Brexit: selfishness, short-termism, rent seeking, and hereditary privilege
Brexit: We got into this mess because some Conservatives couldn't cope with the fact that we weren't the top power in Europe: because, while we won almost all of the votes Europe ever had, it wasn't quite totally all. They couldn't cope with the fact that Germany was more influential than us — because Germany outperforms us at manufacturing, finance, exports, and, critically, diplomacy.
After Brexit, Germany will still outperform us at manufacturing, finance, exports, and, critically, diplomacy — and Germany will be part of the most powerful trading block in the world while we will have NO FRIENDS AT ALL.
Kickstarting a hydrogen economy
Battering batteries
There's a lot of interest in battery electric vehicles at present; they're popularly viewed as the future of transport. But there are several problems with the widespread adoption of battery electric vehicles.
We'll not go
We’ll not go; we’ll not send back nae letters fae onywhaur -
The ships of migration can ruist on the Clyde.
We’ll not go, we will ficht here, we’ll staun or be buried here,
Lik the floors o the forest on the Broomielaw’s side
Enclosure nae mair,
Eviction nae mair,
Clearance nae mair,
Lairdship nae mair
Mad software
I was listening to Eric Normand's podcast this morning, as I was making breakfast and tidying my room; he was talking about semantics and data. It started a train of thought which I shall try to unroll.
I have blogged a lot in the past about madness and about software, but I don't think I've ever blogged about madness and software in the same essay. But the reasons I'm mad and the reasons I'm (sometimes) very good at software are related; both have their roots in autism and dyslexia, or, to put it differently, how my brain is wired.
Flodden Field, revisited
Scotland has history of meddling in English affairs in the interests of continental friends. It doesn't end well.
In 1513, James IV, quite possibly the best governor Scotland has ever had, tried by diplomacy to persuade England's Henry VIII to make peace with his ally France; and failed. So, he sent his navy to France in support of the French, and invaded the north of Northumberland, taking three castles but not much land.