Iain Alexander
@iaingalexander.bsky.social
That’s actually the plot of Hotel California by the Eagles. Where have you been, Clive?
I’d be inclined to give them a modicum of credit, in spite of everything else, if it hadn’t taken them nearly full year and a half to do this.
As it it? What, you want a hearty slap on the back for finally doing the bare minimum, the thing that should have been action one on day one?
Nah.
As it it? What, you want a hearty slap on the back for finally doing the bare minimum, the thing that should have been action one on day one?
Nah.
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I’d be inclined to give them a modicum of credit, in spite of everything else, if it hadn’t taken them nearly full year and a half to do this.
As it it? What, you want a hearty slap on the back for finally doing the bare minimum, the thing that should have been action one on day one?
Nah.
As it it? What, you want a hearty slap on the back for finally doing the bare minimum, the thing that should have been action one on day one?
Nah.
Reposted by Iain Alexander
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Reposted by Iain Alexander
No, ChatGPT is not conscious. Are the journalists who keep writing these fucking articles?
November 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
No, ChatGPT is not conscious. Are the journalists who keep writing these fucking articles?
Reposted by Iain Alexander
I've said it before but trial by jury is actually one of the few major objective good cultural wins liberalism can claim as a direct result of its rise and not a coopting of other movements.
So naturally they're working to dumpster it ASAP as soon as capital demands it.
So naturally they're working to dumpster it ASAP as soon as capital demands it.
Bit of a test case here for “is liberalism still a real thing, or is it just a political version of a collection of Labubus that you show off to your friends” IMO.
![NEW: The Government is set to scrap trial by
jury for most cases
Only murder, rape, manslaughter and a few public interest cases will go to a jury, while all other cases will be decided by a single judge
[@thetimes]
13:44 • 25/11/2025 • 395K Views
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The move will be highly controversial. Senior criminal justice figures have already described the plan as "the biggest assault on our system of liberty in 800 years"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5hyjbx4hnlxe5il24ydnn4sr/bafkreight7vricfo6wq76slatkvbmacfvpyq5t3lznlt27oanyqu2g4lk4@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I've said it before but trial by jury is actually one of the few major objective good cultural wins liberalism can claim as a direct result of its rise and not a coopting of other movements.
So naturally they're working to dumpster it ASAP as soon as capital demands it.
So naturally they're working to dumpster it ASAP as soon as capital demands it.
When all the Sensibles gleefully said that this Labour government would use its stonking majority and the whip system to force through pretty much anything for the long-term good of the country, no matter how bad the short-term unpopularity, this was the sort of thing they had in mind, yes?
Bit of a test case here for “is liberalism still a real thing, or is it just a political version of a collection of Labubus that you show off to your friends” IMO.
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
When all the Sensibles gleefully said that this Labour government would use its stonking majority and the whip system to force through pretty much anything for the long-term good of the country, no matter how bad the short-term unpopularity, this was the sort of thing they had in mind, yes?
Reposted by Iain Alexander
Today I learned that stalking a 17 year old girl, writing up a 400 page 'dossier' about her, falsely reporting her to the police and smashing her phone does not constitute 'harassment'.
One wonders what *would*.
One wonders what *would*.
Graham Linehan cleared of harassment but guilty of criminal damage to trans activist's phone
Graham Linehan cleared of harassment but guilty of criminal damage to trans activist's phone
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has been found guilty of criminal damage to the phone of a trans activist but not guilty of harassment.
news.sky.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Today I learned that stalking a 17 year old girl, writing up a 400 page 'dossier' about her, falsely reporting her to the police and smashing her phone does not constitute 'harassment'.
One wonders what *would*.
One wonders what *would*.
Due impartiality means not showing bias towards to independent media outlet you lift a story from over any others by naming them
I guess it’s a compliment that the top story on BBC London’s TV/online output today is a direct lift of a month-old London Centric story? But once again the BBC is consistently the worst news outlet for actually remembering to credit others.
