GhostLad
@ghostlad.bsky.social
I play games and turn coffee into code.
Reposted by GhostLad
Written a short explainer on one of the most common and avoidable errors in election analysis at the moment: building conclusions on how voters are moving from vote change.
Share it with anyone who needs to see it, which includes an alarming number of people in Westminster.
Share it with anyone who needs to see it, which includes an alarming number of people in Westminster.
Avoid a basic election analysis error with this one neat trick…
Don't build conclusions on voter movements from change in aggregate vote share
dylandifford.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Written a short explainer on one of the most common and avoidable errors in election analysis at the moment: building conclusions on how voters are moving from vote change.
Share it with anyone who needs to see it, which includes an alarming number of people in Westminster.
Share it with anyone who needs to see it, which includes an alarming number of people in Westminster.
Reposted by GhostLad
It is extremely exciting to be goverened by people who literally do not understand how computer make beep.
“Don’t be silly, of course they wouldn’t try to ban VPNs”, they said…
UK government targets VPNs in online safety consultation as Lords vote for ban
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall promises "evidence-led" approach to keeping children safe online
www.techradar.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:48 AM
It is extremely exciting to be goverened by people who literally do not understand how computer make beep.
Reposted by GhostLad
A few days ago, I stood in the graveyard of an 1100 year old church, getting damper and damper in the drizzling rain.
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
January 23, 2026 at 11:44 AM
A few days ago, I stood in the graveyard of an 1100 year old church, getting damper and damper in the drizzling rain.
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
Reposted by GhostLad
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
Great piece on “airport book brain” - the tendency of politicians to swallow simplistic solutions. Latest example the Jonathan Haidt book shaping policy on teens and social media
Great piece on “airport book brain” - the tendency of politicians to swallow simplistic solutions. Latest example the Jonathan Haidt book shaping policy on teens and social media
January 23, 2026 at 8:50 AM
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
Great piece on “airport book brain” - the tendency of politicians to swallow simplistic solutions. Latest example the Jonathan Haidt book shaping policy on teens and social media
Great piece on “airport book brain” - the tendency of politicians to swallow simplistic solutions. Latest example the Jonathan Haidt book shaping policy on teens and social media
Reposted by GhostLad
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
January 21, 2026 at 9:38 AM
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
Then: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Because, come on??! Come for the music, art style and acting, stay because you are horribly sad about the trauma and want to give everyone a hug.
Now: Still that one.
Now: Still that one.
What was your favourite game at the end of 2025? I'm guessing your mind hasn't changed in the last ten days, but do say if it has
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't count. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't count. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
January 12, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Then: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Because, come on??! Come for the music, art style and acting, stay because you are horribly sad about the trauma and want to give everyone a hug.
Now: Still that one.
Now: Still that one.
Reposted by GhostLad
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Then: Lost Epoch. Loved the skill customization system.
Now: V Rising. Brilliant builder game with surprising staying power and variety in the long run.
Now: V Rising. Brilliant builder game with surprising staying power and variety in the long run.
Quote this with your favourite game from 2024, and whether that's changed from what you would have said a year ago
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
For a fuller refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations/early access/expansions count, remasters/ports don't. Remakes depend.
Two-way ties count.
For a fuller refresher: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
January 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Then: Lost Epoch. Loved the skill customization system.
Now: V Rising. Brilliant builder game with surprising staying power and variety in the long run.
Now: V Rising. Brilliant builder game with surprising staying power and variety in the long run.
Is it possible to have negative fucks to give? Because this lady clearly has achieved such a state. I am in awe.
January 8, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Is it possible to have negative fucks to give? Because this lady clearly has achieved such a state. I am in awe.
Reposted by GhostLad
You’ll be shocked to hear the “10.8 million families get their news from X” stat is…not correct!
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
January 7, 2026 at 7:32 AM
You’ll be shocked to hear the “10.8 million families get their news from X” stat is…not correct!
