Marina
@marstrina.bsky.social
I'm sorry to be so difficult, but I'm afraid the truth is that I am.
Reposted by Marina
What a lot of people on the internet don't seem to realise is that a vital part of reading between the lines is also reading the actual lines.
December 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
What a lot of people on the internet don't seem to realise is that a vital part of reading between the lines is also reading the actual lines.
Reposted by Marina
Cartoonist @emadhajjaj.bsky.social with a beautiful, striking cartoon on the anniversary of freedom from Assad's terror. The joy and hope is what I witnessed shopping in a little German-Arabic corner store on Monday.
" #Syria, one year after the dictatorship - hopes for a better future "
" #Syria, one year after the dictatorship - hopes for a better future "
December 10, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Cartoonist @emadhajjaj.bsky.social with a beautiful, striking cartoon on the anniversary of freedom from Assad's terror. The joy and hope is what I witnessed shopping in a little German-Arabic corner store on Monday.
" #Syria, one year after the dictatorship - hopes for a better future "
" #Syria, one year after the dictatorship - hopes for a better future "
Reposted by Marina
Women were likely, as women, to take the next generation’s part, not this one’s; they wove the links men saw as chains, the bonds men saw as bondage.
December 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Women were likely, as women, to take the next generation’s part, not this one’s; they wove the links men saw as chains, the bonds men saw as bondage.
Reposted by Marina
I can’t emphasize enough how much you need to watch this until the end
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I can’t emphasize enough how much you need to watch this until the end
Reposted by Marina
Another brilliant pharmacy prescribing option - your pharmacist can prescribe anti- viral medication (which you need prescribed within 72 hours) if you have shingles.
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Another brilliant pharmacy prescribing option - your pharmacist can prescribe anti- viral medication (which you need prescribed within 72 hours) if you have shingles.
It's remarkable how few of these policies are green, & of those that are, how unambitious they seem to be. Rail electrification is a nice idea *that's already happening*, but how does it reengineer our transport & logistics to allow biodiversity gains? Where is the carbon neutral housing policy? Etc
Eoin Clarke has handily put together a list of 100 Green policies and it’s pretty astounding anyone can type all these out and not work out the economic collapse they would bring on
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
It's remarkable how few of these policies are green, & of those that are, how unambitious they seem to be. Rail electrification is a nice idea *that's already happening*, but how does it reengineer our transport & logistics to allow biodiversity gains? Where is the carbon neutral housing policy? Etc
This was, much to my surprise, absolutely fascinating. All human life is here - fear of change even when it's change you like, smart people being outsmarted by clever people, research & preparation being beaten by vibes. Only thing missing is a Trump cameo.
I haven't blogged for ages, so I wrote far too many words about something that happened 40 years ago, and which nobody outside of America cares about.
New Coke: A Warning from History
If, like me, you’re British then your knowledge of New Coke is likely to be (a) it was a massive failure, (b) everyone hated it, (c) it was a terrible business decision, and, if your go-to re…
excelpope.net
December 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This was, much to my surprise, absolutely fascinating. All human life is here - fear of change even when it's change you like, smart people being outsmarted by clever people, research & preparation being beaten by vibes. Only thing missing is a Trump cameo.
Reposted by Marina
16th century Venetian lawyer/bibliophile Odorico Pillone shelved his books spine-inward and commissioned Cesare Vecellio (Titian’s nephew) to paint their fore-edges with colourful images suggesting their subject matter. Here’s how they looked on the shelf news.yale.edu/2019/03/14/p...
December 8, 2025 at 6:56 AM
16th century Venetian lawyer/bibliophile Odorico Pillone shelved his books spine-inward and commissioned Cesare Vecellio (Titian’s nephew) to paint their fore-edges with colourful images suggesting their subject matter. Here’s how they looked on the shelf news.yale.edu/2019/03/14/p...
Extremely useful information!
this is potentially TMI but also *v useful information* so: did you know that (in the UK) if you start to feel you're getting a UTI on Saturday evening you can do an online form with eg Boots and be picking up your antibiotics by 10am on Sunday morning? and then start to feel better by 11am?
December 8, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Extremely useful information!
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel
December 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel
I did, too 🤷♀️
Until I was well into my 20s, I thought Van Morrison was one of those surname-on-its-own singers like Morrissey and that the 'Van' part of it was a stupid affectation he'd added to make it sound like he was of Dutch heritage. This isn't a shit joke. I really thought this.
December 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I did, too 🤷♀️
Reposted by Marina
there’s a general loneliness epidemic which men are just as much a victim of, and there’s a ‘male loneliness epidemic’ which seems to be mostly this
I'm starting to wonder how much "the male loneliness epidemic" is just straight and bisexual women identifying low-effort, mean, and incompetent men and choosing not to date, marry, and tolerate them anymore
December 7, 2025 at 6:42 PM
there’s a general loneliness epidemic which men are just as much a victim of, and there’s a ‘male loneliness epidemic’ which seems to be mostly this
Reposted by Marina
And Ukrainian journalists, civil society, and legal institutions still work.
The baroque corruption schemes playing out in America and Russia completely outclass the kickback scandal in Ukraine.
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trumpian Corruption Is Worse Than Ukrainian Corruption
The people of Ukraine want an honest government, even as American and Russian kleptocrats circle their country.
www.theatlantic.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
And Ukrainian journalists, civil society, and legal institutions still work.
