If you would like one of these in post, from me to you, send me a DM

Mary Earnshaw@maryearnshaw.bsky.social · 8h ago

Joy! The postie delivered a small treasure amid the flyers and bills. A postcard - not just any postcard, but one with a sonnet on it (couldn't resist, sorry). Thank you, @betarish.bsky.social for such a treat, I love it! And it's made my day.

just read something poetry-related so nonsensical it made me exclaim, "Are you an idiot, or a fucking idiot?"

new fave bluesky account; follow for more gems like the below

The Georgian Lords@georgianlords.bsky.social · 7h ago

Starting work on the 2nd duke of Montagu, and the striking thing is how unlucky his staff were: one is run through after joshing with some gentlemen; another shoots himself through the head after working for the family for 40 years and now a watermen has just been overturned in his boat and drowned.

normalise writers getting message like this about their books

In case you needed a light read on the way back from the supermarket;

If you would like one of these in post, from me to you, send me a DM

Mary Earnshaw@maryearnshaw.bsky.social · 8h ago

Joy! The postie delivered a small treasure amid the flyers and bills. A postcard - not just any postcard, but one with a sonnet on it (couldn't resist, sorry). Thank you, @betarish.bsky.social for such a treat, I love it! And it's made my day.

Steven Finn inadvertently rebrands the Welsh Fire Men as the Welsh Firemen, and my that would have made the Hundred better.

Wordle 1,873 2/6 >> maybe the day will get better 🟩⬜🟨🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Private Eye, reporting on this guy and his channel back in February

Hughster@hughster.bsky.social · 13h ago

Bonehill-Paine runs the "Crewkerne Gazette" YouTube channel (nope, me neither), publishing cringey mostly anti-Labour AI slop videos. But he did post this very odd "explainer" video where, essentially talking to himself (an AI "interviewer"), he bigs himself up in a strangely immodest way

Paul's thread is making me think we do actually need a remedial school for satire. It's not just 'hur hur they look funny'.

Paul Connolly@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 12h ago

Greatest satirist since Jonathan Swift… …a phrase bandied about this week… Swift wrote astonishing prose laced with complex irony. He kicked up not down… That’s not the same as spewing alternately vaporous & feculent drivel, seasoned with some vicious dreams, at society’s most vulnerable people…

another getting old disadvantage: nigh on nine hours of solid concentration yesterday has wrecked my ability to focus today.

Britain's Conservative and Unionist Party everyone:

Britain's Conservative and Unionist Party everyone:

Who's the person in your field you're most surprised by being all in on AI? Like, the rebel who's been seduced? The tech phobe who's now starry eyed?

still thinking about it; swear I had a dream that Juvenal was waiting for him in Purgatory with a massive rock

Rishi Dastidar@betarish.bsky.social · 2d ago

I think I will be thinking about the fact that someone said - in public, out loud - that Rod Liddle was the greatest satirist since Swift until I die.

I think I will be thinking about the fact that someone said - in public, out loud - that Rod Liddle was the greatest satirist since Swift until I die.

Research

It's a really really great collection.

Alison Brackenbury@abrackenbury.bsky.social · 2d ago

'Who are you? said darkness'. In 'Yiewsley', @faberbooks.bsky.social, Daljit Nagra summons childhood, irresistibly ,in tastes: cardamom then (self-made) Angel Delight, 'Bollywood ballads you'd merge with "Top of the Pops" '. No punches pulled; many celebrations of kindness! A sharp, loving book.

Back when I had Twitter I used to offer free headshots for low-income authors, not sure I have much reach here but the offer is still there. London or Birmingham (although I’m in Glasgow and Edinburgh at the end of Aug and can fit in a session. Will have lights so can be indoors).

Make a board game dirty Duopoly

emceekayvee@emceekayvee.bsky.social · 3d ago

Make a board game dirty Handyland

Neglected to share this yesterday, but these are an incredible two paras to begin an obit:

When Harry Palmer gets rebooted again, can this be the off-Goodge Street cover please?

Found another one lads

The London Routemaster buses. Saunas on wheels.

This is one of the more surreal things i've been involved in of late, did a proper double-take when i read the invite. Had a top day hanging out with David, got a GREAT story idea too. Watch this space. Big up @robertedgar.bsky.social and Helen Pleasance for having me. Top stuff.

David Barnett@davidmbarnett.bsky.social · 5d ago

For your weekend reading delectation I present my Observer piece (in print on Sunday) about my mysterious MR James-ian invitation to view the secret true crime archive of... Jeremy Beadle. observer.co.uk/culture/in-r...

These have arrived now, so let me know if you'd like one.

Rishi Dastidar@betarish.bsky.social · last wk.

I've written a sonnet celebrating Hook's invention of the postcard, which is naturally printed on a postcard. LMK if you'd like one, and I'll get some more run off.

And just to say, I should be in your print Telegraph today with my review of Victoria Chang’s excellent new collection ‘Tree Of Knowledge’. Haven’t actually been out in search of a paper yet…

Too old to be getting back from Margate at 1.30am after seeing Belle & Sebastian, but can report they were in fine fettle.