@richtnext.bsky.social
Innovation, econ, politics, cities, net 0, social mobility. Bikes, music, comedy, beer, running. English/Brit/European, 23% Germanic, 7% Scot, 4% Scandi, 2% Irish, 1% Northern Italy. Maybe.
@qi.com Corrections to Lunchbox Envy on coffee? The way we drink coffee is mostly not significantly dehydrating, because the volume of liquid outweighs diuretic effect. It's mostly a myth people drank weak beer instead of water. To thrive, throughout human history safe water sources were sought out.
August 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
@qi.com Corrections to Lunchbox Envy on coffee? The way we drink coffee is mostly not significantly dehydrating, because the volume of liquid outweighs diuretic effect. It's mostly a myth people drank weak beer instead of water. To thrive, throughout human history safe water sources were sought out.
Edinburgh Fringe is brilliant. Things to change? 1. Door staff have forgotten their job is welcoming hosts, not ticket terms police. 2. It's too expensive to stay. 3. It's too easy for the ultra-privileged to fund mediocre work. 4. Edinburgh is beautiful, but maybe not modernising, a bit shabbier?
August 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Edinburgh Fringe is brilliant. Things to change? 1. Door staff have forgotten their job is welcoming hosts, not ticket terms police. 2. It's too expensive to stay. 3. It's too easy for the ultra-privileged to fund mediocre work. 4. Edinburgh is beautiful, but maybe not modernising, a bit shabbier?
Branding, wayfinding, train & station design standards transformed London Overground lines usage. Britain's new Great British Railways routes should reinforce positive, inclusive regional identities. Eg C2C should be London Essex Coastal. A nod to the lesser known character of the county & boroughs.
August 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Branding, wayfinding, train & station design standards transformed London Overground lines usage. Britain's new Great British Railways routes should reinforce positive, inclusive regional identities. Eg C2C should be London Essex Coastal. A nod to the lesser known character of the county & boroughs.
Point 2 on algorithms: Why are they still so bad? Why is Spotify so poor at understanding music taste, creating playlists, generating serendipity with surprising tracks we might like? Why does Threads double-down on such niche content you once liked (guess it just copied the dead feed of Facebook).
July 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Point 2 on algorithms: Why are they still so bad? Why is Spotify so poor at understanding music taste, creating playlists, generating serendipity with surprising tracks we might like? Why does Threads double-down on such niche content you once liked (guess it just copied the dead feed of Facebook).
Worrying thing about online safety is that governments like the UK & Australia are just catching up with issues that began 5-10 years ago - whilst still not regulating fair and ethical algorithms, nor effective competition in global big tech. Let alone where AI is heading. Anticipating vs reacting!
July 30, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Worrying thing about online safety is that governments like the UK & Australia are just catching up with issues that began 5-10 years ago - whilst still not regulating fair and ethical algorithms, nor effective competition in global big tech. Let alone where AI is heading. Anticipating vs reacting!
There is a wave beginning in England and in Britain. It's in sport and it's in culture. Out of bad times, a tired nation, creativity and tenacity emerge. Don't write the UK off yet. The Lionesses embody a new spirit, that defies the forces trying to take us backwards.
July 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
There is a wave beginning in England and in Britain. It's in sport and it's in culture. Out of bad times, a tired nation, creativity and tenacity emerge. Don't write the UK off yet. The Lionesses embody a new spirit, that defies the forces trying to take us backwards.
The UK has been in relative economy decline for nearly 2 decades now, yet govt seems surprised people aren't saving enough for post 70s retirement. Housing market inequalities largely to blame. Smash freehold monopolies, tax unearned property wealth accumulation fairly, regulate property management.
July 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The UK has been in relative economy decline for nearly 2 decades now, yet govt seems surprised people aren't saving enough for post 70s retirement. Housing market inequalities largely to blame. Smash freehold monopolies, tax unearned property wealth accumulation fairly, regulate property management.
