Matt McQueen

IT'S WEDNESDAY!

It's #buyastrangerabook day.

The grooviest of all the days.

I'll give out TWO books.

FOR FREE.

If you'd like one, let me know.

Also, if you'd like to #BuyAStrangerABook too, let me know.

It's a thing! Look.

biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...

UK only.

It's #buyastrangerabook day!

@hierath77.bsky.social is offering to buy someone the book of their choice, up to £20!

That's right, any book!

So, if there's a particular title you're after, let us know!

UK only.

Millionaire trophy hunter gored to death by 1.3 tonne bull on African safari Asher Watkins, 52, was tracking a 1.3 tonne Cape Buffalo bull, known as the Black Death, on Sunday when it suddenly charged at him at 35mph.

Ah that's lovely news.

metro.co.uk/2025/08/06/m...

@pensioncraft.com part way through your podcast, and you talk about the ONS workforce survey. It might be interesting if you ask your listeners if they've ever heard of it, far less completed it. I didn't know it even existed before today on listening to you mention it.

Hypothesis: “One Direction” could be a cryptic definition for Take That — another boy band, but that’s 4,4 and doesn’t fit the clue’s logic. Wait — what about: Answer: Gone Solo - Explanation: - “The one devastated” = anagram of “THE ONE” → “GONE” - “Volunteer to miss” = “solo” — as in someone who used to be part of a group but now volunteers to go it alone. - “One Direction” = cryptic definition — someone who used to be in One Direction but is now gone solo. Final Answer: Gone Solo Let me know if you want to tweak the clue or explore alternatives — this one’s got layers!

I tried Copilot, and it said this.

LOL. Classic AI.

Yeah, the video explains that One Direction thing. I didn't get that at all.

Managed to get this one after two hints.

Minute Cryptic - 6 August, 2025
"The one devastated volunteer to miss "One Direction"" (4,4)
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I scored: 1 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

YouTube video by Modern Software Engineering Will AI Code Create MOUNTAINS Of Technical Debt?

I've been saying this for a while - AI won't result in a requirement for fewer developers. It's more likely you will need more developers, doing a job that will be horrific, fixing AI technical debt. youtu.be/oz7aIFfHXRw?...

They could balance it better by putting a cup holder on the other side.

How long before it gives out bad advice. Is the MP responsible if things go bad?

Minute Cryptic - 5 August, 2025
"Abor_ fr__nd_hip!?" (3,4)
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I scored: 3 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Needed a hint for this one.

Minute Cryptic - 4 August, 2025
"Deadly agent playing phone tag" (8)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
I scored: 2 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Glad to get the cataract removed, though. The operation went very smoothly, and the team at Glasgow's New Victoria Hospital were very good.

Had my operation today - cataract removed from my right eye, and implant added. Now I just have to let it recover for 4-6 weeks. For my left eye, they decided against giving me an implant, so I've to see another consultant about that. There is a solution, but it will take up to a year on the NHS.

Minute Cryptic - 3 August, 2025
""Goodbye!" you blurted out, after ladies undressed" (5)
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I scored: 2 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Hmm… I got this one with the wordplay, but the definition doesn’t make sense to me.

Minute Cryptic - 2 August, 2025
"Lead actor finally gets past misaligned teeth" (6)
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I scored: 2 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Annoyed at myself with this one.

Minute Cryptic - 1 August, 2025
"Top Easter egg of dozen, I think" (6)
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I scored: 1 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Love me a bit of Sade.

I wasn't sure about this program, but we've enjoyed it. A good mix of people, I think. We've guessed right in both episodes so far, so it must be too easy LOL.

Doh! As if my eyesight issues aren't enough, now my humour is also going.

Backstreet Boys Aj GIF ALT: Backstreet Boys Aj GIF

These are just lyrics:

Am I original? Yeah
Am I the only one? Yeah
Am I sexual? Yeah
Am I everything you need?
You better rock your body now

An old advert for X-Ray Spex. See bones thru skin. See thru clothing... Amazing X-ray vision guaranteed! The famous blushingly funny illusion.

Reminiscent of this.

YouTube video by Bona Fide Sky News Exposes Tory Fearmongering

Claims made by all politicians (including my favourites) should be exposed like this at every opportunity. youtu.be/m-TyAJIUduY?...

A tricky one.

Minute Cryptic - 31 July, 2025
"Architect plastered pole's spot?" (3,6)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
I scored: 4 under par
www.minutecryptic.com?utm_source=s...

Tweet screenshots Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tikt... Follow @theJeremyVine STATEMENT Thank-you for such kind messages about my libel action against Joey Barton. I can confirm it is now concluded and I am satisfied with the result. Mr Barton has now paid out more than half a million pounds in my case alone. 16:05 • 30 Jul 25 • 51.2K Views 71 Reposts 46 Quotes 769 Likes 46 Bookmarks : Most relevant replies v Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h S Replying to @theJeremyVine There seems to be some confusion about the stages of the case. The below is to explain the numbers. I have no further beef with Mr Barton, who has a series of ongoing legal problems to deal with. While defending my libel action, he also became a convicted wifebeater. 1 176 74 1hl 7.4K 贝 Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... •1h g My damages in the case were £110,000. These were paid last year, and Mr Barton made the agreed public apology. But my costs in bringing the case were between 180 and 190k. Mr Barton pledged in court to pay the costs, then chose to argue that the figure was too high. せ2 46 Ill 7.3K

Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h g Frustratingly, this meant I had to bring a separate action to recover my costs. The separate action also had a cost to it. Mr Barton surrendered on the main costs two days before the costs recovery action, but it was too late to avoid being liable for the costs recovery action. t73 © 51 Ill 6.7K Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h g So Barton paid for the libel. He paid the costs. He paid interest on the costs. He paid the cost of losing a challenge on the costs. And he paid his own costs, which will be more than mine because he had fancier lawyers. He has lost at least half a million pounds. © 92 1hl 6.6K Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... BARTON'S BILL 110k - the libel. 160k — my costs. 3.6k — interest on costs. 43k — my costs recovery action. 200k — his costs. MINIMUM £516,600 4 1216 © 101 1hl 6.6K • 1h 贝 ∞ Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... 9.1h g People asked, 'What if Barton refuses to pay, or can't pay?' To ensure he had the funds, I had to commission legal searches on his house. He owns it outright. Lawyers advised me that if he did not pay, they could put a charge on his house. セし7 © 57 1hl 6.1K

Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h This would mean Mr Barton would effectively become my tenant, paying me rent to live there. If he fell behind with the rent, I would have the right to evict him or force the sale of his house to recoup my debt. 4 174 072 In 6.4K Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h I had no wish to be in that position and I am grateful to my lawyers in ensuring we got the final payments in today. My barrister is Gervase de Wilde @5RB and my solicitor is Judith Thompson, who specialises in online defamation. If you need her she is here: @devonsolicitors 1 174 59 1l1 9.9K Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Ins... • 1h I may return to this subject in due course but for now it is a relief just to be vindicated and to have the case settled so decisively. Thank-you for reading this, especially if you sent messages of support. J 4 173 • 112 Ill 9.6K

Yes, Vine is a twat, but Barton is a grade A cunt and this is objectively hilarious

Well, that was quite the show... personally, I think you should have let Zoe leave, but there we go.

I can't imagine any factories he's done TV shows about would have him back.

unch unch

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