Hegseth meeting, with added instrumentals. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwLl...

FFS, volunteering is, by definition, voluntary. I do quite a bit, and am happy to do so, as it’s my choice. But I won’t perform a single minute of mandatory community service, which this is. Legal immigration is not a crime. www.bbc.com/news/article...

It’s clear he actually wants this shutdown. Why, other than an opportunity for more layoffs, is less clear at this point, and that makes me concerned.

I left the US before Tangerine Mussolini’s second term, for the UK. Accidentally settled in a Reform stronghold village. Fled there for Scotland. Have been happy here, but appalled by growing support for Reform (and will be deported if Farage wins). Where next?

The town of Bo’ness, near Edinburgh, is currently experiencing a Dalek warning.

The man in the seat in front of me on the 37 bus is asking Chat GPT, on the phone he’s holding up, to write ripostes to Zia Yusuf (“now make it more posh” “say that his party’s whole purpose is to crash the working class” “add more phlegm”) and I don’t know where this is going but I am here for it.

Highlands sanity break.

Gemini has just helpfully informed me — unasked — that in the UK peanut butter is known as hypogaea emulsion.

@ianjhoey.bsky.social from Poughkeepsie, by any chance?

110K marched in London today in support of vile xenophobic racism. England is one politically viable charismatic helmsman away from Trumpism -- it'll happen. This immigrant would like to believe this shite could never take place in Edinburgh. Independence Referendum 2.0; let's go. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

More than a bit creepy, and the audience might feel kinda ripped-off about the one-sided “dialogue,” but, TBH, I probably saw worse at Fringe.

Suddenly autumn, Inverleith Park, Edinburgh.

My beliefs don't permit me to wish death to anyone, nor celebrate anyone's death. They don't say squat about needing to feel bad that anyone's gone, though. 🤷‍♀️

Moonlight, Queensferry St., Edinburgh.

TH: "Do you want to go see [redacted, a local klezmer band]?" Me: "Nah. They're not very good, and they're kinda Jew-hating, too." TH: "Oh, I thought they *were* Jewish." Me: "Yeah, they are." TH: [looks puzzled] Me: [forehead kiss] "My sweet little goyishe naïf."

😂

Edinburgh folks: AFAIK, the only early music chamber choir in town that's open to non-professional singers. (And if you do know of another, please share!) I sing with them, so if you're on the fence about going and have questions, ask away.

If there are “patriots” in your community painting England flags on traffic roundabouts, a couple of extra lines turns them into a Dead Kennedys tribute.

The difference in health stats between England and Scotland gave us a moment’s pause before we moved here. But I think I understand it a little better now. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

#Caturday duets with Luci.

Kinda suspicious that we, and all of Crewe Road South (east side) between Ferry and Western General lost our power just as AC/DC started their show. Rather ironically. #Edinburgh

My good writing group disintegrated. I've always banned memoir (authors think it can be workshopped like reg fiction, but no), and a guy snuck in disguised memoir...and, yeah, got overly-touchy when it was critiqued. Unsure whether to found a new one. Effort/reward payoff somewhat dubious.

My review schedule isn’t completed, but my Fringe is over: boldest, fattest line next to the T on the Covid test that I’ve ever seen. 😳 In retrospect, taking several hundred thousand people from around the globe and cramming them into tiny sealed spaces: maybe not such a good idea. #EdFringe

I used to jokingly post stuff like this under a "montage of headlines that will precede the end of the world" theme. Now, post-covid, I just hide under my bed. NB: the conjecture about the origins of the jackalope thing is genuinely interesting. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

#EdFringe My five 5-stars, in Theatre Weekly and FringeReview: - Iago Speaks, TheSpace (perfection) - Macbeth, Zoo Southside (a bold adaptation that just works) - Aether, Summerhall (brilliant staging) - Strangewife, Assembly Rooms (gorgeous writing) - Picking Up Stones, TheSpace (courageous)

That's the last of my reviews up on Theatre Weekly! I switch over to FringeReview now for a more stately pace for the rest of the month. You can find them all here: theatreweekly.com/author/ruth-... #EdFringe

#EdFringe I have reviewing slots open Aug 14-16, and final week, for FringeReview. If your show is still seeking a writeup, let me know. I review theatre, musicals, cabaret, and some solo storytelling, but not standup, magic, or children's shows. Thanks!

