Sign in

Simon Hawthorn

@simon.insanity.tube
479 followers 348 following 3.3K posts

Public transport major infrastructure sponsor (for my sins), mountain walker and lapsed archer, ex-charity director, Autistic & ADHD. Unreformed kayaker. Atypical podcaster. Democracy author. Might try and do some more travel soon! He/They 🏳️‍🌈

PostsRepliesMedia
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 01/10/2026
No no no, you don't understand. It's a great idea and that's exactly why DfT are looking at doing it again for a certain large station. It'll be great and perfect and there will be no issues or extra costs or anything! *Probably
010
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 28/09/2026
One day I'll actually attend rather than assign my proxy vote to one of our mutual friends.
100
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Alexander Louis Sallons @sallonsax.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
How does Green Party Conference work? You asked, I answered. Full video live now.
494
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 28/09/2026
Wait, conference works?! 😆
100
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 28/09/2026
That's 12 years of Dutch level investment in cycle infrastructure as well. Or a tram network for a medium sized city. Or electrification for a sizeable portion of the UK rail network
010
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 25/09/2026
If you promise to push for more trams I'll vote for you tomorrow!
020
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Lyra @8bitblackmage.co.uk · 24/09/2026
"NHS Impose requirement to live in your desired neurotype for 2 years before being able to seek treatment"
Screenshot of Guardian Article headline reading: "NHS bodies in England impose two-year minimum wait for ADHD and Autism assessments"
1930183
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
🐺Cold🪦Sam🪾 @pdfmerchant.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
[pulls up next to you in an unrated 14-gun brig-rigged sloop] get in loser. oceans are battlefields
413422
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Alexander Lane @aalaneuk.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Goddamnit, this world sucks.
021
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 23/09/2026
Calling it now, there will be a plethora of mods that come flooding out to block this insane and terrible idea.
150
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Franchesca Ramsey @chescaleigh.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“you still got my support, but you gotta do something” 🐆💀
25563158
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 23/09/2026
I have accidentally added diced frozen peppers to mine in the past without really noticing until the next morning. Certainly an odd combination!
000
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Jon Owen @anotherjon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Awesome.
041
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 22/09/2026
But but but northern Kier likes busses and ....*empty gestures by weirdly Mandelson adjacent/aligned types on the right side of the party*
000
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 22/09/2026
Oh god ... A friend (only works overnight) makes a joke about being a nighthawk. I send a picture of a certain Edward Hopper painting "What's that?" *Sigh*
040
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
saw this on Instagram and it so perfectly encapsulated my rage
seravph
being so fr when I say that transmisogyny has put feminism back like 50 years

seravph
what i thought we had distanced ourselves from was the reduction of women to vaginas and wombs and the ability to bear children. i thought we had progressed past 'dresses are for women and pants are for men. i thought we progressed past the idea that someone is less of a woman if she does not adhere strictly to beauty standards. i thought we progressed past the idea that naturally being comfortable adhering to highly feminine standards is vulgar. but i (sarcastically) guess no one could have predicted that trans-exclusive feminism would be the downfall of all the progress we've made
455791684
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Smooth Dunk @smoothdunk2.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
when ai leaves u behind
7 panel comic.

Panel 1:
A Red Guy with AI across his chest looks like he’s about to run away. A Yellow Guy stands next to him. Red Guy says “I’m the future, buddy. You comin’?”
Yellow Guy replies “Nah”

Panel 2: 
Red Guy is almost out of the panel. He leans in and says “Enjoy getting left behind, pal”
Yellow Guy replies “ok”

Panel 3:
Yellow Guy stands alone.

Panel 4: 
Close up on Yellow Guy, there is a quiet “huff-huff-huff” noise coming from behind him

Panel 5:
Yellow Guy turns to look behind him

Panel 6: 
Close up on Yellow Guy’s face as if from the point of view of an attacker.
Yellow Guy yells “Jesus Christ”

