@bxlsldn.bsky.social
Brussels based Brit/Belge. Law / policy / tech / bikes
Unconscionable that this externality is happening unregulated/taxes.
Techbros: “We reinvented money and now it’s computer money and it’s totally better than old money except also it’s value is still technically calculated by the standard of old money oh ALSO it needs more power than many countries, does your inferior dollar bill need to be plugged in? I THINK NOT.”
Bitcoin now consuming as much energy as the entire country of Pakistan.
That seems bad.
That seems bad.
November 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Unconscionable that this externality is happening unregulated/taxes.
Quite remarkable.
Trump: "People go into war, think they're gonna win the war, then they get their asses kicked & they lose their country and lose millions of lives. Nobody goes into a war thinking they're gonna lose. I'm sure Ukraine thought they were gonna win. You're gonna beat somebody that's 15 times your size"
August 27, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Quite remarkable.
Reposted
This is an excellent prompt to segue to the *NEXT* piece I wrote on immigration policy in the UK, which is precisely on the economically inactive working age population and people aged over 65:
Growing labour force participation from the 65+, which was falling in the 1960s. www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
Employment rate 65 + People: % - Office for National Statistics
www.ons.gov.uk
May 18, 2025 at 9:56 AM
This is an excellent prompt to segue to the *NEXT* piece I wrote on immigration policy in the UK, which is precisely on the economically inactive working age population and people aged over 65:
This sounds.... reasonable? UK isn't part of the EU so why should the EU be benefitting UK industry/workers when production could be in the EU benefitting EU industry/workers?
💥 NEW - The UK will have to pay for British arms companies to take part in a new EU defence fund, even if London and Brussels strike a post-Brexit security pact, diplomats negotiating the scheme tell @andybounds.bsky.social & I @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/08a5...
www.ft.com/content/08a5...
UK must pay to join EU defence fund, says Brussels
Draft terms require non-EU nations to negotiate agreements before their defence industries can get access
www.ft.com
April 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
This sounds.... reasonable? UK isn't part of the EU so why should the EU be benefitting UK industry/workers when production could be in the EU benefitting EU industry/workers?
Feels like this is taking society back 40 or 50 years. Thought we'd moved on. And we have. These are fringe views.
But. Why are they being raised? Performance? Desperation for publicity?
But. Why are they being raised? Performance? Desperation for publicity?
I know I shouldn’t cross post from a hot bed of neo-Nazism. But this is mad. Imagine the implications for sport for starters if this was true. You can play for a British team, but not for England. that’s for whites.
February 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Feels like this is taking society back 40 or 50 years. Thought we'd moved on. And we have. These are fringe views.
But. Why are they being raised? Performance? Desperation for publicity?
But. Why are they being raised? Performance? Desperation for publicity?
V interesting thread. Somewhat encapsulates a lot of the UK (and Europe generally) economy and why growth is rubbish.
I suspect it's due to too many comfortably well off people making and enacting policy, letting an initially sensible system run out if control.
I suspect it's due to too many comfortably well off people making and enacting policy, letting an initially sensible system run out if control.
I’m tired of hearing about bats. Do you want to hear a story about jumping spiders and the town that disappeared?
I think I might be breaking this story – do come be the first to read it.
I think I might be breaking this story – do come be the first to read it.
February 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
V interesting thread. Somewhat encapsulates a lot of the UK (and Europe generally) economy and why growth is rubbish.
I suspect it's due to too many comfortably well off people making and enacting policy, letting an initially sensible system run out if control.
I suspect it's due to too many comfortably well off people making and enacting policy, letting an initially sensible system run out if control.
I wish Labour would come out swinging at the Tories on this...
"Research from the Centre for Economic Performance, a think tank based at the London School of Economics, said Brexit led to a 6.4 per cent drop in the UK’s global exports and a 3.1 per cent decline in imports into the UK from the rest of the world”
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
UK exporters suffer £27bn hit from Brexit
Smaller companies bore the brunt of trade barriers with the Continent as trade in services remains resilient
www.thetimes.com
December 19, 2024 at 7:31 AM
I wish Labour would come out swinging at the Tories on this...
Notable that not a single one of these headlines reflect the fact that flat tax is is a tax cut for the rich and increase for the poor.
All assume a knowledge of the implications of a flat tax which I doubt most readers have.
This encapsulates the dire state of UK political discourse.
All assume a knowledge of the implications of a flat tax which I doubt most readers have.
This encapsulates the dire state of UK political discourse.
a flat rate of tax would almost certainly mean huge tax cuts for rich people and tax rises for people on low incomes
December 17, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Notable that not a single one of these headlines reflect the fact that flat tax is is a tax cut for the rich and increase for the poor.
All assume a knowledge of the implications of a flat tax which I doubt most readers have.
