Getting some work done in the library of the RSA House. I’ve been a Fellow for years, but I’ve slipped out of the habit of using the venue.

A cozy library corner features a wall of bookshelves, a gray sofa, a red armchair, and a glass coffee table.

Interesting piece from @lloyddavis on how he integrates micro.blog with WordPress.

And I’m not just linking to it because he calls me an “early blog hero”. Honest.

Trafalgar Square, December 2024

A large Christmas tree adorned with lights stands in a bustling square in front of a grand, illuminated building at night.

WP Engine wins the first round in its battle with Automattic.

And the whole WordPress community watches and waits.

Well, this is very disappointing: PinkNews bosses accused of sexual misconduct.

Our annual Christmas tree buying trip to Spithandle Nursery.

It’s a tradition that really marks the beginning of the Christmas season for us.

Shopping for Christmas Trees at Spithandle Nursery in Sussex.

Christingle time.

Three decorated oranges with candles on top, wrapped in foil, and adorned with gummy candies and dried fruit skewered on sticks.

The last magazine I worked for before moving fully into digital is closing.

RIP Estates Gazette - after more than a century and a half.

I’ve got a full-on day of lectures in today (six hours back-to-back 🤪), so have yesterday’s thoughts on the difference between social media and social netwoks, and why that matters for audience work…

Morning ivy #2

A small ivy with green leaves grows over a rough, textured wall surface.

Billionaires: Bozos or begrovellers?

This is more than a little bit disturbing: Why The Faroese Whale Slaughter Must End 🐋

WARNING: graphic footage of whale slaughter.

Just finished my last session with the MA Newspaper journalism students this year. Lively, engaged, questioning, and quite savvy bunch. Some good newsroom talent incoming…

Morning ivy.

A vine with green leaves grows on a textured stone surface, set against a blurred background of trees, at Hassocks station.

Do you want cybermen? Because this is how you get cybermen.

A person is wearing an LED light therapy mask with visible eye and mouth openings while lying on a bed.

Weird how persistent old ways of thinking are. I saw this headline - Hopes are growing for Bakerloo extension to Lewisham, TfL official says - and thought “About time. That’ll be handy”.

And then I remembered that I haven’t lived in Lewisham for 13 years. (And that the author is a former student.)

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the perfect TV series to watch with my 9 year old on Daddy/Daughter TV nights while her big sister is at Guides.

Today has been a relentlessly local day - delivering the local residents’ association mag, and editing the parish mag.

Print is not dead. It’s just local.

Least surprising discovery of the day:

Substack’s RSS feeds are a disaster.

— @manton

It’s platform that takes what it wants from the open web, and locks everything else up behind proprietary tech. Podcasts, in particular, should be wary of the erosion of RSS.

I doubt I’ll ever be the sort of person that enjoys camping in the snow, bit I can enjoy the stunning photos of those who do.