Richard Appleby
@rmappleby.uk
Ex-IBMer, currently "economically inactive". Interested in science, technology and the environment. Fan of rational thought, citizenship and the common good.
Fascinating review. One to add to the reading list…
For and Against a United Ireland reviewed by Andy Pollak: "I would make this balanced and scrupulous treatment of the great existential issue of this island required reading for every Irish & Northern Irish sixth year school student and first year undergraduate."
A sharp, clear-eyed look at Irish unity from two of the island’s best journalists…
Fintan O’Toole is the nearest thing Ireland gets to a public intellectual: a writer of erudition and intellect who tackles the political and cultural issues of the day and of the nation through a wide...
sluggerotoole.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Fascinating review. One to add to the reading list…
Hmmm. Call it £120k all in. Seems likely that we paid a lot more to host him on his second state visit, not that it did us much good. Kudos to the Swiss, so far….
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Hmmm. Call it £120k all in. Seems likely that we paid a lot more to host him on his second state visit, not that it did us much good. Kudos to the Swiss, so far….
Reposted by Richard Appleby
OR, Trump Admits His Tariffs Caused Grocery Prices to Rise.
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
OR, Trump Admits His Tariffs Caused Grocery Prices to Rise.
Good advice ⬇️
🔐 Account Security Thread 🔐
We're seeing an increased number of phishing and social engineering attempts targeting Bluesky users. While we're working hard to protect you, here are essential steps YOU can take to secure your account and stay safe. 1/10
🧵👇
We're seeing an increased number of phishing and social engineering attempts targeting Bluesky users. While we're working hard to protect you, here are essential steps YOU can take to secure your account and stay safe. 1/10
🧵👇
November 15, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Good advice ⬇️
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Translation - We asked 100 people over 65 whether they thought life was better when they were young and hot.
November 14, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Translation - We asked 100 people over 65 whether they thought life was better when they were young and hot.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Judge a man by the friends he keeps. Isn't Nigel good friends with both Trump and Bannon?🤔
November 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Judge a man by the friends he keeps. Isn't Nigel good friends with both Trump and Bannon?🤔
Waiting for the $1B libel suit to drop…
November 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Waiting for the $1B libel suit to drop…
Reposted by Richard Appleby
The next time someone tells you that America isn’t a sick & racist country, just remind them that this nation is willing to accept treason, rape, and child abuse from a white president but not healthcare from a Black one.
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The next time someone tells you that America isn’t a sick & racist country, just remind them that this nation is willing to accept treason, rape, and child abuse from a white president but not healthcare from a Black one.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.
Reposted by Richard Appleby
How did those presenters keep a straight face
November 12, 2025 at 5:27 PM
How did those presenters keep a straight face
Reposted by Richard Appleby
I’m completely in agreement with this. He pretty much drove Maitliss and Goodall out of the BBC.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/10/bbc-enemies-attack-robbie-gibb-board
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/10/bbc-enemies-attack-robbie-gibb-board
November 11, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I’m completely in agreement with this. He pretty much drove Maitliss and Goodall out of the BBC.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/10/bbc-enemies-attack-robbie-gibb-board
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/10/bbc-enemies-attack-robbie-gibb-board
Just watched “Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War” on ITV. Unremittingly bleak, and like other documentaries, is damning of the IDF and its political masters.
Horrific that a people who were subject to the genocide of the Nazis should perpetuate one of their own.
Horrific that a people who were subject to the genocide of the Nazis should perpetuate one of their own.
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Just watched “Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War” on ITV. Unremittingly bleak, and like other documentaries, is damning of the IDF and its political masters.
Horrific that a people who were subject to the genocide of the Nazis should perpetuate one of their own.
Horrific that a people who were subject to the genocide of the Nazis should perpetuate one of their own.
Perfect! ⬇️
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Perfect! ⬇️
The lack of concern is terrifying. He genuinely doesn’t care about anyone, even in the most superficial human manner possible.
