Simon Watkins
@simonywaking.bsky.social
Interested in finance, economics, politics, philosophy, literature and childish humour.
Radio4 PM feels the need to get a ‘forensic image expert’ to describe the ICE shooting video.
“Is it raining? We are too frightened to say. So we asked someone else to look out the window.”
“Is it raining? We are too frightened to say. So we asked someone else to look out the window.”
January 8, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Radio4 PM feels the need to get a ‘forensic image expert’ to describe the ICE shooting video.
“Is it raining? We are too frightened to say. So we asked someone else to look out the window.”
“Is it raining? We are too frightened to say. So we asked someone else to look out the window.”
Reposted by Simon Watkins
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
January 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
Reposted by Simon Watkins
Reposted by Simon Watkins
A real news outlet publishing the phrase "Grok apologized" should result in like a week-long timeout. Think about what you've done.
January 2, 2026 at 10:31 PM
A real news outlet publishing the phrase "Grok apologized" should result in like a week-long timeout. Think about what you've done.
Reposted by Simon Watkins
This just in: calculator has apologized for saying BOOBS
“Upside down calculator says ‘BOOBS’”
January 2, 2026 at 8:10 PM
This just in: calculator has apologized for saying BOOBS
I’ve been making jokes in various places here about watching the hootennay.
The sad truth is that I am old enough to remember when Jools Holland was Clive James.
The sad truth is that I am old enough to remember when Jools Holland was Clive James.
December 31, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I’ve been making jokes in various places here about watching the hootennay.
The sad truth is that I am old enough to remember when Jools Holland was Clive James.
The sad truth is that I am old enough to remember when Jools Holland was Clive James.
The levels of Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
1. Fuck off, I spend New Year’s Eve in the pub!
2. I am watching Jools Holland’s Hootenany, but deep down I feel I should be in the pub and that my life is over.
3. I am looking forward to Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
1. Fuck off, I spend New Year’s Eve in the pub!
2. I am watching Jools Holland’s Hootenany, but deep down I feel I should be in the pub and that my life is over.
3. I am looking forward to Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
December 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The levels of Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
1. Fuck off, I spend New Year’s Eve in the pub!
2. I am watching Jools Holland’s Hootenany, but deep down I feel I should be in the pub and that my life is over.
3. I am looking forward to Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
1. Fuck off, I spend New Year’s Eve in the pub!
2. I am watching Jools Holland’s Hootenany, but deep down I feel I should be in the pub and that my life is over.
3. I am looking forward to Jools Holland’s Hootenany.
I am a king’s henchman despatched to recover the mummified corpse of one of his ancestors.
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I am a king’s henchman despatched to recover the mummified corpse of one of his ancestors.
Rest of family has fallen asleep already. So traditional Boxing Day afternoon for me. Light fire. Prepare plate of Stilton and biscuits. Glass of Port. Alien on the TV.
December 26, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Rest of family has fallen asleep already. So traditional Boxing Day afternoon for me. Light fire. Prepare plate of Stilton and biscuits. Glass of Port. Alien on the TV.
Central heating engineer:
“I have optimised the day and time settings on your boiler. It will automatically turn on the heating everyday at 5am, turn it off at 11pm and break down completely one week before Christmas.”
“I have optimised the day and time settings on your boiler. It will automatically turn on the heating everyday at 5am, turn it off at 11pm and break down completely one week before Christmas.”
December 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Central heating engineer:
“I have optimised the day and time settings on your boiler. It will automatically turn on the heating everyday at 5am, turn it off at 11pm and break down completely one week before Christmas.”
“I have optimised the day and time settings on your boiler. It will automatically turn on the heating everyday at 5am, turn it off at 11pm and break down completely one week before Christmas.”
For years I have struggled with our nut cracker. No matter how carefully I place the hazelnut, walnut or whatever in the device, when I squeeze the nut slips out and flies across the room.
Today I discovered that what we have is, in fact, a device for cracking lobster claws.
Today I discovered that what we have is, in fact, a device for cracking lobster claws.
December 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
For years I have struggled with our nut cracker. No matter how carefully I place the hazelnut, walnut or whatever in the device, when I squeeze the nut slips out and flies across the room.
Today I discovered that what we have is, in fact, a device for cracking lobster claws.
Today I discovered that what we have is, in fact, a device for cracking lobster claws.
If you see this, repost with your favourite onscreen moment from SF, Fantasy or Horror.
December 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
If you see this, repost with your favourite onscreen moment from SF, Fantasy or Horror.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Scorpion
Badger
Sperm Whale
Chameleon
Vic Reeves
Scorpion
Badger
Sperm Whale
Chameleon
Vic Reeves
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Honey Badger
Manta ray
Lion
Badger
Crocodile
Honey Badger
Manta ray
Lion
Badger
Crocodile
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
Mongoose
Barracuda
Chamois
Dolphin
Badger
December 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Scorpion
Badger
Sperm Whale
Chameleon
Vic Reeves
Scorpion
Badger
Sperm Whale
Chameleon
Vic Reeves
An important bithday in literature.
