Mount Fuji still clearly visible in the evening.

A bit difficult to see, but a clear view of Mount Fuji this morning.

Spotted at Enoshima.

Having Italian tonight at Saizeriya.

A little coffee break at Haneda.

Caroling at Helsinki Vantaa.

He is looking much better today.

The skies over Loughborough station this morning.

This talk of Europeans selling off US Treasuries: it would likely drive down the prices, so the Europeans will lose a lot of money in the process.

So, how is China responding to the US NSS on Taiwan? With the same level of histrionics as with Takaichi?

From the CWS ARCHIVE. 4th June 2024.

Clash of civilizations 2.0--led by the US.

Seems like the US is gearing-up for a battle of civilizations, or dare I say, a global race war.

It is a truly dangerous world.

英国はインフラ投資はおろかインフラの質がメチャクチャだ。その上、インフラ管理・運営能力も相当劣化している。

"However, IR’s intention to source equipment from European suppliers is likely to encounter resistance from Japan." Deja vu all over again.... www.railjournal.com/passenger/hi...

Looking forward to welcoming visitors to our @lborouniversity.bsky.social @irph.bsky.social Open Day!

What is so difficult about NOT clicking the "reply-all"?

The early flu season in England continues to build, while the latest Covid wave continues to recede. Latest UKHSA hospital admission data up to 27 Oct.

近頃の発メロ・駅メロ・乗降促進音、どれもニュース番組のオープニング曲の様に聞こえてしまう。

Rail connectivity getting in the way of China's belt and road connectivity? www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/hu...

Our new article is out - we conducted experimental Citizen-Expert Panels to find out, how mini-publics on climate change work. And we've come up with a neat typology of mini-publics mechanisms. Open Access: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

The European Commission is working in tandem with national governments and Nato to co-ordinate the sharing of trucks, rail carriages and ferries that can carry tanks and heavy artillery across the continent in case of war ft.trib.al/6uHvIBU

A bit of trainspotting on the way to work.

Found on the Loughborough station platform.

A majestic Great Western Hall at Loughborough Central on the GCR.

Sensing that BR branch line feeling at Leicester North.

ディワリの花火があちこちで上がってる。まぁ、お祝いだから良いけど、何だか戦闘地域に居るような錯覚を起こす。

"The Russian business community, on the other hand, is not entirely happy with the change." Some people might be better off staying away from windows and stairs. www.railjournal.com/freight/russ...

English universities can raise tuition fees if they meet ‘tough’ standards, says Phillipson

Seems @eastmidsrailway.bsky.social has given up on the seat reservation system. Another service where it is not working. Going on for quite some time now.

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season. TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible. christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

石破の80年談話に目を通したが、丸山眞男の言う「天皇制における無責任の体系」を中心に展開された言説ではあり、一部ネトウヨの間で物議をかもしているようだが、なんら当たり障りのない至極正当な内容のものと言えよう。 ただ、山室信一が唱える「思想課題としてのアジア」的考察が抜け落ちていたように思う。あの時代の問題点は内部的・（超）憲法的な事と同時に、日本のアジア観の問題でもあるわけで、この点が抜けているのは少し残念な気がしてならない。 もちろん、安部談話の「気が付けば真珠湾」的な右翼にありがちなナレティブよりはずっとすっきりしている。村山談話とセットとして捉えると良いのかもしれない。

Takaichi could cooperate on policy with Tamaki and his DPFP, but he's not going to deliver the votes that Komeito could (tbh I'm putting it politely) and a lot of LDP seats just got a lot more vulnerable whenever the next election happens

Komeito to leave the coalition.

今回の東急の事故、「欧米の鉄道は事故前提で設計されていてけしからん」云々と言う輩に再考の機会になるかなとも思いしや、いや、それは所詮無理なことなんだろうな、と思う。

A glitch in the space-time continuum at Leicester.

日本が少子高齢化を脱せない理由がまた一つここに。

🚨EXCLUSIVE ‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem Insiders reveal that the former MEP - convicted of bribery for his part in the Kremlin’s strategic plan to crush Ukrainian independence - was one of Farage’s closest aides bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/t...

Japan's LDP makes the same mistake made by other right-of-centre parties in the West. Imitating bigots and racists will only result in handing power to them. The Japanese extreme right's cut & paste prewar nationalism will lead Japan into darkness. Dark days ahead for Japan.

Dark ages have arrived in Japan as well

"The announcement comes against the backdrop of China’s growing rail infrastructure development near India’s northeastern borders, with the Indian government accelerating efforts to strengthen connectivity in the region in recent years." www.railjournal.com/infrastructu...

Super duper dry....

"UNIFE has called on the European Commission to ‘deter’ non-EU companies from bidding for EU public contracts if their home markets are not open to EU suppliers". Now, where does that put Hitachi? www.railwaygazette.com/rail-supplie...

"EU rules make it complicated to finance international rail routes, while aviation ‘enjoys tax exemptions that amount to a hidden subsidy of €30–40 per plane ticket'." www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/pa...

i've seen so many articles on this today, and not a single one so far has pointed out that where "not taking any benefits payments" is concerned, you have no access to public funds on a visa. this has been the case for years. but nobody, from the BBC down, will challenge this or anything else