Matt Andrews
@mattandrews.info
Engineering manager at GitLab. Formerly Economist, BBC, Guardian etc. Music nerd, cyclist, tired dad. Run a 20+ year old music webzine and still blogs sometimes, too! https://mattandrews.info/
Reposted by Matt Andrews
This essay by the author of a recent well-reviewed book about Tolkien starts modestly and then stabs you with a Morgul-blade halfway through, where you are pinioned by a twist in the telling. You may never recover. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...
Opinion | Why I Keep Returning to Middle-Earth
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This essay by the author of a recent well-reviewed book about Tolkien starts modestly and then stabs you with a Morgul-blade halfway through, where you are pinioned by a twist in the telling. You may never recover. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...
Another datapoint for @jim.londoncentric.media's list of misleading Reach headlines:
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco
A taste test has revealed Cathedral City is actually outscored by other varieties
www.birminghammail.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Another datapoint for @jim.londoncentric.media's list of misleading Reach headlines:
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
"Alert for UK households buying Cathedral City cheese at M&S or Tesco"
The "alert" is that... other cheeses came out ahead in an independent taste test.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/sho...
Someone on Radio 4 this morning used the phrase "cyber gang" and all I could picture was this
December 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Someone on Radio 4 this morning used the phrase "cyber gang" and all I could picture was this
I've either got the European mega flu, Covid, or something similarly miserable, and I foolishly agreed a week ago to host a departmental end-of-year social. Pray for me this afternoon as I run a trivia quiz while wishing I was lying in a warm bath and falling asleep to a Tolkien audiobook
December 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I've either got the European mega flu, Covid, or something similarly miserable, and I foolishly agreed a week ago to host a departmental end-of-year social. Pray for me this afternoon as I run a trivia quiz while wishing I was lying in a warm bath and falling asleep to a Tolkien audiobook
Every now and again I start thinking about how people do ParkRun with their kids, or how that Zombies Run game makes running fun for newbies and stuff, and I start thinking "maybe I'll get into running" but then thankfully my cyclist brain snaps back into gear and shuts all that nonsense down again.
December 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Every now and again I start thinking about how people do ParkRun with their kids, or how that Zombies Run game makes running fun for newbies and stuff, and I start thinking "maybe I'll get into running" but then thankfully my cyclist brain snaps back into gear and shuts all that nonsense down again.
This is a great point.
My local railway company still insists on posting service updates on Twitter, but when I visit (without an account), all I see in their feed is inane engagement bait about their pet cat (which presumably got lots of likes back in, er, 2021).
x.com/WestMidRailway
My local railway company still insists on posting service updates on Twitter, but when I visit (without an account), all I see in their feed is inane engagement bait about their pet cat (which presumably got lots of likes back in, er, 2021).
x.com/WestMidRailway
Twitter used to have utility even for those who did not have accounts
X doesn't, and it has an added reputational risk
As I discovered yesterday - stumbling over some 2020 posts from @collegeofeurope.bsky.social
Blog post 👇
euroblog.jonworth.eu/x-reputation...
X doesn't, and it has an added reputational risk
As I discovered yesterday - stumbling over some 2020 posts from @collegeofeurope.bsky.social
Blog post 👇
euroblog.jonworth.eu/x-reputation...
X: reputational poison, even if you try to reduce your use of it. Exit is the only option
A friend messaged me yesterday, asking if I had seen the job ad for Rector of the College of Europe (Mogherini has resigned as Rector since I last wrote about this topic). And my friend sent me the li...
euroblog.jonworth.eu
December 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This is a great point.
My local railway company still insists on posting service updates on Twitter, but when I visit (without an account), all I see in their feed is inane engagement bait about their pet cat (which presumably got lots of likes back in, er, 2021).
x.com/WestMidRailway
My local railway company still insists on posting service updates on Twitter, but when I visit (without an account), all I see in their feed is inane engagement bait about their pet cat (which presumably got lots of likes back in, er, 2021).
x.com/WestMidRailway
The perils of building a year-end "Wrapped" feature when you rely on customer/merchant data to geolocate transactions: you end up retreading complex border disputes with your users: www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/com...
From the cyprus community on Reddit: Monzo A uk bank thinks Cyprus is in Turkey proper 🤔
Explore this post and more from the cyprus community
www.reddit.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The perils of building a year-end "Wrapped" feature when you rely on customer/merchant data to geolocate transactions: you end up retreading complex border disputes with your users: www.reddit.com/r/cyprus/com...
