iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Very concerning that they don't mention which models were used in the process, and whether/how applications were protected vis-à-vis data ethics, GDPR, AI training, etc. It not only risks that no human will read what you have spent months working on, but that your work is hoovered up along the way.

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Charles West @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Crikey, hadn't realised this was already happening.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The one where Peppa Pig joins the hydrarchy

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

'Vikings in the Mediterranean' (ed. Price et al.) has been out for a few years now, but happy to see my review on it in the new issue of Northern Studies, which landed on my doormat this week. DM me if you'd like a PDF.

The cover of the new volume of Northern Studies, featuring an 'upside down' stylised map the North Sea region

A review of 'Vikings in the Mediterranean' (2023)

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Aran Ward Sell @aranws.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Same (but three-time alumnus and several-times past employee). So sad for former colleagues and today's students that an institution we're all desperate to be proud of is behaving so abysmally.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

As a two-time alumnus of Edinburgh Uni, it's hard not to despair at the short-sighted plans by management to decimate degree programmes across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Solidarity to all affected by this act of utter vandalism.

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janisgoodmanetcher @janisgoodmanetcher.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

No to Leeds Data Centre and thanks you to Judith Kerr.

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Christine Kooi @christinekooi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Friends, if you've ever worked in the Dutch National Archives, consider signing this petition. Its administrators want to completely shut down its public educational programs and turn it into a repository of exclusively government records. #skystorians 🗃️

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Sam Ottewill-Soulsby @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I think the emphasis on bigger grants is counterproductive in the humanities, where you can do a huge amount just by providing a salary and reasonable overhead. Forcing people to apply for vast sums they don’t actually need for their core project adds to the pressure and reduces resources elsewhere.

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Some more candid thoughts from the Great Viking Survey:

A response from the Great Viking Survey (2025), in which the surveyee answers whether or not they admire vikings: 'It's just a job from a different culture. It would be like admiring an ancient Egyptian accountant'.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The manuscript has been fully digitised as well - available here (click on right-hand side image): archives.collections.ed.ac.uk/repositories...

A digitised page of Edinburgh University's Celtic Psalter, showing a colourful large initial.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Ending the week on a high by meeting what may be the oldest Scottish book still in Scotland. Late C10/early C11, it is a psalter in Irish minuscule, presumably created in Scotland, exact provenance unknown. Richly illum. initials throughout, with fine interlacing and lots of brilliant animal heads.

Celtic Psalter (late 10th/early 11th century), opened with illuminated initials visible.

A large, colourfully illuminated initial in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and claw terminals.

A large, colourfully illuminated initial in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and leaf terminals.

Colourfully illuminated 'E' initials in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and claw terminals.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Gleefully offering the option to surveil those around you at all times without knowledge or consent - the thing tech companies have long been accused of doing on the sly is now simply marketed and outsourced to the user as a trendy feature, rather than the privacy violation it is.

gizmodo.com

If Meta Glasses Freak You Out, Wait Until You Hear About the New Apple Watch Features

Live Rewind and Siri Recap just killed the dreams of always on AI wearables.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A quick skip across the Kilbrannan Sound to see magnificent Skipness Castle in Kintyre. Originally built sometime during the early 1200s, the coastal fortress was in use for well over four centuries, subject to numerous additions and modifications. The view back to Arran is something else ⛰️

The much-altered medieval (and post-medieval) remains of Skipness castle

One of the main arched entryways of Skipness Castle, looking into a grassy courtyard within.

The parapet along the roof of Skipness Castle, overlooking a green forest beyond.

The northern, mountainous side of the Isle of Arran, seen across the Kilbrannan Sound from Kintyre on a cloudy day. Skipness Chapel is visible in the foreground.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

May be worth noting that the Bayeux museum itself, which is currently being renovated, will also display the tapestry this way upon its return in 2027: no longer upright, and no longer turning corners.

bayeuxmuseum.com

Follow the stages of the project to the new Bayeux Tapestry museum - Bayeux Museum

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Probably would have been drier to swim, but the site of the viking burial mound at Kingscross Point, overlooking Lamlash Bay on Arran, is worth the trek. A furnished cremation grave was excavated here in 1909, and has been dated to the mid/late ninth century

A photo of the viking burial site at Kingscross Point, Lamlash, Arran, during a cloudy, rainy day. Holy Isle is visible in the bay, and the cloud-covered Goatfell range is seen in the distance.

