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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 2d

Amazing!

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 4d

According to online stores, Green Star Japan is coming out in paperback at the end of the month. That's a nice surprise, and just in time for Christmas.

www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 7d

I want an alert whenever there's a wrist spinner bowling in international cricket.

Today: ✅

Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.

#cricket

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 10d

I profoundly do not want to have to have a bloody app for every shop I go into.

Harry Wallop @harrywallop.co.uk · 11d

Restaurants are increasingly relying on loyalty apps. As one diner told me, “you’d be insane to eat at Pizza Express without the app”
My long read on £100 ‘bill shock’ at high street restaurants. For @telegraphnews.bsky.social:

www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-dri...

Middle-class families are choking on the £100 ‘casual meal out’

A table for four hitting triple digits is triggering ‘bill shock’, to the detriment of Britain’s best-known restaurants

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 10d

Ok, I'm pretty sure these ones are Do Not Eat.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 11d

A good horticultural show

A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.

The Ineffable Horror of Joe Muggs @joemuggs.bsky.social · 16d

What’s the most Tory-coded thing you actively love?

Me: Essex. Elgar. Country pubs.

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 11d

I hadn't thought of Instagram as a Twitter replacement, but it's noticeable that my useage has shifted dramatically from the main feed into the stories, which is the most twittery bit.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 12d

Fascinating article, featuring biodiversity, u-turns/j-turns, Peter Matanle's work on depopulation, and areas the size of Wales as a bonus.

Patrick Marques @pmarques35.bsky.social · 12d

[1/3] La dépopulation transforme les campagnes japonaises. +9 millions de maisons vides et 4,1 millions d’ha abandonnés fragilisent les paysages agricoles. Loin d’aider la nature ces friches favorisent souvent espèces invasives et perte de biodiversité. #geography #demography #Japan

Depopulation is reshaping Japan’s countryside and threatening biodiversity

Study finds Japan’s abandoned land is harming wildlife instead of helping it

geographical.co.uk

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 12d

I'm going to be honest, it was all a bit over my head. I'm not sure I got through the whole thing.

Coincidentally, I put it on the English department's book swap shelves last week, and noticed this morning someone had taken it.

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 13d

Sheep shearing is serious business, so maybe rock skipping?

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 16d

Fitzgerald: So we beat on, boats against the current, obliterated without warning from above.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 16d

Even with the "want to know more" at the end.

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Reposted by Ian Rapley

Josh Spero @joshspero.ft.com · 16d

Starship Troopers (2025)

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 17d

I’m in Boston. This ad just came on TV

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Reposted by Ian Rapley

The Pillow Book, by Sei Shōnagon @thepillowbookbot.bsky.social · 17d

indifferent and went to see another woman instead. Everyone, even people who were not directly concerned, felt indignant about this callous behavior, and the woman’s family was much grieved. The man himself, however, showed not the slightest pity.

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Reposted by Ian Rapley

The Pillow Book, by Sei Shōnagon @thepillowbookbot.bsky.social · 17d

I remember a certain woman who was both attractive and good-natured and who furthermore had excellent hand-writing. Yet when she sent a beautifully written poem to the man of her choice, he replied with some pretentious jottings and did not even bother to visit her. She wept endearingly, but he was

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Reposted by Ian Rapley

💀Skulls and Sheets👻 @skullsandsheets.bsky.social · 17d

Went to see the wonderful Dauntsey Doom painting. Hell looks fantastically delightful. And a skull friend!

a doom panel with jesus on a rainbow, heaven to his right and hell to his left. under jesus is mary and john the baptist. people are leaving their shrouds to be judged and 3 people are quite happily being rounded up into hells mouth

3 people being led into hell quite happily by 2 demons and a chain. one bloke has gone in, you can see his little legs in the fire

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 17d

I remember thinking his testimony to the phone hacking inquiry was so craven that it was completely career ending. How little did I know.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

4'32"!! Looks like I'm going to need a road trip.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

To the park, where we indulged in Park Run amid much moaning and complaining.

Samuel Pepys @samuelpepys.bsky.social · 18d

To the Park, where by appointment I met my brother Tom and Mr. Cooke, and there spoke about Tom’s business, and to good satisfaction.

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

Also, identifying all but the most obvious types seems to be really really hard.

Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

Detectorists, imo.

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 20d

Fri is 50yrs since Fawlty Towers first aired. To mark the occasion we asked Brits: what is your favourite sitcom?

1. Friends
2. Only Fools & Horses
3. Big Bang Theory
=4. Gavin and Stacey
=4. Fawlty Towers
=4. The Office
=4. Modern Family
=4. Not Going Out

Full list: yougov.co.uk/entertainmen...

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

We did a bit of a survey of the field - at least 12 different fungi. It's amazing how different it is year to year: some years we have been inundated with fly agarics, this year none. The same for some type of waxcaps.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 18d

It's a good year for fungi, it seems. Allegedly porcini are not mistakable for anything named angel of torment or the like, and plenty of people here forage for them, but I'm still dubious about the risk/reward.

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 19d

I could have sworn I got the recommendation for Children Of Time from @thinkingpoker.bsky.social but I can't find any evidence of it.

Anyway, the series is some of the best sf I've read in ages. Like Thomas Nagel in space!

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Ian Rapley @irapley.bsky.social · 19d

I've noticed very similar marks on some of our Ribston Pippens. There doesn't seem to be any impact on the flesh underneath though.

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