Monthly Archives: November 2019

Fiction (non-sf): 10 (YTD 41) (counting the two Dr Strangelove books in this category, even though the punchline depends on a fictional technology) Normal People, by Sally Rooney The Camelot Club, by Brian Killick The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:18: The UK’s media failure, by @stephenkb. https://t.co/qQ7toCct6s Fri, 12:56: How Belgium Became Europe’s Den of Spies and a Gateway for China https://t.co/QtzGUXY3H4 @PeterMartin_PCM reports. Fri, 13:10: RT @FT: Prince Andrew, and some right royal corporate hypocrisy https://t.co/y7NLBntFIY Fri, … Continue reading →

The big work news of February 2004 was the tragic death in a plane crash of Boris Trajkovski, the genial President of Macedonia who was very friendly with me and many others. This was the day after we published a … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:40: RT @MichaelAodhan: Turns out Matt isn’t too hot on history either. Nancy Astor was not in fact the first female MP elected….. And the fir… Thu, 12:56: What happens if a prime minister loses their seat in a … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of first chapter of One of the 28th: "Yes, it's just right; neither too light nor too heavy. It's rather thick, and I shouldn't be surprised if we get it thicker; but that again don't matter." For in … Continue reading →

Wed, 12:41: RT @JeremyCliffe: Von der Leyen’s European Commission is on. Endorsed by a better-than-expected 461 MEPs. Priorities of the new “geopoliti… Wed, 12:41: RT @EPinUK: The European Parliament @Europarl_EN has given its green light to the new European Commission … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third story (“Nule”): ‘What are they for?’ said Libby one morning, after roving round the house and pushing all the buttons in turn. At that moment Martin pushed the button in the front room and the indicator … Continue reading →

Tue, 12:56: California Dreamgirl https://t.co/UoWIUWy37G Fascinating profile of Michelle Philips (from 2007). Tue, 16:05: Fantastic thread on Sir Ivan Rogers’ latest – https://t.co/LOn7p0GQnJ – from @pmdfoster, including analysis of whet… https://t.co/KfQTpyJbfn Tue, 17:11: Very interesting interview. https://t.co/9uxI5glDEv Tue, 19:25: Tuesday … Continue reading →

Current Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikowsky My Century, by Günther Grass Dragon’s Claw, by Steve Moore Last books finished Halo: The Thursday War, by Karen Traviss Dr Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, … Continue reading →

Mon, 12:56: RT @fozmeadows: All political and immigration stresses aside, I can honestly say that the thing I most dislike about living in America is t… Mon, 18:05: Blake’s 7: the third series https://t.co/zbruEmCll6 Mon, 18:16: RT @Contempislesfic: @nwbrux And … Continue reading →

So, the third series of Blake's 7 was originally broadcast from January to March 1980, when we were living abroad; but luckily eight of the episodes were repeated in June and July 1981, and I definitely remember watching three of … Continue reading →

Sun, 14:01: The Highgate Horror, by Mark Wright, David Roach, Mike Collins, Jacqueline Rayner, Martin Geraghty https://t.co/kY32RjSXqD Sun, 20:48: Nadine’s story: Day 262 | SheCan365 https://t.co/wPFP1WQEDO My old friend @NadineCCooper explains how she found hap… https://t.co/rIQ9dULNpq Mon, 09:30: RT @Mij_Europe: … Continue reading →

Second frame of third story (the title story, "The Highgate Horror", by Mark Wright with art by David A. Roach – NB the character here is not Bill as portrayed by Pearl Mackie, though there are obvious similarities): The comics … Continue reading →

Sat, 12:56: RT @Noelle_OC: Much commentary online re: @anandMenon1 thought provoking piece in @FT on EU’s approach to #Brexit negotiations – some tho… Sat, 14:48: terrible bosses: the boss sending stripper pics, the bully boss, and more https://t.co/lpONoxFXNx Grimly fascinatin… … Continue reading →

