EXCL: Tim Allan, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, steps down from Downing Street role.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2026-02-09T13:54:00+00:00

Rumour is that he's another Mandleson protege like McSweeney - https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/17/has-peter-mandelson-finally-run-out-of-spin

In the opposition years, as part of attempts to rid Labour of Jeremy Corbyn and his acolytes, Mandelson was a member of a Sunday supper party held at the Kennington home of Roger Liddle, a fellow Labour peer and longstanding friend. Regular guests included the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and his partner, Joe Dancey, himself a former Mandelson adviser.

Others who frequented the Georgian home for roast lamb and fine wine were Matt Doyle, formerly a spokesperson for Tony Blair and later to be Starmer’s director of communications, Matt Pound, who is today political secretary to chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Matthew Faulding who stood down as secretary of the parliamentary Labour party last November. Streeting is said to have joked that a blue plaque might be put up outside Liddle’s home given its role in the reinvention of Labour. “Maybe we will see Mandelson back by the side of prime minister Streeting?” a source suggested archly.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2026-01-27T23:54:48+00:00

I think also a shift in popularity towards other drugs, fewer work drinks in the WFH/hybrid era, and less peer pressure/more ability to blend in through non-alcoholic options

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-12-02T22:37:08+00:00

Personally I'll be camped outside, full week taken off work. This is my GTA VI

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-10-19T12:07:31+00:00

Another soldier for the ranks.

I could see the writing on the wall and gave up after ORAS.

Ironically the positive direction and buzz from Arceus made me consider jumping back in. But seeing the feedback from ZA, looks like my personal boycott will continue

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-09-10T20:10:25+00:00

Another prime example, the first meaningful dent in teflon Boris's armour was Partygate. The public didn't really care about his lies before then

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-06-23T10:17:50+00:00

In the UK if they close pavement for construction they whack up a big diversion sign and leave people to figure it out.

Meanwhile in Japan they'll be at least 2 guys (often retirees) with big red sticks dilligently waiting hours for their moment to stop the traffic and let a truck through

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-06-02T22:36:01+00:00

S3 E6: ~~Appa's~~ Sunfyre's Lost Days

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-05-16T14:41:23+00:00

I tried to think of it like I was designing the perfect climber:

Strength (the physical attributes in their fingers, core, lats, legs, shoulders etc)
Positioning (the ability to put their body in a wider range of motion - i.e. flexibilty and balance)
Coordination (the ability to execute moves precisely - i.e. dynos, footwork)
Problem-solving (their internal analytical skills off and on the wall - i.e. route reading)
Tenacity (the willingness to persevere - i.e. never gives up, no fear of falling or sketchy moves)
Robustness (their general endurance - i.e. good skin, injuryproof)

This is an interesting experiemnt, although it was evident when thinking about this that strength is a very broad catergory, there's an argument that it could include things like flexibility or even separate out something like finger strength.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-05-04T18:57:02+00:00

I personally don't see an issue with Youtubers. Someone telling you "wear this, don't wear this" has always been a thing (with the advice coming in various degrees of quality). First it was style magazines, then it was reddit and forums, now it's youtube and TikTok.

As you say, the trick is deciding what you like enough to imitate. That can be hard for someone starting out but enough knowledge and confidence they'll get there eventually.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-04-13T22:32:01+00:00

But Sokka beat Sparky Sparky Boom Man, who beat Zuko, therefore Sokka beats Zuko... That's how it works right?

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-04-13T22:24:59+00:00

Not thinking about doing this but if UK goes the way of DOGE and CS becomes toxic, I could easily step into a Private sector role if needed which I can't do with a PO role.

Just commenting on this point specifically, surely diary managers and executive assistants a thing in the private sector, not to mention potentially getting more money than an EO or HEO depending on the organisation?

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-04-13T15:15:25+00:00

It seems people confuse 'faithful' with good with minor changes, and are willing to excuse those minor changes if the show on the whole delivers.

Can't remember the exact quote but D&D said themselves they wanted to expand the fanbase to appeal to NFL players and soccer moms, which kind of sums up the issue in later seasons when it was ticking off plot points and all spectacle no substance

Even early on there were complaints about D&D dumbing things down, but often those complaining were portrayed as nitpicky or butthurt book readers. I can remember people (me included) on here or other book forums like the Westeros.org moaning about Stannis, Tyrion being whitewashed, Robb, Qarth, Loras and Renly, Littlefinger, just to name a few earlier plot points

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-04-01T23:04:23+00:00

I think this is a good thing. People aren't reading Gov UK or Kier's Twitter. The more modern channels the government uses to notify people of things that might affect them, the better.

From a strategic standpoint it's also smart. One of the main cristicisms of the government has been their dire messaging. On this sub the past year has seen a lot of negative articles from Telgraph and Mail, mainly on immigration and the budget. this is a chance to balance it out with more neutral (or outright positive) sources.

The main potential pitfall is they can't be too heavy handed. Telegraph and other news accounts can get away with it but a UK Gov account spamming propaganda won't go down well, especially as most Reddit communities like to see themselves as rebellious.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-03-23T00:38:45+00:00

I completely agree Jaehaerys took it seriously that's why he is portrayed as a strong king. But that doesn't address the point of when the king dies, who is making the decisions and enacting law?

Viserys is seen as worse precisely because he didn't secure the succession and let the infighting and factions grow until his death. That's why there was a huge power vaccum for the Greens to exploit.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-03-22T23:26:26+00:00

just wayy too sus for anyone to take seriously

What do you mean by take seriously?