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Reposted by GhostLad
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
January 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
If there is an argument then this is the argument. But lol I can’t find where this obviously false stat is coming from. And if the government does believe more than half the families in the UK are using it as their primary news source then woah maybe time to up the scrutiny of it!
At the time, DA: Inquisition. Which I still rate and occasionally replay, but since then it has been eclipsed by The Elder Scrolls Online.
Maybe not entirely fair, seeing as ESO has evolved a lot and is not the same game as it was in 2014. But these days it gets more playtime than DAI.
Maybe not entirely fair, seeing as ESO has evolved a lot and is not the same game as it was in 2014. But these days it gets more playtime than DAI.
Quote this with what you would have said your game of the year was at the end of 2014, if you had one, and what you would say your favourite game of 2014 is now, if it differs
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
Localisations and early access count, remasters don't. Remakes depend
Refresher list: backloggd.com/games/lib/po...
December 19, 2025 at 10:03 AM
At the time, DA: Inquisition. Which I still rate and occasionally replay, but since then it has been eclipsed by The Elder Scrolls Online.
Maybe not entirely fair, seeing as ESO has evolved a lot and is not the same game as it was in 2014. But these days it gets more playtime than DAI.
Maybe not entirely fair, seeing as ESO has evolved a lot and is not the same game as it was in 2014. But these days it gets more playtime than DAI.
Reposted by GhostLad
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
Reposted by GhostLad
The thing is, this sort of discovery is really common in investigations because you have to be really familiar with a process to effectively trick it.
My favourite example? I was doing an investigation into fraudulent invoicing and went down to the records room to look for potential invoices.
My favourite example? I was doing an investigation into fraudulent invoicing and went down to the records room to look for potential invoices.
At last, a chance to repost my favourite ever font-related controversy with alt-text, now that Calibri is back in the news.
December 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The thing is, this sort of discovery is really common in investigations because you have to be really familiar with a process to effectively trick it.
My favourite example? I was doing an investigation into fraudulent invoicing and went down to the records room to look for potential invoices.
My favourite example? I was doing an investigation into fraudulent invoicing and went down to the records room to look for potential invoices.
Reposted by GhostLad
A brief response to Lisa Nandy, talking to @politicsjoe.bsky.social today about the trans community and the Supreme Court ruling.
December 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A brief response to Lisa Nandy, talking to @politicsjoe.bsky.social today about the trans community and the Supreme Court ruling.
Reposted by GhostLad
If you’re tired of explaining yourself and the misreporting of the Peggie tribunal to your lazy and ignorant friends save your energy and send them this.
open.substack.com/pub/ajustsoc...
open.substack.com/pub/ajustsoc...
When the Law Said No: How Gender Critical Arguments Failed in Court
A plain English guide to what the Peggie judgment actually decided
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
If you’re tired of explaining yourself and the misreporting of the Peggie tribunal to your lazy and ignorant friends save your energy and send them this.
open.substack.com/pub/ajustsoc...
open.substack.com/pub/ajustsoc...
🎶 It was an gritsy bitsy teeny wheeny yellow anti-slip machiney 🎶
(Shout out to Doncaster council who got in on the fun with the above name)
(Shout out to Doncaster council who got in on the fun with the above name)
December 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
🎶 It was an gritsy bitsy teeny wheeny yellow anti-slip machiney 🎶
(Shout out to Doncaster council who got in on the fun with the above name)
(Shout out to Doncaster council who got in on the fun with the above name)
Reposted by GhostLad
An independent taskforce *just* did a huge review of ADHD in England, and the conclusion was that it's "under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated."
www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/re...
www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/re...
NHS England » Report of the independent ADHD Taskforce: Part 1
April 2025
www.england.nhs.uk
December 4, 2025 at 12:48 AM
An independent taskforce *just* did a huge review of ADHD in England, and the conclusion was that it's "under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated."
www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/re...
www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/re...