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Scottish Society for Northern Studies @northernstudies.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

We have reopened funding schemes, supporting scholars and students in their research, training, travel, and conference organisation - with an emphasis on PGRs and ECRs! Research Grant Deadline: 1 December 2026! All Other Grants Deadline: 2 November 2026! For details, see ssns.org.uk/funding/

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A bit windswept and weary, but Tato made it to the top of Goat Fell! 🥔⛰️

A border terrier in a green coat on a rock, overlooking Brodick, on Arran, to the south, with wider landscape and distant Holy Isle in Lamlash Bay visible.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Viking scholars attempting to counter misinformation about vikings:

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Viking scholars attempting to counter misinformation about vikings:

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Simon Coupland @scoupland.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The first 100 coins from the Mørstad hoard have now been put online - read more here www.khm.uio.no/om/aktuelt/a...

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Making a Warrior @makingawarrior.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Some more wisdom from the Great Viking Survey dataset:

An anonymous response from the Great Viking Survey (conducted in 2025), reading: 'Look [like] a viking, smell like a viking and walk like a viking. Then I am probably a viking.'

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Dr. Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele @drdragases.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

An urgent appeal to academic colleagues around the world, to sign and share this petition in support of the suspension of Nathan Cofnas. The letter explains at length (both in English and French) what is at stake, how someone like Cofnas could ever get hired, and why this is a grave mistake.

docs.google.com

Open letter on the suspension of Nathan Cofnas at Ghent University

***Version française en dessous*** We, colleagues of Nathan Cofnas - supported by many colleagues internationally - want to respond to the negative and incorrect framing of Ghent University’s decisio...

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Erin Sebo @erinsebo.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Great medieval research starter pack by @florencehrscott.bsky.social! go.bsky.app/Eo1HyLT

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Nina Lamal @ninalamal.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

PhD-positie voor neerlandicus, historicus of theoloog, voor meer informatie: www.uantwerpen.be/nl/jobs/vaca...

uantwerpen.be

Doctoraatsbursaal in de historische Nederlandse letterkunde | Universiteit Antwerpen

YUFE vacature

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Every once in a while, my old potato phone camera still manages to prove its mettle 🌈

A verdant canal scene, with a church in the background and a bright rainbow reflected in the water.

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Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

50 percent discount deadline 22 August #medievalsky

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Very much enjoyed @samleggs22.bsky.social's paper as well, on biomolecular approaches to human-environment mobility during the Viking Age! #vikingcongress

Sam Leggett presenting research at the Viking Congress in Oslo

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Scottish Society for Northern Studies @northernstudies.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

SSNS is proud to announce another call for papers for the Leeds International Medieval Conference 5-8 July 2027! This session titled "Communities and Networks in Medieval Scotland & Scandinavia". Please submit a title and a 200 maximum word abstract by 25 August to secretary@ssns.org.uk.

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Dr Sam Leggett @samleggs22.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Thoroughly enjoying @ccooijmans.bsky.social’s talk which is basically about Viking spy/information networks & economies - TEDtalk style #vikingcongress #oslo

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Scottish Society for Northern Studies @northernstudies.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Call for papers for the International Medieval Congress - University of Leeds 2027 for the session titled "Cosmological Phenomena and their Interpretation by the Communities of the Medieval North"! Abstracts must include the title and are limited to 200 words. Abstract deadline is 21st August 2026.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

What better way to condescend to your users than to visually present your unwanted GenAI features as happy sparkly Tinkerbell magic.

Three actual icons I've come across this morning, presenting AI features using sparkly stars, covering the wretchedness underneath.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

'Straatje-zonder-einde' (lit. 'little street without end') Mechelen, Belgium

A street sign in Mechelen, Belgium, reading 'Straatje-zonder-einde' ('little street without end'). There is a cul-de-sac sign next to it.

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New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

This is just to say I have OCRed the text thet was in tne arch:ve and whicb yov were prabaldy seamhing for "breahtast" Fargme ms fheg mem debo:w5 sb ?mccf mmb 5c oc1b

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Had a nightmare some time ago in which we had gotten rid of physical books and other markers of culture, and tech bros decided it was a great idea to let AI 'reimagine' the losses, i.e. algorithmically approximate all cultural and creative heritage as a soulless simulacra. Humankind by autocomplete.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Wealth of Nations: A New Scottish Critique

A bronze statue of Adam Smith in Edinburgh, Scotland. An orange traffic cone has been placed on the statue's head, and a real estate sign placed under its arm. Photo by Pablo San Martín Varela.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Wealth of Nations: A New Scottish Critique

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

'I don’t see that much difference between the Elgins deciding to ramraid the Parthenon to decorate their living room and rich people paying millions to buy up fossilised remains or repurposing ancient artefacts as jewellery.'

inews.co.uk

Of all the things rich people have ruined, one thing infuriates me

Kate Lister: The privatisation of history enrages me like nothing else

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Liverpool University Press @livunipress.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

You can find out more about Viking Connections, and read Christian's chapter #OpenAccess, here ⬇️ www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....

