There is a difference between the responsible world citizen thing of knowing the major political stuff of important allies, which we'd do but cannot ever expect Americans to do in return, and the basically involuntary way knowledge of z-tier American political actors is forced on us.

Also, buses. A shit load of buses to make everyone able to get anywhere and without a car. Both my parents and kids stymied because buses are now so crap.

I didn't realise that Bordeaux was now considered tropical enough that my blood donation might need testing for West Nile! Madness...

I'm confused. In that new Robin Hood show, Robin isn't played by a Fox. Why would you even bother trying to make a non-fox version in this day and age.

Riot Fest getting told off on the other place because GWAR did their stage show. Guessing that the people complaining haven't looked at the name of their songs, for example, because 🤷🏻‍♀️

The even more unbelievable crime fact (which I learned relatively recently) is that burglary has fallen by more than 90% since the 1990s. Did anyone notice? Nope. Does anyone believe it? Nope. But is is true? It is!

Literally couldn't remember the title of a book or author of a book, so gave a vague summary and described it as blue. I have become what we all hate!

Current plan for today: sit exactly here until bedtime unless the sun comes out in which case I will migrate to suck in some vitamin D

Isn't shopping hard enough without actually being lied to. This is not a ziptop bag. This is a bag with a zipped compartment in the middle. These are different. I want a handbag that I can fall over with and be sure nothing has flown out. This is not that!

Feeling rough, can't get logged in, bronzer somehow all over the floor. Not a good start to Friday.

I guess the question is Steve, for how much longer is it appropriate to keep increasing the SP above both earnings and prices, given the huge cost and impact on generational inequity?

Watching Pie in the Sky like it is 1995 or something!

Interesting. But two things can be true at once - if I can drive I might be insulated from issues personally but can still tell that they've cut the buses again and know that has a broader impact. See also NHS, housing, low wages....

We also need a concerted push on Degree/Masters level professional apprenticeships. No student loans as tuition fees paid and earning a wage negates the need to borrow to live. Real experience gained on the job.

Caledonian Sleeper have an offer on for Autumn/Winter on their Highlands routes: www.sleeper.scot/200/. Might be the time to try out the sleeper! More about the sleeper at www.seat61.com/sleeper-to-s...

Wow. I mean, lack of en suite... Also is that a ceiling TV? That's something I haven't seen before!

Chiswick had - and I believe still has - a councillor who opposed a safe cycle lane on the grounds that it would enable 'jewelry heists'.

What the....?!

Imagine explaining to somebody who lost a relative in a school room at Aberfan that you think that the risks of a solar farm near Witney are comparable.

First day back from two weeks off. Have reached the bottom of my inbox but that is literally all I have managed today and I am exhausted... Tomorrow = lots of meetings, trying to do the numerous tasks I've found on those emails, consider doing some of the work I left... Send energetic thoughts!

Apparently dog next door's morning barking is fixed. Wasn't barking at 5.30am but still woken up long before my alarm (6 something) so fixed might be a tad strong! Hope that they're stretching out the non-barking period and I'll be asleep for longer in future

<At the pearly gates> ST PETER: Okay the bad news is... You're dead. Good news is... You're in! ME: Oh sweet! ST PETER: Welcome to heaven! ME: Amazing! Can't wait to... Wait. This is a- ST PETER: A half-pipe, yes. ME: But i can't skateboard ST PETER: I mean, you were warned. We sent a prophet.

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell. Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass. That, right there, is the problem.

Sometimes you read something in Private Eye and it is almost unbelievable. That someone would interrupt urgent surgery on a child to threaten someone and get them swap to a worse mask?!

Someone should use copyright law to crack down on people playing music out loud in public. It's a public broadcast without the proper rights

Ok, brother, listen. This office ..… very soft. Nobody here cut weight, nobody wrestle. Everybody just type, type, type. You call this business casual? In Dagestan, business casual is tracksuit. Strong tracksuit. Here, you wear khaki. But okay, brother, we go to meeting now.

It is August. The kids (in England) are still off school, it is hot. What is this? Please go and put them in a stock room until 6th November!

A photo you took that brings you inner peace!

Just realised that my list which is mostly how I use Bluesky doesn't include RTs from the people on the list. Annoying and probably too complex for me to solve!

🚨 Exclusive: Pioneering world-first gene therapy @GreatOrmondSt has cured a teenager's rare genetic condition that had blighted his life. Now GOSH is hoping to be licensed to deliver more gene therapies for other rare diseases. Amazing story: www.thetimes.com/article/aff0...

So much funnier than it has any right to be

It seems a "science news site" has taken and translated quotations from an interview I did with a proper science journalist, giving that journalist and Scientific American no credit. Credits only their 'editorial staff' Feels icky. So here's the original. www.scientificamerican.com/article/ling...

Getting nostalgic

I like hot weather but why does this country need to be so humid?

Next door are home. I've worked it out from the subtle clue that the dog has not stopped barking in hours. Currently 12.33am and no sign of the dog tiring or quietening. I really do not need this...

"Last year you bought a Birthday card from us. Is it that time again?" No, online card company, no, it isn't and never will be again. But thanks for the unrequested reminder.

The dog next door (and owners) are away and my God I am loving how quiet it is! Otherwise, I'm exhausted, think I'm coming down with something, stressed, and grumpy but not having to hear a dog constantly barking has really helped my sanity

In 2022 I received the wholesome DM in the image on the left on the Other Site, tonight I received the one on the right 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Almost half of Britons (47%) mistakenly believe that migration to the UK is primarily illegal rather than legal. This view is held by 72% of those who support requiring large numbers of migrants to leave yougov.co.uk/politics/art...

You can make a law banning smoking on the streets of Paris, etc.

Watching an old Touch of Frost. Nice incel storyline. Very cheerful.

Nice idea. Won't happen but 🤷🏻‍♀️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

For the past 6 years I have felt compelled to watch first the GCN+ and now the TNT coverage of the Tour. But the ITV (and previously Channel 4) highlight hour is a thing of absolute perfection. It instilled a love for the history and beauty of cycling and I will miss it terribly.

Sick and tired of these shifting weather patterns, like if the day starts sunny it needs to STAY sunny and if it starts gloomy it needs to STAY gloomy, I can’t be expected to just migrate all willy nilly between different mood paradigms like this, I’m just not built for it

This is how I see it. Make up? Pah

This is how law is a curiously egalitarian subject: a well-reasoned opinion by an obscure junior lawyer will be superior to a slapdash one phoned-in by a “distinguished” lawyer.

The latest monthly update on measles cases in England shows 145 new cases since July 3. Cases continue to be in children under the age of 10 with London and parts of the North West driving the increases.

I've been re-reading the Farseer books by Robin Hobb and they are just so enthralling. Literally got through six books in a few days and can't wait to read the last few despite the end 😭

Had a great evening out with colleagues and, possibly more importantly, noped out of there before the third tequila shot. Would my reaction have been different had I had lunch, yes, maybe, but here we are!