Joyful Sage
@joyfulsage.bsky.social
Reading, writing, trying to eat less cheese
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The brilliant news is that in one month's time the days start getting longer
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The brilliant news is that in one month's time the days start getting longer
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Oh it’s not just me 😅
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Oh it’s not just me 😅
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Reposted by Joyful Sage
The real issue isn’t immigration, it’s the feedback loop: platforms amplify anxiety → voters feel it → politicians chase it → hollow policy follows. Until we break that cycle, we won’t get functional decisions or functional democracy.
November 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The real issue isn’t immigration, it’s the feedback loop: platforms amplify anxiety → voters feel it → politicians chase it → hollow policy follows. Until we break that cycle, we won’t get functional decisions or functional democracy.
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Every time I hear a politician say that an issue is “dividing” this country they always then come down on the side of the right wing view of it. Just once I’d love to hear someone say “this issue is divisive, which is why I’m making the argument that kindness and compassion is important”
November 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Every time I hear a politician say that an issue is “dividing” this country they always then come down on the side of the right wing view of it. Just once I’d love to hear someone say “this issue is divisive, which is why I’m making the argument that kindness and compassion is important”
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The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
November 11, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The adverb "eke" may have fallen out of use, but the related verb "eke" is still alive today (almost always in combination with "out"). It originally meant 'increase, add, enlarge' but eventually came to mean 'to supplement' and then 'to make something last longer'.
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'What keeps fascinating me is just the process of writing. Where will it lead me? What will I learn about the world this time? What will I bring to the world that I didn’t know about before.' Jon Fosse answers @thetls.bsky.social's Twenty Questions: www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
Twenty Questions with Jon Fosse
“How can I know what I think, until I see what I say?” (E. M. Forster). How much of your writing surprises you? If it doesn’t surprise me, I am writing badly, and then it isn’t worth writing. After ma...
www.the-tls.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
'What keeps fascinating me is just the process of writing. Where will it lead me? What will I learn about the world this time? What will I bring to the world that I didn’t know about before.' Jon Fosse answers @thetls.bsky.social's Twenty Questions: www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
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Just discovered this account on Instagram and it’s so charming. The concept: Open mic in an old camper in Paris. Mostly singers, but this poet was incredible. I don’t even speak French, but I watched it all.
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
lebaladeur.openmic on Instagram: "OPEN MIC à Paris 🎙️On a posé notre van Serge devant le parc des Buttes Chaumont à Paris et on attendu que des artistes viennent ch…"
OPEN MIC à Paris 🎙️On a posé notre van Serge devant le parc des Buttes Chaumont à Paris et on attendu que des artistes viennent chanter🎙️@felixradu passait par là et nous a demandé si il pouvait nous chanter un morceau qu’il a composé. On a pris une claque 💛😮#artiste #openmic #vanView all 1,861 comments
www.instagram.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Just discovered this account on Instagram and it’s so charming. The concept: Open mic in an old camper in Paris. Mostly singers, but this poet was incredible. I don’t even speak French, but I watched it all.
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
www.instagram.com/reel/DPwa-Hh...
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Spotted near Russell Square today.
October 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Spotted near Russell Square today.
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I am completely dumbfounded by Labour’s reluctance to take on these people and to apply legal restraints to foreign interference in our politics and while I’m at it do something about GBNews! Does anybody have any sensible explanation for this reluctance?
October 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I am completely dumbfounded by Labour’s reluctance to take on these people and to apply legal restraints to foreign interference in our politics and while I’m at it do something about GBNews! Does anybody have any sensible explanation for this reluctance?
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Palestinians and Jews across this land are taking a breath right now after a period of unimaginable suffering. Two years of bombing and intentional starvation. Two years of captivity and abandonment. Two years of infuriating political calculations at the expense of all of us. (1/6)
October 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Palestinians and Jews across this land are taking a breath right now after a period of unimaginable suffering. Two years of bombing and intentional starvation. Two years of captivity and abandonment. Two years of infuriating political calculations at the expense of all of us. (1/6)
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Does anyone have any good examples of polyphonic flash fiction / short stories (from several voices / perspectives) or flash that uses head-hopping / shifting perspective (like my piece in the link below)? Your own or others. Pieces that are freely available online. Thanks in advance!
October 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Does anyone have any good examples of polyphonic flash fiction / short stories (from several voices / perspectives) or flash that uses head-hopping / shifting perspective (like my piece in the link below)? Your own or others. Pieces that are freely available online. Thanks in advance!
This is lovely.
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
it’s been a minute since i’ve published anything, so i’m especially grateful that @matchbooklitmag.bsky.social gave this little musing on love + leavings a home.
you can read the full piece here: matchbooklitmag.com/mb/relles/departures
you can read the full piece here: matchbooklitmag.com/mb/relles/departures
October 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is lovely.
