Judith Jesch
@judithjesch.bsky.social
Retired professor of Viking Studies, Visiting Professor @insuhi.bsky.social, FBA. The Saga of the Earls of Orkney: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/the-saga-of-the-earls-of-orkney/ See also https://uonenglish.substack.com/s/ragnas-islands
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Good to see more people finally on board with what all us furriners have been saying about the BBC for years - there is no perfect system, and for all its faults, the BBC is a wonderful thing.
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Good to see more people finally on board with what all us furriners have been saying about the BBC for years - there is no perfect system, and for all its faults, the BBC is a wonderful thing.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
‘If multilingualism builds resilience against ageing, then encouraging additional language learning in schools, protecting migrant and minoritised languages… could be as important as campaigns that promote physical activity, or smoking cessation,"
www.thetimes.com/article/9b5b...
www.thetimes.com/article/9b5b...
Speaking more than one language could keep old age at bay
The more languages you speak, the less likely you are to experience ‘accelerated ageing’, according to the largest study of its kind
www.thetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
‘If multilingualism builds resilience against ageing, then encouraging additional language learning in schools, protecting migrant and minoritised languages… could be as important as campaigns that promote physical activity, or smoking cessation,"
www.thetimes.com/article/9b5b...
www.thetimes.com/article/9b5b...
Reposted by Judith Jesch
At a time when humanities and social science courses are facing severe cutbacks I’ll be mounting a defence of them and their role in shaping a better future at this lecture at De Montfort University on 27 November. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Shaping a Brighter Future
The first event in our Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series, delivered by Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
At a time when humanities and social science courses are facing severe cutbacks I’ll be mounting a defence of them and their role in shaping a better future at this lecture at De Montfort University on 27 November. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Reposted by Judith Jesch
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Fair Isle practitioners say Channel 4’s knitting show is littered with errors about their historic craft and demand an apology
The group chat for Shetland knitters was popping off, says one member, as they settled down to watch the first episode of Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter.
But their enthusiasm for the Channel 4 elimination show hosted by former Olympian and crafts enthusiast Tom Daley quickly unravelled. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Reposted by Judith Jesch
My post on President Trump threatening to sue the BBC will up tomorrow morning.
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My post on President Trump threatening to sue the BBC will up tomorrow morning.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
'In 2024, 42,265 people were employed as researchers in Norway, down from 42,348 in 2023. The losses were more pronounced in universities and colleges'.
Et tu, Britain?
Et tu, Britain?
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
'In 2024, 42,265 people were employed as researchers in Norway, down from 42,348 in 2023. The losses were more pronounced in universities and colleges'.
Et tu, Britain?
Et tu, Britain?
Reposted by Judith Jesch
If the BBC is guilty of anything it has been far too ready and willing to follow the right-wing media narratives pushed by the billionaire press barons, instead of pursuing its own independent journalism based on exposing and uncovering the truth – regardless of whether people want to hear it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
If the BBC is guilty of anything it has been far too ready and willing to follow the right-wing media narratives pushed by the billionaire press barons, instead of pursuing its own independent journalism based on exposing and uncovering the truth – regardless of whether people want to hear it.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
If you have a doubt the MAGA attack on the BBC is not co-ordinated, read what GB News owner told the US
“We need you to come and save us. To rescue us … You are making America great again… We need to make Britain great again”
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/a...
“We need you to come and save us. To rescue us … You are making America great again… We need to make Britain great again”
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/a...
‘America Must Save Britain’ – Byline Times Digital / Print Edition
GB News’ new programme broadcast live from Washington DC features climate denial, vaccine misinformation, and non-stop praise for Donald Trump – with the channel’s co-owner telling ‘MAGA’ politicians ...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
If you have a doubt the MAGA attack on the BBC is not co-ordinated, read what GB News owner told the US
“We need you to come and save us. To rescue us … You are making America great again… We need to make Britain great again”
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/a...
“We need you to come and save us. To rescue us … You are making America great again… We need to make Britain great again”
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/a...
Reposted by Judith Jesch
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Thought for the day:
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
November 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Thought for the day:
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
Reposted by Judith Jesch
There are many subtle and complex arguments one can have about the future of the BBC — but I guarantee you that no other channel or streaming service will be as committed to factual programming, children’s education, history shows, religious discussion, poetry, arts, or state of the nation debate
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
There are many subtle and complex arguments one can have about the future of the BBC — but I guarantee you that no other channel or streaming service will be as committed to factual programming, children’s education, history shows, religious discussion, poetry, arts, or state of the nation debate
Reposted by Judith Jesch
It's time for the 2026 Papay calendar.
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
It's time for the 2026 Papay calendar.
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...
For giants and dwarves in Norse Orkney, see some brief comments by me in ‘Kirkwall, Orkney’, in Europe: A Literary History 1348-1418, ed. David Wallace, Oxford: OUP 2016, I, 375-383.
November 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
For giants and dwarves in Norse Orkney, see some brief comments by me in ‘Kirkwall, Orkney’, in Europe: A Literary History 1348-1418, ed. David Wallace, Oxford: OUP 2016, I, 375-383.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
All the colours aligned for the arrival of the stone.
Sea, land, tractor, and ship.
Stone for the resurfacing of Papay runway one, arriving at the New pier yesterday.
Sea, land, tractor, and ship.
Stone for the resurfacing of Papay runway one, arriving at the New pier yesterday.
November 8, 2025 at 9:19 AM
All the colours aligned for the arrival of the stone.
Sea, land, tractor, and ship.
Stone for the resurfacing of Papay runway one, arriving at the New pier yesterday.
Sea, land, tractor, and ship.
Stone for the resurfacing of Papay runway one, arriving at the New pier yesterday.
Wouldn't mind being there right now.
November 7, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Wouldn't mind being there right now.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Made a site where you can practise Old English scansion. You get given a half-line and have to select which of Sievers's five types it belongs to.
Just Beowulf for now, but that's 6364 half-lines to be getting on with: dgplacenames.github.io/scansion/
[Data: clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/]
Just Beowulf for now, but that's 6364 half-lines to be getting on with: dgplacenames.github.io/scansion/
[Data: clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/]
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Made a site where you can practise Old English scansion. You get given a half-line and have to select which of Sievers's five types it belongs to.
Just Beowulf for now, but that's 6364 half-lines to be getting on with: dgplacenames.github.io/scansion/
[Data: clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/]
Just Beowulf for now, but that's 6364 half-lines to be getting on with: dgplacenames.github.io/scansion/
[Data: clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/]
I see @jesszafarris.bsky.social beat me to it. bsky.app/profile/jess...
I got intrigued and checked oed.com. Forebear is actually 'fore-be-er', one who was before, which I didn't know, and there is even an 'afterbeer/afterbear' with quotations from 1625 and 2008. There's also an 'afterliver', so take your pick!
November 6, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I see @jesszafarris.bsky.social beat me to it. bsky.app/profile/jess...
Good to see that Prof. Pohl has visited the Karlevi stone #runology. app.raa.se/open/runor/i...
November 6, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Good to see that Prof. Pohl has visited the Karlevi stone #runology. app.raa.se/open/runor/i...
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Reposted by Judith Jesch
The shocking knitting scandal rocking Shetland deserves more attention. It's got everything - Fair Isle tank tops, cutting, "peeries", needle lengths, yarn thickness, and most controversially, crochet. 🐑 🐑
I don't know what Tom Daley is looking so smug about.
I don't know what Tom Daley is looking so smug about.
Shetland knitting group ‘shocked and saddened’ by representation in Channel 4 show
A GROUP protecting Shetland’s knitting heritage has criticised a new Channel 4 show for spreading “negative misconceptions about Fair Isle knitting...
www.shetnews.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The shocking knitting scandal rocking Shetland deserves more attention. It's got everything - Fair Isle tank tops, cutting, "peeries", needle lengths, yarn thickness, and most controversially, crochet. 🐑 🐑
I don't know what Tom Daley is looking so smug about.
I don't know what Tom Daley is looking so smug about.
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Highly recommended. I held this 15 years ago. Great department and lovely part of the world to live in!
The Department of Medieval History at the University of St Andrews invites applications for the Donald Bullough Fellowship to be taken up during either semester of the academic year 2026-2027.
The closing date for applications is Monday 1 December 2025.
The closing date for applications is Monday 1 December 2025.
November 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Highly recommended. I held this 15 years ago. Great department and lovely part of the world to live in!
Reposted by Judith Jesch
👇👀
On this full frost moon our guest is Sally Magnusson! Join Tom Muir and Sally Magnusson for a fascinating blether on the eve of the Stromness launch of her latest novel, set in Orkney.
Orkneyology: www.orkneyology.com/orkneyology-...
Youtube: youtu.be/47tMPOX6l2A?...
Spotify: rebrand.ly/tusgi
Orkneyology: www.orkneyology.com/orkneyology-...
Youtube: youtu.be/47tMPOX6l2A?...
Spotify: rebrand.ly/tusgi
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
👇👀
Reposted by Judith Jesch
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Full Professorship(s) in Archaeology - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at School of Culture and Society - Department of Heritage Studies, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...