Alan chaplin
@alanchaplin.bsky.social
Long time pensions professional. Trying to make them better; usually failing. This time it’s different
This is a great fun listen. Start of thinking a tunnel to the Isle of Wight is a crazy idea and end up amazed it’s not been done yet.
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
And we check in on what Reform is doing to Kent County Council
www.abundancepod.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is a great fun listen. Start of thinking a tunnel to the Isle of Wight is a crazy idea and end up amazed it’s not been done yet.
@jamesomalley.co.uk sure you can think how #freethePAF could help make this happen
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
@jamesomalley.co.uk sure you can think how #freethePAF could help make this happen
Reposted by Alan chaplin
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
Reposted by Alan chaplin
Just occurred that the BBC is the most literal example of Conquest's third law in that it is actually run by a cabal of its enemies.
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Just occurred that the BBC is the most literal example of Conquest's third law in that it is actually run by a cabal of its enemies.
Reposted by Alan chaplin
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 50 child asylum seekers still missing after disappearing from Kent care
Council data obtained by the Guardian shows 345 children have gone missing in recent years, many probably taken by traffickers
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
This is such a joyous read.
absolute banger of a newsletter this week, if I do say so myself - on the years I spent as a gonzo teenage music journalist, and how I accidentally ended up riding the indie sleaze wave of the 2000's: youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/young-vulg... [free to read!]
October 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This is such a joyous read.
Anyone else’s cat like drinking from the sink tap 😂. He has plenty of water in his bowl and a water fountain but he still seems to like this.
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Anyone else’s cat like drinking from the sink tap 😂. He has plenty of water in his bowl and a water fountain but he still seems to like this.
Reposted by Alan chaplin
October 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by Alan chaplin
An odd week. Been unexpectedly stuck in hospital. But also found out I've got a contract for my second book which I'm very excited about.
It wouldn't have happened without the substack so to celebrate here's a special offer link: 25% off for your first year.
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
It wouldn't have happened without the substack so to celebrate here's a special offer link: 25% off for your first year.
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
Subscribe to Comment is Freed
Politics, policy analysis, and foreign affairs from Sam and Lawrence Freedman. Click to read Comment is Freed, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
samf.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
An odd week. Been unexpectedly stuck in hospital. But also found out I've got a contract for my second book which I'm very excited about.
It wouldn't have happened without the substack so to celebrate here's a special offer link: 25% off for your first year.
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
It wouldn't have happened without the substack so to celebrate here's a special offer link: 25% off for your first year.
samf.substack.com/specialoffer
Reposted by Alan chaplin
If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk
Home | Matt Owen | Freelance Writer
I offer a broad and diverse range of writing services.
Get in touch!
www.mathew-owen.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk
Reposted by Alan chaplin
My husband @mjowen174.bsky.social really needs some work.
AI has had a very detrimental effect on his earnings this year.
ChatGTP doesn’t have bills to pay and doesn’t have to worry constantly.
Please repost far and wide because I don’t like to see ‘Sad Matt’
AI has had a very detrimental effect on his earnings this year.
ChatGTP doesn’t have bills to pay and doesn’t have to worry constantly.
Please repost far and wide because I don’t like to see ‘Sad Matt’
If you could please do us a favour and RT (or whatever it is on here) my writing CV I would be extremely grateful. I am a very capable writer of words, mainly “humorous”’ and if you have some PROPER paid work for me, please DM me. Thank you for your time www.mathew-owen.co.uk
Home | Matt Owen | Freelance Writer
I offer a broad and diverse range of writing services.
Get in touch!
www.mathew-owen.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
My husband @mjowen174.bsky.social really needs some work.
AI has had a very detrimental effect on his earnings this year.
ChatGTP doesn’t have bills to pay and doesn’t have to worry constantly.
Please repost far and wide because I don’t like to see ‘Sad Matt’
AI has had a very detrimental effect on his earnings this year.
ChatGTP doesn’t have bills to pay and doesn’t have to worry constantly.
Please repost far and wide because I don’t like to see ‘Sad Matt’
Reposted by Alan chaplin
THE SECRET PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS IS FINALLY LIVE
CHECK IT OUT
outsidersartsclub.com
CHECK IT OUT
outsidersartsclub.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:53 AM
THE SECRET PROJECT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS IS FINALLY LIVE
CHECK IT OUT
outsidersartsclub.com
CHECK IT OUT
outsidersartsclub.com
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those that don’t.
September 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those that don’t.
Reposted by Alan chaplin
ANSWER: here’s the full shebang
Top 4:
Norway
Qatar
Denmark
Belgium
And Singapore falls down the order due to its long hours culture. Germany does the opposite
Top 4:
Norway
Qatar
Denmark
Belgium
And Singapore falls down the order due to its long hours culture. Germany does the opposite
September 6, 2025 at 7:28 AM
ANSWER: here’s the full shebang
Top 4:
Norway
Qatar
Denmark
Belgium
And Singapore falls down the order due to its long hours culture. Germany does the opposite
Top 4:
Norway
Qatar
Denmark
Belgium
And Singapore falls down the order due to its long hours culture. Germany does the opposite
Reposted by Alan chaplin
🚨Reform UK's simple plan to fix LGPS pensions.
Come for the pensions geekery, stay for the beautiful Marimekko chart.
on.ft.com/4ncoy6Y
Come for the pensions geekery, stay for the beautiful Marimekko chart.
on.ft.com/4ncoy6Y
September 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
🚨Reform UK's simple plan to fix LGPS pensions.
