Jim Cessford
@jimcessford.bsky.social
Likes JSBach, plants and experts. Do not go gentle into that warrior’s armchair.
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Why, when sales of old fashioned print media like the Telegraph, the Times & the Mail are tumbling even faster than Tory poll ratings, does the BBC still use their headlines as their starting point on every news program?
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
Rachel Reeves and the Daily Mailification of the BBC
For all the focus on its supposed "left wing bias", the BBC's heavy coverage of Conservative allegations of dishonesty against Rachel Reeves shows how its political coverage is still largely led by th...
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Why, when sales of old fashioned print media like the Telegraph, the Times & the Mail are tumbling even faster than Tory poll ratings, does the BBC still use their headlines as their starting point on every news program?
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Seated Girl, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24960
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24960
December 1, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Seated Girl, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24960
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24960
Reposted by Jim Cessford
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
December 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Latest from me: on the budget, Labour's troubles, & the government's increasingly tense & distant relationship with the UK's squeezed middle www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘squeezed middle’ is back – and this time it could be Labour’s undoing | John Harris
Last week’s budget left middle-income families anxious and angry. The party is turning its back on voters it can little afford to lose, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Latest from me: on the budget, Labour's troubles, & the government's increasingly tense & distant relationship with the UK's squeezed middle www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Srsly. Does Heath not have anyone? A partner, a mother, a sibling? Anyone who loves him? A cousin that remembers him fondly to stage an intevention? An editor who does not loathe him to stop this? ANYONE?
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Srsly. Does Heath not have anyone? A partner, a mother, a sibling? Anyone who loves him? A cousin that remembers him fondly to stage an intevention? An editor who does not loathe him to stop this? ANYONE?
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Stein on the Danube, Seen from the Kreuzberg, 1913
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25466
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25466
November 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Stein on the Danube, Seen from the Kreuzberg, 1913
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25466
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25466
Reposted by Jim Cessford
My Times piece: We are promised a cost of living budget, the danger of which is that the government gets locked into expensive price freezes, like the long freeze on fuel duty:
Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy
www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...
Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy
www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...
Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy
Price controls can turn into an endless game of Whac-A-Mole if the chancellor is not careful — we need long-term thinking to tackle inflation
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
My Times piece: We are promised a cost of living budget, the danger of which is that the government gets locked into expensive price freezes, like the long freeze on fuel duty:
Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy
www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...
Why the prospect of a cost of living budget makes me feel uneasy
www.thetimes.com/article/d0ca...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: A short and sweet 1972 recording by Labi Siffre of his love song from the previous year, "Bless the Telephone." See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2...
Labi Siffre - Bless the Telephone (Sounding Out, 21/02/1972)
YouTube video by Labi Siffre
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: A short and sweet 1972 recording by Labi Siffre of his love song from the previous year, "Bless the Telephone." See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
New post just out:
"MAGA Meltdown?"
With Trump's approval ratings collapsing the Republicans are starting to realise they're in serious trouble.
Here's why it's going to get worse for them.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...
"MAGA Meltdown?"
With Trump's approval ratings collapsing the Republicans are starting to realise they're in serious trouble.
Here's why it's going to get worse for them.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...
MAGA Meltdown?
Why the Republicans are in serious trouble
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
New post just out:
"MAGA Meltdown?"
With Trump's approval ratings collapsing the Republicans are starting to realise they're in serious trouble.
Here's why it's going to get worse for them.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...
"MAGA Meltdown?"
With Trump's approval ratings collapsing the Republicans are starting to realise they're in serious trouble.
Here's why it's going to get worse for them.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/m...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
I went to a school named after JHN and we were read this description multiple times in assembly over the years i was there.
Always stuck with me.
Always stuck with me.
This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:
November 25, 2025 at 8:10 AM
I went to a school named after JHN and we were read this description multiple times in assembly over the years i was there.
Always stuck with me.
Always stuck with me.
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Every once in a while I go back and rewatch this performance, and every time I'm glad I did youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y
Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, more - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" | 2004 Induction
YouTube video by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Every once in a while I go back and rewatch this performance, and every time I'm glad I did youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y
Really enjoying #BlueskyLullaby. It’s like a private viewing around a top music gallery.
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: "Donna" was both recorded and released in September 1958. Ritchie Valens was just 17; he would not live to 18. His high school girlfriend who was the subject of this song is, I gather, still alive. See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iJC...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iJC...
Donna
YouTube video by Ritchie Valens - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Really enjoying #BlueskyLullaby. It’s like a private viewing around a top music gallery.
