Jo Kershaw
@mthrjo.bsky.social
Priest, mediaevalist, geek, Scot. All views personal. She/ her
Pinned
Jo Kershaw
@mthrjo.bsky.social
· Jan 1
Birds of 2025:
Chaffinch
Pigeon
Sparrow
Goldfinch
Robin
Dunnock
Jackdaw
Starling
Chaffinch
Pigeon
Sparrow
Goldfinch
Robin
Dunnock
Jackdaw
Starling
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
It was clear my 11-year-old daughter was seriously ill when she collapsed on Friday.
And yet, she wasn’t entitled to an ambulance when I dialled 999.
nation.cymru/opinion/wale...
And yet, she wasn’t entitled to an ambulance when I dialled 999.
nation.cymru/opinion/wale...
Wales’ new ambulance strategy is cruel and distressing for patients and those dialling 999
Emily Price Call handler: “Ambulance, is the patient breathing?” It’s early on a school day and my worst fears have happened before my eyes. My 11-year-old daughter has collapsed in front of me. B had...
nation.cymru
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
It was clear my 11-year-old daughter was seriously ill when she collapsed on Friday.
And yet, she wasn’t entitled to an ambulance when I dialled 999.
nation.cymru/opinion/wale...
And yet, she wasn’t entitled to an ambulance when I dialled 999.
nation.cymru/opinion/wale...
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
This is a delightful read about a really fun, not uniquely British phenomenon but definitely not a worldwide one, on Hollow Ways, which I personally consider to be deeply sacred spaces
There’s a lovely article here about them. Just if you’re interested. I bet goats have fallen on cars. Probably out of sheer belligerence.
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
England's mysterious sunken roads
A new mapping project by Natural England will help unearth the deep history and mystery of this ancient network of subterranean tracks.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is a delightful read about a really fun, not uniquely British phenomenon but definitely not a worldwide one, on Hollow Ways, which I personally consider to be deeply sacred spaces
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
One more skeet for Edmund Fitzgerald Day. Behind this historical marker is the famed Whitefish Bay. Today the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., rang the recovered bell 31 times, 29 for the victims of the wreck, once for all Great Lakes shipwreck victims, and once for Gordon Lightfoot.
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 AM
One more skeet for Edmund Fitzgerald Day. Behind this historical marker is the famed Whitefish Bay. Today the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., rang the recovered bell 31 times, 29 for the victims of the wreck, once for all Great Lakes shipwreck victims, and once for Gordon Lightfoot.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Worth translating: interview w/ @valentimvicente.bsky.social on a very plausible explanation for the rise of the radical right in Europe:
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
"Es herrscht die falsche Annahme, dass viele Wähler, die früher Mitte-rechts-Parteien gewählt haben, im Herzen noch immer Mitte-rechts sind. Meine Arbeit legt aber nahe, dass diese Menschen schon vorher extrem rechts gedacht haben"
www.zeit.de/politik/2025...
www.zeit.de/politik/2025...
Vicente Valentim: "Angela Merkel lag richtig"
Haben Menschen früher rechter gedacht, als sie gewählt haben? Der Forscher Vicente Valentim sagt, dass wir eine Ursache für den Erfolg extrem rechter Parteien übersehen.
www.zeit.de
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Worth translating: interview w/ @valentimvicente.bsky.social on a very plausible explanation for the rise of the radical right in Europe:
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
Oh oh
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Oh oh
I had a minor bike accident on Friday (I’m fine, apart from some grazes and a spectacular bruise). But I hit my head. I was pretty sure I was ok, but I went to the hospital. Thorough exam and a knee X-Ray and out in under two hours. Free at the point of delivery, no forms to fill in.
Good old NHS.
Good old NHS.
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I had a minor bike accident on Friday (I’m fine, apart from some grazes and a spectacular bruise). But I hit my head. I was pretty sure I was ok, but I went to the hospital. Thorough exam and a knee X-Ray and out in under two hours. Free at the point of delivery, no forms to fill in.
Good old NHS.
Good old NHS.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Has AI completely broken Google translate?
Translation to English of the Swedish Wikipedia pages for Goosander - mergus merganser (common merganser in US)
It's is referred to as a great horned owl, great grebe and great crested grebe.
Translation to English of the Swedish Wikipedia pages for Goosander - mergus merganser (common merganser in US)
It's is referred to as a great horned owl, great grebe and great crested grebe.
November 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Has AI completely broken Google translate?
Translation to English of the Swedish Wikipedia pages for Goosander - mergus merganser (common merganser in US)
It's is referred to as a great horned owl, great grebe and great crested grebe.
Translation to English of the Swedish Wikipedia pages for Goosander - mergus merganser (common merganser in US)
It's is referred to as a great horned owl, great grebe and great crested grebe.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
there is the possibility of congregational reaction ranging from confusion to anger
November 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
there is the possibility of congregational reaction ranging from confusion to anger
This is basically demanding a British version of the Ariernachweis.
(Also, patriotism definitely can be taught, and whatever you understand by Christian values*, they aren’t hereditary).
* I do not think he and I would arrive at the same definition.
(Also, patriotism definitely can be taught, and whatever you understand by Christian values*, they aren’t hereditary).
* I do not think he and I would arrive at the same definition.
Beyond the convictions for violence, the fraud, bankruptcy and racism, the man is remarkably stupid
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This is basically demanding a British version of the Ariernachweis.
(Also, patriotism definitely can be taught, and whatever you understand by Christian values*, they aren’t hereditary).
* I do not think he and I would arrive at the same definition.
