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Reposted by David Cottam

Dr. Jonathan N. Stea @jonathanstea.bsky.social · 8h

Brandolini’s Law (also known as the bullshit asymmetry principle):

The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.

H/t @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social

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Reposted by David Cottam

Ben Goldacre @bengoldacre.bsky.social · Aug 12

Lots of these problems are better solved with an annual property value tax, like US states do, ~1-2% per year. We could let people defer it against their house if they wish, taken at death. Can't be dodged: the house is there. And progressive: the rich pay more www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Treasury targeting inheritance tax reforms to help plug UK deficit

Exclusive: Chancellor also looking at tweaks to capital gains tax to try to bridge £40bn-plus spending gap before budget

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Cottam

Ben Goldacre @bengoldacre.bsky.social · 2d

Here's a mediocre idea for a webapp or twitter bot: "Is It Just Me Or Are The Trains Crap". You tell it the train you're on, and how late it is; you get, in return, contextual information about how unusual that is.

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 20h

The great Ben Goldacre! I remember his books when he was making the case for the full release of research data to remove selection bias . He was such an important voice on the public understanding of science. What’s he doing now?

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 23h

Just a reminder for those easily distracted..

Frank Bascombe @frankbascombe.bsky.social · 2d

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 1d

music.apple.com/gb/album/tom...
For those who need inspiration to withstand tyranny, Dick Gaughan sings about Tom Paine, one of the fathers of the American Revolution.

Tom Paine's Bones by Dick Gaughan on Apple Music

Song · 2001 · Duration 3:45

music.apple.com

David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 1d

They’re waiting to make sure that creep, Farage, doesn’t put a spanner in the works before making a move.

David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 1d

With two, and a sharp knife, you could pare a pair of pears 🍐 🍐

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Reposted by David Cottam

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · 1d

Nigel Farage fiddled his EU parliamentary expenses, failed to declare political donations, tried to avoid tax through an offshore trust fund & said he greatly admires Putin.

Clearly not a man who'd have anything to do with Russian bribes as taken by his close associate Nathan Gill.

Leeds for Europe @leedseurope.bsky.social · 3d

“This is most definitely not a fringe political scandal. It is a direct admission that Russian-aligned money penetrated Farage’s immediate orbit during a pivotal chapter in Brexit.”

Reform's Russian 'asset' - the Kremlin shadow over Nigel Farage | Searchlight

Nathan Gill - Russian asset On 26 September, former Welsh Brexit Party MEP and Reform UK official Nathan Gill pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight coun ...

searchlightmagazine.com

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 2d

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 2d

The plot thickens!

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 2d

He will have to inaugurate a Big Beautiful Trump Prize, (shaped like a golden toilet- “for services to autocracy and corruption” ) and award it to himself.
He can put it with the rest of his vulgar golden crap and show it off to visitors.

David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 2d

He’s a desperate little nonentity trying to make his mark in a moribund party. It’s dying because the last few decent tories were kicked out by Johnson , taking many of their voters with them. Jenrick would make a pact with Farage if he thought it would save his seat.

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Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 2d

Am wondering if all of those suddenly deciding they’re against communities living “parallel lives” might reconsider their support of religious schools? Or indeed private ones?

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Reposted by David Cottam

Heather e^-1/x^2 @heathermoandco.bsky.social · 3d

#NigelFarage (surprise!) lied about his ties to paid Putin stooge, #NathanGill.

Kremlin influence operations just keep turning up around Farage. 🤔🧐

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t... #ReformUK

Article by @peterjukes.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...

bylinetimes.com

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 3d

If he lacks the expertise, he should shut his gob and get someone qualified to present the evidence. That’s why research is conducted in double blind clinical trials by highly trained scientists and then peer reviewed. Someone should tell him that he’s not qualified so STFU.

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Reposted by David Cottam

David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 3d

Reform-led Kent county council is set to increase council tax next year. It's almost as if the 'wasteful local authority spending' Farage keeps banging on about isn't really a thing.

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Reposted by David Cottam

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · 3d

In other news, Robbie Gibb, former spin doctor for a Tory PM, former editorial adviser to GB News, & leader of the consortium that bought the Jewish Chronicle in 2020, is still responsible for "upholding the editorial independence of the BBC".

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Reposted by David Cottam

Anthony Glees @anthonyglees.bsky.social · 3d

It sounds trite to say Putin & Russian supporters have no right to rob this beautiful girl of her life but that’s the truth. They don’t have that right & we must put him ban in his box www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-n...

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 3d

To the Shitehouse?

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Reposted by David Cottam

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · 3d

Obviously *nothing* fishy about the financial relationship between Nigel Farage & his close friend George Cottrell (convicted fraudster & author of "How to Launder Money").

I'm sure they're both "honest as the day is long", as Farage said of his chum Nathan Gill. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Tax authorities examine finances of key Nigel Farage ally

Exclusive: HMRC conducts scoping exercise into Reform UK backer ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s income from business and wealth

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Cottam

BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 3d

Greta Thunberg “I'm not scared of Israel. I’m scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity.”

Stand with Greta, stand with humanity.

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 3d

Who’s going to headline on karaoke night now that Thérèse Coffey has departed and Andrea Jenkyns has embraced Reform?
Will Kemi sing,”I Will Survive” or a maudlin version of
“I want a little Sugar in my Bowl,
I want a little sweetness down in my soul…
Maybe I can fix things up so they’ll go..”

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David Cottam @davidcottam6.bsky.social · 3d

Even Sir Les Patterson had more class
than Abbott.

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Reposted by David Cottam

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 3d

We had this rule in fringe, where if the total number of punters in that night was smaller than the combined cast and crew, you offered a refund or a ticket for a busier night.

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 3d

Tory Conference debate on free speech. You see? Sometimes being "cancelled" is a mercy.

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