Daniel Owen
@danieljowen.bsky.social
A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, coated in breadcrumbs and dipped in ketchup.
Refugees welcome. Hate AI. Love fountain pens and baseball.
He/him
North Devon, UK
🧡
Refugees welcome. Hate AI. Love fountain pens and baseball.
He/him
North Devon, UK
🧡
Rosie is done for the week and ready for the weekend.
December 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Rosie is done for the week and ready for the weekend.
I wasn't interested in your Spotify Unwrapped before. Now that I've ditched Spotify - like the smug, virtue-signalling bastard that I am - I'm even less interested.
December 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I wasn't interested in your Spotify Unwrapped before. Now that I've ditched Spotify - like the smug, virtue-signalling bastard that I am - I'm even less interested.
Why do we give these liars and charlatans the oxygen to spew this utter utter bullshit? We know what happens when AI 'trains' itself. It's called AI model collapse and involves LLMs drowning in their own self-generated verbal sewage. Its sole benefit is that it's a joy to watch.
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Why do we give these liars and charlatans the oxygen to spew this utter utter bullshit? We know what happens when AI 'trains' itself. It's called AI model collapse and involves LLMs drowning in their own self-generated verbal sewage. Its sole benefit is that it's a joy to watch.
Sometimes I wonder if my son's college has ever actually met a teenager.
December 2, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Sometimes I wonder if my son's college has ever actually met a teenager.
Slightly ominous alert from Morrisons.
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Slightly ominous alert from Morrisons.
I found some other swatch cards - these are Col-o-ring rather than my usual Wearingeul ones. I think the sheen on the Rainier Blue would show up more on the Wearingeul.
Anyway, Matthew at @thewetpen.bsky.social makes great inks, (but in small batches that sell out fast, and no more this year).
Anyway, Matthew at @thewetpen.bsky.social makes great inks, (but in small batches that sell out fast, and no more this year).
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I found some other swatch cards - these are Col-o-ring rather than my usual Wearingeul ones. I think the sheen on the Rainier Blue would show up more on the Wearingeul.
Anyway, Matthew at @thewetpen.bsky.social makes great inks, (but in small batches that sell out fast, and no more this year).
Anyway, Matthew at @thewetpen.bsky.social makes great inks, (but in small batches that sell out fast, and no more this year).
I think Rachel Reeves is going to struggle if she wants to introduce measures specifically targeting nervous businesses. I mean, how is she even going to define a nervous business in the tax code?
November 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I think Rachel Reeves is going to struggle if she wants to introduce measures specifically targeting nervous businesses. I mean, how is she even going to define a nervous business in the tax code?
Artist's impression
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Artist's impression
Very much loving my new fountain pen and notebook which arrived today from Hunter Paper Co in Belfast. Sailor Profit Junior - the budget version of the 1911. Basic steel nib, only in MF width. Lovely writer, all the same, plenty of Sailor feedback.
November 20, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Very much loving my new fountain pen and notebook which arrived today from Hunter Paper Co in Belfast. Sailor Profit Junior - the budget version of the 1911. Basic steel nib, only in MF width. Lovely writer, all the same, plenty of Sailor feedback.
Fantasy politics for the win. As well as raising the higher rate of income tax as far as the game allowed, I imposed a gambling tax, scrapped the two-child cap, closed CGT loopholes, taxed bank profits, and raised the tax on company profits from 19% to 22%. www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
November 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Fantasy politics for the win. As well as raising the higher rate of income tax as far as the game allowed, I imposed a gambling tax, scrapped the two-child cap, closed CGT loopholes, taxed bank profits, and raised the tax on company profits from 19% to 22%. www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Ok, first question: which ones are my minor organs? Are they still ok?
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Ok, first question: which ones are my minor organs? Are they still ok?
This is just batshit insane. People who have done what we claim we want, i.e. integrate into their local community, are considered to have made themselves deliberately destitute if they refuse to be uprooted from that community (and often separated from their own family.)
