Paul Brown
@paulbrownuk.bsky.social
Writes about stuff: history, football, true crime, rocketbelts.
Find me here: https://stuffbypaulbrown.com/
Find me here: https://stuffbypaulbrown.com/
It's ridiculous, isn't it? They've passed a tipping point where the clickbait AI junk has become utterly useless to humans. I inadvertently clicked on a Chronicle link about the new Stack in Newcastle and got this, unreadable nonsense:
September 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It's ridiculous, isn't it? They've passed a tipping point where the clickbait AI junk has become utterly useless to humans. I inadvertently clicked on a Chronicle link about the new Stack in Newcastle and got this, unreadable nonsense:
I'm selling a prized possession, a complete hardcover edition of the 1906 Book of Football, possibly the most sought after football book ever published: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28680790...
September 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm selling a prized possession, a complete hardcover edition of the 1906 Book of Football, possibly the most sought after football book ever published: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28680790...
So misunderstood.
September 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
So misunderstood.
Also in today's new edition of Singular Discoveries: a book about Martians by David Baron; a film about Pavement by Alex Ross Perry; an article about AI by Bill Wasik; plus a catch-up on some recent posts and articles: singulardiscoveries.substack.com/p/blaming-he...
August 14, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Also in today's new edition of Singular Discoveries: a book about Martians by David Baron; a film about Pavement by Alex Ross Perry; an article about AI by Bill Wasik; plus a catch-up on some recent posts and articles: singulardiscoveries.substack.com/p/blaming-he...
Football fans: Ever been inside an empty stadium—on a tour, after a match—and felt something strange? A lingering echo of noise, emotion, presence, like it's still alive, even when no one is there? Have you ever experienced the uncanny atmosphere of an absent crowd? Let me know, for a thing... ⚽👻
June 26, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Football fans: Ever been inside an empty stadium—on a tour, after a match—and felt something strange? A lingering echo of noise, emotion, presence, like it's still alive, even when no one is there? Have you ever experienced the uncanny atmosphere of an absent crowd? Let me know, for a thing... ⚽👻
Long gone, I'm afraid, but here's a non Geordie Jeans variant from around that time.
June 14, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Long gone, I'm afraid, but here's a non Geordie Jeans variant from around that time.
This is a bad decision by the way. VAR's tech isn't accurate enough to overrule something this tight. Striker's elbow vs defender's shoulder? The linesman had a better view. Onside. Great goal. 3-0 (5-0 agg.) #NUFC
February 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM
This is a bad decision by the way. VAR's tech isn't accurate enough to overrule something this tight. Striker's elbow vs defender's shoulder? The linesman had a better view. Onside. Great goal. 3-0 (5-0 agg.) #NUFC
Enjoyed this as always. I wonder if the Wreford Brown story originated following the Pilgrims tours of the US around 1904/05, which do seem to have popularised the use of "soccer" (or "socker") over there. Nice little letter here in the NYT from 1905. Tabor was a teacher who promoted boys' soccer.
February 4, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Enjoyed this as always. I wonder if the Wreford Brown story originated following the Pilgrims tours of the US around 1904/05, which do seem to have popularised the use of "soccer" (or "socker") over there. Nice little letter here in the NYT from 1905. Tabor was a teacher who promoted boys' soccer.
"A rare instrument known as a 'recorder'". Resembles a flute, popular in Elizabethan times, mentioned in Hamlet... and foisted upon every 1980s schoolkid when they really would have preferred to learn the guitar.
Source: Daily Chronicle, 15 May 1919, via BNA.
Source: Daily Chronicle, 15 May 1919, via BNA.
January 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
"A rare instrument known as a 'recorder'". Resembles a flute, popular in Elizabethan times, mentioned in Hamlet... and foisted upon every 1980s schoolkid when they really would have preferred to learn the guitar.
Source: Daily Chronicle, 15 May 1919, via BNA.
Source: Daily Chronicle, 15 May 1919, via BNA.
2024 round-up: The Tyne Bridge, my book about the iconic landmark and the people who built and use it, was published in a handsome paperback edition with lavish illustrations and fancy French flaps. You can see more and get the book here: tynebridgebook.com
December 23, 2024 at 1:58 PM
2024 round-up: The Tyne Bridge, my book about the iconic landmark and the people who built and use it, was published in a handsome paperback edition with lavish illustrations and fancy French flaps. You can see more and get the book here: tynebridgebook.com
Who knew that the fancy gatefolds on the handsome (and lavishly illustrated) paperback edition of The Tyne Bridge are called "French flaps"?
December 5, 2024 at 9:44 AM
Who knew that the fancy gatefolds on the handsome (and lavishly illustrated) paperback edition of The Tyne Bridge are called "French flaps"?
My latest book The Tyne Bridge is half price until 2 Dec in the @hurstpublishers.bsky.social Black Friday sale. Get the "lavishly illustrated" paperback for just £6.50. Buy 2 and get free postage (Christmas sorted👍). Discount applied automatically at checkout: www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-tyn...