Reposted by GhostLad
🌲 THE BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT THREAD! 🌲
If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with:
- pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!)
- a link or details on how people can buy
I will boost you!
Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄
If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with:
- pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!)
- a link or details on how people can buy
I will boost you!
Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🌲 THE BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT THREAD! 🌲
If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with:
- pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!)
- a link or details on how people can buy
I will boost you!
Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄
If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with:
- pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!)
- a link or details on how people can buy
I will boost you!
Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄
Reposted by GhostLad
NEW BLOGPOST
Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious?
thesecretbarrister.com/2025/12/02/a...
Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious?
thesecretbarrister.com/2025/12/02/a...
Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious?
Today, the government has confirmed that it intends to remove the right to trial by jury in the vast majority of cases in the Crown Courts. Serious criminal allegations, carrying up to three years …
thesecretbarrister.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
NEW BLOGPOST
Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious?
thesecretbarrister.com/2025/12/02/a...
Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious?
thesecretbarrister.com/2025/12/02/a...
Reposted by GhostLad
It's astoundingly bad. Like an encyclopedia of all the ways government screws up procurement all on the same project.
The British army wanted an armoured monster truck with a gun on it. £6 billion and 31 hospitalised soldiers later, they got one of the biggest procurement fuckups of all time defence-blog.com/insider-says...
Insider says only hull redesign can save British Ajax
The British Army’s troubled Ajax armoured fighting vehicle has returned to the centre of national criticism in recent days, after new noise-related injuries forced the suspension of training and sent ...
defence-blog.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
It's astoundingly bad. Like an encyclopedia of all the ways government screws up procurement all on the same project.
Reposted by GhostLad
A: Who gives a fuck apart from racists?
B: His figure is wrong. 71.2% of Glaswegian children speak English as their first language.
C: So that's 28.8% who speak it as a second and I'll bet you they speak brilliant English and that it's much better than most Reform voters I've met online.
B: His figure is wrong. 71.2% of Glaswegian children speak English as their first language.
C: So that's 28.8% who speak it as a second and I'll bet you they speak brilliant English and that it's much better than most Reform voters I've met online.
December 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
A: Who gives a fuck apart from racists?
B: His figure is wrong. 71.2% of Glaswegian children speak English as their first language.
C: So that's 28.8% who speak it as a second and I'll bet you they speak brilliant English and that it's much better than most Reform voters I've met online.
B: His figure is wrong. 71.2% of Glaswegian children speak English as their first language.
C: So that's 28.8% who speak it as a second and I'll bet you they speak brilliant English and that it's much better than most Reform voters I've met online.
The problem with the courts are manifold and known. Juries are not what is holding up the show. Would be nice if the government would just listen to evidence rather than go for headlines and savings.
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
December 2, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The problem with the courts are manifold and known. Juries are not what is holding up the show. Would be nice if the government would just listen to evidence rather than go for headlines and savings.
Reposted by GhostLad
Just to actually address some things that are driving me mad:
The government has pledged to bring down immigration and is relying on higher migration to make its budgets work.
They have reduced tax incentives for saving in pension schemes whilst perceiving those schemes as engines of investment.
The government has pledged to bring down immigration and is relying on higher migration to make its budgets work.
They have reduced tax incentives for saving in pension schemes whilst perceiving those schemes as engines of investment.
There is an actual interesting little deceit in the budget, namely ther have the OBR still forecasting based on increasing net immigration back to 300-350k whilst the Home Secretary is promising to bring it down from 200k, which does dissolve about half the headroom, but somehow we're doing vibes.
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
December 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Just to actually address some things that are driving me mad:
The government has pledged to bring down immigration and is relying on higher migration to make its budgets work.
They have reduced tax incentives for saving in pension schemes whilst perceiving those schemes as engines of investment.
The government has pledged to bring down immigration and is relying on higher migration to make its budgets work.
They have reduced tax incentives for saving in pension schemes whilst perceiving those schemes as engines of investment.