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Natasha Ryan

@justplainscrambled.bsky.social
320 followers 591 following 15 posts

Poems by day, prose by night. Préfère l'impair.

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Reposted by Natasha Ryan
Dom Conlon @domconlon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Hello folks! I have started a new FB page. I’ll be putting up bits and shits about me and my writing onto it. I’d appreciate follows and shares and all the shizzle www.facebook.com/share/1ehfVW...
facebook.com
Facebook
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 06/08/2026
Looking for a family-friendly creative activity this summer? Join poet John Hegley in the Poetry Cafe on Saturday 22 August for a fun & interactive writing and drawing workshop. Aimed at children aged 7-11 and their families. Biscuits provided! Info/ tickets at poetrysociety.org.uk/event/writin...
Photos of poet John Hegley and a camel. A pale yellow background. Text in white on blue reads 'Writing and Drawing Camels... and other animals. Fmaily friendly workshop with John Hegley'. Text in blue on yellow reads 'Sat 22 Aug, 10.30-12.30, Poetry Cafe London, £5 children, £9 adults poetrysociety.org.uk/events. Top right, logo for The Poetry Society in black.
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Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Long shot, but if anyone in North #Oxford has lost a tortoise with a surprising turn of speed in the heat, do get in touch..
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I’ve seen a lot of Chagall stained glass - some in real life - but I don’t recall seeing glassware before. So I thought I’d better share it. Lovers' Vase, 1966
Blown glass with corosso surface, internally decorated and red pasta glass. Green figure, two handles on same side.
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 10/05/2026
Congratulations to all shortlisted in the poetry category of the Wales Book of the Year Award: ⭐Deryn Rees-Jones ⭐ Laura Wainwright ⭐Jeremy Over ⭐Carwyn Eckley ⭐Jo Heyde ⭐Mererid Hopwood Llongyfarchiadau! www.literaturewales.org/our-projects...
literaturewales.org
Wales Book of the Year Award 2026 Shortlist - Literature Wales
Wales Book of the Year Award 2026 Shortlist To read more about the Wales Book of The Year 2026 Shortlist, click below on our online booklet.
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Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Junior Research Fellow in English, specifically the field of 20th Century literature. Somerville College, University of Oxford, UK Salary: £39,424
Somerville College, University of Oxford, UK
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 30/04/2026
Congratulations to the poets & publishers shortlisted for this year's @michaelmarksawards.bsky.social ! Poets Rachel Cleverly, Hugh Foley, Eve Ellis, James Appleby & Hasti Presses Out-Spoken, Black Sunflowers, Green Bottle & Dirt (Dialect) michaelmarksawards.org/awards/2025-...
michaelmarksawards.org
2025/26 Awards - Michael Marks Awards
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And Other Stories @andotherstories.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Come and work with us! We’re looking for an Associate Publisher/Publishing Manager to join our team. Location: Sheffield and remote More info here: www.andotherstories.org/2026/04/08/a...
andotherstories.org
And Other Stories is hiring! Associate Publisher / Publishing Manager (Non-Editorial Role) | And Other Stories
Sheffield hybrid. Salary: £35,000 – £42,000, depending on experience, plus contributions to a pension scheme. Full time Location: Sheffield and […]
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Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
So, happy 120th anniversary of Samuel Beckett’s birth to all who celebrate
Meme of Samuel Beckett using the photo of him taken by Jane Bown, just his b/w face top left against a black background. He says “I can’t go on”. Then, on the right, Mrs Doyle from Father Ted says “Ah, go on”. Then, below left, Beckett says “I’ll go on”
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Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · 05/04/2026
do I dare to skeet "impeach"?
