Damien Smith
@indysmith.bsky.social
Deputy Director of Research (Economics) at the ESRC. Loves cities. Views own.
It's mostly about accommodating differences. My friends hire a house and stay together, so working through dietary requirements for a diverse group (parents and children), cleanup and giving some adults a break from babysitting are all a part of it.
November 30, 2025 at 12:56 PM
It's mostly about accommodating differences. My friends hire a house and stay together, so working through dietary requirements for a diverse group (parents and children), cleanup and giving some adults a break from babysitting are all a part of it.
I've done this with friends (and their children) in different parts of the UK. The food logistics are the most challenging bit, as well as finding things to do that isn't with children. Lots of long, fun walks, and early nights for the parents.
November 30, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I've done this with friends (and their children) in different parts of the UK. The food logistics are the most challenging bit, as well as finding things to do that isn't with children. Lots of long, fun walks, and early nights for the parents.
If you have to park it in the sun to charge, won't it be too hot to actually use? The leather and metal parts would be hard to touch...
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
If you have to park it in the sun to charge, won't it be too hot to actually use? The leather and metal parts would be hard to touch...
So...is Ryan Tannehill available?
November 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
So...is Ryan Tannehill available?
Does Goff have a sports psychologist? It seems that his bad games come when he loses trust in his protection so does he need to work on that belief so that he can regain composure faster in-game?
November 20, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Does Goff have a sports psychologist? It seems that his bad games come when he loses trust in his protection so does he need to work on that belief so that he can regain composure faster in-game?
Much of Britain's present-day status in the world is because of that long past, less what it does today. Those against such status need to have that past repudiated.
November 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Much of Britain's present-day status in the world is because of that long past, less what it does today. Those against such status need to have that past repudiated.
There's also the NFL broadcast contract, which ends in 2029. Good point to reassess players.
October 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
There's also the NFL broadcast contract, which ends in 2029. Good point to reassess players.
This isn't different from the Banham Commission, or from city deals. The issue is that national politicians don't care about the politics of redrawing local lines, something the Redcliffe-Maud advocates need to find a way to grapple with.
October 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This isn't different from the Banham Commission, or from city deals. The issue is that national politicians don't care about the politics of redrawing local lines, something the Redcliffe-Maud advocates need to find a way to grapple with.
This makes it sound as if it's similar to owner-occupied housing as an asset class, where institutions evolved to ensure some degree of scarcity (and, thus, asset price appreciation).
October 21, 2025 at 1:31 AM
This makes it sound as if it's similar to owner-occupied housing as an asset class, where institutions evolved to ensure some degree of scarcity (and, thus, asset price appreciation).
Modelling/forecasting would become cheaper, leading to wider adoption?
October 21, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Modelling/forecasting would become cheaper, leading to wider adoption?
The challenge here is that only politicians can do that while most measures are developed by civil servants, who actually attend the "star chambers". Not saying that this is a good process, but it has become the process.
October 18, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The challenge here is that only politicians can do that while most measures are developed by civil servants, who actually attend the "star chambers". Not saying that this is a good process, but it has become the process.
There is also Gaelic football, and an annual meetup where the Irish and Aussies play each other under so-called "international" rules.
October 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
There is also Gaelic football, and an annual meetup where the Irish and Aussies play each other under so-called "international" rules.
I'd recommend "A History of Future Cities" by Daniel Brook, which is good on emerging cities (including Dubai) and modernisation.
October 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I'd recommend "A History of Future Cities" by Daniel Brook, which is good on emerging cities (including Dubai) and modernisation.
The broad point is that the west is not really thinking about the cultures around globalisation while the Emiratis, Saudis and others are trying to shape it.
October 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The broad point is that the west is not really thinking about the cultures around globalisation while the Emiratis, Saudis and others are trying to shape it.
The "Wimbledonisation" of the Premier League is shrugged off. England is just the stage - if they could have their own league by brute force they would.
See how Shanghai is now one of the centres of the art world - they are spending a lot but are not buying the same art Europe was.
See how Shanghai is now one of the centres of the art world - they are spending a lot but are not buying the same art Europe was.
October 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The "Wimbledonisation" of the Premier League is shrugged off. England is just the stage - if they could have their own league by brute force they would.
See how Shanghai is now one of the centres of the art world - they are spending a lot but are not buying the same art Europe was.
See how Shanghai is now one of the centres of the art world - they are spending a lot but are not buying the same art Europe was.
Also partly because the architects (broadly defined) set out to appeal to them. I keep thinking that the Saudis aren't "sportswashing" in the West with their spending so much as appealing to audiences in Africa and Asia.
October 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Also partly because the architects (broadly defined) set out to appeal to them. I keep thinking that the Saudis aren't "sportswashing" in the West with their spending so much as appealing to audiences in Africa and Asia.
I will add that Dubal (and the Gulf as a whole) are more of a lodestar to the rest of the world, not Europe. I recall the remark in the book Aerotropolis that to much of the Global South Dubai is a shiny city like Las Vegas, and that needs to be taken seriously.
October 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I will add that Dubal (and the Gulf as a whole) are more of a lodestar to the rest of the world, not Europe. I recall the remark in the book Aerotropolis that to much of the Global South Dubai is a shiny city like Las Vegas, and that needs to be taken seriously.
There are those who do the same about Gaza...
October 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
There are those who do the same about Gaza...
The other thing is the risk of retaliation. If Chinese censors (say) disallow a Hollywood blockbuster, much of the economics of that genre disappears - they need large audiences given the production costs.
September 30, 2025 at 5:14 AM
The other thing is the risk of retaliation. If Chinese censors (say) disallow a Hollywood blockbuster, much of the economics of that genre disappears - they need large audiences given the production costs.
It a repeated trope in UK welfare policy as well if my past experience working on that is anything to go by. (I also got ILR—and citizenship—years ago, so mercifully not subject to this.)
September 28, 2025 at 1:15 PM
It a repeated trope in UK welfare policy as well if my past experience working on that is anything to go by. (I also got ILR—and citizenship—years ago, so mercifully not subject to this.)
I think, like @twlldun.bsky.social says, it's an elite thing. Elites don't like the idea of it while the public would probably embrace it. There is no polling so it's hard to be sure, but almost all the people writing against ID cards are because they personally don't want to be asked for one.
September 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I think, like @twlldun.bsky.social says, it's an elite thing. Elites don't like the idea of it while the public would probably embrace it. There is no polling so it's hard to be sure, but almost all the people writing against ID cards are because they personally don't want to be asked for one.