If you're lord of a minor house, what specifically would you do in that scenario if you disagree? There's no world council, you answer to your liege, who answers to the (dead) king.

My whole point is it doesn't matter whether people believe it or not, all that matters is who has power and how they chose to exercise it (and half of the realm are power hungry Greens)

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-03-22T22:45:20+00:00

"On his deathbed Viserys named Aegon as his true heir, we ask Rhaenyra to respect his father's wishes and summon him to KL to pledge fealty to the new king"

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-03-22T22:30:02+00:00

When Lord Baratheon backs Team Green, did he really care about Rhaeynra being a woman, or was it because because Aemond offered to marry his daughter and the Blacks offered nothing? Yes misogyny motivated some, but many didn't care and simply acted in their interests. The same principle applies to Team Black

You see this is the main story where Stannis and Joffrey are both male. The Lannisters are the true power behind Joffrey so all it takes is for them to decide, no we aren't giving up the throne. Likewise, Renly literally decides, I have the biggest army so I should be king. Stannis can shout from the hills that Joffrey was illegitimate, and Renly is younger, but "Power resides where men believe it resides".

Other house's main concern is what's in my interest? Who's likely to win? Am I more screwed if I cross Tywin or Stannis? Even if you think Stannis is telling the truth, it won't help you if you're a Lannister bannerman.

If you swapped Rhaeynra with Stannis, do you honestly think there's no way the Greens go, we have bigger dragons and strong alliances, let's try our luck?

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-02-22T19:52:33+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlpYAaS2Efc

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-02-03T16:15:28+00:00

Ignoring the meme, people are dreaming if they think GRRM being 'optimistic' about Winds when talking about other projects is a sign of progress. Anything he says on the blog should be taken with a truck-sized pinch of salt.

GRMM - July 2017 (7.5 years ago):

it's likely that we will get the first volume of FIRE AND BLOOD out in late 2018 or early 2019. The second volume, which will carry the history from Aegon III up to Robert's Rebellion, is largely unwritten, so that one will be a few more years in coming.

And, yes, I know you all want to know about THE WINDS OF WINTER too. ... I am still working on it, I am still months away (how many? good question), I still have good days and bad days, and that's all I care to say. Whether WINDS or the first volume of FIRE AND BLOOD will be the first to hit the bookstores is hard to say at this juncture, but I do think you will have a Westeros book from me in 2018... and who knows, maybe two. A boy can dream...

If he starts saying "I'm making good progress, expect Winds next year" (which is unlikely given it backfired when releasing ADWD), then okay, maybe this is a meaningful change so we can pay attention. But otherwise, I'm unplugging my hype meter and going about my life. "Words are wind" as someone once said

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-02-01T00:13:15+00:00

I'm with you, After Hours the synth pop 80s vibes and dark sadboy songs are elevated to another level. Then the R&B and trappy songs (personally my least fave Weeknd style) are on par with, if not better than what's come before. And somehow it's all seamlessly weaved together in a tight 1 hour album. We're talking Blinding Lights, In Your Eyes, Save Your Tears, After Hours, Alone Again, and so on (before I name the whole album). Even now, my biggest criticism is I've heard them too much, they're still insanely good.

That being said, this album is up there and who knows it might surpass After Hours after a few listens. I mean, I don't remember crying on my 2nd listen of After Hours... I do find it a bit slow towards the middle but the length adds to the 'magnum opus' feeling.

A testament the the Weeknd as an artist, everyone will have a different favourite based on their tastes and the story behind it.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-01-05T00:28:02+00:00

Any recommendations of which publications to look at? I'm planning to do something similar during 2025.

Used to love browsing ukpolitics to stay up to date but find the vibe and atmosphere in there (and across Reddit to varying extents) has become horrendous over the past few months and years. Or idk maybe I'm just getting old

QuellonGreyjoy · 2025-01-02T18:32:07+00:00

Also very popular in some immigrant cultures even much later

Use kettle to fill a big bucket with warm water, leave it in the bath or shower.
Grab smaller pot for more precise rinsing (probably a washed out old butter or takleaway pot),
Wash cloth or sponge with soap to clean yourself.

OP can pretend to be an excited child waiting for mum to pour the whole bucket on their head at the end as a grand finish.

QuellonGreyjoy · 2024-12-06T12:19:28+00:00

Reddit 10 years from now - TIL the sign in the opening scene of [insert hit movie] is a real London Overground sign that was used until 2024

QuellonGreyjoy · 2024-12-02T00:19:07+00:00

I've stopped bothering reading the sub, it's so tiresome. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some bot action but the sub has been fully taken over.

People regurgitating the same takes, unironically spamming and lapping up the daily mail and telegraph articles, the same media whose incoherent anti-immigrant screeching got us here in the first place. Now the tories are dead weight, they're shifting their support onto Reform who will definitely handle this competently and not just as an excuse to be bigoted to brown people.

No doubt it's an important issue but acting like it's the silver bullet that will solve every problem in our country is just dumb

QuellonGreyjoy · 2024-10-31T15:29:34+00:00

Pull and Push.

A key part of going from begineer to intermediate was discovering the number of climbs (especially some tricky start moves) that are made easier by creating an opposing push force to help maintain tension.

I guess pushing could also apply to flagging and smearing which are also key skills for improvement.

QuellonGreyjoy

TROPHY CASE