God they were terrifying. The loud choonk. When I was a child I ran through them in sheer mortal panic.

One of the best bits of learning Italian is translating names – Frank Capra is Frank Goat, Frank Zappa is Frank Hoe, Greta Scacchi is Greta Chess, and so on. I have a new favourite: the great director Francis Ford Flat Cap.

I remember Quantick slagging someone off on Twitter, but using someone else’s account name, so they undeservedly got his nastiness plus the follower tailwind. When this error was pointed, out he apologised profusely hahahahaha (he did nothing).

I suddenly want Timothee Chalamet to win everything.

@guardianforeheads.bagpuss.org

Cruel, unkind, abusive, unhinged, immoral – it’s a perfect match!

Attorney general Suella Braverman belongs to controversial Buddhist sect Founder of the Triratna order was accused of sex abuse; victim has spoken out about cabinet minister’s new role

The Triratna order are a rather rum lot: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Stephan Remmler - Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei YouTube video by StephanRemmler

Also a great and exceedingly German song: youtu.be/a4JSE32fuOc?...

I think it’s supposed to be Russian, it sounds a bit Russian and then there’s the line about 8 vodkas. No-one except Russians would drink neat vodka in black & white British films.

Never has a man looked more in real life like how he would be drawn in a Beano celebrity cameo.

Radio Times listing “1.45 Ghost Stories for Christmas with the BBC Symphony Orchestra A concert of classical music interspersed with ghost stories read by Alex Jennings. Including Ray Parker Jr's Ghostbusters sung by Jonathan Andrew Hume.”

Mildred/Yootha Joyce looking confused.

This is very good, and it features an excellent Jabberwocky-based pun.

Chromium Dockyard, by Gary Le Strange 12 track album

Gary Le Strange new/lost album Chromium Dockyard out now: garylestrange.bandcamp.com/album/chromi... Waen Shepherd's a genius who is also very funny.

Chromium Dockyard, by Gary Le Strange 12 track album

Not just teased, Chromium Dockyard is out and I'm listening to it right now! garylestrange.bandcamp.com/album/chromi...

Shaking reported, possible #quake Near Morecambe, England, United Kingdom | 6m ago | Detail infos, updates and user reports for this event

Shaking reported, possible #quake Near Morecambe, England, United Kingdom | 6m ago | - 102 reports so far.
Did you feel it? Send a report!

Misha Glenny is superb, so this is some actual good news, happening now. What a strange feeling.

The creator has been punished for this by having to hear everyone saying it was from Sniffin' Glue.

“Mirek, could you provide a photo of you looking anxious”

“Sorry I only have this”

Checking on my 80 yr old Dad.
Me: Have you had some lunch?
Dad: I had a big plate of chips with Mel.
Me: You’d better have your vitamins then.
Dad: Well, they had cheese on them.

One of my first jobs was on a terrible magazine that went bust after 2 issues. I took a punt and tried to get him to answer some questions for a piece (I think I faxed them to his company) – and he replied personally and answered them all.

Senza paura YouTube video by Ornella Vanoni - Topic

RIP Ornella Vanoni youtu.be/yo-qShum0AM?...

I walk down this road every week! But *even if I didn't*, it's still fun/brilliant.

I'm not actually sure that agreeing very hard with all of this is good for my health. I'm currently trying to understand (a) the Italian language and (b) cricket, in order to occupy time with mental activities that aren't connected to pretty much everything else going on in the world.

Empty World - Wikipedia

Could it be Empty World by John Christopher? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_W... I don't remember the scene you describe (I was haunted by this book about age 10, haven't re-read it since) but it sounds feasible.

Very much.

To their mothers they sing...

Ironically you are (arguably) mithering here – no rudeness intended whatsoever. Maybe the BBC were aiming for this kind of poetic/metaphorical revelation of the meaning? I'm not sure I'd mind that as a policy.

Turns out both DownDetector and DownForEveryoneOrJustMe use Cloudflare so are currently, themselves, down

Lord Wreath

I don’t normally think about Christmas this early, but I am looking forward to hanging this on our front door.

I love my hobby (writing social posts that I think might be amusing, rewriting them repeatedly, realising they’re not amusing and then deleting them).