This encapsulates the dire state of UK political discourse.
All assume a knowledge of the implications of a flat tax which I doubt most readers have.
This encapsulates the dire state of UK political discourse.
The faux "isn't this boring lol" approach to policy (and much of business) reporting in the UK* seriously underserves the country. Brexit being a classic example.
*FT being a notable exception.
*FT being a notable exception.
There should be more policy reporting and definitely less faux “isn’t this boring lol”, although I think the broadcasters often do a better job at taking it seriously. Nevertheless there’s a reality to this sort of technical overhaul, in that it doesn’t come to life til it’s put into practice
December 17, 2024 at 12:42 PM
The faux "isn't this boring lol" approach to policy (and much of business) reporting in the UK* seriously underserves the country. Brexit being a classic example.
*FT being a notable exception.
*FT being a notable exception.
Reposted
This is sort of fascinating because if you were to turn on pretty much any talk radio station or pick up any tabloid, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the inverse.
December 11, 2024 at 8:26 AM
This is sort of fascinating because if you were to turn on pretty much any talk radio station or pick up any tabloid, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the inverse.
V good analysis. I'd like labour to do more but it's constrained by its manifesto.
Still, Reeves could have acknowledged that the trade barriers are a consequence of brexit to start setting the tone for the next manifesto (and to lambast those who negotiated and those who voted for the TCA).
Still, Reeves could have acknowledged that the trade barriers are a consequence of brexit to start setting the tone for the next manifesto (and to lambast those who negotiated and those who voted for the TCA).
🚨🚨 I think there is a lot of uninformed commentary going round here at the moment. I appreciate that people can get seriously annoyed at Reeves playing political theater, "EU should drop unnecessary trade barriers" (whilst obviously everyone knows this is a result of #brexit). /1
Reeves: “these unnecessary barriers to trade are one of the things that will contribute to the deterioration of living standards and making it harder for British businesses to be competitive on the global stage.”
All true.
So what is Labour going to do about it?!
on.ft.com/4g5fUUL
All true.
So what is Labour going to do about it?!
on.ft.com/4g5fUUL
December 10, 2024 at 3:27 PM
V good analysis. I'd like labour to do more but it's constrained by its manifesto.
Still, Reeves could have acknowledged that the trade barriers are a consequence of brexit to start setting the tone for the next manifesto (and to lambast those who negotiated and those who voted for the TCA).
Still, Reeves could have acknowledged that the trade barriers are a consequence of brexit to start setting the tone for the next manifesto (and to lambast those who negotiated and those who voted for the TCA).
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Just watching this and it is SO good. Got the Most Iconic Samples from Hip Hop 1973-2023 to watch next. youtu.be/FpaoCUEhZJM
Sample Breakdown: The Most Iconic Electronic Music Sample of Every Year (1990-2024)
YouTube video by Tracklib
youtu.be
November 20, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Just watching this and it is SO good. Got the Most Iconic Samples from Hip Hop 1973-2023 to watch next. youtu.be/FpaoCUEhZJM
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Today is International Men's Day!
We encourage any men who are struggling with their mental health to reach out for help and support.
Speak to trusted family or friends, talk to your GP or medical professional, or reach out to a helpline ❤️
#InternationalMensDay
We encourage any men who are struggling with their mental health to reach out for help and support.
Speak to trusted family or friends, talk to your GP or medical professional, or reach out to a helpline ❤️
#InternationalMensDay
November 19, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Today is International Men's Day!
We encourage any men who are struggling with their mental health to reach out for help and support.
Speak to trusted family or friends, talk to your GP or medical professional, or reach out to a helpline ❤️
#InternationalMensDay
We encourage any men who are struggling with their mental health to reach out for help and support.
Speak to trusted family or friends, talk to your GP or medical professional, or reach out to a helpline ❤️
#InternationalMensDay
Reposted
I started actively using Twitter in 2010 & quickly realised there were other sides to the place outside my hinterland of people there to have fun. Whether you looked for it or not it would pop up in your timeline. Far beyond what I was exposed to irl. So I’ve always thought ‘bubbles’ were bullshit.
November 18, 2024 at 10:06 AM
I started actively using Twitter in 2010 & quickly realised there were other sides to the place outside my hinterland of people there to have fun. Whether you looked for it or not it would pop up in your timeline. Far beyond what I was exposed to irl. So I’ve always thought ‘bubbles’ were bullshit.
Reposted
Lots of old faces from X now here. But where’s the Brussels local politics / Brussels biking community? Time to abandon ship over there…
November 15, 2024 at 4:12 PM
Lots of old faces from X now here. But where’s the Brussels local politics / Brussels biking community? Time to abandon ship over there…
Don't think I got half the jokes as a kid. Must rebuild the collection and reread...