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Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Thanks @ccooijmans.bsky.social we should also mention your fascinating paper is open access on the @livunipress.bsky.social website!! David, Nancy and Fiona were a lovely team to work with on this book #medievalsky

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Happy to have received these chonky bois in the post. Congratulations to @downham.bsky.social and the editorial team for seeing this work to publication. Thanks to @iashedinburgh.bsky.social and @makingawarrior.bsky.social for supporting the exploration and development of the ideas in my chapter.

Two copies of the book 'Viking Connections' on a wooden tabletop.

A book opened on a chapter title: 'A Place of Contact and Contradiction: the socially constructed space(s) of viking encampment' by Christian Cooijmans.

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Heading to the Walloon Mediterranean this weekend? Leave early to avoid traffic along the Hlitagts ring road and Mapmie-Kortriijk motorway into Krlon. 🚧🚦🚗

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Heading to the Walloon Mediterranean this weekend? Leave early to avoid traffic along the Hlitagts ring road and Mapmie-Kortriijk motorway into Krlon. 🚧🚦🚗

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Those who point to the Netherlands as a bastion of tolerance and equality are often unaware of - or knowingly gloss over - the fact that the country still treats many of its minority ethnic groups with a deep social and institutional prejudice.

theguardian.com

Race discrimination case over child’s swim puts ‘Dutch paradox’ in focus

Father of boy refused entry to pool says case is reminder that some Dutch do not acknowledge reality of racism

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Spare a thought for colleagues at Edinburgh Napier University today, which is selling off its castled Merchiston campus amid talk of a 'merger by stealth' with other regional institutions. Another victim of the ongoing UK HE crisis.

edinburghinquirer.co.uk

Napier set to quit historic Merchiston home amid cash crisis

Plus: 'Frustrated' Historic Scotland chief quits; and celebrating Doddie at 60

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Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

When, during the World Cup, you feel the urge to contest a viking heritage by claiming other Scandinavian groups - hang on - 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠, it may be time to go outside for a bit.

Two paragraphs from a Guardian article:

'Swedish historians have highlighted a glaring historical inaccuracy: it was eastern Vikings, mainly from modern-day Sweden, who were famous for river and coastal rowing, while western Vikings, from Norway, were the great transatlantic sailors.

So the Norwegians are celebrating their football team's performances by imitating Swedish Vikings, Stockholm pundits argue. Be that as it may, the chant has won over many Norwegians, who have posted countless videos of themselves rowing.'

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I'm a TIDAL (as opposed to a Spotify) user for streaming music (primarily because I like that they pay their artists more, but the audio quality is better IMO as well). TIDAL just dropped their initial stance on AI - generated music.

Our stance on AI-generated music
Hi,
AI music generation tools are changing how music is created and distributed. As this technology evolves, Tidal is introducing platform standards to protect artists, their craft, and inform listeners.
Here are the highlights of our new AI Policy:
Tidal will identify and tag AI-generated music in our app. Listeners will see an "AI" badge next to music we detect as wholly AI-generated.
Tidal will not tolerate AI-generated music that impersonates an artist or group, or that facilitates fraudulent activity. We're implementing automatic tools to remove these releases immediately and on an ongoing basis.
Tidal will not allow music that is 100% AI-generated to be monetized. No royalties will go to such releases, nor will AI-generated uploads be eligible for direct-to-fan sales.
We will expand these policies to music that is substantially AI-generated when AI detection technology is sufficiently reliable to do so.
You'll start seeing these changes from July 15.

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Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Six key messages from Exeter UCU. The upshot is that these proposed cuts are unnecessary and damaging. We must stop them. Please amplify these messages if you can!

Exeter Uni’s finances are strong. We’ve large cash reserves (£200m in 24/25). Never had a budget deficit. This ‘crisis’ is manufactured.
Executive pay at Exeter is out of control. If just the 16 highest-paid execs capped their salary at £120k, we’d save more money than all the cuts to Archeology & History!
No meaningful consultation, but a confused mess: faulty and insufficient data, no real discussion, and an impossible, anxiety-inducing and unreasonable timetable to push this through over the summer.
An all-staff meeting of 600 staff resoundingly voted no confidence in Vice Chancellor Lisa Roberts (whose pay and benefits are pushing £400k). We believe this is the biggest single vote by any uni staff in the history of UK HE.
Redundancies are a management choice, not a financial necessity. They even have alternative costed plans with no cuts, but think it’s easier to go for job losses.
Exeter is a fantastic uni, with world-class research, creative and inspiring teaching, and a caring, thoughtful and imaginative community of staff and students. Let’s keep it that way.

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