John Major's govt appointed a head of strategy (or whatever) said to have "a Rolls Royce mind". At the time Rolls Royce was unable to keep up with other luxury car brands as it had no money for R&D or product development and they were looking for a proper car company to effectively buy & rescue it.
Peter Mandelson – the great genius at the heart of New Labour.
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at the....
Morgan McSweeney – the great genius at the....
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
The "coincidence" of Epstein's cash payments to Peter Mandelson's partner/husband in 2009/10 and the then industry secretary's lobbying within cabinet for a softer post-crash policy towards bankers looks on the face of it like outright corruption. Certainly demands police investigation.
February 1, 2026 at 7:50 PM
John Major's govt appointed a head of strategy (or whatever) said to have "a Rolls Royce mind". At the time Rolls Royce was unable to keep up with other luxury car brands as it had no money for R&D or product development and they were looking for a proper car company to effectively buy & rescue it.
Done to eliminate that small element of gambling standing at a bar waiting to be served provides. A * low-stakes additional bit of entertainment.
Why? - probably answered by the British public now feeling over-exposed to gambling because most of them are crypto punters.
* not at some pubs
Why? - probably answered by the British public now feeling over-exposed to gambling because most of them are crypto punters.
* not at some pubs
One of the realy interesting post-pandemic trends are 'people doing a thing that they clearly can't possibly be enjoying and ignoring everyone else urging them not to'.
‘It’s ridiculous’: publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served
Bar owners say they struggle to dissuade people from forming a line as behavioural experts point to post-pandemic ‘new norms’
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Done to eliminate that small element of gambling standing at a bar waiting to be served provides. A * low-stakes additional bit of entertainment.
Why? - probably answered by the British public now feeling over-exposed to gambling because most of them are crypto punters.
* not at some pubs
Why? - probably answered by the British public now feeling over-exposed to gambling because most of them are crypto punters.
* not at some pubs
Politics so stuffed with characters who's craziness & absurd would get them deleted from any fictional first draft it's jolting. "Clever guy, but too arrogant to resist big, stupid, unnecessary risks" was my response when he was appointed Ambo.
The Many Worlds explanation of QM the winner again.
The Many Worlds explanation of QM the winner again.
I'm not prone to exaggeration but this is probably the biggest scoop I've ever been involved in
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Jeffrey Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s husband, emails show
Epstein sent Reinaldo Avila da Silva payment in 2009
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Politics so stuffed with characters who's craziness & absurd would get them deleted from any fictional first draft it's jolting. "Clever guy, but too arrogant to resist big, stupid, unnecessary risks" was my response when he was appointed Ambo.
The Many Worlds explanation of QM the winner again.
The Many Worlds explanation of QM the winner again.
There's a theory that every once in a while the US needs to throw some shitty little country up against the wall. Venezuela might have given Iran a bit more space had someone in the administration not decided Denmark was a bit shitty too and, hey why not!
Now there's a point to prove again.
Now there's a point to prove again.
Trump warns Iran ‘time is running out’ for deal to avert US military action ft.trib.al/BI6prFj
Trump warns Iran ‘time is running out’ for deal to avert US military action
US president urges Islamic Republic to reach agreement that would include ‘no nuclear weapons’
ft.trib.al
January 28, 2026 at 12:43 PM
There's a theory that every once in a while the US needs to throw some shitty little country up against the wall. Venezuela might have given Iran a bit more space had someone in the administration not decided Denmark was a bit shitty too and, hey why not!
Now there's a point to prove again.
Now there's a point to prove again.
Investors are having to talk in strategy meetings about Yield Curve Control again.
There's so much 'bubbles work' mentality beaten into them these days that a lot of them actually want to try to front-run the repression trade.
These people are queuing up for their financial repression.
Kinky.
There's so much 'bubbles work' mentality beaten into them these days that a lot of them actually want to try to front-run the repression trade.
These people are queuing up for their financial repression.
Kinky.
January 28, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Investors are having to talk in strategy meetings about Yield Curve Control again.
There's so much 'bubbles work' mentality beaten into them these days that a lot of them actually want to try to front-run the repression trade.
These people are queuing up for their financial repression.
Kinky.
There's so much 'bubbles work' mentality beaten into them these days that a lot of them actually want to try to front-run the repression trade.
These people are queuing up for their financial repression.
Kinky.
There's a big daytrader degen aspect to this, as always, but I'm really curious about how much of it is driven by even more mindless algo/ML/AI/CTA systems trading these days?
