Shark Hat
@shark-hat.bsky.social
Grumpy Englishperson. Ex-afper, Toastie, Fluorospherian. Likes sff, mysteries, science, comedy, human rights for all humans.
Reposted by Shark Hat
I absolutely love this series--detective mystery with magic, ongoing romance set in a matriarchal fantasy city, beautifully imagined. If you haven't read them, treat yourself!
#Booksky We’re releasing an omnibus tomorrow 12/15! Get all 6 Astreiant books by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett in one glorious ebook edition. Astreiant is also eligible for the Best Series Hugo this year! queenofswordspress.com/product/comp...
December 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I absolutely love this series--detective mystery with magic, ongoing romance set in a matriarchal fantasy city, beautifully imagined. If you haven't read them, treat yourself!
Reposted by Shark Hat
Great thread; both for the idioms, and also because it's just really fascinating to get glimpses into historical lives through letters.
Clay letters from ancient Mesopotamia are alive with idiom, sayings, and everyday language that I love.
Here are just a few random ones so you can enjoy them too.
Here are just a few random ones so you can enjoy them too.
December 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Great thread; both for the idioms, and also because it's just really fascinating to get glimpses into historical lives through letters.
Reposted by Shark Hat
I'm the king of kings
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
October 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I'm the king of kings
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
I'm not the king of kings
but I'm the wreckage of a king
but really I'm not actually a king
but I am...
Shattered visage in the desert by the stone legs
wrinkles its lip at you.
See my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Reposted by Shark Hat
Making lace on the train.
October 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Making lace on the train.
Reposted by Shark Hat
My favourite stretch of the Antonine Wall, the Roman frontier in Scotland, can be found at Dullatur. Here the Wall's enormous ditch is remarkably well preserved, tangible evidence of the impressive scale of this 38-mile-long monument.
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanSiteSaturday
October 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
My favourite stretch of the Antonine Wall, the Roman frontier in Scotland, can be found at Dullatur. Here the Wall's enormous ditch is remarkably well preserved, tangible evidence of the impressive scale of this 38-mile-long monument.
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanSiteSaturday
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From the Press Room | For the more than 242 million years that lizards and snakes appear in the fossil record, they show up as mostly pieces of lizard jaws and snake vertebrae. Exactly why these parts survive as fossils has been a mystery—until now: go.nhm.org/megafilters
September 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
From the Press Room | For the more than 242 million years that lizards and snakes appear in the fossil record, they show up as mostly pieces of lizard jaws and snake vertebrae. Exactly why these parts survive as fossils has been a mystery—until now: go.nhm.org/megafilters
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Discover @pennyvixen.bsky.social 's expanding universe of characters, from Goblin Emperor Maia to Witness for the dead Thara and now a new novella, THE ORB OF CAIRADO, following disgraced scholar Ulcetha!
UK release April 2026 in eBook & limited-run signed hardback!
geni.us/orbcairado
UK release April 2026 in eBook & limited-run signed hardback!
geni.us/orbcairado
September 8, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Discover @pennyvixen.bsky.social 's expanding universe of characters, from Goblin Emperor Maia to Witness for the dead Thara and now a new novella, THE ORB OF CAIRADO, following disgraced scholar Ulcetha!
UK release April 2026 in eBook & limited-run signed hardback!
geni.us/orbcairado
UK release April 2026 in eBook & limited-run signed hardback!
geni.us/orbcairado
Reposted by Shark Hat
GOOD NEWS! For the FIRST time ever, and after MORE THAN 30 YEARS of HIV vaccine clinical trials, researchers have developed a vaccine that has SUCCESSFULLY generated TIER 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV and BLOCKS viral infection in vaccinated PEOPLE.
August 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
GOOD NEWS! For the FIRST time ever, and after MORE THAN 30 YEARS of HIV vaccine clinical trials, researchers have developed a vaccine that has SUCCESSFULLY generated TIER 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV and BLOCKS viral infection in vaccinated PEOPLE.
Reposted by Shark Hat
through dangers untold (sleeping infants) and hardships unnumbered (three wildly incompatible timezones) we have managed to successfully kidnap brilliant romance expert @freyamarske.bsky.social to discuss DWJ's most romantic novel with us. Happy Howl's Moving Castle Day! zencastr.com/z/r0LaZYob
Howl's Moving Castle by @Rebecca Fraimow and Emily Tesh
Her mind was such a blank that for a second, it actually seemed to her that Howl had no faults at all. How stupid!
