David Chivers

Also important to note that people under the age of ~20 have zero memory of it.

Only tried small beer on that list and it isn't great. Probably better to think about portion control then ABV. I am actually unsure if current research suggests lowering ABV works that much as people just drink more?

Not easy to find a decent real ale around 4% although not impossible. Even harder for larger.

Wine is extremely difficult <12% unless it is something off-dry like a Mosel resiling.

Obviously a demand for it and non-alcoholic beers are getting better so hopefully just need more innovation.

Taxing universities who earn income from international students to invest in universities to provide skills.

Got to balance those books.

I feel uncomfortable with central bankers going into politics after doing their stints.

Theoretically, I have no issue with it as I think people can be politically neutral in these positions (something extremely important for institutions to function).

But perceptions matter.

YouTube video by tokyoseven The Rakes - 22 Grand Job

The rakes should re-release this every year with inflation-adjusted lyrics (would now be 36 Grand Job).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=flES...

I think about this often

Pro tip: if you want to drink secretly, buy a load of vintage wine. Once you have finished it, bury it in the garden and if anyone digs it up no one will think it was you all along.

How much of it is the uncertainty vs the tariffs themselves?

I was just thinking how weird it was that there were a group of pro-Brexit politicians arguing that the EU did not operate under free trade and suggesting Trump would?

100g plain flour
2 large eggs
300ml milk

If its an investment decision, yes. If it is a way of storing cash to make a purchase in a couple of years hmm?

I think the issue is there are so many products and tax rules that it confuses people and difficult to compare across products.

Also, going on about stuff about when the fixed rate deal ends is just stupid and should just be left out of comparisons.

I can imagine things like exit fees and overpayment rules to then be more complex but something doesn't sit right with me about the current system which will probably bamboozle the majority of the population.

Mortgage observations:

Up front fees/hidden fees really makes things quite confusing. I understand that their will potentially be minor savings depending on circumstances but I am unsure this is actually providing good competition compared to if everything had to be rolled into an interest rate.

What do you mean by field system? Northern France feels quite like the UK to me at least in terms of greenery.

Sure, a nice problem for those who have it but its just a very weird way to doit.

Why did we decide to phase put personal allowance for those on over 100k rather than increase tax rate?

Productivity hack: use two electric tooth brushes simultaneously to brush your child's teeth.

For example, my mortgage is coming up and I asked it for total interest I would pay under certain assumptions per year, and comparing various overpayment scenarios.

Other than that a lot of giving it a picture/PDF of a table and transferring to data (OMG this used to be such a pain) and other things that would have taken me time to think about how to code.

Only started using Claude/ChatGPT recently.

The way I use it tends to be decision related:
1) Comparing pros and cons of different options
2) Giving me probabilities (and confidence) of future events so it will help me make decisions
3) Doing experiments based on various scenarios

Anyone recommend any reading on efficiency in the judicial system?

Idea: if you want to work for a governing body you should not be allowed to work there. Natural England and the FA should just swap roles.

We need more Ron Swansons.

I’m tired of hearing about bats. Do you want to hear a story about jumping spiders and the town that disappeared?

I think I might be breaking this story – do come be the first to read it.

I guess this might work if you were paid weekly but 80% of people get paid per month.

You would save even more if you just paid the amount you were going to pay in the middle of the month at the start of the month when you get paid

mojomortgages.com/mortgage-new...

Venn diagram shows five types of dad: Net Zero Dad, Climate Dad, 6 Music Dad, Centrist Dad and Tech Bro Dad.

I have made the definitive* typology of Dads.

How to tell your Centrist Dads from your 6 Music Dads from your Climate and Net Zero Dads…

Or 4.5 people earning £12,570. The optimal size of relationship in many ways.

A throuple household earning £21k each would be on the same post-tax wage as a single person earning £80k.

(I think there is a wider discussion about legal efficiency. I do think there is a lot of focus on making the "right" decision without realising there is a significant cost of delaying the decision for everyone).