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The Moth Magazine @themothmagazine.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Happy Easter to those who celebrate, from The Moth HQ! 🪺
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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
This is utterly jaw-dropping. A school that bans Atwood, Zadie Smith, Terry effing Pratchett and *literal George Orwell* is actively harming its pupils. www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho...
indexoncensorship.org
School book banning escalates in the UK as Greater Manchester secondary school censors scores of books - Index on Censorship
A school librarian faced a disciplinary hearing and scores of books were removed from her school library after she stocked Laura Bates’ Men Who Hate Women
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 21/03/2026
Happy World Poetry Day 🌍 To celebrate, we're giving away FREE access to our digital archive of The Poetry Review, so everyone can read some of the finest in modern poetry from round the globe. Until noon (GMT) on Thursday 26th March, you can access the archive at the link in our bio.
A blue square with text along the top reading 'Happy World Poetry Day! 21st March 2026'. Beneath the text is a white star with lots of points, surrounded by a circle of yellow dashes. In the middle of this is a photo of a hand holding up a microphone. Along the bottom of the square is text which reads 'Celebrating the power of poetry to transform, connect, and inspire'.A dark purple square with an extract from a poem in white text. The extract reads: i think just now you must be walking perhaps down chapel turning briefly right perhaps on crown   sharpening when the song you love spills generous from a passing car unspools into the night you might be walking now. Beneath the text is an illustration of a series of musical notes. The text at the bottom of the image reads 'from 'Night' by Safia Elhillo, The Poetry Review, Autumn 2018.A green square with the following poem in black text: 'An empress tree grew in Yukyang, enduring years of frigid shade. Fortunately, it met a master craftsman who cut it for a black harp. When the harp was played, few understood the songs. Finally, the old music wisped away in smoke.' In the bottom right hand corner is a drawing of a harp in a tree. Next to this is text which reads ‘Remnants, Part I’ by Nansŏrhŏn, translated by Ian Haight and T’ae-yong Hŏ, The Poetry Review, Autumn 2017'.A read square with white text along the top reading 'from ‘[’You’re still alive. You’re the very bottom...’]’ by Vasyl Stus translated by Alan Zhukovski'. Beneath this is an extract from the poem: Your soul’s about to rush away - a horse who tore his tether. Please tell me: are you still alive? Oh, really? Another flash of fire? The view around has gotten clearer, so much clearer now. You’re dazzled by the light. Beneath this is a simple illustration of a horse leaping, followed by the text 'The Poetry Review, Winter 2022'.
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
NEW: Two senior MOD whistleblowers with inside knowledge of Palantir's systems have come forward to @thenerve.news to say government ministers are ignorant of the grave national security risks the technology poses. Hugely important by @charlienotold.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/palantir-t...
thenerve.news
‘It beggars belief’: MoD sources warn Palantir’s role at heart of government is a threat to UK’s security
Experts say that claims UK data remains under government ownership miss the point that the company has the capability to build its own detailed picture of the British population, and even infer state ...
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Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
🚨 It looks like the UK government is gearing up to upend copyright law in favour of AI companies, legalising the theft of their work. This is despite creatives' huge protests, and despite previous proposals being roundly rejected by the public. Please spread the word. 🧵 1/4
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Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Oops. Turns out Persona, Discord’s age-verification service, was secretly screening selfies against government watchlists AND accessible by the feds. It's backed by Peter Thiel. “The state wants to see everything. The corporations want to see everything. And they've learned to work together.”
therage.co
Hackers Expose Age-Verification Software Powering Surveillance Web
Three hacktivists tried to find a workaround to Discord’s age-verification software. Instead, they found its frontend exposed to the open internet.
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Heather Burns @heatherburnstech.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
A UK student in the US went to a protest for five minutes. ICE subpoenaed Google for his private details. Google complied. theintercept.com/2026/02/10/g...
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Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm" www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw... #R4Today
newscase.com
Palantir's Swiss Exit Highlights Global Data Sovereignty Challenge | NewsCase
Switzerland's military has terminated its contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. following a security audit. The review concluded that U.S. intelligence ag
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Bluemoose Books @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-tar...