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Poldi Lodzinsky, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24924
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24924
November 21, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Poldi Lodzinsky, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24924
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/24924
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Composition with Three Male Nudes, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/26014
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/26014
November 20, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Composition with Three Male Nudes, 1910
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/26014
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/26014
Reposted by Jim Cessford
10 years ago today, David Bowie's ★ video, directed by Johan Renck, premiered on Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts tv channels in 2015.
So far been it’s been viewed on YouTube over 52 million times.
Watch it below
So far been it’s been viewed on YouTube over 52 million times.
Watch it below
David Bowie – ★ (Blackstar)
From Blackstar, released in 2016, available to order via Amazon below.. CD. Vinyl. (UK) CD. Vinyl. (US) Behind the scenes of the video shoot, via NME:
www.davidbowienews.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:26 PM
10 years ago today, David Bowie's ★ video, directed by Johan Renck, premiered on Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts tv channels in 2015.
So far been it’s been viewed on YouTube over 52 million times.
Watch it below
So far been it’s been viewed on YouTube over 52 million times.
Watch it below
Reposted by Jim Cessford
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: Recorded in 1964, the Andante movement from Samuel Barber's violin concerto, with Isaac Stern as the soloist and Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbJp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbJp...
Violin Concerto, Op. 14: II. Andante
YouTube video by Isaac Stern - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 AM
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: Recorded in 1964, the Andante movement from Samuel Barber's violin concerto, with Isaac Stern as the soloist and Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbJp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbJp...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
“Good Vibrations” hits #1 on the UK charts today in 1966.
The song, David Leaf wrote, “redefined what a pop single could attempt, and in doing so redefined what American music could aspire to. .. The record doesn’t simply sit in pop history — it towers over it.”
The song, David Leaf wrote, “redefined what a pop single could attempt, and in doing so redefined what American music could aspire to. .. The record doesn’t simply sit in pop history — it towers over it.”
November 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
“Good Vibrations” hits #1 on the UK charts today in 1966.
The song, David Leaf wrote, “redefined what a pop single could attempt, and in doing so redefined what American music could aspire to. .. The record doesn’t simply sit in pop history — it towers over it.”
The song, David Leaf wrote, “redefined what a pop single could attempt, and in doing so redefined what American music could aspire to. .. The record doesn’t simply sit in pop history — it towers over it.”
Reposted by Jim Cessford
My Sunday Times piece: In which, amid extraordinary budget chaos and disappointing economic news, I look for reasons to be cheerful, or at least not excessively miserable:
As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger
www.thetimes.com/article/d6a2...
As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger
www.thetimes.com/article/d6a2...
As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger
The data for growth and unemployment is disappointing and tax rises are coming in the budget, but interest rate cuts and market credibility may also be in sight
www.thetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:33 PM
My Sunday Times piece: In which, amid extraordinary budget chaos and disappointing economic news, I look for reasons to be cheerful, or at least not excessively miserable:
As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger
www.thetimes.com/article/d6a2...
As economic gloom descends, it’s time to unleash my inner Tigger
www.thetimes.com/article/d6a2...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Design for a postcard, 1911
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25073
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25073
November 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Design for a postcard, 1911
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25073
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25073
Reposted by Jim Cessford
If you listen to music you probably know Fanfare for the Common Man, arguably the greatest hit of Aaron Copland. But since it’s his 125th birthday, why not listen to Quiet City, his haunting, achingly beautiful 8-minute marvel for trumpet, cor anglais and strings? m.youtube.com/watch?v=SvRK...
Copland: Quiet City
YouTube video by Celia Nicklin - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
If you listen to music you probably know Fanfare for the Common Man, arguably the greatest hit of Aaron Copland. But since it’s his 125th birthday, why not listen to Quiet City, his haunting, achingly beautiful 8-minute marvel for trumpet, cor anglais and strings? m.youtube.com/watch?v=SvRK...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
Reposted by Jim Cessford
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Flashing Red
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list"
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Summer Landscape, Krumau, 1917
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25951
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25951
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Summer Landscape, Krumau, 1917
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25951
https://botfrens.com/collections/88/contents/25951
Reposted by Jim Cessford
Reposted by Jim Cessford
On Farage, the economy and how spent he looks when he can’t work the Maga playbook www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Economic policy is one thing Nigel Farage can’t crib from the Donald Trump playbook | Rafael Behr
The Maga model, based on the US’s exorbitant market privileges, can’t be imported to Britain. That’s going to be a problem for Reform UK, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:14 AM
On Farage, the economy and how spent he looks when he can’t work the Maga playbook www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...