Mark Ellis

He was a good boy

Could Jenrick clarify the exact ratio between different ethnicities that would constitute an acceptable community? I live in Kingston and fear it’s unacceptably white.

Depressing that Raphi Bloom @bbcr4 has to employ playground tactics (‘but look how the Chinese treat the Uyghurs’) to argue that criticism of Israel is extreme. China doesn’t claim to be a democratic Western country. Maybe the Israeli government could stop making this claim and do us all a favour.

I’ve just arrived at the Apple Store to buy a new charger for my Mac having left it behind in Italy, and have been suddenly overwhelmed by how much I hate this place. Standing around trying to get the attention of one of their assistants really is the most stressful experience in retail.

The fate of the Palestinians: either genocide or the denial of their right to their land - by the very country who deprived them of it in the first place. Their future is like a boot stamping on a human face for ever.

Cunliffe said, “Why do we need wet wipes?” Hmm, you try getting through anal cancer treatment without them ....

Mencer’s ‘argument’ on @BBCradio4 this morning is that the IDF, with total control of a sliver of land, are at the mercy of Hamas. After nearly three years of bombing the shit out of the territory. Odd.

Can't get out of my mind a friend talking world politics in Spanish who bamboozled me with what I heard as Tramp y Pudding.

🤭

Well yes you do have to press two buttons. One for the coffee, one for the milk. You stick the wand in the milk jug and it’s frothed automatically. There is a third step: you have to pour the milk into the coffee. If this is too much work I’m afraid I’m unable to help you further … 🙄

It does the milk!

Or a Sage Bambino plus. You’ll need a proper grinder too though, about £550 all in.

Surprising to hear that a government formed exclusively of a country’s most stupid people isn’t really working out.

I’m so sorry. It’s one of my favourite @BBCr4 programmes and an essential element of my Sunday morning. I can’t imagine what they are going to replace it with.

Where is the announcement/explanation from the BBC about this? I can’t find anything online.

Listen, I know every Black person's head turned when they heard that line

The Mughal exhibition at the V&A is well worth your time: vibrant pictures, bejewelled daggers, carpets, calligrapy, marquetry, mother of pearl dishes and brass ewers; a cornucopia of objects reflecting a fascinating time of cultural interconnectedness.

Almost a Turkish 🇹🇷 sky tonight. I do miss Ankara in the winter!

Best thing about post cancer treatment back-in-the-gymness is the endorphin rush: I feel invincible!

Is anyone else obsessed by the ending of the extended version of In Our Time when the guests are asked if they want tea or coffee? This week Melvyn Bragg asked for water, guest asks for same, but then changes his mind when second guest dares to ask for tea. Nail biting entertainment!

Tweet sent out 14 hours BEFORE the DC mid air collision by Thomas Schaller on X: “An FAA employee I know confirms agency already lacks sufficient air traffic controllers. The so-called "buyouts" and other attacks on federal employees won't help. Remember that fact when the flight delays (crashes?) commence and Trumpers start falsely blaming DEl or Biden. 08:06 • 1/29/25 • 1.4M Views”

This tweet sent out 14 hours BEFORE the crash needs to be immortalized in stone.

Or on a plaque in every ATC tower.

Or on a disclaimer before every Mayday: Air Disaster episode.

Or on an Amber Alert type system to every American.

Or on a stamp.

Or maybe currency.

Something.

Zanele Muholi’s exhibition at Tate Modern was the perfect foil for the reading of Sathnam Sanghera’s ‘Empireland’.

Doubts about value of degrees and university expansion not backed by the evidence, David Willetts shows in new report Much of the public and media debate ignores the long-lasting benefits of higher education

The UK’s share of public expenditure on tertiary education at 23%, compared to an OECD average of 68%, is the lowest in the OECD.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/doubts-...

Braverman, Truss and Fox – we have sent the worst of British public life to Trump’s inauguration | Zoe Williams Keir Starmer didn’t make the cut for the guest list in Washington DC. But given the company, he shouldn’t sweat it, writes Zoe Williams

This is the sum total of my engagement with today's gruesome event, and it did make me laugh: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Passenger sitting next to emergency door, travelling alone, had psychotic episode on flight Porto to Gatwick this eve. BA staff clueless. Husband (special needs dentist) sat next to her and calmed her down, stayed with her until we landed. Not a word of thanks from crew. Gobsmacked.

To the Royal Academy: fascinating intersections between Michelangelo, Rafael and Leonardo, sketches providing evidence of how they influenced each other: in another room, a demonstration of how Leighton’s sketches, inspired by classical sculpture, influenced his ‘Flaming June’. Gorgeous.

Yes, saw that a while ago - much more straightforward ! (And so worth it.)

‘Popped into’ the National Gallery this afternoon. 20 minute queue, airport style security, the whole Sainsbury wing and rooms B to F were closed 🙄 (Security told me Friday evenings if you want some space).

She was so close to being fingered if Freddie had said where the ‘clique’ idea had originated. I’m seeing traces of Armani’s over confidence …

Yep. I was on the edge of my seat at that point.