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magiclantern.bsky.social
James_AL_Downs
@magiclantern.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.5K following 5.1K posts
Writer: 'Anton Walbrook' (2020) 'Joseph Pike' (2018) & 'A Carnal Medium' (2012), photohistorian, archivist of Middle East collections at Exeter University, runs the Digital Archive of the Middle East (https://dame.exeter.ac.uk/), collector & bibliophile
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publichealthguy1.bsky.social
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
colincarlson.bsky.social Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 3d
OVER A MILLION USERS

DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT

EVERY *WEEK*

what the fuck are we DOING here
ryanmarino.bsky.social Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 3d
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.

This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
Misty morning walk
Photo of plants and trees in early morning mist
November 8, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
ericdienstfrey.bsky.social
I feel like we have the opportunity to turn David Lynch's quote into this moment's "Keep Calm and Carry On" and it's a far better rallying cry too.
The words "FIX YOUR HEARTS OR DIE" placed over David Lynch's face (a still from TWIN PEAKS THE RETURN).
November 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
A year ago today I was exploring the ruins of Hatra, or al-Ḥaḍra - a vast three acre site that I had all to myself, and which contains some of the most fascinating archaeological structures I've ever seen
Photo of part of the ruins of Hatra, with a large stepped entrance gate between stone pillars Photo of part of the ruins of Hatra, under a blue sky and bright sun Photo of part of the ruins of Hatra, with stone carvings of mythological figures with half-human bodies Photo of part of the ruins of Hatra, showing pillared buildings and other structures under a blue sky
November 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
After a slew of Islamophobic attacks, Zorah Mamdani responded with this (lovely - note the cat interaction) video in Arabic. His victory was obvious from this point.
zohrankmamdani.bsky.social Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 9d
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
It's only a week until our in-conversation event with author Elisabeth Gifford, including a chance to explore Daphne du Maurier's archive!

📅 Wednesday 12 November 2025
🕕 6PM - 7:30PM
📍Seminar Room A/B, Old Library

Book your FREE ticket! ⬇️

@beinghumanfest.bsky.social @exetercityoflit.bsky.social
An Author in Daphne du Maurier's Archive
Join Elisabeth Gifford, author of The Mischief Makers (2024), for a discussion about how she used Daphne du Maurier's archive to inform and inspire her work.
www.beinghumanfestival.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:39 AM
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caasbrey.bsky.social
Harvard Gazette: Gazette: “You are the mother of two In ten years you have produced three novels and two short-story collections. Can you talk about your process and how you manage work and family?” Groff: “I understand that this is a question of vital importance to a lot of people, particularly to other mothers who are artists trying to get their work done, and know that I feel for everyone in the struggle. But until I see a male writer asked that question, I am going to respectfully decline to answer it.”
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
pfyfe.bsky.social
"Abandoned and failed projects, ca. 1998-2025: an incomplete, chronological list" -- worth your time, from Adam Smyth, who lists all the stuff he dropped or which didn't work adamsmyth.substack.com/p/abandoned-...
Abandoned and failed projects, ca. 1998-2025: an incomplete, chronological list
[This is an updated version of the original from 2021.]
adamsmyth.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
A book that looks good enough to eat! Settling down to devour this brilliant new work by @annygaul.bsky.social
Photo of a book cover illustrated with a painting of tomatoes, over which are printed the title: "Nile Nightshade: An Egyptian Culinary History of the Tomato" by Anny Gaul
November 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the lemurs, for today is their special day!

To celebrate World Lemur Day, here is an engraving of a lemur - a diademed sifaka - from 'The Illustrated Natural History' (1863) by J. G. Wood.

📷 Reserve 590.2/WOO

#WorldLemurDay #LemurDay #RareBooks
Cropped image from a book, showing an engraving of a lemur climbing a branch, with a wooded landscape in the background. It has turned its head to look behind itself and, from a human perspective, it appears to have a worried expression on its face. The caption underneath reads: 'Propithece, or Diadem Lemur. - Propithecus Diadema'.
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
magiclantern.bsky.social
Grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza today. I may visit one day but am glad to have been to the old 'Museum of Egyptian Antiquities' in Cairo before they began transferring material.

www.archdaily.com/1035595/the-...
Photograph of a large Egyptian sculpture of a pharaoh's head at the foot of a stairwell in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo
November 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
magiclantern.bsky.social
First November walk
Photo of water covered in fallen autumn leaves, under the arch of a disused railwag line, surrounded by thick undergrowth
November 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
smpierce.bsky.social
Sunday November 2nd
11-3 Moor Imaginations Centre, Buckfastleigh
I’ll be selling Dart Map tea towels etc in aid of SUDEP Action and in memory of our dear Felix who died of SUDEP aged 20. Hope to see you there !
November 1, 2025 at 7:36 AM
magiclantern.bsky.social
Just out - special Kurdish issue of Political and Legal Anthropology Review (PoLAR) with some excellent articles

polarjournal.org/2025/10/21/k...
Kurdistan(s): Repression, Resistance, and the Fight for Survival
Emergent Conversation 24 Commissioned and Edited by Adnan Çelik & Deniz Yonucu This series brings together contributions from across the four parts of Kurdistan as well as the Kurdish diaspora,…
polarjournal.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:56 AM
magiclantern.bsky.social
I remain constantly unsure of why I'm on LinkedIn (and also Bluesky - I have almost no engagement any more) but was displeased to see myself opted into this by default
proton.me Proton @proton.me · 10d
Last chance to turn it off.

