The Secret Buyer
@thesecretbuyer.bsky.social
I buy stuff for a living
Pinned
Hello, 👋
I'm a person who negotiates & buys for Corporates for a living.
Done it all over the world, will keep doing it until AI replaces me or I die, confident it will be the latter.
Standing offer, if you ever want views on negotiating or how to buy something.
Happy to help with my 2 cents
I'm a person who negotiates & buys for Corporates for a living.
Done it all over the world, will keep doing it until AI replaces me or I die, confident it will be the latter.
Standing offer, if you ever want views on negotiating or how to buy something.
Happy to help with my 2 cents
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Why is Fox News starting a war on Christmas?
Fox tells Americans to buy artificial trees so Christmas tree farms can be used for data centers:
"Everybody needs to get on board."
"Everybody needs to get on board."
December 15, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Why is Fox News starting a war on Christmas?
If you read one thing today read this
good grief, this superb, heartbreaking piece. Not all heroes wear capes, eh. www.ft.com/content/cd59...
‘It’s just a bomb’
The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage
www.ft.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:13 AM
If you read one thing today read this
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Cards on the table: By locking in the Russian assets for good, the European Union is finally playing hardball.
And it offers a preview of what life could look like without unanimity in foreign policy.
My weekend analysis.
And it offers a preview of what life could look like without unanimity in foreign policy.
My weekend analysis.
By locking in Russian assets for good, the EU finally plays hardball
In an audacious move, the EU has decided to indefinitely immobilise the Russian sovereign assets, pushing back against external pressure to release the funds before Moscow agrees to pay war reparation...
www.euronews.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Cards on the table: By locking in the Russian assets for good, the European Union is finally playing hardball.
And it offers a preview of what life could look like without unanimity in foreign policy.
My weekend analysis.
And it offers a preview of what life could look like without unanimity in foreign policy.
My weekend analysis.
A win
EU countries agreed to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, clearing the path for a 210 billion euro Ukraine reparations loan, with Hungary and Slovakia expected to oppose, Euractiv reported.
www.euractiv.com/news/eu-gree...
www.euractiv.com/news/eu-gree...
December 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
A win
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
I am pleased to announce another no-talent year!
December 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I am pleased to announce another no-talent year!
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
I agree. I understand the urge to keep trying to stop Trump doing more harm to UK interests, but Starmer & other European leaders need an honest conversation with voters about the effect of US abandonment on our security, & what we now need to do to protect ourselves.
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
December 10, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I agree. I understand the urge to keep trying to stop Trump doing more harm to UK interests, but Starmer & other European leaders need an honest conversation with voters about the effect of US abandonment on our security, & what we now need to do to protect ourselves.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
What I ask every time when I talk to British officials is:
What are you able and willing to do without the US ?
Because that is the no. 1 question on my mind looking at the UK from the Nordic-Baltic region, where faith in the UK is perhaps even a bit unrealistically strong.
What are you able and willing to do without the US ?
Because that is the no. 1 question on my mind looking at the UK from the Nordic-Baltic region, where faith in the UK is perhaps even a bit unrealistically strong.
I agree. I understand the urge to keep trying to stop Trump doing more harm to UK interests, but Starmer & other European leaders need an honest conversation with voters about the effect of US abandonment on our security, & what we now need to do to protect ourselves.
I can’t help thinking that when, in future, people ask what UK political leaders said as it became undeniable that US saw European liberal democracy as its no1 strategic foe, Starmer and others will regret that the answer is “not much, shuffled awkwardly, looked at their feet”.
December 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM
What I ask every time when I talk to British officials is:
What are you able and willing to do without the US ?
Because that is the no. 1 question on my mind looking at the UK from the Nordic-Baltic region, where faith in the UK is perhaps even a bit unrealistically strong.
What are you able and willing to do without the US ?
Because that is the no. 1 question on my mind looking at the UK from the Nordic-Baltic region, where faith in the UK is perhaps even a bit unrealistically strong.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
I have a subscription to Private Eye. I never read the thing; I just consider it my charitable duty to help to prop up pretty much the only news-related publication which occasionally prints truthful items rather than the blatant lies which fill all other "news" publications.
December 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I have a subscription to Private Eye. I never read the thing; I just consider it my charitable duty to help to prop up pretty much the only news-related publication which occasionally prints truthful items rather than the blatant lies which fill all other "news" publications.
Take note of the journalists & mediums that run 'its too complicated so we should do nothing' stories or opinion pieces re Australia trying to do something here.
They have learned literally nothing from the last two decades & are not worth your time or attention.
Social Media should be adult only
They have learned literally nothing from the last two decades & are not worth your time or attention.
