Francis Candlin
@franciscandlin.bsky.social
All of Dan Brown has the potential to be fun, tongue in cheek. The problem with that is Dan Brown.
I was so disappointed in the Da Vinci Code film. It could have been a fun, fast-paced don't-look-too-closely movie, style of Indiana Jones. But they took the nonsense far too seriously.
I was so disappointed in the Da Vinci Code film. It could have been a fun, fast-paced don't-look-too-closely movie, style of Indiana Jones. But they took the nonsense far too seriously.
November 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
All of Dan Brown has the potential to be fun, tongue in cheek. The problem with that is Dan Brown.
I was so disappointed in the Da Vinci Code film. It could have been a fun, fast-paced don't-look-too-closely movie, style of Indiana Jones. But they took the nonsense far too seriously.
I was so disappointed in the Da Vinci Code film. It could have been a fun, fast-paced don't-look-too-closely movie, style of Indiana Jones. But they took the nonsense far too seriously.
Not sure it's catastrophic decline either. A misrepresentation of Trump's speech was bad enough, but not as bad as coercing Diana to give an interview through false allegations and forged bank statements, where almost the entire BBC hierarchy was implicated.
That was some time ago.
That was some time ago.
November 11, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Not sure it's catastrophic decline either. A misrepresentation of Trump's speech was bad enough, but not as bad as coercing Diana to give an interview through false allegations and forged bank statements, where almost the entire BBC hierarchy was implicated.
That was some time ago.
That was some time ago.
AI investment at present is probably more of an arms race than a bubble. Tech cos with deep pockets think they need to spend big to protect their positions. The arms race will have losers but it makes sense to the participants, for now.
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
AI investment at present is probably more of an arms race than a bubble. Tech cos with deep pockets think they need to spend big to protect their positions. The arms race will have losers but it makes sense to the participants, for now.
Couldn't Ryanair at least have sold scratch cards so the the other passengers pay for his flight?
November 7, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Couldn't Ryanair at least have sold scratch cards so the the other passengers pay for his flight?
I think remaining smokers don't like vapes as much and rationalise the health situation from that. The health premise behind vapes is they provide an easy and less harmful way to maintain your addiction and blow clouds in the air. Smokers aren't buying that, it seems.
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I think remaining smokers don't like vapes as much and rationalise the health situation from that. The health premise behind vapes is they provide an easy and less harmful way to maintain your addiction and blow clouds in the air. Smokers aren't buying that, it seems.
The rest of us lead sad humdrum lives, while a truly great man invents the frozen burrito.
RIP Duane Roberts
RIP Duane Roberts
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The rest of us lead sad humdrum lives, while a truly great man invents the frozen burrito.
RIP Duane Roberts
RIP Duane Roberts
Bad enough your flight gets delayed by Ukrainian drones. Then you have to endure the endless singalong.
November 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Bad enough your flight gets delayed by Ukrainian drones. Then you have to endure the endless singalong.
Also why a long list of Reeves supposed other errors of judgement just after noting the licensing lapse was the fault of the agent, and they had admitted it?
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Also why a long list of Reeves supposed other errors of judgement just after noting the licensing lapse was the fault of the agent, and they had admitted it?
I think it probably a good idea for drivers to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross as they may not know which vehicle on a highway is likely to turn.
The decision should be driven by which option leads to fewest casualties. Hopefully they have data.
The decision should be driven by which option leads to fewest casualties. Hopefully they have data.
October 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I think it probably a good idea for drivers to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross as they may not know which vehicle on a highway is likely to turn.
The decision should be driven by which option leads to fewest casualties. Hopefully they have data.
The decision should be driven by which option leads to fewest casualties. Hopefully they have data.
The "old system" wasn't that old because prior to that the Highway Code also required drivers to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road. It doesn't help that they keep chopping and changing their requirements.
October 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The "old system" wasn't that old because prior to that the Highway Code also required drivers to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road. It doesn't help that they keep chopping and changing their requirements.
People mostly want jobs that are somewhat interesting, not too demanding, OK pay, some security, pleasant people to work with. A perfectly reasonable set of criteria, but middle of the road is surprisingly hard to achieve in the job market.
October 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
People mostly want jobs that are somewhat interesting, not too demanding, OK pay, some security, pleasant people to work with. A perfectly reasonable set of criteria, but middle of the road is surprisingly hard to achieve in the job market.
Visiting every Category A listed bank in Scotland that has become a pub or a restaurant is my current retirement project.