On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.

To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Have you heard the spooky tale of the Hairy Hand? 👻✋

Research papers relating to the Dartmoor legend of the Hairy Hand (as well as black dogs, ghosts, vampires, monsters, witches & more!) can be found in the archive of folklorist Theo Brown.

📷 EUL MS 105

#FolkloreThursday #HairyHand #Halloween
Green background with a cartoon cobweb in the top left-hand corner and a cute cartoon ghost underneath. Next to the ghost is written in white text: 'Explore spooky tales in the archive of folklorist Theo Brown!'. Underneath in green text is written: 'EUL MS 105/10 and EUL MS 105/28 from the University of Exeter Library's Special Collections. On the right is a photograph of of a green drawer of index cards labelled 'Devon Folklore' with an index card entitled 'Hairy Hand' protruding from contents of the drawer. Underneath is another photograph of a typescript document entitled 'The Hairy Hand'.
October 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
melusinagr.bsky.social
African #bookhistory in the archives
rhaplord.bsky.social Isaac Samuel @rhaplord.bsky.social · 15d
“The rich archival collections of Ajami literature refute the pervasive myth of Africa’s supposed illiteracy that is perpetuated by the overemphasis on African oral traditions in academia and the privileging of external sources over local chronicles.”

www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/theajami-s...
TheʿAjamī script of Africa and the Sorabé manuscripts of Madagascar.
The most widely used writing system in pre-colonial Africa was the ʿAjamī script.
www.africanhistoryextra.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
Let's make this happen...
majnouna.com Joumana Medlej @majnouna.com · 13d
Is there anyone on Bsky who remembers this book? It's been out of print for a while, because it needs revising in the light of 5 more years of research & experience (including a proper translation of Umdat ul-Kuttab). Being unpaid work, I've simply not been able to prioritise this, so I've decided…
Cover of "Inks & Paints of the Middle East: A handbook of Abbasid Art Technology", with a geometric composition displaying some of the main pigments involved, with brushes and paint pans made of walnut shells.
October 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
magiclantern.bsky.social
Encountered in the woods today
Photo of tree trunk in woodlands witj autumn leaves
October 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
roseteanby.bsky.social
Delighted to receive the new biography of Anna Atkins by Corey Keller. It's a fascinating study of Anna’s life and work within the wider context of women’s 19th century lives.
Highly recommended read and, of course, stunning illustrations.
October 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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altibel.bsky.social
#WhatIAmReading Astraea by Kate Kruimink. A novella inspired by archival documents from women's conviction ships. Reminds me of what Siadiya Hartman sought to do with Venus in Two Acts. Can we call this reparative speculation?
Cover of the book. Two thirds show an illustration of waves in the sea, the rest is a light purple with the title and name of author in black.
October 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
theghostmonk.bsky.social
My copy of 'Ghosts Of Today' (1980) by Andrew Green. The cover may show an actual ghost. The photo was taken in St Mary's, Eastry, in the 1950s; one of a series of #Kent churches. The amateur photographer said the priest in the pew was not visible to the naked eye.
#PhantomsFriday #31DaysOfHalloween
October 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
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gavinfoxauthor.bsky.social
#FollowFriday Shout out to @phantomsfriday.bsky.social, the main account for the weekly #PhantomsFriday tag here on #BlueSky. They share spooky content to their feed throughout the day and deserve more followers for sure. Keep it creepy, #ParanormalSky, and give them a #Follow.
October 24, 2025 at 7:57 AM
magiclantern.bsky.social
A shelfie for #PhantomsFriday
Photograph of a book shelf with various books on folklore, ghosts and the supernatural, both fiction and non-fiction
October 24, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
chloecumming.bsky.social
Ahoy there, I have added these drawings to my online store that someone may buy them. More interesting than something from Dunhelm ! #art 🖼️ ✍🏻

www.chloecumming.com
Heavily vermillion/bright red crayon drawing of a skull with some prismatic ness, wax pastels, landscape format, small strong drawing Portrait format mostly ink drawing of a possibly anatomically incorrect heart, very vibrant and strong and wet and spontaneous Thoughtful wax pastel monkey, with corn behind, in Glasgow allegedly, strong poignant and interesting, partially rendered, me style A puffin looking down and an eel biting up, mostly red ink with some pastel for highlights
October 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM