Happy Erfurter Latrinensturzgedächtnistag to all those who mark it.

HeartsTV referring to Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fée as Le Pen is one of the great footballing name mistakes. Bit like that Thomas Hitlersperger who used to play for Villa…

Beach departure denied.

At the risk of a very gentle spoiler: Leonard and Hungry Paul has revolutionised this teacher’s ability to send a succinct message to students - thanks, @ronanhession.bsky.social !

Using food to show where I grew up.

See, even bears in Canada are curiously friendly.

I’m only five chapters in, because I keep pausing after every paragraph to wonder at another moment of gentle wisdom. Lovely book.

Caught up with a lovely Backlisted episode. And a passing mention from Cyril Connolly of the role a Jewish orphan plays in Les Belles Images in setting SdB’s plot in motion reminds me of a *somewhat* niche question for the discerning literary pub quiz: (1/2)

When an untranslatable concept meets its human embodiment: the Danish word “hyggeonkel”, used to describe John Thaw in “Goodnight, Mister Tom” as a hygge-uncle. www.philm.dk/Movie/Detail...

I’m not sure I’ve ever been predestined to buy a book as much as Vincenzo Latronico’s Perfection… @thebookerprizes.bsky.social

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Not saying that people who misuse apostrophes are all actual nazis, but it would make for an interesting Venn diagram.

From this post, to relistening to the @backlisted.bsky.social episode on Return of the King, to the declaration “We should do an episode on The Warlock of Firetop Mountain”. Time to roll the dice!

Advertising campaign of the year.

Something very satisfying about matching sets of books - two favourites for #WorldBookDay

Took my dog to see some of Sunderland’s new things being built and old things being knocked down. She decided they were definitely to be sniffed at.

Seems a good time to reshare an image from the time DakhaBrakha played in Sunderland…

*New* campaign action on Marks & Spencer - any help getting the first few signatures going would be greatly appreciated! actionstorm.org/petitions/ma... We're sharing this first on Bluesky as this is so much friendlier (and troll free, so far at least!) than any of the other platforms right now!

If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.

Watching Mad Men again a few weeks ago, I was wondering where one of the characters got that creamy French cheese from that his dog seemed to love so much. Then I realised it must be the…

Having finally got round to reading Look At Me (thanks @backlisted.bsky.social), I’ve limited myself to just six more Anita Brookner books, courtesy of eBay. Almost feels like the covers are trying to tell their own story about disappointment: someone’s in for a bad time, and it’s probably everyone.

20th December, 6 degrees, chasing stones into the sea. What Roker Beach was made for.

Not amused.

Admittedly, most of Wowee Zowee would be possible, but let’s go for Serpentine Pad. youtu.be/L2RPuR9MiNE?...

My son was proud that he was in the top whatever % of listeners to Out Of Touch by Hall and Oates on Spotify one of these last few years. Felt like an entire new level of rejecting my music taste…

Could somebody commission a full oral history of the decision-making in Spanish TV during the 70s? Gracias.

Josseli was killed by Trumpism. Below is her story. I urge you to tell—in every place you can—the stories of the victims Trumpism has already claimed, including hundreds of thousands of people who needlessly died in the pandemic because Donald Trump decided to downplay it for political advantage.

Today I learnt the existence of Tombili, the famous chubby cat of Istanbul. Sunday afternoon inspiration if ever I saw it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombili

Start as you mean to go on…

Day five of following all Sunderland fans back on Bluesky. Drop this post a share so fellow supporters can find you. #SAFC

Thought for today: “One has to tell people what to think. There’s no alternative. Otherwise someone else will do it.” Olga Tokarczuk

Is Dogs of Bluesky a thing? If not, it is now…