Edward Pickering

How far back in time can you understand English? An experiment in language change

This is absolutely fascinating on English language, and I regret that letters such as 'thorn', 'ash' and 'yogh' have disappeared.

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(Lifted from @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social's newsletter Cultural Capital, which you can, and should, sign up to: jmarriott.substack.com)

My only real takeaway from the Gorton and Denton by-election is that no matter what the result, it's more urgent than ever that we replace our current electoral system. *Especially* if Reform win, in a constituency that seems to be around two-thirds left-leaning.

The latest @originstorypodcast.bsky.social covers 15-minute cities and urbanism. Much recommended.

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PS - they've also given up on public transport. The same groups who protested against our LTNs on the grounds that we should sort public transport first then led a campaign against better bus lane provision when it came up, and Labour caved on that too.

Not in Exeter. Councillors have lost leadership and vision in the face of resistance from Facebook groups. (LA is Devon County Council, but a mix of county (9) and city councillors (4) sit on highways committee. Balance of power sits with Labour, and they appear to have given up on active travel.)

Into Milano, yeah?

To be fair, 'twas ever thus under the county council. But whatever emerges, it's probably going to be an equal mix of green (ex-Labour voters in Exeter), yellow (never-Reform Tories) and turquoise.

One for the nerds: Kanazawa station, though it's decorative rather than structural.

I'll miss this when it's gone.

Life During Wartime 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

42) B&B Hotels

Aha, that does remind me, I have a couple to add!

41) Suez

You’d think I’d have learned by now.

York marathon 3:09:23 | Strava Tough day at the office. Legs felt iffy from 8 miles, largely held it together to 18 or 19, had to dial it back from 20. But kept running, and didn't totally crack. | Strava

Me 🤝 Tom Dumoulin

Running the second half of a marathon 11 minutes slower than the first.

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This would see my wife getting deported. Fuck Reform and fuck Nigel Farage.

British Politics' Midlife Crisis Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

40) Deceuninck

39) Soudal

38) Amstel

Truth.

72km to go. Three left. Kuss, Vingegaard & Pogačar.

73km to go, make that 10. Three + three + four.

74km to go, and the yellow jersey group is down to 13 riders – four Visma, four UAE + five others.

Read this piece, and also download Stubbleman's amazing 1:46:43 The Ventoux Trilogy. This may be the most fun I've ever had writing a cycling piece.

Can't buy that kind of advertising for the product.

There have been more rider/moto interactions involving pieces of cardboard in this Tour than any I can remember.

There will be good days and bad days. Probably more bad days than good ones.

Hello, Pog's into the green jersey as well.

I find the 'Pogačar is vulnerable in week three' narrative mystifying. He's ridden seven Grand Tours, and won stage 20 in five of them. In the other two, he won stages in the final week. Last year he won the final three stages.