Charles W. Stewart

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 3d

This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace

Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?

www.theatlantic.com

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · 13d

Called in to my local [insert brand of car] main dealer to book a service. Lady at reception told me I could only do it by phone. She did offer me a seat while I phoned the actual building I was in.

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 13d

We went to a Parisian museum the other day where the staff could only check tickets but not sell tickets so we had to buy them on our phones outside in the rain (and of course you had to create an account etc etc) and I really thought I was going crazy.

Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 14d

today in We Live In The Future And The Future Is Stupid: went to a pub to inquire about a potential room booking but the staff aren't allowed to process those in person so I am now sitting in the pub, writing them an email to inquire about a potential room booking

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 13d

We went to a Parisian museum the other day where the staff could only check tickets but not sell tickets so we had to buy them on our phones outside in the rain (and of course you had to create an account etc etc) and I really thought I was going crazy.

Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 14d

today in We Live In The Future And The Future Is Stupid: went to a pub to inquire about a potential room booking but the staff aren't allowed to process those in person so I am now sitting in the pub, writing them an email to inquire about a potential room booking

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · 13d

Ha ha! Personally I wouldn't, I think it's cooler to just help, bit maybe that's just me. It's quite likely she will realise (or has already realised) for herself.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · 29d

Article doesn't refer to his thinking. Times just says desk "was later returned, as Bell received a refund and instead submitted an Ikea receipt for £1,056, including three desks at £150 each". DM (on which Times piece is based) says "days later". Here's DM. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Minister behind Labour's mansion tax spends £900 on a desk

Torsten Bell also charged taxpayers £600 for three chairs for his office and claimed more than £200 on his Parliamentary expenses for professional help to assemble the furniture.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · 29d

The headline (accidentally, I'm sure) omits to say that he returned the £900 desk after a few days and bought three £150 desks from Ikea instead. But "Bell DIDN'T spend £900 on a desk" wouldn't be a story, would it.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 24

Agreed. I'm not saying that the bill is not mad in numerous respects (including Syrians issue), just that there may be wriggle room for Cons on the specific point of social protection without withdrawing or amending. And yes, it's reasonable to infer that everything is in until they say otherwise.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 24

I'm sorry to bang on about this, but they wouldn't striclty need to amend the bill. The FT summary is inaccurate. The full wording: "where “social protection” is defined according to the Treasury’s Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, *subject to any further definition by immigration rules*"

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 24

Agreed - accuracy is important, not least because inaccuracy can be attacked, but parsing the detail makes little difference to that central point.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 24

This is an eye-catching statistic. We need to move to PR in some form. (Confession - as a non-subscriber I haven't read the full piece. Not because I don't rate Sam's writing - I very much do - but I subscribe to too many things already).

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 23

Thanks, hadn't see that. In that case, isn't the position
-the drafting would permit, in theory, a carve-out for pensions
-in a March speech Lam indicated pensions would be included
- LOTO has just said they wouldn't.
Result: actual position unclear?

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 23

Not to say the bill isn't mad - it is - but not strictly correct, I think, to say it's untrue of the bill as drafted. That clause specifically permits modification of the definition of 'social protection'. So in theory (and Cons could argue) state pension could be excluded under the bill as drafted.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 17

Iceland. Needless to say, it wasn't.

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · Oct 14

"We always think about America’s postwar role in Europe as an act of great generosity, the defense of allies from Soviet aggression. But by putting democracy at the center of our international identity, we also helped strengthen our own political system"
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

The Beacon of Democracy Goes Dark

For nearly 250 years, America promoted freedom and equality abroad, even when it failed to live up to those ideals itself. Not anymore.

www.theatlantic.com

Kristina Šekrst @epiphenomenal.bsky.social · Oct 11

Accurate.

#academia #academy #philsky #philosophysky #philosophy #science

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 10

Ah yes, Goldman Sachs. Some of us are old enough to remember this fabulously reassuring report telling everyone to calm down

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Oct 3

Yarvin was extraordinary. And not in a good way. I had, (fortunately) never heard of him before. As one of the panel (McEvoy?) observed, his ideas were essentially a 'gameified discourse'. Not worthy of serious consideration in my view. And delivered in an irritatingly patronising way.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 21

That's bin night for me too. It's a bit annoying not to know the exact time the rapture gig is supposed to get going. I might leave it until say 10pm to put them out. Pretty much a win-win bet unless it turns out to be a late kick-off.

Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · Sep 19

Please consult your outrage calendars for the correct type of fury to display, everyone.

I want you all to be limbering up for poppy outrage, just a few weeks away now.

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 16

Reminds me of Lenny Henry's line: "Enoch Powell says he wants to give me £1,000 to go back to where I came from. Which is great, because it’s only 20 pence on the bus from here to Dudley."

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 15

Truth is irrelevant to those Down The Rabbithole. The only thing that matters is whether it supports the desired narrative. See also: posting/failing to delete posts shown irrefutably to be AI generated/images from a completely different time or place or conflict than the one claimed, etc

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 14

Yep, Valencia is another amazing Spanish city!

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 14

Contested, I'm sure, and complicated, but with a good deal of underlying truth, I think. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convive...

Convivencia - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convivencia#:~:text=Jerrilynn%20Dodds%20references%20this%20concept,or%20“attacked%20each%20other.”

Charles Stewart @charlescharles.bsky.social · Sep 14

True. There were large Jewish quarters in many Spanish cities including Cordoba and Seville until Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 by Catholic co-rulers Ferdinand and Isabella

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