bogl

@bogl

IT bloke in the North. He/him.

371 Folgt205 Follower702 Posts

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bogl@bogl· Jun 22

Indeed Starmer did the opposite. He did his level best to keep his brother out of his story. Too personal? Too embarrassing? Too much of a disconnect between his family duties and his government's policies? I doubt we'll ever know. /5

When I was writing my biography of him, Starmer told me of his brother's "sort of nomadic existence" and his deep sadness that Nick was dying just when he had at last found somewhere permanent to live. Here was a human story that went to the heart of Starmer's values and identity at a time when he was often being criticised for lacking both. But he didn't want it known to voters, or anybody else.

During the election campaign last summer and after he entered Downing Street, he continued to visit his brother by slipping incognito through the back door into the hospital where he was being treated. He once told me that discussing Nick's condition even in private felt "a bit violating".

This capacity to keep intense feelings bottled up may stand him in good stead in a time when, he says, "global politics..."

bogl@bogl· Jun 22

Psychologically this is fascinating. Many people who have close family with disabilities of whatever kinds are firecely protective of them and want to help them. But in Starmer's case this seems to have stopped at the personal level. /3

Couldn't he just have got cleaners to sort the house out?

"No," he says, "I didn't want anyone else there. He was my brother - I didn't want to let him down."

Nick "hadn't kept the place very clean", explains Starmer, suddenly gulping for words before describing how "I was putting what he'd left of his life in a bag". The prime minister forces himself back into his more familiar and less expressive form before continuing. "But - but - there you go, I suppose."

Starmer is, of course, not the first person to hold this office who has suffered grief. But his emotion is telling. He had always been deeply protective of his brother, who was born with difficulties learning. There were, apparently, a few fights with other children when he heard Nick being insulted - and it's still a bad idea to describe anyone as "thick" or "stupid" in the prime minister's presence.

bogl@bogl· Jun 22

A sitting PM went and did this *himself*. I'm sure those more familiar with biographies of PMs may be able to think of similar examples but there can't be many. /2

Leeds, January

Two large cars with tinted back windows drove slowly through the south side Leeds before coming to a halt outside small semi-detached house. The house did not usually get many visitors. But the grey-haired, casually dressed man who emerged from one of the vehicles did not look so out of place.

Starmer asked his armed police bodyguards to wait behind and opened the glass-fronted door. Once inside, he filled black bin liners with rotten food from the fridge and dirty clothes from the floor. Then the prime minister got to work cleaning the bathroom and toilet.

The house had belonged to his younger brother, Nick, who died on Boxing Day. Starmer had been up and down to Leeds, delaying the start of his first holiday in more than a year, so he could "sort what needs sorting"

bogl@bogl· May 26

It's also Lance-Triggering Day.

Lance from Detectorists, wearing headphones.

"Over-rated."

bogl@bogl· May 23

were you the guy that got down laying on the floor in front of the hexagon praying?

Reply

15

auraborosai 8h Edited

That was me. (I wish)

14

secretdecoder 8h The past inside the present

Respect. What a great crowd. Everyone was cool that I talked with. Everyone was respectful and tuned in during the playback.

bonzoello OP 8h

4

Haha! No! But my inner spirit was definitely doing that.

MacDake 8h

Did that actually happen?

5

4

HPPD2 3h

Yes. I was a little annoyed with him since he was standing there right in the middle with his camcorder filming for a long time before it started then he actually got down on the floor praying (it was a church but still).

+

bogl@bogl· Mar 25

Interesting list I shall investigate BUT through an excess of modest Bitter Karella, the psychic channeller of @midnightpals.bsky.social has failed to mention their /excellent/ Moonflow novel. Go grab it, it's fab.

The cover of Moonflow by Bitter Karella. It's... Hard to describe tbh. I can assure you it's as good as this cover. First queer horror novel - actually, first horror novel full stop - I've ever read. Boo to JKR and all her nonsense!

bogl@bogl· Mar 8

Alan Bennett. Jacqueline Wilson. Literary giants both. Looking forward to reading AB's latest diaries in full. www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/m...

