If some posts can be food for thought, here is a feast.

Only one life has been lost in one high speed crash in Spain before tonight. (Since 1992 launch of Ave) . This is horrific www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Today, Russia's "3 day operation" in Ukraine reaches the same duration as the Great Patriotic War - the Soviet Union's participation in World War 2. So sad and in awe of Ukraine. And so angry at the "geopolitical genius", Putin

What he said.

"essence of what the EU is about" Inflated sense of importance much? 🙄

So Trump feels he's on a roll. Greenland next, to be taken care of in 20 days. Haven't seen this in the anglophone press yet. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...

Fantastic new year thread...

Wishful thinking is still all the rage at the top of the UK govt. But the UK paying €10-20bn per year and adhering to all relevant product, financial, transport and trade regs (with no say in their formulation) in return for participation in the single market may be enticing for some member states

Another small pleasure of the Christmas period. Don't forget to get your copy!

I remember in 2015 Leavers were sure that being the 5th biggest economy would ensure great trade deals for the UK. They wouldn't listen to anyone (esp me): the top 3 economies were so big the UK would be like a chihuahua trying to mount a great dane, st Bernard and a Irish wolfhound.

So, one reason Starmer may be shown the door is that the Labour decide to do a 180 degree on the issue of EU membership...Just add it to the pile.

@davidheniguk.bsky.social May I just say I thought your contribution on the Matt Frei show was spot on. Clear and realistic.

Time for another A50?

A great example of how Brexit weakens Europe. And to think some still think Russia did not interfere in the 2016 vote:

Not only does Behr illuminate with some excellent points he does so with a lovely metaphore which makes reading them a pleasure www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

While (at last) there is a general acceptance that Brexit is causing huge economic damage, there is less realism as to what the UK needs to action if it wants to fix it As a start, the UK must stop trying to avoid hurting the feelings of Leave voters A little candour and honesty will go a long way

sad_trombone.wav

I think the market was heading this way already, but regulating the use of USB-C ports across a much wider range of electronic goods is a good thing. (And no doubt the UK will have to follow suit, in a clear demonstration of its new found sovereignty)

Let's go all the way to the finals...

In the Guardian there is an of outline 6 candidate tax increases that Rachel Reeves could take. All of them are very politically difficult, and all of their tax raising potential added together... ... are still less than half the amount of tax take by which Brexit has reduced treasury tax take.

Sums the reality up beautifully. A sum up of the sum up: The BBC did bad, but a level of bad that should not result in major damage. But then again they are dealing with Trump.

Projet Fear... 🙄 Economic stagnation + reduction in meaningful sovereignty = Brexit

Ghost ship appears in Wicklow (AKA, the benefits of getting out and about early doors)

Apropos nothing in particular..., I never thought Staten Island fitted in with the other 4 boroughs.

To all rugby reporters: Ireland were playing with one player less/fewer from the 2nd min. While trying to analyse why Ireland lost the match, will you please mention that fact or at least mention it before the 15th paragraph...

The more comes to light on the Letby case, the more I think the conviction was unsafe. Now it emerges that part of the case against her was that air was injected by her into baby C on the 13th June. Yet an x-ray on the 12th June showed air was already present. Letby was not on duty on the 12th.

Is tomorrow a work day? www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2...

First Brexit and now this... 😂 (Taken at La Rochelle airport today)

It's being said that Trump is not reshaping systems of international trade, but extracting the US from them. Truth:

In his first term the system of checks and balances held firm So far it has been too easy to fool ourselves that in this term they will do so again But Freedland is right: autocracy is unfolding before our eyes. It's time to recognise it for what it is www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Guess which one...

I was wondering why Trump banged on for so long earlier on the magical benefits of paper ballots.

Payola. That supposed new US "global" trade system seems to have as one of its core anchors simple bribery. www.ft.com/content/cd1a...

This is not going away... (and before any reply guys say, yes, "beyond reasonable doubt" is not the preferred phraseology these days.) www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

tHiS is noT A geNoCidE

observer.co.uk/news/opinion... Poor Bernard doesn't realise there is already a bloody and protracted war going on in Palestine.

Country Road Take Me Home by Toots and the Maytals. I'd forgotten how perfect it is. Thanks Femi Koleoso. #Radio6music

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Everytime I see the word "humiliation" in an analysis of international trade negotiations, I wonder if the authors realise what the important issues are.

#bbc #AnyAnswers. Please don't allow anyone parrotting Israeli black propaganda on to lie and defame. There can be no sensible discussion when lies and disinformation are continously being presented as fact. PS Anita Anand did well as possible to counter

I note once again the inability of UK to process outside information. There are very good reasons for Ireland to insist on the UK membership of the ECHR. UK is deaf and blind.

I for one am glad Wicklow County Council wisely denied homes for Lucifer and the hordes of hell in the locality...

After listening to Gary O'Donoghue's interview with Donald Trump on #BBCToday this morning, I'm going to get a T-shirt printed up with: "The power of positive non-thinking"

Excellent discussion on LBC just now. @lewisgoodall.com talking with Michael Oren, the former Israeli ambassador to the USA. IMHO, reasoned arguments disguising unreasonable actions. Lewis did a good job of forcing the ambassador to make illogical leaps to justify the horrors of Gaza.

Letby was found guilty of murdering Baby O:

I’m petrified about today’s science news. Genetically modifying crabs to have cheetah genes? This could go sideways fast.

Hell on earth

Still unconvinced that, at the very least, Israel is ethnic cleansing Gaza? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Is it any wonder the hospital was downgraded? Strengthens the opinion held by a growing number that the Countess of Chester hospital was a disaster area and Letby was collateral damage in what was an obviously sub par facility. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

😂