Just noticed with puzzled curiosity, which was gradually turning to horror, a huge, angry, red welt all down one arm, until I remembered... mulberries

@juliet-turner.bsky.social Entomology question: why is a Dor Beetle only iridescent underneath?

Laura@thetiniestvole.bsky.social · 12h ago

Why such a vibrant turquoise colour underneath?

Gold tree.

Having ranted about school curriculum books, I’ve just seen my son’s summer reading list, and all I can say is “I was right”. A more depressing collection would be tricky to assemble. Are we actively trying to convey to kids the idea that reading is dismal and arduous?

There's still time to get out for the #BigButterflyCount this week. Where will you be doing your count? Let us know how butterflies and moths are faring where you live 👉 butrfli.es/3SVFepj

“Today is August 4, 2026, the city of Allendale, California.” "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury.

Ex-neo-Nazi convict... bone.. hill... pain... ? No one can accuse the Conservative Party of not being revolutionary. And not attempting to shoot Farage's fox. With a V1 flying bomb.

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot@bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · yesterday

Ex neo-Nazi activist Joshua Bonehill-Paine selected as Tory candidate

Carré?

Parents, pupils and communuties shouldn't have to "fight" cruel schools. There should be local democratic control to prevent capture by this rightwing ideology of education in the first place. We need #deacademisation orders www.bbc.com/news/article...

How parents and pupils took on 'cruel', 'authoritarian' schools - and won

Discipline at an academy trust went too far - parents, pupils and former teachers tell BBC Panorama.

bbc.com

I mean, just look at these beauties.... 🤩

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d ago

Jarvis Cocker, New Order, Elbow, Dr Who (v. Eccleston), @daraobriain.bsky.social, Kraftwerk, Mogwai, Brian May, 2 astronauts (Peake & Hadfield), the Poet Laureate, the Lovell family & many more. Heartwarming to see how much the UK loves Jodrell Bank & astronomy🔭🙏 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Sky burial. As the Zoroastrians/Parsees, some Tibetans and many of our ancestors did. We have the crows, ravens, red kites and, increasingly, eagles. 💀🐦‍⬛🦅🪶

Anon Opin@anonopin.bsky.social · 3d ago

Aquamation is better than cremation. The only body disposal mechanism superior to aquamation is a body farm. Sadly, we don't have any in this country. We really should have at least one body farm per county. And London should have a dozen.

🐦‍⬛

I often discover hidden gems on iPlayer via ppl I like mentioning them on social media. So I'm trying to return the favour here: The BBC has put up a season of British & Irish theatre on iPlayer. Some real smashers, too! More info: www.bbc.com/mediacentre/... Watch: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/grou...

Somewhere there is a guy complaining his wife won't let him have a skull toilet

A friend has found these on her Elm trees (Wiltshire) - any ideas please Bluesky? @graemelyons.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social @vannabartlett.bsky.social #LimeTrees

The Henry Moore sculptures currently on display at Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social combine to create a truly powerful experience especially in this summer of intense heat … #London #Weekend

Would definitely be a regular at a pub with this sign.

Tuatha@tuatha.ie · 5d ago

This carved stone plaque was found in St Francis' Row in Cashel, and it is believed to be the sign for a tavern that was known as The Cat & Bagpipes, that once stood on the main street. It may date to as early as the 16-17th century, and offers a glimpse of Cashel's social life from centuries ago

‘Many have asked why I won’t be doing this anymore…This year I have cost BBC News literally nothing. So why get rid of us? What savings are being made? What if something big happens and they can no longer call on us to cover it? It feels performative and self-defeating.’ Indeed.

Goodbye to all that

A 22-year relationship with BBC News ends today. Emotions are mixed.

robjcameron.substack.com

Only a quarter of the electorate voted and of those less than half had the winning candidate as their first choice. 12%, resulting in absolute control, vested in one individual. And yet regional mayors are supposed to be very popular and more democratic, we are told. #GreaterManchester #MetroMayors

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot@bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 5d ago

Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig says PM's new powers will change lives

We normally have a few patches of harebells around this time of year. However, it has been so dry that this is, so far, the only one in evidence.

Reminding me of when, in the summer of 1939, my father was taken by his uncle to watch the planes at end of RAF Brize Noton runway. They took a box Brownie camera. Arrested. My(very respectable) grandfather was nearly the first human in orbit. 🤬🤯

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot@bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 6d ago

British man accused of spying on RAF base in Cyprus for Iran

Dangerous nonsense from Thames Water's boss on #r4today The truth: The shareholders don't need compensation, they've WALKED AWAY Water doesn't compete for budgets, YOU pay for every penny of investment - right now privatisation is wasting 1/3 of your bill PUBLIC OWNERSHIP NOW

The compost bin timbers have dried out so much (and, therefore, shrunk) in the heat that it's now coming apart. Folk in timber-framed houses must be getting a lot of creaking.

An interesting and useful BBC explainer on thunderstorms and how to effectively shelter from lightning. www.bbc.co.uk/videos/cgev5...

How NOT to get struck by lightning

Lightning is incredibly powerful - and can be incredibly dangerous. In this video, Sophia Herod from BBC Weather busts some common myths about lightning.

bbc.co.uk

Private water companies have the gall to tell us to fix leaky loos to save water when they leak **billions of litres** DAILY by not fixing leaky pipes, while extracting billions in dividends Time to end this madness, Andy Burnham: vist.ly/5czji

But why is Farage wearing Portillo's trousers?

wargen@funeralpig.bsky.social · last wk.

when my child misbehaves i make him go stare at the old Hardee’s fry statue

English: entirely a trap. French: numbers. a trap. Polish: four letters: Łódź. a trap. Finnish: vowels so smooth you slip over them. a trap. German: words connected like train carriages. a trap. etc

Neon Genesis Ewangelion@ewacat.bsky.social · 7d ago

i love it when a Polish word or name with ł is around because it is a trap. i respect languages with traps

THIS MUST BE THE REASON FOR "BOG BODIES"!

Octopus/Caveman@octopuscaveman.bsky.social · last mo.

If you use a Porto potty and that blue water splashes up on you, you are forever unclean. In a thousand years, archaeologists could dig up your remains and they would know. God will not let you in to heaven and the devil will not let you in hell. This is how ghosts are made.

I simply can't keep this one light and amusing. All four grandparents, like a lot of the European population, were reeling, mentally and emotionally, from the effects of The Great War, which they continued to do for the remainder of their lives. I think I'd be rather good at that.

Revan@revan.eurosky.social · last wk.

Enough “what would you do on the commune questions” If you got sent back 100 years and were given your grandparent’s job, what are you doing?