I really can’t exaggerate how completely weird this move in silver is. Markets just don’t go parabolic for months at a time. Speaks to the fundamental cause of this move in silver: momentum and nobody with a balance sheet to take the other side of the move.
January 26, 2026 at 4:40 PM
There's a big daytrader degen aspect to this, as always, but I'm really curious about how much of it is driven by even more mindless algo/ML/AI/CTA systems trading these days?
Reposted
The director of the FBI: "I don't read."
His staff (paraphrased): "he doesn’t like meetings in office settings. What he wants is social events."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
His staff (paraphrased): "he doesn’t like meetings in office settings. What he wants is social events."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
January 22, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The director of the FBI: "I don't read."
His staff (paraphrased): "he doesn’t like meetings in office settings. What he wants is social events."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
His staff (paraphrased): "he doesn’t like meetings in office settings. What he wants is social events."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
He's box-office. Continual, free, material which provokes interest and engagement from customers along with opportunities for pundits to ply their trade either wailing or applauding.
Media is an entertainment industry. He's an entertainer.
Media is an entertainment industry. He's an entertainer.
I'm curious why the media sanewashes Trump. Theories: partisan bias (dull); Smith's point that we worship the powerful; a legacy of West Wing causing folk to presume the President is wise; belief there must be depth somewhere; reluctance to see that democracy produces worthless leaders. Or what?
January 22, 2026 at 12:44 PM
He's box-office. Continual, free, material which provokes interest and engagement from customers along with opportunities for pundits to ply their trade either wailing or applauding.
Media is an entertainment industry. He's an entertainer.
Media is an entertainment industry. He's an entertainer.
Reposted
Financial war in response to trade war and territorial threats? More and more people appear to be calling for it. So I updated my post on U.S. Treasuries holdings—now with the latest data.
benjaminbraun.org/posts/treasu...
benjaminbraun.org/posts/treasu...
January 19, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Financial war in response to trade war and territorial threats? More and more people appear to be calling for it. So I updated my post on U.S. Treasuries holdings—now with the latest data.
benjaminbraun.org/posts/treasu...
benjaminbraun.org/posts/treasu...
Peril-sensitive?
January 20, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Peril-sensitive?
It was an interesting experiment, but King Charles's door is open.
Fairly sure it’s unintentional, but the end date on this mug being sold by the Smithsonian does make it sound a little like they’re saying America dies in 2026…
January 19, 2026 at 10:56 PM
It was an interesting experiment, but King Charles's door is open.
Reposted
The Norwegian government is staying fairly quiet for now, but as a sign of the shifting vibe here the former head of Norway’s armed forces has come out and called the US a “neo-fascist banana republic” and a “hostile great power without norms”. www.dn.no/politikk/tid...
Tidligere forsvarssjef om Trumps USA: – Neo-fascistisk bananrepublikk (+)
Tidligere forsvarssjef Sverre Diesen mener USA er blitt «en normløs og fiendtlig innstilt stormakt», og advarer samtidig mot å feste vår lit til Europa. Harald Sunde mener det haster med en plan B.
www.dn.no
January 19, 2026 at 8:56 PM
The Norwegian government is staying fairly quiet for now, but as a sign of the shifting vibe here the former head of Norway’s armed forces has come out and called the US a “neo-fascist banana republic” and a “hostile great power without norms”. www.dn.no/politikk/tid...
The Nobel Peace Price seems to be the new Selina Scott.
January 19, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The Nobel Peace Price seems to be the new Selina Scott.
Reposted
Thread. Greenland.
1/
1/
January 19, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Thread. Greenland.
1/
1/
Equitable Life, PPI, car loans, and now the Board of Peace.
January 19, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Equitable Life, PPI, car loans, and now the Board of Peace.
Trump's standard play is to regard his creditors as idiots by definition, who can go fuck themselves.
Any talk about selling Treasuries, or just not buying them, would likely provoke threats of default (on some pretext or other). He thinks that's hardball...
Any talk about selling Treasuries, or just not buying them, would likely provoke threats of default (on some pretext or other). He thinks that's hardball...
January 18, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Trump's standard play is to regard his creditors as idiots by definition, who can go fuck themselves.
Any talk about selling Treasuries, or just not buying them, would likely provoke threats of default (on some pretext or other). He thinks that's hardball...
Any talk about selling Treasuries, or just not buying them, would likely provoke threats of default (on some pretext or other). He thinks that's hardball...
