Alun Williams

Resting amateur panto villain, happy husband, impresario, churchwarden, alleged heretic, chronically addicted to baking & preserve making

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

I'm not exactly joining the #Xodus but I will be going for a wander on Bluesky now and again when it's all flaming torches and pitchforks on here.
You can find me at https://t.co/Tc9jzn3k6E

[Students For Liberty @sfliberty]

Every American student learns the same story about Standard Oil:

Rockefeller as the villain of unregulated capitalism, Standard Oil as proof that free markets inevitably produce monopolies that crush consumers.

A historian went to the primary records and found the opposite. 🧵

[Nicholas Colloff @ncolloff]

In the discussion of women novelists of the middle of the last century, one that deserves a spot in the limelight: Rumer Godden.
https://t.co/ETFotEFm08

[Students For Liberty @sfliberty]

In 2008, a tiny island defied Europe's entire financial establishment.

While every other country socialized losses and forced taxpayers to absorb the damage, Iceland let its banks fail.

The experts said that decision would destroy the country. They were wrong. 🧵

[James Marriott @j_amesmarriott]

Loved this. Reliable rule of reading fiction is that every time you pick up a book by a mid twentieth century British woman novelist it will turn out to be a banger. I think that era is of the under-appreciated peaks of the history of the novel.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@j_amesmarriott Rumer Godden, who only died in 1998 but whose first novels were published in the 30s is a particular favourite of mine. Not only did she write some wonderful novels, several of them were turned into great films, including "Black Narcissus", "The River", & "The Greengage Summer".

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@bookanista @j_amesmarriott @zoejhood @PersephoneBooks That was my first Dorothy Whipple novel, and I went on to read all her other novels too. "They were sisters" is another I'd highly recommend.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@GHWTowler Imagine two right wing political parties hoping to form the next government of our country, yet so out of touch with key public servants that their first reaction when confronted with evidence of their own unpopularity with that group is to try to demonise them.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@DanNeidle I'd try to reduce employer NI first, in the hope of increasing entry-level job numbers.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

The world’s largest asset manager has removed all sustainable characteristics on its $413m BGF Sustainable Global Dynamic Equity fund.

https://t.co/XHhAxzEvqj

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@cptndemocracy64 @RixGlen83488 @EdwardJDavey What was on offer then wasn't PR.

[Students For Liberty @sfliberty]

In autumn 1946, a young economist from rural Tennessee arrived at the University of Chicago calling himself a libertarian socialist.

By December, his entire worldview had collapsed and been rebuilt.

This is the story of one of the three future Nobel laureates trained by the same professor.🧵

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@CapelLofft I think masterly inactivity is an underrated political virtue and gets better results than constant "something must be done" legislation. Sadly Labour came to power promising change, and have ruled out changes that would be sensible, so we'll get meddle & muddle whoever leads.

[Helen Day @LBFlyawayhome]

A fun fact is that Charles Tunnicliffe and Eric Ravilious were at college together and shared digs.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@gracietreacle @BladeoftheS You've linked to information for a dormant company, that's apparently not trading so very unlikely to be paying any tax. I think the relevant company is this one: https://t.co/6VvFCgXzqb The most recent accounts do show tax has been paid.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@CapelLofft I think some of the divisions in the UK are more apparent than real, at least when it comes to diagnosing what the problems are. We're more divided by what nostrums we propose for those problems, and I think a bit more humility all round about their likely efficacy would be wise.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@CapelLofft I think it's clear that fragmentation is hear to stay, so I think it's essential we move to some form of PR for elections. I think the horse trading between parties that would be needed for viable coalitions to emerge would help to moderate policy and restore some sanity.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@cmonmun @DanNeidle @ZackPolanski For me what's strangest is that Zack himself has handled this well - he's admitted and rectified the error swiftly - but the abuse being heaped on Dan Neidle by Green supporters does their party no credit. Seems unhealed wounds from past Labour internal battles are a factor.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@RepJackKimble Looking on the bright side, the replies to your First Amendment tweet should give you a pretty firm grasp of British obscenity in future. And I'm impressed you roused Larry the Cat's ire given everything he's got to deal with at Downing Street at the moment.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@AREAL1859 @RepJackKimble And I'm just using my sense of humour to give you a hint that Jack really isn't numbered amongst the politicians the US owes the rest of the world an apology for! But thanks for the thought behind your post.

[Alun Williams @AlunMW]

@CorkyOnTour @Debzizztweeting @RepJackKimble He's sometimes too subtle for his own good, but the replies to hist posts are often priceless.