Paul Howard
@paulhoward5.bsky.social
Family stuff, music stuff, techie stuff, Oxford commas, and total nonsense. Not always in that order. All posts are my own views, except when they are also yours. Child of the 1980s.
Pinned
Paul Howard
@paulhoward5.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Shameless connection-seeking bleet. And pssst, I usually follow back.
Some stuff I like...
#ClassicalMusic
#FilmMusic especially #JohnWilliams
#ElectronicMusic especially #JeanMichelJarre
The #NorthNorfolk coast, especially #Cromer
#DadJokes and silly stuff
#1980s nostalgia
Some stuff I like...
#ClassicalMusic
#FilmMusic especially #JohnWilliams
#ElectronicMusic especially #JeanMichelJarre
The #NorthNorfolk coast, especially #Cromer
#DadJokes and silly stuff
#1980s nostalgia
Reposted by Paul Howard
Don't sing it Upside Down.
#CursedCarols
(What, you thought we'd let the cultural phenomenon go uncommented-upon?)
#CursedCarols
(What, you thought we'd let the cultural phenomenon go uncommented-upon?)
December 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Don't sing it Upside Down.
#CursedCarols
(What, you thought we'd let the cultural phenomenon go uncommented-upon?)
#CursedCarols
(What, you thought we'd let the cultural phenomenon go uncommented-upon?)
Give me your favourite lyrics (disregarding the music) from Christmas Carols.
Or, if you must, your least favourite.
One I've always liked: "Myrrh from full coffer, Incense they offer; Nor is the golden Nugget withholden".
Such quirky and delightful phrasing.
Might do a thread with some more...
Or, if you must, your least favourite.
One I've always liked: "Myrrh from full coffer, Incense they offer; Nor is the golden Nugget withholden".
Such quirky and delightful phrasing.
Might do a thread with some more...
December 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Give me your favourite lyrics (disregarding the music) from Christmas Carols.
Or, if you must, your least favourite.
One I've always liked: "Myrrh from full coffer, Incense they offer; Nor is the golden Nugget withholden".
Such quirky and delightful phrasing.
Might do a thread with some more...
Or, if you must, your least favourite.
One I've always liked: "Myrrh from full coffer, Incense they offer; Nor is the golden Nugget withholden".
Such quirky and delightful phrasing.
Might do a thread with some more...
Is the Radio Times Christmas crossword especially tough this year? I’ve only managed to solve around half of it so far.
December 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Is the Radio Times Christmas crossword especially tough this year? I’ve only managed to solve around half of it so far.
Not wishing to sound haughty, but please don’t send me DMs on here. It’s simply because BlueSky demands age verification to access them, and I’m not going to do that. If you want interaction, I’m here for you, but please do it in the open. Thanks.
December 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Not wishing to sound haughty, but please don’t send me DMs on here. It’s simply because BlueSky demands age verification to access them, and I’m not going to do that. If you want interaction, I’m here for you, but please do it in the open. Thanks.
Dear supermarkets: "10 items or less" is absolutely fine, so don't let the grammar police bully you into changing it.
"10 items" binds to make an amount of shopping, wherein countability is arguably lost, making "less" acceptable.
You wouldn't say "10 kilograms or fewer", right?
Merry Christmas.
"10 items" binds to make an amount of shopping, wherein countability is arguably lost, making "less" acceptable.
You wouldn't say "10 kilograms or fewer", right?
Merry Christmas.
December 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Dear supermarkets: "10 items or less" is absolutely fine, so don't let the grammar police bully you into changing it.
"10 items" binds to make an amount of shopping, wherein countability is arguably lost, making "less" acceptable.
You wouldn't say "10 kilograms or fewer", right?
Merry Christmas.
"10 items" binds to make an amount of shopping, wherein countability is arguably lost, making "less" acceptable.
You wouldn't say "10 kilograms or fewer", right?
Merry Christmas.
I was just reading an interview with Dame Judi Dench in the Radio Times. For some reason I was certain that she had died, but then I remembered that was M.
December 20, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I was just reading an interview with Dame Judi Dench in the Radio Times. For some reason I was certain that she had died, but then I remembered that was M.
Reposted by Paul Howard
If any kid of mine started singing about walking in the air and thought they were friends with a flying snowman, I'd be taking a very close look at the list of ingredients in their cough medication.
December 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
If any kid of mine started singing about walking in the air and thought they were friends with a flying snowman, I'd be taking a very close look at the list of ingredients in their cough medication.
Reposted by Paul Howard
Happy Caturday
December 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Happy Caturday
I appear to have stored some Christmas gift tags in the fridge. That would have to be a new low (both in terms of my cognitive abilities and in terms of gift tag temperature).
