Chris Brooke

Are you now going to retrain in biosemiotics?

It's OK if they skip the historical disquisition on the price of silver.

I mean, what now passes for "Blue Labour" is a bit different from what it was 15 years ago. But Glasman provides a thread of continuity, and he's always been at least adjacent to the critique of the kind of bureaucratic state socialism exemplified by the Attlee government.

David Runciman · Socialism in One County: True Blue Labour

The Blue Labour argument (insofar as one can speak of such a thing) has always been, weirdly, that Labour took a wrong turn under Attlee.

(For a bit more detail, see, e.g. here.)

Today's the 250th anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.

(I wonder how many of today's Economists have actually read more than, say, a dozen pages?)

If you are with Philosophers, I am sure they have covered this already, but do make sure you see Kant's death mask in the local museum while you're there.

Fun place, Tartu.

Also my old friend Howard Reed (elected last year).

Happy memories of David Cameron's "A-List", back when he was Leader of the Opposition.

Good cat.

It is hard, but today I have failed to be chosen *both* as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran *and* as Best in Show at Cruft's.

On the 60th anniversary of the D Day landings I appeared on TV from the beach at Arromanches, credited as a military historian.

Trump’s war on Iran is taking place What's it like to re-read Baudrillard as bombs fall on Tehran?

"None of that fits in a victory video, no matter how many totally badass clips from movies and video games you include. And none of it can be resolved by having your press secretary announce that you’ve decided you’ve won:" - terrific piece by @eliasisquith.blog:

I don't think you really hate to be a killjoy.

Hate to be a killjoy, but this just isn't true. For most of their history universities have been about securing qualifications in law/medicine/theology and/or helping the careers of the upwardly mobile middling sort.

The real question is whether we want to return to that world. (My answer is no.)

@woodscolt79.bsky.social I draw the attention of the Campaign for Heliacal Democracy to the local elections in France, whose first round is on 15 March and second round a week later on 22 March, with the Vernal Equinox falling in the middle on 20 March. This seems commendable. Formidable, even.

I know the feeling...

It publishes lots of good stuff! That's why I subscribe. And, as I get older, I read the lit. reviews a lot more than the politics ones. But I think for UKnians, if you are only going to read one, it shd be the LRB, unless your own interests very precisely map onto the local obsessions of the NYRoB.

Because the SEP is run by American Philosophers, and American Philosophers, especially of the analytical variety, are incredibly conservative when it comes to the question of who counts as a Philosopher.

And I cut off the list before 2018--Geraint Evans!

"To which Labour MP, or former Labour MP, are you married?"

Ahem. #listoftourdefrancewinners

What an excellent match that was.

Two Negronis.

Negronis—a seriously excellent drink, to mark a seriously excellent day in the history of Italian rugby.

My decision to sit on the sofa all afternoon has been thoroughly vindicated by events. Those were both super matches.

How splendid.

What a fantastic try.

Who actually were the Hero Voters? Labour won in 2024 because of economically insecure voters, not social conservatism.

Have been a bit frustrated by some of the conversation about Labour's voter coalition.

I've written about who the "Hero Voters" actually were, how we won them, and what we need to do to earn their support next time.

chriscurtismk.substack.com/p/who-actual...

Six Nations 2015: England 55-35 France England come up just short of the 26-point margin needed to win the Six Nations in a 55-35 win over France at Twickenham.

Before today it was very plausibly this match.

Scotland beat France handsomely (and very unexpectedly).

As I was saying at half time.