Richard Walker
@phlebas.bsky.social
Inconsequential thoughts from an inconsequential person
Turns out it's not too hard to find his house. Zoopla has its value currently estimated at £2.93m with a range of £2.35m to £3.52m
November 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Turns out it's not too hard to find his house. Zoopla has its value currently estimated at £2.93m with a range of £2.35m to £3.52m
I guess it's possible he's paying himself in dividends rather than salary so he might not have anything like that much in savings & investments.
November 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I guess it's possible he's paying himself in dividends rather than salary so he might not have anything like that much in savings & investments.
If you see one in the wild, don't forget to sing a quick refain of "Who's the bastard in the black?"
November 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
If you see one in the wild, don't forget to sing a quick refain of "Who's the bastard in the black?"
The older you are the less you can ride out stock market downturns. If we accept that it is ok to put £20k a year into an ISA (open to debate) then it could be argued it's discriminatory against the elderly if they can only do so by taking risks they maybe shouldn't.
November 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
The older you are the less you can ride out stock market downturns. If we accept that it is ok to put £20k a year into an ISA (open to debate) then it could be argued it's discriminatory against the elderly if they can only do so by taking risks they maybe shouldn't.
Can still do that, just will cost you 2% in NI contributions, so still massively worthwhile (but awaiting full details, so maybe not)
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Can still do that, just will cost you 2% in NI contributions, so still massively worthwhile (but awaiting full details, so maybe not)
That's more or less what I suspect, eg that people think it's £12k in total rather than £12k each and every year.
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 PM
That's more or less what I suspect, eg that people think it's £12k in total rather than £12k each and every year.
No way 62% of people are putting £12k a year into ISAs, or ever will. Might be worth someone digging into this as it doesn't ring true.
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM
No way 62% of people are putting £12k a year into ISAs, or ever will. Might be worth someone digging into this as it doesn't ring true.
Only white pudding allowed in a Farage breakfast
November 27, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Only white pudding allowed in a Farage breakfast
My solution would be to have a fixed, say, 0.3% of the house's value across the board. Allow homeowners to set their own market value with the proviso that anyone has an absolute legal right to purchase at 125% of the self-declared value. If nothing else, it would be interesting to see the results!
November 27, 2025 at 5:35 PM
My solution would be to have a fixed, say, 0.3% of the house's value across the board. Allow homeowners to set their own market value with the proviso that anyone has an absolute legal right to purchase at 125% of the self-declared value. If nothing else, it would be interesting to see the results!
If the past is another country, the 1980s are the Isle of Man
November 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
If the past is another country, the 1980s are the Isle of Man
Also a problem within councils. Eg in Cheshire East a band D house in Wilmslow is now worth a lot more than a band D in Crewe but they pay the same council tax.
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Also a problem within councils. Eg in Cheshire East a band D house in Wilmslow is now worth a lot more than a band D in Crewe but they pay the same council tax.
I'm genunely bemused as to what point he's trying to make. What does he find objectionable about the colour(s)? Is it not brown enough for him?
November 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I'm genunely bemused as to what point he's trying to make. What does he find objectionable about the colour(s)? Is it not brown enough for him?
Being a STEM bloke, I had to look that up. Trouble is that LLMs don't have a thought process to be influenced. They are just predicting what the next word is without any understanding of the subject itself. So it's much worse, they can't help but regurgitate whatever nonsense they've been trained on
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Being a STEM bloke, I had to look that up. Trouble is that LLMs don't have a thought process to be influenced. They are just predicting what the next word is without any understanding of the subject itself. So it's much worse, they can't help but regurgitate whatever nonsense they've been trained on
My biggest concern for Nvidia are the cross-investments. It does smack of a fear that they need to fund their purchasers which is never a good business policy.
November 18, 2025 at 10:46 PM
My biggest concern for Nvidia are the cross-investments. It does smack of a fear that they need to fund their purchasers which is never a good business policy.
True, an AI collapse would hit Nvidia hard, but the key difference is that they have real products and are making real money right now and will do so - to a lesser extent - regardless. Something the actual AI companies are not doing. A reasonable comparison from the dot com bubble might be ARM.
November 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
True, an AI collapse would hit Nvidia hard, but the key difference is that they have real products and are making real money right now and will do so - to a lesser extent - regardless. Something the actual AI companies are not doing. A reasonable comparison from the dot com bubble might be ARM.
Nvidia is the one AI related company that might just be worth somewhere near its valuation - it's providing the picks and shovels to the deluded AI prospectors. Thiel selling out of his ridicuously overpriced Palantir would be a sign of reality rather than, perhaps, a pressing need for cash.
November 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Nvidia is the one AI related company that might just be worth somewhere near its valuation - it's providing the picks and shovels to the deluded AI prospectors. Thiel selling out of his ridicuously overpriced Palantir would be a sign of reality rather than, perhaps, a pressing need for cash.
Well done Scotland! If you can carry that heart through to the finals you will surprise more teams.
November 18, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Well done Scotland! If you can carry that heart through to the finals you will surprise more teams.
The BBC should issue a full apology to UK viewers for ever showing The Apprentice USA.
November 15, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The BBC should issue a full apology to UK viewers for ever showing The Apprentice USA.
It's an interesting thesis. Back in the early 80s I definitely found headbanging to be a release from anxieties. Other genres might have worked as well, but metal was what attracted me at the time. Listening to Sabbath etc now doesn't feel at all aggressive.
November 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It's an interesting thesis. Back in the early 80s I definitely found headbanging to be a release from anxieties. Other genres might have worked as well, but metal was what attracted me at the time. Listening to Sabbath etc now doesn't feel at all aggressive.
Crucially IMHO, if Trump's reputation was damaged by this, why didn't he file a suit last November? It either caused him damage at the time or it did not. If he feels hurt now then his claim should be against the Telegraph etc for bringing attention to it.
November 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Crucially IMHO, if Trump's reputation was damaged by this, why didn't he file a suit last November? It either caused him damage at the time or it did not. If he feels hurt now then his claim should be against the Telegraph etc for bringing attention to it.
Wreaths shouldn't have any sort of logo on them. They are supposed to be about honouring the fallen, not promoting any individual or organisation.
November 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Wreaths shouldn't have any sort of logo on them. They are supposed to be about honouring the fallen, not promoting any individual or organisation.
Please look at a chart with at least a year's timespan to get some perspective. This is not (*) a major market move!
* - it could become one, but it is just fairly normal flucutation at present and the current yields are bang in the middle of the last 12 month's range
* - it could become one, but it is just fairly normal flucutation at present and the current yields are bang in the middle of the last 12 month's range
November 14, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Please look at a chart with at least a year's timespan to get some perspective. This is not (*) a major market move!
* - it could become one, but it is just fairly normal flucutation at present and the current yields are bang in the middle of the last 12 month's range
* - it could become one, but it is just fairly normal flucutation at present and the current yields are bang in the middle of the last 12 month's range
Always look at a chart with at least a year's timespan to get some perspective. Something no journalist seems capable of.
November 14, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Always look at a chart with at least a year's timespan to get some perspective. Something no journalist seems capable of.
I grew up with vinyl. Still have over 600 LPs. Can't imagine ever buying another.
October 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I grew up with vinyl. Still have over 600 LPs. Can't imagine ever buying another.