On Sunday I traveled to the middle of the desert to capture this: The ISS against our sun. What I didn't expect: the sun producing a magnificent flare at the same time A once-in-a-lifetime shot I'm thrilled to share with you. See the uncropped shot or get the print in the reply

Wow

It does seem to me that the Police’s priorities, leadership and knowledge of the law are all over the place when examples like this occur. www.theguardian.com/education/ng... www.theguardian.com/education/ng...

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind: indeed so many answers, blowing all over the place

If Rachel Reeves wants a simple, low-cost yet progressive tax reform, this is it, writes tax expert Dan Neidle for @thehousemag.bsky.social: Nobody, particularly the vulnerable, should face a late filing penalty when they don’t owe any tax — this unfair system must change

Whenever I feel bad About not really understanding politics and economics, the government of the day does something to show they don’t understand politics and economics either. #gilts #budget

The St  Andrews Chronicles, one of the most important manuscript histories of Scotland, is going on public display for the first time in its 500-year history, at the University's Wardlaw Museum. Read more 👇 https://ow.ly/5hUn50XrP9P #EverToExcel

I think part of the problem is essentially the hivemind lesson from that election was 'leave the election stuff to the election guys' which is why you get the 2019 and 2024 election strategies of "just promise them whatever they are asking for and worry about it later".

Dear Lord, I think this every time @danneidle.bsky.social produces something. I just go “this is genius, given away for free, he’s even a LABOUR PARTY MEMBER!! Rachel, are you reading this? Rachel? RACHEL???”

It’s a general problem with a lot of “Left” tax advocacy. Thinking that the problem is real, the motive is good, and therefore the solution is correct. But that misses a step: what will the consequences be? I've written about this: buff.ly/he6atH1

Could it be that when you tax a thing, you get less of it?

the BBC should apologise with a montage of all the times Trump showed support for 6 Jan and they should get the person who does the end of World Cup montage to do it

Also. So in other words, a considered judgment shows no real evidence for the hysteria: and the vast majority of the violence and public disorder does not come from asylum seekers, but from the people “protesting” about them.

Journalist, "Farage accused the BBC of election interference" Ed Davey, "The interference we've seen is from Farage's friend, Putin" "We've seen Russian interference in the most appalling way"

These people are definitely well qualified to run a major political party with executive power.

A misty and atmospheric morning for a Sussex remembrance.

The UK is making it abundantly clear that it is closed for business: (1/2) bsky.app/profile/heta...

Somehow missed this excellent piece last week.

Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.

This. A thousand times this.

An excellent article, introducing people who should either know better, or be more financially literate, to the basics of profitability…

Having just seen an *electric* performance of “5 Minutes” by the Stranglers last night, all I can say is “be more Jean-Jacques Burnel”

Another great policy from the government of growth.

Last chance to turn it off. On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default. To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.

Is it really “profiteering” though? Let’s think about buying this tiny crappy terraced house in East London with 2 beds www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...

Genius

open.substack.com/pub/davekarp... This is an excellent and frightening piece - the AI bubble may be built on accounting fraud that the Trump admin is actively encouraging

I often see a lazy equation of Scotland and Wales as some sort of put upon anti-colonial Celtic fringe - but they are clearly very different. Wales voted for Brexit, and seems happier to embrace right wing English nationalism than left wing Welsh nationalism.

The politicians aren’t hoping we’ll forget about them: they’re hoping they can pin the blame on immigrants and trans people (the Jews and the Gays can’t be far behind..)

Every A.I. CEO is like “We invented a robot that can fuck your wife so you have more free time to mow the lawn!”

Ouch

Met my partner, got a book contract, found an audience, built a career, made countless friends, been endlessly delighted and educated by people smarter than myself. I'm not sure it makes up for the corrosion of democracy exactly, but I've personally had a pretty good time.

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

Worth it just for Jenny Marx’s question game with Marx and Engels at the end…

Morning.

David is slightly unfair. There is a clear difference here. Conservatives and Reform plan to forcibly expel large numbers of people who are legal, permanent residents of migrant origin. The BNP proposal is voluntary.

Probably of relevance only to me, but the news that they are going back on the road reduced me to tears. Have missed them so much. #Rush www.instagram.com/reel/DPeFPnq...

Just… awful.

JFC. I have no words.

Excellent, if depressing, article by @lewisgoodall.com - describes exactly the lack of any underlying, driving political values or objectives behind Starmer or Labour.

If you feel the need to do something in the wake of the Manchester attack why not donate to the Community Security Trust, the organisation that works to keep jews in Britain safe cst.org.uk/donate-now

If you don’t like being called a racist, maybe don’t make a career of saying things that appeal to racists, don’t create a political party that keeps attracting racist candidates, don’t fawn over racist world leaders, and don’t make a convicted racist the guest of honour at your party conference.

Over decades we have reduced racism by making it fucking socially unacceptable for racist pond life to espouse their views without it being made *completely clear* to them that this illiberal, anti-scientific and morally bankrupt bullshit is NOT ON. No cuddles and understanding for this behaviour.

Some very hard hitting analysis coming out today. I’m glad we have people like @benansell.bsky.social and @stephenkb.bsky.social able to wade through and dissect the laughable “memo” going around Labour MPs. I had fallen asleep long before I finished it.

This is an excellent piece of analysis

No, no - we're all comedy caricatures up past Watford Gap. It's why 40% of the mark on my Ancient Egyptian Literature module here at Manchester this semester is actually for successfully stealing hubcaps, 40% for whippet training, and 20% for an interpretative dance about Brookside.

This is the powerfully disturbing reality of the state’s treatment of trans people over the last two decades (made worse by the shifting goalposts on the recognition of same sex relationships)

The AfD qualified for three mayoral run-offs in cities in North Rhine-Westphalia today, and lost all by big margins. The lesson is not that we have overdone the AfD's rise, but that we do perhaps sometimes underestimate the counter-mobilisation effects - including in east Germany, incidentally.

As Ta-Nehisi Coates points out to Ezra Klein (who doesn't listen), for a certain % of the population hatred is an energy is in its own right, not merely an unfortunate response to difficult circumstances. It is not rational or appeasable or a symptom of something else