The fantastic Freya Marske joins us for a discussion of John Donne, fairy tales, un...
zencastr.com
August 2, 2025 at 2:37 PM
through dangers untold (sleeping infants) and hardships unnumbered (three wildly incompatible timezones) we have managed to successfully kidnap brilliant romance expert @freyamarske.bsky.social to discuss DWJ's most romantic novel with us. Happy Howl's Moving Castle Day! zencastr.com/z/r0LaZYob
Reposted by Shark Hat
It’s going to be a warm one.
Luckily we have our ‘air conditioning’ going. 😉
Stay cool/hydrated/fabulous.
Luckily we have our ‘air conditioning’ going. 😉
Stay cool/hydrated/fabulous.
July 11, 2025 at 7:38 AM
It’s going to be a warm one.
Luckily we have our ‘air conditioning’ going. 😉
Stay cool/hydrated/fabulous.
Luckily we have our ‘air conditioning’ going. 😉
Stay cool/hydrated/fabulous.
Reposted by Shark Hat
Ancient Assyrian gardeners were a different breed.
July 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Ancient Assyrian gardeners were a different breed.
Reposted by Shark Hat
*entering a bank holding a snake eating itself*
EVERYBODY BE COOL! THIS IS OUROBORY!
EVERYBODY BE COOL! THIS IS OUROBORY!
December 28, 2023 at 4:50 PM
*entering a bank holding a snake eating itself*
EVERYBODY BE COOL! THIS IS OUROBORY!
EVERYBODY BE COOL! THIS IS OUROBORY!
Reposted by Shark Hat
“Shorten my route”
June 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
“Shorten my route”
Reposted by Shark Hat
Archaeologists May Have Found Odysseus’ Sanctuary on Ithaca.
🏺 #ClassicsBluesky #BlueskyClassics #AncientBluesky 🏛️
🏺 #ClassicsBluesky #BlueskyClassics #AncientBluesky 🏛️
Archaeologists May Have Found Odysseus’ Sanctuary on Ithaca
A new discovery ties myth to place, revealing centuries of cult worship and civic ritual.
www.zmescience.com
June 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Archaeologists May Have Found Odysseus’ Sanctuary on Ithaca.
🏺 #ClassicsBluesky #BlueskyClassics #AncientBluesky 🏛️
🏺 #ClassicsBluesky #BlueskyClassics #AncientBluesky 🏛️
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One of the best things about Posting is you never know what obscure preoccupations your followers have. There will be a guy who has followed you for years and never said anything but then one day you disparage applesauce and he activates like a sleeper agent and dedicates his life to destroying you
June 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
One of the best things about Posting is you never know what obscure preoccupations your followers have. There will be a guy who has followed you for years and never said anything but then one day you disparage applesauce and he activates like a sleeper agent and dedicates his life to destroying you
Reposted by Shark Hat
To solve this problem, we enlisted the help of our office dog, Tjorven. He used his research expertise to contaminate a Pleistocene Equus sp. bone with saliva, skin, and fur, to approximate years of contamination with a complex proteome, which easily absorbed to the bone.
April 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
To solve this problem, we enlisted the help of our office dog, Tjorven. He used his research expertise to contaminate a Pleistocene Equus sp. bone with saliva, skin, and fur, to approximate years of contamination with a complex proteome, which easily absorbed to the bone.
Reposted by Shark Hat
A moment of history, colour and light on a Sunday morning.
This vibrant embroidery thread installation on the Chapel’s original 15th century window, was created by artist Susanne Davis for an outdoor exhibition called York Curioser in 2014. 🌈 😎
This vibrant embroidery thread installation on the Chapel’s original 15th century window, was created by artist Susanne Davis for an outdoor exhibition called York Curioser in 2014. 🌈 😎
April 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
A moment of history, colour and light on a Sunday morning.