December 1, 2024 at 8:31 AM
My latest book The Tyne Bridge is half price until 2 Dec in the @hurstpublishers.bsky.social Black Friday sale. Get the "lavishly illustrated" paperback for just £6.50. Buy 2 and get free postage (Christmas sorted👍). Discount applied automatically at checkout: www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-tyn...
Gruff Rhys and Bill Ryder-Jones at Gateshead Sage / Glasshouse last night. Tremendous. @gruffrhys.bsky.social @billryderjones.bsky.social
November 28, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Gruff Rhys and Bill Ryder-Jones at Gateshead Sage / Glasshouse last night. Tremendous. @gruffrhys.bsky.social @billryderjones.bsky.social
Some books you might like. Available from some good bookshops and Amazon.
November 10, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Some books you might like. Available from some good bookshops and Amazon.
The new issue of When Saturday Comes is out now. Includes my piece on the future (and past) of NUFC's St James' Park. www.wsc.co.uk/shop/wsc-448/
November 8, 2024 at 11:18 AM
The new issue of When Saturday Comes is out now. Includes my piece on the future (and past) of NUFC's St James' Park. www.wsc.co.uk/shop/wsc-448/
The Singular Discoveries Podcast has been shortlisted for the Independent Podcast Awards 2024. The winners will be announced next Wednesday, 23rd October. More details and a link to the full shortlist at the bottom of my newsletter:
singulardiscoveries....
4/4
singulardiscoveries....
4/4
October 17, 2024 at 3:17 PM
The Singular Discoveries Podcast has been shortlisted for the Independent Podcast Awards 2024. The winners will be announced next Wednesday, 23rd October. More details and a link to the full shortlist at the bottom of my newsletter:
singulardiscoveries....
4/4
singulardiscoveries....
4/4
I tested Waymo driverless cars in San Francisco. Words, pictures and a short video here:
singulardiscoveries....
3/4
singulardiscoveries....
3/4
October 17, 2024 at 3:17 PM
I tested Waymo driverless cars in San Francisco. Words, pictures and a short video here:
singulardiscoveries....
3/4
singulardiscoveries....
3/4
My latest true story is The Great UFO Hoax, about a bunch of students who convinced the police, Army, Air Force and Ministry of Defence that England was being invaded by flying saucers. Read it on @narratively:
www.narratively.com/...
2/4
www.narratively.com/...
2/4
October 17, 2024 at 3:17 PM
My latest true story is The Great UFO Hoax, about a bunch of students who convinced the police, Army, Air Force and Ministry of Defence that England was being invaded by flying saucers. Read it on @narratively:
www.narratively.com/...
2/4
www.narratively.com/...
2/4
In the new edition of the Singular Discoveries newsletter: A brand new true story about flying saucers; PLUS Testing Waymo's driverless cars; and podcast award news...
singulardiscoveries....
1/4
singulardiscoveries....
1/4
October 17, 2024 at 3:16 PM
In the new edition of the Singular Discoveries newsletter: A brand new true story about flying saucers; PLUS Testing Waymo's driverless cars; and podcast award news...
singulardiscoveries....
1/4
singulardiscoveries....
1/4
NEW: A bonus summer special edition of Singular Discoveries: The Many George Wilsons. Is the name "George Wilson" following me?
singulardiscoveries....
singulardiscoveries....
August 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM
NEW: A bonus summer special edition of Singular Discoveries: The Many George Wilsons. Is the name "George Wilson" following me?
singulardiscoveries....
singulardiscoveries....
Charles Douthitt was a killer who was sentenced to be “destroyed in the electric chair” and ended up on Death Row, where he waited to meet his fate. And waited. And waited...
New on Singular Discoveries, the haunting tale of an endless wait for execution:
singulardiscoveries....
New on Singular Discoveries, the haunting tale of an endless wait for execution:
singulardiscoveries....
July 11, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Charles Douthitt was a killer who was sentenced to be “destroyed in the electric chair” and ended up on Death Row, where he waited to meet his fate. And waited. And waited...
New on Singular Discoveries, the haunting tale of an endless wait for execution:
singulardiscoveries....
New on Singular Discoveries, the haunting tale of an endless wait for execution:
singulardiscoveries....
New: In the latest Singular Discoveries:
"Samuel Johnson was going along the road when suddenly a whirlwind appeared in front of him."
PLUS a recommended book by @MikePaterniti, a @Narratively Classic about hapless gangsters, and more.
Read it here:
singulardiscoveries....
"Samuel Johnson was going along the road when suddenly a whirlwind appeared in front of him."
PLUS a recommended book by @MikePaterniti, a @Narratively Classic about hapless gangsters, and more.
Read it here:
singulardiscoveries....
June 13, 2024 at 8:29 AM
New: In the latest Singular Discoveries:
"Samuel Johnson was going along the road when suddenly a whirlwind appeared in front of him."
PLUS a recommended book by @MikePaterniti, a @Narratively Classic about hapless gangsters, and more.
Read it here:
singulardiscoveries....
"Samuel Johnson was going along the road when suddenly a whirlwind appeared in front of him."
PLUS a recommended book by @MikePaterniti, a @Narratively Classic about hapless gangsters, and more.
Read it here:
singulardiscoveries....