A Poor Player
@apoorplayer.bsky.social
English teacher, HOD, in the state sector. Probably fulfilling many associated stereotypes.
You can/should read Emily Wilson's latest take on the Odyssey, but I'm logging on to convey my hairdresser's reaction. She was AGHAST that Nolan, with his million $ budget, gave Matt Damon ONLY 6 hair extensions. As a result, his hair did not blow around properly, & that ruined the film for her.
Lewis's statement contrast gusset is my new Roman Empire. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS, SIR??? #SewingBee #gbsb
Reading enjoyment interrupted by discovering my copy of Olivia Laing's The Silver Book has 30-odd pages missing from it.
What's particularly frustrating is that devolution offers a chance to fix that actual problem with technical ed in this country - which is employers. That's where the focus should be.
I think also there has been a shift from a culture of "I shouldn't impinge on others" to "People shouldn't impinge on me".
The day I will pay attention to politicians guffing about "parity of esteem" is the day one of their children goes to an FE college.
Ultimately if you're announcing massive ed policy during the 2nd week of the summer holidays, you aren't really interested in schools, or teachers.
A Poor Player@apoorplayer.bsky.social · last wk.Me - why have I got a load of texts from people at 8am on a Tuesday? Me after looking at the news - ohhhhh
Me - why have I got a load of texts from people at 8am on a Tuesday? Me after looking at the news - ohhhhh
I had hoped AB - being better at comme generally - might reflect on not making massive ed announcements during summer but apparently not.
Jon Severs@jonsevers.bsky.social · last wk.BREAKING: A huge shift in secondary education has been announced by @andyburnham.bsky.social - new technical routes offered in schools for 14 year olds.... by 2028. Announcing in the holidays with very little info is not a good way of selling it to the sector. www.tes.com/magazine/new...
I’m not sure if this story was briefed. If it has been, I’m curious. Traditionally as northern journalists (local or national, there’s not loads of us) it is infuriating to see stories about things you’ve covered in detail briefed to the Sunday lobby. Let’s see how this power shift works in practice
Andy Burnham, 21, writes to The Guardian in defence of Philip Larkin
This man's name cannot really be Odysseus (but his girlfriend is called Fay...) www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
You be the judge: should my girlfriend stop insisting we queue for hours at concerts?
Fay likes to get a good spot and watch the support acts, but Odysseus would rather rock up for the main band. Who is hitting a false note? You decide
theguardian.com
6music doing indie forever special thing and hinestly it's millennial catnip. I could be in 5th Ave in 2008.
Me last night: first day of hols tomorrow - get up early, get some exercise in, get back into healthy eating habits Me this morning: have a lie in and then eat cake with my mother.
A nice bit of inspiration if you're doing @naomialderman.bsky.social couch to 5k reading
Robin Baker@robinalexbaker.bsky.social · 2w agoI’m a big fan of that publicity photo staple - film stars reading books. There are some surprises here, though we'll never know if some of the choices are those of the star - or of the publicist. 1/10. The greatest of them all: Eve Arnold’s photo of Marilyn Monroe reading James Joyce’s Ulysses.
4/10. The most surprising: Paul Newman reading Margaret Drabble’s second novel, The Garrick Year.
A Saturday morning of doing no chores or jobs and instead eating toast and watching some rugby = a delight start to the holidays.
My god, why would you want to try and *persuade* this woman to that job?!
Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 3w agoThe Times reporting that Andy Burnham succeeded in persuading Shabana Mahmood to become Chancellor because it would give her more control over cutting immigration
There’s a lot in this look at Dacre’s legacy though tbh the line that struck me was a throwaway at the end, asserting: “About 40% of the Telegraph’s disproportionately male, affluent and elderly readers now live abroad.”
HK@hkesvani.bsky.social · 3w agoEvery single lesson that we do "self assessment", I resist adding "tax doesn't have to be taxing".
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 3w agoWhat’s the cultural reference you must frequently have to stop yourself from making at work, because no-one else would get it? Mine is “ze price stabilité is ze most important thing”.
SUVs are higher at the front and three times more likely to kill a child when they hit them. SUV drivers drag the child under their vehicle, and then they crush the child to death. It's incredible that SUVs don't have higher tax, and why not lower speed limits. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain’s cars and SUVs are growing bigger – but there is a way to stop this deadly ‘carspreading’ | Christian Wolmar
Larger vehicles crowd our roads and are far more dangerous to pedestrians. Let’s curb them before they do even more damage, says says transport commentator Christian Wolmar
theguardian.com
Mother - who are you supporting in the tennis? Me - Sinner - he hasn't had multiple accusations of domestic abuse or attacked an umpire. Mother - well that sorts that, then.
A great NYC story- and this guy sounds like a real character (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...
Too Many Books? (Gift Article)
Mendel Uminer faced a crisis when his landlord objected to the 10,000 volumes in his New York studio apartment.
nytimes.com
An irritation as a result of the modern world and streaming: all the shouts occur on my street at somewhat staggered moments. I want the full suburban roar.
Marcelo Arevalo is def my #Wimbledon fave this year. What a sweetheart.
Restaurants also need this attitude once you've asked for the bill.
Will 🇺🇦 Absolute Shower 🇺🇦@showerabsolute.bsky.social · 4w agoI suspect that people in those communities are the sort of person they know they can screw a hundred leather wastepaper bin purchases out of... ...my rule on shopping is I will never queue to shop. At most I'll wait for an SA to be free, in the shop. They're not doing me a favour, wrong way around
Not particularly original but... I saw it when I was 13 and on an exciting trip to stay, just me, with a family friend.
Jodi Pickens 🏳️🌈🖖✨@jodipickens.bsky.social · 4w agoArt question 🎨 What painting, photograph, sculpture, or piece of visual art has stayed with you long after you first saw it? Not necessarily your favorite. The one that lingered.
