Simon

This by @stephenkb.bsky.social addresses the elephant in the room: the idea that we'd all be better off without social media, not just the under-16s. It's not surprising these questions aren't being asked by governments, but if they won't, then get on & regulate them, because they're causing harm.

Gisèle Pelicot: The Newsnight Interview In an exclusive UK interview, Victoria Derbyshire talks to Gisèle Pelicot in Paris about the 2024 trial of her husband and 50 other men, the public's support and her future.

I think everyone should watch Victoria Derbyshire's interview with Gisèle Pelicot. It’s essential viewing!
What a courageous, strong woman.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

🍿 Favourite first-time watches in 2026! 🍿

January, ordered by preference:
🎬 𝟤𝟪 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 (DaCosta, 2026)
🎬 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳 (Redford, 1998)
🎬 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 (Levinson, 1984)
🎬 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘘 (Cassavetes, 2002)

A quote from a Keanu Reeves' appearance on the BBC Graham Norton Show. "I don't want to be part of a world, where being kind is a weakness."

the babe.

The Truffle Shuffle burger from Jordan Bailey’s Heard. One half of the burger lies waiting to be eaten.

Checked out Jordan Bailey’s Heard Burger 🍔

I opted for the Truffle Shuffle burger with fries. A great double smash patty served with Italian black truffle mayo, balsamic pickled red onion, Baron Bigod brie, crispy shallots, and green leaf—all in a toasted bun. A sloppy delight!

“𝘈𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘮.”

- Guillermo del toro

An excerpt from The Watermelon Woman (Dunye, 1996) about watching "those boring, old films."

Relatable.

Rick McCallum enveloped in darkness and despair after watching the first cut of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Lucas, 1999)

𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗲́𝗺𝗮

𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧𝘧.
𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵.
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺’𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘦𝘴.
𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘮𝘦.

Great review, Pete! Like you, I was never that enamored with the original film, but I’m really enjoying these new ones. Fab to see Fiennes getting some love—he was on phenomenal form.
I especially appreciated the bond created with Chi Lewis-Parry as Samson.

David Lynch trapped in Twin Peak's Red Room.

“I don’t know why people expect art to make sense. They accept the fact that life doesn’t make sense.”
—David Lynch

A picture of David Lynch smiling.

“The art spirit sort of became the art life, and I had this idea that you drink coffee, you smoke cigarettes, and you paint, and that’s it. Maybe, maybe, girls come into it a little bit, but basically it’s the incredible happiness of working and living that life.”

-David Lynch

A still of Philip Baker Hall from the film, Hard Eight (Anderson, 1996). Hall is wearing a light blue suit and matching tie. the image is captioned with: "I'm not a complicated man. I like cinema."

Same same.

If you suffered and want others to suffer because "you turned out fine," you did not, in fact, turn out fine.

In many respects, 2025 was a tough year for moi—and many others alike—and one I am happy to lay to rest.
However, in spite of the challenges, cinéma still retains its capacity to replenish, and 2025 was another blisteringly great year for film fans.

YouTube video by Joe Hudson | Art of Accomplishment Why You Can't Change

"Shame doesn't heal."
Joe Hudson notes that self-shaming rarely changes behaviour—it usually reinforces it.
When you shame yourself, you're telling yourself you're no good. Think about the damage that does over time.
It’s a weight, not a cure.
youtu.be/StE4dJiPfqU?...

Westy, my cat, investigates my latest essential eBay purchases - Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, and Sonic Chaos for the SEGA Master System.

Mega Drive kid, reporting for duty!
I'm finally diving into Sonic's Master System adventures after reading @keefstuart.bsky.social's excellent (and highly recommended) SEGA Master System glory-days piece. Prepare your eBay alerts and your wallet!
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...

A tortoiseshell furred cat (Westy) sleeps soundly.

My beautiful little boy, Westy.
13 years young, still mischievous, always hungry, and always up for cuddles.
#Caturday #Torties

I’ve moved over to Instapaper for the same reason. Works great so far 👍

Legal definition of woman is based on biological sex, UK supreme court rules Judges say Equality Act definition excludes transgender women, after gender-critical campaigners’ challenge

This, under a Labour government.
An utter travesty for transgender women (and the UK at large). The utter shame.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

A plateful of homemade mince pies.

Nothing says springtime like a plateful of mince pies.
Ho. Ho. Ho.

Hello! Do you offer postage to the UK?

Simon's obligatory 10 favourite films of 2024 (with honourable mentions).

2024 was another exceptional year for cinéma.

If you have the gall to tell moi you’re ’winding down’ in the run up to Christmas, please prepare for the atomic blast you’ll experience.
Just who are these people that have the privilege of winding down in the run up to Crimbo? Sure, I’ll be ‘winding down’, at about 5pm on Xmas Eve.

HoHoHo.

Janine (Anita Dobson) clutches her precious lasagne.

Seen a few snooty reviews of GENERATION Z (Wheatley, 2024), but I think this is easily Wheatley's best production since 2016's FREE FIRE. Some great gore, effects and a fantastic cast - Viola Prettejohn is excellent as Finn.
Available to stream for the next 10 days.
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...

Homophobia was fine in the ‘90s.

This demonstrates the lad culture ‘attitude’ of ‘Loaded’. Sharing is not an endorsement.
The player’s difficulty select screen uses a homophobic slur for players that choose to play the game on easy.

Loaded SEGA Saturn box.

Cap'n Hands surrounded a bloody mess.

100% kill count. The Loaded results screen.

Cap'n Hands has all the key cards.

My first proper play on my new SEGA Saturn and I opted for ‘Loaded’. This is such a ridiculously mid-to-late ‘90s video game. It wreaks of lad culture ‘attitude’.
Played through the first three levels. Fairly fun but can see this getting tedious.
However, the soundtrack is ‘gnarly’ 🤦🏻‍♂️

That's grand, thanks!
I will add Burning Rangers and one of the Mega Man titles to my list.
Thank you! 👍

Nope, although since purchasing I’ve read about stumping up the moolah for a Japanese model. My folks actually bought moi a Japanese Mega Drive for similar reasons in the ‘90s.
I think I’m going to stick with this set up for now and see how I go - it’s in beautiful condition.
Appreciate the tips 👍

Thanks Keith! I’ve actually picked up a few of your recommendations from the article. Totes enjoying Loaded. I can see myself sinking hours into it.
Truly something special about Sega’s hardware.
Any platformer recommendations would be awesome 🙌