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
“Maybe if life is a series of leavings, love is the longing to return”
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🧵Some real Jilly Cooper quotes from her Rutshire Chronicles, the series of books that Rivals is from.
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
October 18, 2024 at 5:01 PM
🧵Some real Jilly Cooper quotes from her Rutshire Chronicles, the series of books that Rivals is from.
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"
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Linguists/word nerds: help me out? What is the word/concept for a term that no longer applies to the reality of the thing it references. Like, no one uses rags for menstruation anymore but (some) ppl still say "on the rag." 🥴Or, ppl call television the "boob tube" tho TVs no longer have vacuum tubes
October 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Linguists/word nerds: help me out? What is the word/concept for a term that no longer applies to the reality of the thing it references. Like, no one uses rags for menstruation anymore but (some) ppl still say "on the rag." 🥴Or, ppl call television the "boob tube" tho TVs no longer have vacuum tubes
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At the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936, at least 100,000 people, including Jewish residents, Irish dock workers, Communists and Labour Party members prevented a march by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing through the East End...
October 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
At the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936, at least 100,000 people, including Jewish residents, Irish dock workers, Communists and Labour Party members prevented a march by Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing through the East End...
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It fell to the post-war generation to build our human rights protections. Today, it is the responsibility of progressives - especially within my own party - to mount a strong defence of these principles, or risk them being cast aside
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Holocaust survivor and Labour Lord calls for return of compassionate immigration
Lord Dubs has said Labour is giving in to pressure from the right to harden its stance on immigration
www.standard.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It fell to the post-war generation to build our human rights protections. Today, it is the responsibility of progressives - especially within my own party - to mount a strong defence of these principles, or risk them being cast aside
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
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Imagine you're in a weird romcom where Paul Hollywood is your rival. Do you go "let's have a bread baking competition" or do you emphasise your own relative strengths?
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
September 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Imagine you're in a weird romcom where Paul Hollywood is your rival. Do you go "let's have a bread baking competition" or do you emphasise your own relative strengths?
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
Because that in short has been the central problem with the traditional two's approach to anti-immigration voters and Reform UK.
I’m looking for recommended reading on the subject of repetition. Essays, poems, stories, articles, any/all suggestions gratefully received 🙏
September 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I’m looking for recommended reading on the subject of repetition. Essays, poems, stories, articles, any/all suggestions gratefully received 🙏
This is so beautiful, I had share. Anyone want to set up a Bluesky book club for poems?!
September 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This is so beautiful, I had share. Anyone want to set up a Bluesky book club for poems?!
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I find it so funny that royals give themselves so many badges and buttons to show they are good at kinging, it's like a 5 year old found the teacher's sticker drawer. Bless
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I find it so funny that royals give themselves so many badges and buttons to show they are good at kinging, it's like a 5 year old found the teacher's sticker drawer. Bless
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"Mention Mosley and the fascists of the 1930s, and you realise that we have seen off these characters before. What is ominous today is the absence of committed leadership to rally pro-democracy and anti-racist forces"
Who will speak for liberal Britain? Nick Cohen on the acquiescence to the populist right and even the far right, using some of the data familiar to my BlueSky followers
nickcohen.substack.com/p/when-will-...
nickcohen.substack.com/p/when-will-...
When will our spineless leaders speak for liberal Britain?
Cowardice enables the radical right
nickcohen.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
"Mention Mosley and the fascists of the 1930s, and you realise that we have seen off these characters before. What is ominous today is the absence of committed leadership to rally pro-democracy and anti-racist forces"
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Still waiting on the Prime Minister’s statement condemning the huge, violent, Nazi mob that attacked police officers in London…
September 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Still waiting on the Prime Minister’s statement condemning the huge, violent, Nazi mob that attacked police officers in London…
I’m not a fan of writing rules, but I mostly follow the ‘just use said’ one. However, I love the use of ‘announces’, and particularly ‘admit’ here 👌
“Your uterus,” she announces, “is not happy.”
“I know,” I admit. “I have been sensing its unhappiness.”
New @kathyfish.bsky.social is always a delight. I love this one, especially the use of dialogue and humour. SO GOOD AS ALWAYS! A must read.
“I know,” I admit. “I have been sensing its unhappiness.”
New @kathyfish.bsky.social is always a delight. I love this one, especially the use of dialogue and humour. SO GOOD AS ALWAYS! A must read.
I was thinking recently about how much I missed writing dialogue. This piece I wrote for the "my body, my choice" inaugural issue of Hot Flash Literary uses lots of dialogue and is very short. I'd love for you to read it and the whole amazing debut issue! 💙
hotflashliterary.com/wyoming/
hotflashliterary.com/wyoming/
September 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
I’m not a fan of writing rules, but I mostly follow the ‘just use said’ one. However, I love the use of ‘announces’, and particularly ‘admit’ here 👌