Jonathan Rowson
@jonathanrowson.bsky.social
Writer, Speaker, and Publisher.
CEO at Perspectiva (but personal posts here). Scottish Londoner and dad. Erstwhile chess grandmaster.
CEO at Perspectiva (but personal posts here). Scottish Londoner and dad. Erstwhile chess grandmaster.
I know I’m a bit late to this, but I’ve started watching The Sopranos…
March 31, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I know I’m a bit late to this, but I’ve started watching The Sopranos…
Since the USA now faces a full blown “constitutional crisis” and we’ll all be hearing this term a lot, I thought it might help to reflect on what crisis means.
(From *Prefixing the World*: open.substack.com/pub/perspect... )
(From *Prefixing the World*: open.substack.com/pub/perspect... )
March 18, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Since the USA now faces a full blown “constitutional crisis” and we’ll all be hearing this term a lot, I thought it might help to reflect on what crisis means.
(From *Prefixing the World*: open.substack.com/pub/perspect... )
(From *Prefixing the World*: open.substack.com/pub/perspect... )
I’ve discovered a hitherto unsuspected connection between the stag and the potato.
March 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I’ve discovered a hitherto unsuspected connection between the stag and the potato.
Enjoyed a couple of days off in Cambridge - “the other place”.
February 19, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Enjoyed a couple of days off in Cambridge - “the other place”.
Saw Kyoto tonight in London.
It’s a play about the beginning of the UN climate regime from c1990 to 1997 when the Kyoto protocol was agreed.
Most of the drama and comedy is about the construction of inertia.
It’s excellent, Intense, funny, gripping.
It’s a play about the beginning of the UN climate regime from c1990 to 1997 when the Kyoto protocol was agreed.
Most of the drama and comedy is about the construction of inertia.
It’s excellent, Intense, funny, gripping.
February 9, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Saw Kyoto tonight in London.
It’s a play about the beginning of the UN climate regime from c1990 to 1997 when the Kyoto protocol was agreed.
Most of the drama and comedy is about the construction of inertia.
It’s excellent, Intense, funny, gripping.
It’s a play about the beginning of the UN climate regime from c1990 to 1997 when the Kyoto protocol was agreed.
Most of the drama and comedy is about the construction of inertia.
It’s excellent, Intense, funny, gripping.
I’ve been listening to Rory Stewart’s political memoir and just finished this morning.
I had high expectations. It’s generally very good. He has chosen the “show don’t tell” strategy, but I was hoping for deeper analysis of sclerosis and delusion and grew weary of the accents and the biscuits.
I had high expectations. It’s generally very good. He has chosen the “show don’t tell” strategy, but I was hoping for deeper analysis of sclerosis and delusion and grew weary of the accents and the biscuits.
January 10, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I’ve been listening to Rory Stewart’s political memoir and just finished this morning.
I had high expectations. It’s generally very good. He has chosen the “show don’t tell” strategy, but I was hoping for deeper analysis of sclerosis and delusion and grew weary of the accents and the biscuits.
I had high expectations. It’s generally very good. He has chosen the “show don’t tell” strategy, but I was hoping for deeper analysis of sclerosis and delusion and grew weary of the accents and the biscuits.
On the way home to London.
Enjoying the snow capped vistas of Goatfell in Arran, as seen on the train from Troon to Glasgow.
Snow is always a kind of magic.
Enjoying the snow capped vistas of Goatfell in Arran, as seen on the train from Troon to Glasgow.
Snow is always a kind of magic.
January 6, 2025 at 10:49 AM
On the way home to London.
Enjoying the snow capped vistas of Goatfell in Arran, as seen on the train from Troon to Glasgow.
Snow is always a kind of magic.
Enjoying the snow capped vistas of Goatfell in Arran, as seen on the train from Troon to Glasgow.
Snow is always a kind of magic.
Bye for noo, Aberdeen.
And thanks for the snow.
Off to see my mum in Troon.
