Tom Freeman
@tomfreeman.bsky.social
Occasional editor and writer. Purveyor of half-baked opinions. Intermittently able to make my nieces laugh. (SnoozeInBrief on Twitter)
My blog on usage, editing and suchlike: https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com
My blog on usage, editing and suchlike: https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com
In Donald Trump, I think the anti-BBC right may have finally found a champion who is popular enough to win over the hearts of the British public
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
In Donald Trump, I think the anti-BBC right may have finally found a champion who is popular enough to win over the hearts of the British public
Sure, I read books! A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium.[1] Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent.[2][3] Physical books are objects that contain printed material, mostly of writing and images.
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Sure, I read books! A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium.[1] Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent.[2][3] Physical books are objects that contain printed material, mostly of writing and images.
I love the Volvo ad where the daughter is driving the dad around and he keeps doing the intensely annoying thing of telling her what to do next but in fact the car's AI beats him to it, telling her what to do next, and it's not in any way intensely annoying, honest
November 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I love the Volvo ad where the daughter is driving the dad around and he keeps doing the intensely annoying thing of telling her what to do next but in fact the car's AI beats him to it, telling her what to do next, and it's not in any way intensely annoying, honest
I sure hope Trump never finds out that The Apprentice was edited to create the false impression that he was an astute businessman who could process information, remember names, stay awake, make wise decisions, and utter whole sentences without soiling himself
November 10, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I sure hope Trump never finds out that The Apprentice was edited to create the false impression that he was an astute businessman who could process information, remember names, stay awake, make wise decisions, and utter whole sentences without soiling himself
"We retract and apologise for the broadcast, which used falsely edited remarks as a shortcut to the finding of the US House of Representatives January 6th Committee's 845-page report, namely that President Trump incited a mob to storm the Capitol and steal the election. Here's a three-dollar bill."
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
"We retract and apologise for the broadcast, which used falsely edited remarks as a shortcut to the finding of the US House of Representatives January 6th Committee's 845-page report, namely that President Trump incited a mob to storm the Capitol and steal the election. Here's a three-dollar bill."
BBC leadership seems like Starmer's No10: repeatedly blundering into gaffes and rows; handling these in a way that maximises damage sustained; responding to certain sorts of criticism with abasement and others with disdain; above all, failing to think seriously about what they're doing, why and how.
November 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
BBC leadership seems like Starmer's No10: repeatedly blundering into gaffes and rows; handling these in a way that maximises damage sustained; responding to certain sorts of criticism with abasement and others with disdain; above all, failing to think seriously about what they're doing, why and how.
It strikes me that US government shutdowns would generally put much more pressure on a party that cares about using government to help people than they put on a party that doesn't
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
It strikes me that US government shutdowns would generally put much more pressure on a party that cares about using government to help people than they put on a party that doesn't
Intensely sceptical about bringing back The Night Manager for a second (and third) season. I'll give it a go, but it does have a huge neon sign on the front saying "THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WORK"
November 10, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Intensely sceptical about bringing back The Night Manager for a second (and third) season. I'll give it a go, but it does have a huge neon sign on the front saying "THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WORK"
Reposted by Tom Freeman
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
"Strong message here"
November 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"Strong message here"
If BBC News's rivals who are today damning it for bias were held to similar standards, most of them would be shut down on the spot.
November 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
If BBC News's rivals who are today damning it for bias were held to similar standards, most of them would be shut down on the spot.
These two swans are getting on a bit - they've been raising cygnets locally since at least 2007 - but they're still devoted to each other #NewRiverBirds
November 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
These two swans are getting on a bit - they've been raising cygnets locally since at least 2007 - but they're still devoted to each other #NewRiverBirds
Reposted by Tom Freeman
BBC News is a news organisation. It is there to do proper news not "represent the views of its viewers" - as funneled through right wing press/social media. If the next DG understands that it will be in a far better place.
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
BBC News is a news organisation. It is there to do proper news not "represent the views of its viewers" - as funneled through right wing press/social media. If the next DG understands that it will be in a far better place.