AI: ushering in a post-counting future
at last we will be free from the backbreaking drudgery of ordering pizza from a menu and even counting how many people the pizza is for www.theverge.com/tech/863365/...
January 18, 2026 at 2:50 AM
AI: ushering in a post-counting future
apropos Badenoch
January 15, 2026 at 6:37 PM
apropos Badenoch
How does The Grand Old Duke
Of York and his 10,000 men compare against 4,000 or so demonstrators killed on the streets?
Of York and his 10,000 men compare against 4,000 or so demonstrators killed on the streets?
January 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
How does The Grand Old Duke
Of York and his 10,000 men compare against 4,000 or so demonstrators killed on the streets?
Of York and his 10,000 men compare against 4,000 or so demonstrators killed on the streets?
Reposted
THIS THIS THIS. ALL OF THIS
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
December 30, 2025 at 1:50 AM
THIS THIS THIS. ALL OF THIS
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context
C'mon man, in our bond vigilante union meetings that would be just a new target of either 2.5% or 3%.
Handy if inflation is a bit sticky and the boss wants lower rates...
Handy if inflation is a bit sticky and the boss wants lower rates...
BESSENT: SUGGESTS THE FED REVISE ITS 2% INFLATION TARGET TO 1.5%–2.5% OR 1%–3% U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said the Federal Reserve should re-examine its inflation target as inflation declines toward 2%. He proposed shifting from a fixed target to a range, such as 1.5%–2.5%
December 24, 2025 at 1:00 AM
C'mon man, in our bond vigilante union meetings that would be just a new target of either 2.5% or 3%.
Handy if inflation is a bit sticky and the boss wants lower rates...
Handy if inflation is a bit sticky and the boss wants lower rates...
Reposted
(Also, icyi, here are the 42 papers citing our non-existent paper which includes a "meta-analysis" - often called the evidence "gold standard" - of "LLM effects" in education 🤮
scholar.google.com.vn/scholar?star...)
scholar.google.com.vn/scholar?star...)
scholar.google.com.vn
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
(Also, icyi, here are the 42 papers citing our non-existent paper which includes a "meta-analysis" - often called the evidence "gold standard" - of "LLM effects" in education 🤮
scholar.google.com.vn/scholar?star...)
scholar.google.com.vn/scholar?star...)
Think 120 million Europeans living in Europe in the Western Hemisphere. There are about 350 million Americans?
Stubb: “Under America First, US foreign policy interests are ranked as follows: first, the Western Hemisphere — North America, South America, and Latin America. Second, the Indo-Pacific. Third, Europe. Fourth, the Middle East. And fifth, Africa.”
December 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Think 120 million Europeans living in Europe in the Western Hemisphere. There are about 350 million Americans?
Reposted
Paper is
Weird Generalization and Inductive Backdoors: New Ways to Corrupt LLMs
Jan Betley, Jorio Cocola, Dylan Feng, James Chua, Andy Arditi, Anna Sztyber-Betley, Owain Evans
arxiv.org/abs/2512.09742
Weird Generalization and Inductive Backdoors: New Ways to Corrupt LLMs
Jan Betley, Jorio Cocola, Dylan Feng, James Chua, Andy Arditi, Anna Sztyber-Betley, Owain Evans
arxiv.org/abs/2512.09742
Weird Generalization and Inductive Backdoors: New Ways to Corrupt LLMs
LLMs are useful because they generalize so well. But can you have too much of a good thing? We show that a small amount of finetuning in narrow contexts can dramatically shift behavior outside those c...
arxiv.org
December 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Paper is
Weird Generalization and Inductive Backdoors: New Ways to Corrupt LLMs
Jan Betley, Jorio Cocola, Dylan Feng, James Chua, Andy Arditi, Anna Sztyber-Betley, Owain Evans
arxiv.org/abs/2512.09742
Weird Generalization and Inductive Backdoors: New Ways to Corrupt LLMs
Jan Betley, Jorio Cocola, Dylan Feng, James Chua, Andy Arditi, Anna Sztyber-Betley, Owain Evans
arxiv.org/abs/2512.09742
Reposted
Here's a great fact: cement prices in India fall at election time, as business owners pull cash out of their companies to fund politicians, which means cutting budgets and postponing construction projects, reducing demand for building materials.
(From James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj)
(From James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj)
December 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Here's a great fact: cement prices in India fall at election time, as business owners pull cash out of their companies to fund politicians, which means cutting budgets and postponing construction projects, reducing demand for building materials.
(From James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj)
(From James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj)