Sean Kenny
@sean73.bsky.social
Mostly grumpy.
Quite likes climbing rocks.
London.
Quite likes climbing rocks.
London.
I once did some back of the envelope calculations and reckoned Noah Smith pulls in about $125k pa from his substack. So if his audience love dunking on the UK then it’s very much worth his time to continue doing so.
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?
A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...
onemileatatime.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I once did some back of the envelope calculations and reckoned Noah Smith pulls in about $125k pa from his substack. So if his audience love dunking on the UK then it’s very much worth his time to continue doing so.
The blithe assumption that things can’t get worse - for a very, very long time - is a basic flaw in the English psyche. It’s the flaw that gave us Brexit. Of course Foxbasher shares it.
Personally I'd be pleased to see BBC News disappear entirely. To argue, as many do, that British politics or our news environment would be so much worse without the BBC you have to explain why British politics and news environment is so very bad with the BBC.
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The blithe assumption that things can’t get worse - for a very, very long time - is a basic flaw in the English psyche. It’s the flaw that gave us Brexit. Of course Foxbasher shares it.
While Trump talks of suing the BBC, China is building the future.
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
While Trump talks of suing the BBC, China is building the future.
Watch out Vlad you might end up with a fine pair of titties.
Zack Polanski Says He Would Try To Persuade Vladimir Putin To Give Up His Nuclear Weapons
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zack-p...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zack-p...
Zack Polanski Says He Would Try To Persuade Vladimir Putin To Give Up His Nuclear Weapons
"It would be sociopathic behaviour to say you wouldn't negotiate with a president or a prime minister."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Watch out Vlad you might end up with a fine pair of titties.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
Greens are cranks. From top to bottom. Every policy area. They should be regarded as being no different from Reform in the threat they represent.
Polanski in negotiating with murderous dictator Putin
"It would be sociopathic behaviour to say you wouldn't negotiate with a president or a prime minister."
Polanski on working with Starmer
"Keir Starmer is not a man I would be willing to work with"
"It would be sociopathic behaviour to say you wouldn't negotiate with a president or a prime minister."
Polanski on working with Starmer
"Keir Starmer is not a man I would be willing to work with"
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Greens are cranks. From top to bottom. Every policy area. They should be regarded as being no different from Reform in the threat they represent.
I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
Zack Polanski: "I want to see everyone denuclearise, including Vladimir Putin."
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
It's almost like 50% of people go to higher education these days.
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
It's almost like 50% of people go to higher education these days.
The rising popularity of a left-wing party with very limited policy making ability does not augur well for the future, but at least they are matching their oponents on the right.
Since the election almost all the vote movement has been within these blocs rather than between them. The centre/left bloc vote is rising because a lot of Lab24 voters who had been saying "don't know" are now saying "Green".
November 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The rising popularity of a left-wing party with very limited policy making ability does not augur well for the future, but at least they are matching their oponents on the right.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
We've just launched the first large, site-less (home, direct to participant) randomized trial for treatment of #LongCovid, testing tirzepatide (a GLP-1 drug) vs placebo. Please help spread the word
www.scripps.edu/news-and-eve...
www.scripps.edu/news-and-eve...
Scripps Research scientists launch new digital clinical trial to test repurposed drug for long COVID symptom relief
www.scripps.edu
October 31, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We've just launched the first large, site-less (home, direct to participant) randomized trial for treatment of #LongCovid, testing tirzepatide (a GLP-1 drug) vs placebo. Please help spread the word
www.scripps.edu/news-and-eve...
www.scripps.edu/news-and-eve...
A generation of Conservatives have been told the same thing.
Badenoch on welfare spending: “Right now, a generation of young people are being told that instead of challenges to overcome, they have disorders.”
Very similar to the Zia Yusuf line on Monday.
Badenoch says she can save £23bn a year this way*.
Very similar to the Zia Yusuf line on Monday.
Badenoch says she can save £23bn a year this way*.
November 4, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A generation of Conservatives have been told the same thing.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
The reality is we have the highest tax burden in our history, large and increasingly expensive public debt, and yet *low* taxes on average earners vs historical trend.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
November 3, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The reality is we have the highest tax burden in our history, large and increasingly expensive public debt, and yet *low* taxes on average earners vs historical trend.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
I see a lot of this sort of anguished post about the BBC, but who actually complains to them directly?
(Sam is obviously correct here, there should be no place for this kind of open racist to appear on QT or elsewhere.)
(Sam is obviously correct here, there should be no place for this kind of open racist to appear on QT or elsewhere.)
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
November 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
I see a lot of this sort of anguished post about the BBC, but who actually complains to them directly?
(Sam is obviously correct here, there should be no place for this kind of open racist to appear on QT or elsewhere.)
(Sam is obviously correct here, there should be no place for this kind of open racist to appear on QT or elsewhere.)
Nice write up by Jim Pope of his first efforts at Magic Mushroom on El Cap. Looks pretty wild.
jimpopeonarope.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
jimpopeonarope.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
The Magic Mushroom
Part 1: History and Prep
jimpopeonarope.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Nice write up by Jim Pope of his first efforts at Magic Mushroom on El Cap. Looks pretty wild.
jimpopeonarope.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
jimpopeonarope.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
Halloween talk - pro, anti or celebratory - is boring and mature adults should kick it into touch.
