Laurence Eastham
@laurence-eastham.bsky.social
Retired legal editor and writer (mainly Blackstone's Criminal Practice and Computers & Law). Now walking football and reading with occasional tourism.
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
Read the first of the reviews here by Old Man of Huy. I think this might be one of the best prankster fake reviews I've ever read. I tip my hat to you OMOH whoever and wherever you are.
www.whisky-online.com/collections/...
www.whisky-online.com/collections/...
Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Finish Whisky - Whisky-Online Shop
Tomatin 14-Year-Old Port Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% Tomatin's 14-year-old Highland malt ex-bourbon barrels tawny port cask finish whisky
www.whisky-online.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Read the first of the reviews here by Old Man of Huy. I think this might be one of the best prankster fake reviews I've ever read. I tip my hat to you OMOH whoever and wherever you are.
www.whisky-online.com/collections/...
www.whisky-online.com/collections/...
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
Oh, it is raining again.
Who knew that the human spirit is water soluble.
Who knew that the human spirit is water soluble.
February 12, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Oh, it is raining again.
Who knew that the human spirit is water soluble.
Who knew that the human spirit is water soluble.
Just finished John Elledge's Borders book. Thoroughly recommended. It seems that I know a lot less history than I thought. But black mark for editors letting him get away with varying area measurements between English counties and Wales (the gold standard) and US states. Connecticut really?
February 9, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Just finished John Elledge's Borders book. Thoroughly recommended. It seems that I know a lot less history than I thought. But black mark for editors letting him get away with varying area measurements between English counties and Wales (the gold standard) and US states. Connecticut really?
Just seen the BBC headline on the curling. To suggest the pair 'spurned' the chance of a medal is appalling, rude and inaccurate. They lost and feel awful; there's no need to make it worse.
February 9, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Just seen the BBC headline on the curling. To suggest the pair 'spurned' the chance of a medal is appalling, rude and inaccurate. They lost and feel awful; there's no need to make it worse.
I keep asking people the same question as I'm bemused by the hate too. It was there almost from the start - small boats still coming when you've been in power for weeks. Disappointment, yes. But hate is disproportionate.
So just me and Keir Starmer's mam that don't understand the public's PURE HATRED for him. I get the u-turns and the winter fuel mess were annoying, but after 14 yrs of tory I find it hard to dislike this govt, I think a lot of the hate is fuelled by the media...🤔? Just me then😬
February 9, 2026 at 7:56 AM
I keep asking people the same question as I'm bemused by the hate too. It was there almost from the start - small boats still coming when you've been in power for weeks. Disappointment, yes. But hate is disproportionate.
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
A walk around a supermarket shows just how mad the world has gone for forced protein. Want a yoghurt? Here, have one that you have to chew. Breakfast cereal? Time to bulk, bitch!
I reckon we are one mad influencer away from protein toilet rolls.
I reckon we are one mad influencer away from protein toilet rolls.
February 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM
A walk around a supermarket shows just how mad the world has gone for forced protein. Want a yoghurt? Here, have one that you have to chew. Breakfast cereal? Time to bulk, bitch!
I reckon we are one mad influencer away from protein toilet rolls.
I reckon we are one mad influencer away from protein toilet rolls.
Sitting in a café in Costa del sol and the woman in front has used at least 9 sachets of mayonnaise, brown sauce, tomato ketchup and vinegar on her cheeseburger. She is 70ish, very smartly dressed, German or Swiss and has used her own scissors. I'm fascinated.
February 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Sitting in a café in Costa del sol and the woman in front has used at least 9 sachets of mayonnaise, brown sauce, tomato ketchup and vinegar on her cheeseburger. She is 70ish, very smartly dressed, German or Swiss and has used her own scissors. I'm fascinated.
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
One of the problems with Starmer's triangulation is he is roughly aiming at where the average person but that person doesn't listen to political speeches. And it annoys everyone who does. Then the average person catches the bad vibes.
February 5, 2026 at 11:36 AM
One of the problems with Starmer's triangulation is he is roughly aiming at where the average person but that person doesn't listen to political speeches. And it annoys everyone who does. Then the average person catches the bad vibes.
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
Breaking news: Kettle has strong thoughts about blackness of pot
Farage calls for EU to probe Mandelson’s time in Brussels ft.trib.al/eAGo2wa
Farage calls for EU to probe Mandelson’s time in Brussels
Reform UK leader claims former trade commissioner may have misused his position for personal gain
ft.trib.al
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Breaking news: Kettle has strong thoughts about blackness of pot
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
So despite the froth from today, I don't see how he goes.
Burnham is a clear sign of Labour's problem. Burnham is a weak option, who over 20+ years has shown no sign of making a good PM. *Who isn't an MP*. And still he is seen as the King over the Water by some.
/ends
Burnham is a clear sign of Labour's problem. Burnham is a weak option, who over 20+ years has shown no sign of making a good PM. *Who isn't an MP*. And still he is seen as the King over the Water by some.
/ends
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
So despite the froth from today, I don't see how he goes.
Burnham is a clear sign of Labour's problem. Burnham is a weak option, who over 20+ years has shown no sign of making a good PM. *Who isn't an MP*. And still he is seen as the King over the Water by some.
/ends
Burnham is a clear sign of Labour's problem. Burnham is a weak option, who over 20+ years has shown no sign of making a good PM. *Who isn't an MP*. And still he is seen as the King over the Water by some.
/ends
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
There are some plausible people lower down the batting order, and what Starmer should do (if rational) is promote them on, at the expense of some of the old lags, with the expectation of going in 2028.
