Stephen Farrow
@stephenfarrow.bsky.social
Writer, reader, grammarian, shower singer, theatre addict, news junkie, eyeball-roller. European. Powered by Vimto. Love language, hate sushi.
#FBPE
Void where prohibited. Cannot be successfully delivered to your location. Please think responsibly.
#FBPE
Void where prohibited. Cannot be successfully delivered to your location. Please think responsibly.
A play in two acts:
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM
A play in two acts:
This evening on Duolingo, another useful phrase for tourists:
![Duolingo German question
translate this sentence
[picture of Oscar, a Duolingo character - a middle-aged art teacher with luxuriant black hair and a big black moustache, wearing a pink shirt, green trousers, and blue shoes]
Ihr Brude musste dirigend ihre Kühe futern.
Translation:
Her brother had to urgently feed her cows.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:criiz7t67jzchq7m6plznv7f/bafkreidc3csaxb36i7lcqg7rghzvocgisqlkeuy5ewyb7opf4qm6kubinq@jpeg)
February 9, 2026 at 9:16 PM
This evening on Duolingo, another useful phrase for tourists:
Published last week in Le Monde:
February 9, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Published last week in Le Monde:
It's very, well, *convenient* that the ongoing furore about Starmer and Mandelson enables most of our news media to avoid talking about Epstein's victims, and about the way powerful, well-connected men sought to cosy up to an obscenely wealthy sex offender.
Epstein was not ostracised for his crimes. To some powerful men, he became even more appealing | Moira Donegan
The latest tranche of files expose how he was viewed as a sexual svengali – and an expert on dodging the #MeToo movement, says Guardian US columnist Moira Donegan
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:45 PM
It's very, well, *convenient* that the ongoing furore about Starmer and Mandelson enables most of our news media to avoid talking about Epstein's victims, and about the way powerful, well-connected men sought to cosy up to an obscenely wealthy sex offender.
February 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM
February 9, 2026 at 6:14 PM
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
February 9, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Suck-tastic:
Wordle 1,696 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
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🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,696 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
February 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Suck-tastic:
Wordle 1,696 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,696 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I just saw a Tesla driver indicate correctly on a roundabout. For the first time in my life, I think miracles might be possible.
February 9, 2026 at 4:13 PM
I just saw a Tesla driver indicate correctly on a roundabout. For the first time in my life, I think miracles might be possible.
On the bus to Slough, because I’m a thrill-seeker.
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
On the bus to Slough, because I’m a thrill-seeker.
Move over, Skimbleshanks!
Nahanyan, a railway worker black cat, is the mascot for the Kamakura Rolling Stock Center (Nakahara Branch), who fix and maintain trains.
February 9, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Move over, Skimbleshanks!
Reposted by Stephen Farrow
Something magnificent about Kemi Badenoch's self-confidence, and her claim that the Mandelson affair is entirely down to her asking questions at PMQs. Like a toddler who thinks their plastic steering wheel is controlling the car.
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Something magnificent about Kemi Badenoch's self-confidence, and her claim that the Mandelson affair is entirely down to her asking questions at PMQs. Like a toddler who thinks their plastic steering wheel is controlling the car.
This can’t hurt. Even before this current (manufactured) crisis, Labour’s comms were being managed very badly. Mr. Allan was not doing a good job for them.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Keir Starmer’s director of communications Tim Allan steps down
Exclusive: Decision follows departure of chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over Peter Mandelson scandal
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:24 AM
This can’t hurt. Even before this current (manufactured) crisis, Labour’s comms were being managed very badly. Mr. Allan was not doing a good job for them.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"Happy Valentine's Day, darling, your teeth are minging!"
And they say romance is dead...
And they say romance is dead...
February 8, 2026 at 11:12 PM
"Happy Valentine's Day, darling, your teeth are minging!"
And they say romance is dead...
And they say romance is dead...
My eyebrows just shot up so fast that I think I sprained my face.
Mrs. Chomsky claims she and her husband had been unaware of Mr. Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution, which (ahem) apparently wasn't covered by any newspapers at all. Yeah, right.
Mrs. Chomsky claims she and her husband had been unaware of Mr. Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution, which (ahem) apparently wasn't covered by any newspapers at all. Yeah, right.
Noam Chomsky’s wife apologizes for their ‘grave mistake’ in Epstein ties
Valeria Chomsky says Epstein had deceived them and they were ‘careless’ not to thoroughly research his background
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:07 PM
My eyebrows just shot up so fast that I think I sprained my face.
Mrs. Chomsky claims she and her husband had been unaware of Mr. Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution, which (ahem) apparently wasn't covered by any newspapers at all. Yeah, right.
Mrs. Chomsky claims she and her husband had been unaware of Mr. Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution, which (ahem) apparently wasn't covered by any newspapers at all. Yeah, right.
Sunday night is pizza night.
February 8, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Sunday night is pizza night.
What's on the other side?
February 8, 2026 at 8:54 PM
What's on the other side?
This is that rare thing - a thoroughly charming, genuinely funny music video:
Taylor Swift - Opalite (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Taylor Swift
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:39 PM
This is that rare thing - a thoroughly charming, genuinely funny music video:
Peter Mandelson?
February 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Peter Mandelson?
Today's inspirational message:
February 8, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Today's inspirational message:
There are good reasons why Alastair Campbell is a divisive figure - but this is a clear, well-constructed analysis of the Mandelson mess, it's entirely free of the fingerpointing and namecalling that has characterised so much of the public debate this week, and it's worth a few minutes of your time.
Alastair Reacts to Starmer-Mandelson Turmoil
YouTube video by The Rest Is Politics
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:43 PM
There are good reasons why Alastair Campbell is a divisive figure - but this is a clear, well-constructed analysis of the Mandelson mess, it's entirely free of the fingerpointing and namecalling that has characterised so much of the public debate this week, and it's worth a few minutes of your time.
Yes, that's right. Vance and his (ridiculous) entourage flew to Italy for the Olympics with a plane full of... food.
Presumably someone thought - correctly - that Italians would either refuse to serve him or spit in his spaghetti.
Presumably someone thought - correctly - that Italians would either refuse to serve him or spit in his spaghetti.
February 8, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Yes, that's right. Vance and his (ridiculous) entourage flew to Italy for the Olympics with a plane full of... food.
Presumably someone thought - correctly - that Italians would either refuse to serve him or spit in his spaghetti.
Presumably someone thought - correctly - that Italians would either refuse to serve him or spit in his spaghetti.
I bought an electric toothbrush.
February 8, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I bought an electric toothbrush.