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
Egyptian geese getting it on. At first rather sweet, then a bit awkward, then comically loud #NewRiverBirds
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Egyptian geese getting it on. At first rather sweet, then a bit awkward, then comically loud #NewRiverBirds
"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."
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
It seems that Bluesky, um, swallowed the alt text I wrote for that video. Here it is:
November 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It seems that Bluesky, um, swallowed the alt text I wrote for that video. Here it is:
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
Anyway, here is a slightly more wholesome scene of three rats (youngsters, I think) taunting a crow
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Anyway, here is a slightly more wholesome scene of three rats (youngsters, I think) taunting a crow
After paying Tommy Robinson's legal costs, Musk is now doing his damnedest to help Anthony Williams's lawyers
November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
After paying Tommy Robinson's legal costs, Musk is now doing his damnedest to help Anthony Williams's lawyers
"Alarm clock Britain" is a phrase that Nick Clegg tried to make happen back in 2011. Apparently only one person was listening.
November 3, 2025 at 9:08 AM
"Alarm clock Britain" is a phrase that Nick Clegg tried to make happen back in 2011. Apparently only one person was listening.
Here's the shadow home secretary confusing "arrested" and "guilty", and in effect libelling an innocent man who, like all the other passengers, had just been through a terrifying ordeal. Also apparently suggesting that all black people should be searched for weapons before boarding a train.
November 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Here's the shadow home secretary confusing "arrested" and "guilty", and in effect libelling an innocent man who, like all the other passengers, had just been through a terrifying ordeal. Also apparently suggesting that all black people should be searched for weapons before boarding a train.
Remarkable how quickly the arrival of TVs in homes devastated the cinema industry. The ups and downs during my lifetime are tiny compared with the slump in the mid/late 50s
November 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Remarkable how quickly the arrival of TVs in homes devastated the cinema industry. The ups and downs during my lifetime are tiny compared with the slump in the mid/late 50s
Latest coverage of Andrew's ruin
October 31, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Latest coverage of Andrew's ruin
I think the word you're looking for is "perpetuate"
October 30, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I think the word you're looking for is "perpetuate"
OK, it's time to bring Duran Duran to bear on this
October 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
OK, it's time to bring Duran Duran to bear on this
When Tolkien wrote about Saruman and the palantir, he was referring to rich and powerful global elites whose brains got cooked by overexposure to devices that channelled and magnified evil. His yearning for a war of purifying destruction grew; but he failed, and was only ever a supporting character.
October 29, 2025 at 9:55 AM
When Tolkien wrote about Saruman and the palantir, he was referring to rich and powerful global elites whose brains got cooked by overexposure to devices that channelled and magnified evil. His yearning for a war of purifying destruction grew; but he failed, and was only ever a supporting character.
Not sure about the implied sequence of cause and effect here
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Not sure about the implied sequence of cause and effect here
At last, some expert advice on how to sort out the UK's fiscal problems, which all began in July 2024
October 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
At last, some expert advice on how to sort out the UK's fiscal problems, which all began in July 2024
Finally, of course, there is the Oxford camera.
October 25, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Finally, of course, there is the Oxford camera.
Starmer doesn't have a sense of purpose so much as a to-do list. Yes, the list contains some good things, but that isn't enough when the job gets difficult and he needs to prioritise or adapt or ask for benefit of the doubt. And, for a PM, the job is *always* difficult. www.ft.com/content/94e0...
October 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Starmer doesn't have a sense of purpose so much as a to-do list. Yes, the list contains some good things, but that isn't enough when the job gets difficult and he needs to prioritise or adapt or ask for benefit of the doubt. And, for a PM, the job is *always* difficult. www.ft.com/content/94e0...
Even by the incredibly low standards of "failed politician attempts to drum up interest in memoir", this is extremely nope
October 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Even by the incredibly low standards of "failed politician attempts to drum up interest in memoir", this is extremely nope