I am currently re-reading Northanger Abbey, which I hope to finish by lunchtime so I can then re-read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.
I am currently re-reading Northanger Abbey, which I hope to finish by lunchtime so I can then re-read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.
December 16, 2025 at 9:32 AM
An important bithday in literature.
I am currently re-reading Northanger Abbey, which I hope to finish by lunchtime so I can then re-read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.
I am currently re-reading Northanger Abbey, which I hope to finish by lunchtime so I can then re-read The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.
Watched F1:The Movie last night and TBF I enjoyed it. But it is a bit of a mix. If you have any familiarity with F1 then it is really easy to get quickly drawn in.
But at the same time, I if you have any familiarity with F1, I think it also becomes a bit daft quite quickly.
But at the same time, I if you have any familiarity with F1, I think it also becomes a bit daft quite quickly.
December 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Watched F1:The Movie last night and TBF I enjoyed it. But it is a bit of a mix. If you have any familiarity with F1 then it is really easy to get quickly drawn in.
But at the same time, I if you have any familiarity with F1, I think it also becomes a bit daft quite quickly.
But at the same time, I if you have any familiarity with F1, I think it also becomes a bit daft quite quickly.
Reposted by Simon Watkins
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
I am apparently 73. Because of this:
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I am apparently 73. Because of this:
Reposted by Simon Watkins
Agree with @jomichell.bsky.social here.
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Agree with @jomichell.bsky.social here.
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
My earlier piece: "The claim that that MMT means that a future government can dodge hard choices about how to pay for decent public services is just plain nonsense."
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/econom...
Last year I succeeded easily in the challenge of getting a Christmas cake to absorb an entire bottle of Armagnac. This year the task is a little harder as I have left myself barely four weeks for cake-feeding. I am off to a good start however, as the dried fruit are already soaking in a hefty slug.
December 3, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Last year I succeeded easily in the challenge of getting a Christmas cake to absorb an entire bottle of Armagnac. This year the task is a little harder as I have left myself barely four weeks for cake-feeding. I am off to a good start however, as the dried fruit are already soaking in a hefty slug.
Reposted by Simon Watkins
New post: The Budget suggests the Chancellor is thinking too much about short term management and too little about long term legacy
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
What is missing is any sense that the government has a long term plan and is putting in place the resources to achieve it.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
What is missing is any sense that the government has a long term plan and is putting in place the resources to achieve it.
The Budget suggests the Chancellor is thinking too much about short term management and too little about long term legacy
My posts come out on a Tuesday and Budgets are on a Wednesday. Not great timing, which is why in the past I’ve often done special posts on...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:59 AM
New post: The Budget suggests the Chancellor is thinking too much about short term management and too little about long term legacy
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
What is missing is any sense that the government has a long term plan and is putting in place the resources to achieve it.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
What is missing is any sense that the government has a long term plan and is putting in place the resources to achieve it.
Just watched an episode of Forged in Fire. US reality show in which ‘blademakers’ compete to make swords, etc
Blokes with beards and pony tails. Rock soundtrack. Earnest talk of the ‘blood and sweat’ of the craft. And one case of Swiss Tony (‘heating your forge is like making love to a woman’). 1/2
Blokes with beards and pony tails. Rock soundtrack. Earnest talk of the ‘blood and sweat’ of the craft. And one case of Swiss Tony (‘heating your forge is like making love to a woman’). 1/2
December 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Just watched an episode of Forged in Fire. US reality show in which ‘blademakers’ compete to make swords, etc
Blokes with beards and pony tails. Rock soundtrack. Earnest talk of the ‘blood and sweat’ of the craft. And one case of Swiss Tony (‘heating your forge is like making love to a woman’). 1/2
Blokes with beards and pony tails. Rock soundtrack. Earnest talk of the ‘blood and sweat’ of the craft. And one case of Swiss Tony (‘heating your forge is like making love to a woman’). 1/2
I find myself alone in the living room and in sole control of the TV. I am naturally re-watching, for the 12th time, the BBC TV Tinker Tailor.
Because it is at least 6 months since I last watched it.
Because it is at least 6 months since I last watched it.
November 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I find myself alone in the living room and in sole control of the TV. I am naturally re-watching, for the 12th time, the BBC TV Tinker Tailor.
Because it is at least 6 months since I last watched it.
Because it is at least 6 months since I last watched it.
Reposted by Simon Watkins
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
‘So Civilisations… it’s like Gladiator meets History of the World in 100 Objects plus Newsnight… with a little bit of The One Show thrown in just in case.’
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
‘So Civilisations… it’s like Gladiator meets History of the World in 100 Objects plus Newsnight… with a little bit of The One Show thrown in just in case.’
Share a TV series you’ve watched from beginning to end more than once. (Two for the price of one.)
November 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Share a TV series you’ve watched from beginning to end more than once. (Two for the price of one.)