Panel 7:
AI Red Guy is now chasing the Yellow Guy. 
Red Guy: “Use me”
Yellow Guy “No”
Red Guy “USE ME”
75259759740
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Swathes of UK economy are owned by foreign investors. No tax is deducted from billions paid to them in dividends. USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden have a dividend withholding tax for foreign investors. UK could do the same, generate billions. Why are super-rich privileged?
leftfootforward.org
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
34755356
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Sarah Andersen @sarahseeandersen.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The image is of a four panel comic.
The first panel shows a brain. The brain is saying "I'm 30 and YOUNG! I only recently fully developed!"
The second panel shows a heart. The heart says "I hear ya! I can keep going for DECADES more!"
The third panel shows a spine's face. It weakly says, "I am old".
We zoom out and the spine is using a walker. It continues, "so very old".
101141772774
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 18/09/2026
XKCD in their last video
100
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026
Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!
180140616476
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 18/09/2026
Helicopter parenting, not a great feeling for the 19 year old I am sure.
020
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 18/09/2026
@wolfp.bsky.social I am skeptical on this
A still from an XKCD video that reads "Toasters beat freezers" "But wolves beat toasters"
120
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 18/09/2026
I ended up reporting issues to the GMC ethics committee, raised complaints with the ICO, contacted the equality lead for NHS London and quoted NICE, GMC and NHS standards at length and it was still an uphill battle.
041
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 18/09/2026
Probably because of the rampant misuse, whenever I read/hear the words "legitimate concerns" what I hear is "I'm a bigot and have horrific views"
041
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 17/09/2026
This sounds rather like it is edging closer to outright terrorism no? www.cps.gov.uk/types-crime/...
cps.gov.uk
Terrorism | The Crown Prosecution Service
051
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
The Typist @typist.eurosky.social · 17/09/2026
Le Pen confirms that, if elected, she will withdraw France financial support to Ukraine. A reminder that Marine Le Pen has a history of ties with Russia, including receiving a €9 million loan from a Russian bank for her 2017 presidential campaign and previously defending Russia's actions in Crimea.
49550
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 17/09/2026
I mean I usually take about that, but that's just a long ingrained habit more than anything else. Would rather industry and private commercial companies try and cut their usage. And that the water companies get seized as a public asset and the strippers get sent a bill for the last couple decades...
010
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 17/09/2026
Depends where you are. At a festival in Switzerland in the summer, that would be an absolute steal. In a work canteen, that's steep!
110
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Georgia Harper @mindtheflap.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
With the final report of the autism, ADHD and mental health review expected soon, here's a reminder of what their interim report actually said. We, as a community, helped bury this by giving all our attention to a misleading Times headline on publication day instead. Let's not do that again.
1124
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 17/09/2026
Harold is being cut down with a sword
010
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 15/09/2026
They would need to go on state assistance first, just to get into Rand's headspace
010
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Political party opposed to the European Convention on Human Rights minded to rely on the European Convention on Human Rights before the the European Court of Human Rights.
12329138
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I’m just a person on my fucking knees begging the government to use its absolutely massive majority to do something extremely fucking popular: save our democracy.
792175499
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 13/09/2026
It's what encouraged me to go off and do archaeology at first A Level and then at degree. I never followed it on, but my friend @t-elliot.bsky.social went on to do a LOT more in the field. Literally in some cases.
011
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Adrienne Fichter @adfichter.eurosky.social · 12/09/2026
#enshittification
04311
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 11/09/2026
I see you are in Bilbao ;-)
000
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 10/09/2026
Do you know what would create and support many thousands more jobs and be better for the country? Proper electrification.... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleet
The government says the work will support thousands of jobs across the UK.
041
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 10/09/2026
(Takes '500 Miles' off the dance playlist) (And yes, I've put it into DJ sets before, it works) (But, you know, fuck transphobia and all that)
741749295
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 08/09/2026
It would be illogical to ignore this need.
010
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 08/09/2026
New* (returning) hehe
011
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 08/09/2026
Now I've been home a day or so and had a chance to catch up on my logs, if you want to check out the routes I took my TrainLog list is here: trainlog.me/public/tag/a... It even makes a pretty map now as well!
Map showing Simon's travel during the interrail event listed out in the thread
030
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The AfD and Reform immigration policies are almost identical. There is no plausible reason for considering one far right and the other not.
642896902
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
Pathing and staffing I'd guess
110
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
We arrived into St Pancras almost five minutes early, which means if I am swift and the Victoria is kind, I might be able to pick up a train home from Vauxhall. But, I think I'll end the thread here. If you've followed me and friends on this Interrail shenanigan and we've inspired you, then do it!
Roof of St Pancras Eurostar train under the glass roof of St Pancras
050
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
Day ten - the long and somewhat circuitous journey home bsky.app/profile/simo...
120
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
Day nine - a bit of a gentle one with borders, swimming and boats and raclette. bsky.app/profile/simo...
100
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
RER A turned up, a wait at Châtelet les Halles and then RER B. The D had a 27 minute wait... And then the faff of the registration kiosks which oddly do not have a UK button despite that being the only destination. Anyway, managed to get onboard 9O63, an e320 to whisk me back to STP
Gare du Nord Hall Two View down to the trains
210
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
Hmm. Running at +15 or so. And it looks like the RER is running with some what random headways. Might make getting to Nord in time for Eurostar a little tight.
110
Simon Hawthorn @simon.insanity.tube · 06/09/2026
Time to submit ourselves to the ... Experience that is TGV Lyria. Aboard an Alston built duel voltage duplex train.
A TGV Lyria duplex train.
110