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Due impartiality means not showing bias towards to independent media outlet you lift a story from over any others by naming them
Reposted by Iain Alexander
And it also conveniently ignores how corrosive (perhaps more so) it is to adults, especially boomers, the majority of whose lives' were without computers, let alone internet and social media
November 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
And it also conveniently ignores how corrosive (perhaps more so) it is to adults, especially boomers, the majority of whose lives' were without computers, let alone internet and social media
Reposted by Iain Alexander
So much of the discussion about the harms of social media on children really refuse to recognise how little effort has been made to make their offline lives any better, and it’s telling that the largest advocates are anti-porn religious groups or Pro Israel lobbyists
None of the talk about how harmful social media is for kids balances that with a discussion of how useful and beneficial it is for them. It helps with loneliness, is a source of friendship and of information, and helps them find solace when their ‘offline’ lives are harmful or miserable. 1/4
November 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
So much of the discussion about the harms of social media on children really refuse to recognise how little effort has been made to make their offline lives any better, and it’s telling that the largest advocates are anti-porn religious groups or Pro Israel lobbyists
Reposted by Iain Alexander
Also - if it can be an article - make it an article (or transcript it) I can read several hundred words per minute - for almost all information this is superior to a video.
*banging a metal pot with a wooden spoon very loudly*
people want to LISTEN to podcasts!!!!!!!!!!!!
*hitting you on the forehead with the spoon*
STOP PIVOTING TO VIDEO
www.westwoodone.com/blog/2025/11...
people want to LISTEN to podcasts!!!!!!!!!!!!
*hitting you on the forehead with the spoon*
STOP PIVOTING TO VIDEO
www.westwoodone.com/blog/2025/11...
November 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Also - if it can be an article - make it an article (or transcript it) I can read several hundred words per minute - for almost all information this is superior to a video.
Reposted by Iain Alexander
I do think it's worth addressing that the intellectual lodestar of this government is a gibbering idiot.
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I do think it's worth addressing that the intellectual lodestar of this government is a gibbering idiot.
What do you — the UK Editor at ITV News — think you might be able to do with your portion of control over what counts and news and when, to address this “insanity”?
Hmm?
Hmmmmmmm?!
Hmm?
Hmmmmmmm?!
It’s a sign of how insane the news cycle is these days that this historic failure of government policy got just one day of news coverage this week.
Not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s astonishing how quickly the agenda moves on these days.
Not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s astonishing how quickly the agenda moves on these days.
BREAKING: UK’s response to Covid was “too little too late”. Acting faster could have saved 23,000 lives in England according to the public inquiry.
Boris Johnson presided over a “toxic, sexist, chaotic culture” in No10, where rule-breaking seriously undermined public confidence.
Boris Johnson presided over a “toxic, sexist, chaotic culture” in No10, where rule-breaking seriously undermined public confidence.
November 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
What do you — the UK Editor at ITV News — think you might be able to do with your portion of control over what counts and news and when, to address this “insanity”?
Hmm?
Hmmmmmmm?!
Hmm?
Hmmmmmmm?!
Labour is not a progressive party.
Starmer is a bad person with ill intent, or at least allows himself to be puppeteered by a bunch of them, which is functionally the same.
If a leftist — Polanski, Feinstein, or otherwise — stands against him and wins, he’ll deserve it and it will be a net good.
Starmer is a bad person with ill intent, or at least allows himself to be puppeteered by a bunch of them, which is functionally the same.
If a leftist — Polanski, Feinstein, or otherwise — stands against him and wins, he’ll deserve it and it will be a net good.
As a voter I would really like the progressive parties to stop fighting each other, though, and focus on the actual task of defeating bad people who have ill intent.
The Lib Dems and Labour keep carping on at each other too. Always infighting because it’s easier.
The Lib Dems and Labour keep carping on at each other too. Always infighting because it’s easier.
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Labour is not a progressive party.
Starmer is a bad person with ill intent, or at least allows himself to be puppeteered by a bunch of them, which is functionally the same.
If a leftist — Polanski, Feinstein, or otherwise — stands against him and wins, he’ll deserve it and it will be a net good.
