He gave me a copy when he retired!

“Certain kinds of writing — bureaucratic, social-scientific, even journalistic — often seem to have been written by a robot, reaching for prepared phrases, recoiling from idiosyncrasy. Yet the sense of a human heart beating through plain words can penetrate a reader’s indifference as nothing else can.” John Whale, Put it in Writing (1984)

Frances Ha (2012)

The Trouble with Friends The wonder and the curse of friendship is choice.

“Sometimes you have close friends because they are close by and have compatible dogs.”

From The Sopranos, S6E3

From @thetimes.com archive, 100 years ago today

Thanks Elliot

After 23 years, Egypt’s treasures find a palatial new home The Grand Egyptian Museum finally opens on Saturday, showcasing the complete Tutankhamun collection after decades of delays, uprisings and crises

Put me on the next flight to Egypt

25 years on, Stephen King’s memoir is still the best guide for writers Have a room of one’s own, ditch the adverbs and hammer out 1,000 words a day — they’re still good rules for any aspiring author

25 years on, Stephen King’s memoir is still the best guide for writers

A bottle of saké and two glasses

Kanpai

How quickly we forget political superstars past I wonder how many people know who the Earl of Birkenhead was, or perhaps is

TIL the collective noun for ladybirds is a loveliness

Ban on ticketless football fans set to become law Fans who force their way into matches will also face a criminal record and a fine of up to £1,000.

Good.

I’m part of a team whose job is to keep The Times and The Sunday Times true to their principles. Check out this video from our new campaign:

I had the same thought but the style guide isn’t too fussed about the distinction

The Times paywall is down this weekend. Visit thetimes.com 📰

The Times and The Sunday Times Style Guide on a bookshelf

Just finished reading the Times style guide from cover to cover … five stars

It’s true what they’re saying. Conclave is a great film

The Times (of London) went with “Twitter/X” for a while before giving up on it a few months ago. It’s X

Good job it’s not bacon…

True true!

I did

This is my last Spinal Column. Writing it helped me survive Melanie Reid wrote her first Spinal Column in 2010, just days after breaking her neck and back in a riding accident. She thought she might have enough material for a month. Almost 15 years and many aw...

This is a must-read

What kind of verification system would you suggest?

Do you think the typical user (me included!) needs to be verified?

No verification system is perfect but Bluesky’s domains as usernames is pretty good. MPs could use their own websites or parliament.uk could verify them eg @/kemibadenoch.parliament.uk

Want to nobble lobby brain? It’s here now. There’s going to be a big influx of names/institutions on Tuesday afternoon once every comms team has had their start-of-week Monday morning catch-up and taken a day to get sign-off.

Read my post again, very carefully this time

Welcome to Bluesky, @theguardian.com 🦋

I've created a starter pack of brilliant data journalists worth a follow

I'll add to it when I see / think of more, but feel free to suggest additions!

go.bsky.app/KTYrwk3