Blackbeardsghost
@blackbeardsghost.bsky.social
Pirate/Ghost
Ukraine, Taiwan, geopolitics, trains, bikes, planes, ships, subways and whatnot
Ukraine, Taiwan, geopolitics, trains, bikes, planes, ships, subways and whatnot
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
China is making trade impossible
Europe has nothing to offer and difficult decisions to make
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
open.substack.com/pub/michaeld...
This is really fucking good
This is really fucking good
The 28-Point Crisis: 24 Hours of Chaos, Consequences, and Abandonment
A rushed ultimatum, a Russian-drafted plan, and a White House out of step with the Western alliance it once led.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
open.substack.com/pub/michaeld...
This is really fucking good
This is really fucking good
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
1/ The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is "running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials", cutting out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort supported by Vice President J.D. Vance. ⬇️
November 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
1/ The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is "running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials", cutting out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort supported by Vice President J.D. Vance. ⬇️
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
But my gut is: the problem with the government’s agenda is they are hitting the winners from economic liberalism on their most important thing (their livelihood and their businesses) and hitting the winners of social liberalism on their most important thing (their lives).
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
But my gut is: the problem with the government’s agenda is they are hitting the winners from economic liberalism on their most important thing (their livelihood and their businesses) and hitting the winners of social liberalism on their most important thing (their lives).
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax - on.ft.com/444DtZB via @FT
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax
Dramatic U-turn ahead of Budget sparks sell-off in gilt market
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax - on.ft.com/444DtZB via @FT
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
Horrifying news, if anything they should be looking to make it even more bewildering!
A team of architects has been tasked with helping visitors find their way through the brutalist landmark’s notoriously bewildering maze of walkways and levels ⬇️
The Barbican wants to stop its visitors getting lost. Will it work?
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Horrifying news, if anything they should be looking to make it even more bewildering!
This is a fucking good podcast. I've downloaded the back catalogue to listen through on some upcoming flights... including to DC where I now know all the best (and worst) spots! Thanks chaps
On this week’s Second Breakfast we talk about OSD-Congress relations, CUAS, training and national training centers, and why McClellan would’ve been a tyrant.
November 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is a fucking good podcast. I've downloaded the back catalogue to listen through on some upcoming flights... including to DC where I now know all the best (and worst) spots! Thanks chaps
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Just unbelievably predictable, maybe Sullivan and finer can address this on their stupid ass podcast
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Just unbelievably predictable, maybe Sullivan and finer can address this on their stupid ass podcast
I don't want to alarm anyone. But Matthew Syed has an opinion about the Villa Park situation, and he's pretty proud of it....
October 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I don't want to alarm anyone. But Matthew Syed has an opinion about the Villa Park situation, and he's pretty proud of it....
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Russian air defence is keeping track of when Swedish signals intelligence aircraft S102B Korpen take off from Malmen, Sweden and Russian forces are notified and warned.
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
October 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Russian air defence is keeping track of when Swedish signals intelligence aircraft S102B Korpen take off from Malmen, Sweden and Russian forces are notified and warned.
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Russia’s T-90 tank production in 2024 reached around 240 units, including both new and modernized tanks. But internal planning papers analyzed by Frontelligence Insight show Moscow’s plan to lift output by 80% and launch production of a new T90 variant. 🧵Our Special Report:
October 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Russia’s T-90 tank production in 2024 reached around 240 units, including both new and modernized tanks. But internal planning papers analyzed by Frontelligence Insight show Moscow’s plan to lift output by 80% and launch production of a new T90 variant. 🧵Our Special Report:
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Old enough to remember retired F-16 pilots telling us that the F-16 would be useless for Ukraine because it couldn’t survive in the contested airspace.
