Alex MacLaren
@alexmaclaren.bsky.social
Reading, cooking, counting my blessings. Resident of Folkestone, UK
Pinned
Alex MacLaren
@alexmaclaren.bsky.social
· Jan 24
Oxford English Dictionary
The OED is the definitive record of the English language, featuring 600,000 words, 3 million quotations, and over 1,000 years of English.
www.oed.com
If you care about the meaning of words, the Oxford English Dictionary offers free access to its online version via your local library, something that amazed me when I discovered it and has delighted and reassured me ever since. Libraries are the best. Go here: www.oed.com/information/...
Just want to acknowledge the challenge faced by civilised public people, consenting to endure an abusive political culture - one that some people are actively pushing towards polarisation, alienation and dehumanisation. /1
I know who Nus Ghani MP is - not because we always agree - but because she’s been serving her constituency (as well as lewks) since 2015.
Who the hell is Lucy White?!
Ah, a quick google search reveals her as a rentagob for GB ‘news.’
I know which one is qualified to chair the budget debate.
Who the hell is Lucy White?!
Ah, a quick google search reveals her as a rentagob for GB ‘news.’
I know which one is qualified to chair the budget debate.
November 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Just want to acknowledge the challenge faced by civilised public people, consenting to endure an abusive political culture - one that some people are actively pushing towards polarisation, alienation and dehumanisation. /1
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
this is amazing news - the HPV vaccine promises to eliminate cervical cancer in countries where uptake is high.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
The sheer number of people asking why nothing works/looks good/is new is growing and we’re due a paradigm shift, I see it in everything I’m into, with the exception being comics which already seems ahead of the curve because of the relatively low risk of trying something new.
November 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The sheer number of people asking why nothing works/looks good/is new is growing and we’re due a paradigm shift, I see it in everything I’m into, with the exception being comics which already seems ahead of the curve because of the relatively low risk of trying something new.
Feeling cynical? This is beautiful
45 years ago I made a pitch for the Director-General job. Didn’t get it – mind you, I was only 13. But I did get a reply from Ian Trethowan, who was DG at the time. All these years later I’m proud to work for the BBC.
November 24, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Feeling cynical? This is beautiful
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
Even sincere actors get pulled into the same incentive field. Their beliefs may be genuine, but the attention economy doesn’t distinguish. To be heard, they must compete with the grifters on the grifters’ terms.
November 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Even sincere actors get pulled into the same incentive field. Their beliefs may be genuine, but the attention economy doesn’t distinguish. To be heard, they must compete with the grifters on the grifters’ terms.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
I LOVE this
I once knew a Federal bank examiner, and one time someone asked him why we had to KEEP inspecting banks over and over. He basically said every new batch of business school grads invents bank fraud from first principles.
AirBnB CEO calling it “vibe revenue” just 👨🍳 😘
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
November 22, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I LOVE this
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
It's that time of year
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
It's that time of year
I am reading Walter Ong’s ‘Orality and Literacy’ and it is DEFINITELY the next ‘book that I buy copies of and give to people’.
November 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I am reading Walter Ong’s ‘Orality and Literacy’ and it is DEFINITELY the next ‘book that I buy copies of and give to people’.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
New ChatGPT ad copy: "Shallower than Google"
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
New ChatGPT ad copy: "Shallower than Google"
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
“Things happen.”
Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist and Washington Post columnist who was literally murdered and dismembered by agents of the Saudi government inside a Saudi consulate.
Shameful. So shameful.
Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist and Washington Post columnist who was literally murdered and dismembered by agents of the Saudi government inside a Saudi consulate.
Shameful. So shameful.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
“Things happen.”
Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist and Washington Post columnist who was literally murdered and dismembered by agents of the Saudi government inside a Saudi consulate.
Shameful. So shameful.
Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist and Washington Post columnist who was literally murdered and dismembered by agents of the Saudi government inside a Saudi consulate.
