Matthew Aldridge
@mpaldridge.bsky.social
But blue. https://mpaldridge.github.io
Sad to hear about the death of Rachel Cooke. I remember reading this piece a few months ago, although now I realise I hadn’t really noticed what it was saying. observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Illness has transformed my appetite, and I can’t even face my favourite fruits | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Sad to hear about the death of Rachel Cooke. I remember reading this piece a few months ago, although now I realise I hadn’t really noticed what it was saying. observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Exonyms are bad! Places should be called by the names used by the people who live there.
(It’s good we say Beijing, Mumbai, Eswatini, but we probably ought to say Firenze, España, Deutschland too. I am not, of course, volunteering to lead by example...)
(It’s good we say Beijing, Mumbai, Eswatini, but we probably ought to say Firenze, España, Deutschland too. I am not, of course, volunteering to lead by example...)
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Exonyms are bad! Places should be called by the names used by the people who live there.
(It’s good we say Beijing, Mumbai, Eswatini, but we probably ought to say Firenze, España, Deutschland too. I am not, of course, volunteering to lead by example...)
(It’s good we say Beijing, Mumbai, Eswatini, but we probably ought to say Firenze, España, Deutschland too. I am not, of course, volunteering to lead by example...)
Probably a good idea Police and Crime Commissioners are being abolished, but former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott running for PCC in Humberside then losing on reallocated second preferences is an underrated weird UK election result.
November 13, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Probably a good idea Police and Crime Commissioners are being abolished, but former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott running for PCC in Humberside then losing on reallocated second preferences is an underrated weird UK election result.
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Continuing their long tradition of being the most geometrically adventurous chocolate manufacturer, Toblerone have a range of enneahedral chocolates.
November 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Continuing their long tradition of being the most geometrically adventurous chocolate manufacturer, Toblerone have a range of enneahedral chocolates.
THE #LIFF2025 UNOFFICIAL LETTERBOXD AUDIENCE AWARD
(so far; with at least 5 Letterboxd ratings under tag "liff2025" or similar):
4.50 Sentimental Value
4.40 Resurrection
4.38 The Voice of Hind Rajab
4.31 We Believe You
4.30 Nouvelle Vague
4.23 Pillion
4.08 Space Cadet
4.06 Roman Holiday
(so far; with at least 5 Letterboxd ratings under tag "liff2025" or similar):
4.50 Sentimental Value
4.40 Resurrection
4.38 The Voice of Hind Rajab
4.31 We Believe You
4.30 Nouvelle Vague
4.23 Pillion
4.08 Space Cadet
4.06 Roman Holiday
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
THE #LIFF2025 UNOFFICIAL LETTERBOXD AUDIENCE AWARD
(so far; with at least 5 Letterboxd ratings under tag "liff2025" or similar):
4.50 Sentimental Value
4.40 Resurrection
4.38 The Voice of Hind Rajab
4.31 We Believe You
4.30 Nouvelle Vague
4.23 Pillion
4.08 Space Cadet
4.06 Roman Holiday
(so far; with at least 5 Letterboxd ratings under tag "liff2025" or similar):
4.50 Sentimental Value
4.40 Resurrection
4.38 The Voice of Hind Rajab
4.31 We Believe You
4.30 Nouvelle Vague
4.23 Pillion
4.08 Space Cadet
4.06 Roman Holiday
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I do like how, in the bit of Prescott's memo where he criticises the BBC for editing together different parts of Trump's speech, his own quote of "what Trump actually said" is... edited together from different parts of his speech.
infamous!
The infamous balloon festival returns to Ashton Court Estate, with a new deal securing the event "for the foreseeable future"
Bristol Balloon Fiesta dates announced as support secured
The festival has been secured at Ashton Court Estate for the "foreseeable future"
www.bristol247.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
infamous!
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Google has gradually been optimised for people who are bad at expressing what they’re looking for, it’s all vibes now
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Google has gradually been optimised for people who are bad at expressing what they’re looking for, it’s all vibes now
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
BBC really burying the lede there
November 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
BBC really burying the lede there
Trying to helpfully answer a student query about how to revise effectively.
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Trying to helpfully answer a student query about how to revise effectively.
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
A 34-year-old as a politician: My god he's like a baby. It's like they just elected an infant to be their mayor.
A 34-year-old as an athlete: You have to admire the bravery of him attempting that dunk, knowing full well the grim reaper is right behind him.
A 34-year-old as an athlete: You have to admire the bravery of him attempting that dunk, knowing full well the grim reaper is right behind him.
