Hannah Mason
@hlmason.bsky.social
Translator of French and Italian, proofreader and editor, Greek learner, weaver, reader.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
Reposted by Hannah Mason
It’s easy to say that this is the last desperate hurrah of a dying party, but can we be clear: Trump’s ICE agents are literally kidnapping people, detaining them without due process in concentration camps (yes, this is the right term) and 1000s have disappeared. These are fascist practices.
October 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
It’s easy to say that this is the last desperate hurrah of a dying party, but can we be clear: Trump’s ICE agents are literally kidnapping people, detaining them without due process in concentration camps (yes, this is the right term) and 1000s have disappeared. These are fascist practices.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
The truth: we need migration.
The problem: too many politicians are terrified to say it.
Why? They're led by a) toxicity of the charlatans & b) wealthy media organisations who demand these useful distractions rather than us talking about inequality.
Reject it. Draw the line.
The problem: too many politicians are terrified to say it.
Why? They're led by a) toxicity of the charlatans & b) wealthy media organisations who demand these useful distractions rather than us talking about inequality.
Reject it. Draw the line.
September 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The truth: we need migration.
The problem: too many politicians are terrified to say it.
Why? They're led by a) toxicity of the charlatans & b) wealthy media organisations who demand these useful distractions rather than us talking about inequality.
Reject it. Draw the line.
The problem: too many politicians are terrified to say it.
Why? They're led by a) toxicity of the charlatans & b) wealthy media organisations who demand these useful distractions rather than us talking about inequality.
Reject it. Draw the line.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
I dare anyone to actually look at the details of Rayner's tax case and still come to the conclusion that she did anything wrong. What a fucking hit job against her! And resigning cements the narrative that she "dodged tax", when - she absolutely fucking didn't do that.
Clown-car country.
Clown-car country.
September 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I dare anyone to actually look at the details of Rayner's tax case and still come to the conclusion that she did anything wrong. What a fucking hit job against her! And resigning cements the narrative that she "dodged tax", when - she absolutely fucking didn't do that.
Clown-car country.
Clown-car country.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
Great historical bilingual pun. Last week I learned that the French left wing would caustically refer to the appeasement-pushing British PM as “Monsieur J’Aime Berlin”. I mean, that’s classy.
FACT OF THE DAY. 3 September 1939. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced on BBC radio at 11:15 AM that Germany had not responded to the British ultimatum to remove its troops from Poland and so “this country is at war with Germany”.
September 3, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Great historical bilingual pun. Last week I learned that the French left wing would caustically refer to the appeasement-pushing British PM as “Monsieur J’Aime Berlin”. I mean, that’s classy.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
one of the most concerning things about Reform's polling is that we'd be looking at dozens of other MPs of the calibre of James McMurdock, a piece of human pond scum who served a custodial sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and is now laughing it up with the Nazis over in the other place
Actually jaw dropping from James McMurdock MP, even by his standards. We cannot become numb to this.
The far right are in Parliament, and they're trying to normalise outright, vicious racism (same goes for the likes of Rupert Lowe too)
The far right are in Parliament, and they're trying to normalise outright, vicious racism (same goes for the likes of Rupert Lowe too)
August 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
one of the most concerning things about Reform's polling is that we'd be looking at dozens of other MPs of the calibre of James McMurdock, a piece of human pond scum who served a custodial sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and is now laughing it up with the Nazis over in the other place
Reposted by Hannah Mason
If there is 'a widespread perception among much of the public' that egg-stealing goblins hide in their attic you don't address their 'legitimate concerns' by declaring a war on attic goblins, you point out loudly & confidently the truth: that their beliefs are insane, propagated by nasty crackpots.
August 30, 2025 at 12:17 PM
If there is 'a widespread perception among much of the public' that egg-stealing goblins hide in their attic you don't address their 'legitimate concerns' by declaring a war on attic goblins, you point out loudly & confidently the truth: that their beliefs are insane, propagated by nasty crackpots.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
As you know, not a huge war fan, but giving the people who helped our military in Afghanistan & their kids to the FUCKING TALIBAN after we said we wouldn't feels like it's not going incentivise anyone to help the UK gvt or military overseas ever ever again?
