Pinned
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
Of course I studied the classics
February 10, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Of course I studied the classics
You don't hear much about ISTRA these days, do you? Who's doing the protecting of universal peace now? I think I had this on a badge, or maybe an embroidered patch.
February 10, 2026 at 1:05 AM
You don't hear much about ISTRA these days, do you? Who's doing the protecting of universal peace now? I think I had this on a badge, or maybe an embroidered patch.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
I’ve worked at the Southbank Centre for over 8 years now.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
December 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I’ve worked at the Southbank Centre for over 8 years now.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
Whoever you don't like, they're probably not as bad as this guy.
Well, if it’s 8 February, it must be the 94th anniversary of Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk (a fascist from New Zealand who said he was King of Poland) going on trial for attempting to get into print his poem ‘Here Lies John Penis’ 🧵
February 8, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Whoever you don't like, they're probably not as bad as this guy.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
AI intends to kill us all
February 7, 2026 at 1:38 PM
AI intends to kill us all
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
That splendid sign-off of the Queen Mother’s – “Tinkety tonk old fruit, & down with the Nazis” – celebrates its 85th anniversary today
February 7, 2026 at 10:50 AM
That splendid sign-off of the Queen Mother’s – “Tinkety tonk old fruit, & down with the Nazis” – celebrates its 85th anniversary today
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
‘I’ve lost my friends’: advocacy groups warn Australia’s social media ban risks isolating kids with disabilities
Despite the ban’s aim to protect young people, experts are concerned that those in marginalised communities or living with disabilities could lose vital support networks
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:06 AM
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
Now the Daily Sketch is online, the true glory of the Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot article can be revealed. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot
Clipping found in The Daily Sketch published in London, Greater London, England on 3/15/1971. Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot
www.newspapers.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Now the Daily Sketch is online, the true glory of the Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot article can be revealed. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Of course, if I'd known @folkloresociety.bsky.social was on here I would have tagged them at the appropriate points.
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Of course, if I'd known @folkloresociety.bsky.social was on here I would have tagged them at the appropriate points.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
The main conclusion I have come to after learning the teachings of Subud, the Maharishi, Scientology, Gurdjieff, the Nation of Islam, Meher Baba, Aleister Crowley, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and Christian Science is that owning a guitar must turn off your brain somehow.
February 4, 2026 at 10:37 AM
The main conclusion I have come to after learning the teachings of Subud, the Maharishi, Scientology, Gurdjieff, the Nation of Islam, Meher Baba, Aleister Crowley, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and Christian Science is that owning a guitar must turn off your brain somehow.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
My postgraduate qualifications.
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 AM
My postgraduate qualifications.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Peter Mandelson: a man undone because he just cares too much about other people, and their yachts. My SKETCH.
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
February 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Peter Mandelson: a man undone because he just cares too much about other people, and their yachts. My SKETCH.
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Ah, 3 February: 389th anniversary of the widely documented day the arse falls out of the out-of-control Dutch tulip market, the country’s economy collapses, and loads of financially ruined people hurl themselves into canals
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
February 3, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Ah, 3 February: 389th anniversary of the widely documented day the arse falls out of the out-of-control Dutch tulip market, the country’s economy collapses, and loads of financially ruined people hurl themselves into canals
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Stumbled across video about early 1900s Manchester. All #AI, it's like a fever dream. The absurd narration ("If Manchester sneezes, the global textile market catches a cold") slips between various accents. Most of the visuals are insane: impossible equipment, vanishing objects, plus see Alt texts.
February 3, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Stumbled across video about early 1900s Manchester. All #AI, it's like a fever dream. The absurd narration ("If Manchester sneezes, the global textile market catches a cold") slips between various accents. Most of the visuals are insane: impossible equipment, vanishing objects, plus see Alt texts.
Sadly, this seems to be the only bit of "It's Childsplay" to have escaped onto the internet. No biscuits, but gives the general idea, anyway. youtu.be/vBAwBSLy3q0?...
IT'S CHILDSPLAY 1976 - Hilarious finale Morecambe & Wise with child writer of sketch
YouTube video by PREHISTORICTELEVISION1956
youtu.be
February 2, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Sadly, this seems to be the only bit of "It's Childsplay" to have escaped onto the internet. No biscuits, but gives the general idea, anyway. youtu.be/vBAwBSLy3q0?...
I believe the form is either "reposting for the Monday crowd" or "WHY IS THE MSM NOT REPORTING THIS?" but either way, if you did miss it the first time around you might enjoy it, you never know. Also it's quite long so Bsky hides bits and you have to click on "Read next reply" every so often.
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
February 2, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I believe the form is either "reposting for the Monday crowd" or "WHY IS THE MSM NOT REPORTING THIS?" but either way, if you did miss it the first time around you might enjoy it, you never know. Also it's quite long so Bsky hides bits and you have to click on "Read next reply" every so often.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Another day, another Ipsos survey that uses gender as a lens on public attitudes to science without taking into consideration that 1 in 8 British men think they could win a tennis point against Serena Williams www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/public-...
February 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Another day, another Ipsos survey that uses gender as a lens on public attitudes to science without taking into consideration that 1 in 8 British men think they could win a tennis point against Serena Williams www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/public-...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
This piece of brilliance from @vizcomic.bsky.social is the story of my life
February 1, 2026 at 12:12 PM
This piece of brilliance from @vizcomic.bsky.social is the story of my life
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
A history of one of Britain's best-loved sociopathic toddlers. cwickham.blogspot.com/2026/02/suga...
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 AM
A history of one of Britain's best-loved sociopathic toddlers. cwickham.blogspot.com/2026/02/suga...
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
January 31, 2026 at 8:55 PM
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Outside the Level 2 Reading Room in @bodleian.ox.ac.uk there is a wellbeing display. Here are some it's little zines that genuinely made me smile.
January 30, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Outside the Level 2 Reading Room in @bodleian.ox.ac.uk there is a wellbeing display. Here are some it's little zines that genuinely made me smile.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
What gets me about Reeves' here is why bother to be a member of a social democratic / left of centre political party if you're going to make this argument? Just pack it in and go be a libertarian or something??
Rachel Reeves: "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to." I don't use local leisure centres and I don't drive, so will I be made exempt for taxation that pays for all that stuff? Or is it only education we'll be going after
January 29, 2026 at 10:26 PM
What gets me about Reeves' here is why bother to be a member of a social democratic / left of centre political party if you're going to make this argument? Just pack it in and go be a libertarian or something??