It’s the most washing-up time of the year. So here’s a timely jeremiad. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is the 15th year of #DuvetKnowItsChristmas, which is preposterous. Rules: if you find yourself dealing with unusual / claustrophobic / gaudy sleeping arrangements this Christmas Eve, share a picture with the world. Use the hashtag (with capitalisation) and cc me if you can be bothered.

OPINIONS AHOY

Does either Somerfield or Gateway still exist? Answers pls.

Good to read the backstory (and seasonal h/t to the mighty Pete Paphides). www.theguardian.com/culture/2016...

“I trust my immune system. I don’t need a vaccine.” Ok, I trust mine to protect me too. Which is why I trained it extensively on what the virus looks like so it can handle it. Boxers don’t enter the ring without a plan. It’s the punch you don’t see coming that knocks you out.

WARNING: contains 24-hour pile driving.

Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower

Central heating fail on 21st December? What wondrous kindness is this, combi boiler, that you didn’t wait until 3.30pm on Xmas Eve?

This is such a good observation.

PERFECT

🎄 NEW EPISODE 🎄 Part 1 of our end-of-year review/group therapy session is out now, with @seththevoz.bsky.social @rostaylor.bsky.social @jonnelledge.bsky.social & @nndroid.bsky.social 🎄 Includes reasons for optimism AND a ton of YOUR questions. 🎄 Listen on all platforms linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...

So exhausted by this craven stenographic journalism. It's still the DoD. It's still the Kennedy Center. ESPECIALLY when it comes to names on things, Trump has no magic "he'll just do it anyway" power, because WE ARE THE ONES WHO USE THE NAMES.

The last time I flew into JFK, it occurred to me: the reason Trump repeatedly puts his name on buildings is *because nobody else ever will.*

Got an appointment from the hospital. At the top of the first page is my name, address, NHS number and patient number. The first two pages of the letter tell me where and when and remind me that I should bring my hearing aids/walking stick/whatever other helps I might need. The usual stuff. (1/4)

Worth a follow: just the ep title cards from old TV shows. Inspired — and creditably single-minded.

And just like that, I’m banned from Marks & Spencer’s.

Posted by BBC Radio 3: We are incredibly sad to hear that Sir Humphrey Burton has passed away at the age of 94. He was a much loved classical music broadcaster and had a huge influence on generations of arts programme makers. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Saw two examples of this yesterday: postboxes, their doors removed, bound in black plastic, with a sign saying OUT OF SERVICE / AUTOMATED SYSTEM COMING SOON. Anyone know what’s afoot? This was particularly strange as it was outside a sorting office with no other letter posting options.

Two babies were born in New York within a year of each other, soon after WWII. One, Rob Reiner, lived a life of humanity and achievement. He brought us delight and joy. His memory will be a blessing. The other, Donald Trump, will be remembered as an embarrassment to our nation.

Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.

QUESTIONS O’CLOCK

🧵

Hadn’t seen this before: the striking cover of the first edition (Secker & Warburg, 1945). Can’t find any design credit anywhere. Maybe some publishing historian will know.

What if we kissed on the snench

For the record, Robin Ince is a superb comedian, an absolute mensch, a remarkable thinker and the kindest human you’ll ever meet. And the BBC is a genuinely great and globally unique institution that needs to stop being afraid. I think that’s where most of its faults and issues stem from.

Delighted to find Absurd Person Singular on YouTube. It’s terrifically funny and the cast is absolutely as good as it gets. Tis the season. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTV...

This was huge fun. (Although slightly man vs jetlag. Thank fuck for retakes.)

It’s not the headline gripe, but I wish this pissbomb understood paragraphs.

Luck is beautiful. www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

WOW. What?

After 63 gigs on five continents across 20 months, Beth’s tour finished in Hong Kong on Saturday night. The happiest job I’ve had in years. Time to hang up the AAA with the others.

Shamina Begum must be held accountable for her actions when she was 15. Whereas I should not, because I was a mere child.

Longhaul flight last week: the entertainment was rubbish. Weirdly, in the documentaries was I Am Martin Parr. Tucked in. Despite being a years-long admirer, I’d never thought about who he was or how he worked. The answer: he *strove* to be ordinary. Thus (plus his brilliant, witty eye) the pictures.

Polish Foreign Minister replies to Musk: 🇵🇱

Admiral Holsey. (No sign of Uncle Albort.)

Occasionally, I read something and fall deeply in love, all over again, with the German language. Today's unbearably cute discovery is the colloquialism for toddler: "dreikäsehoch". Literally, "three-cheeses tall".

Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness. “Never used to be like this,” he insists.

Quantity Street, more like. (1974)

Starmer says Labour’s economic plan will take “years” to deliver,  but do they really have a long-term plan? @johnspringford.bsky.social, associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform, has put one together at getting-out-of-the-hole.uk— and he’s here to discuss it 👉 linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...

Watching Anthology again. Paul McCartney is younger in it than I am now. #MortalityMaths

Presenting this fabulous crisp mascot: a potato called POTATO.

Now THATS a title sequence - ATTENTION SCUM (BBC2 2001) Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Johnny Vegas and other uk comedy legends

For reference

TfL is *so* careful with its design and the treatment of its signature Edward Johnston typeface MOST OF THE TIME.

Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record. @independentsage.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

This monstrous shit. Fuck him. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

SUCH a good film. A true love letter to London.