Jo F
@jofbooks.bsky.social
Children's bookseller, kids' nonfiction writer, wanders off into history a lot.
Reposted by Jo F
If you're a National Trust member, it's that time of year again: Midnight tonight is the deadline. It's a shame people have to keep doing this to keep a toehold on historical truth in this country, but here we are. Voting link: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
![[Scene is the entrance cabin to a NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTY AND GARDENS]
1
NATIONAL TRUST EMPLOYEE [inside cabin]:
Hello there
2
[A young family - two parents two kids - have arrived at the front desk].
DAD:
Hi - do you have an activity trail, for the kids?
3
NT EMPLOYEE:
Of course – you’re just in time for the Autumn Gammon Trail!
4
MUM:
That sounds fun, doesn’t it kids?
5
NT EMPLOYEE [handing an activity sheet and pencils to the kids]:
Every autumn, the Reform Trust gammons flock back to the National Trust for the AGM. Just follow the trail round the grounds, and see how many you can spot!
6
NT EMPLOYEE [hearing something in the gardens]:
Listen - that's their call
[Calls emanating from the landscape]:
tut-tut
woke-woke
7
NT EMPLOYEE [showing the family an apparently empty fenced enclosure with some bushes in]:
They are extremely sensitive and fragile...
But you can bring them out of hiding if you put a little sign down mentioning slavery.
8
KIDS [pointing]:
There they are!
[Some little red faced PEOPLE wearing Barbour jackets and gilets emerge cautiously from the bushes. They are creeping towards a TINY SIGN in the middle of the enclosure].
[Little people noises]:
woke-woke
tut-tut
woke-woke
9
[Close-up of the TINY SIGN - we can read that it says]:
Slavery had a bit to do with building this massive house.
[Noises from the little people again as they inspect the tiny sign]:
tut-tut
woke-woke
10
MUM [pointing]:
What's that one doing there?
NT EMPLOYEE:
Oh, that's so sweet…
11
[We see that one of the people is sat on a rock, with a little laptop open on a tree stump, and they are furiously typing away].
NT EMPLOYEE:
I think he's writing a column for the Daily Telegraph…
12
[We see close up to the little person’s screen, it is a word document reading]:
Are National Trust scones secretly WOKE?
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreib7lt736b6rmzinml5s7kxjdaapo2a36xp4d4lssypimx3taqicdm@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 9:02 AM
If you're a National Trust member, it's that time of year again: Midnight tonight is the deadline. It's a shame people have to keep doing this to keep a toehold on historical truth in this country, but here we are. Voting link: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Reposted by Jo F
Reposted by Jo F
From the paper of record to the bulletin board for embarrassing middle aged people who cooked their brains online
September 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
From the paper of record to the bulletin board for embarrassing middle aged people who cooked their brains online
BIG YES to all of these!
My children's books of the year so far since you didn't ask are Boss of the Underword by Tor Freeman, Donut Squad by @neillcameron.bsky.social and Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and @dansantat.bsky.social. The latter is a picture book so those recs cover 3-12 year olds, you're welcome.
September 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
BIG YES to all of these!
Reposted by Jo F
Reposted by Jo F
All famines are man-made, all famines are political. Historians of empire and humanitarianism have known this forever. Gaza is not starving, Gaza is being starved, by Israel, and this starvation is enabled by our government and by every other government that does not step in to force food and aid.
July 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
All famines are man-made, all famines are political. Historians of empire and humanitarianism have known this forever. Gaza is not starving, Gaza is being starved, by Israel, and this starvation is enabled by our government and by every other government that does not step in to force food and aid.
Happy St Swithun's Day from Winchester, where the cathedral bells have been busy already. Weather report here is there's been some gentle rain overnight, and now it's a lovely sunny morning but not too hot. Fingers crossed for the next 40 days
July 15, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Happy St Swithun's Day from Winchester, where the cathedral bells have been busy already. Weather report here is there's been some gentle rain overnight, and now it's a lovely sunny morning but not too hot. Fingers crossed for the next 40 days
I can't donate any more - if you can, please do! It's such a great way to show some love to our fellow humans.
