Tim in Bath
@timinbath.bsky.social
Used to be an HIV immunology researcher. Now works on life science patents with a side interest in archaeological science. Student at UHI Orkney.
Green, left, secular, cynical
Green, left, secular, cynical
I think you are right.
The UK sees the EU as awkward and illogical in not granting deals where mutual benefit is obvious. The EU sees this attitude as entitled. The UK has never understood that the EU sees itself not as a means to an end but to an end in itself.
The UK sees the EU as awkward and illogical in not granting deals where mutual benefit is obvious. The EU sees this attitude as entitled. The UK has never understood that the EU sees itself not as a means to an end but to an end in itself.
September 17, 2026 at 1:54 PM
I think you are right.
The UK sees the EU as awkward and illogical in not granting deals where mutual benefit is obvious. The EU sees this attitude as entitled. The UK has never understood that the EU sees itself not as a means to an end but to an end in itself.
The UK sees the EU as awkward and illogical in not granting deals where mutual benefit is obvious. The EU sees this attitude as entitled. The UK has never understood that the EU sees itself not as a means to an end but to an end in itself.
My take on it is that the EU should only be doing things that it can do well (like setting product standards) and not dabble in things like foreign policy which is does poorly. The problem with that though is its economic clout which could do some good in the world arguably goes to waste.
September 17, 2026 at 12:42 PM
My take on it is that the EU should only be doing things that it can do well (like setting product standards) and not dabble in things like foreign policy which is does poorly. The problem with that though is its economic clout which could do some good in the world arguably goes to waste.
How can the EU take a consistent stand on the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, when it's members are not consistent in their position? Ireland versus German for example have very different positions and I don't think that the EU can be blamed for that.
September 17, 2026 at 11:03 AM
How can the EU take a consistent stand on the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, when it's members are not consistent in their position? Ireland versus German for example have very different positions and I don't think that the EU can be blamed for that.
Depends if you think that building mutual prosperity is a worthy goal in and of itself or merely a tool for building a federal country called Europe. I don't see why it can't be both. And Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all far less white than the EU is.
September 17, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Depends if you think that building mutual prosperity is a worthy goal in and of itself or merely a tool for building a federal country called Europe. I don't see why it can't be both. And Canada, New Zealand and Australia are all far less white than the EU is.
Yes that is the logic and I don't see a problem with that if you see that EU primarily as a vehicle for promoting mutually beneficial cooperation wherever it can be found in the interests of prosperity and peace, rather than a vehicle for building a empire.
September 17, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Yes that is the logic and I don't see a problem with that if you see that EU primarily as a vehicle for promoting mutually beneficial cooperation wherever it can be found in the interests of prosperity and peace, rather than a vehicle for building a empire.
Similar in the UK. Only 48.9% pass both parts of the test.
September 16, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Similar in the UK. Only 48.9% pass both parts of the test.
I thought he was OK in the early Harry Potter films.
September 16, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I thought he was OK in the early Harry Potter films.
Canada has a land border with Denmark.
September 16, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Canada has a land border with Denmark.
Case in point, the SNP secured 69 out of the 129 seats in 2011. This was an outright majority. The reason they haven't managed it since is because of the voters not because of the system.
September 16, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Case in point, the SNP secured 69 out of the 129 seats in 2011. This was an outright majority. The reason they haven't managed it since is because of the voters not because of the system.
There absolutely can be a outright majority for a party if they get enough votes for one. The "problem" is not that the system is rigged but that the electorate is split with Labour and the SNP both getting lots of votes but neither or them getting a majority of them.
September 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM
There absolutely can be a outright majority for a party if they get enough votes for one. The "problem" is not that the system is rigged but that the electorate is split with Labour and the SNP both getting lots of votes but neither or them getting a majority of them.
I suspect that EU-built cars already meet the Canadian standards and this is not what is keeping them out of the market. More likely to be the tariffs charged in both directions.
