@sciencesigh.bsky.social
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The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
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“Just do stuff!”
“Ok, we’re going to raise income tax and use the money to—“
“My focus group has started using a printout of your face as a dartboard.”
“Ok, we’re going to raise income tax and use the money to—“
“My focus group has started using a printout of your face as a dartboard.”
January 9, 2026 at 10:07 AM
“Just do stuff!”
“Ok, we’re going to raise income tax and use the money to—“
“My focus group has started using a printout of your face as a dartboard.”
“Ok, we’re going to raise income tax and use the money to—“
“My focus group has started using a printout of your face as a dartboard.”
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The bigger problem is that is Starmer going to wake up tomorrow and go “write, Rach, it’s time for you to introduce a defence and security levy?” No. No he will not.
January 4, 2026 at 10:59 AM
The bigger problem is that is Starmer going to wake up tomorrow and go “write, Rach, it’s time for you to introduce a defence and security levy?” No. No he will not.
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The decline of school bullying, football hooliganism and pub thuggery are all good things, but they do appear to have produced the most "never been in a fight" generation of academics ever. People used to know what the brink of violence actually looked like.
January 4, 2026 at 1:29 PM
The decline of school bullying, football hooliganism and pub thuggery are all good things, but they do appear to have produced the most "never been in a fight" generation of academics ever. People used to know what the brink of violence actually looked like.
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Today is the last day that you can repost this image
December 31, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Today is the last day that you can repost this image
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These fucking people.
“I just don’t know how you go around, asking everyone first. I just don’t see how that would work.”
From May 2025: www.theverge.com/news/674366/...
From May 2025: www.theverge.com/news/674366/...
December 31, 2025 at 12:05 AM
These fucking people.
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It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
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This is accurate and true but also I feel like I need to point out that we used to get stories like this ALL THE TIME.
This was the backbone of detective fiction, tons of TV, most superheroes and pulp heroes, etc. This is what they took from us.
This was the backbone of detective fiction, tons of TV, most superheroes and pulp heroes, etc. This is what they took from us.
my favorite thing about the benoit blanc movies is that they aren't really about benoit blanc. he is not grappling with demons from his past. we are not getting flashbacks to the husband whose murder he never solved. he just shows up and does his job like mary poppins for homicides
December 16, 2025 at 4:34 AM
This is accurate and true but also I feel like I need to point out that we used to get stories like this ALL THE TIME.
This was the backbone of detective fiction, tons of TV, most superheroes and pulp heroes, etc. This is what they took from us.
This was the backbone of detective fiction, tons of TV, most superheroes and pulp heroes, etc. This is what they took from us.
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👇 This sums up underlying problem with actually existing Brexit. The ways you actually maximise the benefits of Brexit run against the electoral coalition for Brexit, are not popular enough with Remainers, just end up with 'you're divorced, but you refuse to join Tinder or move out of your home'.
The Telegraph pushing liberal brexiteers and then hating every possible implementation of a liberal Brexit has been amusing over the years
December 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
👇 This sums up underlying problem with actually existing Brexit. The ways you actually maximise the benefits of Brexit run against the electoral coalition for Brexit, are not popular enough with Remainers, just end up with 'you're divorced, but you refuse to join Tinder or move out of your home'.
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Includes me exposing the myth that Cambridge somehow earned its way into its leadership position in UK life sciences. It didn't. Leeds was in the lead, and then the Medical Research Council in London picked Cambridge and London as winners because it was their mates.
December 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Includes me exposing the myth that Cambridge somehow earned its way into its leadership position in UK life sciences. It didn't. Leeds was in the lead, and then the Medical Research Council in London picked Cambridge and London as winners because it was their mates.
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The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
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 4:36 PM
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
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In terms of US politics, Bush v. Gore is the defining event of the century. It set the template: a ruthless right that instinctively seeks power & doesn't give a shit about rule of law...and a bunch of hapless, feckless octogenarian Dems worried about the good opinion of centrist opinion columnists.
The 25th anniversary of Bush v Gore is today. The conspiracy mongering & corruption of the GOP has been brewing for a long time.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Here's Sandra Day O'Connor endorsing News Max levels of voter fraud conspiracies in the 2000 election.
December 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
In terms of US politics, Bush v. Gore is the defining event of the century. It set the template: a ruthless right that instinctively seeks power & doesn't give a shit about rule of law...and a bunch of hapless, feckless octogenarian Dems worried about the good opinion of centrist opinion columnists.