I talk to lovely Jacqueline Wilson, who tells me she is past the peak of her fame, at any rate with her publishers ... but always memorable to me because at an event once she queued up to have her book signed.

bogl@bogl· Feb 16

He's at it again.

Picture of Jimmy Page entitled FRATER JIM THE DARK DANDY generated by AI.

Close up showing a fretboard that look like someone has put it through a Perkins Brailler and mashed the keyboard.

bogl@bogl· Feb 12

"Sorry if my racism was offensive, but only *if* you find racism offensive because if you don't my racism was fine." It's always the blinking billionaires, isn't it?

Ratcliffe says 'sorry my choice of language has offended some people'

Ratcliffe has just issued the following statement:

"I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.

"My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.

"My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.

bogl@bogl· Feb 12

If this is about who I think it is: the context is that the person concerned is pro-trans and the wife of the co-star is a TERF. Quite an important detail. As to dealings with female staff, I know not, but the lack of candour in one detail makes me question Popbitch's overall accuracy.

bogl@bogl· Jan 5

I mean. Honestly.

The headstock of a guitar. Five tuning pegs, not six. Goodness only knows how many strings there are. And that's just for a start.

bogl@bogl· Dec 20

Phew. #iykyk

Google Photos search. Thankfully, no "tond".

bogl@bogl· Dec 5

Arthur Darvill as Derek Taylor? I can see that!

New casting announced for The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes.

David Morrissey will star as Jim McCartney

Leanne Best will star as John Lennon's Aunt Mimi

James Norton will star as Brian Epstein

Harry Lloyd will star as George Martin

Bobby Schofield will star as Neil Aspinall

Daniel Hoffmann-Gill will star as Mal Evans

Arthur Darvill will star as Derek Taylor

Adam Pally will star as Allen Klein

bogl@bogl· Nov 18

Ever since I read this, I've wondered whether he's grief-stricken. observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Leeds, January

Two large cars with tinted back windows drove slowly through the south side of Leeds before coming to a halt outside a small semi-detached house. The house did not usually get many visitors. But the grey-haired, casually dressed man who emerged from one of the vehicles did not look so out of place.

Starmer asked his armed police bodyguards to wait behind and opened the glass-fronted door. Once inside, he filled black bin liners with rotten food from the fridge and dirty clothes from the floor. Then the prime minister got to work cleaning the bathroom and toilet.

The house had belonged to his younger brother, Nick, who died on Boxing Day. Starmer had been up and down to Leeds, delaying the start of his first holiday in more than a year, so he could "sort what needs sorting".

bogl@bogl· Nov 13

And just to top it off:

I just love King Crimson so, so much. And Gentle Giant too, of course.

It's like the Onion has hacked into my brain.

bogl@bogl· Nov 10

I had this. What a track listing!

The cover of the 1991 CD The Best Of The Move. The five members of the band are stood in front of a white painted fire engine. Of course. Not a brontosaurus, sadly.

THE BEST OF THE MOVE TRACK LISTING

BLACKBERRY WAY

CURLY

YELLOW RAINBOW

I CAN HEAR THE GRASS GROW

FIRE BRIGADE

HEY GRANDMA

KILROY WAS HERE

NIGHT OF FEAR

FEEL TOO GOOD

BRONTOSAURUS

FLOWERS IN THE RAIN

WALK UPON THE WATER

STEPHANIE KNOWS WHO

TURKISH TRAM CONDUCTOR BLUES

USELESS INFORMATION

WEEKEND

CHERRY BLOSSOM CLINIC

SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR

bogl@bogl· Nov 10

Faultless.

