Mark
@markde.bsky.social
Keeper of keys & grounds, unpicker of knots, grower of metaphors and finder of paths.
Pinned
Mark
@markde.bsky.social
· Sep 8
If you know me, you know why this is living here until further notice.
This is astonishingly good.
Friend shared this video of a man unveiling the library he hid when he fled Damascus in 2011. It’s incredible
September 17, 2026 at 11:51 AM
This is astonishingly good.
Reposted by Mark
some loveliness
September 16, 2026 at 2:08 PM
some loveliness
Reposted by Mark
Putin pal and oligarch Umar Kremlev, who paid $100,000 towards Don Jr’s wedding, is a former member of the ultranationalist Russian biker gang the Night Wolves and is linked to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Melania Trump denies link to oligarch ‘involved in child abductions’ — The Times and The Sunday Times
The US first lady said she had no relationship with Umar Kremlev, who paid for Donald Trump Jr’s wedding in the Bahamas this year
apple.news
September 15, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Putin pal and oligarch Umar Kremlev, who paid $100,000 towards Don Jr’s wedding, is a former member of the ultranationalist Russian biker gang the Night Wolves and is linked to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Scandalous #sewingbee judging on transformation challenge.
September 15, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Scandalous #sewingbee judging on transformation challenge.
Reposted by Mark
ProPublica: Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding was secretly bankrolled by a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin.
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island.
He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently.
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island.
He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently.
Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...
www.propublica.org
September 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
ProPublica: Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding was secretly bankrolled by a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin.
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island.
He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently.
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island.
He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently.
Sigh. Not entirely sure the always listening and transcribing Apple watch is the best read of the room in 2026. 🍎
September 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Sigh. Not entirely sure the always listening and transcribing Apple watch is the best read of the room in 2026. 🍎
1510, 25C on the 6th of September, Buzzards and Red kites over head, on a smaller scale, The Caryopteris is absolutely alive with bees. 🌱
September 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
1510, 25C on the 6th of September, Buzzards and Red kites over head, on a smaller scale, The Caryopteris is absolutely alive with bees. 🌱
1700, 21C, a day mostly bright with scattered clouds. In somewhat concerning developments, seen whilst wandering* the fens today, a massive drop from the damson trees and not just this one. 🌱
*most certainly not scrumping, how rude.
*most certainly not scrumping, how rude.
September 5, 2026 at 4:06 PM
1700, 21C, a day mostly bright with scattered clouds. In somewhat concerning developments, seen whilst wandering* the fens today, a massive drop from the damson trees and not just this one. 🌱
*most certainly not scrumping, how rude.
*most certainly not scrumping, how rude.
Reposted by Mark
This really isn’t what’s on the film.
Farage is told *during the lunch* that a foreign donor paid for polling that Reform organised and had placed in Telegraph and Times
Farage is told *during the lunch* that a foreign donor paid for polling that Reform organised and had placed in Telegraph and Times
Robert Jenrick tells Times Radio Nigel Farage wasn't part of the donations scandal as he just had lunch. He said: "You can't criticise a leader for saying thank you over lunch to someone. I know a lot of slings and arrows are thrown at Nigel Farage, but being polite is not a crime these days"
September 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This really isn’t what’s on the film.
Farage is told *during the lunch* that a foreign donor paid for polling that Reform organised and had placed in Telegraph and Times
Farage is told *during the lunch* that a foreign donor paid for polling that Reform organised and had placed in Telegraph and Times
As someone lucky enough to have been popping in to St John for Kidneys on toast and a rarebit for something like two decades, this is a lovely read. And gosh am I now hungry, if only I could get crab easily… ohhh wait. 🦀🦀
Today’s @ftweekend.com has an extract from my new book Nights Out In The Kitchen. This bit of about the joy of things on toast, including a recipe for lobster Thermidor bruschetta - and I have a link good for 300 free reads.
as.ft.com/r/e3900455-b...
as.ft.com/r/e3900455-b...
September 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
As someone lucky enough to have been popping in to St John for Kidneys on toast and a rarebit for something like two decades, this is a lovely read. And gosh am I now hungry, if only I could get crab easily… ohhh wait. 🦀🦀
Reposted by Mark
For today’s @ftweekend.com I am at the slightly mad but very good Celentano’s, just reopened in a new Glasgow location, where they throw nuggets of lasagne in the deep fat fryer, serve linguine with a crab and nduja XO and many other good things besides.
www.ft.com/content/bfe5...
www.ft.com/content/bfe5...
