Dr Stylite
@columnist.bsky.social
‘The view from the column is ever distant’
Is everyone completely missing the point that the formal approval of the Mercosur deal will be delayed (bad) but it’s provisional implementation will still go ahead? AIUI.
January 21, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Is everyone completely missing the point that the formal approval of the Mercosur deal will be delayed (bad) but it’s provisional implementation will still go ahead? AIUI.
FYI
European Parliament defers EU - Mercosur agreement to the Court of Justice.
This is not good news, but it does not "freeze" the deal. Provisional application kicks in once one or more Mercosur states have notified the EU of their agreement to do so.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
This is not good news, but it does not "freeze" the deal. Provisional application kicks in once one or more Mercosur states have notified the EU of their agreement to do so.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
EU-Mercosur trade deal referred to Court of Justice
After clearing major political hurdles after more than two decades, the mammoth trade deal now faces further delay pending a judicial verdict. #EuropeNews
www.euronews.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:06 PM
FYI
Reposted by Dr Stylite
people often wonder why we have a cost of living crisis
some seem to have forgotten Nigel Farage admitting before Brexit that Britain becoming poorer was a reasonable price for leaving the EU
some seem to have forgotten Nigel Farage admitting before Brexit that Britain becoming poorer was a reasonable price for leaving the EU
January 21, 2026 at 12:02 PM
people often wonder why we have a cost of living crisis
some seem to have forgotten Nigel Farage admitting before Brexit that Britain becoming poorer was a reasonable price for leaving the EU
some seem to have forgotten Nigel Farage admitting before Brexit that Britain becoming poorer was a reasonable price for leaving the EU
Hmmmmmm
However, there’s a paradox here — the greater the expression of the certainty of that authority, the more belief in that authority becomes uncertain due to the enhanced attention paid to action and foundation
January 20, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Hmmmmmm
Reposted by Dr Stylite
suffice it to say I am now in the market for good plumber recommendations in the Tower Hamlets or Hackney area, DM at will
January 20, 2026 at 12:56 PM
suffice it to say I am now in the market for good plumber recommendations in the Tower Hamlets or Hackney area, DM at will
Reposted by Dr Stylite
I ask with no optimism whatsoever but - hope springs eternal, I guess - just in case: if someone needed to have a decent but not extortionate dinner in Paris either near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est or (lmao) between Pyramides and Bourse, where.......would one go?
January 20, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I ask with no optimism whatsoever but - hope springs eternal, I guess - just in case: if someone needed to have a decent but not extortionate dinner in Paris either near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est or (lmao) between Pyramides and Bourse, where.......would one go?
Reposted by Dr Stylite
Thanks to @columnist.bsky.social for drawing me attention to this place in Somerset House. Never had boiled peanuts before which are rather good if messy. And anywhere which has good sparkling water gets my vote...
January 20, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Thanks to @columnist.bsky.social for drawing me attention to this place in Somerset House. Never had boiled peanuts before which are rather good if messy. And anywhere which has good sparkling water gets my vote...
Would be interesting if there was someone in this place who does FX hedging for corporates who could tell us what activity is like given current events
January 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Would be interesting if there was someone in this place who does FX hedging for corporates who could tell us what activity is like given current events
Authoritarianism is a form of radical certainty — in three respects.
1. The certainty of command
2. The certainty of obedience
And, crucially…
3. The belief in the certainty of that authority
1. The certainty of command
2. The certainty of obedience
And, crucially…
3. The belief in the certainty of that authority
January 20, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Authoritarianism is a form of radical certainty — in three respects.
1. The certainty of command
2. The certainty of obedience
And, crucially…
3. The belief in the certainty of that authority
1. The certainty of command
2. The certainty of obedience
And, crucially…
3. The belief in the certainty of that authority
I guess you can’t have an emergency press conference ever day?
January 20, 2026 at 7:28 AM
I guess you can’t have an emergency press conference ever day?
It’s a very mini holiday but we’re off with some friends this weekend to the fête de Saint Vincent in Burgundy, an annual celebration of wine (fertility etc) which involves vast amounts of wine drinking and thousands of drunk French people.
I need a break in the bad news. Where are you going on holiday's this year?
I've so far got Bilbao, Rhodes (which I haven't been to since I was a kid) and Naples for a wedding later this year.
I've so far got Bilbao, Rhodes (which I haven't been to since I was a kid) and Naples for a wedding later this year.
January 19, 2026 at 7:39 PM
It’s a very mini holiday but we’re off with some friends this weekend to the fête de Saint Vincent in Burgundy, an annual celebration of wine (fertility etc) which involves vast amounts of wine drinking and thousands of drunk French people.