Just saw tickets went on pre-sale for Elvis Costello in Birmingham. Checked the stalls prices: £200. Are you fucking kidding me Elvis
December 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Just saw tickets went on pre-sale for Elvis Costello in Birmingham. Checked the stalls prices: £200. Are you fucking kidding me Elvis
Went to the GP recently and they booked my follow-up examination with a private doctor (covered by the NHS) because the waiting list was months long. Got the doctor's notes back today and he began "The lovely gentleman presented recently..." and this is why people go private isn't it
December 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Went to the GP recently and they booked my follow-up examination with a private doctor (covered by the NHS) because the waiting list was months long. Got the doctor's notes back today and he began "The lovely gentleman presented recently..." and this is why people go private isn't it
Has anyone written a clever grammar article about American English "mind you" versus British English because I'm just as interested/invested in finding out how the two usages diverged as I am with "I could[n't] care less"
December 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Has anyone written a clever grammar article about American English "mind you" versus British English because I'm just as interested/invested in finding out how the two usages diverged as I am with "I could[n't] care less"
Accidentally bought a BrewDog beer and feel like I need to do penance somewhere in apology
December 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Accidentally bought a BrewDog beer and feel like I need to do penance somewhere in apology
Genuinely unsure if this is new Labour policy to discourage people arriving from France
went through security and the Eurostar security gate closed on my hand!!! I burst out crying out of sheer shock and the little pen thing had to be fully rebooted so I got stuck there for ages, weeping like a child, holding my bleeding hand!!! way to end my stupid trip!!!
December 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Genuinely unsure if this is new Labour policy to discourage people arriving from France
I don't know what this means or what it says about my usage of this platform, but when I click on the little blue butterfly icon on my phone or desktop bookmarks to open Bluesky, I still mentally think "Twitter" to myself when I select it.
December 9, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I don't know what this means or what it says about my usage of this platform, but when I click on the little blue butterfly icon on my phone or desktop bookmarks to open Bluesky, I still mentally think "Twitter" to myself when I select it.
I stopped using Instagram six months or so ago, and recently deactivated my account completely. It's been good for my mental health and being more "in the moment" (eg. removing the pressure to feed the content machine).
It also reveals just how awful the UX is for anyone outside the ecosystem.
It also reveals just how awful the UX is for anyone outside the ecosystem.
December 8, 2025 at 8:19 AM
I stopped using Instagram six months or so ago, and recently deactivated my account completely. It's been good for my mental health and being more "in the moment" (eg. removing the pressure to feed the content machine).
It also reveals just how awful the UX is for anyone outside the ecosystem.
It also reveals just how awful the UX is for anyone outside the ecosystem.
British parents of preschoolers: I can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that the upcoming Scarecrow's Wedding animated film has controversially replaced the canonical plot device of the illicit cigar with, er, a toasted marshmallow.
Don't share this embargoed knowledge or I'll be banned from the BBC Alumni Club.
Don't share this embargoed knowledge or I'll be banned from the BBC Alumni Club.
December 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
British parents of preschoolers: I can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that the upcoming Scarecrow's Wedding animated film has controversially replaced the canonical plot device of the illicit cigar with, er, a toasted marshmallow.
Don't share this embargoed knowledge or I'll be banned from the BBC Alumni Club.
Don't share this embargoed knowledge or I'll be banned from the BBC Alumni Club.
In addition to this: there's a Paul Simon song where he sings "I went outside and smoked myself a J" which is immediately followed by a cheeky little guitar riff that's so cheesy that it almost becomes cool again.
No idea what these things are called but more songs should have 'em.
No idea what these things are called but more songs should have 'em.
you know what’s missing in music these days, is the deedle-dee. like ‘lord i was born a ramblin man [DEEDLE-DEE].’ or ‘workin for the clampdown [DEEDLE-DEE].’ i know this is chopped as hell of me but the deedle-dees are the best part of every song they’re in so 🤷♀️
December 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In addition to this: there's a Paul Simon song where he sings "I went outside and smoked myself a J" which is immediately followed by a cheeky little guitar riff that's so cheesy that it almost becomes cool again.
No idea what these things are called but more songs should have 'em.
No idea what these things are called but more songs should have 'em.
Had to do quite a lot of digging to work out what the inappropriate song referenced here was, because I was under the impression they performed a choral version of Sir Mix-a-lot or something.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bangor Cathedral music boss sacked after 'inappropriate' choir song row
A protest at Bangor Cathedral came after it announced it was considering laying off two-thirds of its workforce.
www.bbc.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Had to do quite a lot of digging to work out what the inappropriate song referenced here was, because I was under the impression they performed a choral version of Sir Mix-a-lot or something.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Amazing Reddit thread where someone is looking for recommendations for London pubs with "really bad vibes" because they want to friendzone someone and don't want to risk "romantic auras": www.reddit.com/r/london/s/d...