August 27, 2025 at 8:52 AM
As you know, not a huge war fan, but giving the people who helped our military in Afghanistan & their kids to the FUCKING TALIBAN after we said we wouldn't feels like it's not going incentivise anyone to help the UK gvt or military overseas ever ever again?
Reposted by Hannah Mason
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Good thing no one uses Microsoft Excel for anything related to legal, regulatory or compliance business functions
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
August 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
She doesn’t need a hero, she is the hero we need. 🤩
August 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
She doesn’t need a hero, she is the hero we need. 🤩
It feels like this can only come from a belief that politics is just a tribal thing, our team vs their team, and everyone should be able to shake hands and have a pint together after the match, rather than being about fundamental values which are sometimes completely incompatible.
It's got to the stage where if 'you don't know anyone whose voting for Reform' you need to broaden your social circle.
Or, perhaps, reflect on what it is about your behaviour that means your friends don't feel able to be open with you about politics.
Or, perhaps, reflect on what it is about your behaviour that means your friends don't feel able to be open with you about politics.
August 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
It feels like this can only come from a belief that politics is just a tribal thing, our team vs their team, and everyone should be able to shake hands and have a pint together after the match, rather than being about fundamental values which are sometimes completely incompatible.
When you study another language, alongside the language itself (with transferrable skills/knowledge for your first language and ability to communicate in it), you're studying literature, history, media, politics, sociocultural issues and the critical thinking and analysis you need to do all that.
More A-levels taken in PE than in French, German and classical languages combined! on.ft.com/3Hw6eq3
August 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
When you study another language, alongside the language itself (with transferrable skills/knowledge for your first language and ability to communicate in it), you're studying literature, history, media, politics, sociocultural issues and the critical thinking and analysis you need to do all that.
See also: translation. The plausible sentence-maker is just making a plausible sentence; it may or may not have much to do with the source language sentence, but if you don't speak the source language you won't know.
"Haha, yeah the AI gets this basic stuff wrong, but it excels at summarizing tax law or complicated literature."
MY BROTHER IN CHRIST IT'S JUST THAT YOU CAN'T TELL IN THOSE CASES BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ENOUGH TAX LAW OR COMPLICATED LITERATURE
WHY ARE WE EVEN DOING THIS
MY BROTHER IN CHRIST IT'S JUST THAT YOU CAN'T TELL IN THOSE CASES BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ENOUGH TAX LAW OR COMPLICATED LITERATURE
WHY ARE WE EVEN DOING THIS
"Flerda"
"Missorti"
"Missa"
I approve of these three changes
"Missorti"
"Missa"
I approve of these three changes
August 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
See also: translation. The plausible sentence-maker is just making a plausible sentence; it may or may not have much to do with the source language sentence, but if you don't speak the source language you won't know.
Apparently nothing will convince the filing gnomes in my brain that Tracey Emin and Tracey Ullman aren't the same person. It's been confusing, to put it mildly.
Liz Truss and Lynne Truss are second only to Lionel Shriver and Lionel Barber in “pairs of people I just assume are one person”
July 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Apparently nothing will convince the filing gnomes in my brain that Tracey Emin and Tracey Ullman aren't the same person. It's been confusing, to put it mildly.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
🚨 Thousands of trafficking survivors continue to be denied permission to stay in the UK despite their critical need for safety and support — a new report by @helenbamber.bsky.social, ATLEU & @ecpatuk.bsky.social reveals.
Instead survivors are left in fear and at risk of further exploitation. 🧵1/3
Instead survivors are left in fear and at risk of further exploitation. 🧵1/3
July 15, 2025 at 7:35 AM
🚨 Thousands of trafficking survivors continue to be denied permission to stay in the UK despite their critical need for safety and support — a new report by @helenbamber.bsky.social, ATLEU & @ecpatuk.bsky.social reveals.
Instead survivors are left in fear and at risk of further exploitation. 🧵1/3
Instead survivors are left in fear and at risk of further exploitation. 🧵1/3
Reposted by Hannah Mason
Burnout is clinically understood as a combo of 6 factors—work overload, lack of control, insufficient rewards, breakdown in community, absence of fairness, & value conflicts—and only a fraction of it is under your control. Burnout is a systemic problem, so be kind to yourself and hard on the system.
