Marcus Chown
@marcuschown.bsky.social
Writer. Books include A Crack in Everything, Breakthrough, The Ascent of Gravity, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand, Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You & Solar System for iPad. See www.marcuschown.com
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Marcus Chown
@marcuschown.bsky.social
· Jan 5
"The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening."
- Rosa Luxemburg
- Rosa Luxemburg
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Yes, the NHS budget will always increase, just as the price of a loaf of bread I buy will always increase.
The key question is: Has the NHS budget kept up with rising demand due to increasing population, people living longer, people being sick for longer, etc.
The answer is a categorical: no.
The key question is: Has the NHS budget kept up with rising demand due to increasing population, people living longer, people being sick for longer, etc.
The answer is a categorical: no.
One thing they keep banging on about is Historically High tax income.
Surely inflation means it should be historically high, like most people's wages, utility bills etc.
The NHS budget is historically high but everyone knows it has had several real term cuts.
Surely inflation means it should be historically high, like most people's wages, utility bills etc.
The NHS budget is historically high but everyone knows it has had several real term cuts.
November 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Yes, the NHS budget will always increase, just as the price of a loaf of bread I buy will always increase.
The key question is: Has the NHS budget kept up with rising demand due to increasing population, people living longer, people being sick for longer, etc.
The answer is a categorical: no.
The key question is: Has the NHS budget kept up with rising demand due to increasing population, people living longer, people being sick for longer, etc.
The answer is a categorical: no.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Health service inflation estimated at ~4% (population increase, people living longer, ill for longer etc)
NHS yearly increase for 14 yrs has been less than 1%.
You can’t cut NHS by ~3% a year for 14 yrs & expect efficiency savings.
Things are cut to the bone & beyond.
I know. My wife is a nurse.
NHS yearly increase for 14 yrs has been less than 1%.
You can’t cut NHS by ~3% a year for 14 yrs & expect efficiency savings.
Things are cut to the bone & beyond.
I know. My wife is a nurse.
Public services are largely paid for by a combination taxes, NI and fees. Surely better public services can be achieved through productivity gains as well as increased funding… but never something for nothing.
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Health service inflation estimated at ~4% (population increase, people living longer, ill for longer etc)
NHS yearly increase for 14 yrs has been less than 1%.
You can’t cut NHS by ~3% a year for 14 yrs & expect efficiency savings.
Things are cut to the bone & beyond.
I know. My wife is a nurse.
NHS yearly increase for 14 yrs has been less than 1%.
You can’t cut NHS by ~3% a year for 14 yrs & expect efficiency savings.
Things are cut to the bone & beyond.
I know. My wife is a nurse.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Totally agree.
Government finances are entirely different from personal finances.
Nobody has a money printing press.
The govt does.
However, our financial journalists continue to spread financial illiteracy, with talk of “balancing in the books“, “maxing out on the country’s credit cards“ etc
Government finances are entirely different from personal finances.
Nobody has a money printing press.
The govt does.
However, our financial journalists continue to spread financial illiteracy, with talk of “balancing in the books“, “maxing out on the country’s credit cards“ etc
I wish we could have a more honest discussion about how government finances actually work. If I see another paper suggest the chancellor has to ‘balance the books’ as if the government was a business…
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Totally agree.
Government finances are entirely different from personal finances.
Nobody has a money printing press.
The govt does.
However, our financial journalists continue to spread financial illiteracy, with talk of “balancing in the books“, “maxing out on the country’s credit cards“ etc
Government finances are entirely different from personal finances.
Nobody has a money printing press.
The govt does.
However, our financial journalists continue to spread financial illiteracy, with talk of “balancing in the books“, “maxing out on the country’s credit cards“ etc
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Taxes to do not pay for public services. Govt money creation, mainly via the issuing of bonds, does. But, putting aside that lie, I would pay more tax for better public services. The problem is so much has been privatised that our taxes are creamed off by profiteering private firms. That I object to
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Taxes to do not pay for public services. Govt money creation, mainly via the issuing of bonds, does. But, putting aside that lie, I would pay more tax for better public services. The problem is so much has been privatised that our taxes are creamed off by profiteering private firms. That I object to
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Yes, so many Tory MPs repeatedly lied that the NHS had received the £350 million extra a week.
Galling for NHS staff struggling to provide a service for patients and having to endure members of the public saying: Why are you struggling when you’ve been given all that (non-existent) extra money?
Galling for NHS staff struggling to provide a service for patients and having to endure members of the public saying: Why are you struggling when you’ve been given all that (non-existent) extra money?
That lie was compounded when they were asked where it was, and the Tories simply said the money had been put into budget as promised.
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Yes, so many Tory MPs repeatedly lied that the NHS had received the £350 million extra a week.
Galling for NHS staff struggling to provide a service for patients and having to endure members of the public saying: Why are you struggling when you’ve been given all that (non-existent) extra money?
