Ben Taylor
@vox-dei.bsky.social
Sci-fi, gaming, coding, some science (particularly marine/climate and remote sensing). Also random things that my cats or kids have done or grumping about politics, probably.
OK, I haven't paid attention to him for like 25 years (since they left the actual game out of Black & White). What'd he do?
February 11, 2026 at 10:48 PM
OK, I haven't paid attention to him for like 25 years (since they left the actual game out of Black & White). What'd he do?
See also: Both CEOs and football managers.
February 11, 2026 at 12:13 PM
See also: Both CEOs and football managers.
That's a risk in itself though. Do Reform have any dead-cert constituencies, if Clacton isn't? Does Farage parachuting in give them a bump because it's Farage or a negative because the constituents know he's been a useless constituency MP and is having to jump ship because of it?
February 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
That's a risk in itself though. Do Reform have any dead-cert constituencies, if Clacton isn't? Does Farage parachuting in give them a bump because it's Farage or a negative because the constituents know he's been a useless constituency MP and is having to jump ship because of it?
They're probably the group who aren't spending too much time online being saturated with outrage! I wonder how you do that...
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 AM
They're probably the group who aren't spending too much time online being saturated with outrage! I wonder how you do that...
I wonder what the polling numbers look like in Clacton. Wouldn't it be ironic if at the next election Reform won a lot of seats but Farage lost his owing to being completely uninterested in serving his constituency.
February 11, 2026 at 9:55 AM
I wonder what the polling numbers look like in Clacton. Wouldn't it be ironic if at the next election Reform won a lot of seats but Farage lost his owing to being completely uninterested in serving his constituency.
OK, three thoughts. When Macron is protectionist about European manufacturers, it is specifically French manufacturers he wants to protect. Others are incidental. It's not surprising that smaller countries with less manufacturing don't want to pay higher prices to prop up French early retirement.
February 11, 2026 at 9:51 AM
OK, three thoughts. When Macron is protectionist about European manufacturers, it is specifically French manufacturers he wants to protect. Others are incidental. It's not surprising that smaller countries with less manufacturing don't want to pay higher prices to prop up French early retirement.
Interesting, “We do not want to protect European businesses that are basically not competitive.”
Two thoughts:
1. That's exactly what the French want to do. And it is not axiomatic that doing so is bad, short term at least.
2. Agriculture subsidies.
Two thoughts:
1. That's exactly what the French want to do. And it is not axiomatic that doing so is bad, short term at least.
2. Agriculture subsidies.
February 11, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Interesting, “We do not want to protect European businesses that are basically not competitive.”
Two thoughts:
1. That's exactly what the French want to do. And it is not axiomatic that doing so is bad, short term at least.
2. Agriculture subsidies.
Two thoughts:
1. That's exactly what the French want to do. And it is not axiomatic that doing so is bad, short term at least.
2. Agriculture subsidies.
OK, and how often has he been in his actual constituency helping his constituents? Because reputedly the answer is "not much".
February 11, 2026 at 9:42 AM
OK, and how often has he been in his actual constituency helping his constituents? Because reputedly the answer is "not much".
Reposted by Ben Taylor
Anyway I'll be writing to Reform later to demand that they let me speak at their conference on the main stage.
If they refuse me they'll be showing themselves to be enemies of free speech
If they refuse me they'll be showing themselves to be enemies of free speech
February 10, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Anyway I'll be writing to Reform later to demand that they let me speak at their conference on the main stage.
If they refuse me they'll be showing themselves to be enemies of free speech
If they refuse me they'll be showing themselves to be enemies of free speech
I thought I remembered that but I didn't have time to go hunting for confirmation!
February 10, 2026 at 10:19 AM
I thought I remembered that but I didn't have time to go hunting for confirmation!
We have enough resources to resist that and to defend ourselves. Doing so in both cases obviously means not spending elsewhere, obviously either way it's a policy choice. But I agree with Macron that we urgently need to make that choice, either way.
(I'm British, but I'd include us in that!)
(I'm British, but I'd include us in that!)
February 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM
We have enough resources to resist that and to defend ourselves. Doing so in both cases obviously means not spending elsewhere, obviously either way it's a policy choice. But I agree with Macron that we urgently need to make that choice, either way.
