Marcus Williamson
@jauntyangle.bsky.social
I work in conflict and post-conflict countries. Interested in international affairs, economics, governance and public policy. Also trashy movies and books, eating and drinking, and strength sports. Wu Tang is for the Children.
When I tried to read it as an undergraduate I was so disoriented and upset by it, I threw my copy off a bridge into a river.
April 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
When I tried to read it as an undergraduate I was so disoriented and upset by it, I threw my copy off a bridge into a river.
Okay, but also... Not a big fan of charts that don't start the y-axis at zero. You can just pick the number you want and make the fall look as big as you want. I think the policies need to be critiqued without these sorts of stunts.
April 4, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Okay, but also... Not a big fan of charts that don't start the y-axis at zero. You can just pick the number you want and make the fall look as big as you want. I think the policies need to be critiqued without these sorts of stunts.
I think it's more accurate to say that we found out that it turns out that voters across the spectrum are highly sensitive to inflation and don't like it, even when in an environment of mild real income growth.
April 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I think it's more accurate to say that we found out that it turns out that voters across the spectrum are highly sensitive to inflation and don't like it, even when in an environment of mild real income growth.
Agreed. It's true that some who discard gender in favor of sex are bad faith actors. But sex drives important objective variations that gender doesn't, e.g. differences in presentation and prognosis for many serious diseases. You can't dump every thing or concept that's been used in bad faith.
March 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Agreed. It's true that some who discard gender in favor of sex are bad faith actors. But sex drives important objective variations that gender doesn't, e.g. differences in presentation and prognosis for many serious diseases. You can't dump every thing or concept that's been used in bad faith.
We should have caught on as we saw the world's authoriarian regimes coopt the term 'terrorist' to justify their oppression. I would propose as a general rule- if something is a crime, treat it as one and prosecute it as such. Don't create special categories that make that crime extra-bad.
March 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
We should have caught on as we saw the world's authoriarian regimes coopt the term 'terrorist' to justify their oppression. I would propose as a general rule- if something is a crime, treat it as one and prosecute it as such. Don't create special categories that make that crime extra-bad.
For my running pace, the perfect music is Barber's 'Adagio for Strings'.
March 18, 2025 at 7:42 AM
For my running pace, the perfect music is Barber's 'Adagio for Strings'.
Nothing anyone else isn't saying. It's all so bleak.
March 14, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Nothing anyone else isn't saying. It's all so bleak.
Fascinating. He is usually so predictable and occupies that small space of Brexit cheerleading/Telegraph miserablism. This is new. And very telling as he is kind of a bellwether for much of the right.
March 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Fascinating. He is usually so predictable and occupies that small space of Brexit cheerleading/Telegraph miserablism. This is new. And very telling as he is kind of a bellwether for much of the right.
I am fine with the practice, but when you talk to people you call them 'you' or use their name. And it's rude to refer to someone with he/she in front of them! Declaring pronouns is about affirming identity, it's not about polite communication.
March 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I am fine with the practice, but when you talk to people you call them 'you' or use their name. And it's rude to refer to someone with he/she in front of them! Declaring pronouns is about affirming identity, it's not about polite communication.
I got it very severely and was medically evacuated in an air ambulance from Liberia to the UK. Only got out of Liberia because of false positive PCR test- otherwise likely would have died there.
March 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I got it very severely and was medically evacuated in an air ambulance from Liberia to the UK. Only got out of Liberia because of false positive PCR test- otherwise likely would have died there.
Musk probably generalizes from experience with SpaceX, Starlink etc- fire lots of people, work the rest to death, keep trying to find new and cheaper ways to do things, eventually you succeed. Doubt it generalizes to economics or public service though.
March 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Musk probably generalizes from experience with SpaceX, Starlink etc- fire lots of people, work the rest to death, keep trying to find new and cheaper ways to do things, eventually you succeed. Doubt it generalizes to economics or public service though.
I like Hodges. I frequently don't agree with him, but he seems to think issues through based on his principles and frequently doesn't go on party lines.
March 4, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I like Hodges. I frequently don't agree with him, but he seems to think issues through based on his principles and frequently doesn't go on party lines.
Oh my God that would be amazing.
March 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Oh my God that would be amazing.
Owen Jones but for the right.
March 2, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Owen Jones but for the right.
At the time, one of my friends said "What a way to lose the Cold War".
March 1, 2025 at 1:58 AM
At the time, one of my friends said "What a way to lose the Cold War".
Going to have this on loop with Cage's 4'33". Will be nice to add a bit of variety.
February 25, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Going to have this on loop with Cage's 4'33". Will be nice to add a bit of variety.
Surprised to see that half of their funding came from the US State Department.
February 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Surprised to see that half of their funding came from the US State Department.
Undershoots even the lowest expectations, sadly. If he was serious about it, it would be weeks long, probably with events in every province or region.
February 25, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Undershoots even the lowest expectations, sadly. If he was serious about it, it would be weeks long, probably with events in every province or region.
Everyone likes to dump on The West Wing buy the scene where the journalist talks about how being a Whitehouse correspondent is a terrible job and not real journalism always seemed spot on to me.
February 15, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Everyone likes to dump on The West Wing buy the scene where the journalist talks about how being a Whitehouse correspondent is a terrible job and not real journalism always seemed spot on to me.
Shouldn't you be working for the Telegraph? This sort of deranged little-Englander fantasy goes down very well there.
February 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Shouldn't you be working for the Telegraph? This sort of deranged little-Englander fantasy goes down very well there.
I think they plan to add paid subscriptions at some point.
February 5, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I think they plan to add paid subscriptions at some point.
I was posting a lot then took a little break right after the inauguration. But I couldn't stay off. But yes, I do like it.
February 5, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I was posting a lot then took a little break right after the inauguration. But I couldn't stay off. But yes, I do like it.
The quality of all four is exceptional, notable for their sophisticated rhythm/cadences and clever wordplay. Especially third guy (Ras Austin) and fourth (Eric Jamal). Coast.
February 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The quality of all four is exceptional, notable for their sophisticated rhythm/cadences and clever wordplay. Especially third guy (Ras Austin) and fourth (Eric Jamal). Coast.