In 2016 I said that, piece by piece, Britain would return to the relationship it had with the rest of Europe before the purposeless referendum. Agreements with France & Germany are part of that. But ambition in detail is weak: direct trains UK to Germany within a *decade* (the tunnel opened in 1994)
July 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In 2016 I said that, piece by piece, Britain would return to the relationship it had with the rest of Europe before the purposeless referendum. Agreements with France & Germany are part of that. But ambition in detail is weak: direct trains UK to Germany within a *decade* (the tunnel opened in 1994)
Do we need a British Public Service Media Fee to replace the BBC License Fee? A tax whereby 65% goes to the BBC to give it enough scale to compete globally and commercially, enabling its public service remit and news - and 35% is available to independent streaming and broadcasting production?
July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Do we need a British Public Service Media Fee to replace the BBC License Fee? A tax whereby 65% goes to the BBC to give it enough scale to compete globally and commercially, enabling its public service remit and news - and 35% is available to independent streaming and broadcasting production?
UK Labour will hear calls to deregulate The City (finance) for a quick fix growth boost. They must remember finance, business leaders & big consultancies have grown themselves, whilst failing to grow GDP across the UK. Shout a vision of modern success sectors & services = confidence = investment.
July 12, 2025 at 7:04 AM
UK Labour will hear calls to deregulate The City (finance) for a quick fix growth boost. They must remember finance, business leaders & big consultancies have grown themselves, whilst failing to grow GDP across the UK. Shout a vision of modern success sectors & services = confidence = investment.
What actually nudges people to be overweight?
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
How Japan escaped Obesity while America got Fat
YouTube video by What I've Learned - Joseph Everett
www.youtube.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
What actually nudges people to be overweight?
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
Naive in extreme for govt to take 'free' services, hardware from Big Tech. Worse though, it's bad for business, unethical; locks out fair competition from smaller firms, unable to offer services free. Ask what Big Tech gains, what power govt loses. UK Labour again listening to wrong business voices.
July 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Naive in extreme for govt to take 'free' services, hardware from Big Tech. Worse though, it's bad for business, unethical; locks out fair competition from smaller firms, unable to offer services free. Ask what Big Tech gains, what power govt loses. UK Labour again listening to wrong business voices.
Starmer does not need to "tax our way to growth". But he needs to invest urgently to stimulate the economy & public services; to enable the UK to catch up with living standards in other advanced economies over the next decade. World leaders need greater courage taxing unearned wealth inequality.
July 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Starmer does not need to "tax our way to growth". But he needs to invest urgently to stimulate the economy & public services; to enable the UK to catch up with living standards in other advanced economies over the next decade. World leaders need greater courage taxing unearned wealth inequality.
Adam Curtis's latest series is another masterpiece, albeit depressing when focused solely on your home country. Criticism? Focus on deindustrialisation without more balance on rise of (eg) higher tech, professional services, creative or design jobs. Deindustrialisation is far from unique to the UK.
June 16, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Adam Curtis's latest series is another masterpiece, albeit depressing when focused solely on your home country. Criticism? Focus on deindustrialisation without more balance on rise of (eg) higher tech, professional services, creative or design jobs. Deindustrialisation is far from unique to the UK.
In the UK / EU partnership talks, you'll see so much reference to fishing, and 2-sided false balance arguments: but fishing + seafood processing is around 0.1% UK GDP I believe. That's tiny vs the growth gains elsewhere that might come from a new agreement. Food is strategically important, but...!
May 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
In the UK / EU partnership talks, you'll see so much reference to fishing, and 2-sided false balance arguments: but fishing + seafood processing is around 0.1% UK GDP I believe. That's tiny vs the growth gains elsewhere that might come from a new agreement. Food is strategically important, but...!
Lesson from early UK mayoral / regional & local election results: as Cameron learned calling EU referendum in response to threat of UKIP, imitating Reform populist nationalism - vs reality of improving living standards from modern jobs in a global economy - does not help Labour, LibDems or Tories.