Galling for NHS staff struggling to provide a service for patients and having to endure members of the public saying: Why are you struggling when you’ve been given all that (non-existent) extra money?
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Not only did Brexit not provide any extra money for the NHS - as liar-in-chief Boris Johnson promised - but Brexit is impoverishing the UK each year by an amount of money not far off the annual NHS budget.
Thanks Farage.
Thanks Farage.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Not only did Brexit not provide any extra money for the NHS - as liar-in-chief Boris Johnson promised - but Brexit is impoverishing the UK each year by an amount of money not far off the annual NHS budget.
Thanks Farage.
Thanks Farage.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
The secret of how electricity powers the world:
The electric force is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times stronger than the force of gravity
Chatting to Jonathan McCrea on Future Proof about The One Thing You Need to Know www.newstalk.com/podcasts/fut...
#science #universe
The electric force is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times stronger than the force of gravity
Chatting to Jonathan McCrea on Future Proof about The One Thing You Need to Know www.newstalk.com/podcasts/fut...
#science #universe
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The secret of how electricity powers the world:
The electric force is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times stronger than the force of gravity
Chatting to Jonathan McCrea on Future Proof about The One Thing You Need to Know www.newstalk.com/podcasts/fut...
#science #universe
The electric force is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times stronger than the force of gravity
Chatting to Jonathan McCrea on Future Proof about The One Thing You Need to Know www.newstalk.com/podcasts/fut...
#science #universe
Reposted by Marcus Chown
At the wake for ex-New Scientist editor, Mike Kenward. Sometimes brutal, but always brilliant, he gave so many of us our breaks in journalism. I feel so privileged to have been part of the team Mike put together. A truly golden era, which became obvious only in retrospect.
#Newscientist #science
#Newscientist #science
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
At the wake for ex-New Scientist editor, Mike Kenward. Sometimes brutal, but always brilliant, he gave so many of us our breaks in journalism. I feel so privileged to have been part of the team Mike put together. A truly golden era, which became obvious only in retrospect.
#Newscientist #science
#Newscientist #science
Reposted by Marcus Chown
But we all now know that it is a lie that there's no such thing as a magic money tree
The Tories accidentally revealed it when they conjured out of nothing 100s of billions for the Covid furlough scheme & 100s of billions for Quantitative Easing
A govt that controls its currency can "create" money
The Tories accidentally revealed it when they conjured out of nothing 100s of billions for the Covid furlough scheme & 100s of billions for Quantitative Easing
A govt that controls its currency can "create" money
How do trees speed up anything? Does a loop have speed anyway?
November 27, 2025 at 9:34 AM
But we all now know that it is a lie that there's no such thing as a magic money tree
The Tories accidentally revealed it when they conjured out of nothing 100s of billions for the Covid furlough scheme & 100s of billions for Quantitative Easing
A govt that controls its currency can "create" money
The Tories accidentally revealed it when they conjured out of nothing 100s of billions for the Covid furlough scheme & 100s of billions for Quantitative Easing
A govt that controls its currency can "create" money
Reposted by Marcus Chown
He (or she) is back! Haven’t seen 2331 for six months but they are back on their fave perch by the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. All is right with the world.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
He (or she) is back! Haven’t seen 2331 for six months but they are back on their fave perch by the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. All is right with the world.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
No doubt the Chinese authorities will institute a cover-up.
But I do hope that, if you UK media criticises China, they also point out that, eight years after the event, not a single person has been found guilty of causing the Grenfell fire or has gone to prison.
But I do hope that, if you UK media criticises China, they also point out that, eight years after the event, not a single person has been found guilty of causing the Grenfell fire or has gone to prison.
Some very sad images coming out of Hong Kong with that massive fire in the high rises.
This might be a major disaster with lots of loss of life and property.
Urgh, those poor people + pets .... I hope they got out in time.
Images by Reuters photographer Tyrone Siu.
This might be a major disaster with lots of loss of life and property.
Urgh, those poor people + pets .... I hope they got out in time.
Images by Reuters photographer Tyrone Siu.
November 27, 2025 at 10:34 AM
No doubt the Chinese authorities will institute a cover-up.
But I do hope that, if you UK media criticises China, they also point out that, eight years after the event, not a single person has been found guilty of causing the Grenfell fire or has gone to prison.
But I do hope that, if you UK media criticises China, they also point out that, eight years after the event, not a single person has been found guilty of causing the Grenfell fire or has gone to prison.
Well, that seems an understandable use of a text.
The person I visit most often is a young woman who lives alone. It's less anxiety for her if she knows who's about to knock on her door.
November 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Well, that seems an understandable use of a text.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Rachel Reeves's Budget with measures to fight child poverty shows Labour is reversing Tory injustice and damage, Neil Kinnock has said.
