First DNF in a while. Shame, because I liked the premise and the start was quite engaging. Unfortunately, cluttered, stilted dialogue and unrefined exposition killed off my interest. Then immediately DNF the next by a well-known author whom I've previously enjoyed. Same sort of reasons. 📚💙 Next!

The only soldier now is me, I'm fighting things I cannot see... Random lyric I'm listening to now. #RandomLyric

Yes, I am exactly the right age to get a bit misty eyed over this one. Also amused to note who's doing the clearing up in the background of the final shot. Well observed. youtu.be/z1bRlnyQeDk?...

A day bookended by beautiful skies here.

Good morning Bluesky 🙂 #MediterraneanSunrise

I have had some lovely suggestions but I'd love some MOOOORE (before this place becomes a hailstorm of #celebritytraitors)

Hats off to the Germans for Hodenkobald, or “testicle goblin”, for someone who is being annoying. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Ah, Jilly, you gave teenage me so much entertainment with your books and their great sense of fun. 💐 RIP #JillyCooper

@sturdyalex.bsky.social Woke 'Nam

An extract from Cory Doctorow's book with an explanation of why "enshittification" doesn't only infect the online world. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Great thread from Sue on how we learn ⬇️

Inspired by @roryisconfused.bsky.social, I can't help thinking of this headline as the premise for an MR James story: "The Professor lighted the candles, poured a measure of sherry and told Dr Standish about the day the bang bus came to Oxford. A most remarkable tale that haunts me to this day."

First I've heard of this - we don't have an EV but intend to get one in the future. Any anecdata to share? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Useful

Anybody see the lunar eclipse? Our view:

So, I unpacked the three new @originstorypodcast.bsky.social books by @iandunt.bsky.social and @dorianlynskey.bsky.social for our school library, and two had been checked out within 24 hours. Some kind of record for the non-fiction section 💙📚💙📚

What's that in my eye? As a teacher, I see how this works in our own school. The best aspect of my job.

Good morning Bluesky!

Intense. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

A story of resilience that is genuinely heartwarming. One to grin about, @pimlicat.bsky.social ? 🙂 www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Take a look at some of the nebulous gas clouds the James Webb Space Telescope has observed in its three years of science operations. #NASAWebb Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI. 🔭 🧪

Wow!

This is joyful!

No idea if this is the correct order for Murderbot book? But Humble Bundle has a great @marthawells.com deal on at the moment www.humblebundle.com/books/martha...

We've gone and got ourselves addicted to The Rookie.

Best hair dilemma of the day.

"Most of the published stories contained case studies of named people whose details Press Gazette was unable to verify online, casting doubt on whether any of the quotes or facts contained in the articles are real." Props to Jacob Ferudi of Unherd for spotting it. pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...

Fervently agree with Jill Duffy here: school leavers need functional, relevant, basic levels of literacy & numeracy - current Eng Lang & Maths GCSEs are deeply flawed and not fit for this purpose. #EdSky #UKEdSky www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Listening to The Cocteau Twins rn. So ethereally, beautifully strange.

"I use social media to talk about fish. When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish. When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish. www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...

Offspring took 2 IGCSEs a year early and scored a pair of 9s. Super, super proud. Good luck to everyone else getting it awaiting results 🤞

07:30 here and the temperature is already 30 Celsius. Good morning Bluesky!

The mercury's hit 35 Celsius and even the breeze is like a moderate hairdryer. Tomorrow will be hotter, and the next day hotter again. All windows and doors are shut. Feeling fortunate that we can hide from it with fans going and a cool basement. 😅

Good Morning Bluesky

Pre-emergency phase declared in Spain because of wildfires. euroweeklynews.com/2025/08/12/s...

A practical way of parking our poop! This seems to be a neat solution to several problems: www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

This stuff is amazing 🤩 Rescued my chemically dried out face in a matter of two days and is now making miracles on flaky elbows and heels. A solid recommendation for sensitive or damaged skin @salihughes.bsky.social

Heading out of London after various tube journeys and strolls around Camden Town. Jewellery still intact and several examples of Londoners being friendly and helpful. What place are these others talking about?

At the V&A in London. Still got all my jewellery.

Well, what fun this was! The plot is utterly preposterous, but the singing, dancing and choreography top notch. Thoroughly enjoyed the skillful, joyful mash-ups of well known songs, and the whole family had a blast. #MoulinRouge

Bristol. 🙂

Motherfucking wind farms…

The march of The Zombie Factoids, accelerated by LLMs. Researchers need to be warriors to fight these where they can.

I’ve started using a calorie counting app and it’s been useful so far but the main way it works is that I hate admin so sneaking a biscuit just isn’t worth the work.

With the click of a button, ask Sky News what they’re doing to ensure balanced reporting. Because they seem to cover every move Farage makes. www.bestforbritain.org/complaint_sk...

Blimey, the Lionesses! Once again proving they don't know when they're beaten. Can't help feeling a bit gutted for Spain, who played SOOO well. But the England spirit is something else 😅👏👏👏🥂

Okay, everyone else can go home now.

Can confirm (we don't have all these titles, but the ones we have are top of the pops).

This, and the replies have kept me chuckling for the last ten minutes. A work of art. With a capital F.

My Google accounts updated in the last few days, and each time they did so, I was asked if I wanted to opt out of the "smart features". Is this standard, or is it because I'm in the EU? Just wondering...