Trish Byrne

Yeah, Tiger Zinda Hai was really good. Simple plot, excellent action.

Fantasizing about quitting my job to work for a presidential candidate who pledges to put every tech CEO in a zoo

For my Elvis book I met the Finnish academic who performed and recorded Elvis songs translated into both Latin and Sumerian.

"Of course, they did not have blue suede shoes in Sumeria," he told me, "so I had to translate the song as 'on my sandals of sky blue leather, please do not stand".

Can’t believe Sooz is so offended by Ricky Gervais’ newest billboard. He’s going to fuck her up on Twitter for this.

Things that will interest Bluesky; Misha Glenny, author of McMafia, replaces Melvyn Bragg as host of In Our Time.

1. The European Parliament’s attempt to ban plant-based foods from being sold as “sausages”, “burgers” etc is a direct response to livestock industry lobbying. This is a short thread on how utterly bleeding ridiculous it is. 🧵1/6

YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Alexander Skarsgård On His Pickle-Loving, Naked-Salsa-Dancing Father Stellan Skarsgård

Speaking of Skarsgards, I enjoyed himself and Stellan making back-to-back appearances on Colbert, and Alex giving out because Stellan wanted HIM to get the special pickles from NY, so that Stellan wouldn't have to check a bag on the flight.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub8v...

He gives the people what they want.

Why does everything to do with Christmas have to be pointy and jaggy for every other thing to do with Christmas to get fucking caught on and jammed in when you're trying to get it out of the box? At least Easter is mostly circles.

Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.

“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to

Imbibe Coffee Roasters – proving that a different way of doing business is possible: "There's huge satisfaction in giving" | Hotpress The founder of Imbibe Coffee Roasters, Gary Grant, explains how they have built a flourishing business selling great coffee, while also supporting an array ...

This is a really nice piece in Hot Press about how we're differently to other businesses and why. It'd be great if you could read and share. My perhaps naive hope is that a big business might see it and copy us. It works. #speirgorm www.hotpress.com/lifestyle-sp...

Roundy sparrows are the best.

tweet by @gerryadamssf: "This house is like Santa's Grotto. Takes half an hour 2 switch off fairy lights and assorted Yule illuminations. Feel like a grinch now." reply by @realnannysheila: "Surely you know someone who can fit a timer."

wife got a timer for all of our christmas lights so obviously thinking of this

Strange: we're told Ireland is Full and also that remote working is bad and should be halted.

Two hands have an idea to give each other matching tattoos. Lefty gets a beautiful eagle tattoo rendered on their arm. Now it’s Righty’s turn to be inked, but he looks scared as Lefty wields the tattoo gun to draw a childishly-drawn sloppy eagle

#StrangerThings is grand, like, but it has never lived up to the promise of its own opening titles.

Argh, my cockles, they are warmed.

It comes around quicker every year.

🗞️ A bumper edition of the newsletter is out now, featuring Ireland's first female engineer, a missed opportunity to fly a tractor, and how an Armagh woman might use mistletoe to sort her Christmas wishlist. Also, a gift guide and more - sign up free for the next one here www.ciaraioch.com/newsletter

Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.

You won't commission an Etsy witch cause "it's silly", but you'll decorate a dead tree inside your house with lights and ornamental animals? Okay. Guess you hate women in the workforce.

Advent We have tested and tasted too much, lover- Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder. But here in the Advent-darkened room Where the dry black bread and the sugarless tea Of penance will charm back the luxury Of a child's soul, we'll return to Doom The knowledge we stole but could not use. And the newness that was in every stale thing When we looked at it as children: the spirit-shocking Wonder in a black slanting Ulster hill Or the prophetic astonishment in the tedious talking Of an old fool will awake for us and bring You and me to the yard gate to watch the whins And the bog-holes, cart-tracks, old stables where Time begins. O after Christmas we'll have no need to go searching For the difference that sets an old phrase burning- We'll hear it in the whispered argument of a churning Or in the streets where the village boys are lurching. And we'll hear it among decent men too Who barrow dung in gardens under trees, Wherever life pours ordinary plenty. Won't we be rich, my love and I, and God we shall not ask for reason's payment, The why of heart-breaking strangeness in dreeping hedges Nor analyse God's breath in common statement. We have thrown into the dust-bin the clay-minted wages Of pleasure, knowledge and the conscious hour- And Christ comes with a January flower.

December 1st, baby!

A village scene featuring lots of activity around a frozen pond with children skating, walking and playing

Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 1
‘The village’
Artist: SR Badmin

This year we're doing Whamutopia. Every time you hear Last Christmas you have to have a mulled wine at your earliest convenience and toast George Michael, because he was a lad

There’s a lot of bad stuff you can say about the Middle Ages, but at least I wouldn’t have to know about Grimes or Bryan Johnson.

It stresses me out when the contestants on Race Across the World stand around chatting when they‘re meant to be working.

Every time SRK starts romancing an initially hesitant woman, one of those onscreen warnings should appear. “Professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt.”

Screenshot of Lynn from I'm Alan Partridge saying Thank You, I'll have a Bailey's

Me, everyday for the next month