Hey! If you’re the random man who got up in my face after “Managed Approach” today & started lecturing me on how my note-taking was disrespectful to the actors, what I said when I cut you off and left was “thanks for your input,” and I apologize. What I meant to say was “go fuck yourself.” #EdFringe

Hello. We’d like to talk to you about cheeses.

#EdFringe If you're even a little fond of Shakespeare, go see the hilarious "Iago Speaks." Tiny audience tonight, not helped by its unfortunate late-night slot, and it's a damn shame, because it's brilliant. Five-star review in Theatre Weekly forthcoming.

My reviews for Theatre Weekly are starting to be posted now. This is probably the best thing I’ve seen so far: theatreweekly.com/edinburgh-fr... #EdFringe

10:30 pm at South Bridge Go home Lothian Buses; you’re drunk.

#EdFringe 5 shows today, and hopefully the last time I'm doing that, because I'm seriously questioning my life choices right now. Not as strong a slate, but I challenge people to go see "Picking Up Stones" -- it stretches the definition of "theatre," but there's much to dig into and think about.

#EdFringe I saw three excellent shows today, and one terrible one. Never mind about the terrible one; here are my recommendations: - Macbeth (a bluegrass edition, but, trust me, it works) at Zoo Southside - The Insider at Pleasance Dome, and - Strangewife at Assembly Rooms

My first review for #EdFringe is up — I won’t post them all, don’t worry! — just now and then. fringereview.co.uk/review/edinb...

Feeling really rather grateful that I've lived here long enough -- not that long, mind; but long enough -- to know how to get to Nicolson St. without going over North Bridge. #EdFringe

And we’re off and running with #EdFringe. My schedule is 110% full until Aug 8, but if you want a review after that, feel free to pitch. I mainly do drama, but open to everything. Please note I won’t step foot in venues that cancel or exclude Jews.

With the number of times I've said, "Man! If I hadn't left already, I'd leave now!" I think I've quit about a hundredfold. These alleged fiscal conservatives will spend 167K to destroy USD 9.7 million in already-purchased contraception just to deny women autonomy. www.msn.com/en-us/health...

@letatcestmoi.bsky.social sky.social could you boost? 🙏 Edinburgh Fringe venue hosting Jewish comics had security/vandalism fears. So they "solved" it by removing the Jews. It's Whistlebinkies. They're on FB. Pls leave them a review! #SinkTheBink www.jewishnews.co.uk/jewish-comed...

“Juden raus” 2.0. This wasn’t up in the Pianodrome last time I was here. I won’t be here again.

Reprehensible. Why do ppl find it easy to distinguish between the evil US gov't and ordinary US citizens, but are completely incapable of doing the same thing with the war crimes of Israel's govt and ordinary Israelis -- or, even more baffling, non-Israeli Jews? www.jewishnews.co.uk/jewish-comed...

#EdFringe - I'm receiving about a dozen "requests to review" per day. Just got my first that directly refers my own writing. Fine line, I guess, between "know your audience" and "stalk your audience," but crossing it is just ick. (Please don't do this.)

Avant le deluge. (Crewe Toll, Edinburgh.)

Proud moment: I said “oy, so humid,” and my Catholic English husband replied “it’s like a SAU-na in heah.” (Cf. “2 Live Jews,” 1990)

Home from my niece's wedding in Perugia. Lovely time; just a touch of sunstroke; but I appear to have been restored to "factory settings" -- I keep going around to the driver's side of the car when I am, in fact (and for good reason), a passenger.

Our first time leaving the girls with a sitter while we go away for six days. And even though the sitters are a nice, responsible couple whom I know fairly well and totally trust, I’m wracked with guilt and misgivings. That little face!

Ok, one more peeve about #EdFringe comms to "the media" (like me): The sheer number of releases, *especially* from London-based productions, saying "we look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh." Some of us actually do live here, you muppets. You aren't Prometheus bringing culture to the Scots.

FWIW, out of the several hundred #EdFringe press releases I’ve received so far, the one attached to this show is the only one I’d judge effective. It’s only a single night, so I alas can’t review it, but much respect and I urge others to go “see” (?) it. ashleyfrieze.co.uk/not/

After many hours and literally four spreadsheets, my reviewing schedule for #EdFringe is set. Y’all can stop sending me press releases now. (For the love of all that is good and holy, PLEASE stop sending press releases.)

Finally watching the set-in-Edinburgh "Dept Q" on Netflix. It's okay. You know what would be better? Dept Ave Q. Still Edinburgh, still a police procedural, but also songs and puppets.