Power grid jobs boom as UK energy shifts away from fossil fuels “Growth in hiring in networks comes as jobs are being rapidly shed in the UK’s offshore oil and gas sector, where employment has fallen by about one-third over the past decade” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Footprints in the snow A single blackbird but red squirrels seem to be having a party

No machinery, just tools made by hand of wood, stone, bone wielded with human determination. Brawn, brain, and collaborative effort (or to quote my @ecosiasearch.bsky.social AI pal: “Teams of people, coordinated, pulling with ropes, sometimes aided by animals.”) fayyoung.org/solstice-sun...

I have my moments of despair, the doomster feeling that we've cooked ourselves a new dark ages. But the solstice surprised me with an unexpected sense of primeval excitement at the turning of the year fayyoung.org/solstice-sun...

And climate change? Homo sapiens doesn’t care about tomorrow when they can take off for Christmas Bumper Christmas for air travel as 300mn take to the skies

#Bondi attacks show old hatreds are flourishing again “…social media has become a fire hose of toxic, racist content, whipped up both by some domestic politicians for their own ends and by external forces.” Stephen Bush @FT

Reading December’s RHS magazine I’m thinking how much politicians could learn from a pragmatic, creative, uplifting approach to climate change adaptation. Gardening shows a way to live well and within our means - and enjoy doing it too. Hands up any gardening politicians? #gardens #climatechange

A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.

This old post just popped up Raises some topical thoughts about political choices and budgets Who pays, who benefits, what does it cost, could the money be better spent?

“The SNP appears to have pulled off the political trick of staying in power even as it consistently fails to deliver – a combination mercilessly punished elsewhere.” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social on government (and voters) reluctance to get real #economy

Neither Keir Starmer nor Kemi Badenoch wants to reverse Brexit But, says Stephen Bush, UK politicians will, sooner or later, catch up with the public and decide to move closer to the EU, even if neither Starmer nor Badenoch is trying to lead us there.

Gusts up to 50mph still - a ‘strong gale’ on the Beaufort Scale my weather app tells me (StormBram thinks so too) From the window our trees are standing defiant, red squirrels foraging with ruffled tails, swans at the sluice hoping for a little extra something #woodlandgarden

“Macron and Starmer…are allowing Farage and Le Pen to set the agenda.” Tony O’Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on populist advance in US, UK and European “Under Donald Trump the US has moved from (unreliable) ally to become an actual enemy not just of the EU but the UK …”

“Unfortunately, no party is competing with Reform by being honest about the current state of affairs. Maybe if they did they would garner additional support. It’s difficult to see how some of their polling numbers could get much worse” John McLaren for @scepscot.bsky.social

John McLaren laments UK govt failings likely to push voters towards outlying political parties. “So far Reform are the chief beneficiaries, but their appeal is based on even wilder policy promises which are destined to fail on an even grander scale.” sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-b...

A fierce amount of brown water coming over the sluice, just fed our swan family and wished them well in the threatening storm #extremeweather #StormBram #climatechange

Sneak preview: two splendid new pieces by John McLaren and Tony O'Donnell for @scepscot.bsky.social on the failing governments of UK and France. Unable to make urgently needed reforms, Starmer and Macron are letting Farage and Le Pen set the agenda. Much to Trump's delight. #populism

“There is still hope in the handwriting that refuses to be mass-produced for the world.” Leena Norms Let me recommend the Advent Poetry Calendar by @annierutherford.bsky.social raising funds for #MSF This year’s selection fits the world we live in like a glove mailchi.mp/posteo/poetr...

#NHSScotland is unsustainable "The NHS in Scotland has not improved in line with commitments made by the Scottish Government, despite having more staff and more money." @auditscotland.bsky.social says Scottish Government must deliver reform plans youtu.be/oJHhvLyCh38?...

What happens when Scottish ministers dare not tell truth to power? Political marketing replaces deliverable policy. #FixingBrokenGovernment delivers constructive recommendations for radical reset, it’s essential cross-party reading before May 2026 sceptical.scot/2025/12/enou... #Scottishpolitics

That’s three red squirrels! We’re so lucky to see their acrobatics every day - when we leave the front door there’s a cheeky face peeking at us from behind the birch tree. A flick of the tail and he or she is up the tree.

And don’t miss the @fraserofallander.org podcast – clear, concise, and very human discussion of the key issues. Not least the ending of the 2 child cap (caps what exactly? why take so long? And what are the next moves to end child poverty?) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

FAI provides an extraordinary resource of informed scrutiny into that leaky bucket of... political mismanagement. "This is not normal' as @joaosousa.bsky.social summed up their 3 part preview. No word mincing in the swift reaction on Budget day either. fraserofallander.org/budget-2025-...

After months of Budget leaks the 'real' thing raises more questions – and probably much less money – than solutions. Where better to start @scepscot.bsky.social review than with @fraserofallander.org reactions. Here the latest bite into that chewy smorgasbord sceptical.scot/2025/11/fras...

Up with the larch. I wasn’t quick enough with the phone so please just believe me, I watched three squirrels chasing each other through the larch tree - a fantastic gravity-defying aerial display. Can’t imitate leaping from branch to branch but it’s a good morning to go for a walk.

