@lets-procrastinate.bsky.social
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The £100 ‘Bill Shock’ in high street restaurants. What happens when a once affordable treat – at Wagamama/Bill’s/Pizza Express etc – becomes a luxury?
I have investigated…🧵
I have investigated…🧵
September 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The £100 ‘Bill Shock’ in high street restaurants. What happens when a once affordable treat – at Wagamama/Bill’s/Pizza Express etc – becomes a luxury?
I have investigated…🧵
I have investigated…🧵
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Shock, basing targets on inputs rather than outputs is a crap way of determining defence capability and deterrence.
I've banged on about this for years. There are better ways of measuring capability, even if they are not as politically expedient.
I've banged on about this for years. There are better ways of measuring capability, even if they are not as politically expedient.
The weird and wonderful calculations behind the 5% target
Dodgy defence maths conquers in Europe
The weird and wonderful calculations behind the 5% target
econ.st
September 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Shock, basing targets on inputs rather than outputs is a crap way of determining defence capability and deterrence.
I've banged on about this for years. There are better ways of measuring capability, even if they are not as politically expedient.
I've banged on about this for years. There are better ways of measuring capability, even if they are not as politically expedient.
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Clearest illustration:
September 13, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Clearest illustration:
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Let's talk about...
Tube launched UAS, and why girth matters!
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
Tube launched UAS, and why girth matters!
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
September 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Let's talk about...
Tube launched UAS, and why girth matters!
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
Tube launched UAS, and why girth matters!
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
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To add - this is the malicious sabotage by a foreign power of an aircraft carrying an international statesperson, which might have led to loss of life.
At what stage do we start actually hitting back in the grey zone rather than just making defiant but empty speeches about 'deterrence'?
At what stage do we start actually hitting back in the grey zone rather than just making defiant but empty speeches about 'deterrence'?
Dickhead move from the Russian if confirmed. Fucking around with civilian aircraft is callous and irresponsible.
Also - a good reminder that for all the technological wizardry that we live with, you still need to be able to revert back to analogue in an age of powerful electronic warfare.
Also - a good reminder that for all the technological wizardry that we live with, you still need to be able to revert back to analogue in an age of powerful electronic warfare.
Ursula Von der Leyen’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS interference
Officials suspect jamming operation forced jet carrying EU commission president to land in Bulgaria using paper maps
www.ft.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:19 AM
To add - this is the malicious sabotage by a foreign power of an aircraft carrying an international statesperson, which might have led to loss of life.
At what stage do we start actually hitting back in the grey zone rather than just making defiant but empty speeches about 'deterrence'?
At what stage do we start actually hitting back in the grey zone rather than just making defiant but empty speeches about 'deterrence'?
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The dream: AI boosts productivity so much we all get 4-day workweeks.
The reality: AI productivity gains are an excuse for companies to cut staff or ask why you need a hire at all. No one’s handing out Fridays off because your job got easier, just more pressure to justify your existence
The reality: AI productivity gains are an excuse for companies to cut staff or ask why you need a hire at all. No one’s handing out Fridays off because your job got easier, just more pressure to justify your existence
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI will 'probably' bring 4-day work weeks: 'Every industrial revolution leads to some change in social behavior'
"I have to admit that I'm afraid to say that we are going to be busier in the future than now," Huang said in an interview on Fox Business Network.
fortune.com
August 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The dream: AI boosts productivity so much we all get 4-day workweeks.
The reality: AI productivity gains are an excuse for companies to cut staff or ask why you need a hire at all. No one’s handing out Fridays off because your job got easier, just more pressure to justify your existence
The reality: AI productivity gains are an excuse for companies to cut staff or ask why you need a hire at all. No one’s handing out Fridays off because your job got easier, just more pressure to justify your existence
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HMS Daring has been out of service for over 3,000 days — longer than it took to build her. Now, after years of refit and regeneration, she is crewing up for trials and getting ready to rejoin the fleet.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-wars...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-wars...
British warship passes 3,000 days out of service
HMS Daring has been out of service for over 3,000 days — longer than it took to build her. Now, after years of refit and regeneration, she is crewing up for trials and getting ready to rejoin the fleet.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
August 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
HMS Daring has been out of service for over 3,000 days — longer than it took to build her. Now, after years of refit and regeneration, she is crewing up for trials and getting ready to rejoin the fleet.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-wars...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-wars...
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not an economist, but it occurs to me that the optimism in US that the ‘AI revolution’ will be an economic boom, overlooks that it won’t provide very many jobs. In fact the ‘benefit’ is to reduce workforce. So higher unemployment + ever greater wealth gap. Surely this should be worrying planners?
August 6, 2025 at 7:42 AM
not an economist, but it occurs to me that the optimism in US that the ‘AI revolution’ will be an economic boom, overlooks that it won’t provide very many jobs. In fact the ‘benefit’ is to reduce workforce. So higher unemployment + ever greater wealth gap. Surely this should be worrying planners?