November 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This is just batshit insane. People who have done what we claim we want, i.e. integrate into their local community, are considered to have made themselves deliberately destitute if they refuse to be uprooted from that community (and often separated from their own family.)
Me: God, these people lost in nostalgia are pathetic. What's wrong with them?
Also me: I remember when we DIDN'T DO Black Friday because it's the day after Thanksgiving, which is an AMERICAN thing. Also, why does "Black Friday" now last 3 months, starting in August?
Also me: I remember when we DIDN'T DO Black Friday because it's the day after Thanksgiving, which is an AMERICAN thing. Also, why does "Black Friday" now last 3 months, starting in August?
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Me: God, these people lost in nostalgia are pathetic. What's wrong with them?
Also me: I remember when we DIDN'T DO Black Friday because it's the day after Thanksgiving, which is an AMERICAN thing. Also, why does "Black Friday" now last 3 months, starting in August?
Also me: I remember when we DIDN'T DO Black Friday because it's the day after Thanksgiving, which is an AMERICAN thing. Also, why does "Black Friday" now last 3 months, starting in August?
Tories: If you vote Labour, you risk taking Britain back to the 70s.
Tory voters: We like the 70s.
Tories: Ah, bollocks.
Tory voters: We like the 70s.
Tories: Ah, bollocks.
November 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Tories: If you vote Labour, you risk taking Britain back to the 70s.
Tory voters: We like the 70s.
Tories: Ah, bollocks.
Tory voters: We like the 70s.
Tories: Ah, bollocks.
Nordic pagans famously lack warrior ethos.
November 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Nordic pagans famously lack warrior ethos.
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I've been saying for many years that the BBC would never be thanked for all the attention and screen time it has given Farage. Farage would have been an obscure figure on the political fringe without the BBC. He will always repay them with attacks and mistrust.
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I've been saying for many years that the BBC would never be thanked for all the attention and screen time it has given Farage. Farage would have been an obscure figure on the political fringe without the BBC. He will always repay them with attacks and mistrust.
In the year to March 2025, 262 prisoners were accidentally released. Do they all get banner headlines, Parliamentary attention and a massive manhunt, or is it all (again) about performative racism to win over Reform voters?
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In the year to March 2025, 262 prisoners were accidentally released. Do they all get banner headlines, Parliamentary attention and a massive manhunt, or is it all (again) about performative racism to win over Reform voters?
I think it's great to see Labour being punished for its drift to the far right, and also great to see parties challenging the toxic rhetoric on immigration and asylum prospering as a result.
But this (graph) and first-past-the-post are a recipe for disaster.
But this (graph) and first-past-the-post are a recipe for disaster.
October 31, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I think it's great to see Labour being punished for its drift to the far right, and also great to see parties challenging the toxic rhetoric on immigration and asylum prospering as a result.
But this (graph) and first-past-the-post are a recipe for disaster.
But this (graph) and first-past-the-post are a recipe for disaster.
I'm also not convinced by Peston's take on Rachel Reeves here, about the bar for resignation being lowered. I don't think the bar is determined by the personal material gain. I think it's about ministers breaking rules that everyone else has to follow.
October 30, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I'm also not convinced by Peston's take on Rachel Reeves here, about the bar for resignation being lowered. I don't think the bar is determined by the personal material gain. I think it's about ministers breaking rules that everyone else has to follow.
Yes, but now they're furious and wet.
October 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Yes, but now they're furious and wet.
Classic both-sidesing from the @nytimes.com. In a few months it will be "Critics are outraged over Trump's demolition of the White House to make way for a 40-storey resort and casino. Others say Washington needed something bold and new."
October 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Classic both-sidesing from the @nytimes.com. In a few months it will be "Critics are outraged over Trump's demolition of the White House to make way for a 40-storey resort and casino. Others say Washington needed something bold and new."
This is the kind of blow that will knock Wednesday into the middle of next week.
October 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This is the kind of blow that will knock Wednesday into the middle of next week.