Deserves the title “Study of a sociopath”, though that barely does it justice.
Deserves the title “Study of a sociopath”, though that barely does it justice.
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The lack of concern is terrifying. He genuinely doesn’t care about anyone, even in the most superficial human manner possible.
Deserves the title “Study of a sociopath”, though that barely does it justice.
Deserves the title “Study of a sociopath”, though that barely does it justice.
This is nice. Essentially a RAG chart for the Starmer government. He’s doing a lot better than the MSM would have you believe…
https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/
https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/
November 4, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This is nice. Essentially a RAG chart for the Starmer government. He’s doing a lot better than the MSM would have you believe…
https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/
https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/
Jesus. Is it too much to hope that our youngsters can do two things at once, and both focus on exams and life skills at the same time?
England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review
England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review
Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience
*
National curriculum review: 10 key recommendations
A review of England’s curriculum has recommended reducing the amount of content and emphasis on exams and instead focusing more on life skills and “enrichment”.
The review, led by Prof Becky Francis, wants pupils to spend less time in exam halls and have more time “for all of those amazing other things that schools do”, such as plays, sport and work experience. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Jesus. Is it too much to hope that our youngsters can do two things at once, and both focus on exams and life skills at the same time?
I really like AOC. I fear she is too “left” for most Americans, which is a shame because otherwise she’d be a great future president for them.
November 4, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I really like AOC. I fear she is too “left” for most Americans, which is a shame because otherwise she’d be a great future president for them.
This sounds positive. Better late than never?
All schoolchildren in England to be taught financial literacy on.ft.com/47rsXOk
All schoolchildren in England to be taught financial literacy
Major changes to curriculum also include teaching about fake news and climate change
on.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This sounds positive. Better late than never?
Reposted by Richard Appleby
I’m sure Matt Goodwin will be along shortly to tell us all whether LNER Customer Service Host Samir Zitouni counts as British or not. news.sky.com/story/train-...
Train company LNER 'extremely proud' of rail worker in critical condition after mass stabbing as family call him 'hero'
The "extraordinary bravery" of the LNER worker who intervened during the train mass stabbing attack on Saturday has been hailed by his company.
news.sky.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I’m sure Matt Goodwin will be along shortly to tell us all whether LNER Customer Service Host Samir Zitouni counts as British or not. news.sky.com/story/train-...
Zia Yusuf really is rude and arrogant. Talks over the top of his interviewer, doesn’t answer the question, and twists everything back to “forinns”. Suspect he doesn’t like being interviewed by a woman…
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social (thankfully) not standing for it.
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social (thankfully) not standing for it.
November 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Zia Yusuf really is rude and arrogant. Talks over the top of his interviewer, doesn’t answer the question, and twists everything back to “forinns”. Suspect he doesn’t like being interviewed by a woman…
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social (thankfully) not standing for it.
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social (thankfully) not standing for it.
Fascinating… ⬇️
Interesting paper! When you ask people about the most important issue "facing the country," they often say immigration. But when you ask them about issues facing them personally, it doesn't crack the top 10.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
November 2, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Fascinating… ⬇️
It’s clear that TV show panelists, drawn from politicians, think-tanks, authors and the media themselves, refuse to represent the views of decent people in this country.
So like this man, we need to do it ourselves. Ask awkward questions, bring facts to the table, and demand proper answers.
So like this man, we need to do it ourselves. Ask awkward questions, bring facts to the table, and demand proper answers.
Man with stubble, "Small boats arrivals are 37,000. There are over 4 million kids in child poverty. And 4.5 million who can't get a dentist appointment" #BBCQT
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
November 2, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It’s clear that TV show panelists, drawn from politicians, think-tanks, authors and the media themselves, refuse to represent the views of decent people in this country.
So like this man, we need to do it ourselves. Ask awkward questions, bring facts to the table, and demand proper answers.
So like this man, we need to do it ourselves. Ask awkward questions, bring facts to the table, and demand proper answers.