Hey gang I've had to learn recently that the whole "burning out" thing is real so if you find yourself being panicked every waking second that you're not working on something, despite those seconds being very rare, you should maybe listen to the signals and take an intentional break before you crash
July 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Burnout is clinically understood as a combo of 6 factors—work overload, lack of control, insufficient rewards, breakdown in community, absence of fairness, & value conflicts—and only a fraction of it is under your control. Burnout is a systemic problem, so be kind to yourself and hard on the system.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
🧵 In February, I got a message from Anna*, a female police officer. She was a domestic abuse specialist, responding daily to calls from women abused by their partners.
But she was also in an abusive marriage herself, for more than a decade - and her abuser was another officer.
But she was also in an abusive marriage herself, for more than a decade - and her abuser was another officer.
June 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
🧵 In February, I got a message from Anna*, a female police officer. She was a domestic abuse specialist, responding daily to calls from women abused by their partners.
But she was also in an abusive marriage herself, for more than a decade - and her abuser was another officer.
But she was also in an abusive marriage herself, for more than a decade - and her abuser was another officer.
A friend noticed Mark Kermode a couple of seats away from us on the train and proceeded to wind oblivious me up about my then-favourite film, George of the Jungle, at considerable length. Didn't tell me until Kermode left at speed. (Friend may still be cackling about this now, 25-odd years on.)
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 13, 2025 at 10:26 AM
A friend noticed Mark Kermode a couple of seats away from us on the train and proceeded to wind oblivious me up about my then-favourite film, George of the Jungle, at considerable length. Didn't tell me until Kermode left at speed. (Friend may still be cackling about this now, 25-odd years on.)
Reposted by Hannah Mason
When I heard the mom of a trans girl say the night her daughter came out to her was the first time she'd ever seen her child happy, I knew it was a story I needed to share.
These are the stories the public isn't hearing. An honor to get to report on 3 family's journeys for @teenvogue.com.
These are the stories the public isn't hearing. An honor to get to report on 3 family's journeys for @teenvogue.com.
Why These Trans Teens and Their Families Risked Everything to Get Gender-Affirming Care
It’s as simple as love.
www.teenvogue.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
When I heard the mom of a trans girl say the night her daughter came out to her was the first time she'd ever seen her child happy, I knew it was a story I needed to share.
These are the stories the public isn't hearing. An honor to get to report on 3 family's journeys for @teenvogue.com.
These are the stories the public isn't hearing. An honor to get to report on 3 family's journeys for @teenvogue.com.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
I can’t compete with this
June 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I can’t compete with this
Reposted by Hannah Mason
Our response to this government white paper on immigration
May 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Our response to this government white paper on immigration
Reposted by Hannah Mason
this is not an exaggeration
May 12, 2025 at 9:40 AM
this is not an exaggeration
Having grown up with the Daily Mail, I sincerely believed that Labour was inherently bad/wrong/possibly actively malevolent until after I'd left home, because it was the only message I'd ever got about them. The Mail (among others) doesn't have any other framing for Labour and what it does.
This is a very good point. I think parts of the Labour party imagine that there are a set of policies they can implement which the right-wing press will praise them for - when the root of the problem is actually they it's the *Labour party doing it*.
Another reason - you can't win right wing headlines. They'll find a way to crap on anything they do (we saw with the India deal). But voters will notice if NHS waiting times go down, more jobs are in their local area etc. You need to deliver benefits people feel, not ones they read about.
May 8, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Having grown up with the Daily Mail, I sincerely believed that Labour was inherently bad/wrong/possibly actively malevolent until after I'd left home, because it was the only message I'd ever got about them. The Mail (among others) doesn't have any other framing for Labour and what it does.
Reposted by Hannah Mason
When your weird uncle has had a few too many and declares he's "still got it, who said I don't?!" and decides to prove it by squaring up to an unattended horse.
April 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
When your weird uncle has had a few too many and declares he's "still got it, who said I don't?!" and decides to prove it by squaring up to an unattended horse.