Matt Andrews
@mattandrews.info
Engineering manager at GitLab. Formerly Economist, BBC, Guardian etc. Music nerd, cyclist, tired dad. Run a 20+ year old music webzine and still blogs sometimes, too! https://mattandrews.info/
For me it was kind of a taster of how things could've been if I'd been anywhere near equipped to think/learn about things at that level prior to sitting down for the interview. The guy sitting next to me in the waiting room told me he was interviewing for Classics and I didn't even know what it was.
January 8, 2026 at 12:03 PM
For me it was kind of a taster of how things could've been if I'd been anywhere near equipped to think/learn about things at that level prior to sitting down for the interview. The guy sitting next to me in the waiting room told me he was interviewing for Classics and I didn't even know what it was.
I interviewed at this college back in the ancient times (2004?) and I distinctly remember discovering how enormous the gulf was between my (state) education and that of all the other kids I met who were also interviewing there.
Edu rage of the day. Cambridge is going back to the old system of working with private schools to tap potential students on the shoulder.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment
Exclusive: Trinity Hall’s new policy described as a ‘slap in the face’ for state-educated students
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I interviewed at this college back in the ancient times (2004?) and I distinctly remember discovering how enormous the gulf was between my (state) education and that of all the other kids I met who were also interviewing there.
"the alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased" is an incredibly weasel-worded way to phrase the murder of a member of the public on the street.
DHS's first official statement is out, and they call the woman who was shot a domestic terrorist who they claim was trying to kill an ICE agent.
As a reminder, Tricia McLaughlin's post-shooting statements have been proven to be false MULTIPLE times in the past. They are simply not trustworthy.
As a reminder, Tricia McLaughlin's post-shooting statements have been proven to be false MULTIPLE times in the past. They are simply not trustworthy.
January 7, 2026 at 6:04 PM
"the alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased" is an incredibly weasel-worded way to phrase the murder of a member of the public on the street.
Reposted by Matt Andrews
When Risk is going on too long so you turn to Monopoly to entertain the kids
January 7, 2026 at 4:26 PM
When Risk is going on too long so you turn to Monopoly to entertain the kids
Although thanks to @max.woolf.io for sharing better-mouse.com which supports Logitech devices without bloatware that bricks them
BetterMouse
Comprehensive mouse utility for macOS
better-mouse.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Although thanks to @max.woolf.io for sharing better-mouse.com which supports Logitech devices without bloatware that bricks them
This affected me this morning, eg. I couldn't use my (£100+) mouse properly because... an SSL cert expired. The future sucks.
Logitech caused its mice to freak out by not renewing a certificate
Logitech caused its mice to freak out by not renewing a certificate
That’s one heck of an oversight.
buff.ly
January 7, 2026 at 12:31 PM
This affected me this morning, eg. I couldn't use my (£100+) mouse properly because... an SSL cert expired. The future sucks.
Love this too. Anyone tried to vandalise it with an additional n?
January 6, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Love this too. Anyone tried to vandalise it with an additional n?
To the tune of BONKERS by Dizzee Rascal?!
January 6, 2026 at 5:09 PM
To the tune of BONKERS by Dizzee Rascal?!
Another favourite: this one, rendered in all caps, on the M42. I always shout CONKERS when we pass it.
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Another favourite: this one, rendered in all caps, on the M42. I always shout CONKERS when we pass it.
Still my favourite evocative road sign place name:
January 6, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Still my favourite evocative road sign place name:
My first Slack post of 2026 was in the #lotr_memes channel. Start as you mean to go on.
January 5, 2026 at 10:50 AM
My first Slack post of 2026 was in the #lotr_memes channel. Start as you mean to go on.
Yeah 100%. It's hard enough competing with legitimate talent who got there the hard way (see Julia Donaldson) without also having to outsell every washed up 90s star who fancies a punt writing a kids' book.
January 4, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Yeah 100%. It's hard enough competing with legitimate talent who got there the hard way (see Julia Donaldson) without also having to outsell every washed up 90s star who fancies a punt writing a kids' book.
Reposted by Matt Andrews
Tell me we should trust AI to give us the facts. Tell me it's a future we can put our faith in. Come at me. I'm right here, waiting.
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Tell me we should trust AI to give us the facts. Tell me it's a future we can put our faith in. Come at me. I'm right here, waiting.
I'm trying to be sympathetic to folks who don't have kids themselves and don't perhaps know any better authors, or just buy whatever they can find in the places they normally shop etc.
January 4, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I'm trying to be sympathetic to folks who don't have kids themselves and don't perhaps know any better authors, or just buy whatever they can find in the places they normally shop etc.
Parenting question: has anyone ever directly requested well-meaning family/friends to stop buying junk celebrity books for your kids? How did it go?
We have a growing pile of David Walliams books people got us that just... genuinely suck, putting all the stuff about him aside.
We have a growing pile of David Walliams books people got us that just... genuinely suck, putting all the stuff about him aside.
January 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Parenting question: has anyone ever directly requested well-meaning family/friends to stop buying junk celebrity books for your kids? How did it go?
We have a growing pile of David Walliams books people got us that just... genuinely suck, putting all the stuff about him aside.
We have a growing pile of David Walliams books people got us that just... genuinely suck, putting all the stuff about him aside.
Here you go: bsky.app/profile/adam...
Starmer asked to respond to Trump breaking international law and seizing the leader of another sovereign nation replies that it is his "responsibility" to have a good relationship with the US President.
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
January 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Here you go: bsky.app/profile/adam...
Might just be Traitors Fatigue because the celeb one feels like it was only broadcast last week, or perhaps just general TV Fatigue (Stranger Things, Taskmaster etc) but I'm really basically forcing myself to watch this series so far. Maybe it'll grow on me!
January 3, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Might just be Traitors Fatigue because the celeb one feels like it was only broadcast last week, or perhaps just general TV Fatigue (Stranger Things, Taskmaster etc) but I'm really basically forcing myself to watch this series so far. Maybe it'll grow on me!
New year is going great so far right
January 3, 2026 at 9:44 AM
New year is going great so far right
- you almost never mean "peddling"
January 1, 2026 at 7:26 PM
- you almost never mean "peddling"
Haven't tried the DEHOBHATIOR yet but it looks good
January 1, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Haven't tried the DEHOBHATIOR yet but it looks good
Neighbour got us this cool DEFORMATION CAR for the kids' Christmas pressie.
January 1, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Neighbour got us this cool DEFORMATION CAR for the kids' Christmas pressie.
Just did the same thing and was concerned by how few people are dancing in the closing seconds of last year's clip
December 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Just did the same thing and was concerned by how few people are dancing in the closing seconds of last year's clip
Starting a rap crew called Yung Lang Syne
December 31, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Starting a rap crew called Yung Lang Syne