Reposted by Marina
Kremlin: The new US security strategy is “largely aligned” with Russia’s vision.
December 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Kremlin: The new US security strategy is “largely aligned” with Russia’s vision.
Reposted by Marina
What people are not talking about: Russian drones were circling a French nuclear submarine yesterday. France shot them down.
December 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
What people are not talking about: Russian drones were circling a French nuclear submarine yesterday. France shot them down.
You want an explanation for the "male loneliness epidemic"? It's right here.
December 7, 2025 at 9:03 AM
You want an explanation for the "male loneliness epidemic"? It's right here.
Reposted by Marina
Reposted by Marina
But an inquiry into child sexual abuse was “spaffing money up the wall”
December 7, 2025 at 6:44 AM
But an inquiry into child sexual abuse was “spaffing money up the wall”
Reposted by Marina
📉 This morning, the government published its full Child Poverty Strategy, setting out plans to reduce hardship for children growing up in the UK by the end of the parliament.
It's a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.
It's a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.
December 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
📉 This morning, the government published its full Child Poverty Strategy, setting out plans to reduce hardship for children growing up in the UK by the end of the parliament.
It's a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.
It's a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.
"How much longer will the Russian people tolerate their mass-murderer dictator-president – the Salisbury poisoner, the indicted war criminal – who, refusing all peace overtures, is now threatening war with Europe?", asks a man who's obviously never met the Russian people.
Putin should have accepted Trump’s deal. Now Russia’s collapsing economy could lead to his downfall | Simon Tisdall
Putin should have accepted Trump’s deal. Now Russia’s collapsing economy could lead to his downfall | Simon Tisdall
The war against Ukraine has hit ordinary Russians hard, and the deteriorating situation is likely to inflame tensions, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:46 AM
"How much longer will the Russian people tolerate their mass-murderer dictator-president – the Salisbury poisoner, the indicted war criminal – who, refusing all peace overtures, is now threatening war with Europe?", asks a man who's obviously never met the Russian people.
Reposted by Marina
There are many streams of "I am just criticising Israel" and participants refuse to acknowledge the existence of or any connection to any stream more ardent/virulent than whatever they are willing to defend, despite a global rise in violent antisemitism and absolutely deranged propaganda.
December 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
There are many streams of "I am just criticising Israel" and participants refuse to acknowledge the existence of or any connection to any stream more ardent/virulent than whatever they are willing to defend, despite a global rise in violent antisemitism and absolutely deranged propaganda.
Reposted by Marina
Anyway, I try to make my own family with friends and then something like this comes up and I feel more isolated than ever. It's exhausting. I do understand why diaspora Jews seek out Israel, even with all its flaws. Just to belong somewhere fully without fear of antisemitism would be nice.
December 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Anyway, I try to make my own family with friends and then something like this comes up and I feel more isolated than ever. It's exhausting. I do understand why diaspora Jews seek out Israel, even with all its flaws. Just to belong somewhere fully without fear of antisemitism would be nice.
'I wish that I had spoken only of it all.'
-- Gertrude Stein, Stanza LXIII from Stanzas in Meditation
-- Gertrude Stein, Stanza LXIII from Stanzas in Meditation
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
'I wish that I had spoken only of it all.'
-- Gertrude Stein, Stanza LXIII from Stanzas in Meditation
-- Gertrude Stein, Stanza LXIII from Stanzas in Meditation
This is a very eye-opening thread, well done to James for the research.
That said, the glaring problem I see with Polanski is less that he is racist & much more that he is profoundly stupid. Also creepy, but mostly thick as pigshit.
That said, the glaring problem I see with Polanski is less that he is racist & much more that he is profoundly stupid. Also creepy, but mostly thick as pigshit.
I don’t know how much Zack Polanski knows about the history of allegations of divided loyalties against British Jews, but I’d suggest it’s probably something he doesn’t want to add a chapter to.
A brief history of an antisemitic trope… 🧵 /1
A brief history of an antisemitic trope… 🧵 /1
December 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This is a very eye-opening thread, well done to James for the research.
That said, the glaring problem I see with Polanski is less that he is racist & much more that he is profoundly stupid. Also creepy, but mostly thick as pigshit.
That said, the glaring problem I see with Polanski is less that he is racist & much more that he is profoundly stupid. Also creepy, but mostly thick as pigshit.
Reposted by Marina
How are you? What have you been up to?
(This is the best way of giving my age addled & mildly face blind brain the space to work out who I’m talking to and for them to give me clues without either of us feeling insulted)
(This is the best way of giving my age addled & mildly face blind brain the space to work out who I’m talking to and for them to give me clues without either of us feeling insulted)
"Never, ever say ‘nice to meet you’. To anyone. There’s a high percentage chance that you have met them"
This is true. I mess this up all the time
This is true. I mess this up all the time
It’s work party season — here’s a survival guide on.ft.com/3Kv91S4 #FTEdit
December 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
How are you? What have you been up to?
(This is the best way of giving my age addled & mildly face blind brain the space to work out who I’m talking to and for them to give me clues without either of us feeling insulted)
(This is the best way of giving my age addled & mildly face blind brain the space to work out who I’m talking to and for them to give me clues without either of us feeling insulted)