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Free speechwriting tip for the PM: www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
December 4, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Free speechwriting tip for the PM: www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
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it's that time of year when a bunch of people start pretending their personal distaste for the avatar franchise can bend reality in their favor against the inevitable tide of james "big jim" cameron's next guaranteed blockbuster smash hit. you can ignore them, they are fools
December 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
it's that time of year when a bunch of people start pretending their personal distaste for the avatar franchise can bend reality in their favor against the inevitable tide of james "big jim" cameron's next guaranteed blockbuster smash hit. you can ignore them, they are fools
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I have talked about this a number of times, politicians are trying to bring attention to the issue, but it's not getting attention from the media.
They spend too much time covering Reform opening an envelope.
youtu.be/0_UZQZsipoY
They spend too much time covering Reform opening an envelope.
youtu.be/0_UZQZsipoY
Luke Taylor MP on doing more to keep Londoners safe in their homes
YouTube video by Luke Taylor MP - Sutton & Cheam
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I have talked about this a number of times, politicians are trying to bring attention to the issue, but it's not getting attention from the media.
They spend too much time covering Reform opening an envelope.
youtu.be/0_UZQZsipoY
They spend too much time covering Reform opening an envelope.
youtu.be/0_UZQZsipoY
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Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
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Amazing oversize book bursting with art, info & great design, all about being a Pict in 690CE. Is an academic text, an illustrated all-ages book & a TTRPG sourcebook all at once. (Hepped to me via @kierongillen.bsky.social's lap.) carvedinstone.scot
Carved in Stone
A storyteller's guide to Pictland. Available now!
carvedinstone.scot
November 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Amazing oversize book bursting with art, info & great design, all about being a Pict in 690CE. Is an academic text, an illustrated all-ages book & a TTRPG sourcebook all at once. (Hepped to me via @kierongillen.bsky.social's lap.) carvedinstone.scot
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Breaking character: I am open to the idea the media's coverage of Biden's age and mental acuity was fair or perhaps not even tough enough. But the fact that it was so much tougher than the coverage of Trump's (more severe) mental decline is damning and I can't see how anyone could argue otherwise.
NYT isn’t worth reading because they are in the bag for Trump
November 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Breaking character: I am open to the idea the media's coverage of Biden's age and mental acuity was fair or perhaps not even tough enough. But the fact that it was so much tougher than the coverage of Trump's (more severe) mental decline is damning and I can't see how anyone could argue otherwise.
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I'm not a politician – I don't have voters to keep happy. I'm not a journalistic commentator – I don't have a readership to keep happy.
I just make comments. That's it.
So here's another comment: on the basis of Peston's Lam interview, he should be fired and be made to clear his desk immediately.
I just make comments. That's it.
So here's another comment: on the basis of Peston's Lam interview, he should be fired and be made to clear his desk immediately.
And has @itvpeston.bsky.social plugged his f*cking brain in yet (on this subject)?
October 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I'm not a politician – I don't have voters to keep happy. I'm not a journalistic commentator – I don't have a readership to keep happy.
I just make comments. That's it.
So here's another comment: on the basis of Peston's Lam interview, he should be fired and be made to clear his desk immediately.
I just make comments. That's it.
So here's another comment: on the basis of Peston's Lam interview, he should be fired and be made to clear his desk immediately.
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How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
October 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
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Equally though, if we ask ourselves what a centre-right pitch to the actual existing UK’s problems would be: tax reform, co-payment in the NHS, something like May’s dementia tax, scrap the new deal and renters rights bill, more money for local govt scrap the BSA…not sure people would vote for it?
August 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Equally though, if we ask ourselves what a centre-right pitch to the actual existing UK’s problems would be: tax reform, co-payment in the NHS, something like May’s dementia tax, scrap the new deal and renters rights bill, more money for local govt scrap the BSA…not sure people would vote for it?
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The UK is looking like a comparatively safe place to undertake scientific research over the next few years, but will we take advantage of the opportunity?
Last year science and technology sectors earned £164 billion for the UK economy but the figure is "nowhere where it could be”, according to the President of
@imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Hugh Brady ... 🧵
@imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Hugh Brady ... 🧵
February 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The UK is looking like a comparatively safe place to undertake scientific research over the next few years, but will we take advantage of the opportunity?