An important paper about protecting science from political interference. Europe needs to defend its science against the kind of attacks unfurling in the US. By Martin McKee, Christina Pagel & Tiago Correia in the European Journal of Public Health: academic.oup.com/eurpub/artic...

It has been criminally underreported but Kelsey Pfendler has just rowed solo across the Pacific Ocean from the US coast to Hawaii in record time. A 2,400-mile unsupported journey in 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes. Notably beating the Men’s record by 9 whole days.

Quite a number of Ladybird artists also illustrated railway posters in the mid-20th century. This lovely is by Septimus Scott

The media’s language in coverage of sexual violence is so wild compared to any other subject matter. Instead of “it rained” they’re like “Several women allege that they received nonconsentual water upon their persons. We interviewed men they know, who confirmed that the women seemed damp.”

Bonnie Tyler was such a star, right at the heart of 80s culture. I saw her talking and singing in recent years at the Hay Festival and she was an absolute joy. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'London Bridge: Adelaide House and Fresh Wharf, London' (1913) by Charles Ginner (London Museum)

'Sunset over the Thames, Waterloo Bridge' (1918) by Emile Claus (Private collection)

How well André Durand's picture (1969) shows Elizabeth Bowen: novelist, short story writer, an acute observer both of the natural world and of human emotions. She published ten novels including 'The Heat of the Day' (1949), a portrayal of life in London during WW2.

This emergency water tank (1942) was situated on Upper Thames Street in London; the dome of St Pauls Cathedral can be seen in the background. Charles Ginner was an admirer of Canaletto, his paintings of Venice he said, influenced this work.

Many of John Ruskin's watercolours reflect an interest in the close observation of skies and clouds, studied at dawn, sunset (as here in 1845) and in varying weather conditions; his interest in these themes was a lifelong one.

Frits Thaulow's composition of a Venetian backwater adopts a downward vantage point that emphasizes the eddying water, its reflections, and illumination. Thaulow visited the city three times in 1899, including an excursion that coincided with an exhibition in Paris with Monet.

🥵 Expecting 35C even something a bit hotter tomorrow. Never in history of London meteorological history or indeed also true countrywide have we seen 35C (95F) in 3 consecutive months. Even non-consecutively it never happened... (1/2)

😜

Morning all. Photograph by Stephen Dowle. The alley at the back of Claremont Road, Moss Side, Manchester.

Mood

Might Arthur Fery’s run to the last 16 at Wimbledon suggest it’s time for a #roxytennis hashtag? @quantick.bsky.social? 15-Love Is The Drug Both Change Of Ends Burning

spotted, spoil’d, corrupted

I talked about my reading habits and future writing plans to the Northern Books blog. www.northernbooks.org/post/writer-...

This is devastating news for the education sector. www.linkedin.com/posts/it-is-...

My wonderful friend Leslie Woodhead, the only person to film the Beatles in the Cavern, the pioneer of docudrama, and a wonderful human being has died aged 88. An extraordinary, very humble filmmaker who fostered the talents of Stephen Frears, Paul Greengrass, and many others. I’ll miss you

Arthur!!!!!! Omg! Arthur Fery still in Wimbledon!

Blessings to the person who referred to Haaland as “Norwegian megafauna”.

Genuinely upsetting that Haaland and Olise could both have played for England.

Messi, Mbappe and Haaland all being on 7 goals has got to be the best golden boot race ever...

The idea that a philosophy degree is a ticket to a lifetime of underemployment persists. But A.I. labs have been recruiting thinkers to address big questions.

Oh my! Norway! #WorldCup

Summer is here and Secret London’s article: 'These are the best lidos and outdoor swimming pools in London – including heated pools, wild swimming ponds and Art Deco favourites.' We are excited to see Art Deco lidos mentioned, and why not take a dip! 🏊 ADSUK secretldn.com/outdoor-swim...

On this day 5th July 1948 the NHS was born. (The Nurse, 1963 Artist: John Berry)

Shares appreciated 🙏

The NHS was founded 78 years ago today. It was built after the devastation of the Second World War when the country was bankrupt - but when the people demanded a society built on fairness and dignity for all. Today, we must defend the right to healthcare and rebuild our social security system.

Just received my DNA results and apparently my lineage can be traced back to a pumpkin patch nestled in fog on a cool October day with the sound of crows in the distance.

futurism.com/future-socie... lol

‘In 1848, the US seized the northern half of Mexico and imposed American law and the English language – a reminder that most of what is now the United States of America was not part of it in 1776, and would not be for many decades.’ @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Britbuttexit

Happy 78th Birthday to the NHS 🥳 Nye Bevan’s vision of universal healthcare became reality on 5 July 1948 "Illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalised, but a misfortune, the cost of which should be shared by the community"

PEANUTS featuring "Good ol' Charlie Brown" by Schulz.

That @naomialderman.bsky.social is so fucking brilliant. If you've found yourself falling out the reading habit, she has created a kind of Couch-to-5K of reading open.substack.com/pub/naomiald...

Sunrise at Stonehenge today (5th July) was at 4.59am, sunset is at 9.23pm

Camomile from Columbia Road Market this morning

‘Less attention has been given to the way artists – and writers for that matter – have themselves been mothered. Celia Paul is unusual in the intensity of her bond, and she feels none of the anger and reproach current in memoirs and autofiction.’ Marina Warner: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

All I want is a castle on the Irish coast, a lantern-filled library full of centuries-old novels, a raven to deliver and retrieve my post, an eccentric butler with a mysterious backstory, and an endless supply of emotional support pastries.

'Woman Descending a Staircase.' Carl Holsøe studied with Vilhelm Hammershøi at the Royal Academy of Copenhagen and with Peter Ilsted formed the Danish School of Interior Painting. Holsøe's works are generally less austere than those of his contemporaries and have more glow.

It's SO GOOD and still so relevant!

Fun fact: the science fiction film "Metropolis" was released 99 years ago

This is absolutely terrifying The Nino 3.4 forecast temperature anomaly mean is now at 4C, when even the biggest historical super ninos have seen less than 3C I really have no idea what this is going to bring over the next 12 months, but it will be very, very, grim

When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent. ~ Issac Asimov #ThoughtfulThursday

CEO pay is up 1,094% since 1978, while typical worker pay is up just 26%. Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?

The Pearson explanation for the KS2 SATs results delay, via @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social , doesn’t bode well for GCSEs and A levels in the summer. And it does not help reduce my anger at the CEO’s salary.

Slick as usual. I love being told to do by people who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery... www.tes.com/magazine/new...