Dr Stylite
@columnist.bsky.social
‘The view from the column is ever distant’
Pinned
Quelques Feuilles / Some Leaves
New thing - this is a part of a much larger work. Each square comprises 4 of the colours of an actual leaf collected over a series of walks, and then photographed, uploaded, compiled and arranged in chronological order. The entire work has 144 leaves and 576 colours.
New thing - this is a part of a much larger work. Each square comprises 4 of the colours of an actual leaf collected over a series of walks, and then photographed, uploaded, compiled and arranged in chronological order. The entire work has 144 leaves and 576 colours.
I agree. Also note that some not inconsequential journalists have picked up on this.
I get the feeling this latest letter from the OBR - setting out what forecasts it provided and when to the government - may be quite consequential
November 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I agree. Also note that some not inconsequential journalists have picked up on this.
Felix having a quick nap under the table in the kitchen
November 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Felix having a quick nap under the table in the kitchen
Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
1. Minotaur at a pub off Bethnal Green Road
2. A disgruntled (and lost) leprechaun in Saxmundham
3. A manticore buying milk at the Franprix on rue de longchamp
4. A mermaid washed up on plage Aber (she was ok)
5. Dragons (everywhere)
1. Minotaur at a pub off Bethnal Green Road
2. A disgruntled (and lost) leprechaun in Saxmundham
3. A manticore buying milk at the Franprix on rue de longchamp
4. A mermaid washed up on plage Aber (she was ok)
5. Dragons (everywhere)
Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
- Absolute unit ginger and white neighbour cat called Buddy
- grey squirrels everywhere
- effing foxes shitting on my garden sofa
- bloody rats terraforming my flowerbed
- several mice brought indoors by Daphne
- Absolute unit ginger and white neighbour cat called Buddy
- grey squirrels everywhere
- effing foxes shitting on my garden sofa
- bloody rats terraforming my flowerbed
- several mice brought indoors by Daphne
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
- beaver (in Scotland)
- platypus (in Queensland)
- skunk (in California)
- raccoon (in Massachusetts)
- boar (in Italy)
- beaver (in Scotland)
- platypus (in Queensland)
- skunk (in California)
- raccoon (in Massachusetts)
- boar (in Italy)
November 28, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Introduce yourself with five animals you've seen in the wild:
1. Minotaur at a pub off Bethnal Green Road
2. A disgruntled (and lost) leprechaun in Saxmundham
3. A manticore buying milk at the Franprix on rue de longchamp
4. A mermaid washed up on plage Aber (she was ok)
5. Dragons (everywhere)
1. Minotaur at a pub off Bethnal Green Road
2. A disgruntled (and lost) leprechaun in Saxmundham
3. A manticore buying milk at the Franprix on rue de longchamp
4. A mermaid washed up on plage Aber (she was ok)
5. Dragons (everywhere)
👀👀👀👀👀👀
AI SHOPPING COMES WITH ITS OWN PERILS THIS BLACK FRIDAY
November 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
👀👀👀👀👀👀
@stephenkb.bsky.social omg in strange serendipity with your newsletter and AM I looked up yesterday the UK’s current net annual births - deaths (= about -17k).
November 28, 2025 at 10:02 AM
@stephenkb.bsky.social omg in strange serendipity with your newsletter and AM I looked up yesterday the UK’s current net annual births - deaths (= about -17k).
Reposted by Dr Stylite
Another Alphaville substack going out later today. You can sign up for it here (it's freee) substack.com/@ftav
FT Alphaville | Substack
We're the FT's finance blog. If it's dumb, delightful or just weird and involves money we're probably interested in it.
substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Another Alphaville substack going out later today. You can sign up for it here (it's freee) substack.com/@ftav
BBC News is also a good example. Historically technocratic, sees the world is changing, attempts to compensate through bothsidesism (effectively procedural populism), fails to please anyone and in so doing compromises its essential quality (technocracy).
Combine those various factors and you get the current Labour government and its weird mix of economic and social policies and at the same time its apparent inability to make progress / do better.
November 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
BBC News is also a good example. Historically technocratic, sees the world is changing, attempts to compensate through bothsidesism (effectively procedural populism), fails to please anyone and in so doing compromises its essential quality (technocracy).
Still on my nonsense, but if one agrees that one of the symptoms / effects of post modernism is the mixing of high and low / popular culture then government by focus group feels like a perfect example of PM in an electoral context (electionification ~ procedural populism).