"Muscatelli will be well aware of the forces of conservatism bent on undermining any such radical change." John McLaren responds to @antonmuscatelli.bsky.social report. Could Scotland risk a radical plan to revitalise failing regional economies? (No spoilers!) sceptical.scot/2025/11/musc...

“He was witty, challenging, irreverent and, above all, committed to making Scotland a better place.” Very nice tributes to David Gow growing on Sceptical Scot from contributors to the journal, close friends and people who only met him once. More to come sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...

A tribute I never expected to write. David Gow, a dear friend, mentor and co-founder of @scepscot.bsky.social has died far too soon #scotland #scottishpolitics #journalism sceptical.scot/2025/11/davi...

Monetising inattention “In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch” Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2

“We have shown…that it is possible to beat populist and extreme-right movements, and I am very eager to work with other parties to start a coalition as soon as possible”. The liberal D66 party is set to win parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, exit poll suggests on.ft.com/49qV5Cs

Private Eye.

Reform keep adding to their big pile of 30 per cent propositions, which both put them outside majority opinion but also don’t overlap that well. (The group most likely to get angry about adverts are mostly not into abortion restriction and/or anti-LGBT positioning)

“The government has raised employer NICs in a manner that weighs particularly heavily on sectors such as retail and hospitality which typically employ lots of youngsters.” Visible impact in hospitality! on.ft.com/4qy6aYF Lessons from success: how job prospects improved for the young

Starmer needs to get serious about governing — and quick Stephen Bush FT columnist and associate editor. Writing with feeling and frustration. Hits home. So many crises gone to waste. on.ft.com/3J52RaH Starmer needs to get serious about governing — and quick

“This government’s instincts are to be cautious. But being radical is by now the least risky course, for itself and the country. It must dare to embrace radical, pro-growth tax reforms.” Martin Wolf on.ft.com/3WZHcno The need to tighten UK fiscal policy is also an opportunity

Starting the morning and the week with our swan family. The cygnets are fairly growing. If I’m lucky I’ll snap a moment of their regular flying lessons on the pond Hope they put on a welcoming display for our garden visitors at tye weekend #birds #swans #scotlandsgardensscheme

Read more, and become infuriated, at the link below. If you are someone who believes in defending planning regulations, you need to find ways to stop idiots abusing them to stop sensible development like this: www.kentcurrent.news/p/protecting...

Why can’t I buy a small smartphone? “In other words, women must now live in a world in which phone manufacturers think we have hands the size of bears and jeans manufacturers think we have hands the size of pixies” on.ft.com/47hgVph Why can’t I buy a small smartphone?

‘Ultimately, whether “AI takes your job” isn’t up to AI. It’s just software. We need to take responsibility for actions and decisions made in the name of AI’ Confronting fears, obstacles and excuses @dougalperman.bsky.social in 3-part series for @scepscot.bsky.social sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

President Trump has used the shutdown to lay off thousands of workers and cancel an estimated $27 billion in funding for projects in Democratic cities and congressional districts.

Note Johnny 5's impeccable taste in journals! @scepscot.bsky.social @gowdav.bsky.social thanks to a little creative manipulation by @dougalperman.bsky.social #AI #analysis #scrutiny

Cutting through noise, fear, hype and ignorance, this 3part series by @dougalperman.bsky.social for @scepscot.bsky.social takes a cool look at #AI and why we must take control of the tools it offers if we are to protect our jobs, creativity and humanity sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

#AI what will its real impact be on the creative sector in Scotland and what are its benefits/risks to creatives: @dougalperman.bsky.social investigates in the first of a 3-part series - MUST READ! sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

On 30 October MSPs will debate the Natural Environment Bill - a vital opportunity to ensure that Scotland sets legally binding nature recovery targets. Help inspire MSPs to support meaningful action for nature by sharing these 40 powerful messages: www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/dear-msp-nat...

“Accept our apologies and this audiovisual library that illustrates the wondrous world that used to be.” In Bordeaux's wonderful Natural History Museum I think of EO Wilson's letter to the future, but there is hope in the clarity and courage of museum exhibitios fayyoung.org/gathering-se...

Proud Mother time Tommy Perman and Andrew Wasylyck are nominated for SayAward with Ash Grey and the Gull Glides On Voting closes tomorrow midnight (Wed 15 October) I’ve voted. It’s a great album on a great longlist, don’t envy judges on 6 Nov #SayAward #Scottish #Music www.sayaward.com

A holiday post from Bordeaux where, in the contemporary art gallery, artists from many nations respond to the crises of our time. They all strike a chord. This one with a special resonance #Bordeaux #art #globalcrisis

Calling all nature enthusiasts! 🐦 Sign up to our newsletter for #Birds in Greenspaces, our exciting new project that launches next Spring and focuses on publicly accessible greenspaces! 😀 Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates and resources ➡️ www.bto.org/get-involved... #Ornithology

The mutually assured destruction of kowtowing to climate-change denier Donald Trump on.ft.com/4nOrJSN The warped economics of insuring climate destruction via

Absolutely. Insane, inflammatory, utterly Maga