Tom Freeman
@tomfreeman.bsky.social
Occasional editor and writer. Purveyor of half-baked opinions. Intermittently able to make my nieces laugh. (SnoozeInBrief on Twitter)
My blog on usage, editing and suchlike: https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com
My blog on usage, editing and suchlike: https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
I'm screwed.
I'm screwed.
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
I'm screwed.
I'm screwed.
Spotted hiding in the branches
November 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Spotted hiding in the branches
A handy writing tip is KISS: if you kiss your reader, they will immediately be distracted from the awfulness of your prose
November 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A handy writing tip is KISS: if you kiss your reader, they will immediately be distracted from the awfulness of your prose
Cutting this line is so patently daft. Not only is it clearly in the realm of "fair comment" (and that of the speaker not the broadcaster), but leaving in the following lines, which elaborate on the point more colourfully if a little less directly, defeats the whole silly purpose of making the cut.
What it looks like in the transcript versus what I actually said.
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Cutting this line is so patently daft. Not only is it clearly in the realm of "fair comment" (and that of the speaker not the broadcaster), but leaving in the following lines, which elaborate on the point more colourfully if a little less directly, defeats the whole silly purpose of making the cut.
Good discussion with @lynneguist.bsky.social about the latest "Americanisms are invading British English!!!" scare. FWIW I've noticed quite a lot of British words in US films recently, like "the", "off", "big", "because", "listen", "eighteen", "suddenly" and "hat".
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Good discussion with @lynneguist.bsky.social about the latest "Americanisms are invading British English!!!" scare. FWIW I've noticed quite a lot of British words in US films recently, like "the", "off", "big", "because", "listen", "eighteen", "suddenly" and "hat".
"My beloved working class"... Whatever psychological issues this deeply peculiar and self-absorbed man has, they should be kept well away from policy making
November 25, 2025 at 8:08 AM
"My beloved working class"... Whatever psychological issues this deeply peculiar and self-absorbed man has, they should be kept well away from policy making
Just rewatched the Star Wars sequels, and obviously the plot is an escalating shambles, but there are plenty of good bits along the way. I think more and more films nowadays, especially franchise films, are primarily Good Bit delivery systems, with the actual telling of a story an afterthought.
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Just rewatched the Star Wars sequels, and obviously the plot is an escalating shambles, but there are plenty of good bits along the way. I think more and more films nowadays, especially franchise films, are primarily Good Bit delivery systems, with the actual telling of a story an afterthought.
No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality, Charlie Brown.
November 24, 2025 at 4:54 PM
No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality, Charlie Brown.
This is clearly a job for Lionel Hutz www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is clearly a job for Lionel Hutz www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee, Charlie Brown.
November 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee, Charlie Brown.
If it weren't for the fact that he thinks the way to make people like him is to put on a show of being mean to someone else, I'd feel sorry for this wretchedly insecure little boy
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
If it weren't for the fact that he thinks the way to make people like him is to put on a show of being mean to someone else, I'd feel sorry for this wretchedly insecure little boy
No, Charlie Brown, I expect you to die.
November 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
No, Charlie Brown, I expect you to die.