And thanks for the snow.
Off to see my mum in Troon.
January 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Bye for noo, Aberdeen.
And thanks for the snow.
Off to see my mum in Troon.
And thanks for the snow.
Off to see my mum in Troon.
Glad to be back in my home town of Aberdeen. I lived here from roughly 0-10 and 12-19. My dad and extended family still live here. I usually visit every year but had forgotten how beautiful it can be. Today I walked roughly three miles from King street to Union Grove via Union Street.
January 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Glad to be back in my home town of Aberdeen. I lived here from roughly 0-10 and 12-19. My dad and extended family still live here. I usually visit every year but had forgotten how beautiful it can be. Today I walked roughly three miles from King street to Union Grove via Union Street.
I just passed through Edinburgh on the way from London to Aberdeen to be with my dad for the bells. 🔔 🥃
I had half an hour between trains so peeped up to street level to capture Scotland’s capital in all her seasonal splendour. 🏴 ❤️
Happy New Year 🥳
I had half an hour between trains so peeped up to street level to capture Scotland’s capital in all her seasonal splendour. 🏴 ❤️
Happy New Year 🥳
December 31, 2024 at 5:05 PM
I just passed through Edinburgh on the way from London to Aberdeen to be with my dad for the bells. 🔔 🥃
I had half an hour between trains so peeped up to street level to capture Scotland’s capital in all her seasonal splendour. 🏴 ❤️
Happy New Year 🥳
I had half an hour between trains so peeped up to street level to capture Scotland’s capital in all her seasonal splendour. 🏴 ❤️
Happy New Year 🥳
The day after Christmas is such a relief that I’m celebrating with what is left in the fridge.
It would be a shame to let it go to waste.
Here’s to making the most of the next 300+ days or so before it all kicks off again 🥂
#boxingday
It would be a shame to let it go to waste.
Here’s to making the most of the next 300+ days or so before it all kicks off again 🥂
#boxingday
December 26, 2024 at 3:57 PM
The day after Christmas is such a relief that I’m celebrating with what is left in the fridge.
It would be a shame to let it go to waste.
Here’s to making the most of the next 300+ days or so before it all kicks off again 🥂
#boxingday
It would be a shame to let it go to waste.
Here’s to making the most of the next 300+ days or so before it all kicks off again 🥂
#boxingday
Happy Christmas.
December 25, 2024 at 10:18 PM
Happy Christmas.
“One-off my many fantasies is to write a book about sauna conversations…”
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
December 22, 2024 at 9:39 PM
“One-off my many fantasies is to write a book about sauna conversations…”
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
Tonight my organisation Perspectiva did an antidebate with students at UCL.
It’s a three hour collective inquiry process, with more details here if you’re interested: youtu.be/_jI5JdlZSXE?...
The first of 3 parts is mostly about agreeing on a statement to explore, and here’s what the group chose:
It’s a three hour collective inquiry process, with more details here if you’re interested: youtu.be/_jI5JdlZSXE?...
The first of 3 parts is mostly about agreeing on a statement to explore, and here’s what the group chose:
December 10, 2024 at 11:35 PM
Tonight my organisation Perspectiva did an antidebate with students at UCL.
It’s a three hour collective inquiry process, with more details here if you’re interested: youtu.be/_jI5JdlZSXE?...
The first of 3 parts is mostly about agreeing on a statement to explore, and here’s what the group chose:
It’s a three hour collective inquiry process, with more details here if you’re interested: youtu.be/_jI5JdlZSXE?...
The first of 3 parts is mostly about agreeing on a statement to explore, and here’s what the group chose:
Gratuitous Christmas photographs.
1. D.I.Y fairy for Wandsworth Park.
2. Black reindeer painting (Vishnu, 9)
3. Christmas Tree on Putney High Street.
4. Christmas greetings in an unidentified Indian language from Brandlehow school reception.
1. D.I.Y fairy for Wandsworth Park.
2. Black reindeer painting (Vishnu, 9)
3. Christmas Tree on Putney High Street.
4. Christmas greetings in an unidentified Indian language from Brandlehow school reception.
December 8, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Gratuitous Christmas photographs.
