All cars should be no bigger than Smart cars and have a max speed of 25mph. I don't propose this out of environmental or safety concerns, I just think it would be funny and upset a lot of people I don't like.

On the bus. Someone playing music from the back seat. Older bloke a few rows down starts looking round, ready to snap. Realises the culprit is a slightly larger bloke. Suddenly learns to tolerate it.

No President has done more for world peace than Donald Trump. Remember. Honest.

We said goodbye to Suzie, our sweet girl, on Friday. We are utterly heartbroken. Identifying the grief stages (ie anger) she trying to not let them damage the future. I miss her so much, and I’ve never cried this much for anything.

Pro-hunt mob complaining about tradition and hound rehoming. From the same people who brought you, “but if you ban slavery, what will happen to the poor shackle makers?” #boxingdayhunt

A white British father and son BOTH raped the same child and pled guilty to multiple counts of Sexual assault. This has been in the press for 2 days. The Mirror is the only National newspaper to report on it… And THAT’s why people have such a skewed perception of the links between race and SA🤷🏼‍♀️

Rather than wear a poppy, I show respect for those who sacrificed their lives by not being a dick.

Last night, I dreamed we ran across the new Keel footbridge in Sunderland waving giant Union flags, with Paul Heaton, singing a song about hope. I played ukulele.

Which is it? We need ID cards or we don’t need ID cards. Because Councillor Darren Grimes can’t make up his mind.

People flying St George's flags is great. It helps me identify places that I don't want to live in.

Let me check I’ve got this right. Someone calling for entirely innocent foreign-born people to be burned alive at a time of serious social unrest is a free speech champion who must be feted. And some calling them & their hideous promoters in politics & media racist is a menace who must be silenced.

Nothing says I love my country more than a shitty polyester flag, bought on an American tax dodging website, made in China

If I’m being honest, Netflix, I wasn’t that big a fan.

Brilliant credits from Totally F***ed Up (Araki, 1993) streaming on MUBI.

The RIAA wanted thousands in damages for someone sharing an MP3, let's hope those same level of figures are applied to AI companies. An entire industry based on massive copyright infringement. If paying for content breaks your business model, then tough, you deserve to fail.

There should be a £20 refundable deposit with each theatre ticket. People sitting around you vote on whether you get it back.

Banned today from the Facebook group “The Sign Shrine”, usually a nice trivial corner of social media where people post photos of daft signs. Today, a page admin posted a pro-Reform post full of the cliches that lot are propagating. It appears that he didn’t like my comment. The world is broken.

The first episode of #Adolescence is indeed brilliant. But how have the police managed to gather information about Jamie’s Maths and English form groups overnight?

Generative AI is destroying university education. We are on the cusp of producing a generation of university graduates who don't understand the slightest thing about the subject they've 'studied'.

The budget meeting in Newcastle got rather unpleasant last night. Cllr Frew wondered why a LibDem cllr was temporarily not sitting with their group. Interesting question; it was never explained why Frew’s then-employer, Nick Brown, was suspended from Labour. @danielholland.bsky.social ?

A good evening spent with a friend, but a silly trigger leaves me feeling quite depressed.

Look out to Whitley Bay. Picked up Orbital from @forumbooks.bsky.social The Bound. #supportindie

Stumbled upon this episode of Coronation Street of the Platt’s house fire - very impressive direction from 17:21. Credit to Matt Hilton and team. youtu.be/lu08gGNbZXg?...

Little Westies need protecting from scary weather. #StormÉowyn

Storms easily take a fence these days. #StormÉowyn

I lobbied for DCRs when I was cabinet member for public health in Newcastle. Good to see @richardbranson.bsky.social advocating too. @samuelevolpe.bsky.social www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/...

Saturday night takeaway and two very different films. Don’t Breathe 2; fun sequel which won me with an extended continuous shot like the egg scene in Games Night. Medicine for Melancholy (2008, Jenkins); cute little film exploring identities, and celebrating indie music (credit to the credits).

@marcusbrig.bsky.social Re latest ‘HWIFY?’ I worked for Jessops (early 2000s); we’d prepare for the sales like a military operation in the closing hours of Xmas Eve. We’d slip the paper with sale prices behind the current prices, so on Boxing Day we just had to run round and whip out the old slips.

Christmas Eve tradition- a furry Mr Dickens.

After being impressed by Carolie Fargeat’s ‘The Substance’, I gave her 2017 ‘Revenge’ a spin on Mubi. Wow! Cinematic, tense, twists, great use of space throughout.

New for Christmas 2024 in our house.

Being a grown up means typing half of a reply to a stranger on social media before saying, “nah, it’s not worth it.”

The first Monday of the month means that Newcastle Labour councillors meet in a room. I forget to savour how great it is not to have to be in that room.

Late to the party, but really enjoyed The Substance on @mubi.bsky.social Excellent cinematography, writing, directing and performances. Feels like a modern classic.

Struggling to understand #Strictly ‘s use of the term “quarter final”. There’s nothing ‘quarter’ about it. #StrictlyComeDancing

Going to make sure that my first Blue Sky post is really interesting and engaging. Oh.