Your kids' costumes are cute. That's it.
Your kids' costumes are cute. That's it.
October 31, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Halloween talk - pro, anti or celebratory - is boring and mature adults should kick it into touch.
Your kids' costumes are cute. That's it.
Your kids' costumes are cute. That's it.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
● Andrew Windsor remains 8th in the line of succession.
●King Charles III will privately fund his new living arrangements despite Andrew being very rich indeed
● Actually we don't know how wealthy Andrew is because his mother's will is sealed for 90+ years
● Sleep well serfs.
● Know your place.
●King Charles III will privately fund his new living arrangements despite Andrew being very rich indeed
● Actually we don't know how wealthy Andrew is because his mother's will is sealed for 90+ years
● Sleep well serfs.
● Know your place.
a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed in a suit and tie .
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed in a suit and tie .
media.tenor.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:54 PM
● Andrew Windsor remains 8th in the line of succession.
●King Charles III will privately fund his new living arrangements despite Andrew being very rich indeed
● Actually we don't know how wealthy Andrew is because his mother's will is sealed for 90+ years
● Sleep well serfs.
● Know your place.
●King Charles III will privately fund his new living arrangements despite Andrew being very rich indeed
● Actually we don't know how wealthy Andrew is because his mother's will is sealed for 90+ years
● Sleep well serfs.
● Know your place.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
*record scratch* Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how these vast and trunkless legs of stone got into this crazy situation. My name is Ozymandius, king of k
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
*record scratch* Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how these vast and trunkless legs of stone got into this crazy situation. My name is Ozymandius, king of k
British people showing some love for spivs and chancers who offer the moon on a stick.
A stick that someone else is paying for, obviously.
A stick that someone else is paying for, obviously.
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 32% (=)
GRN: 17% (+2)
CON: 16% (-1)
LAB: 16% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 2% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 29 Oct.
Changes w/ 22 Oct.
RFM: 32% (=)
GRN: 17% (+2)
CON: 16% (-1)
LAB: 16% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 2% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 29 Oct.
Changes w/ 22 Oct.
October 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
British people showing some love for spivs and chancers who offer the moon on a stick.
A stick that someone else is paying for, obviously.
A stick that someone else is paying for, obviously.
You cannot hope to bribe or twist,
thank God! the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.
thank God! the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.
October 30, 2025 at 9:14 AM
You cannot hope to bribe or twist,
thank God! the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.
thank God! the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.
Wrote a thing about why removing food aid from the poor is just great (if you are a fascist).
runciblespoon.substack.com/p/paul-krugm...
runciblespoon.substack.com/p/paul-krugm...
Paul Krugman is too cuddly to grasp fascist nastiness
Fascists just want to punch their neighbour in the face and then feel good about offering them a band aid
runciblespoon.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Wrote a thing about why removing food aid from the poor is just great (if you are a fascist).
runciblespoon.substack.com/p/paul-krugm...
runciblespoon.substack.com/p/paul-krugm...
If you slept under a portrait of Taylor Swift, you might get called a Swifty. If you sleep under a portrait of Adolf Hitler, well you might get called something else.
But not by the BBC.
But not by the BBC.
Reportedly slept under a portrait of Hitler…🙄
But he’s just a zany scientist, right?
But he’s just a zany scientist, right?
October 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
If you slept under a portrait of Taylor Swift, you might get called a Swifty. If you sleep under a portrait of Adolf Hitler, well you might get called something else.
But not by the BBC.
But not by the BBC.
Many people who were children at the time of the referendum already realise that their grandparents are foolish suckers.
If only someone was writing a book about that, a book that is coming home next June, to mark the 10th “anniversay” of you know what.
October 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Many people who were children at the time of the referendum already realise that their grandparents are foolish suckers.
Part 78 in the ongoing series “It’s all vibes, all the time.”
Tangentially reminded on this of the person I canvassed who said "Oh, we aren't normally [party] supporters, but we do vote for [X], he is such a good local MP". Only issue was, X was the MP for the constituency next door.
Unpopular opinion: not being ‘a good constituency MP’ does not necessarily make someone a bad MP. Where voters elect a party leader, they are making a clear choice. Reform voters in Clacton, Labour voters in Holborn or LD voters in Kingston complaining they ‘never see their MP’ can largely do one.
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Part 78 in the ongoing series “It’s all vibes, all the time.”
John is probably too polite/too employed to suggest that these are exactly the sort of people to whom a “simple answers to complicated questions” approach is very appealing.
Broadly, trade and technological change have put pressure on middle-skilled, routine workers, whose jobs have been automated or out-competed by imports.
October 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
John is probably too polite/too employed to suggest that these are exactly the sort of people to whom a “simple answers to complicated questions” approach is very appealing.
Reposted by Sean Kenny
Very much this. The UK has spent the years since 2008 searching - not always very hard - for an alternative economic model to one based around financial services. Brexit just compounded the problem and the current proposals on immigration are just making things worse.
Governments filled with people who believe their future lies in recreating an industrial age that died before they were born, rather than accepting a present of high quality universities and Harry Potter.
October 29, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Very much this. The UK has spent the years since 2008 searching - not always very hard - for an alternative economic model to one based around financial services. Brexit just compounded the problem and the current proposals on immigration are just making things worse.