The track list of The Kinks Ultimate Collection CD (Castle):

1. You Really Got Me

10 Nov

2. All Day And All of The Night

3. Tired Of Waiting For You

4. Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy

5. Set Me Free

6. See My Friends

7. Till The End Of The Day

8. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion

9. Sunny Afternoon

10. Dead End Street

11. Waterloo Sunset

12. Autumn Almanac

13. Wonderboy

14. Days

15. Plastic Man

16. Victoria

17. Lola

18. Apeman

19. David Watts

20. Where Have All The Good Times Gone

21. A Well Respected Man

22. I'm Not Like Everybody Else

23. End Of The Season

24. Death Of A Clown

25. Susannah's Still Alive

bogl@bogl· Nov 10

My introduction to the Kinks. Cheap as chips, all the hits.

Cover of the Kinks Ultimate Collection, my introduction to Davies world.

bogl@bogl· Oct 7

That time of year again. Get your jabs if able!

Sticker on back of badge: I'M STRONG, I'M VACCINATED AGAINST FLU

bogl@bogl· Aug 1

The very first time the AI aided Google pops up, it gets it WRONG. Argh.

Al Overview

+8

:

USA AFRICA

"We Are the World" was not performed at Live Aid. It was a separate charity single recor-ded in 1985 to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The song featured performances by a large en-semble of famous musicians, including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Dylan. Live Aid, a massive concert event held in July 1985, featured per-formances from many artists, but "We Are the World" was not part of that lineup.

Here's why "We Are the World" and Live Aid are often confused:

Timing: Both events took place in 1985, with "We Are the World" released in March and Live Aid in July.

Purpose: Both aimed to raise money for African famine relief.

bogl@bogl· Jun 20

Sparks last night were awesome. Was it disco? Was it rock? Was it glam? Was it ballads? Was it uncategorisable? Was it superb? Yes to all.

The Maels onstage, lights behind them, drinking in well-earned applause.

The Vocal Stylings Of Mr Ron Mael™. Ron in a baseball cap delivering Suburban Homeboy.

Whole band shot. Russell in yellow stage togs.

The multicoloured (for Pride Month?) marquee of the Hammersmith Odeon proclaiming it's a Sparks show tonight.

bogl@bogl· Jun 14

Is Dept Q the prequel-before-one to Department S? #OneForTheKids

Department S. Jason King, Annabelle Hurst and Stuart Sullivan looking fab and groovy.

"Inexplicable...baffles...illogical"

bogl@bogl· Jun 8

One paragraph in this story speaks for so many things in the US, the UK and beyond. www.bbc.com/news/article...

"I think it is very sad that what has taken so long to build can be knocked down with a wrecking ball so quickly with no plan to rebuild it afterwards."

bogl@bogl· Jun 4

<gulp>

Back of a box:

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM

THIS APPARATUS MUST BE INSTALLED BY A COMPETENT PERSON

See enclosed User Guide for complete instructions: Read it in full, retain it, and pass it on to any subsequent owner.

bogl@bogl· May 25

Is the site having issues?

Eruditorumpress.com website with "Error establishing a database connection"

bogl@bogl· May 18

Ooo look what I got in the post! Many thanks @gralefrit.bsky.social and also for signing it with your favourite funny line. (I won't post that cos he might think it's his favourite line ever still when YOU buy one.) (Or he might not. Favourites change innit.) (You ARE buying one, aren't you?)

The cover of Be Funny Or Die by Joel Morris. I've heard the audiobook - I've got the dead-tree version - I'll skip the brain implant version though. There are limits, you know.

bogl@bogl· May 17

I'd forgotten about that scene!

bogl@bogl· May 17

This persecution needs to end. In the UK we are going backwards not forwards. I stand with LGBTQIA+ people.

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST

НОМОРНОΒΙΑ, ΒΙΡΗΟΒΙΑ,

INTERSEXPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA

FREEDOM. EQUALITY.

DIGNITY. EVERYWHERE

Flag held against a blue sky with the sun behind

bogl@bogl· May 16

Fixed! Thanks.

bogl@bogl· May 16

@gralefrit.bsky.social Getting this when I try to pay for Be Funny Or Die. Tried three cards, all the same. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?