/5
/5
February 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
There are some plausible people lower down the batting order, and what Starmer should do (if rational) is promote them on, at the expense of some of the old lags, with the expectation of going in 2028.
/5
/5
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
The ICO has once again demonstrated its total unfitness for purpose by issuing a REPRIMAND (not an actual enforcement action) to an org which erroneously sent a patient’s entire medical history to their insurance company.
Why do we even bother?
ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Why do we even bother?
ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
GP surgery reprimanded after excessive medical history of terminally ill patient sent to insurer
We have reprimanded Staines Health Group for sending excessive medical details about a terminally ill patient to their insurance company.
ico.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 12:48 PM
The ICO has once again demonstrated its total unfitness for purpose by issuing a REPRIMAND (not an actual enforcement action) to an org which erroneously sent a patient’s entire medical history to their insurance company.
Why do we even bother?
ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Why do we even bother?
ico.org.uk/about-the-ic...
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 2, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I know you've heard that a federal judge ordered the release of 5 year old Liam Conejo Arias and his father, and that they're now home.
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
But did you look at the judge's order?
It's less than 2.5 pages and well worth a minute. "Jesus wept."
Link to pdf: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
People aren't even close to absorbing the economic / consumption implications of an ageing population, and we've had many years to think about that. So of course we're not close to thinking through greater defence spending.
There's a lot of talk about rearmament and breaking US dependence. I understand the logic completely. But I wonder if people have fully absorbed the economic/consumption implications of serious rearmament, especially when we also consider the state of public opinion and the information environment.
January 19, 2026 at 3:14 PM
People aren't even close to absorbing the economic / consumption implications of an ageing population, and we've had many years to think about that. So of course we're not close to thinking through greater defence spending.
I think the more intelligent you are and well informed you are about Shakespeare, the less you will enjoy it. I thought it was great!
To see or not to see.
* based on the below, no.
* based on the below, no.
Gosh I really didn't enjoy Hamnet at all.
I couldn't believe the they actually had Shakespeare wondering whether to jump into the Thames, declaiming "To be or not to be ...". Cringe-inducing.
I couldn't believe the they actually had Shakespeare wondering whether to jump into the Thames, declaiming "To be or not to be ...". Cringe-inducing.
January 17, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I think the more intelligent you are and well informed you are about Shakespeare, the less you will enjoy it. I thought it was great!
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
We have an ageing population, struggling public services, and climate change. People might want low taxes, no migrants and cheaper energy, but they also don't want to lie in a hospital corridor for hours or have their house flooded. You can win elections with magic thinking but can't govern with it.
January 16, 2026 at 8:06 AM
We have an ageing population, struggling public services, and climate change. People might want low taxes, no migrants and cheaper energy, but they also don't want to lie in a hospital corridor for hours or have their house flooded. You can win elections with magic thinking but can't govern with it.
Very disappointed that Harriet failed to use the evidence arising from Fiona's behaviour to Rachel. Reflects badly on lawyers generally. #TheTraitors
January 14, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Very disappointed that Harriet failed to use the evidence arising from Fiona's behaviour to Rachel. Reflects badly on lawyers generally. #TheTraitors
Just seen this after making the same point myself. I suspect so many of the image manipulators will have a lot of bad stuff on their hard drive.
And why not the Protection of Children Act 1978?
Under the act it is a criminal offence to take, permit to be taken, distribute, show, advertise or possess for distribution any indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child under the age of 16.
Under the act it is a criminal offence to take, permit to be taken, distribute, show, advertise or possess for distribution any indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child under the age of 16.
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Just seen this after making the same point myself. I suspect so many of the image manipulators will have a lot of bad stuff on their hard drive.
For obvious reasons, I have not investigated the images but accounts of some images, eg a child in a concentration camp bikini, sound indecent to me.
January 12, 2026 at 8:08 PM
For obvious reasons, I have not investigated the images but accounts of some images, eg a child in a concentration camp bikini, sound indecent to me.
In the rush to legislate re 'Grok pics', has enough attention been paid to the Protection of Children Act 1978, s 1. Prosecuting people in possession of images of any child (under 18!) which are indecent might serve to discourage its use. It sounds like many images are, in context, indecent. 1/2
January 12, 2026 at 8:07 PM
In the rush to legislate re 'Grok pics', has enough attention been paid to the Protection of Children Act 1978, s 1. Prosecuting people in possession of images of any child (under 18!) which are indecent might serve to discourage its use. It sounds like many images are, in context, indecent. 1/2
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
If only there was as much effort put into improving youth services, making sports, arts and crafts available and affordable, and making the physical environment more 'teen-friendly' as there is for banning kids from social media or taking their phones away.
January 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
If only there was as much effort put into improving youth services, making sports, arts and crafts available and affordable, and making the physical environment more 'teen-friendly' as there is for banning kids from social media or taking their phones away.
File under 'we don't need copy editors, AI tools will do all that'
🧪 Here's a science mystery to start the year.
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
January 12, 2026 at 9:24 AM
File under 'we don't need copy editors, AI tools will do all that'
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
🧪 Here's a science mystery to start the year.
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
January 11, 2026 at 11:34 PM
🧪 Here's a science mystery to start the year.
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
Why are species names for fish and plants appearing in the scientific literature in papers about firefighter injuries, hearing loss and heart attack?
Is it AI? Translation tools? Something else?
nobreakthroughs.substack.com/p/is-this-fi...
Reposted by Laurence Eastham
One of the biggest issues with English cricket is the constant need to view everything through one series
January 11, 2026 at 12:23 PM
One of the biggest issues with English cricket is the constant need to view everything through one series