November 5, 2025 at 5:45 AM
A 34-year-old as a politician: My god he's like a baby. It's like they just elected an infant to be their mayor.
A 34-year-old as an athlete: You have to admire the bravery of him attempting that dunk, knowing full well the grim reaper is right behind him.
A 34-year-old as an athlete: You have to admire the bravery of him attempting that dunk, knowing full well the grim reaper is right behind him.
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Happy day-after-Halloween, everyone!
![Tweet from Agnes Callard:
9yo: mama you DIDN'T throw out the halloween candy?!---
[background: we have a halloween tradition where after the kids go to bed, I throw all their candy in the garbage. The next morning, they are filled with rage.]
---thank you SO much!!! [hugs & kisses]
Reader, I forgot.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:75mlagdexidxsikwotaiagas/bafkreie76ttqxlbpe7nbsziolbx5zpbh5rsftrcdlo7d2mectbkqejjpse@jpeg)
November 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Happy day-after-Halloween, everyone!
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Adverb hall of fame www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
October 28, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Adverb hall of fame www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
can albanian speakers please tell me more about this verb that apparently means “to die” but only for humans and bees???
October 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
can albanian speakers please tell me more about this verb that apparently means “to die” but only for humans and bees???
A nice parenthetical drive-by in the introduction to the latest Chotinering. www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
October 27, 2025 at 9:45 PM
A nice parenthetical drive-by in the introduction to the latest Chotinering. www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
not to be confused with quesadilla
October 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
not to be confused with quesadilla
Belatedly realise I have caught myself in a #LIFF2025 clash due to a subtle typo in the timetable in the back of the guide. (Cc @leedsfilmfest.bsky.social)
October 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Belatedly realise I have caught myself in a #LIFF2025 clash due to a subtle typo in the timetable in the back of the guide. (Cc @leedsfilmfest.bsky.social)
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
incredible plot summary
December 13, 2024 at 10:55 AM
incredible plot summary
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
By elections are odd things, so before drawing wide ranging conclusions you need to think very...Caerphilly
October 24, 2025 at 6:57 AM
By elections are odd things, so before drawing wide ranging conclusions you need to think very...Caerphilly
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
This is a Pixar movie. The little moon (Sabrina Carpenter) comes in to work-shadow the veteran actual moon (Meryl Streep). Streep is grumpy about it for the film’s first thirty mins. But by the end they’re inseparable and when 2083 comes we cry. While also learning about the need to let someone go.
October 21, 2025 at 11:29 AM
This is a Pixar movie. The little moon (Sabrina Carpenter) comes in to work-shadow the veteran actual moon (Meryl Streep). Streep is grumpy about it for the film’s first thirty mins. But by the end they’re inseparable and when 2083 comes we cry. While also learning about the need to let someone go.
Re “6 7“ in the Guardian www.theguardian.com/society/2025... I’m distressed that the penultimate line is wrong. (Turning 12 pages from pages 54–55 would take you to pages 78–79.)
‘Six-seven’: what does the latest slang mean (and should parents be worried)?
It originated in a rap song, then featured in South Park, and is now the bane of schoolteachers in the US and UK as pupils shout it out at random. How did it become such a thing?
www.theguardian.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Re “6 7“ in the Guardian www.theguardian.com/society/2025... I’m distressed that the penultimate line is wrong. (Turning 12 pages from pages 54–55 would take you to pages 78–79.)
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Here are some the BFI have mentioned on their Twitter account. x.com/search?q=fro... (links in alt text)
But you can nominate suggestions too! www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national...
But you can nominate suggestions too! www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national...
October 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Here are some the BFI have mentioned on their Twitter account. x.com/search?q=fro... (links in alt text)
But you can nominate suggestions too! www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national...
But you can nominate suggestions too! www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-national...
Reposted by Matthew Aldridge
Can anyone find the full list of '400 significant pieces of British online video content' that have been acquired by the BFI because I can't and I really need to know.
The Daily Star's livestream of the Liz Truss lettuce has been acquired by the British Film Institute's National Archive for a collection of significant pieces of online video. The BFI's curator said it was "a seminal moment in British political history" www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-...
Daily Star's 60p Lettuce Liz that lasted longer than Truss immortalised by BFI
The lettuce livestream has been acquired by the British Film Institute’s National Archive as part of a digital collection featuring 400 significant pieces of British online video content
www.dailystar.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Can anyone find the full list of '400 significant pieces of British online video content' that have been acquired by the BFI because I can't and I really need to know.