The darkest night of the year is past, but still… The woods are lovely, dark and deep [at least they were with the torch off]

Beyond thrilled. Been thinking it’d be nice to get to 100 birds this year on my current life list (started just 2 years ago), but hadn’t checked how close I was Then tonight, just sitting in the orchard - a Tawny Owl! Heard then a quick view as it flew away. My 100th merlinbirds.org/species/tawo...

That’s rubbish

America has 925 billionaires as of this year. Collectively they have a record $6.9 trillion in wealth. The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth. When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.

There is so much action required of us now. And pleasure is required of us. O my darlings, so much pleasure is required of us.

René Groebli took portraits of Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney and pioneered new modes of photography. But it was his tender, erotic pictures taken in a Paris hotel room in the 50s that really caused a stir www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Everything old is new again

"fucking fool of a Took!", surely

The world is hard and scary these days, and some leaders want to cover all the lands in a second darkness. But there is this beautiful group of Angolan friends doing a charming dance/viral video that inspired people all over the world to groove to a song in Zulu. It helps me hang in there.

Reminder: this is still great www.youtube.com/watch?v=613A...

Stock market, GDP gains really all about wealthy getting wealthier—not you, your ability to feed your kids or retire "The top 10 US founders and bosses of some of the world’s largest technology companies saw their finances swell to nearly $2.5tn, up from $1.9tn" buff.ly/DDN6Dg9

Where should I travel in 2026? Working on my bucket list

Cat Clinging To Side Of Christmas Tree Admits That Was Extent Of Plan https://theonion.com/cat-clinging-to-side-of-christmas-tree-admits-that-was-1849899567/

“According to historians and political scientists who study protest: very. From emancipation to women’s suffrage, from civil rights to Black Lives Matter, mass movement has shaped the arc of American history.” @justprotest.bsky.social

For 50+ years, the NPR Network has offered America trusted information, free of charge. As public media faces a future without federal funding, we're relying on you to sustain this work in 2026 and beyond. Donate now to power Tiny Desk concerts, local reporting and more: n.pr/4pCcFIx

George Cukor’s multi Academy Award nominated 🇺🇸 American romantic comedy film “THE PHILADELPHIA STORY” starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart and Ruth Hussey premiered #OnThisDay in 1940 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City 🎬 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Good interview in the paper, this. I think Sadiq is right: London 'needs' to be less successful than it is for a bunch of political arguments here in the UK to work, hence the fictions being invented about it:

"Well, what shall we hang? The holly, or each other?" Now that's a Christmas movie. From 'The Lion in Winter' (1968). With the brilliant Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole

“It… had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar”

Lots of parallels between #Ashes defeat and what Labour voters in 2024 are feeling about the govt right now.. "its the hope that kills you". "It was supposed to be different this time". you wait 15 years for a win in Australia/regain power and then it all falls to pieces super quickly

Make a Bond movie casual Netball

When Nyunmiti Burtom & other female Australian Indigenous artists heard of the Christchurch Mosque attack, 2019, they showed solidarity by creating a canvas for NZ Muslim community depicting people separated by sea, culture, but united in humanity #WomensArt

Happy Boxing Day to Jake Paul and Andrew Tate specifically.

What we’re seeing in this series is actually the start of England’s long-term plan to win back the Ashes by denying Cricket Australia day 3/4/5 ticket sales and by doing so eventually bankrupting them. 4D chess

Don't think I've seen this in previous years - an annual round up of #archaeology on the BBC website! Good to see ' #treasure ' not being centre stage for once. ...also interesting to note that cash value is only mentioned in relation to the #detecting finds. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mark Cuban when people explain healthcare reform

A charming (very) short “Rivers of London” story from @benaaronovitch.bsky.social that goes well with the other (true life) story mailchi.mp/fe86274c631d...

The world is running out of frankincense bbc.com/future/artic...

Same energy

And now there's officially a Tornado Warning out for Santa Cruz County for this offshore mini-supercell thunderstorm, which is likely producing a waterspout over water that could move inland as a tornado near Santa Cruz. #CAwx

#DailyBat 🖤🦇🖤

Happy Kwanzaa Eve!

Happy Hogswatch

Dave Willat was just 11 years old when he showed up for what he thought would be a routine church choir practice in 1965. He and his fellow singers ended up making history.

Remember: There's always strength in a union. Solidarity.

Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.

This is absolutely lovely. So hopeful. Such a perfect Christmas story.

PS we have a song about the Yule Cat that all the children learn in school and everyone sings throughout the advent. Here it is sung by a very young Björk.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

yes Discworld made me a better person and those three quotes get to the core of it - a sort of outraged decency from a man angry at the state of the world and the cruelty therein who also knew what we were capable of at our best

Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather

Guy sitting on a pile of gold: "im all for Universal Healthcare, but how do we make it happen? Be realistic."

and to my Jewish friends, a happy go to the movies and eat Chinese food day

It’s a Christmas miracle! Haven’t been able to finish a Thursday in a while, but I solved the Thursday 12/25/2025 New York Times Daily Crossword in 19:07!

Wonderful

Someone remake “It’s a Wonderful Life” but Mr. Potter believes that hoarding is morally required so he can devote resources to delivering a far future with trillions of humans while George Bailey is like, “Gosh Darnit! What if taking care of people today is what takes care of people in the future?!”

Tintin magazine, dated December 25, 1947.

Morning all. Hoping your Christmas day is as happy as this little lad's. Christmas day in Wales, 1962. Photograph by Dennis Stock.