Mark Shanahan
@markshanahan.bsky.social
Political historian into US & UK politics. Associate Professor at the University of Surrey, sometimes on the radio/TV. Follower of the mighty Wycombe Wanderers & the underperforming Middlesex CCC. Into books, theatre & jangly guitars.
On this #WorldMentalHealthDay I remember my son - as I do every day, and every moment when I'm not consciously thinking of something else. We lost Rory aged 22 in 2018, one of more than 100 students who dies by suicide in the UK every year - the tip of a mental health crisis iceberg. #AcademicSky
October 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
On this #WorldMentalHealthDay I remember my son - as I do every day, and every moment when I'm not consciously thinking of something else. We lost Rory aged 22 in 2018, one of more than 100 students who dies by suicide in the UK every year - the tip of a mental health crisis iceberg. #AcademicSky
Finished a very pleasing book, took a walk along the Thames and round our local lakes and played 100 mins of not wholly awful tennis. A good day; head-cleared and ready for the week.
September 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Finished a very pleasing book, took a walk along the Thames and round our local lakes and played 100 mins of not wholly awful tennis. A good day; head-cleared and ready for the week.
I didn't expect this to be such a sharp exposition of the current government from #MickHeron. I'm surprised I haven't come away with paper cuts. #Books #BookSky #SlowHorses.
September 28, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I didn't expect this to be such a sharp exposition of the current government from #MickHeron. I'm surprised I haven't come away with paper cuts. #Books #BookSky #SlowHorses.
August 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Grat day out at the women's rugby 🏉 World Cup at Northampton courtesy of Sophs. Great to see a big win for Ireland and to shake hands with Japan's very gracious number 4 who shook every hand along the West Stand. Brazil v South Africa had its moments too.
August 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Grat day out at the women's rugby 🏉 World Cup at Northampton courtesy of Sophs. Great to see a big win for Ireland and to shake hands with Japan's very gracious number 4 who shook every hand along the West Stand. Brazil v South Africa had its moments too.
The world may be heading for hell in a handcart, but a bit of #AztecCamera #DailyVinyl from 1983 will always make it better. #VinylSky ##VinylCommunity.
July 28, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The world may be heading for hell in a handcart, but a bit of #AztecCamera #DailyVinyl from 1983 will always make it better. #VinylSky ##VinylCommunity.
Football season 25-36 #Match2. To Chesham where, confusingly, I used watch Aylesbury United. Today, the home town team hosted #OxfordCityFC in a pre-season friendly. A south v north step 2 game with Chesham edging it 1-0 through a first half pen. Another highly successful day for Mr & Mrs Trialist.
July 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Football season 25-36 #Match2. To Chesham where, confusingly, I used watch Aylesbury United. Today, the home town team hosted #OxfordCityFC in a pre-season friendly. A south v north step 2 game with Chesham edging it 1-0 through a first half pen. Another highly successful day for Mr & Mrs Trialist.
I loved @selfesteem.music-social.com's set at Glastonbury, and am equally loving playing this #DailyVinyl out nice and loud this morning. #VinylSky #VinylCommunity
July 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I loved @selfesteem.music-social.com's set at Glastonbury, and am equally loving playing this #DailyVinyl out nice and loud this morning. #VinylSky #VinylCommunity
July 25, but it's league football time round here. For my 1st game of 25-26 I'm watching my home town team #AbingdonUnited. A 2-0 win over North Leigh in Comboned Counties Prem North. A penalty, a sending-off - all well-handled by the female ref. Good to be up and running again. #FootballSky #Game1
July 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
July 25, but it's league football time round here. For my 1st game of 25-26 I'm watching my home town team #AbingdonUnited. A 2-0 win over North Leigh in Comboned Counties Prem North. A penalty, a sending-off - all well-handled by the female ref. Good to be up and running again. #FootballSky #Game1
Really do need a slice of brilliant #vinyl this morning to deflect from the current horrible state of the world. Perhaps 'Dead End Street' isn't the best way to start! #Kinks #VinylCommunity #VinylSky
July 25, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Really do need a slice of brilliant #vinyl this morning to deflect from the current horrible state of the world. Perhaps 'Dead End Street' isn't the best way to start! #Kinks #VinylCommunity #VinylSky
Day off (though still keeping an eye out for students planning to submit late summer assignments). Lovely walk around the Clumps, down to Days Lock on the Thames and back through Wittenham Woods. #AcademicSky
July 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Day off (though still keeping an eye out for students planning to submit late summer assignments). Lovely walk around the Clumps, down to Days Lock on the Thames and back through Wittenham Woods. #AcademicSky
For context, I was doing media stuff just up the road outside Buckingham Palace. The empty Mall was a feature of the day as Trump lunched with the Royals, toured Westminster Abbey and returned for tea with Charles at Clarence House.
June 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
For context, I was doing media stuff just up the road outside Buckingham Palace. The empty Mall was a feature of the day as Trump lunched with the Royals, toured Westminster Abbey and returned for tea with Charles at Clarence House.
Reminds me of when Trump came to London in 2019. In places, the crowds were almost one deep.
June 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reminds me of when Trump came to London in 2019. In places, the crowds were almost one deep.
I posted this on LinkedIn earlier today about my most recent marking experience. It seems to chime with a lot of other academics and our students' current engagement with #GenerativeAI. #AcademicSky #Students #AI
June 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I posted this on LinkedIn earlier today about my most recent marking experience. It seems to chime with a lot of other academics and our students' current engagement with #GenerativeAI. #AcademicSky #Students #AI
This really is one of my favourite places on Turnitin and our VLE. #AcademicSky.
June 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This really is one of my favourite places on Turnitin and our VLE. #AcademicSky.
Strolling on a Sunday afternoon.
June 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Strolling on a Sunday afternoon.
Yesterday's cultural jaunt was to Oxford's @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social for the Anselm Kiefer exhibition. Absorbing and thought provoking, most of the work was a lot less jaunty than this.
May 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Yesterday's cultural jaunt was to Oxford's @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social for the Anselm Kiefer exhibition. Absorbing and thought provoking, most of the work was a lot less jaunty than this.
Apparently it's 'what three words' for Hull.
May 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Apparently it's 'what three words' for Hull.
There are compensations to no longer being paid to work on a Friday. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be on a sunny Spring day. #AcademicSky #Cricket
May 2, 2025 at 10:31 AM
There are compensations to no longer being paid to work on a Friday. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be on a sunny Spring day. #AcademicSky #Cricket
Thank you for your pomposity. I'm sure your constituents enjoy being patronised by you as much as I do. Meanwhile, I'm here at the moment, drinking wine and eating pasta as you appear close to disappearing up your own fundament. Ciao.
April 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Thank you for your pomposity. I'm sure your constituents enjoy being patronised by you as much as I do. Meanwhile, I'm here at the moment, drinking wine and eating pasta as you appear close to disappearing up your own fundament. Ciao.
Spring Sunday constitutional.
April 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Spring Sunday constitutional.
Starting my weekend with a cheerful slice of Wigan's finest from #TheLathums. High time they had a presence on here! #DailyVinyl #VinylSky
April 4, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Starting my weekend with a cheerful slice of Wigan's finest from #TheLathums. High time they had a presence on here! #DailyVinyl #VinylSky
A glorious day for a stroll up the #ThamesPath from home in Abingdon to our neighbours in Lower Radley.
March 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
A glorious day for a stroll up the #ThamesPath from home in Abingdon to our neighbours in Lower Radley.