Once again, a classic newspaper Question To Which The Answer Is No. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...?

OK so It’s Christmas Eve & petitioning Govt might not be front of mind today - but *please* take just 20 secs to sign this, calling for a funded national #climate resilience plan to help protect us all. Just 1700 more needed to get a Govt response! 🤞🙏https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730062

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Another classic QTWTAIN on the BBC website today.

Great example of a question to which the answer is "No." AI has entered the classroom - but is it the solution for overworked teachers? www.bbc.com/news/article...

John Carey, one of the last "men of letters" has died. I wrote about his book "The Intellectuals and the Masses" here. Suffice to say the masses come off better than the intellectuals. robspence.org.uk/2013/06/28/e...

Early December, we usually check when is last posting date for overseas cards. The Royal Mail site isn't saying, just "post early." It is claiming to have been delivering for over 500 years, which is a stretch, based on Henry VIII appointing a Master of the Posts. (1/2)

Latest review - a delightful little bagatelle from 1912. shinynewbooks.co.uk/max-beerbohm...

Less than 1000 signatures to go

🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 75,000 signatures! 🙏 LET’S KEEP GOING! If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...

@petroc.bsky.social Is it compulsory to play the overture to Candide EVERY day?!

Viareggio looking lovely in the November sunshine.

“The researchers aim to show that the ‘inevitability’ of AI is just a marketing frame perpetrated by the industry and that pushback is a lot more possible than we often see.” Yes!

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess...”

A real eye-opener of an exhibition, for me anyway. I wasn’t aware of Boldini, de Nittis or Zandomeneghi, and now I am! Complimenti a Palazzo Blu! #belleepoquepisa #palazzoblu

Shiny Thursday: @spencro.bsky.social reviews Brick Dust by Craig Jordan-Baker @epoquepress.bsky.social shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...

Latest review: an odd, but entertaining novel, which ranges from sectarian violence to morris dancing. shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...

Midnight finish tonight at Pordenone. Powerful speeches by this year's Jean Mitry award winners, who stressed the vital role of culture in our troubled times. Well done Andrea Cuarterolo and Georgina Torello for their online journal and Paula Félix-Didier for her archival work. #cinemamutopordenone

shinynewbooks.co.uk/giaime-along... Latest review: a thriller set in WW2 and the 1980s that has some contemporary resonances.

open.substack.com/pub/anthonyb... @lordbonkers.bsky.social This may be of interest: Burgess on Auden.

open.substack.com/pub/jmarriot... A brilliant, if depressing analysis of the current state of literacy.

Now that it’s the time of year when the obscurely-funded right wing Restore Trust, a private company, try once again to take over the National Trust, my annual reminder of what they want to do with our history & heritage. blogs.sussex.ac.uk/snapshotsofe...

One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.

Far right protest today: 29 - police officers injured 9 - protestors arrested Proscribed group protests: 0 - police officers injured 1,600 - protestors arrested We have Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to thank for this absurd anomaly

The gang were not entirely convinced by the choice of getaway car.

Good to see New Scientist addressing the key issues of our time.

Latest review: Marek Kohn's very well-researched account of how the cities of central Europe reimagined themselves in the post-war period. Fascinating! shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-stories-...

Why not make it compulsory for all MPs to disclose their mortgage and housing arrangements? Those howling for the head of Angela Rayner might not be entirely guiltless.

Overt racism on our streets, flags as threats, Reform strutting around like they’re in power already, toxic radicalisation by Musk on X, politicians howling to leave the ECHR and to hell with the consequences… How can the govt just meekly nod along? FFS and for all our sakes, stand up to this shit.

To a large degree, the collapse of American power is driven by the stupidity of its leaders.

If you honestly believe the Russians hit the EU delegation in Kyiv by accident, I don't think you should be allowed to operate heavy machinery and I frankly question if letting you dress and bathe yourself is a violation of our collective duty of care.

More superb coverage of our campaign. One day left to have your say. ~AA www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...

I don't know about you but I've had about enough of mainstream media & politicians legitimising racist anti-asylum protests that terrorise refugees & communities. I had to push back hard, TWICE on BBC yesterday about supposed "legitimate concerns" www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtkA...

Aargh, BBC! Sliver!

Another great leaves the crease. My generation will always associate a score of 311 with him. Old Trafford, 1964. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...

What strange times, when the commander of RAF Greenham Common is coming out as a liberal supporter of the right to protest

Terrific analysis of how we are manipulated by social media. open.substack.com/pub/gurwinde...

NEW ARTICLE! On the dangers of AI: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/soul-strip...

Ever since Trump retook office in January, in fact, rapid enshittification has become the organizing principle of US statecraft."https://www.wired.com/story/enshittification-of-american-power/

Someone asked me to take this out from behind the pay wall and I - unlike the British housing market - am nothing if not accommodating. So: no, empty homes won't solve the housing crisis

Brexit meant the end of freedom of movement. So how is it that professional footballers can apparently move freely for employment around Europe. Lots of English players in Italy and Germany and Spain. And the Premier League must be at least 50% European players. How come?

Michael Pärt too polite to correct Kate Molleson's pronunciation of his (and his father's) name. #cotw #BBCR3

Once again, test cricket proves it is the finest format of the finest sport.

Why have I waited until now to read David Copperfield? It is magnificent. #Dickens

My latest post from fifty years ago, reminiscing on our introduction to the early novel: robspence.org.uk/2025/07/07/n...

@plashingvole.bsky.social @cathfeely.bsky.social This just popped up on Instagram.

Today, on two separate occasions, I saw men applying underarm deodorant in public. One having emerged from parking a car at the crematorium, the other while waiting at a tram stop. Is this a thing now?

My latest post from fifty years ago: robspence.org.uk/2025/06/30/s...

Fantastic project. I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo - could it save your life? www.bbc.com/news/article...

Once again, Test cricket proves it is the best form of the best sport.