Starmer is a bad person with ill intent, or at least allows himself to be puppeteered by a bunch of them, which is functionally the same.
If a leftist — Polanski, Feinstein, or otherwise — stands against him and wins, he’ll deserve it and it will be a net good.
Lots of replies along the lines of “Duh but what if Starmer’s no longer PM, and the constituency vote isn’t a referendum on him? I am smart.”
Good job Polanski doesn’t have to definitively declare any time soon, isn’t it! Just the threat can be politically effective.
Good job Polanski doesn’t have to definitively declare any time soon, isn’t it! Just the threat can be politically effective.
Zack Polanski tells the BBC it would be "very tempting" for him to stand in Keir Starmer's seat at the next general election
November 23, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Lots of replies along the lines of “Duh but what if Starmer’s no longer PM, and the constituency vote isn’t a referendum on him? I am smart.”
Good job Polanski doesn’t have to definitively declare any time soon, isn’t it! Just the threat can be politically effective.
Good job Polanski doesn’t have to definitively declare any time soon, isn’t it! Just the threat can be politically effective.
Admittedly it’s years since I saw it, but I will maintain that this episode is one of the most — if not the actual most — interesting things in post-Season 1 STRANGER THINGS, but audiences lost their minds and the Duffers lost their bottle.
It just lists every episode apart from that Chicago one in the second season
November 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Admittedly it’s years since I saw it, but I will maintain that this episode is one of the most — if not the actual most — interesting things in post-Season 1 STRANGER THINGS, but audiences lost their minds and the Duffers lost their bottle.
- Frimpong is a versatile HG squad player; the mistake was not *also* signing a replacement RB given Bradley’s fragility
- signing both was extravagant (I was cool on Isak; preferred a more rounded forward), but not insane
- the mistake has been persisting w/ Gakpo, not signing Wirtz
- signing both was extravagant (I was cool on Isak; preferred a more rounded forward), but not insane
- the mistake has been persisting w/ Gakpo, not signing Wirtz
The warning signs were there for all to see in the summer when it came to Liverpool:
* Frimpong wasn’t a RB replacement for TAA.
* No club should be signing Ekitike AND Isak in the same window
* Why sign Wirtz when you’re keeping Gakpo on the left and Salah on the right?
Too much, too soon.
* Frimpong wasn’t a RB replacement for TAA.
* No club should be signing Ekitike AND Isak in the same window
* Why sign Wirtz when you’re keeping Gakpo on the left and Salah on the right?
Too much, too soon.
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
- Frimpong is a versatile HG squad player; the mistake was not *also* signing a replacement RB given Bradley’s fragility
- signing both was extravagant (I was cool on Isak; preferred a more rounded forward), but not insane
- the mistake has been persisting w/ Gakpo, not signing Wirtz
- signing both was extravagant (I was cool on Isak; preferred a more rounded forward), but not insane
- the mistake has been persisting w/ Gakpo, not signing Wirtz
I’m not definitively “Slot out” at this point — though I think we’re careening ever closer to a serious conversation — but…
I’m curious as to how much of a write-off (competitively and, therefore, commercially) the people who think his sacking is unconscionable are willing for this season to be?
I’m curious as to how much of a write-off (competitively and, therefore, commercially) the people who think his sacking is unconscionable are willing for this season to be?
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I’m not definitively “Slot out” at this point — though I think we’re careening ever closer to a serious conversation — but…
I’m curious as to how much of a write-off (competitively and, therefore, commercially) the people who think his sacking is unconscionable are willing for this season to be?
I’m curious as to how much of a write-off (competitively and, therefore, commercially) the people who think his sacking is unconscionable are willing for this season to be?
I know there aren’t a ton of other options, but throwing on Ngumoha as a Hail Mary in situations like this — as Slot has done a couple of times recently — isn’t exactly the nurturing approach to managing a breakthrough youth player than encourages youngsters to stick around…
November 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I know there aren’t a ton of other options, but throwing on Ngumoha as a Hail Mary in situations like this — as Slot has done a couple of times recently — isn’t exactly the nurturing approach to managing a breakthrough youth player than encourages youngsters to stick around…
Another:
Plenty saying players don’t seem to understand what the system or the expectations in them in it are; we’re incoherent.
