Interesting Links for 03-07-2024

1. JK Rowling asks for examples of her spreading hate. Goes oddly quiet when presented with a list

(tags:jkrowling bigotry transgender LGBT )

2. I am shocked to discover that anti-trans Telegraph writer Nina Power, who regularly defended JK Rowling, turns out to be a literal Neo-Nazi

(tags:nazis jkrowling transgender lgbt bigotry telegraph OhForFucksSake )

3. All I want for Christmas is a negative leap second

(tags:time space earth )

4. Study finds hybrid work benefits companies and employees

(tags:work office homes )

5. Sandman casting announcement. Including characters from Season of Mists, A Game Of You, a couple of one-shots, and (surprisingly) Brief Lives.

I didn't think we'd be seeing Jack Gleeson come back to acting!
(tags:sandman acting )

My election recommendations

Labour are going to walk the election tomorrow. Every poll has shown this for months. It's not going to be anywhere near close. The final predictions are out, and it's a rout.

So, my recommendations are as follows.

First, open the link above, and then the spreadsheet at the bottom. Find your constituency. There's been a lot of movement, but you can check with your postcode here.

Look across to the WinnerGE2024 and SecondGE2024 columns, and also the Winner margin. If the margin is 5% or less then you're definitely in a marginal - the winner could easily change based on margin of error. Under 10% if you want to be really safe.

And then, my recommendations are as follows:

1) If you're living in a marginal with the Conservatives (or Reform) are in first or second: Vote for whoever might beat them. If we can push the Conservatives in to third place then that will be an amazing achievement, and utterly transform the next parliament. It's unlikely, but it's within the bounds of possibility. Imagine Labour being questioned by the Lib Dems at every question time rather than the Conservatives. Imagine if the attacks are from their left. That's something worth striving for.

2) If you're living outside of a marginal, or where neither Reform or the Conservatives are in the top 2: Help the minor parties grow. Labour have a manifesto full of austerity, and will take votes for them as a mandate for that. Send a message that this is not what you support. The Greens, Plaid Cymru, the SNP, and the Lib Dems all have more progressive manifestos than Labour. The more the smaller parties grow this time, the better placed they are to build on that next time. Help your favoured party either win a seat or grow their share to help attract more people for next time.