This vibrant embroidery thread installation on the Chapel’s original 15th century window, was created by artist Susanne Davis for an outdoor exhibition called York Curioser in 2014. 🌈 😎
This vibrant embroidery thread installation on the Chapel’s original 15th century window, was created by artist Susanne Davis for an outdoor exhibition called York Curioser in 2014. 🌈 😎
Reposted by Shark Hat
Saving the phrase "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?" for the next wee chat I have to have with a student.
"Stop procrastinating" in cuneiform:
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
Queen Liballi-sharrat, the wife of king Ashurbanipal, and his sister Sherua-etirat were both literate.
In fact, Sherua-etirat once scolded her sister, then the crown princess, for not doing her homework. Literacy, it seemed, was an expectation of these Assyrian queens.
In fact, Sherua-etirat once scolded her sister, then the crown princess, for not doing her homework. Literacy, it seemed, was an expectation of these Assyrian queens.
April 10, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Saving the phrase "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?" for the next wee chat I have to have with a student.
If this isn't one for @elodieunderglass.bsky.social's #HorribleThingsWithLegs tag I don't know what it. This bugger is lurking.
please enjoy this photo i took of an Unsettling Lamp. why does it perch so
March 19, 2025 at 7:19 AM
If this isn't one for @elodieunderglass.bsky.social's #HorribleThingsWithLegs tag I don't know what it. This bugger is lurking.
Reposted by Shark Hat
The beautiful chest was likely made in southern Germany or Austria & decorated with red flowers & green foliage.
There was a problem. It was locked and had been for years and no one could get into it.
What was in it? Treasure? Land deeds? Black Forest Gateau?
There was a problem. It was locked and had been for years and no one could get into it.
What was in it? Treasure? Land deeds? Black Forest Gateau?
March 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The beautiful chest was likely made in southern Germany or Austria & decorated with red flowers & green foliage.
There was a problem. It was locked and had been for years and no one could get into it.
What was in it? Treasure? Land deeds? Black Forest Gateau?
There was a problem. It was locked and had been for years and no one could get into it.
What was in it? Treasure? Land deeds? Black Forest Gateau?
Reposted by Shark Hat
We've found a book.
It's called Yorkshire, Past and Present and includes a history of the three ridings (soz South Yorkshire, this is 1870 you don't exist) and some magnificent prints of landmarks and equally stupendous facial hair.
Join us on a tour of God's Own County...
It's called Yorkshire, Past and Present and includes a history of the three ridings (soz South Yorkshire, this is 1870 you don't exist) and some magnificent prints of landmarks and equally stupendous facial hair.
Join us on a tour of God's Own County...
March 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
We've found a book.
It's called Yorkshire, Past and Present and includes a history of the three ridings (soz South Yorkshire, this is 1870 you don't exist) and some magnificent prints of landmarks and equally stupendous facial hair.
Join us on a tour of God's Own County...
It's called Yorkshire, Past and Present and includes a history of the three ridings (soz South Yorkshire, this is 1870 you don't exist) and some magnificent prints of landmarks and equally stupendous facial hair.
Join us on a tour of God's Own County...
Reposted by Shark Hat
Blue sky and sunshine, a medieval chapel, and these cheery little fellows. What more could you want on a Sunday morning? 💛
March 9, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Blue sky and sunshine, a medieval chapel, and these cheery little fellows. What more could you want on a Sunday morning? 💛
Reposted by Shark Hat
Some days you just wanna give up , let everything go and follow the light inside of a red cabbage
March 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Some days you just wanna give up , let everything go and follow the light inside of a red cabbage
Reposted by Shark Hat
I enjoyed these shadows today
March 5, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I enjoyed these shadows today
Reposted by Shark Hat
They contain many useful household hints and also many pleasing references to nice little suppers.
Does anyone following me want books to read that are about people doing their best to be constructive about their approach to their society & kind to one another?
1. It’s a series of historical novels
2. They’re “kissing books” but not classic romances
3. They’pro-LGBTIAQ
1+
www.clorinda.org/about
1. It’s a series of historical novels
2. They’re “kissing books” but not classic romances
3. They’pro-LGBTIAQ
1+
www.clorinda.org/about
About | The Comfortable Courtesan Being Memoirs by Clorinda Cathcart and Clorinda Cathcart’s Circle
About the book series, their reading order and chronology, RSS and colophon.
www.clorinda.org
February 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
They contain many useful household hints and also many pleasing references to nice little suppers.