That’s been a consistent issue — one that early-season moments of magic masked, and to which the Real Madrid match appears to have been a notable exception.
Plenty saying players don’t seem to understand what the system or the expectations in them in it are; we’re incoherent.
That’s been a consistent issue — one that early-season moments of magic masked, and to which the Real Madrid match appears to have been a notable exception.
One specific annoyance:
- we bought two CFs for a total of ~£200m
- Slot insisted last year when asked about Nunez/Jota’s output that he wants his CF to be scorer+facilitator
YET
- neither last season nor this has he embedded a system that substantially involves the CF in areas of influence
Help?
- we bought two CFs for a total of ~£200m
- Slot insisted last year when asked about Nunez/Jota’s output that he wants his CF to be scorer+facilitator
YET
- neither last season nor this has he embedded a system that substantially involves the CF in areas of influence
Help?
November 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Another:
Plenty saying players don’t seem to understand what the system or the expectations in them in it are; we’re incoherent.
That’s been a consistent issue — one that early-season moments of magic masked, and to which the Real Madrid match appears to have been a notable exception.
Plenty saying players don’t seem to understand what the system or the expectations in them in it are; we’re incoherent.
That’s been a consistent issue — one that early-season moments of magic masked, and to which the Real Madrid match appears to have been a notable exception.
Mad individual errors can’t be laid at the feet of the manager (though you might start to question one who repeatedly selects the worst offender).
But this is stuff he *is* accountable for, being based on coaching and the culture he maintains.
Awkward questions about the lack of improvement.
But this is stuff he *is* accountable for, being based on coaching and the culture he maintains.
Awkward questions about the lack of improvement.
Based on watching most games, we seem to be:
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
Radio comms so can’t tell how bad that second goal was. But it sounded *really* bad.
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
November 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Mad individual errors can’t be laid at the feet of the manager (though you might start to question one who repeatedly selects the worst offender).
But this is stuff he *is* accountable for, being based on coaching and the culture he maintains.
Awkward questions about the lack of improvement.
But this is stuff he *is* accountable for, being based on coaching and the culture he maintains.
Awkward questions about the lack of improvement.
Based on watching most games, we seem to be:
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
Radio comms so can’t tell how bad that second goal was. But it sounded *really* bad.
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
November 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Based on watching most games, we seem to be:
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
- poor at tracking runners;
- lacking desire to engage in duels and physically weak when we do;
- devoid of mental resilience in the face of adversity.
Sounds from listening like this is more of the same.
Not a great combo.
Radio comms so can’t tell how bad that second goal was. But it sounded *really* bad.
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Radio comms so can’t tell how bad that second goal was. But it sounded *really* bad.
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
After by all accounts a decent — if not definitively dominant — first half-hour, it sounds like it’s been one bad mistake leading to an unlucky goal that should have been disallowed, and total head loss.
Cool!
Reposted by Iain Alexander
Hey @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social just a reminder in light of today's news ❤️
November 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hey @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social and @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social just a reminder in light of today's news ❤️
Here to protest the bafflingly stupid and shit choice of final game in SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE Series 2. How did production think it had a high enough chance of creating a compelling finish to justify doing it? No interaction/deception between players, either — the heart of Squid Game. Just mad.
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Here to protest the bafflingly stupid and shit choice of final game in SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE Series 2. How did production think it had a high enough chance of creating a compelling finish to justify doing it? No interaction/deception between players, either — the heart of Squid Game. Just mad.
Reposted by Iain Alexander
does the damning Covid report have anything to say about Starmer completely refusing to criticise Johnson because it wouldn't have been "in the national interest", or not
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
does the damning Covid report have anything to say about Starmer completely refusing to criticise Johnson because it wouldn't have been "in the national interest", or not