Skerral
@snoopdougiedoig.bsky.social
Politics, science, economics, cross-Europe holidays by train and ferry, beer, bread, and regrettably life-altering Long Covid (3.5yrs).
🏡🌐🏴 Crieff/ Glasgow/ Bute
🏡🌐🏴 Crieff/ Glasgow/ Bute
I think they mistakenly think that it's journalism rather than qualitative polling.
November 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I think they mistakenly think that it's journalism rather than qualitative polling.
For me, sticking purely to personal qualities, and ignoring political differences, Starmer is several bad senior managers I have worked for.
Successful, powerful, ruthless, authoritarian and personally dislikeable. The kind of manager that has you reaching for your CV.
Successful, powerful, ruthless, authoritarian and personally dislikeable. The kind of manager that has you reaching for your CV.
November 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
For me, sticking purely to personal qualities, and ignoring political differences, Starmer is several bad senior managers I have worked for.
Successful, powerful, ruthless, authoritarian and personally dislikeable. The kind of manager that has you reaching for your CV.
Successful, powerful, ruthless, authoritarian and personally dislikeable. The kind of manager that has you reaching for your CV.
I, a left-leaning voter, continue to be surprised I can still hate this Labour party more.
Every time I think they can't get any worse, they surpass themselves.
Every time I think they can't get any worse, they surpass themselves.
November 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I, a left-leaning voter, continue to be surprised I can still hate this Labour party more.
Every time I think they can't get any worse, they surpass themselves.
Every time I think they can't get any worse, they surpass themselves.
Labour deserve to cease to exist as a party if they do this.
November 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Labour deserve to cease to exist as a party if they do this.
I suppose many would support David's claim of simplism though.
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I suppose many would support David's claim of simplism though.
Minor quibble because I basically agree, but the SNP have a very clear idea of what a part of the UK should look like in 2040 or 2050.
And that's not about the merits or practicalities of it, but the vision.
And that's not about the merits or practicalities of it, but the vision.
November 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Minor quibble because I basically agree, but the SNP have a very clear idea of what a part of the UK should look like in 2040 or 2050.
And that's not about the merits or practicalities of it, but the vision.
And that's not about the merits or practicalities of it, but the vision.
Fair enough, I disagree.
November 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Fair enough, I disagree.
I have a different recollection. Maybe I'm thinking of different commentators, but I remember a lot of "he's so lucky" and, "it's going to be great" was wishfully implied in much of that.
November 14, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I have a different recollection. Maybe I'm thinking of different commentators, but I remember a lot of "he's so lucky" and, "it's going to be great" was wishfully implied in much of that.
Normally I think your analysis is sound, but this time I think it's off.
I think the election defining theme was change.
Change requires action, action requires money.
I think the election defining theme was change.
Change requires action, action requires money.
November 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Normally I think your analysis is sound, but this time I think it's off.
I think the election defining theme was change.
Change requires action, action requires money.
I think the election defining theme was change.
Change requires action, action requires money.
That's obviously just a briefing line to friendly journalists.
November 14, 2025 at 11:10 AM
That's obviously just a briefing line to friendly journalists.
I love how many journalists and commentators (not you I think) were saying two years ago how Starmer must have a magic lamp given how well things were going for him before the election...
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I love how many journalists and commentators (not you I think) were saying two years ago how Starmer must have a magic lamp given how well things were going for him before the election...
I'll go for Thatcher/ Reaganism is finally over as an ideology, and developed economies need large scale change (regulation, taxation, investment, break up of monopolies and rent seeking) but politics has become too corrupted in all ways by big money to make necessary changes. So we get bad leaders.
November 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I'll go for Thatcher/ Reaganism is finally over as an ideology, and developed economies need large scale change (regulation, taxation, investment, break up of monopolies and rent seeking) but politics has become too corrupted in all ways by big money to make necessary changes. So we get bad leaders.
If it was only £30bn they needed maybe it would be ok.
November 14, 2025 at 12:52 AM
If it was only £30bn they needed maybe it would be ok.
They can't even tax and spend properly.
November 13, 2025 at 10:48 PM
They can't even tax and spend properly.
Are you planning to write about this? It would be interesting to know your take on it.
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Are you planning to write about this? It would be interesting to know your take on it.
I think there was a very good, very long Mother Jones article where the journalist phoned every name in Epstein's book. Some of them spoke to him, and it revealed a lot.
November 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I think there was a very good, very long Mother Jones article where the journalist phoned every name in Epstein's book. Some of them spoke to him, and it revealed a lot.
Isn't the suggestion he was blackmailing people, that would explain a lot...
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Isn't the suggestion he was blackmailing people, that would explain a lot...
Can I give a shout-out to the intermittently disabled, the people with chronic illnesses who could work sometimes, but don't because jobs don't work like that.
November 13, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Can I give a shout-out to the intermittently disabled, the people with chronic illnesses who could work sometimes, but don't because jobs don't work like that.
The only reason I ask, is a recent infection can cause parosmia. That's where you smell only bad smells. Far from the only explanation, but possible if you had an illness recently.
November 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The only reason I ask, is a recent infection can cause parosmia. That's where you smell only bad smells. Far from the only explanation, but possible if you had an illness recently.
Just perfumes? Or does other stuff smell bad too?
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Just perfumes? Or does other stuff smell bad too?
You can look at that and say, yes that's true or close to the truth. But it's the negative picks and negative spin on true. Some people see it that way. Others see a different view.
Yes, if there was a decent alternative open to both constitutional wings, then the SNP would lose. But there isn't.
Yes, if there was a decent alternative open to both constitutional wings, then the SNP would lose. But there isn't.
November 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM
You can look at that and say, yes that's true or close to the truth. But it's the negative picks and negative spin on true. Some people see it that way. Others see a different view.
Yes, if there was a decent alternative open to both constitutional wings, then the SNP would lose. But there isn't.
Yes, if there was a decent alternative open to both constitutional wings, then the SNP would lose. But there isn't.
Me too. Our English teacher started us on them.
November 10, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Me too. Our English teacher started us on them.