Jessica Kingsley
@bluewoodsmoke.bsky.social
Former publisher happy to have more time to spend on geeky interests. Pro Europe, Ukraine, anti populism. Interested in things medieval, early English, Byzantine, Daoist. Trying to learn to play the Qin. Live in London.
Peter Geoghegan speaking in parliament youtube.com/watch?v=wBTU...
I Warned Parliament: Trump, Musk & Billionaires Are Undermining Democracy - Here’s How We Stop Them
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Peter Geoghegan speaking in parliament youtube.com/watch?v=wBTU...
The mess at the BBC - an excellent, clear analysis, well worth reading #BBC open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
Extra edition: The populist assault on the BBC
Johnson, Gibb and the Telegraph are trying to turn the BBC into GB News.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The mess at the BBC - an excellent, clear analysis, well worth reading #BBC open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
Fabulous exhibition on at the National Gallery - well worth a visit. Some lovely landscapes and tranquil images. +++ #postimpressionists #art #nationalgallery
November 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Fabulous exhibition on at the National Gallery - well worth a visit. Some lovely landscapes and tranquil images. +++ #postimpressionists #art #nationalgallery
Absolutely spot on. open.substack.com/pub/emptycit...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Absolutely spot on. open.substack.com/pub/emptycit...
Defence spending - a grown up discussion open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/z...
ZAPAD, Polish drone attack - why are we sleepwalking?
TUC votes against defence spending, while Kyiv burns...
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Defence spending - a grown up discussion open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/z...
Social contagion and how it works theconversation.com/mass-hysteri...
Mass hysteria at Heathrow airport – how social contagion works
Heathrow’s Terminal 4 evacuation shows the power of social contagion.
theconversation.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Social contagion and how it works theconversation.com/mass-hysteri...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Could not agree more.
The fact that an anti-migrant politician, who tells us every single day that he doesn't like immigration, is saying it once again, is not in any way news
August 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Could not agree more.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Figs are divine phys.org/news/2025-07...
Fig trees convert atmospheric CO₂ to stone, research reveals
Some species of fig trees store calcium carbonate in their trunks—essentially turning themselves (partially) into stone, new research has found. The team of Kenyan, U.S., Austrian, and Swiss scientist...
phys.org
August 14, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Figs are divine phys.org/news/2025-07...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Anas Al-Sharif has been posting all night whilst under intense Israeli bombardment.
His final post was just 20 minutes ago. It reads:
“Relentless bombardment…
For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City.”
His final post was just 20 minutes ago. It reads:
“Relentless bombardment…
For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City.”
August 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Anas Al-Sharif has been posting all night whilst under intense Israeli bombardment.
His final post was just 20 minutes ago. It reads:
“Relentless bombardment…
For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City.”
His final post was just 20 minutes ago. It reads:
“Relentless bombardment…
For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City.”
Hoping to see more of this sort of analysis in future.
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
Illegitimate Concerns
There is a growing violent far-right movement in the UK which senior politicians and media organisations are now not only seeking to justify, but are actively encouraging
open.substack.com
July 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Hoping to see more of this sort of analysis in future.
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
#StainedGlassSunday
One of earliest windows among medieval wonders in St Neot, Cornwall is the Creation, c.1480, w 95% original glass: its tracery lights feature different degrees of angelic powers.
Bribery, plus 'liming' of the medieval windows, preserved them from 1650s Parliamentarian extremists.
One of earliest windows among medieval wonders in St Neot, Cornwall is the Creation, c.1480, w 95% original glass: its tracery lights feature different degrees of angelic powers.
Bribery, plus 'liming' of the medieval windows, preserved them from 1650s Parliamentarian extremists.
July 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
#StainedGlassSunday
One of earliest windows among medieval wonders in St Neot, Cornwall is the Creation, c.1480, w 95% original glass: its tracery lights feature different degrees of angelic powers.
Bribery, plus 'liming' of the medieval windows, preserved them from 1650s Parliamentarian extremists.
One of earliest windows among medieval wonders in St Neot, Cornwall is the Creation, c.1480, w 95% original glass: its tracery lights feature different degrees of angelic powers.
Bribery, plus 'liming' of the medieval windows, preserved them from 1650s Parliamentarian extremists.