Reeves's Budget shows Labour is reversing Tory injustice, Neil Kinnock says
www.mirror.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Rachel Reeves's Budget with measures to fight child poverty shows Labour is reversing Tory injustice and damage, Neil Kinnock has said.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Kasparov nails it: Western failure to confront russia is the biggest security risk we face.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Ukraine is buying us time, and we’re wasting it.
Still time to trigger Armageddon. Terrifyingly. Especially as they sink into senility!
On a positive note, Putin and Trump are old. They will die soon.
November 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Still time to trigger Armageddon. Terrifyingly. Especially as they sink into senility!
You’re right!
As long as it's not a "Ring" doorbell or similar, which uploads your image to the cloud, and sends a notification to the app...
November 27, 2025 at 2:37 PM
You’re right!
Reposted by Marcus Chown
They're all like that, in my experience. Normally WhatsApp.
Energy footprint:
Mobile transmits signal to cell station
Cell station relays bits to core network by microwave or fibre
Core network routes bits to WhatsApp server platform (California?)
Bits processed
And vice versa back to recipient!
Energy footprint:
Mobile transmits signal to cell station
Cell station relays bits to core network by microwave or fibre
Core network routes bits to WhatsApp server platform (California?)
Bits processed
And vice versa back to recipient!
November 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
They're all like that, in my experience. Normally WhatsApp.
Energy footprint:
Mobile transmits signal to cell station
Cell station relays bits to core network by microwave or fibre
Core network routes bits to WhatsApp server platform (California?)
Bits processed
And vice versa back to recipient!
Energy footprint:
Mobile transmits signal to cell station
Cell station relays bits to core network by microwave or fibre
Core network routes bits to WhatsApp server platform (California?)
Bits processed
And vice versa back to recipient!
Reposted by Marcus Chown
What a friendly looking bird, welcome back 2331!
November 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
What a friendly looking bird, welcome back 2331!
He (or she) is back! Haven’t seen 2331 for six months but they are back on their fave perch by the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. All is right with the world.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
He (or she) is back! Haven’t seen 2331 for six months but they are back on their fave perch by the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. All is right with the world.
Have noticed that some young people don’t knock on front doors or ring doorbells but instead text the person they are visiting. This of course takes electricity, which must be generated, creating a few grams of carbon dioxide each time. Wouldn’t the greener option be to knock or ring?
November 27, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Have noticed that some young people don’t knock on front doors or ring doorbells but instead text the person they are visiting. This of course takes electricity, which must be generated, creating a few grams of carbon dioxide each time. Wouldn’t the greener option be to knock or ring?
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Horlick wasn't the only one to have bought luxury property following a major PPE deal either:
goodlawproject.org/pandemic-pro...
goodlawproject.org/pandemic-pro...
Pandemic profiteers buy up luxury real estate worth £35m | Good Law Project
What do you do with the millions you made selling the Government PPE? Companies who got fast-track access through the Tories’ unlawful VIP lane are investing in bricks and mortar.
goodlawproject.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Horlick wasn't the only one to have bought luxury property following a major PPE deal either:
goodlawproject.org/pandemic-pro...
goodlawproject.org/pandemic-pro...
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Tory-linked brokers on various PPE VIP lane deals alone received nearly £100m for their involvement in contracts awarded to a number of companies, with much of the equipment provided by some deemed unfit for NHS use:
goodlawproject.org/fixers-vip-l...
goodlawproject.org/fixers-vip-l...
November 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Tory-linked brokers on various PPE VIP lane deals alone received nearly £100m for their involvement in contracts awarded to a number of companies, with much of the equipment provided by some deemed unfit for NHS use:
goodlawproject.org/fixers-vip-l...
goodlawproject.org/fixers-vip-l...
Reposted by Marcus Chown
How embarrassing.
Administration sources were all-in on this Russian wishlist until it was revealed that it was an *actual* Russian wishlist and not just the worst possible peace plan for Ukraine.
Administration sources were all-in on this Russian wishlist until it was revealed that it was an *actual* Russian wishlist and not just the worst possible peace plan for Ukraine.
November 23, 2025 at 12:24 AM
How embarrassing.
Administration sources were all-in on this Russian wishlist until it was revealed that it was an *actual* Russian wishlist and not just the worst possible peace plan for Ukraine.
Administration sources were all-in on this Russian wishlist until it was revealed that it was an *actual* Russian wishlist and not just the worst possible peace plan for Ukraine.
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Stunning development: Senators now confirm the Trump admin’s 28-point “peace plan” for Ukraine wasn’t a U.S. plan at all. It was a Russian wish list. Follow along. This is crazy. 1/
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Stunning development: Senators now confirm the Trump admin’s 28-point “peace plan” for Ukraine wasn’t a U.S. plan at all. It was a Russian wish list. Follow along. This is crazy. 1/
Reposted by Marcus Chown
Rubio Admits Difficulties in Translating US Peace Plan from the Original Russian
November 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Rubio Admits Difficulties in Translating US Peace Plan from the Original Russian