Kingdom is good. First Attenborough I've seen that ends with a cliffhanger.
November 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Kingdom is good. First Attenborough I've seen that ends with a cliffhanger.
Hate to say it, but I’m underwhelmed by The Rose Field. It and The Secret Commonwealth just feel like a big macguffin hunt whose purpose never quite materialises. Lots in there that’s good – prose, characters, scenes – in fact most of the chapters are good – but it doesn’t amount to much of a story.
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Hate to say it, but I’m underwhelmed by The Rose Field. It and The Secret Commonwealth just feel like a big macguffin hunt whose purpose never quite materialises. Lots in there that’s good – prose, characters, scenes – in fact most of the chapters are good – but it doesn’t amount to much of a story.
Red herrings are no less a form of herring than Atlantic herring. And now red herrings are on their way to doing something even more remarkable: becoming cooked.
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“A.I. is no less a form of intelligence than digital photography is a form of photography,” the philosopher Barbara Gail Montero writes in a guest essay. “And now A.I. is on its way to doing something even more remarkable: becoming conscious.”
“A.I. is no less a form of intelligence than digital photography is a form of photography,” the philosopher Barbara Gail Montero writes in a guest essay. “And now A.I. is on its way to doing something even more remarkable: becoming conscious.”
Opinion | A.I. Is Already Intelligent. This Is How It Becomes Conscious.
Skeptics overlook how our concepts change.
nyti.ms
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Red herrings are no less a form of herring than Atlantic herring. And now red herrings are on their way to doing something even more remarkable: becoming cooked.
Best wishes to Liz Truss on her one working day of the year
November 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Best wishes to Liz Truss on her one working day of the year
Can't get the bloody sign generator thing to work, I don't care, it's stupid anyway, waste of time, I'm going to bed
November 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Can't get the bloody sign generator thing to work, I don't care, it's stupid anyway, waste of time, I'm going to bed
Blue Lights is excellent. Trigger Point is... not.
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Blue Lights is excellent. Trigger Point is... not.
The expression "what the fuck" does indeed suggest that in any given situation there's only one fuck notable enough to merit a sake.
I prefer the singular possessive, "Oh, for fuck's sake." It just sounds more professional.
November 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The expression "what the fuck" does indeed suggest that in any given situation there's only one fuck notable enough to merit a sake.
Is the alt text visible on this? I can't see it
If you don't want to see what a heron does with a freshly caught rat, then that probably reflects very well on your character. But do look away now. #NewRiverBirds
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Is the alt text visible on this? I can't see it
If you don't want to see what a heron does with a freshly caught rat, then that probably reflects very well on your character. But do look away now. #NewRiverBirds
November 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
If you don't want to see what a heron does with a freshly caught rat, then that probably reflects very well on your character. But do look away now. #NewRiverBirds
Becoming mildly obsessed with the stress pattern TV announcers use when saying "DAIsy MAY and CHARlie COOper", as if May is her surname. But also it seems quite hard to say "DAIsy May and CHARlie COOper" in a way that implies they're both Cooper without sounding weird.
Am possibly overthinking this
Am possibly overthinking this
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Becoming mildly obsessed with the stress pattern TV announcers use when saying "DAIsy MAY and CHARlie COOper", as if May is her surname. But also it seems quite hard to say "DAIsy May and CHARlie COOper" in a way that implies they're both Cooper without sounding weird.
Am possibly overthinking this
Am possibly overthinking this
This particular rat was very lucky and escaped from the heron's beak. But later this afternoon I saw the heron have another go, and... good god. That sight will stay with me for ever. Just pondering whether to inflict the video on you.
No, *you* just stopped filming a heron because it "wasn't doing anything interesting", three seconds before it caught a rat
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This particular rat was very lucky and escaped from the heron's beak. But later this afternoon I saw the heron have another go, and... good god. That sight will stay with me for ever. Just pondering whether to inflict the video on you.