Shameful. So shameful.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
We lived in a pub when I was growing up and when I was 3 (50 years ago!) we had someone in to draw the pub for a business card. I sat next to him and watched him draw every line. I was transfixed and it was a huge inspiration for me. I’ve dreamt about owning that drawing for years…
November 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We lived in a pub when I was growing up and when I was 3 (50 years ago!) we had someone in to draw the pub for a business card. I sat next to him and watched him draw every line. I was transfixed and it was a huge inspiration for me. I’ve dreamt about owning that drawing for years…
Saw this photograph today... It took nearly a year from the declaration of war in 1939 for the British Government to ban Mosley’s Fascists and intern him.
bsky.app/profile/ianm...
bsky.app/profile/ianm...
November 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Saw this photograph today... It took nearly a year from the declaration of war in 1939 for the British Government to ban Mosley’s Fascists and intern him.
bsky.app/profile/ianm...
bsky.app/profile/ianm...
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
Hunt For Red October, but Sam Neil is doing a greencard scam in the background.
November 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Hunt For Red October, but Sam Neil is doing a greencard scam in the background.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I have been listening to Shabana Mahmood on the BBC talking about the Labour government’s new immigration plans, and the consequences for refugees. I feel sick. What the actual, @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social?
November 16, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I have been listening to Shabana Mahmood on the BBC talking about the Labour government’s new immigration plans, and the consequences for refugees. I feel sick. What the actual, @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social?
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
"The cat scratched my groin when he saw that woman from Strictly"
"Claudia Winkleman?"
"No, man, but it was close"
"Claudia Winkleman?"
"No, man, but it was close"
November 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
"The cat scratched my groin when he saw that woman from Strictly"
"Claudia Winkleman?"
"No, man, but it was close"
"Claudia Winkleman?"
"No, man, but it was close"
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
Every single media lawyer I have spoken with this weeks agree that the BBC is doing exactly the right thing in admitting a mistake without admitting liability.
What serious lawyer would ever advise issuing an apology while there’s an imminent legal threat? How did the BBC not have lines and briefing ready?
Is it even capable of fighting a case when some near its top seem not to want it to win?
Is it even capable of fighting a case when some near its top seem not to want it to win?
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Every single media lawyer I have spoken with this weeks agree that the BBC is doing exactly the right thing in admitting a mistake without admitting liability.
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
we have a president who only does good things when everyone calls him a pedophile. our mission for the next 3 years is clear.
November 14, 2025 at 11:24 PM
we have a president who only does good things when everyone calls him a pedophile. our mission for the next 3 years is clear.
Trump v BBC: I can’t imagine there being many surprises tbh, but it will certainly provoke a conversation about patriotism and leadership
November 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Trump v BBC: I can’t imagine there being many surprises tbh, but it will certainly provoke a conversation about patriotism and leadership
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
Basically saying "if you do crime for me, I won't only pardon you--I'll give you millions of dollars of public money." Truly unprecedented level of corruption
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Michael Flynn, DOJ in Settlement Talks Over $50 Million Claim
The Justice Department has been discussing settlements with two former officials from Donald Trump’s first term who — like the president — claim they’re owed major payouts from the US government as vi...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Basically saying "if you do crime for me, I won't only pardon you--I'll give you millions of dollars of public money." Truly unprecedented level of corruption
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alex MacLaren
It’s difficult to underestimate the extra burden that this is placing on our public libraries. For example, on a daily basis library workers are now filling the in-person/human service gap that billion euro banking institutions have abdicated from to maximise their profit margins.
"Essential services are now digital by default, leaving many older people feeling locked out of their own lives."
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie/6864189
Opinion: We’ve grown far too comfortable excluding older people from the digital world
As more of our lives move online by default, digital ageism has quietly become one of the last unchallenged prejudices, writes Fiona Daly.
jrnl.ie
November 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It’s difficult to underestimate the extra burden that this is placing on our public libraries. For example, on a daily basis library workers are now filling the in-person/human service gap that billion euro banking institutions have abdicated from to maximise their profit margins.