Tomorrow, Saturday, is this blog’s twelfth birthday. That’s a stretch of time I hadn’t envisioned when I started doing this. Back in February 2007, I had no idea what I was doing with this thing – and no expectation that I’d still be doing it, hopefully a little better, more than a decade later. I can’t quite decide if this is a feat of unparalleled heroism on my part, or just bloody-minded obstinacy.

Either way, it’s a tissue-thin pretext to remind patrons that this rickety barge is kept afloat by the kindness of strangers. If you’d like to help it remain buoyant a while longer, and remain ad-free, there’s an orange button below with which to monetise any love. Debit and credit cards are accepted. For those wishing to express their love regularly, there’s a monthly subscription option top left. And if one-click haste is called for, my PalPay.Me page can be found here. Additionally, any Amazon UK shopping done via this link or the search widget top right, or for Amazon US via this link, results in a small fee for your host at no extra cost to you.

For newcomers wishing to know more about what’s been going on here for the last twelve years, in over 2,600 posts and more than 90,000 comments, the reheated series is a pretty good place to start – in particular, the end-of-year summaries. There you’ll find the gaseous emissions of ecologically-minded artists; adventures at the arse-end of academia; thoughts on rioting and the left-leaning media; and much pondering of the thought processes of empowered feminists. If you can, do take a moment to poke through the discussion threads too. The posts are intended as starting points, not full stops, and the comments are where much of the good stuff is waiting to be found. And do please join in.

As always, thanks for the support, the comments, and the company. 

Today’s word is multitasking. A story unfolds. || Shocking scenes of Canadian road rage. || Redundant words. || CIA-issue rectal tool kit. For when you need to discreetly stash those tiny saws and drills. || Calligraphy with drill. || Crash heard, culprit detected. || Tone-deafness test. || Pop stars and their younger selves. || Ceaseless vigilance. || Don’t try this at home. || A drink and a show, in one. || Why women are often nesh. || This is one of these. || A Scandal in Bohemia. Starring Jeremy Brett. || When butterflies attack. || Making chains. || Maximum wife points. || You want one and you know it. || Local woman rendered in yarn. || Swell jelly. || Festive scenes. | Feel-good footage. || Or nearest offer.