Social Media should be adult only
Australia's ban on social media for users aged under 16 comes into effect; platforms that do not comply risk fines of up to AU$49.5M (Josh Taylor/The Guardian)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
December 9, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Take note of the journalists & mediums that run 'its too complicated so we should do nothing' stories or opinion pieces re Australia trying to do something here.
They have learned literally nothing from the last two decades & are not worth your time or attention.
Social Media should be adult only
They have learned literally nothing from the last two decades & are not worth your time or attention.
Social Media should be adult only
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
Spot on, there is a horrific moral decay in all of American elite, not just the hard right...
I'm still thinking about this exchange. As is often the case, we see Nuzzi acting out the most extreme version of a phenomenon that is actually pretty common in elite media: people taking umbrage at the idea that they're supposed to exercise moral judgment, and can be blamed for not doing so.
@timmiller.bsky.social: "He's being nominated to HHS Secretary…You had information that you could have shared…and you didn't share anything about him. Why? Did you still love him?"
Olivia Nuzzi: "I don't know how to responsibly handle this on camera." lnk.thebulwark.com/4ozkaz8?utm_...
Olivia Nuzzi: "I don't know how to responsibly handle this on camera." lnk.thebulwark.com/4ozkaz8?utm_...
December 7, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Spot on, there is a horrific moral decay in all of American elite, not just the hard right...
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Prime Minister of Poland. 🇵🇱
December 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Prime Minister of Poland. 🇵🇱
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
🇺🇸‼️🇺🇦 In 2025, Ukraine received almost nothing from the US government: infographic of support for Ukraine from the Kiel Institute
🇪🇺🇬🇧 All aid comes from Europe and other countries.
🇪🇺🇬🇧 All aid comes from Europe and other countries.
December 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
🇺🇸‼️🇺🇦 In 2025, Ukraine received almost nothing from the US government: infographic of support for Ukraine from the Kiel Institute
🇪🇺🇬🇧 All aid comes from Europe and other countries.
🇪🇺🇬🇧 All aid comes from Europe and other countries.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Yesterday ❤️
December 4, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Yesterday ❤️
It's hard to overstate just how much the UK is blowing up its own economy due to appalling taxation policy caused by stupid manifesto promises on ALL sides.
London is now off limits for greater than 48 months for any foreign talent who has made money abroad.
www.afr.com//world/europ...
London is now off limits for greater than 48 months for any foreign talent who has made money abroad.
www.afr.com//world/europ...
How Aussie expats are being taxed out of London
The UK government’s swoop on overseas-earned income and assets is seeing some Australians move to Dublin and other low tax jurisdictions, accountants say.
www.afr.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:05 AM
It's hard to overstate just how much the UK is blowing up its own economy due to appalling taxation policy caused by stupid manifesto promises on ALL sides.
London is now off limits for greater than 48 months for any foreign talent who has made money abroad.
www.afr.com//world/europ...
London is now off limits for greater than 48 months for any foreign talent who has made money abroad.
www.afr.com//world/europ...
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Tonight was a very bad night.
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Tonight was a very bad night.
A useful FYI for anyone who thinks drones are the end of Tanks, IFVs, APCs etc.
Future Forces will have stuff like this en masse.
TBH the only end I see as a result is the Conventional Helicopter as everyone & everything will increasingly carry ways to kill it too.
militarnyi.com/en/news/anti...
Future Forces will have stuff like this en masse.
TBH the only end I see as a result is the Conventional Helicopter as everyone & everything will increasingly carry ways to kill it too.
militarnyi.com/en/news/anti...
Anti-Drone System: Japan to Equip Promising IFVs and APCs With Drone Protection - Militarnyi
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has developed new variants of armored combat vehicles fitted with self-defense systems against drones.
militarnyi.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A useful FYI for anyone who thinks drones are the end of Tanks, IFVs, APCs etc.
Future Forces will have stuff like this en masse.
TBH the only end I see as a result is the Conventional Helicopter as everyone & everything will increasingly carry ways to kill it too.
militarnyi.com/en/news/anti...
Future Forces will have stuff like this en masse.
TBH the only end I see as a result is the Conventional Helicopter as everyone & everything will increasingly carry ways to kill it too.
militarnyi.com/en/news/anti...
China has built something geeks in the West have talked about for YEARS.
The difference, China isn't playing to keep an existing lobby based defence industry fat... It's playing to win & will fight dirty.
A drone arsenal semi submersible is going to sneak up & smash your coast without warning.
The difference, China isn't playing to keep an existing lobby based defence industry fat... It's playing to win & will fight dirty.
A drone arsenal semi submersible is going to sneak up & smash your coast without warning.
Breaking:
Unusual Black Trimaran Drone Ship Spotted In Chinese Shipyard
You heard it here first!
