Absolutely incredible.

NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman, who commanded Artemis II, took this footage from the far side of the Moon with his iPhone.

Watch with sound on.

New QJE paper measures spending flows between 1000s of small groups of consumers and producers, government, rest of the world. Most consumer spending stays domestic, esp in rural, older, less-educated areas->higher fiscal multipliers; targeting "left-behind" groups boosts economy

Le soft power chinois illustré par les caricatures de « China Daily » : une esquisse de nouvel ordre mondial Chaque jour, le journal anglophone « China Daily » publie des caricatures avec un objectif précis : placer la Chine au centre d’un nouvel ordre mondial.

Le soft power chinois illustré par les caricatures de « China Daily » : une esquisse de nouvel ordre mondial
theconversation.com/le-soft-powe...

For a fascinating analysis of this memorial and quote, see Mark Drumbl’s piece at @opiniojuris.bsky.social - opiniojuris.org/2019/03/23/j...

UK to receive last tanker of jet fuel from Middle East this week Industry warnings of disruption contrast with government calls for calm

Hilarious how for years serious people have said that you can't rely on renewables because they are prone to disruptions in supply www.ft.com/content/19f1...

Oh no

When adjusting our clocks for British Summer Time and Greenwich Mean Time, we are always reminded by the saying "Spring forward, fall back." However, my mate Alberto is an acrobat in a circus and during his performance he sometimes springs back sometimes forward and sometimes falls forward, sometimes back. Over the years the clocks in his caravan have got so out of synch that he has a roaring fire in July and wears shorts and flip flops in January. Horlicks the clown, Somewhere-on-the-road

subscriptions >>> shop.viz.co.uk/viz354bs

A very well written article summarising both supportive and critical arguments for lean (with AI in the mix) in proof writing.

Does being high-skilled protect you from ethnic bias when applying for a UK visa? In a new pre-registered experiment to be published in International Migration Review, I find that high occupational status doesn't shield immigrants from ethnic prejudice — it may activate it.

I'm happy to share what I've been working on for a while: a book on the Russian General Staff.

The most important military institution in Russia has not had any English book on it since 2006. Now it's time.

Sharing is caring, but pre-order is good karma (link below).

"This is the most difficult experience Cuba has had since the fall of the Soviet Union. 40 percent of the Cuban population live in extreme poverty."

Chris Sabatini on the widening humanitarian and economic crisis facing Cuba, via @cnn.com⤵️

Statistical Rethinking 2026 is done: 20 new lectures emphasizing logical and critical statistical workflow, from basics of probability theory to causal inference to reliable computation to sensitivity. It's all free, made just for you. Lecture list and links: github.com/rmcelreath/s...

Sign advertising law firm specializing in divorce, crash injury, and DUI defense

The Holy Trinity.

In seeking to liberate the US from the constraints of interdependence and multilateralism, both features of the liberal international order he disavows, Trump has only demonstrated the limits (and dangers) of American power when applied unilaterally.

Some takeaways from the war. (Gift link.)

The business of insurance plays a growing and important part in the world market economy. Those who supply it are not seeking power over outcomes -- but they exercise it none the less. And increasingly so. Yet it is hardly mentioned in texts on world politics. -- Susan Strange, The Retreat of the State

Some people see further than others.

When I started working on UK energy in 2007, fossil fuels provided ~78% of electricity. Coal alone: 34%. Wind & solar: less than 2%.

Today: wind & solar 33%, fossil fuels 28%, coal 0%.

The chart below tells the story better than words can.

Why Russia Is Watching Iran Burn The Kremlin is in no hurry to save its closest partner in the Middle East.

Russia and Iran have close ties, culminating in a major treaty last year. But as the war in Iran continues, Russia has largely “stood idly by” -- why?

@alexgabuev.bsky.social, @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social and Sergey Vakulenko explained for @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/why-r...

europeans when asked to help unblock the strait of hormuz

Weekend Update: Tucker Carlson on Liberal Politics and the 2026 Oscars - SNL YouTube video by Saturday Night Live

SNL does Tucker Carlson with a precision you may enjoy.

I did. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cssP...

Government to go “further and faster” in becoming energy secure The Energy Secretary outlines measures to protect consumers and make Britain energy secure.

This is cool. The Government is set to allow plug-in solar, low cost solar panels that families can buy at supermarkets and put on their balconies or outdoor space.

"In Germany over a million have been sold, helping households with energy costs and reducing dependence on fossil fuels."

It's weird, awkward and unsettling the degree to which US politics have made us unwilling witnesses to elder abuse and other forms of public displays of mental health symptoms.

I'm thinking of McConnell, Feinstein and Biden, but also Mace, Boebert and the guy spiraling on Truth Social right now.

Iran Isn’t ‘Flailing’ — It’s Executing a Coercive Risk Strategy • Stimson Center Understanding Iran’s military strategy in response to Operation Epic Fury.

Highly recommend this one, by @kellygrieco.bsky.social. Very astute and insightful analysis that makes it clear Iran considers the global economy by way of the Gulf states, and not Israel, the enemy's center of gravity.

There's a strategic level to the Gaza-fication of the Middle East that goes beyond Israel's razing tactics and applies to theories of victory.

For Israel, victory lies in the damage done by the razing.

For Iran, as for Hamas (and Hezbollah), victory is surviving to emerge from the rubble.

March 8, 2026 - Tehran at sunrise today. But the sun is hidden behind a sky filled with smoke. After a night of intensive strikes on oil facilities, thick black clouds now hang over the city, turning morning into something that feels like night.

As week 1 of WW3 comes to a close in Qatar, here's what I learned:

The difference in sound between intercept, missile, and drone booms.

The UK RAF & QAF have been fantastic.

I hate playing "Bomb, or No Bomb" several times an hour.

Emergency alerts are very loud.
Stay tuned for wk2
#fuckTrump

The First 36 Hours of War Consumed Over 3,000 U.S.-Israeli Munitions Replenishing stockpiles depends on vulnerable critical mineral chains.

Required reading from @jaharamatisek.bsky.social, @mbazilian.bsky.social and Macdonald Amoah on how quickly we expend and how slow we reconstitute …
foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/05/i...

Russia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces, officials say The targeting information has included the locations of American warships and aircraft in the Middle East, the officials said.

You can see why Russia sees an opportunity to settle scores. "Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating — even indirectly" www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

A song about fighting extremism YouTube video by talktorex

Some thoughts on fighting extremism.

youtu.be/2GeruKwuSTc?...

1908: the Lancet, one of the most respected scientific journals, calls for 18 age limit on reading in bed amidst a moral panic surrounding children becoming "addicted" to novels, which were "designed to keep kids hooked" and destroy their attention/mental health