Rather a treat: Peter Purves interviews Toby Hadoke, rather than the other way round, about being a fan and also a creator. PP’s views on New Who are, er, nuanced!!! www.podbean.com/ew/pb-evb77-...

One to look forward to: lareviewofbooks.org/article/isen...

Late night alphabetical noodling: Krushchev’s surname is spelt with 10 letters in English but only 6 in Russian (Хрущёв). 12 in Dutch and French (Chroesjtsjov; Khrouchtchev) 13 in German (Chruschtschow) Only 8 in Hebrew (חרושצ'וב). More syllabic & ideographic scripts can get it shorter still.

I’ve been unable to access the UNIT bookazine through the DWM app - anyone else having this problem?

Seen a lot of people I like argue with idiots here this morning, so this is a Christmas message imploring you not to do that. The best outcome is that you win an argument with an idiot. That is a waste of time. The other outcomes are worse. Just block them, sing another carol, have a wee sherry 🎅🏻🎄🎁

My grandmother's memoirs, 1933-34: Majorca, Cannes, London and New Jersey / New York fromtheheartofeurope.eu/family-histo...

Latest in a series of excellent posts from Simon. The second edition of The Making of Doctor Who was a really important book for 9yo me - it made me realise you can write *about* the stories even if (like me)!you don’t have the talent needed to write them yourself. It was the first step to fandom.

With the Winter Solstice upon us, it is time to take a step back from the frantic business of daily life and quietly reflect on the true meaning of Gauda Prime #GaudaPrimeDay

One hour to go.

Just to remind you that the livestream of the solstice sunrise from Newgrange starts 12 hours from now. heritageireland.ie/visit/newgra...

Another great episode of Power & Purpose, with @nathalietocci.bsky.social and Amanda Sloat interviewing Rory Stewart. Nathalie references an incident from 2000 that I remember well... podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

Vanishing Point, by Michaela Roessner fromtheheartofeurope.eu/vanishing-po... It's all very nicely and credibly put together.

Doctor Who, Gentleman Jack and Riot Women director Amanda Brotchie has died. cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-...

Ohhhhhhh Jesus.

The PR optimist at HC, who hoped the Walliams news would go largely unnoticed if it was released late on the Friday afternoon going into the last weekend before Christmas, must be disappointed.

Funny Jamelle Bouie recently mentioned this IIRC on his Patreon podcast as one of his favorites too.

This is a wonderful book. I frequently return to it.

Good analysis from @himself.bsky.social as usual: open.substack.com/pub/programm...

A bit of a long read, and not a happy one: how US aid cuts under the Trump administration have caused thousands of deaths due to cholera in South Sudan. www.propublica.org/article/usai...

Camp Damascus, by Chuck Tingle fromtheheartofeurope.eu/camp-damascu... The book's heart is in the right place, but the execution isn't quite there.

A bit of a timeline cleanse for you: 6½ minute video about the conservation of Boma and Badingilo National Parks in South Sudan, where my old friend Philip Winter is Chair of the Board. Stunning. youtu.be/E63ze-iG2WI

My thanks to Leuven Actueel for a superb shot of my bald patch, during the mayor's speech at last Friday's formal opening of the new village meeting hall. www.leuvenactueel.be/evenementen/...

Rather moving to hear Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper open up about their experiences of mental health in their own families in the extra commentary to their latest Doctor Who audio. www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/d...

Graham Linehan has such little self-awareness he *really* doesn’t understand how totally unhinged he seems in his ‘woe is me’ batshit crazy ranting! 😬 He’s the ‘cautionary tale’ of what obsessive ‘gender critical’ transphobia leads to: no friends, no life, and spaghetti carbonara for one!

After seeing this map by @geodatarankings you will probably (like me) want to read the lyrics of the Polish National Anthem. Here is the text: buff.ly/A12qU5m

We’ve given up, after episode 3. Should have given up after episode 2.

I just finished this one! Best contemporary romance novel I've read in a while! 😃

Amongst Our Weapons, by Ben Aaronovitch fromtheheartofeurope.eu/amongst-our-... I found it very satisfactory and entertaining.

Some people have asked what books I would recommend as Christmas presents. I will publish my list of the best of all the books I read this year on 31 December. But it's not too early to flag a few books published (or republished) in 2024 and 2025, which I you might not have seen.

Now there are five: Iceland joins the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia in Eurovision boycott. news.sky.com/story/icelan...

The most strangely comforting video I saw this year: King Philippe of the Belgians, asked in a 65th birthday interview about his favourite music, scrolling through his phone to find his favourite Dire Straits tracks.

The 2023 Hugo scandal continues to reverberate - it was the subject of a question on the BBC quiz show University Challenge last night (start from 18:03): youtu.be/pHsaduKBkcE?...

Thread.

What is this high school debate shit? Everyone wants peace! Adults just realize that any peace which lasts beyond a Russian re-arming / recruitment cycle has to be on terms that don't reward Russia's initial invasion with land and legitimacy, and which meaningfully deter future aggression.