(I'm British, but I'd include us in that!)
(I'm British, but I'd include us in that!)
I'm not sure that the biggest problem with Palantir is an indirect link to Peter Mandelson, unpleasant as he is. A direct link with Peter Thiel is a bigger issue for me!
February 10, 2026 at 9:38 AM
I'm not sure that the biggest problem with Palantir is an indirect link to Peter Mandelson, unpleasant as he is. A direct link with Peter Thiel is a bigger issue for me!
I mean, I would agree with "The US is openly hostile to Europe and wants it dismembered". Reasonable people can disagree about the solution to that, but the US is openly supporting far-right parties across Europe, and I believe there have been noises about wanting the EU to disintegrate?
February 10, 2026 at 9:37 AM
I mean, I would agree with "The US is openly hostile to Europe and wants it dismembered". Reasonable people can disagree about the solution to that, but the US is openly supporting far-right parties across Europe, and I believe there have been noises about wanting the EU to disintegrate?
It's lovely. When we go all nuclear armageddon (or asteroid armageddon, or whatever) down here, Elon's moonies will get a ringside seat while they're starving/dehydrating/asphyxiating to death because the supply launches from Earth stopped.
February 9, 2026 at 5:33 PM
It's lovely. When we go all nuclear armageddon (or asteroid armageddon, or whatever) down here, Elon's moonies will get a ringside seat while they're starving/dehydrating/asphyxiating to death because the supply launches from Earth stopped.
Someone called me on Christmas Eve afternoon trying to sell me broadband this past Christmas. I suggested to them this was not a good idea to avoid annoying their potential customers.
February 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Someone called me on Christmas Eve afternoon trying to sell me broadband this past Christmas. I suggested to them this was not a good idea to avoid annoying their potential customers.
He poked his fingers in a plug socket in between?
February 8, 2026 at 4:09 PM
He poked his fingers in a plug socket in between?
I'd say something about the Streisand Effect, but I'm pretty sure he's got enough attention on him already that this won't increase it. Much.
February 6, 2026 at 10:27 PM
I'd say something about the Streisand Effect, but I'm pretty sure he's got enough attention on him already that this won't increase it. Much.
...until they are forced to publicly back them when someone's behaviour becomes so egregious that it can no longer be plausibly denied. Then they must be demonised as a bad apple, lest questions be asked about structural problems.
February 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM
...until they are forced to publicly back them when someone's behaviour becomes so egregious that it can no longer be plausibly denied. Then they must be demonised as a bad apple, lest questions be asked about structural problems.
At lower levels, too - look at Wayne Couzens, reportedly nicknamed "The rapist" *by his colleagues in the police*.
The problem is that the professed values of the people in these circles are not actually their values at all...
The problem is that the professed values of the people in these circles are not actually their values at all...
February 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM
At lower levels, too - look at Wayne Couzens, reportedly nicknamed "The rapist" *by his colleagues in the police*.
The problem is that the professed values of the people in these circles are not actually their values at all...
The problem is that the professed values of the people in these circles are not actually their values at all...
We see this time and again though. Someone who everyone knows is problematic is allowed to continue that behaviour as long as it's deniable. Then they're demonised, like nobody knew and suddenly everybody is shocked.
It happened with Jimmy Saville, Harvey Weinstein, Epstein himself... now Mandelson
It happened with Jimmy Saville, Harvey Weinstein, Epstein himself... now Mandelson
February 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM
We see this time and again though. Someone who everyone knows is problematic is allowed to continue that behaviour as long as it's deniable. Then they're demonised, like nobody knew and suddenly everybody is shocked.
It happened with Jimmy Saville, Harvey Weinstein, Epstein himself... now Mandelson
It happened with Jimmy Saville, Harvey Weinstein, Epstein himself... now Mandelson
Gummi bearrrs, bouncing here and there and every-where...
February 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Gummi bearrrs, bouncing here and there and every-where...
Rather reminded me of this. From Brave New World.
February 6, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Rather reminded me of this. From Brave New World.
Clearly, the solution here is to ban politicians and billionaires from public toilets.
February 5, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Clearly, the solution here is to ban politicians and billionaires from public toilets.