October 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Visiting every Category A listed bank in Scotland that has become a pub or a restaurant is my current retirement project.
"The facts change when I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
October 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM
"The facts change when I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
I guess the requirement is a light weight, hard wearing, non-slip, easy to clean floor covering. Neutral colour in a pattern helps hide any dirt.
So why not wood effect laminate, when the alternative is grey swirls?
So why not wood effect laminate, when the alternative is grey swirls?
October 1, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I guess the requirement is a light weight, hard wearing, non-slip, easy to clean floor covering. Neutral colour in a pattern helps hide any dirt.
So why not wood effect laminate, when the alternative is grey swirls?
So why not wood effect laminate, when the alternative is grey swirls?
The occupants of the ground floor flat a bit naughty with their hedge too I think.
September 30, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The occupants of the ground floor flat a bit naughty with their hedge too I think.
The remarkable thing is how similar Vladimir Putin is to Edward I. The same kind of hyper aggressive barrackroom lawyer happy to massacre everyone in pursuit of his perceived feudal rights
September 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The remarkable thing is how similar Vladimir Putin is to Edward I. The same kind of hyper aggressive barrackroom lawyer happy to massacre everyone in pursuit of his perceived feudal rights
Would you rather be a coal miner or a yoga teacher?
I have been down a coal mine and known former miners. No-one thinks it's a fit place for human beings.
I have been down a coal mine and known former miners. No-one thinks it's a fit place for human beings.
September 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Would you rather be a coal miner or a yoga teacher?
I have been down a coal mine and known former miners. No-one thinks it's a fit place for human beings.
I have been down a coal mine and known former miners. No-one thinks it's a fit place for human beings.
By that point at a typical medium or large enterprise you would have survived an average of a dozen or so redundancy rounds. Which would be remarkable, but in that case maybe you really do know how the institution works!
September 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
By that point at a typical medium or large enterprise you would have survived an average of a dozen or so redundancy rounds. Which would be remarkable, but in that case maybe you really do know how the institution works!
I know what you mean. But pedantically it isn't the job of an ID card to get databases talking to each other. Their function is to check you are who you say you are. Other data systems determine if that means you can be employed in the UK, drive a car or borrow a book from Hicksville Library.
September 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I know what you mean. But pedantically it isn't the job of an ID card to get databases talking to each other. Their function is to check you are who you say you are. Other data systems determine if that means you can be employed in the UK, drive a car or borrow a book from Hicksville Library.
I think the most likely route for Burnham is Starmer deciding to pack it in and endorsing Burnham for successor, as he did in the 2015 leadership election. But there will be other candidates, Starmer's endorsement may not be worth much, and Burnham is not endearing himself to Starmer right now.
September 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I think the most likely route for Burnham is Starmer deciding to pack it in and endorsing Burnham for successor, as he did in the 2015 leadership election. But there will be other candidates, Starmer's endorsement may not be worth much, and Burnham is not endearing himself to Starmer right now.
No monarch after Charles attempted to bypass parliament, so they won their argument. But the king was restored and there has been no serious attempt at a republic since, so the royalists ultimately won their argument too.
September 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
No monarch after Charles attempted to bypass parliament, so they won their argument. But the king was restored and there has been no serious attempt at a republic since, so the royalists ultimately won their argument too.
Disputable at the time as it was the cause of several wars - but yes Charles was utterly incompetent.
September 25, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Disputable at the time as it was the cause of several wars - but yes Charles was utterly incompetent.
The big issues in these early modern arguments were kingship and religion, neither of which are very live today, so we have a different takes. Charles clearly had the kingship argument, however incompetent her might be.
September 25, 2025 at 7:36 AM
The big issues in these early modern arguments were kingship and religion, neither of which are very live today, so we have a different takes. Charles clearly had the kingship argument, however incompetent her might be.
But maybe not self evident to the people involved, otherwise there wouldn't have been major rebellions against the Commonwealth? Cromwell only prevailed because he had the more effective army and means of suppression.
September 25, 2025 at 7:34 AM
But maybe not self evident to the people involved, otherwise there wouldn't have been major rebellions against the Commonwealth? Cromwell only prevailed because he had the more effective army and means of suppression.
Not an expert in English Civil War, but I get the impression neutrals retrospectively (a) saw the war as a bad thing and (b) blamed Cromwell's lot for kicking it off.
September 25, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Not an expert in English Civil War, but I get the impression neutrals retrospectively (a) saw the war as a bad thing and (b) blamed Cromwell's lot for kicking it off.