A message from the mayor, 200 songs and embracing the eternal circle. It must be Saturday. Give it a Swipe. excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/10/04/t...

A long one from me this week — on history, memory and Debatable Lands. excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/09/27/h...

Dunno about The Rapture, but I'm in heaven right now.

A dispatch from the borderlands. wp.me/pjmMI-Jp9

An element of bragging this week. I really need to get better at bugging myself up. excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/09/13/t...

Trout, ancient tomatoes and a new way to look at the human brain. We're Swiping into autumn in our usual stumblebum fashion. Come join our trip. wp.me/pjmMI-Jov

I mean, obvs.

Apologies to Excuses And Half Truths subscribers who received a draft skeleton of Chapter 24. There, now you see how the sausage is made. The full kahuna will be with you as usual on Saturday at 10am.

A lot of things are happening right now. Clearly, letting things happen was a mistake. We need to ban happening, or things. Possibly both.

Truth Art! #arresttrump #art

Our third quarter report, updates and essential information for all stakeholders in our continuing venture. excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/08/23/t...

I beg to differ

Some deep thoughts on how we interact with our fellow humans, snuck into the usual ramshackle hoo-de-rol of recipes, music and all-round foolishness. Don't Swipe past this! excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/08/16/t...

Monkey balls, a Batmobile and all the cocktails. Now that's what I call a weekend! wp.me/pjmMI-Jnj

Shrunken heads, poetry, cocktails and The Time Warp. Join us in an invigorating round of pelvic thrusts. wp.me/pjmMI-JmJ

Two big superhero movies out at the same time. Could I resist a long post on the inevitable comparisons? Spoilers: no. It's bloviatin' time! wp.me/pjmMI-JmK

Metal to the end. We have lost the darkest angel, but his songs will rattle the gates of heaven tonight. So long, Ozzy.

Performing one last massive farewell hometown gig to tens of thousands of people and then dropping dead just a few days afterwards is an incredibly metal way to go out.

Absolutely floated out of an afternoon screening of Superman. What a lovely, silly, goofy, sincere, heartfelt, joyful movie. This old comic book fan couldn't be happier. James Gunn nailed it. The Synderverse was my kryptonite. Finally, the sun's come back out again.

Alligator Auschwicz.

Slow with the update today, cheers for your patience. Swipery inbound: Lidl steak, shrink glockenspiel and the most beautiful sign writing in Manchester. Also, how metal guitar is the sound of the summer. If Olivia Rodrigo says so, what argument can you possibly have? wp.me/pjmMI-JlT

I don't think I'll get a chance to watch the Superman movie for a while but I'm happy it's making all the worst people mad he's an immigrant superhero created by two Jewish kids whose parents fled persecution, and his overriding concern is helping people he absolutely should make them feel shitty

Too close for comfort, NYT Strands. Way too close.

I love—LOVE—em dashes. As for sets of three, that's basic comedy. AI fucks everything.

Shit, rumbled.

I see some Starter Packs making the rounds again, which is lovely! If you want good comics folks to follow, here're some curated collections! go.bsky.app/TqFUmaF

Your usual wildly random grab-bag of reading, listening and some actual useful tips for carrying water in a forest. Thumbs up! excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/07/05/t...

New Swipings, helping you stay cool in the midst of a hot and sticky weekend. Summertime vibes in one newsletter. wp.me/pjmMI-JkM

A Longform piece this weekend, on the Industrial Revolution, the first steel bridge and the strangest stately home of them all. wp.me/pjmMI-JkO

A bit of original fiction from me this week. A man cannot live his creative life on Swipery alone. excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/06/14/t...

Dingtown: the struggle is real. Source: Financial Times search.app/5rwGG Shared via the Google App

I am toooo excited for this!

Among all the other things that it is, it's a very particular and strange moment in the history of streaming television that this sign exists and is being produced for upcoming protest marches.

On a rainy Saturday I sat and sketched people outside the Oxford Weatherspoons. More on my blog below bryanmatthews.org/2025/06/08/s...

Your brand new soaraway Saturday Swipe is full of the good stuff. Actually, maybe a bit too much. Bulging at the seams, we are! wp.me/pjmMI-Jk8

New bloggery has been committed, on the enduring and continued legacy of #TheWaterboys wp.me/pjmMI-Jka

The Swipe needs a haircut, a lie-in and a plateful of salad. The world, as ever, has other plans. wp.me/pjmMI-JjQ

Just look at this gorgeous ridiculousness.

The Swipe Volume 3 Chapter 14 marks six years of newsletters, a lockdown project which just keeps on a rollin'. Thanks to all who read on a weekly basis! excusesandhalftruths.com/2025/05/17/t...

It’s ME/CFS awareness week! I was diagnosed with ME/CFS 10 years ago. It changed the trajectory of my life forever. After all this time I find myself having to explain to friends what it means. Take 5 to learn more & how you better understand your loved ones 💜 @meassociation.bsky.social

The Swipe - fresh and lively as new season's spinach. Eat your greens! wp.me/pjmMI-Jjc

A good rule for all fiction.

A shorter Swipe than usual: concentrated goodness for your long weekend! wp.me/pjmMI-JiX

Sketching Bliss tweed Mill near Chipping Norton more on my blog bryanmatthews.org/2025/04/29/c...

Time is of the essence and we need to fight the EHRC interim guidance before it becomes statutory and Parliament make it law. Don’t just shout about it, write to them. Also tell the media, if you can get them to care. I’ve posted this on Instagram. Speak to your unions and staff networks at work

wp.me/pjmMI-JiE A time for blossom, roast chicken and the long, slow buildup to Eurovision. Spring is sproinged!

Thread. I was on the floor weeping actual tears of hilarity by the end of this.

The Crab Museum in Margate continues to be one of this nation's finest places to visit for entertainment, education and wholehearted joy. We could all do with being a bit more crab.

Here's to everyone cooking for family today who squirreled away a stash of roasties to nibble on while they straighten up the kitchen after lunch. They're the best, especially if you've grabbed a little of your favourite sauce to dunk as you go. You deserve it. Hot sauce on mine, ta.