With NHS blood stocks critically low, your donation could be the difference between life and death for three patients – whether it's a child needing surgery, a mother facing complications in childbirth, or someone fighting cancer. Please, consider giving blood. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NHS calls for 200,000 new blood donors as supplies run low
The health service issued an
www.bbc.co.uk
June 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I can't donate any more - if you can, please do! It's such a great way to show some love to our fellow humans.
Reposted by Jo F
I don't 'refuse to use' AI, I just don't use AI; in the same way that I don't shoplift, or plagiarise other people's books - it requires no effort of will, it's just not something I would think of doing
Bizarrely framed article about the people (all women) who ‘refuse to use AI’. And a #philosophy professor who says “The moment to opt out of #AI has already passed”. Oh well. That’s that then. 🤷♂️ #AIEthics www.bbc.com/news/article...
The people refusing to use AI
Worried about the environment and the loss of skills, some people are resisting the rise of AI.
www.bbc.com
May 6, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I don't 'refuse to use' AI, I just don't use AI; in the same way that I don't shoplift, or plagiarise other people's books - it requires no effort of will, it's just not something I would think of doing
Reposted by Jo F
I once again find myself wondering what this country would look like today if the Green Party had been given even half the media attention that Farage’s various vanity projects got over the last ten years.
May 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM
I once again find myself wondering what this country would look like today if the Green Party had been given even half the media attention that Farage’s various vanity projects got over the last ten years.
Reposted by Jo F
🧵NOT BY ME, this is a post from someone who wants to remain anonymous but works extensively with trans people pre-transition. They were asked by someone “why do you think that’s so much [coverage of trans people] in the news at the moment?”
This was their response:
This was their response:
April 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
🧵NOT BY ME, this is a post from someone who wants to remain anonymous but works extensively with trans people pre-transition. They were asked by someone “why do you think that’s so much [coverage of trans people] in the news at the moment?”
This was their response:
This was their response:
I know some excellent trans & nonbinary people so I care directly about their rights... and it also took a couple of really open face to face conversations with excellent cis friends to get to my current perspective on the 'debate' on trans rights.
cis folks, i'm curious for you to share answers, if you want:
what made you start caring about trans rights? who'd you know/what happened? tell me the story.
what made you start caring about trans rights? who'd you know/what happened? tell me the story.
April 19, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I know some excellent trans & nonbinary people so I care directly about their rights... and it also took a couple of really open face to face conversations with excellent cis friends to get to my current perspective on the 'debate' on trans rights.
Reposted by Jo F
Today, we'll be joining the @societyofauthors.bsky.social outside Meta's offices to protest the use of pirated works to train their AI models.
Join us if you can! More info: societyofauthors.org/2025/04/03/u...
Join us if you can! More info: societyofauthors.org/2025/04/03/u...
April 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Today, we'll be joining the @societyofauthors.bsky.social outside Meta's offices to protest the use of pirated works to train their AI models.
Join us if you can! More info: societyofauthors.org/2025/04/03/u...
Join us if you can! More info: societyofauthors.org/2025/04/03/u...
Reposted by Jo F
Just looked at this database. 7 of my books have been stolen by Meta for their AI database. In 1842 my greatx3 grandfather called for an International Copyright Law to prevent his works being pirated. Now we have that law, yet once again authors are experiencing theft. @societyofauthors.bsky.social
@societyofauthors.bsky.social
Have you seen the Atlantic's database of work stolen by Meta to train its AI? I just found a lot of my work listed. Members might like to check for their own:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Have you seen the Atlantic's database of work stolen by Meta to train its AI? I just found a lot of my work listed. Members might like to check for their own:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
www.theatlantic.com
March 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Just looked at this database. 7 of my books have been stolen by Meta for their AI database. In 1842 my greatx3 grandfather called for an International Copyright Law to prevent his works being pirated. Now we have that law, yet once again authors are experiencing theft. @societyofauthors.bsky.social
Doing the last minute World Book Day costume panic... for myself. Sorted the 6yo's costume days ago and just realised today that I need one for me too 🫠
March 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Doing the last minute World Book Day costume panic... for myself. Sorted the 6yo's costume days ago and just realised today that I need one for me too 🫠
Finally got round to responding to this government 'consultation'. Now feeling eve crosser about generative AI, if that were possible.
The Government is considering allowing AI companies to freely use your works, unless you opt-out. This is unfair and unworkable.
Now is your chance to tell them what you think! Submit a response to their AI consultation using the guidance below.
www.alcs.co.uk/news/your-ri...
Now is your chance to tell them what you think! Submit a response to their AI consultation using the guidance below.
www.alcs.co.uk/news/your-ri...
February 23, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Finally got round to responding to this government 'consultation'. Now feeling eve crosser about generative AI, if that were possible.
Reposted by Jo F
Piranesi shouldn't be on a shelf, it should be on a plinth in the centre of every bookshop, bathed by the glow of a warm, soft spotlight, and when you are wise enough to ask for a copy to purchase, everyone else in the shop should break into applause and offer you champagne and Malteasers
While I was waiting for my work meeting, I was in waterstones browsing, and it really amazes me how books are shelved.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Piranesi - regular fiction
The Scarlet Gospels - Clive Barker in SFF
The Book Eaters and Camp Damascus in Horror
Like....yeah, no.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Piranesi - regular fiction
The Scarlet Gospels - Clive Barker in SFF
The Book Eaters and Camp Damascus in Horror
Like....yeah, no.
January 20, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Piranesi shouldn't be on a shelf, it should be on a plinth in the centre of every bookshop, bathed by the glow of a warm, soft spotlight, and when you are wise enough to ask for a copy to purchase, everyone else in the shop should break into applause and offer you champagne and Malteasers
Reposted by Jo F
why are you making me watch a video
i don't want to hear your most boomer complaint. what's your most millennial complaint?
January 16, 2025 at 2:21 AM
why are you making me watch a video
Reposted by Jo F
I wrote here about playgroups, and the playschool I chair as the last remaining hold out of an anarchic, feminist moment from the 1970s which has lasted til the present day emilybaughan.substack.com/p/of-church-... but the early years funding crisis has come for us too and we look set to close 💔
Of church halls and custard creams
or, the strange disappearance of community playgroups
emilybaughan.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I wrote here about playgroups, and the playschool I chair as the last remaining hold out of an anarchic, feminist moment from the 1970s which has lasted til the present day emilybaughan.substack.com/p/of-church-... but the early years funding crisis has come for us too and we look set to close 💔
This book is great - I found it seriously disturbing, my 11yo enjoyed it (I am a wimp)
2025 is the year the Night House Files are made public. First file: The Deadsoul Project. Coming on 13th Feb. It's the truth they didn't want you to know ...
January 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
This book is great - I found it seriously disturbing, my 11yo enjoyed it (I am a wimp)
Reposted by Jo F
Like the vast majority of parents, I don’t need to use your calculator tool to work out the answer to this question.
December 30, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Like the vast majority of parents, I don’t need to use your calculator tool to work out the answer to this question.
Reposted by Jo F
Absolutely sick and tired of Hilary Mantel being dead.
December 29, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Absolutely sick and tired of Hilary Mantel being dead.
Reposted by Jo F
Look. It's fascism. It's trans-national, systematic, networked, fascism. They mean it.They're not joking. What are you going to do?
December 20, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Look. It's fascism. It's trans-national, systematic, networked, fascism. They mean it.They're not joking. What are you going to do?
Reposted by Jo F
Happy winter solstice ☀️ The sun has risen on the shortest day of the year, and it now begins its long journey back towards summer. With each day we'll see the light strengthen as the hours grow longer, and the world starts yet another cycle through the seasons.
December 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Happy winter solstice ☀️ The sun has risen on the shortest day of the year, and it now begins its long journey back towards summer. With each day we'll see the light strengthen as the hours grow longer, and the world starts yet another cycle through the seasons.