Come for the pensions geekery, stay for the beautiful Marimekko chart.
on.ft.com/4ncoy6Y
Come for the pensions geekery, stay for the beautiful Marimekko chart.
on.ft.com/4ncoy6Y
The selfish argument seems much more likely to persuade people ECHR is a good thing. Having no defence against the government decreeing I don’t belong here and so sending me somewhere else is a scary thought.
4/ Specifically we need to win these by convincing enough people that
(a) That human rights law protects British people against an overmighty government
(b) That international treaties are how free countries cooperate against large dicatorships like Russia and china.
(a) That human rights law protects British people against an overmighty government
(b) That international treaties are how free countries cooperate against large dicatorships like Russia and china.
September 1, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The selfish argument seems much more likely to persuade people ECHR is a good thing. Having no defence against the government decreeing I don’t belong here and so sending me somewhere else is a scary thought.
Ask us anything
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/a...
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/a...
Ask us anything
Every few months we offer paying subscribers the chance to ask us questions on any topic you like.
open.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Ask us anything
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Reposted by Alan chaplin
So Nigel Farage’s ‘new’ plan is in fact… Rishi Sunak’s old plan - which was exactly what caused the explosion in use of asylum hotels in the first place.
August 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
So Nigel Farage’s ‘new’ plan is in fact… Rishi Sunak’s old plan - which was exactly what caused the explosion in use of asylum hotels in the first place.
Exhausting and depressing that “The worst was avoided. But it was still pretty bad.” is the most we can expect when the US steps in to “help”
on.ft.com/45HTlS3
on.ft.com/45HTlS3
Russia, Ukraine and Europe are all trying to manipulate Trump
Kyiv and its western allies will attempt to turn the near disaster of Anchorage into a success
on.ft.com
August 16, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Exhausting and depressing that “The worst was avoided. But it was still pretty bad.” is the most we can expect when the US steps in to “help”
on.ft.com/45HTlS3
on.ft.com/45HTlS3
Hey @samfr.bsky.social, when you're recovered from the replies to your VAT on private school piece, you might like to write on inheritance tax ;)
I find it strange it is such an unpopular tax when paid by those people usually want to pay more tax.
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
I find it strange it is such an unpopular tax when paid by those people usually want to pay more tax.
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
A ham-fisted inheritance tax grab on the middle class would end in tears
The Times’s head of money explains why the chancellor needs to tread carefully as she tries to fill the hole in the nation’s finances
www.thetimes.com
August 13, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Hey @samfr.bsky.social, when you're recovered from the replies to your VAT on private school piece, you might like to write on inheritance tax ;)
I find it strange it is such an unpopular tax when paid by those people usually want to pay more tax.
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
I find it strange it is such an unpopular tax when paid by those people usually want to pay more tax.
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
I doubt he has ever met a 3 year old, let alone tried to control a group of them
Godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton at world’s biggest AI conf AI4 in Las Vegas. Is asked what could AI gain control of soon?
“Us…they’re just going to be much smarter than us. Imagine you were in charge of a playgroup of 3 year olds…it wouldn’t be very hard to get control of them….
“Us…they’re just going to be much smarter than us. Imagine you were in charge of a playgroup of 3 year olds…it wouldn’t be very hard to get control of them….
August 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I doubt he has ever met a 3 year old, let alone tried to control a group of them
Reposted by Alan chaplin
I'm pulling together some expert opinion for @theleaduk.bsky.social about how the govt can raise revenue at the next budget and I'm looking for some interesting ideas on pensions, income tax and green taxes.
Can anyone recommend some good experts in these who might be willing to submit 250 words?
Can anyone recommend some good experts in these who might be willing to submit 250 words?
August 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I'm pulling together some expert opinion for @theleaduk.bsky.social about how the govt can raise revenue at the next budget and I'm looking for some interesting ideas on pensions, income tax and green taxes.
Can anyone recommend some good experts in these who might be willing to submit 250 words?
Can anyone recommend some good experts in these who might be willing to submit 250 words?
Extraordinary is often overused but doesn’t get close to describing this story
“Cave turns to me. “So what’s your skill then, spinning stuff into a story?”
“No,” I reply. “My skill is keeping a straight face when someone tells me something, and inside I’m thinking: fucking hell.”
“Cave turns to me. “So what’s your skill then, spinning stuff into a story?”
“No,” I reply. “My skill is keeping a straight face when someone tells me something, and inside I’m thinking: fucking hell.”
Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right
What you learn at a gathering of neoreactionaries, Very Online rightwingers and the formerly cancelled
on.ft.com
August 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Extraordinary is often overused but doesn’t get close to describing this story
“Cave turns to me. “So what’s your skill then, spinning stuff into a story?”
“No,” I reply. “My skill is keeping a straight face when someone tells me something, and inside I’m thinking: fucking hell.”
“Cave turns to me. “So what’s your skill then, spinning stuff into a story?”
“No,” I reply. “My skill is keeping a straight face when someone tells me something, and inside I’m thinking: fucking hell.”
Reposted by Alan chaplin
Did you know? Supermassive black holes give out no light yet are the brightest objects in the universe. I’m giving away 5 signed copies of my paperback A CRACK IN EVERYTHING to a UK person chosen at random from those re-posting this blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro... @headofzeus.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Did you know? Supermassive black holes give out no light yet are the brightest objects in the universe. I’m giving away 5 signed copies of my paperback A CRACK IN EVERYTHING to a UK person chosen at random from those re-posting this blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro... @headofzeus.bsky.social