1. D.I.Y fairy for Wandsworth Park.
2. Black reindeer painting (Vishnu, 9)
3. Christmas Tree on Putney High Street.
4. Christmas greetings in an unidentified Indian language from Brandlehow school reception.
1. D.I.Y fairy for Wandsworth Park.
2. Black reindeer painting (Vishnu, 9)
3. Christmas Tree on Putney High Street.
4. Christmas greetings in an unidentified Indian language from Brandlehow school reception.
I loved the first Moana film & found it deep and meaningful.
The sequel has a powerful central idea - reviving the commons- but sadly it doesn’t believe in it enough to allow it to carry the film.
Instead we get morally ambiguous coconuts,
a cute younger sister, and gratuitous special effects.
B+
The sequel has a powerful central idea - reviving the commons- but sadly it doesn’t believe in it enough to allow it to carry the film.
Instead we get morally ambiguous coconuts,
a cute younger sister, and gratuitous special effects.
B+
November 30, 2024 at 5:47 PM
I loved the first Moana film & found it deep and meaningful.
The sequel has a powerful central idea - reviving the commons- but sadly it doesn’t believe in it enough to allow it to carry the film.
Instead we get morally ambiguous coconuts,
a cute younger sister, and gratuitous special effects.
B+
The sequel has a powerful central idea - reviving the commons- but sadly it doesn’t believe in it enough to allow it to carry the film.
Instead we get morally ambiguous coconuts,
a cute younger sister, and gratuitous special effects.
B+
I’m an analogue Grandmaster and I accept that these guys are under geopolitical pressure and that they know more about chess than I’ve forgotten…
Even so! Guys! We can definitely do better than an Exchange French!
Would it be too much to ask for a little complexity in a World Championship Match?
Even so! Guys! We can definitely do better than an Exchange French!
Would it be too much to ask for a little complexity in a World Championship Match?
November 30, 2024 at 2:34 PM
I’m an analogue Grandmaster and I accept that these guys are under geopolitical pressure and that they know more about chess than I’ve forgotten…
Even so! Guys! We can definitely do better than an Exchange French!
Would it be too much to ask for a little complexity in a World Championship Match?
Even so! Guys! We can definitely do better than an Exchange French!
Would it be too much to ask for a little complexity in a World Championship Match?
Enjoyed re-watching Thirteen Days with family, the year 2000 movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.
In 2002 I was a student at Harvard and attended an amazing 40 year anniversary event.
How close we came to nuclear war.
Or as McNamara put it at the event: “We lucked out.”
In 2002 I was a student at Harvard and attended an amazing 40 year anniversary event.
How close we came to nuclear war.
Or as McNamara put it at the event: “We lucked out.”
November 29, 2024 at 10:35 PM
Enjoyed re-watching Thirteen Days with family, the year 2000 movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.
In 2002 I was a student at Harvard and attended an amazing 40 year anniversary event.
How close we came to nuclear war.
Or as McNamara put it at the event: “We lucked out.”
In 2002 I was a student at Harvard and attended an amazing 40 year anniversary event.
How close we came to nuclear war.
Or as McNamara put it at the event: “We lucked out.”
Ding just retreated with Ne1 and part of me is hoping he gets time for the double retreat, and then to play f3, Kf2 and then Nd1-b2-d3, but I suspect Gukesh will make it difficult for him.
November 26, 2024 at 10:34 AM
Ding just retreated with Ne1 and part of me is hoping he gets time for the double retreat, and then to play f3, Kf2 and then Nd1-b2-d3, but I suspect Gukesh will make it difficult for him.
This sign made me smile because it reminded me of a term of art from my work:
*The Impossible We*.