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org
Say no to Palantir in the NHS
NHS England is rolling out software to run our health records from Palantir - fight back
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John Skiles Skinner @skiles.blue · 31/01/2026
A manual for ICE's immigrant-targeting computer system, Palantir ELITE, was leaked today. Let's look at it, then step back to evaluate how far we've come along a dangerous road and where that road might take us. 🧵
404media.co
Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
The early results from the one question we ask Primary School teachers here are absolutely fascinating. Comparing KS2 and KS3 teachers' responses is going to be such a BRILLIANT addition to our report! Please share the link below with Primary colleagues!
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
We urgently need a parliamentary debate on Palantir. Please sign this & share with your network. Via @the-citizens.bsky.social & @change.org. www.change.org/p/hold-a-par...
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Maya C. Popa @mayacpopa.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 10/01/2026
Hayden Kennedy, a Top 15 winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2025, reads winning poem 'They say peace came'. Read this year's winning poems and find out more about the Award: bit.ly/FoyleYoungPoets
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Natasha Ryan @justplainscrambled.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
In 2020, Renee won the Academy of American Poets Prize. poets.org/2020-on-lear...
poets.org
2020 Academy of American Poets Prize
On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs by Renée Nicole Macklin
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Lorna M. Campbell @lornamcampbell.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
"Key to all of this is understanding that US companies are explicitly going to be used to enforce US national security interests. And that includes the US technology companies that are at the heart of our national infrastructure and embedded into our everyday lives."
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Caroline Bird @carolinebirduk.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
My favourite new year James Tate poem: The Immortals None of us have felt good this year: pus around the eyes, sores that come and go with no explanation. But we still believe we will come through it! I signal this news by lifting a little finger.
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Tom Jenks @tomjenksuk.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
All words containing 'z' in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, in order of occurrence. All mentions of 'Ebenezer' picked out in black.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Uk to rejoin Erasmus scheme - set to be confirmed formally tomorrow www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
theguardian.com
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
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Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Fascinating world of ancient glass: The skill of ancient glassmakers never ceases to amaze me. This a magnificent #Roman striped mosaic bowl was made of preformed rods and canes fused on or in a mold. Dating late 1st c. BC/early 1st c AD. Timeless beauty! 📷 Corning Museums of Glass 🏺
Colorful glass bowl with thin, vertical, multicolored bands curving around the interior and exterior, creating a marbled, striped pattern in greens, blues, purples, browns, yellows, and white, shown on a plain gray background with a soft shadow underneath.Colorful glass bowl with thin, vertical, multicolored bands curving around the interior and exterior, creating a marbled, striped pattern in greens, blues, purples, browns, yellows, and white, shown on a plain gray background with a soft shadow underneath.
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 09/12/2025
A "techno-authoritarian's wet dream": @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for the Nerve on digital ID www.thenerve.news/p/digital-id...
Picture of anti-Digital ID protestors and the caption: "If Keir Starmer's Digital ID is the Question, then Tony Blair is the answer" Carole Cadwalladr on Labour's worst idea
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Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 21/11/2025
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
bloom.bg
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
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Bernadette Geyer @bernadettegeyer.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
This one by Helen Mort!
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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
At @engmediacentre.bsky.social we've been doing a survey of teachers' views on the current state of English teaching. We've had a great response but we'd love more, incl more from out of London. If you're an English teacher please do it. It doesn't take long! www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngTeach2025
surveymonkey.com
English Teaching in Your School
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
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The Society of Authors @societyofauthors.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
CALLING ALL YOUNG POETS The deadline for entries to the Eric Gregory Awards is 31 October. It is awarded for a collection by poets under the age of 30. Winners of the Eric Gregory Awards are invited to a free solo week residency at Thomas Cottage.
