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

This is excellent, especially for those of us who sceptically seek the best of information available. Remember chatbots are bots - not humans! Via @ftweekend.com on.ft.com/3IkM2be How chatbots are changing the internet

‘Thanks to increasing awareness of the negative aspects of fast fashion, there is a new interest in natural and sustainable fabric.’ www.hutton.ac.uk/blog/researc...

This 125Live! a great success for Perth city. Compliments and congratulations to the whole team @perthtch.bsky.social for sheer gutsy style and lovely warm welcome. Loved @waltdisco.bsky.social, last night, loved it all.

The ICC prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity + the crime of aggression. Do YOU agree that #ECOCIDE, mass destruction of the living world, should be added? Join the global movement & support this mission! stopecocide.earth#ECOCIDE, #StopEcocide

Out this week looking and listening for bats. Three years ago there were so many you lost count. Far fewer this year but good to see them out hunting on a mild night. They flew quite close which is kind of comfortable #bats #wildlife #gardens

Living among so many wild creatures encourages a sense of community. Family, even... Birds increasingly depend on the food we put out for them, red squirrels and swans too. Sharing nature notes about the place where I’m lucky to live fayyoung.org/pond-cottage... #birds #wildlife #gardening

The daily walk. Father giving mother a break. This was a few weeks ago. The cygnets are bigger now and sometimes they lead the way. There’s quite a trail of guano #swans #birds

Last week, we were out & about talking to the public in Glasgow! At a time when hostility can feel overwhelming, it was deeply heartwarming to hear how much love, compassion & solidarity is out there. The message was resoundingly clear: Refugees are welcome here! 🧡 #partofthebiggerpicture🧩

sceptical.scot/2025/08/gers... Why the underfunding in Scottish health? A good muscular analysis in Sceptical Scot - my Co-Ed @gowdav.bsky.social and I tried to put the journal to bed after the pandemic but there are too many serious issues to address, sadly often ignored by Scottish media

A snowstorm of feathers. Our swans are moulting faster and more visibly than I’ve seen before. Climate change does seem to be unsettling these beautiful intelligent birds. #birds

“Scottish health is being underfunded vs the UK as a whole,” Why? This analysis via Sceptical Scot is worth a read. Will an inquisitive journalist follow it up? GERS and what it tells us about the de-prioritisation of health spending in Scotland - Sceptical Scot

For sun-and-sea holidays, October is the new August @FT The silver lining to climate change? In that case, could Ayr, Blackpool, Harlech, Margate, Portrush, Scarborough, Skegness become new cool tourist attraction?

It’s good to see many local councils leaving verges and public green spaces to grow - I’ve not seen so many happy insects for a long time. Beautiful bees, butterflies, hoverflies - wasps too - feasting on flowers and grasses.

Ray Perman and @gowdav.bsky.social review #MakeItHappen “Graham has thrown away a story which was a genuine tragedy…” “Almost as if Graham lost his usual courage of conviction…” Make it happen: Fred the Shred goes head to head with Adam Smith - Sceptical Scot

Heatwaves test Europe’s electricity system As air conditioning use soars. In Florence a blackout had people stuck in elevators, forced the evacuation of a large department store, and led to many shops closing, as payment machines stopped functioning. The rising costs of climate change via FT

Good FT analysis on The great crime paradox via @FT “America and Britain are less dangerous than ever, but more disorderly than they have been in some time.” John Burn Murdoch on public perception ( manipulated by Trump and Farage)

I agree - we have a fine wasps nest in the eaves outside our bedroom window. No wasp has come into the bedroom though on hot days and nights the window is often open. Nice to see wasps among all kinds of pollinators burrowing into flowers everywhere in the garden.

Media network urges action to end forced starvation that threatens Gaza’s entire population, including journalists.

'Hello human, nice to meet you'

“Yesterday afternoon two of us were arrested. We spent nine hours locked up before being charged with aggravated trespass then released.” Led by Donkeys. Protesting what’s happening in Gaza is not terrorism

Solidarity with @ledbydonkeys.org

Happiness is a Scotch Thistle And we have lots of them at Pond Cottage so we should be very happy (when we’re not reading headlines) And the bees certainly are! #pollinators #wildlifegardens #scottishgardenscheme

It’s time to invest in communities and social homes, not private pockets. The government is handing money to companies that make huge profits from housing people seeking safety in appalling conditions. But this could be used to fund a joined-up, local approach to housing people seeking safety.

This was a kind of experiment. A short blogpost, a 2 minute read about feeling good because of good music. I'm an old school journalist and marvel at the popularity of the long-read. How did we find the time to write & read so many words? sceptical.scot/2025/07/forg...