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As famine spreads across Gaza, would more countries recognising Palestine make any difference on the ground?
Former British ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, explains why he’s sceptical at the idea that following France’s move is the right call.
Former British ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, explains why he’s sceptical at the idea that following France’s move is the right call.
July 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
As famine spreads across Gaza, would more countries recognising Palestine make any difference on the ground?
Former British ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, explains why he’s sceptical at the idea that following France’s move is the right call.
Former British ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, explains why he’s sceptical at the idea that following France’s move is the right call.
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Thanks Neil, I think I’ll pass.
July 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Thanks Neil, I think I’ll pass.
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This week, I have been mostly watching the excellent sci-fi offerings of Apple+. On Foundation, Murderbot, and the riddle of spending £20 billion making so much great TV, without thinking to tell anyone about it.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...
Séamas O’Reilly: Apple TV+ has Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and God, but is anybody watching?
Foundation is genre storytelling at its richest, while Murderbot is smart-as-a-tack pulp sci-fi
www.irishtimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
This week, I have been mostly watching the excellent sci-fi offerings of Apple+. On Foundation, Murderbot, and the riddle of spending £20 billion making so much great TV, without thinking to tell anyone about it.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...
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really irritating the way WhatsApp keeps WhatsApping me
July 15, 2025 at 10:42 AM
really irritating the way WhatsApp keeps WhatsApping me
Reposted
July 2, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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A chilling reminder that American science denial does not just affect people in the US, it kills people globally.
June 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
A chilling reminder that American science denial does not just affect people in the US, it kills people globally.
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As it is that time of year again, here is W/C L.E. Healy's wonderful response to the Air Ministry's reminder, hours into the landings in Normandy, that 2TAF's Hawker Typhoon Bomphoons were not cleared to drop 1000lbs bombs.
The Canadian Tiffys had already dropped 48 of them that morning...
#dday
The Canadian Tiffys had already dropped 48 of them that morning...
#dday
June 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
As it is that time of year again, here is W/C L.E. Healy's wonderful response to the Air Ministry's reminder, hours into the landings in Normandy, that 2TAF's Hawker Typhoon Bomphoons were not cleared to drop 1000lbs bombs.
The Canadian Tiffys had already dropped 48 of them that morning...
#dday
The Canadian Tiffys had already dropped 48 of them that morning...
#dday
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In my experience most white van drivers drive like they're trying to achieve this anyway
Picture a Transit van that can hurl five 125 kg drones to 200 km/h in just four minutes—no rockets, no runway. That's what the UK's Project VOLLEY is aiming for.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-want...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-want...
Britain wants to launch large drones from Transit vans
Picture a Transit van that can hurl five 125 kg drones to 200 km/h in just four minutes—no rockets, no runway. That's what the UK's Project VOLLEY is aiming for.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
June 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
In my experience most white van drivers drive like they're trying to achieve this anyway
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I tried to be polite about it before, but it probably bears emphasising: Given the UKs various defence budget black holes on existing or upcoming committments, both in terms of efforts like Dreadnought, GCAP, surface fleet, to say nothing of land forces, the talk of 12 AUKUS SSN is an utter fantasy.
June 2, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I tried to be polite about it before, but it probably bears emphasising: Given the UKs various defence budget black holes on existing or upcoming committments, both in terms of efforts like Dreadnought, GCAP, surface fleet, to say nothing of land forces, the talk of 12 AUKUS SSN is an utter fantasy.
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Absolutely surreal to have lived through the Napster days and watched as the titans of industry moved hell and high water to lock down any possible chance that someone's song might get swapped online without giving the studios a cut and now those same people are just like "well we gotta steal music"
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
May 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Absolutely surreal to have lived through the Napster days and watched as the titans of industry moved hell and high water to lock down any possible chance that someone's song might get swapped online without giving the studios a cut and now those same people are just like "well we gotta steal music"
Jeez - all the money spent just to drop gravity bombs.
May 27, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Jeez - all the money spent just to drop gravity bombs.
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Latest in-depth article:
Royal Navy presents bold ambitions for the Future Air Dominance System
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-p...
Royal Navy presents bold ambitions for the Future Air Dominance System
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-p...
May 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Latest in-depth article:
Royal Navy presents bold ambitions for the Future Air Dominance System
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-p...
Royal Navy presents bold ambitions for the Future Air Dominance System
www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-p...
Reposted
Reposted
I think about this comic at least once a week
May 10, 2025 at 5:47 AM
I think about this comic at least once a week
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I will forever be haunted by this footage.
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
May 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I will forever be haunted by this footage.
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Sobering read
The UK has today announced that its F-35 fighters have achieved 'full operating capability' from their aircraft carriers. What does that amount to? My latest blog 👇 markurban.substack.com/p/britains-c...
Britain's Carrier Strike Force
Ready for What Exactly?
markurban.substack.com
April 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Sobering read