September 5, 2026 at 8:28 AM
For today’s @ftweekend.com I am at the slightly mad but very good Celentano’s, just reopened in a new Glasgow location, where they throw nuggets of lasagne in the deep fat fryer, serve linguine with a crab and nduja XO and many other good things besides.
www.ft.com/content/bfe5...
www.ft.com/content/bfe5...
Reposted by Mark
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series
You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.
www.theverge.com
September 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
Reposted by Mark
This is a first rate investigation of Reform’s dodgy dealings by C4 News. Would be good if other broadcasters did similar.
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
🔗 Read the exclusive story on Substack:
🔗 Read the exclusive story on Substack:
Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
channel4news.substack.com
September 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM
This is a first rate investigation of Reform’s dodgy dealings by C4 News. Would be good if other broadcasters did similar.
Reposted by Mark
Farage's senior aide Dan Jukes and Reform's head of policy James Orr have stepped down following the Channel 4 News report into the party’s dodgy dealings.
An attempt to protect the higher-ups.
An attempt to protect the higher-ups.
Two Reform UK officials step down after undercover report on party donations
Reform says Dan Jukes and James Orr have left their roles as it launches an investigation into the report.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 4, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Farage's senior aide Dan Jukes and Reform's head of policy James Orr have stepped down following the Channel 4 News report into the party’s dodgy dealings.
An attempt to protect the higher-ups.
An attempt to protect the higher-ups.
Reposted by Mark
Pride is a promise — that every Canadian can live safely, openly, and proudly as themselves.
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Nepean, and across Ottawa: Happy Pride!
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Nepean, and across Ottawa: Happy Pride!
August 30, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Pride is a promise — that every Canadian can live safely, openly, and proudly as themselves.
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Nepean, and across Ottawa: Happy Pride!
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Nepean, and across Ottawa: Happy Pride!
Reposted by Mark
“This year’s El Niño climate event is likely to be historic. That’s not a good thing. But taken in conjunction with a planet overheated by climate change the results could be devastating.”
Forecast: Extreme
The Climate Crisis will make El Niño hit hard
chadbourn.substack.com
August 29, 2026 at 8:57 AM
“This year’s El Niño climate event is likely to be historic. That’s not a good thing. But taken in conjunction with a planet overheated by climate change the results could be devastating.”
Reposted by Mark
China recognises Trump’s failure and incompetence and sees an opportunity.
China deploys record number of ships around Taiwan as pressure grows
China deployed a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other ships in Taiwan's waters last month, the island's coast guard told AFP, as Beijing dials up pressure on Taipei.The number o...
www.yahoo.com
August 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM
China recognises Trump’s failure and incompetence and sees an opportunity.
Reposted by Mark
This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.
August 25, 2026 at 6:28 PM
This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.
Reposted by Mark
Oh, terribly sad news. May she rest in peace, and rise in glory.
August 25, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Oh, terribly sad news. May she rest in peace, and rise in glory.
Reposted by Mark
Farewell, Dolly x
August 25, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Farewell, Dolly x
Reposted by Mark
Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Here's the official announcement of Parton's passing from her reps, along with the request that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com
Reposted by Mark
The Daily Beast obtained what it calls 'intimate' letters Natalie Harp wrote to Trump in 2023.
"You are all that matters to me," Harp writes, "I don't want to ever let you down."
In another passage, she says she's envious of women "whose only job seems to be to talk with you and look pretty."
"You are all that matters to me," Harp writes, "I don't want to ever let you down."
In another passage, she says she's envious of women "whose only job seems to be to talk with you and look pretty."
Natalie Harp’s Intimate Letters to Trump Revealed in Full
Trump’s biographer Michael Wolff is revealing two bombshell letters Harp wrote to Trump, calling him her “Guardian and Protector.”
www.thedailybeast.com
August 21, 2026 at 8:50 PM
The Daily Beast obtained what it calls 'intimate' letters Natalie Harp wrote to Trump in 2023.
"You are all that matters to me," Harp writes, "I don't want to ever let you down."
In another passage, she says she's envious of women "whose only job seems to be to talk with you and look pretty."
"You are all that matters to me," Harp writes, "I don't want to ever let you down."
In another passage, she says she's envious of women "whose only job seems to be to talk with you and look pretty."
Reposted by Mark
The Guardian highlighting the misogyny which invariably goes hand in hand with scientific racism
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended by his university
Researcher Nathan Cofnas previously claimed Black people would hold few high-profile positions in a meritocracy
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2026 at 6:18 AM
The Guardian highlighting the misogyny which invariably goes hand in hand with scientific racism
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Mark
More signs of a blue tsunami building.
August 20, 2026 at 9:17 PM
More signs of a blue tsunami building.