The most crucial event of January 2004 was that little U took her first steps, at 13 months. My first work outing of the year was to the Liberals' New Year reception in Brussels, after which I note that I … Continue reading →

Fri, 12:56: RT @andymcsmith: 1/3 My favourite story about the late Chris Moncrieff – possibly apocryphal – is that he was sent to Aylesbury one morning… Fri, 14:21: RT @poppy_northcutt: My father’s response to the ad was “The only thing … Continue reading →

This won the 1976 Hugo and 1975 Nebula Awards for Best Short Story. Third paragraph of the main section of the story (there is also a short introduction): And then my gaze clambered higher still, up the 222-foot sturdy tower, … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:09: New booktuber in town: @_mschacha_ reacts to “Little Darlings” by Jacqueline Wilson, Chapter 1 #booktube #booktuber https://t.co/SEYyikwcRP Thu, 12:56: The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting https://t.co/sCf0RRHor1 “I’m curious.” Thu, 16:05: Welcome To The United Airlines Economy … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: Sunk in the grass of an empty lot on a spring Saturday, I split the stems of milkweed and thought about ants and peach pits and death and where the world went when I closed … Continue reading →

Wed, 12:56: RT @michael__42: A small 2019 thing I don’t understand is how the Telegraph has a Europe editor who just logs on to Twitter every day and e… Wed, 16:05: RT @BillGates: Even a single child paralyzed by polio … Continue reading →

I see a lot of people writing blog posts etc about how the second decade of the century has changed their lives, so thought I would join in. (I saw a lot of people writing in similar vein about the … Continue reading →

Tue, 12:56: RT @RepStones: @AlexKane221b @NewtonEmerson @dmcbfs you election nerds might like this thread https://t.co/plANCc2qxV Tue, 16:05: RT @A_B_Evans: Interesting thread on what the local govt results may tell us about potential outcomes in Northern Ireland’s 18 constituenci… Tue, 16:55: … Continue reading →

Current Two Brothers, by Ben Elton Halo: The Thursday War, by Karen Traviss One of the 28th: A tale of Waterloo, by G. A. Henty Last books finished A Close Run Thing, by Allan Mallinson Red Alert, by Peter George … Continue reading →

Mon, 12:56: RT @RichardBullick1: Once again @nwbrux performs a considerable public service by updating his website … how people voted as recently as… Mon, 16:05: RT @Clare_Rice_: Great thread from @nwbrux for anyone interested in what #GE19 might bring for … Continue reading →

I've been going belatedly through the May 2019 local government election results for Northern Ireland, and projecting them onto the Westminster / Assembly constituency boundaries. Westminster projection In three cases, the party with most votes in May does not hold … Continue reading →

Mon, 10:45: RT @UKPoliticalNews: Great insights from our colleague @nwbrux on what to look out for in Northern Ireland #GE2019 https://t.co/ZfecHumFhs

Sun, 15:53: December 2003 books https://t.co/lTfxXA4pny Sun, 17:37: RT @davidschneider: Tories: “There’s absolutely no need for everyone to have broadband. It’s a stunt!” Also the Tories: “The only way you… Sun, 19:38: #GE2019 I’ve been going belatedly through the May … Continue reading →

In December 2003 we celebrated little U's first birthday, and at work I was dealing with the fallout from the previous month's events, rushing out a report on Georgia on the first of the month (actually most of it had … Continue reading →

Thu, 12:56: RT @patrickkmaguire: Disgusted. Booked tickets to this musical under the assumption it was about Winnie Ewing’s by-election victory and jus… Thu, 15:29: RT @DavidHenigUK: Sorry Greg, but still no, existing UK-EU alignment does not help get a quick … Continue reading →

Wed, 12:28: Come and join APCO! https://t.co/IZ567AEzuD Wed, 12:56: RT @LeslieProll: Could Texas be any more intentional? Houston voters elect 19 Black women to judgeships. GOP then introduces bill to repl… Wed, 13:23: Nice quote from @VeraJourova: “Optimists are sometimes … Continue reading →