This pops up a little more than occasionally!
yup. Basically, the "EU" is a tool. Does what its political masters say. If the far-right is dominant, it is wielded in a far-right way
A category error that there is less of in UK debate now but still pops up occasionally as relic of 2010s Brexit debate is the claim that European integration is by default a liberal project
In reality EU resilience rests on how aspects of it have an appeal to every part of the ideological spectrum
In reality EU resilience rests on how aspects of it have an appeal to every part of the ideological spectrum
January 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM
This pops up a little more than occasionally!
Did I mention that I went to the foot consultant who said I either had a small stress fracture or some kinda tendinitis?
MRI to follow this week.
Anyway he said, Have you tried running on it, And I was like, What kind of an idiot do you think I am?
Anyway I’ve now run on it and it’s OK!!
MRI to follow this week.
Anyway he said, Have you tried running on it, And I was like, What kind of an idiot do you think I am?
Anyway I’ve now run on it and it’s OK!!
January 19, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Did I mention that I went to the foot consultant who said I either had a small stress fracture or some kinda tendinitis?
MRI to follow this week.
Anyway he said, Have you tried running on it, And I was like, What kind of an idiot do you think I am?
Anyway I’ve now run on it and it’s OK!!
MRI to follow this week.
Anyway he said, Have you tried running on it, And I was like, What kind of an idiot do you think I am?
Anyway I’ve now run on it and it’s OK!!
Dry January? In this global security situation?
January 19, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Dry January? In this global security situation?
This seems quite a big move
UK (Scotland), Survation poll:
Independence referendum
Yes: 50% (+1)
No: 50% (-1)
+/- vs. 2-5 May 2025
Fieldwork: 08-12 January 2026
Sample size: 1,003
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
Independence referendum
Yes: 50% (+1)
No: 50% (-1)
+/- vs. 2-5 May 2025
Fieldwork: 08-12 January 2026
Sample size: 1,003
➤ europeelects.eu/uk
January 19, 2026 at 11:18 AM
This seems quite a big move
When the going gets tough…the tough make conceptual art work (of which this will be an input).
January 19, 2026 at 10:59 AM
When the going gets tough…the tough make conceptual art work (of which this will be an input).
Merovingian, Carolingian or Aetheling, choose your medieval dynasty
January 19, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Merovingian, Carolingian or Aetheling, choose your medieval dynasty
It’s all going a bit Charlemagne
January 19, 2026 at 8:12 AM
It’s all going a bit Charlemagne
Reposted by Dr Stylite
For some reason, it feels like a good time to remind everyone of the fable of The Wolf and the Lamb and what it might tell us about the relationship between power / might and law / rationality.
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
January 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
For some reason, it feels like a good time to remind everyone of the fable of The Wolf and the Lamb and what it might tell us about the relationship between power / might and law / rationality.
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
For some reason, it feels like a good time to remind everyone of the fable of The Wolf and the Lamb and what it might tell us about the relationship between power / might and law / rationality.
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
January 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
For some reason, it feels like a good time to remind everyone of the fable of The Wolf and the Lamb and what it might tell us about the relationship between power / might and law / rationality.
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
The screenshots below are from the original Jean de La Fontaine* edition via Gallica.
*Top fable guy
I agree with this! That said…the one persistent theme is higher education considered on a transactional basis. For fairly obvious reasons, once HE is thought of as transactional it becomes prone to various forms of volatility.
I actually disagree with this pretty profoundly, I think the surface read of UK higher education policy for at least a decade going on more is a series of messy compromises that satisfy no party because successive regimes flail and aren't quite willing to devote time / political capital to the topic
I’m not a conspiratorial person, but it’s hard not to see an overarching plan behind what’s been done to UK higher education.
January 18, 2026 at 5:22 PM
I agree with this! That said…the one persistent theme is higher education considered on a transactional basis. For fairly obvious reasons, once HE is thought of as transactional it becomes prone to various forms of volatility.
Reposted by Dr Stylite
If current trends continue, Bluesky drinks for econ/politics/finance/sciency people on Wed 11 Feb is going to look like this. DM me for the North London pub venue... around 50 coming so far.
January 18, 2026 at 12:45 PM
If current trends continue, Bluesky drinks for econ/politics/finance/sciency people on Wed 11 Feb is going to look like this. DM me for the North London pub venue... around 50 coming so far.
Anyone Paris based interested?
Do a Paris one
January 17, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Anyone Paris based interested?
In Paris fine dining news an excellent lunch at Cypsele - very new, very modern, very tasty, beautiful room, exquisite details, v well priced (€€€€) vs quality, charming and passionate chef and front of house jv.
@donnad.bsky.social
@marinaoloughlin.bsky.social
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
@donnad.bsky.social
@marinaoloughlin.bsky.social
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 8:14 PM
In Paris fine dining news an excellent lunch at Cypsele - very new, very modern, very tasty, beautiful room, exquisite details, v well priced (€€€€) vs quality, charming and passionate chef and front of house jv.
@donnad.bsky.social
@marinaoloughlin.bsky.social
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
@donnad.bsky.social
@marinaoloughlin.bsky.social
@jayrayner1.bsky.social