(Spoilers: the answer is basically "any Wetherspoons")
(Spoilers: the answer is basically "any Wetherspoons")
Spiritual_Power_7659's comment on "Pub/ dinner locations in London that have really bad vibes"
Explore this conversation and more from the london community
www.reddit.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Amazing Reddit thread where someone is looking for recommendations for London pubs with "really bad vibes" because they want to friendzone someone and don't want to risk "romantic auras": www.reddit.com/r/london/s/d...
(Spoilers: the answer is basically "any Wetherspoons")
(Spoilers: the answer is basically "any Wetherspoons")
Partner just looked outside and said "the binmen are coming!" with the same level of excitement as when the Eagles arrive at the Battle of the Black Gate
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Birmingham bin collections resume after Monday's pickets
A petition to end the strikes launches signed by 115 Labour politicians as agency staff return to work.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Partner just looked outside and said "the binmen are coming!" with the same level of excitement as when the Eagles arrive at the Battle of the Black Gate
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Excited to share my Spotify *Artist* Wrapped, because, well, look at these figures, baby.
It's not too late to join the literally dozens of people who helped improve on my 2024 numbers - go listen here: open.spotify.com/album/59sDve...
It's not too late to join the literally dozens of people who helped improve on my 2024 numbers - go listen here: open.spotify.com/album/59sDve...
December 3, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Excited to share my Spotify *Artist* Wrapped, because, well, look at these figures, baby.
It's not too late to join the literally dozens of people who helped improve on my 2024 numbers - go listen here: open.spotify.com/album/59sDve...
It's not too late to join the literally dozens of people who helped improve on my 2024 numbers - go listen here: open.spotify.com/album/59sDve...
I'm sick of how articles about How Spotify Wrapped Is Taking Over Our Feeds are taking over our feeds
December 3, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'm sick of how articles about How Spotify Wrapped Is Taking Over Our Feeds are taking over our feeds
Just added a new thing to my keyring (it's all kicking off here etc) and it occurred to me that there must be some new hipster way of keeping keys together besides a cheap ring which keeps expanding/splitting...? Is there some expensive trendy replacement for a keyring that I can pointlessly buy?
December 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Just added a new thing to my keyring (it's all kicking off here etc) and it occurred to me that there must be some new hipster way of keeping keys together besides a cheap ring which keeps expanding/splitting...? Is there some expensive trendy replacement for a keyring that I can pointlessly buy?
Reposted by Matt Andrews
The ever-thoughtful @frankchimero.com captures a lot of the subtlies of the current moment. Embodies a lot of what is swirling around in my own brain, but in a much clearer and better designed way.
frankchimero.com/blog/2025/be...
frankchimero.com/blog/2025/be...
Frank Chimero · Beyond the Machine
Frank Chimero’s Personal Website
frankchimero.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The ever-thoughtful @frankchimero.com captures a lot of the subtlies of the current moment. Embodies a lot of what is swirling around in my own brain, but in a much clearer and better designed way.
frankchimero.com/blog/2025/be...
frankchimero.com/blog/2025/be...
A former colleague once (innocently, from a place of genuine interest) asked our then-CTO what he did all day during an internal Q&A and the man was flummoxed, stammering, unable to even parse the question or understand what he was being asked. Was incredible to watch.
one of the main reasons that C suite chuds think AI can replace all jobs is that they know that AI can replace THEIR jobs
November 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
A former colleague once (innocently, from a place of genuine interest) asked our then-CTO what he did all day during an internal Q&A and the man was flummoxed, stammering, unable to even parse the question or understand what he was being asked. Was incredible to watch.
Incredible end to this date:
Did you go on somewhere?
No. Russell stayed behind to pick at the cold leftovers, insisting I was fine to go.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Did you go on somewhere?
No. Russell stayed behind to pick at the cold leftovers, insisting I was fine to go.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Blind date: ‘I hadn’t been on a date for nearly 15 years and it showed’
Sarah, 53, a psychologist, meets Russell, 61, a behaviour officer
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Incredible end to this date:
Did you go on somewhere?
No. Russell stayed behind to pick at the cold leftovers, insisting I was fine to go.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Did you go on somewhere?
No. Russell stayed behind to pick at the cold leftovers, insisting I was fine to go.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...