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Unusual Black Trimaran Drone Ship Spotted In Chinese Shipyard
You heard it here first!
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Unusual Black Trimaran Drone Ship Spotted In Chinese Shipyard - Naval News
Hidden beneath tarpaulins, an uncommon sight at Chinese shipyards, a new trimaran-hulled vessel appears to combine features of both surface ships and submarines.
www.navalnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:23 AM
China has built something geeks in the West have talked about for YEARS.
The difference, China isn't playing to keep an existing lobby based defence industry fat... It's playing to win & will fight dirty.
A drone arsenal semi submersible is going to sneak up & smash your coast without warning.
The difference, China isn't playing to keep an existing lobby based defence industry fat... It's playing to win & will fight dirty.
A drone arsenal semi submersible is going to sneak up & smash your coast without warning.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Everything about his body language whenever a question is asked about the Russian bribes speaks of panic. Farage is vulnerable on this.
Farage is asked about another two of his MEPs, who made the same pro-Russia statements that Nathan Gill has now pled guilty to being bribed to make.
"Opinions are opinions."
Farage's defence seems to be that they arrived at those views independently and it has nowt to do with him.
Hmm. 🤔 ~AA
"Opinions are opinions."
Farage's defence seems to be that they arrived at those views independently and it has nowt to do with him.
Hmm. 🤔 ~AA
October 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Everything about his body language whenever a question is asked about the Russian bribes speaks of panic. Farage is vulnerable on this.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Ukraine will receive Swedish Gripen jets for the first time, along with new F-16s and Mirages, — Ministry of Defense.
Gripen’s edge: versatile as a fighter, strike, and recon jet, cheaper to maintain than the F-16, highly maneuverable, and fast to deploy.
Gripen’s edge: versatile as a fighter, strike, and recon jet, cheaper to maintain than the F-16, highly maneuverable, and fast to deploy.
September 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Ukraine will receive Swedish Gripen jets for the first time, along with new F-16s and Mirages, — Ministry of Defense.
Gripen’s edge: versatile as a fighter, strike, and recon jet, cheaper to maintain than the F-16, highly maneuverable, and fast to deploy.
Gripen’s edge: versatile as a fighter, strike, and recon jet, cheaper to maintain than the F-16, highly maneuverable, and fast to deploy.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Tulsi Gabbard revoked my security clearance after learning I'm considering a Senate run.
Laura Loomer and right-wing trolls unleashed a wave of attacks. Then came death threats.
The Trump machine wants to shut me up. But I won't:
I'm running to be Kentucky's next senator.
Laura Loomer and right-wing trolls unleashed a wave of attacks. Then came death threats.
The Trump machine wants to shut me up. But I won't:
I'm running to be Kentucky's next senator.
September 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Tulsi Gabbard revoked my security clearance after learning I'm considering a Senate run.
Laura Loomer and right-wing trolls unleashed a wave of attacks. Then came death threats.
The Trump machine wants to shut me up. But I won't:
I'm running to be Kentucky's next senator.
Laura Loomer and right-wing trolls unleashed a wave of attacks. Then came death threats.
The Trump machine wants to shut me up. But I won't:
I'm running to be Kentucky's next senator.
Feels like the first genuinely interesting thing from Apple in a few years TBH.
Apple will be significantly safer by design.
Honestly enough for me to consider switching everything the old parents use to new Apple Products.
Online targeting of Seniors is scary, Apple here doing stuff to mitigate.
Apple will be significantly safer by design.
Honestly enough for me to consider switching everything the old parents use to new Apple Products.
Online targeting of Seniors is scary, Apple here doing stuff to mitigate.
September 14, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Feels like the first genuinely interesting thing from Apple in a few years TBH.
Apple will be significantly safer by design.
Honestly enough for me to consider switching everything the old parents use to new Apple Products.
Online targeting of Seniors is scary, Apple here doing stuff to mitigate.
Apple will be significantly safer by design.
Honestly enough for me to consider switching everything the old parents use to new Apple Products.
Online targeting of Seniors is scary, Apple here doing stuff to mitigate.
Reposted by The Secret Buyer
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting Brazil coup
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting Brazil coup
www.bbc.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Starmer is very bad at politics isn't he?
Starmer’s stated rationale for sacking Mandelson was that
new emails showed the Labour peer urging Epstein to prove his innocence
this makes no sense
it literally implies Starmer would have been relaxed if Mandelson had thought Epstein was guilty when he stayed at his Manhattan house in 2009
new emails showed the Labour peer urging Epstein to prove his innocence
this makes no sense
it literally implies Starmer would have been relaxed if Mandelson had thought Epstein was guilty when he stayed at his Manhattan house in 2009
September 11, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Starmer is very bad at politics isn't he?