It's part of the electionification of everything, which is why we as a country are failing to have a proper conversation about our actual problems. It's bad for the left *and* the right.
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Still on my nonsense, but if one agrees that one of the symptoms / effects of post modernism is the mixing of high and low / popular culture then government by focus group feels like a perfect example of PM in an electoral context (electionification ~ procedural populism).
For reasons that pass all understanding I am now reading Fredric Jameson’s Modernism.
November 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
For reasons that pass all understanding I am now reading Fredric Jameson’s Modernism.
How on earth they’ll find the money to replace Trident is completely beyond me.
Btw I don't think it is good that UK voters and governments from both ex-main parties seem to care less and less about the effective practice of the military way rather than pantomime militarism.
But many need to stop kidding themselves about the state of UK defence politics
But many need to stop kidding themselves about the state of UK defence politics
November 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM
How on earth they’ll find the money to replace Trident is completely beyond me.
Reposted by Dr Stylite
Annual Thanksgiving blog post! This year we are giving thanks for "information."
www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2025/11...
www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2025/11...
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Annual Thanksgiving blog post! This year we are giving thanks for "information."
www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2025/11...
www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2025/11...
Raising taxes is the right sort of progressive compromise for better public services etc. The problem (among other problems) is that the progressive pleasing nature of the budget (on the left hand) is entirely compromised by the authoritarian nature of immigration policy etc (on the right hand).
November 27, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Raising taxes is the right sort of progressive compromise for better public services etc. The problem (among other problems) is that the progressive pleasing nature of the budget (on the left hand) is entirely compromised by the authoritarian nature of immigration policy etc (on the right hand).
Uncertainty can be thought about either positively (opportunity / aspiration) or negatively (fear / precarity).
November 27, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Uncertainty can be thought about either positively (opportunity / aspiration) or negatively (fear / precarity).
Actually quite good?
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Actually quite good?
In the market for a new handheld blender thingummy. Any recommendations? @rich-bryant.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
In the market for a new handheld blender thingummy. Any recommendations? @rich-bryant.uk
If you’re going to present a budget in difficult times with your popularity at a low ebb I guess there’s something to be said by getting the omnishambles out of the way in the few weeks beforehand and even on the day.
November 26, 2025 at 4:58 PM
If you’re going to present a budget in difficult times with your popularity at a low ebb I guess there’s something to be said by getting the omnishambles out of the way in the few weeks beforehand and even on the day.
Lots of stuff in here for trade fans but the OBR has *not* changed its 4% impact of Brexit over 15 years estimate. Had been quite heavily rumoured this would change but non. obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Lots of stuff in here for trade fans but the OBR has *not* changed its 4% impact of Brexit over 15 years estimate. Had been quite heavily rumoured this would change but non. obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
HEY EVERYONE THE OBR REPORT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
HEY EVERYONE THE OBR REPORT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
‘Asking’
UK'S REEVES: TODAY I AM ASKING EVERYONE TO MAKE A TAX CONTRIBUTION
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
‘Asking’
Yes please.
My Bloody Valentine whip up a sonic maelstrom on the London stage on.ft.com/3LU1MUb
My Bloody Valentine whip up a sonic maelstrom on the London stage
Kevin Shields’ reunited band brought their formidable sound — and some fluffs and stumbles — to the OVO Arena Wembley
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Yes please.
Well at least this is proper gaiety of the nation territory
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Well at least this is proper gaiety of the nation territory
This is broadly where I am.
Sur cette base, le scénario suivant devient tout à fait envisageable :
➡️Philippe se hisse au second tour malgré une base de premier tour très faible
➡️Face à Bardella, le front républicain se réactive et il est élu avec ~53-54%
1/2
➡️Philippe se hisse au second tour malgré une base de premier tour très faible
➡️Face à Bardella, le front républicain se réactive et il est élu avec ~53-54%
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This is broadly where I am.
I have thoughts on this excellent piece which (naturally) I agree with.
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I have thoughts on this excellent piece which (naturally) I agree with.
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
What might have caused this strange absence of attention to substance which we find across government, opposition, and criticism / commentary (the cult of savviness)?
Closer than I thought tbh
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
New poll suggests Jordan Bardella would win second round of 🇫🇷 presidential election against any other of four tested candidates ⬇️
New poll suggests Jordan Bardella would win second round of 🇫🇷 presidential election against any other of four tested candidates ⬇️
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Closer than I thought tbh
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.