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Ukraine’s F-16 Force: Innovation, Impact, and Resolve
One of Ukraine’s top F-16 pilots, known by his call sign “AB,” spoke to the Mitchell Institute about the impact of fighter against Russia.
www.airandspaceforces.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Old enough to remember retired F-16 pilots telling us that the F-16 would be useless for Ukraine because it couldn’t survive in the contested airspace.
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
SAMP/T orders for Ukraine should have been placed three years ago; it's insane that none have been until now
1/7 A rough winter is coming to Ukraine.
Russia will strike harder than ever, with more drones and missiles than in previous years.
Europe has a duty to act now to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
There is no time to waste
Russia will strike harder than ever, with more drones and missiles than in previous years.
Europe has a duty to act now to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
There is no time to waste
October 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM
SAMP/T orders for Ukraine should have been placed three years ago; it's insane that none have been until now
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
I’m writing to let you know that today (Oct 11th) our team will release a major report. It covers nearly a decade of tank production across various variants. This document-based report will uncover Russian plans to expand and modernize its tank fleet. I hope you’ll have a chance to read and share it
October 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I’m writing to let you know that today (Oct 11th) our team will release a major report. It covers nearly a decade of tank production across various variants. This document-based report will uncover Russian plans to expand and modernize its tank fleet. I hope you’ll have a chance to read and share it
to the shock of absolutely no one
“‘We cannot control who sees what, we cannot see what users are doing, and we cannot verify that the software itself is secure,’ the memo says.”
Anduril and Palantir battlefield communication system has deep flaws, Army memo says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The much-needed modernization of the U.S. Army's battlefield communications network being undertaken by Anduril, Palantir and others is rife with "fundamental security" problems ...
www.yahoo.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
to the shock of absolutely no one
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
The Pentagon plans to place domestic and regional missions above countering adversaries such as Beijing and Moscow according to a draft of the upcoming National Defense Strategy. -POLITICO
September 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The Pentagon plans to place domestic and regional missions above countering adversaries such as Beijing and Moscow according to a draft of the upcoming National Defense Strategy. -POLITICO
An excellent listen
Nigel Harris & Richard Bowker run one of the UK's best known railway podcasts, Green Signals
I was a guest on it this week, talking about the future of #CrossChannelRail and potential rivals to Eurostar
Listen / watch here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUNz...
I was a guest on it this week, talking about the future of #CrossChannelRail and potential rivals to Eurostar
Listen / watch here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUNz...
Eurostar: The full (mind blowing!) guide to Channel Tunnel competition | Ep 99
YouTube video by Green Signals
www.youtube.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
An excellent listen
Syed's pseudo intellectual drivel needs wider mockery
Matthew Syed's latest drivel is an absolute masterclass in conflating a particular group of older, white, relatively financial secure, working class voters with the entirity of the low income population.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Commonsense voters see the abject folly of the West’s purity spiral
Ordinary people will no longer stand for being told common sense is ‘far right’ — and quite rightly so
www.thetimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Syed's pseudo intellectual drivel needs wider mockery
August 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Ok, for each retweet I’ll provide one insight, fact, or opinion on unconventional naval warfare, like submarines, explosive boats, special forces or crazy ideas
0/n 🧵
0/n 🧵
August 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Ok, for each retweet I’ll provide one insight, fact, or opinion on unconventional naval warfare, like submarines, explosive boats, special forces or crazy ideas
0/n 🧵
0/n 🧵
Potentially he just thinks there is a country called 'Chips', I guess
Uh does he…know…where all the chips are made.
*TRUMP SAYS HE WILL PUT APPROXIMATELY 100% TARIFF ON CHIPS
*TRUMP SAYS HE WILL PUT APPROXIMATELY 100% TARIFF ON CHIPS
August 6, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Potentially he just thinks there is a country called 'Chips', I guess
Jonas catching Remco in a TT still getting smashed by pog is just ridiculous when you think about it. I feel for him tbf
July 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Jonas catching Remco in a TT still getting smashed by pog is just ridiculous when you think about it. I feel for him tbf