Nigel Pate

“Use Plato to awaken your spirit of inquiry ... because the opposite path is despair and despondency” - David Horan, the first writer to translate all of Plato's dialogues since late 19th century. #ITUnthinkable

“People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.”

www.libdems.org.uk/bbc

A little toast to the amazing team at @Moorfields.bsky.social in London. I am just so grateful for their skill and dedication in saving my sight, after a detached retina earlier in the year. It’s been a long haul, but it shouldn’t be long before I can read my voiceover scripts with two eyes again!

Seeing social housing as “critical national infrastructure”. Interesting idea.

Have long been a fan of the great George Monbiot, but his latest article surprised even me. (Surprised and delighted, let me add!) Always clear on what he stands for. A force for change and for doing better.

You can see it right there when Conservative voters are asked who they prefer - Ed Davey or Nigel Farage...

Tat tvam asi - That thou art

Becky Barnicoat on the trials of watching season 2 – cartoon

The scale of China’s space supercomputing ambition is breathtaking! My concerns about hardware circling the Earth at least partly allayed by potential climate benefits: “Orbital data centres can use solar power and radiate their heat to space, reducing the energy needs and carbon footprint.”

Inevitable consequence of failing to act much sooner. Stern (2006) showed “the costs of stabilising the climate are significant but manageable; delay would be dangerous and much more costly”. Just think what it will cost future generations to rebuild London and other cities as sea levels rise!

First visit to Switzerland for several years and first time in Zurich: such a beautiful city with great public transport. But, oh my, it has become eye-wateringly expensive, thanks to long term strength of the CHF, plus the recent surge in value as reported by the @financialtimes.com

Thank heaven for @davidhockney.bsky.social!! Was just blown away today by his latest exhibition, at the breathtaking Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The creative outpouring that can come through a single human being is awe inspiring. If you’re in Paris in the next few weeks, don’t miss this!

I worked closely with Earthwatch many years ago in a corporate-NGO partnership. It’s great to see how their vision of an army of citizen scientists has blossomed and is now having real impact.

No surprise that the US Dollar Index is “enjoying” its worst start to the year for 30 years. Just part, it seems, of “a comprehensive turn away from US assets…capital flowing out of the US.” Extraordinary times!

Zurich looking majestic in the spring sunshine this morning

Trump’s calculation methods exposed. “What extraordinary nonsense this is“!

Tough language from JPMorgan tonight: “.. we view the full implementation of these policies as a substantial macro economic shock not currently incorporated in our forecasts. .. these policies, if sustained, would likely push the US and global economy into recession this year.”

A beautiful vision

It’s high time politicians and others who support land value taxation ‘in principle’ got behind this and supported it in practice. The world needs this now

My favourite song of all time. Storytelling par excellence. Heartbreaking

One of my favourite quotes from JFK: “For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future." President John F Kennedy, Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, June 25, 1963

Black Lives Matter. Now and always.

Recorded last year, a distinguished philosopher delivers a timely reminder of the importance of civil discourse over the “cheap slanging match” in the realm of politics. “It would be helpful if everyone was reminded of this…Speak the truth, speak it respectfully.” youtu.be/Kau_PMdMUM0?...

“A gleam in the dark”. Is joint action with Europe back on the UK’s political agenda? As always, interesting analysis from Martin Kettle.

Yep, 🚨Lib Dem win!🚨

Excellent from Ed Davey. More of this please. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

One of those reminders of how quickly life can change. Just three weeks ago my son and I watched Oxford get well beaten at QPR. One of the worst performances I can remember. Now, under a new manager, they’ve won three in a row including a first away win of the season!

As we head towards 2025, it's clear we need to keep up the pressure on our MPs, Government and regulators to stop the shameful pollution of our nation's freshwater and marine environments. (Here's me proudly holding a banner for the Ver Valley Society on the March for Clean Water last month)

Our NHS continues to suffer staff shortages from nurses not being remunerated as the highly trained professionals they are. Please demand better from our MPs.

This week the Guardian's owner, the Scott Trust, gifted the 233-year-old Observer to Tortoise Media. This isn't just a dark day for journalism, it's a sign. Meet the team. This is Putin giving Tortoise's energy advisory board member an 'Order of Friendship' medal in 2017. 1/

World Meditation Day tomorrow! I’m planning to meditate, along with thousands of others, at 8am.

Writing: "It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." - Ursula K. Le Guin #amwriting #author #writing #writer ~ #authorsky

Citizens Advice in St Albans is a fantastic charity supporting people to access public services but the Government’s NICs tax changes will hit hard. I called on the Government to reassess the impact their tax changes will have on part-time charity workers like theirs.

Do come and join us for an evening of carols at The Lower Red Lion from 8:30pm on Monday 9 December. 🎄☃️ We'll be raising money for the Hertfordshire Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders, so please give what you feel able to. hacro.org.uk

Our Silver Branch project: 🔥 WRITER OF THE MONTH 🔥 Saraswati Nagpal with stunning poems. Check this feature out, bookmark, boost. Let's get this writer's words across the planet. www.blackboughpoetry.com/saraswati-na... #poetry #writing #poet #readers #poetic #readers

Britons favour proportional representation (PR) over first past the post (FPTP), with support highest among Reform UK and Lib Dem voters All Britons: 44% PR / 23% FPTP Reform UK: 62% / 17% Lib Dems: 58% / 22% Labour: 48% / 24% Conservative: 39% / 41% yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...

Just back from the Wyndham, still in shock at the emotional intensity and artistry Lesley Manville and Mark Strong brought to their performances in Oedipus. Manville (+Jeremy Irons) in Long Day’s Journey Into Night was one of the three best performances I’ve ever seen. Was this one even better?!

We’ve just watched The Old Oak. Painful. Gritty. But such a beautiful film. Thank you Ken Loach for never flinching from portraying real life challenges, reminding us of who we truly are and inspiring us to strive for better.