Paraphrasing the question essentially was, have any of you ever used the state education system for yourselves (they haven’t) or your children? Do you believe in state education? Farage tetchilly refused to let Cruella answer, and didn’t answer himself.

Gutted to see Australia knocked out of the World 20:20 cricket. Said very few people.

War Christmas to be an English bank holiday. Non-poppy wearers to be jailed for 48 hours.

There is no Health Service under reform.

50% trades. That’s a lot of tradespeople.

Asked why he has appointed two ex-Tory minister when he criticises the Conservatives' record so much, Farage says Jenrick and Braverman left the Tory government as they resigned or were "eased out", which is a delightful way of saying Braverman was sacked twice.

Once again, the wise words of the hippo come to mind

Have self-workshopped the Minute Cryptic I made last night, now tighter and more evocative surface: Return a little cappuccino. Men mansplain tip for remembering the order (8) www.minutecryptic.com/custom/6c866...

Highlight: Mid-February bestseller perhaps increased sales at last (5) Minute Cryptic Mini Crossword - 13 February, 2026 ⬛⬛🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 ⬛⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛⬛ 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛⬛ I used 0 letters I used 0 hints My time was 00:08:36 www.minutecryptic.com/minis/58?utm...

I created a Minute Cryptic for you to solve: Sent back a little cappuccino. Men moan, and give tips for remembering the order (8) Give it your best shot! www.minutecryptic.com/custom/6c866...

But not ban foreigners from giving money to British political parties?

Oh no. They’re fighting amongst themselves.

I have plasma. Who’s buying?

Was nowhere this morning. Came back with fresh eyes and hit the correct, elegant parsing. Minute Cryptic - 16 February, 2026 "No more texting inside by primary classmates… & teachers" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (81,200 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Absolutely brutal. Definitely my longest ever. Minute Cryptic Mini Crossword - 6 February, 2026 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪⬛⬛ 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 🟪🟪🟪⬛🟪🟪🟪 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪⬛🟪 ⬛⬛🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 I used 0 letters I used 2 hints My time was 01:02:35 www.minutecryptic.com/minis/57?utm...

Me at a Chinese buffet:

Anyone have any idea why I’d want a wi-fi enabled dishwasher?

I was worried it’s be the car, but it’s the turn of the dishwasher to notice I’ve a few hundred quid in my savings account. FFS. Suppose I can’t complain. It was in the house when we moved in 12 years ago. So it’s done a shift.

Here's the real reason the government keeps freezing the student loan threshold The part of the loan that's repaid is classed as an asset on Treasury spreadsheets. But when plan 2 student loans started to be repaid, the percentage received back was less than expected... 1/4

Regina Martínez Lorenzo is the first Mexican woman to compete in Olympics cross-country skiing. Other racers waited at the finish line to hug her. Brazil’s Bruna Moura, an 3 medalists, Karlsson, Ebba Andersson of Sweden, and Jessie Diggins from the US. She learned to ski while in med school in MN.

Perfect 10/10. No notes.

15 years ago today I arrived on Downing Street in a cage. I've seen off Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak and I'm still going strong. Only two Prime Ministers have ever done longer stints here: William Pitt the Younger and Sir Robert Walpole. Bill and Bob - I'm coming for you... (Photos AP)

Wages are 2008. Tax thresholds are 2026.

Re: that last repost, there’s a pretty clear and positive trans-coded character in West Side Story as well. We’ve just re-invented not understanding this stuff because some arseholes reckoned it might be handy for whatever mad plan they had to rinse us for rage cash.

Me: It can’t be that. Tried other things. Oh. It can be that. Minute Cryptic - 15 February, 2026 "Rich, 6'6", with dreamy face" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (57,348 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

I’ve got a feeling he doesn’t mean women. He means white women.

Joel, an actual writer of entertainment is able to articulate why I was so bored and underwhelmed by WH last night. Thanks Joel.

Just been to see Wuthering Heights. That’s 2.5 hours of my life I’m never getting back.

This is what happens when people think neurons are just doing a binary transmission of electricity around to "process information." Meanwhile even lowly bacteria are making and deploying stuff like this:

What do you mean? She didn’t do run 2. You must be imagining things.

I created a Minute Cryptic, think it might need a tweak. I am involved as large ship loses stern. Goes into free fall thanks to my study (7) www.minutecryptic.com/custom/778bb...

Right people. Right Leaders. That’s not how someone who believes in democracy should be speaking.

I created a Minute Cryptic for you to solve: Uncover aged codex, leads to secret crystal palace (5) www.minutecryptic.com/custom/d0f9d...

It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this

This is blackout poetry to me

So, it's goodbye to all that. A business wrecked by the arrogance of its founders- Poundshop Tesla www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It doesn’t really matter *why* Trump’s desire to destabilise & divide Europe precisely mirrors Vladimir Putin’s - whether kompromat, self-interest, naked bigotry or something else l. What matters is that Europe treats both regimes like the enemies of progress & democracy they so clearly are.

Don’t panic everyone. But I’ve seen it too.

Very quick one. Minute Cryptic - 14 February, 2026 "Beau, Victor, Rocky, Neil, Nate" (9) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 3 under the community par (44,038 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

President Zelensky presented Heraskevytch with a civil honor this evening in Munich. Immediate national hero.

“He looked like he’d not slept in a week.” So a teacher. He walked past a teacher.

Gold for GB in laying down. Boom.

I think we’ll take the week off TGT unless any regular users are particularly relying on us.

Anyone remember what the responses were on @teachertapp.bsky.social were for half term dates? Is everyone off next week? Or is there a desire for TGTs for next week? @physicsmrh.bsky.social you off next week?

I get why people are upset about this, but it shouldn’t be left to profit making companies to do this. Imagine if the “return on investment” was more healthy humans and not just more money for already rich people.

The easy bit made that hard bit gettable. Minute Cryptic - 13 February, 2026 "Support astrophysicist after being stripped of award and key qualifications" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 🏆 0 hints – 2 under the community par (48,603 solvers so far). www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Sorry it went up late yesterday, folks.

Apologies, those waiting for TGT. It’s done, but I’m helping with school production tonight. Will put it up when I get home. @physicsmrh.bsky.social et al.

Despite more than 10 meteorites (lumps of metal travelling at ~50,000km/hr) hitting the earth every year, did you know there is only one recorded instance of a person being hit by one. Ann Hodges in Alabama in 1954. She got a bruise on her hip and more uncomfortably, a lot of press attention.