com/2026/03/01/a...

Not enough focus on the illegality of what the United States (let’s not give others a free pass by saying “Trump”) is doing. The ends never justify the means etc.

stick your thumbs up if you make baseless and racist claims of voter fraud & want to restrict postal voting

Be more Sánchez, be less Starmer

Lest we forget # 2.

I don't know what the opposite of nominative determinism is. But Matt Goodwin does.

New blog post, LGR, SDSs, SPBs & Other TLAs simonicity.com/2026/02/22/l...

Enjoying reading this tale of DB from 1990 on, leading me to binge on the albums again & like old wine you never know what you’re going to get when you finally pull the cork. Even most of the stuff remembered as poor is at least drinkable - always interesting & always that unique soaring voice…🖤

kind of amazing that everything trump does can be understood through the lens of narcissism and it's related needs (e.g., self aggrandizement, revenge, domination, grievance validation). i don't think any character has been so one-dimensional, not even wile e coyote or scrooge mcduck

The unending plague of feedback-seeking emails… Royal Mail deliver a parcel this morning and then send an email asking me to rate how they did. Why should customers have write a gushing review about what is literally your day job?

Absolutely insane story about a middle-aged woman from Hertfordshire who got arrested, shackled, and detained by ICE and held in a prison for eight weeks.... while on holiday... with a valid tourist visa... as she tried to leave the country.

Talkin about music g-g-generation 🎵

Re: reggae - do you find the older you get the heavier the dub needs to be? Tonight Adrian Sherwood plus live band (inc Doug Wimbish on bass) at the Barbican supported by African Head Charge blew anyone else out the park. 🔈🔊🔉

This Women’s Freeski Big Air (🤷‍♂️) commentary pair are so fantastic they need their own prog.

Pride beat Prejudice 3-1, will now go on to play Sensibility in the semi-final.

Hemel Hempstead woman wins gold! 🥇

New blog post, Don’t Be An April Fool: Written Reps Planning Appeals Are About To Get Faster But Also Riskier simonicity.com/2026/02/15/d...

Islington Assembly Hall tonight & I’ve just realised 30 years late what a great live band Kula Shaker are, how underrated Crispian Mills is as a guitarist and how much of a sucker I am for all that psychedelic lighting. Didn’t catch name of guest vocalist but shout-out to her as well…

I’ve walked past this sign so many times but have only just read it properly. Threatment? 😬

In what should be a huge acronym face-off I’ve agreed to be on a CPA panel on CPO & AI, hosted by TLT. 21.4.26 RSVP www.compulsorypurchaseassociation.org/the-cpa-annu...

More and more the world is being damaged by wealthy, powerful, yet ignorant buffoons.... Musk, Bezos, Trump, Dyson, and now this Monaco-based, non tax-paying clown.

Football eh 😊 #saintsfc

Today is the 5th anniversary of the release of the infamous #Lawyercat video, which I posted roughly thirty minutes after the start of the second impeachment trial. Who would have thought it would have such a lasting impact on the world! Happy Lawyercat Day for all who celebrate!

What's that you say, Anas? That you tweeted this last year in 2025 about your 'old friend' Peter Mandelson and now you think Starmer should resign but you should keep your job?

Outrageous. Anyone considering visiting the US under this administration takes their life in their hands.

Mi cyaan believe it: white album sleeve previously vg cond.

#nowplaying Xoo Multitudes by Yellow Magic Orchestra. Went to see them in 1980 just after this album came out, just to see support act Comsat Angels. Didn’t get YMO at all. At the time I bet we thought we were open to new sounds from far places, not so at all.

It’s never dull in the championship 🐿️ www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

They've updated the pic.

New blog post, Grey Belt Tests Tested simonicity.com/2026/02/07/g...

I deleted my post from before… I thought it was fake So I went to WH Smith and here it is An unbelievable attempt to sanitise this man and normalise what’s he’s done.

In the middle of a Supreme Court hearing on disguised employment in limited liability partnerships, one of the judge's phones starts playing a The Rest is History podcast episode which kicks off with an unimprovably spirited impression of Jimmy Carter

Four guitarists & a flute: Midlake at the Electric Ballroom tonight 👍

Epstein Files british spin-off announced www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

That mass of disclosed emails, mostly deliberately illiterate grunts to denote the sender’s busyness, is a uniquely indelible record of how networks of power, & the sense of impunity it brings, work. Pre-email, this was in person & on calls, now conveniently disappearing messages on whatsapp etc.

Took me a while to get round to reading it but this book will resonate for a long time. The horrors perpetrated by Pinochet and his friend a Nazi war criminal. An international hunt for facts and justice versus time passing & politically convenient compromises. Much to apply to contemporary events?

Latest David Olusoga A House Through Time is astonishing in the depth of its research & human stories revealed of WW2 occupants of apartment block in London & Berlin. Some become nazis, their neighbours holocaust victims, & so many lives destroyed. But the records & (now beautiful) homes remain.

Or, as I know them, the A Level years…

New blog post, Greater Affordable Housing Flex Announced For Some Stalled Schemes; Other Announcements On Affordable Housing & On S106 simonicity.com/2026/01/30/g...

Trump has control of the world's largest nuclear arsenal, but apparently nothing is going to bomb harder than his wife's film.

Well I’m looking forward to seeing Mr Lydon practically on my doorstep.

New blog post, The A In Section 106A simonicity.com/2026/01/25/t...

I was so pleased to find this t-shirt at the back of the wardrobe. Air France gave it to us when they lost our luggage on the way to our honeymoon over 31 years ago. Needs ironing, although I suppose I do too.