December 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I appear to have stored some Christmas gift tags in the fridge. That would have to be a new low (both in terms of my cognitive abilities and in terms of gift tag temperature).
I heard the Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker on the radio while I was driving in to work this morning, and I'm always disarmed by its depth, sitting as it does amidst an array of mostly sickly-sweet confections. There is pain in it, but also consolation: like a comforting arm around the shoulder.
still can’t get past the obvious topical overlap between the pas de deux and sixth symphony finale; what’s that music doing there before the recapitulation? or why does the sixth symphony finale sound so much like it, and they both feature ponderous descending scales as primary thematic material
December 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM
I heard the Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker on the radio while I was driving in to work this morning, and I'm always disarmed by its depth, sitting as it does amidst an array of mostly sickly-sweet confections. There is pain in it, but also consolation: like a comforting arm around the shoulder.
It's a good day to play some Sibelius. Because every day is a good day to play some Sibelius.
Hyvää syntymäpäivää Jean Sibelius!
Happy 160th birthday!
Happy 160th birthday!
December 8, 2025 at 10:10 AM
It's a good day to play some Sibelius. Because every day is a good day to play some Sibelius.
I think that FIFA Peace Prize decision needs to go to VAR.
December 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I think that FIFA Peace Prize decision needs to go to VAR.
Typing into a Google doc at the same time as an Anonymous Capybara. What a time to be alive.
December 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Typing into a Google doc at the same time as an Anonymous Capybara. What a time to be alive.
Reposted by Paul Howard
Sorry, but I find the expression "Merry Christmas" offensive. "Happy Holidays" is also unacceptable. The same goes for "Good Morning" or "Hello" or any type of greeting, or even eye contact, before lunchtime. Or at any time.
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Sorry, but I find the expression "Merry Christmas" offensive. "Happy Holidays" is also unacceptable. The same goes for "Good Morning" or "Hello" or any type of greeting, or even eye contact, before lunchtime. Or at any time.
If you look closely, it's actually very very very very very very very very dark blue. #BlackFriday
November 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
If you look closely, it's actually very very very very very very very very dark blue. #BlackFriday
Just heard "Hark the Herald" with the full brass fanfare intro and Willcocks descant. #HarkHunters @quiresandplaces.com
a woman wearing a sweater that says merry christmas is holding a tray of christmas decorations .
ALT: a woman wearing a sweater that says merry christmas is holding a tray of christmas decorations .
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Just heard "Hark the Herald" with the full brass fanfare intro and Willcocks descant. #HarkHunters @quiresandplaces.com
Reposted by Paul Howard
[blind date]
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
November 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
[blind date]
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
WOMAN: When I saw your photo I assumed you would be the man *holding* the fish.
FISH: [flipping and flopping about on the table] Can we talk about this later.
Reposted by Paul Howard
There should be book clubs for babies. "I enjoyed the crinkliness of this one but I have to say the little mirror at the end was a bit predictable."
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
There should be book clubs for babies. "I enjoyed the crinkliness of this one but I have to say the little mirror at the end was a bit predictable."
Reposted by Paul Howard
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Paul Howard
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Me (buying my current car): Heated steering wheel? Pfft. What a ridiculous gimmick. Nobody needs that.
Me (this morning): Can't this bastard wheel heat up any faster?
Me (this morning): Can't this bastard wheel heat up any faster?
November 20, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Me (buying my current car): Heated steering wheel? Pfft. What a ridiculous gimmick. Nobody needs that.
Me (this morning): Can't this bastard wheel heat up any faster?
Me (this morning): Can't this bastard wheel heat up any faster?
If you ask me, Cloudflare Outage went downhill after their second album.
November 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If you ask me, Cloudflare Outage went downhill after their second album.
Just being reminded of what an astonishing and unique individual Fred Dibnah was. Such admirable courage, grit and stoicism. This clip is mesmerising. And I could listen to his voice for hours. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKPA...
1979: Steeplejack FRED DIBNAH takes down a MASSIVE chimney BRICK by BRICK | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Just being reminded of what an astonishing and unique individual Fred Dibnah was. Such admirable courage, grit and stoicism. This clip is mesmerising. And I could listen to his voice for hours. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKPA...
I hear that magnesium supplements can simultaneously aid sleep and relieve constipation.
Hopefully that's not *too* simultaneous. 😳
Hopefully that's not *too* simultaneous. 😳
October 25, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I hear that magnesium supplements can simultaneously aid sleep and relieve constipation.
Hopefully that's not *too* simultaneous. 😳
Hopefully that's not *too* simultaneous. 😳