Solid bit of photobombing here. #NewRiverBirds
November 23, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Solid bit of photobombing here. #NewRiverBirds
Just rewatched The Force Awakens, and I stand by my initial reaction that this is clearly Anthony Hopkins playing Cliff from Cheers
November 23, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Just rewatched The Force Awakens, and I stand by my initial reaction that this is clearly Anthony Hopkins playing Cliff from Cheers
Reposted by Tom Freeman
Scrapping the two-child limit *is* welfare reform. Defining ‘reform’ solely as ‘cut’ is one reason why it’s proved so difficult
November 23, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Scrapping the two-child limit *is* welfare reform. Defining ‘reform’ solely as ‘cut’ is one reason why it’s proved so difficult
I met this girl on Monday
Took her for a drink on Tuesday
We were making love by Wednesday
And on Thursday and Friday and Saturday
And on the seventh day we ended our work which we had made, and we chilled
Took her for a drink on Tuesday
We were making love by Wednesday
And on Thursday and Friday and Saturday
And on the seventh day we ended our work which we had made, and we chilled
November 23, 2025 at 8:57 AM
I met this girl on Monday
Took her for a drink on Tuesday
We were making love by Wednesday
And on Thursday and Friday and Saturday
And on the seventh day we ended our work which we had made, and we chilled
Took her for a drink on Tuesday
We were making love by Wednesday
And on Thursday and Friday and Saturday
And on the seventh day we ended our work which we had made, and we chilled
If the Republican position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" and the Democrat position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" then the result will be that Republicans keep getting away with committing crimes in public office
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 PM
If the Republican position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" and the Democrat position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" then the result will be that Republicans keep getting away with committing crimes in public office
Just watched the 2006 Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson, who's as good as she always is. I've never read the book but I gather it's pretty faithful. But... seems a massive plot/character development hole that (spoiler alert) she just goes back to him and it's all fine, crazy lady safely out of the way.
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Just watched the 2006 Jane Eyre with Ruth Wilson, who's as good as she always is. I've never read the book but I gather it's pretty faithful. But... seems a massive plot/character development hole that (spoiler alert) she just goes back to him and it's all fine, crazy lady safely out of the way.
I have eaten
the biscuits
that were in
the cupboard
and which
I had bought
so that I
could eat them
lol
the biscuits
that were in
the cupboard
and which
I had bought
so that I
could eat them
lol
November 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I have eaten
the biscuits
that were in
the cupboard
and which
I had bought
so that I
could eat them
lol
the biscuits
that were in
the cupboard
and which
I had bought
so that I
could eat them
lol
Reposted by Tom Freeman
EDITOR: this draft is mostly blank
ME: it is full of secret passages
ME: it is full of secret passages
November 22, 2025 at 3:55 AM
EDITOR: this draft is mostly blank
ME: it is full of secret passages
ME: it is full of secret passages
Reposted by Tom Freeman
A big part of this, I think, and Labour's general failing is caring about the first 15% of people who were going Reform, not the second 15%.
Should have boxed them into being a crank party.
Should have boxed them into being a crank party.
It is genuinely mortifying how the only people I see pointing Reform's links to Russia out are /not/ Labour.
Stop Ukraine joining NATO?
"If that is what Moscow insists on being part of any settlement.”
- Richard Tice, Reform August 2025
"If that is what Moscow insists on being part of any settlement.”
- Richard Tice, Reform August 2025
November 22, 2025 at 11:28 AM
A big part of this, I think, and Labour's general failing is caring about the first 15% of people who were going Reform, not the second 15%.
Should have boxed them into being a crank party.
Should have boxed them into being a crank party.
Reposted by Tom Freeman
A piece of writing without even a single typo is very auspicious.
November 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A piece of writing without even a single typo is very auspicious.
OK this is pretty fucking infallible
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
OK this is pretty fucking infallible
Reposted by Tom Freeman
DOCTOR: Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.
PATIENT: *starting to smile shyly* So… you mean… Pagliacci is good?
DOCTOR: The best! Say, you're already looking a bit happier just at the suggestion!
PATIENT: I am, doc. Thank you. I am.
PATIENT: *starting to smile shyly* So… you mean… Pagliacci is good?
DOCTOR: The best! Say, you're already looking a bit happier just at the suggestion!
PATIENT: I am, doc. Thank you. I am.
November 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
DOCTOR: Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.
PATIENT: *starting to smile shyly* So… you mean… Pagliacci is good?
DOCTOR: The best! Say, you're already looking a bit happier just at the suggestion!
PATIENT: I am, doc. Thank you. I am.
PATIENT: *starting to smile shyly* So… you mean… Pagliacci is good?
DOCTOR: The best! Say, you're already looking a bit happier just at the suggestion!
PATIENT: I am, doc. Thank you. I am.