The way we use ‘we’ often ignores varying perceptions, competing interests, power dynamics and thereby obscures the nature of the work that needs to be done.
www.whatisemerging.com/opinions/the...
*The Impossible We*.
The way we use ‘we’ often ignores varying perceptions, competing interests, power dynamics and thereby obscures the nature of the work that needs to be done.
www.whatisemerging.com/opinions/the...
November 24, 2024 at 12:17 PM
This sign made me smile because it reminded me of a term of art from my work:
*The Impossible We*.
The way we use ‘we’ often ignores varying perceptions, competing interests, power dynamics and thereby obscures the nature of the work that needs to be done.
www.whatisemerging.com/opinions/the...
*The Impossible We*.
The way we use ‘we’ often ignores varying perceptions, competing interests, power dynamics and thereby obscures the nature of the work that needs to be done.
www.whatisemerging.com/opinions/the...
My brief thoughts on the World Chess Championship match that starts next week are exclusively available in Kerala.
I assume you read Malayalam?
This is in today’s Malayala Manorama and written by P.K.Harish. I’m holding a feature article about me and family visiting Calicut in April 2023.
🙃 🇮🇳
I assume you read Malayalam?
This is in today’s Malayala Manorama and written by P.K.Harish. I’m holding a feature article about me and family visiting Calicut in April 2023.
🙃 🇮🇳
November 24, 2024 at 7:16 AM
My brief thoughts on the World Chess Championship match that starts next week are exclusively available in Kerala.
I assume you read Malayalam?
This is in today’s Malayala Manorama and written by P.K.Harish. I’m holding a feature article about me and family visiting Calicut in April 2023.
🙃 🇮🇳
I assume you read Malayalam?
This is in today’s Malayala Manorama and written by P.K.Harish. I’m holding a feature article about me and family visiting Calicut in April 2023.
🙃 🇮🇳
Shetland season 9 (!) is excellent so far.
I just watched episode 3. The dinosaur detail is exquisite. 🦕
Every season lulls the audience with landscape and the presumption nothing can happen in such a remote place.
Before you know it, it’s the epicentre of emotional and geopolitical intrigue.
I just watched episode 3. The dinosaur detail is exquisite. 🦕
Every season lulls the audience with landscape and the presumption nothing can happen in such a remote place.
Before you know it, it’s the epicentre of emotional and geopolitical intrigue.
November 23, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Shetland season 9 (!) is excellent so far.
I just watched episode 3. The dinosaur detail is exquisite. 🦕
Every season lulls the audience with landscape and the presumption nothing can happen in such a remote place.
Before you know it, it’s the epicentre of emotional and geopolitical intrigue.
I just watched episode 3. The dinosaur detail is exquisite. 🦕
Every season lulls the audience with landscape and the presumption nothing can happen in such a remote place.
Before you know it, it’s the epicentre of emotional and geopolitical intrigue.
Amusing moment an hour or so ago. I was heading home on the London Underground while listening to my colleague Ivo Mensch give a talk about metaphysical priors (time, causation; Bayes, Friston etc).
The slide “stack of priors” shared my phone with modern capitalist habit energy and infrastructure.
The slide “stack of priors” shared my phone with modern capitalist habit energy and infrastructure.
November 21, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Amusing moment an hour or so ago. I was heading home on the London Underground while listening to my colleague Ivo Mensch give a talk about metaphysical priors (time, causation; Bayes, Friston etc).
The slide “stack of priors” shared my phone with modern capitalist habit energy and infrastructure.
The slide “stack of priors” shared my phone with modern capitalist habit energy and infrastructure.
Heading home after a couple of days in Paris. Such a beautiful city. I was speaking at an academic seminar at Sciences Po, but it wasn’t too difficult to remember to enjoy myself too. 🇫🇷❤️
November 17, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Heading home after a couple of days in Paris. Such a beautiful city. I was speaking at an academic seminar at Sciences Po, but it wasn’t too difficult to remember to enjoy myself too. 🇫🇷❤️