absolute height of comedy is when they cut to the goal and you see how many kid keepers they've got

Feels a bit ambulance-chasey posting this, but if the events of the past few days have left you thinking about what our future climate-changed world looks like, there’s, well, a book about just that by, er, me! www.hachette.co.uk/titles/arthu...

Until 2 July.

As Britain swelters through another heatwave, few people will have heard that ministers have quietly dropped plans for solar carports. Cars cooler in summer. Shelter from the rain in winter. Clean electricity all year round. A missed opportunity? @eastangliabylines.co.uk

On March 26, 2026, during a debate on violence against women in Germany’s Bundestag, left-wing MP Kathrin Gebel was repeatedly interrupted by AfD MP Martin Reichardt. She responded: “Mr. Reichardt, the clitoris has 3,000 nerve endings, and you’re still more sensitive. That’s quite an achievement.”

"I do think it's not only shooting yourself in the foot — but it's like amputating your leg without a medical reason for doing it." President Alexander Stubb of Finland offers his view on Brexit. Watch the event ➡️ bit.ly/4lGe54k

In the early hours of this morning, the last broadcast of the shipping forecast on Long Wave occurred. I’m not going to be overly sentimental, I don’t rely on either long wave broadcast or the shipping forecast. However, some things really do go quietly into that good night.

Long shot, but if anyone in North #Oxford has lost a tortoise with a surprising turn of speed in the heat, do get in touch..

Exactly which political numbtie decided this was a good idea? I really want to know why they thought it was a good idea to abandon this no-brainer

As Britain swelters through another heatwave, few people will have heard that ministers have quietly dropped plans for solar carports. Cars cooler in summer. Shelter from the rain in winter. Clean electricity all year round. A missed opportunity?

And there it is… www.desmog.com/2026/04/30/r...

1976 was weather. This is is man made climate change. New post. open.substack.com/pub/bennotin...

I've just been talking about buying an electric blanket, obviously, no one in their right mind is thinking about this. Suspiciously, I've just had TWO ads for electric blankets on MSN. Don't try to tell me they are not listening in.

If you want to do something practical then why not sponsor a street tree? Future generations of people, dogs, birds and squirrels will sing your praises I've sponsored one. www.treesforstreets.org

As we have experienced this week, extreme temperatures are no longer a future threat. They are a present danger. Today, I’m launching London’s first ever heat plan: a city-wide plan to adapt our capital, protect communities, and build a climate-resilient city.

*Whispers* Amazon doesn't need your money, but your local independent bookstore does.

Last year, Govt won a £122m judgment against Douglas Barrowman and Michelle Mone's company PPE Medpro, for supplying defective PPE The company had been emptied of cash and collapsed Now its liquidators are suing Barrowman, Mone and associated companies personally Short 🧵

[snortlaugh]

Crocheted canopy for shade in public space, created by 40 local women of Cartaya, Spain #WomensArt

Just dugout my mother's diary for 1957, eager to read what she wrote for June 29th when highest temperature record was broken. It reads: 'Very hot'. 🙂

In my dreams, We've upgraded the insulation in the loft conversion, added solar panels, replaced the double glazing, insulated the exterior walls, put in underfloor heating & put in an air 2 water heat pump that circulates cooled water through the heating system. First step, win the lottery.

Amen ‼️

“Our Daughters Are Watching” out now: rebeccafornj07.substack.com/p/our-daught...

Londoners, there is a webpage for you to see where your nearest "cool spaces" are when the extreme heat hits - places with water, air-conditioning & shade. Have a look and spread the word, especially to those who may need this but might not think to look for it: apps.london.gov.uk/cool-spaces/

At the risk of igniting a public debate about the design… we prepared for days like this. There are now more than 100 water fountains all over the city, and 4,000 water refill points. Fill up. Stay hydrated.

🧵 :

Hydration jelly drops for #dementia sufferers. shop.alzheimers.org.uk/products/jel...

💖 Obsessed with this happy little guillemot chick Thanks to Bloomberg Philanthropies for supporting this project through their Digital Accelerator, allowing us to improve our technology infrastructure so we can help you connect with the UK's nature and heritage.

This sums it up

Cough. (Shameless plug incoming.) Some of us think it does not even have that much to do with Starmer personally, and have spent the last three years writing an entire book about the state of Britain‘s democracy which came out 3 days ago.

Brexit has destroyed our party politics, social media has warped our sense of the world, artificial intelligence is now slowly but surely rotting our brains. Good times.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/d... Enough about Starmer. Read this and keep yourself safe this week.

I was born in 1971 and have had 13 Prime Ministers in that time. My daughter, born in 2006, has already had 8. Our system is sick and the country with it.

It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.

If you want an hour away from the media blah factory ahead of what may be happening later in SW1 I strongly recommend @restispoliticsus.bsky.social LEADING with Steve Rosenberg - fascinating on what is happening inside Russia and with a beautiful ending! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Comments on Keir Starmer having succeeded with two of his top commitments - getting both NHS waiting lists and immigration down significantly - yet still being unpopular. No acknowledgement that UK media never cover what Labour's achieved. #r4today www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’m issuing a high air pollution alert for London on Monday 22 June. Hot, sunny weather and pollution from continental Europe are expected to raise ozone levels. Please help protect yourself and others, especially vulnerable people, by reducing car journeys and avoiding engine idling.

I’m pleased to say (as its President Elect) that @resmedia.bsky.social board of trustees agreed on Friday that the Society will stop using X (FYI @sundersays.bsky.social )

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

The tale of the ruler whose reflection turned to slime is beyond what even the Brothers Grimm conceived. This is Angela Carter or Italo Calvino territory, and it is wonderful.

It isn’t a niche view. The UK media has it in for him from day 1. He was DPP when the papers hacking trials were happening. This is their revenge for editors being rightfully jailed.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle says Keir Starmer was “calm” and “thoughtful” on Friday when he last spoke to him. It was a “frank” conversation. “Repeatedly the PM asked about the country… not once did he ask about self-interest.”

Want to know why we currently cannot trust what The Observer says about Starmer? The current Observer editor was editor of the Times from 2007 to 2012. Starmer was DPP from 2008 to 2013, where he prosecuted several people in the media over the phone hacking scandal. 1/2

"The Americans can't get the slime out of their capital's monument pool and will arrest you for touching it," sounds like the sort of lie they'd tell us in the Soviet Union so we'd stop bitching about bread lines.

"When Jo Cox was murdered, the clarion call was we must do something to detoxify political debate... 10 years on the country feels more polarised than ever." Did the UK really learn nothing from the 2016 murder of Jo Cox? www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...

Corruption, coping with uncertainty, hugging trees: this week’s round-up of some of the lesser-known Russian newspapers. #ReadingRussia

Thinking about it another way, who benefits from UK instability? It's not the general population. BBC News - Leadership uncertainty 'enormously disruptive', former top civil servant warns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Anyone who believes that replacing someone having had two glittering careers with a transport manager, will make billionaires suddenly welcome a (allegedly more left-leaning) Labour government, is going to deserve what we’re all about to get

Okay, it's time for a Moist Owlette™ timeline cleanse. Today's moist owlette is "Owlfredo" at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. She's an Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) & Animal Ambassador with a big personality. (📷: @zoonewengland.bsky.social via IG)

UK unveils prototype missiles for Ukraine with no US components ft.trib.al/dGaRBvI