Discworld QOTD, from The Light Fantastic
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
Discworld QOTD, from Wintersmith
November 4, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Don't think I got half the jokes as a kid. Must rebuild the collection and reread...
Reposted
Discworld QOTD, from The Light Fantastic
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
Discworld QOTD, from Wintersmith
November 4, 2024 at 7:12 PM
Discworld QOTD, from The Light Fantastic
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
“‘All the shops have been smashed open. There was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?’
‘Yeah,’ said Rincewind. ‘…Luters, I expect.’”
Reposted
Carbon inequalities: It would take the average Amazon employee 207 years to emit the amount of carbon that Jeff Bezos’s two private jets release in a year. Elon Musk’s two jets emit 834 years’ worth of the annual emissions generated by the average person.
Carbon emissions of richest 1% increase hunger, poverty and deaths, says Oxfam
Consumption of the world’s wealthiest people also making it increasingly difficult to limit global heating to 1.5C
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Carbon inequalities: It would take the average Amazon employee 207 years to emit the amount of carbon that Jeff Bezos’s two private jets release in a year. Elon Musk’s two jets emit 834 years’ worth of the annual emissions generated by the average person.
Reposted
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country. It doesn't mean you can just live wherever you want. It means you have the right to ask for asylum & authorities must consider your individual case & treat you humanely as they do
Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country. It doesn't mean you can just live wherever you want. It means you have the right to ask for asylum & authorities must consider your individual case & treat you humanely as they do
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Essentially every atom in Universe heavier than helium was produced in the life or death of stars because the Big Bang was first too hot and then too low in density for the right nuclear fusion 🧪
Essentially every atom in Universe heavier than helium was produced in the life or death of stars because the Big Bang was first too hot and then too low in density for the right nuclear fusion 🧪
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Pollsters have been calling cell phones for over a decade. The fact that people don’t have landlines anymore really isn’t an issue.
Pollsters have been calling cell phones for over a decade. The fact that people don’t have landlines anymore really isn’t an issue.
October 24, 2024 at 5:36 AM
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country. It doesn't mean you can just live wherever you want. It means you have the right to ask for asylum & authorities must consider your individual case & treat you humanely as they do
Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country. It doesn't mean you can just live wherever you want. It means you have the right to ask for asylum & authorities must consider your individual case & treat you humanely as they do
Excellent advice. And to add, don’t be afraid to apply this to sentence structure.
If you’re writing about something complicated, use the simplest words possible. You want your audience to spend their precious attention on understanding the concept, not parsing complex sentences. (13/14)
October 2, 2024 at 6:08 AM
Excellent advice. And to add, don’t be afraid to apply this to sentence structure.
Not the way to get youth supporting the conservatives I would suggest?
Robert Jenrick's campaign manager Danny Kruger asked about why none of the panelists have mentioned climate change, replies that the "environmental lobby" has "overreached itself" and they now have an opportunity to attack Labour for their "madcap" climate schemes.
October 1, 2024 at 12:22 PM
Not the way to get youth supporting the conservatives I would suggest?
I expect no contract lawyer dealing with this dispute - for let’s not forget it was a dispute about contractual interpretation - had this in their matrix of possible solutions.
Too much reliance on the rule of law in legal training perhaps…?
Too much reliance on the rule of law in legal training perhaps…?
Absurd to make this ludicrous Prime Ministerial brain-fart a "dramatic plan" or a front-page news story. There can not have been a one in a million chance of this absurd notion coming to pass.
September 28, 2024 at 7:25 AM
I expect no contract lawyer dealing with this dispute - for let’s not forget it was a dispute about contractual interpretation - had this in their matrix of possible solutions.
Too much reliance on the rule of law in legal training perhaps…?
Too much reliance on the rule of law in legal training perhaps…?
Definitely agree here including with the parallel to big law the article makes. V interesting analysis.
One of my favourite types of FT pieces is a long exploration of how a workplace operates, and this fascinating explanation of why the various attempts to reduce the long hours investment bankers work haven’t worked is a really good example:
High pressure, long days, crushing workloads: why is investment banking like this?
Bespoke banking can never be nine-to-five
on.ft.com
September 13, 2024 at 8:58 PM
Definitely agree here including with the parallel to big law the article makes. V interesting analysis.
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An expo on the Palais Stoclet as it might have been when new in 1911 opens Thursday at the Saint-Géry centre.
en.hallessaintgery.be/event/stocle...
en.hallessaintgery.be/event/stocle...
Stoclet 1911, Restitution - Halles/en st-Géry
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en.hallessaintgery.be
September 3, 2024 at 6:13 PM
An expo on the Palais Stoclet as it might have been when new in 1911 opens Thursday at the Saint-Géry centre.
en.hallessaintgery.be/event/stocle...
en.hallessaintgery.be/event/stocle...