May 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Lesson from early UK mayoral / regional & local election results: as Cameron learned calling EU referendum in response to threat of UKIP, imitating Reform populist nationalism - vs reality of improving living standards from modern jobs in a global economy - does not help Labour, LibDems or Tories.
The Assembly on @itvx.com is the TV we need right now. A heartwarming, insightful, joyous, inclusive French interview format. It strips away so much that clutters our shows, and adds a different, beautiful richness, openness and honesty.
April 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The Assembly on @itvx.com is the TV we need right now. A heartwarming, insightful, joyous, inclusive French interview format. It strips away so much that clutters our shows, and adds a different, beautiful richness, openness and honesty.
Nobody tell anybody about the Biscoff tax.
April 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Nobody tell anybody about the Biscoff tax.
Adolescence is the finest theatre.
March 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Adolescence is the finest theatre.
UK Labour puts forward proposals to cancel new feudal-style leaseholds on properties. But by not forcing a transition for existing leasehold properties, it risks crashing their value. Labour is listening too much to greedy City investors' bogus pension fund logic, not enough to consumer confidence.
March 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
UK Labour puts forward proposals to cancel new feudal-style leaseholds on properties. But by not forcing a transition for existing leasehold properties, it risks crashing their value. Labour is listening too much to greedy City investors' bogus pension fund logic, not enough to consumer confidence.
Why the UK government would be unwise to see pubs as a health problem, rather than an opportunity for health, social and economic gains. It's where relationships are formed, deals are done. And it's a safer way to drink than cheap home supermarket booze. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @libdems.org.uk
Why Do We Do That? - Series 2 - 9. Why do we go to the pub? - BBC Sounds
Paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi asks why do we go to the pub?
www.bbc.co.uk
March 2, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Why the UK government would be unwise to see pubs as a health problem, rather than an opportunity for health, social and economic gains. It's where relationships are formed, deals are done. And it's a safer way to drink than cheap home supermarket booze. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @libdems.org.uk
@nickbeake.bsky.social Who are the people referring to Europe as a single country? The only people I hear saying it are lazy journalists. The same ones who don't understand basic geography and history - referring to Europe as if it's a separate thing, 'over there', rather than where we live. Basic.
March 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
@nickbeake.bsky.social Who are the people referring to Europe as a single country? The only people I hear saying it are lazy journalists. The same ones who don't understand basic geography and history - referring to Europe as if it's a separate thing, 'over there', rather than where we live. Basic.
We can't just accept US tech oligarchy and the spread of misinformation - the opposite of successful competitive markets, with regulation in the public interest. How do we create stronger, independent pan-European tech & media forces? It's not like common languages are the barriers they once were.
March 1, 2025 at 1:59 PM
We can't just accept US tech oligarchy and the spread of misinformation - the opposite of successful competitive markets, with regulation in the public interest. How do we create stronger, independent pan-European tech & media forces? It's not like common languages are the barriers they once were.
Never has a stronger EU been more vital to the future of liberal democracies, that deliver for all the people, not just a tiny few. A reformed, higher growth EU, with the UK brought back to a similar relationship to the opt outs, if not inside. With closer EU defence, finance, research & tech unity.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Never has a stronger EU been more vital to the future of liberal democracies, that deliver for all the people, not just a tiny few. A reformed, higher growth EU, with the UK brought back to a similar relationship to the opt outs, if not inside. With closer EU defence, finance, research & tech unity.
Oil company shareholders making the same mistakes as the tobacco firms, factories that used to employ children, or the slave owners... The world's intelligence moves on. When you focus only on short term gains, you can't attract smart talent. Your decline is sealed. Your personal standing hollowed.
February 26, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Oil company shareholders making the same mistakes as the tobacco firms, factories that used to employ children, or the slave owners... The world's intelligence moves on. When you focus only on short term gains, you can't attract smart talent. Your decline is sealed. Your personal standing hollowed.