(Also, patriotism definitely can be taught, and whatever you understand by Christian values*, they aren’t hereditary).
* I do not think he and I would arrive at the same definition.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Another species no longer on the global Endangered list:
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
a man with a mustache says there be whales here in a dark room
Alt: Scotty from Star Trek Original Series (played by Jimmy Doohan) says there be whales here in a Klingon vessel's cargo hold.
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Another species no longer on the global Endangered list:
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
The Archbishop of York became the latest #ChurchofEngland bishop to meet and pray with the family of Layan Nasir on Sunday, the young Anglican who is enduring a third spell in an Israeli jail
#layannasir #israel #churchnews #churchtimes
#layannasir #israel #churchnews #churchtimes
Archbishop of York prays with family of Anglican detainee Layan Nasir
Ms Nasir has so far been denied contact with her parents, priest, and lawyer, her family say
www.churchtimes.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The Archbishop of York became the latest #ChurchofEngland bishop to meet and pray with the family of Layan Nasir on Sunday, the young Anglican who is enduring a third spell in an Israeli jail
#layannasir #israel #churchnews #churchtimes
#layannasir #israel #churchnews #churchtimes
Facebook showing me ads for direct cremation. No, thank you.
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Facebook showing me ads for direct cremation. No, thank you.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Objectivity, impartiality and balance are all *different things*, and the lazy tendency to treat them as synonyms, and to use partisan balance alone as a proxy for the others, is the root cause of a vast amount of nonsense.
Robbie Gibb once suggested that reporters should reflect if they were getting more retweets from one side than the other - a braindead analysis that ignores that fair and impartial reporting of education might get more Tory retweets than say, criminal justice.
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Objectivity, impartiality and balance are all *different things*, and the lazy tendency to treat them as synonyms, and to use partisan balance alone as a proxy for the others, is the root cause of a vast amount of nonsense.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Moore rather gave the game away on Today just now when he mentioned climate change as one of the things on which the BBC should be impartial. Treating the truth and lies as though they are equal isn't impartiality, it's an abdication of the most basic journalistic responsibility
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Moore rather gave the game away on Today just now when he mentioned climate change as one of the things on which the BBC should be impartial. Treating the truth and lies as though they are equal isn't impartiality, it's an abdication of the most basic journalistic responsibility
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
The BBC is hopeless at reporting on itself. The idea that a minor, if misleading, edit is the most serious crisis in its history is ludicrous self-absorption, even allowing for the context of a Faragite desire to break it. It's certainly not as serious as the Iraq-Gilligan crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The BBC is hopeless at reporting on itself. The idea that a minor, if misleading, edit is the most serious crisis in its history is ludicrous self-absorption, even allowing for the context of a Faragite desire to break it. It's certainly not as serious as the Iraq-Gilligan crisis.
Beautiful sunny morning. Are we sure this is November in the Pennines?
November 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Beautiful sunny morning. Are we sure this is November in the Pennines?
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
FWIW, the criticism of BBC Arabic appointing or using a number of people who were virulent or violent antisemites has way more legs, the accusation of bias over the gender question also - as it directly relates to U.K. politics. The “recycling Hamas propaganda” line I have less time for.
One thing not being said - indeed, I think everyone misses this - but the requirement for the BBC to show impartiality and balance relates to the politics of *this* country, there’s no requirement to show some mythical balance globally, only to report the truth without fear or favour.
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
FWIW, the criticism of BBC Arabic appointing or using a number of people who were virulent or violent antisemites has way more legs, the accusation of bias over the gender question also - as it directly relates to U.K. politics. The “recycling Hamas propaganda” line I have less time for.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Indeed. I feel like a lot of the reactions to the BBC exits are repeating the flaws of this era in BBC News, which is to go 'never mind the professionalism, let's focus on the politics'.
'Leave to one side for now the direct allegations about specific failures of BBC coverage' - you can't do that. That's ridiculous.
November 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Indeed. I feel like a lot of the reactions to the BBC exits are repeating the flaws of this era in BBC News, which is to go 'never mind the professionalism, let's focus on the politics'.
Fair play to them for spotting a gap in the market (remembering the fuss in certain clerical circles about the M and S “believe” jumper), but I hate that sort of cheap disposable Christmas sweater, and that colour way also looks like sadness incarnate….
“There is a whole world out there of Christmas jumpers, but most of them have more to do with candy canes and reindeer than what Christmas is actually about.” #christmas #christmasjumpers
Brothers launch Christmas jumper that ‘points to Christ’
Incarnate Apparel offers a jumper emblazoned with John 1.5
www.churchtimes.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Fair play to them for spotting a gap in the market (remembering the fuss in certain clerical circles about the M and S “believe” jumper), but I hate that sort of cheap disposable Christmas sweater, and that colour way also looks like sadness incarnate….
I’m starting to get the impression that a lot of people don’t know how obituaries work - having them written, or partly written, by someone who predeceased the person is not unusual. Papers have them on file and ready to go. Lewis wrote most of Tolkien’s obituary for the Times.
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I’m starting to get the impression that a lot of people don’t know how obituaries work - having them written, or partly written, by someone who predeceased the person is not unusual. Papers have them on file and ready to go. Lewis wrote most of Tolkien’s obituary for the Times.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
It’s been a powerful and moving day, praying with and listening to our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Thank you Father Fadi for hosting us on day two of our pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity.
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
It’s been a powerful and moving day, praying with and listening to our Palestinian Christian sisters and brothers in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Thank you Father Fadi for hosting us on day two of our pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity.
Reposted by Jo Kershaw
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?