Interesting thoughts on the importance of #empathy to a flourishing society open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Trump, Musk, Republicans, and the Empathy Bug
The real crisis we are living through
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Interesting thoughts on the importance of #empathy to a flourishing society open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Given the economic indicators, the daily military losses, the absence of strategic gains, I reckon this more as the massing spasms that presage collapse than the acceleration of martial might.
Russia has ramped up its airborne attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, launching as many as 479 drones and missiles in a single night. These assaults are not just bigger and more frequent; they are also more concentrated and executed in a way that makes them a lot more difficult to combat
Russia is shifting tactics again, assaulting Ukrainian cities with swarms of killer drones | CNN
Families in Ukrainian cities are taking refuge from massive swarms of Russian drones, as Moscow steps up its airborne assault with attacks designed to undermine Ukrainian morale.
www.cnn.com
June 15, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Given the economic indicators, the daily military losses, the absence of strategic gains, I reckon this more as the massing spasms that presage collapse than the acceleration of martial might.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
🇬🇪A country once seen as the democratic bright spot of the post-Soviet space is now undergoing the fastest authoritarian regression in modern European history.
🧵Here’s a thread to keep you updated on what’s happening - and why it matters.
1/23
🧵Here’s a thread to keep you updated on what’s happening - and why it matters.
1/23
June 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
🇬🇪A country once seen as the democratic bright spot of the post-Soviet space is now undergoing the fastest authoritarian regression in modern European history.
🧵Here’s a thread to keep you updated on what’s happening - and why it matters.
1/23
🧵Here’s a thread to keep you updated on what’s happening - and why it matters.
1/23
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
🚨🚨 "Unlike the Russians, who could withdraw from the battlefield and go home at any time, the Ukrainians cannot withdraw from the battlefield. If they do, they will lose their civilization, their language, and their freedom." Excellent work by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social on #ukrainian resilience:
May 30, 2025 at 11:34 AM
🚨🚨 "Unlike the Russians, who could withdraw from the battlefield and go home at any time, the Ukrainians cannot withdraw from the battlefield. If they do, they will lose their civilization, their language, and their freedom." Excellent work by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social on #ukrainian resilience:
Here’s a writer worth reading open.substack.com/pub/bylinesu...
Did India and Pakistan Just Pull Back from the Brink of a Nuclear War?
After a day of escalating attacks and a US-brokered ceasefire, BJ Sadiq reports from Islamabad on the fast-moving developments in the conflict between nuclear neighbours
open.substack.com
May 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Here’s a writer worth reading open.substack.com/pub/bylinesu...
Good analysis open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
The Trump Trade Deal is A Victory for Remainers
The hidden story of Keir Starmer's tentative trade agreement with the US is that it makes Britain's return to the EU much more likely than it has been for years
open.substack.com
May 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Good analysis open.substack.com/pub/adambien...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
At this rate MAGA will only be able to afford to rent the libs.
April 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
At this rate MAGA will only be able to afford to rent the libs.
St Anthony Pecherskii - icons from the front line. Slava Ukraini!
April 3, 2025 at 8:51 AM
St Anthony Pecherskii - icons from the front line. Slava Ukraini!
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
LoL the idea that you need 'tech experts' to figure this out.🤡
March 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
LoL the idea that you need 'tech experts' to figure this out.🤡
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
🇪🇺🇬🇧 Westminster MPs debated a petition to rejoin the EU, with many backing closer ties.
Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing. 🙌
Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing. 🙌
Parliament debates rejoining the EU: a surprisingly positive response
Westminster MPs debated a petition to rejoin the EU, with many backing closer ties. Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing
northeastbylines.co.uk
March 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
🇪🇺🇬🇧 Westminster MPs debated a petition to rejoin the EU, with many backing closer ties.
Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing. 🙌
Labour’s red lines remain, but momentum for change is growing. 🙌
Trump and tariffs open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
The biggest upward transfer of wealth in history
Trump’s tariffs will especially hurt lower-income Americans, while his tax cuts will especially benefit the wealthy.
open.substack.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Trump and tariffs open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
This entire story is made up. It's straight Russian propaganda with zero basis in reality.
Trump repeats the blatant lie today that Russia has a Ukrainian army surrounded in Kursk, but claims he is going to save them when he talks to Putin tomorrow. Trump will be the hero of Putin’s made-up story.
March 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
This entire story is made up. It's straight Russian propaganda with zero basis in reality.