September 16, 2026 at 2:14 PM
I suspect that EU-built cars already meet the Canadian standards and this is not what is keeping them out of the market. More likely to be the tariffs charged in both directions.
bsky.app/profile/loca... This decent and brave woman lives there too
September 16, 2026 at 1:49 PM
bsky.app/profile/loca... This decent and brave woman lives there too
Always seems to be some small-minded village. I guess they need something to do when they aren't fucking their cousins, tearing animals to pieces or complaining on WhatsApp about outsiders parking their cars or teenagers sitting on benches with their friends.
September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Always seems to be some small-minded village. I guess they need something to do when they aren't fucking their cousins, tearing animals to pieces or complaining on WhatsApp about outsiders parking their cars or teenagers sitting on benches with their friends.
That is the trick they pull.
A left-leaning preference is "ideological" or "playing politics". A right-learning preference is "common sense" or just the default way things are.
A left-leaning preference is "ideological" or "playing politics". A right-learning preference is "common sense" or just the default way things are.
September 16, 2026 at 8:48 AM
That is the trick they pull.
A left-leaning preference is "ideological" or "playing politics". A right-learning preference is "common sense" or just the default way things are.
A left-leaning preference is "ideological" or "playing politics". A right-learning preference is "common sense" or just the default way things are.
There are some technical solutions but affordable train fares to domestic and near-continental destinations would be the simplest solution of all.
September 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM
There are some technical solutions but affordable train fares to domestic and near-continental destinations would be the simplest solution of all.
It was dreadful wasn't it. Even the Michael Palin bit was poor (why show a cartoon when you literally have a tapestry showing the story). Especially disappointed because I thought it might have been a French co-production (it wasn't) which usually guarantees some level of intelligence.
September 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM
It was dreadful wasn't it. Even the Michael Palin bit was poor (why show a cartoon when you literally have a tapestry showing the story). Especially disappointed because I thought it might have been a French co-production (it wasn't) which usually guarantees some level of intelligence.
I also do this. Stopping 30+ people on a bus for my convenience seems unfair.
September 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I also do this. Stopping 30+ people on a bus for my convenience seems unfair.
Erm, it was known as England before the William the Bastard arrived.
September 11, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Erm, it was known as England before the William the Bastard arrived.
If opinion polling demonstrated a settled will for reunification it would be very difficult for the UK to resist calls for a referendum, not least because the Irish Government & its friends would start very loudly demanding one.
But the polls don't show that.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
But the polls don't show that.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
Opinion polling on a United Ireland - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 10, 2026 at 4:16 PM
If opinion polling demonstrated a settled will for reunification it would be very difficult for the UK to resist calls for a referendum, not least because the Irish Government & its friends would start very loudly demanding one.
But the polls don't show that.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
But the polls don't show that.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...
Wasn't he in Blair's government when the Belfast agreement was signed?
September 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Wasn't he in Blair's government when the Belfast agreement was signed?
My in-laws used to enjoy visiting Magdeberg.
But then again, they were quite rascist.
But then again, they were quite rascist.
September 10, 2026 at 3:53 PM
My in-laws used to enjoy visiting Magdeberg.
But then again, they were quite rascist.
But then again, they were quite rascist.
zero holiday plans ruined, I'd say :-)
September 10, 2026 at 3:36 PM
zero holiday plans ruined, I'd say :-)
Have just been reading that until 14C dating, some (Southerners) thought that the North didn't really have an Iron Age. Evidence was dismissed as "prolonged Bronze Age" and brochs were seen as medieval.
September 9, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Have just been reading that until 14C dating, some (Southerners) thought that the North didn't really have an Iron Age. Evidence was dismissed as "prolonged Bronze Age" and brochs were seen as medieval.
The main unknown is whether a vaccination given to a teenager will give life-long protection. It may well do, but if not, older people can be given a booster.
September 9, 2026 at 9:53 AM
The main unknown is whether a vaccination given to a teenager will give life-long protection. It may well do, but if not, older people can be given a booster.