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Natasha Ryan @justplainscrambled.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Happy National Poetry Day! Started the day by saying goodbye to the incredible Chris Holifield, a tremendous force for good in the poetry world and a mentor to many. She'll be much missed. Now on to games, workshops and performances in the Poetry Cafe, which feels fitting.
Funeral programme for Chris Holifield, with a photo of Chris smiling.
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Right. A bit more about what we’re up to. Would love feedback, do stick a comment at the end. And do please consider signing up to find out more www.thenerve.news open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
open.substack.com
The free press fights back...
Introducing the Nerve. From the wreckage of my old newspaper, comes a new all-women, journalist-owned, independent publication. Join us!
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Dom Conlon @domconlon.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
This is sad. Lovely tributes to Chris Holifield who died Sept 3. childrenspoetrysummit.com/2025/09/25/c...
childrenspoetrysummit.com
Chris Holifield – A Tribute
On Wednesday 3 September 2025, Chris Holifield passed away. So Gaby, Liz and Laura wanted to write a blog to celebrate and honour her, as the founder and driving force behind the Children’s P…
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Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Ok. They’ve pissed me off. I’m back to tell you 3 things about ID cards: 1. Migrants ALREADY HAVE biometric ID cards & govts have been trying to digitise them for years w repeated fuckups & failures causing complete chaos - they don’t work, you do not want that system for you.
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Little Toller Books @littletollerbooks.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Just arrived from the printers. The Book of Bogs began as a community response & has grown beyond the Walshaw Moor into a wider celebration & campaign for bogs & other peatland ecologies. This was the most brilliant crowdfunded project, with over 40 contributions from artists & poets. OUT NOW.
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Deryn Rees-Jones @notjustdancing.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
This year’s Keats-Shelley Memorial Prizes are now open. Themes are dystopia / utopia I’m glad to be judging the poetry prize again with Will Kemp. Closing date 2nd February and more info here keats-shelley.org/prizes/keats...
keats-shelley.org
Keats-Shelley Prizes 2025-26
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Shame on Downing Street for going along with this. So much for being committed to a free press
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Ryan Estrada @ryanestrada.com · 06/09/2025
Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars. OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.
theatlantic.com
Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI
Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.
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Emma Purshouse @emmapurshouse.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
1/ I don't think many folk see my Bluesky posts, but if you can and you're a poet who likes to slam, and you're in shouting distance of Ironbridge then @pandemonialists.bsky.social are looking for 15 poetry slammers for an event on the afternoon of Sunday 28th September 2025.
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UCFL - University Council For Languages @ucflangs.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
The APPG Modern Languages has shared a Letter to The Times by Baroness Coussins, Co-chair of the APPG, in response to their recent leading article arguing falling languages uptake narrows young people's horizons (www.thetimes.com/comment/the-...)
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Dithering Chaps - submissions open @ditheringchaps.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
For poetry friends from Dorset, UK, I wanted to let you know about a new Stanza group, based in Dorchester. It's been running quietly over the Summer (I've recently started attending myself) and it would be cool to see new faces - poster attached... high quality poetry chat and feedback guaranteed!!
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Sam Jordison @samjordison.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Announcing a new tool to fight AI slop in the book world - and authenticate that the books we publish are written by, you know, humans. Books by people vs books by AI open.substack.com/pub/samj/p/b...
open.substack.com
Books by people vs books by AI
Announcing a new book certification scheme that enables publishers to prove their books are written by humans
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 19/07/2025
I gather you snap your fingers in the face of the east wind feel the moon groan as she learns the ropes again tangled among branches that you bend, so you say, to shake her free. ‘Considering a Hike to Yon Tree’, a poem by Kathleen Jamie: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Kathleen Jamie · Poem: ‘Considering a Hike to Yon Tree’
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Tom Sherrington @teacherhead.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Classroom Voices. From September I plan to use my blog as a platform to share a weekly post written by a teacher - who may not want to write lots or set up a blog of their own. If you want to be involved, use this form to upload your submission. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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