Daniel in Cornwall
@danielincornwall.bsky.social
Chilli growing, photography, cooking stuff, rugby watching, paddle boarding, occasional Land Rovers and general Cornwall things. Also tax. Mostly in Penzance, sometimes London. Not Cornish.
I didn't know those existed until now and am trying to restrict caramel wafer consumption to one per Loganair flight
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I didn't know those existed until now and am trying to restrict caramel wafer consumption to one per Loganair flight
Wait, are you saying that it's *not* in the maple syrup and bacon kettle chips?
November 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Wait, are you saying that it's *not* in the maple syrup and bacon kettle chips?
I think you have to assume 'working' is code for a group of people which includes some who don't actually work (pensioners who identify as hard working) and excludes some who do (workers who are paid a lot and can't really be described as 'hard-pressed' and possibly workers without families)
November 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I think you have to assume 'working' is code for a group of people which includes some who don't actually work (pensioners who identify as hard working) and excludes some who do (workers who are paid a lot and can't really be described as 'hard-pressed' and possibly workers without families)
I'm not an expert on this, but tests of new "clean" accounts suggest the algo feeds you stuff that is more extreme/adversial/generally right wing than you would naturally look at, so it's not just "more of what you like" - it's directed. Whether that's political or ad engagement revenue reasons - 🤷♂️
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I'm not an expert on this, but tests of new "clean" accounts suggest the algo feeds you stuff that is more extreme/adversial/generally right wing than you would naturally look at, so it's not just "more of what you like" - it's directed. Whether that's political or ad engagement revenue reasons - 🤷♂️
Maybe. Definitely later than it should have been, and definitely too late if it's a half-hearted rise which won't get through the next 24 months without needing revisiting (a sensible approach could be a 4-year escalator from April 2026 allowing the last rise to be cancelled due to "good news")
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Maybe. Definitely later than it should have been, and definitely too late if it's a half-hearted rise which won't get through the next 24 months without needing revisiting (a sensible approach could be a 4-year escalator from April 2026 allowing the last rise to be cancelled due to "good news")
...also good?
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
...also good?
Saying it's a 'curse' makes it sound a bit accidental: it's a strategy.
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Saying it's a 'curse' makes it sound a bit accidental: it's a strategy.
I'd say "you only get relief at the basic rate" - you don't pay tax at *your* marginal rate, but at the difference between your marginal rate and the basic rate. In practice it would work in the same way as residential property finance charges I guess - full disallowance then 20% tax reducer
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I'd say "you only get relief at the basic rate" - you don't pay tax at *your* marginal rate, but at the difference between your marginal rate and the basic rate. In practice it would work in the same way as residential property finance charges I guess - full disallowance then 20% tax reducer
You limit it to the basic rate tax paid on the income only. No other changes to contribution limits etc needed. It also simplifies personal tax compliance because BR relief is claimed by the pension fund and it's only HR/AR relief that needs to be claimed by the taxpayer directly.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You limit it to the basic rate tax paid on the income only. No other changes to contribution limits etc needed. It also simplifies personal tax compliance because BR relief is claimed by the pension fund and it's only HR/AR relief that needs to be claimed by the taxpayer directly.
Surely "inefficiently installed therefore lower-yielding panels still generate enough electricity that overall net cost of installation is still cheaper than wood"
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Surely "inefficiently installed therefore lower-yielding panels still generate enough electricity that overall net cost of installation is still cheaper than wood"
I think board/senior mgmt appointments of the last decade were intended to undermine integrity and impartiality (using those terms as understood in the pre Johnson/Trump era) and that the organisation is struggling to be impartial as a result. It is also getting things wrong - but yes that's normal.
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I think board/senior mgmt appointments of the last decade were intended to undermine integrity and impartiality (using those terms as understood in the pre Johnson/Trump era) and that the organisation is struggling to be impartial as a result. It is also getting things wrong - but yes that's normal.
I don't know what the correct label is: people not trusting the BBC's news output and looking elsewhere definitely weakens it in some ways, and total volume of criticism creates greater perception of BBC failing... but you can't trust something unless it's trustworthy even if you want BBC to succeed
November 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I don't know what the correct label is: people not trusting the BBC's news output and looking elsewhere definitely weakens it in some ways, and total volume of criticism creates greater perception of BBC failing... but you can't trust something unless it's trustworthy even if you want BBC to succeed
so many possible verbs to choose from.
November 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
so many possible verbs to choose from.
I agree that an in-principle boycott of all things BBC makes no sense (from a left POV) but a more common position is to have stopped consuming its news output because it's not fit for purpose. I don't know how you balance criticism/pressure to improve that reality with not weakening the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I agree that an in-principle boycott of all things BBC makes no sense (from a left POV) but a more common position is to have stopped consuming its news output because it's not fit for purpose. I don't know how you balance criticism/pressure to improve that reality with not weakening the BBC.
Some good arguments against equalising CGT rates with income tax (indexation etc) but I was talking about rates on unearned income, i.e. the asymmetry of NI on earnings but not savings income and rental profit, plus additional age-related income tax/NI benefits.
November 10, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Some good arguments against equalising CGT rates with income tax (indexation etc) but I was talking about rates on unearned income, i.e. the asymmetry of NI on earnings but not savings income and rental profit, plus additional age-related income tax/NI benefits.
It's just a question of effort. Keep going - aardvark is its own reward.
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It's just a question of effort. Keep going - aardvark is its own reward.
(In the sense that taxing unearned income in the same way as earned income and using the proceeds to provide income tax allowances for parents ticks the "hard-working families" box permanently, but is probably completely unsellable in British politics)
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
(In the sense that taxing unearned income in the same way as earned income and using the proceeds to provide income tax allowances for parents ticks the "hard-working families" box permanently, but is probably completely unsellable in British politics)
The point about lower middle households with children is interesting - we have way fewer tax reliefs for parents than some other European countries, and many cuts in public services have increased cost of having children. Weird how you can't sell a "solidarity with your grandchildren" tax here.
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The point about lower middle households with children is interesting - we have way fewer tax reliefs for parents than some other European countries, and many cuts in public services have increased cost of having children. Weird how you can't sell a "solidarity with your grandchildren" tax here.
This shows the planned reduction in regions is already having an effect on the mindset and success of the international team [am I doing this right?]
November 10, 2025 at 9:16 AM
This shows the planned reduction in regions is already having an effect on the mindset and success of the international team [am I doing this right?]
On the principle that there’s no upper limit on the amount of chilli sauce that is the right amount?
November 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
On the principle that there’s no upper limit on the amount of chilli sauce that is the right amount?
*waves from New Lyonesse, formerly west Penwith*
November 9, 2025 at 11:17 AM
*waves from New Lyonesse, formerly west Penwith*
“Then you should give the painting a crossbow” might not be the conclusion you want
November 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
“Then you should give the painting a crossbow” might not be the conclusion you want