Ian Simmons
@iansimmons1960.bsky.social
Curator, Fortean Times news editor, blockchain ontologist, cognitive dissident and discontent provider. MAGA - Make America Go Away - all opinions are my own
Reposted by Ian Simmons
It’s 12 November, so it’s time to mark the 55th anniversary of the exploding whale of Oregon, an attempt to clear a cetacean carcass from a beach which prompted one reporter to say “The blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds”
November 12, 2025 at 9:58 AM
It’s 12 November, so it’s time to mark the 55th anniversary of the exploding whale of Oregon, an attempt to clear a cetacean carcass from a beach which prompted one reporter to say “The blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds”
Reposted by Ian Simmons
The Altenburg Rat King was discovered in 1828 in a miller's fireplace in Thuringia. Consisting of 32 rats, it is the largest rat king on record. #WyrdWednesday
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The Altenburg Rat King was discovered in 1828 in a miller's fireplace in Thuringia. Consisting of 32 rats, it is the largest rat king on record. #WyrdWednesday
Reposted by Ian Simmons
One from the archives.
Nope, no idea.
Nope, no idea.
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
One from the archives.
Nope, no idea.
Nope, no idea.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Since then, the mine’s owner (allegedly) bought a load of heating pads and set up a warm room for the cats to sleep in. As always these days, it's hard to confirm this. But I really want it to be true.
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Since then, the mine’s owner (allegedly) bought a load of heating pads and set up a warm room for the cats to sleep in. As always these days, it's hard to confirm this. But I really want it to be true.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Missing flamingo found living in France under an assumed name
Baby flamingo missing from Cornwall wildlife park found living in France
Frankie the flamingo has been positively identified after photographs showed her in Brittany
www.independent.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Missing flamingo found living in France under an assumed name
Reposted by Ian Simmons
seriously confusing ambiguous "they" in that headline
When a truck carrying 21 lab monkeys crashed in rural Mississippi late last month, it sparked a week filled with anxiety, conflicting messages and a hunt that culminated in the fatal shooting of two escaped monkeys.
A mom and a pastor shot two fugitives. They were escaped lab monkeys.
A truck carrying 21 lab monkeys crashed in rural Mississippi late last month. Three escaped, sparking an eight-day hunt.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
seriously confusing ambiguous "they" in that headline
Reposted by Ian Simmons
'Bredon Water,' (1871) lies near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, it's a rare landscape for Frederick Sandys, a key member of the Pre Raphaelite circle. We can sense Sandys grappling with technical and conceptual issues of authenticity versus finish and originality versus convention.
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
'Bredon Water,' (1871) lies near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, it's a rare landscape for Frederick Sandys, a key member of the Pre Raphaelite circle. We can sense Sandys grappling with technical and conceptual issues of authenticity versus finish and originality versus convention.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Long lost Mighty Boosh joke:
‘I told you not to mess with the occult!’
‘Really? I thought it was good for your digestion.’
‘No, that’s Yakult.’
‘I told you not to mess with the occult!’
‘Really? I thought it was good for your digestion.’
‘No, that’s Yakult.’
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Long lost Mighty Boosh joke:
‘I told you not to mess with the occult!’
‘Really? I thought it was good for your digestion.’
‘No, that’s Yakult.’
‘I told you not to mess with the occult!’
‘Really? I thought it was good for your digestion.’
‘No, that’s Yakult.’
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Happy There Is A Circulatory System Walking Through The Kitchen Day to all who celebrate.
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Happy There Is A Circulatory System Walking Through The Kitchen Day to all who celebrate.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
It only just dawned on me today that the handiness of the term “colored” to white supremacists was that it could be applied not only to black people, but to anyone who, for whatever reason, didn’t appear to them to be entirely white.
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 AM
It only just dawned on me today that the handiness of the term “colored” to white supremacists was that it could be applied not only to black people, but to anyone who, for whatever reason, didn’t appear to them to be entirely white.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
iirc Robert van Gulik noted that in Chinese culture- and sex manuals- kissing was considered a sexual act, only to be done in private.
This led europeans to conclude the Chinese never kissed, and the Chinese to conclude all European women were prostitutes.
This led europeans to conclude the Chinese never kissed, and the Chinese to conclude all European women were prostitutes.
In 1666, Pope Alexander VII affirmed that it is a mortal sin to kiss someone "for reason of the carnal and sensual pleasure which arises from the kiss".
(Reference: Denzinger, 1140)
(Reference: Denzinger, 1140)
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
iirc Robert van Gulik noted that in Chinese culture- and sex manuals- kissing was considered a sexual act, only to be done in private.
This led europeans to conclude the Chinese never kissed, and the Chinese to conclude all European women were prostitutes.
This led europeans to conclude the Chinese never kissed, and the Chinese to conclude all European women were prostitutes.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Good to see someone involved in the field describing the techbro fantasies as “bullshit”. But note the link between this nonsense and eugenicist ideas from Altman. These people are rich, stupid and influential, which = dangerous.
Investors’ ‘dumb transhumanist ideas’ setting back neurotech progress, say experts
Investors’ ‘dumb transhumanist ideas’ setting back neurotech progress, say experts
Fascination of investors such as Elon Musk with uploading their brains to computers is hindering progress in curing disease, say scientists
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Good to see someone involved in the field describing the techbro fantasies as “bullshit”. But note the link between this nonsense and eugenicist ideas from Altman. These people are rich, stupid and influential, which = dangerous.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
April 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
Reposted by Ian Simmons
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
'Revisiting Horses, we find not just rebellion, but wild, unbridled desire – urgent, corporeal, and impossible to contain.'
Many Happy Returns to #PattiSmith’s Horses, which turns 50 today!
buff.ly/TuW8vNm
Many Happy Returns to #PattiSmith’s Horses, which turns 50 today!
buff.ly/TuW8vNm
November 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
'Revisiting Horses, we find not just rebellion, but wild, unbridled desire – urgent, corporeal, and impossible to contain.'
Many Happy Returns to #PattiSmith’s Horses, which turns 50 today!
buff.ly/TuW8vNm
Many Happy Returns to #PattiSmith’s Horses, which turns 50 today!
buff.ly/TuW8vNm
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
I love that a guy who can't stay awake during his own press conference still refers to Biden as "Sleepy Joe".
November 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I love that a guy who can't stay awake during his own press conference still refers to Biden as "Sleepy Joe".
Reposted by Ian Simmons
Someone put this "blue plaque" on a London Tesla showroom to mark his becoming the world's first trillionaire. “World’s first trillionaire Elon Musk. Could have solved world hunger but funded fascists instead. Bellend.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Someone put this "blue plaque" on a London Tesla showroom to mark his becoming the world's first trillionaire. “World’s first trillionaire Elon Musk. Could have solved world hunger but funded fascists instead. Bellend.”
Reposted by Ian Simmons
How DARE they put this behind a paywall.
November 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
How DARE they put this behind a paywall.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
As the owner of an independent bookstore, I must ask all of y'all to do the opposite of this forever and ever, amen.
I am not allowed to buy more books until I read the ones I already own
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
As the owner of an independent bookstore, I must ask all of y'all to do the opposite of this forever and ever, amen.
Reposted by Ian Simmons
