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Simon Thomson

@scfthomson.bsky.social
980 followers 1.2K following 93 posts

Easily excited medievalist working @hhu.bsky.social. I love manuscripts, stories and storytelling, teaching, @lfcr.bsky.social, antiracism, LGBTQ+ support, Nigeria, living in Germany, the Real Housewives, my wife, and gin (not always in that order)

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Reposted by Simon Thomson
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
If you’d like to try palaeography too our online challenge is here share.articulate.com/uzWJfzquhgEN...
share.articulate.com
SAS Festival: Palaeography Activity
Welcome to the SAS Festival's transcription challenge.  Pick a document that you want to try transcribing and begin!
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The Fig Economy @figgityfigs.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Sometimes my wife and I like to send each other text messages as though they’re democratic fundraising messages, and I believe she has produced the jewel of the form.
, it's
and I
have some personal news to share with you.
Being a mom is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I feel deeply that we should have salad tonight
This year has been challenging in many ways, and I have immense gratitude for the kindness and support of family, community, and people like you who have continued to stand by me through everything. It means the world, and I wanted you to be among the first to know that squash is in the oven and kale is in the fridge.As many of you are aware, ve been navigating one of the most challenging periods of my day while waiting for dinner.
Facing baseless federal hunger brought on by not eating since lunch, fighting for the working kids of this country, and now caring for a mean toddler and helping him grow up in a world that isn't always easy. But it has also reminded me exactly why I do this work and who I do it for.
I will never stop working to eat dinner. I will never stop fighting for what is right, even when there is also some feta in the fridge. And I will never stop being so very thankful that you are by my side in this important work and that there is tahini in the pantry for dressing
With love and gratitude,
stop to end
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Reuters @reuters.com · 07/10/2026
Dozens of soldiers, militants and miners killed in Nigeria attacks reut.rs/4i7rORk
reut.rs
Dozens of soldiers, militants and miners killed in Nigeria attacks
Nigerian troops killed more than 25 Islamic State-aligned militants as they ‌fought off an assault on a military position in northeastern Borno State, suffering an unknown number of casualties of their own, military sources and a member of the civilian defence force said on Wednesday.
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taz @taz.de · 30/09/2026
Einen Tankrabatt gibt es, mehr Förderung fürs Deutschlandticket aber nicht? Das geht nicht, sagt der BUND. Am Mittwoch entscheidet sich der neue Preis für die Fahrkarte.
taz.de
Neuer Preis-Index: Umweltverband gegen Preiserhöhung des Deutschlandtickets
Einen Tankrabatt gibt es, mehr Förderung fürs Deutschlandticket aber nicht? Das geht nicht, sagt der BUND. Am Mittwoch entscheidet sich der neue Preis für die Fahrkarte.
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Have now slowly re-read the ruling, and it is even more damning than at first reading. The ruling pretty much sets out Manchester City was fraudulent on a systemic long-term basis. Not just mere non-compliance, but ‘concealments’ and ‘disguises’. Also some MCFC witnesses were ‘dishonest’.
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Simon Thomson @scfthomson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My friend Tony has published his first novel. For just 99 cents, you bag a fast-moving, witty thriller rattling through the UK, Nigeria, and the Middle East. I'd love it if anyone were up for buying it, leaving reviews, and generally supporting him: a.co/d/01EOx1A5 or shorturl.at/5eUiy
a.co
Her Majesty's Assassin: A Marcus Dane Thriller - Kindle edition by Manson, Ben. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Her Majesty's Assassin: A Marcus Dane Thriller - Kindle edition by Manson, Ben. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and ...
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Anke Domscheit-Berg @anke.domscheit-berg.de · 20/09/2026
BSW u CDU sind raus aus dem Landtag in MV. interessanter Fakt: nur noch Parteien, die der 💩fD vor Ort frontal die Stirn boten, sind - ausser der 💩fD selbst - noch im Landtag MV. Alle, die sich anbiederten, sind draussen - oder kommen gar nicht erst rein. #ltwmv
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Stellbound: Stellraiser II @antlervel.vet · 20/09/2026
The liberal notion of acquiescing to reduced-to-removed rights by fascists so everybody else can I guess defeat fascism with the power of the ballot betrays their perception of us: that our identities and sexes and genders and lives and loves are a choice and that we have been humored long enough
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Jack Bailey @jack-bailey.co.uk · 14/09/2026
Picked up a copy of "Hyperpolitics" on a whim after seeing it promoted all over the place and I can only conclude that Verso have an amazing marketing department because there's not much substance here and the evidence base is weak.
A copy of the book "Hyperpolitics" by Anton Jäger on a pub table next to a pint of lager.
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Naomi Kritzer @naomikritzer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Wikipedia article for the Theta Chi frat has a section for "Local Chapter or Member Misconduct" that doesn't yet mention this incident, that seems like an oversight. (It's clear from the description of what happened that this frat is rotten to the core.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theta_C...
en.wikipedia.org
Theta Chi - Wikipedia
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Ej Dickson @ejdickson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
For months, the burners who posted Maddie’s video remained anonymous. They even made a cryptocurrency out of her name, valued at $11k. So she hired a lawyer to unmask them. And what she learned stunned her. Read my investigation for @wired.com, out now: www.wired.com/story/burner...
wired.com
A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work
Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back.
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Quick equalities check: across English, History/Politics/War Studies 6 women have lost their jobs and 0.5 men. 4 men and one woman are safe. English goes from 50:50 (6M, 6F) to 1 woman and 2.5 men.
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HigherJobz @higherjobz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Prehistoric Archaeology Researcher – University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy Prehistoric Archaeology | Landscape Archaeology | Puglia 24-month research contract focused on prehistoric landscapes and archaeological reconstruction higherjobz.com/prehistoric-... #Acadhiring #Academicjobs #Archaeology
higherjobz.com
Prehistoric Archaeology Researcher - University of Bari
Apply for the Prehistoric Archaeology Researcher position at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. PhD qualification required.
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 04/09/2026
Let me say as loudly as I can to all the Europeans on here who have been rightly appalled watching the Trump regime’s third-country removals: Your government has been watching, too, and they like what they see.
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Priyamvada Gopal @priyamvadagopal.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Perfectly fair to say that if a senior member of its staff was caught on camera proposing dodgy, potentially illegal and fraudulent deals with wealthy individuals, that person clearly brings the University of Cambridge into disrepute. Don't hold your breath. It's a white male 'conservative'.
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Frau Monk 🌻 @fraumonk.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Auf den Punkt! 🏆 Von @katjaberlin.bsky.social
Copilot said:

Bildbeschreibung:

Die Grafik zeigt vor einem hellgrauen Hintergrund ein Kreisdiagramm mit dem Titel:

„Auf wessen Rat junge Männer hören, die bei Frauen besser ankommen möchten“

Das Kreisdiagramm befindet sich mittig im Bild und ist in vier gleich große Viertel unterteilt. Die vier Segmente sind in unterschiedlichen Blautönen dargestellt: Hellblau, Mittelblau, Dunkelblau und Dunkelmarineblau. Jedes Segment nimmt etwa 25 % des Kreises ein.

Unterhalb des Kreisdiagramms befindet sich eine Legende mit fünf Einträgen:

Hellblau: „Auf den von Incel-Influencern“
Mittelblau: „Auf den von Looksmaxxern“
Dunkelblau: „Auf den von Fitness-Bros“
Dunkelmarineblau: „Auf den von Männerrechtlern“
Rosa: „Auf den von Frauen“
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
If I were a party strategist, I'd keep hammering at Reform's money. This isn't some "people's army". It's a party owned and paid for by some of the richest people on the planet, which is awash with cash but can't find "British resident donors that would support us". www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXut...
youtube.com
Undercover: Exposing Reform's secret donations plot
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
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Brian Wernham C.Eng. @brianwernham.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Complaint about Ass. Prof. James Orr regarding the Channel 4 exposé yesterday of his allegedly criminal conduct as senior advisor to Nigel Farage I have... Will you?
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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just a reminder, Professor James Orr, Reform UK head of policy, teaches 'ethics' to undergraduates at Cambridge University youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI
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The Verge @theverge.com · 02/09/2026
As a new Harry Potter trailer makes the rounds, it bears repeating that there’s no way to watch this show without supporting J.K. Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting on the trans community.
theverge.com
There is no ethical consumption of HBO’s Harry Potter series
You can’t without supporting Rowling’s transphobic bigotry.
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Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
fwiw, one reason young people are more attracted to egalitarian philosophies is that no young person is actually rich. children don't own any property in their own name. this is not just a tecnicality; it's a material reality that has realy material consequences. 1
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Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
the trans moral panic pushed by the NYT and Atlantic is about transphobia, obviously, but it's also about older wealthy readers believing that as adults they have the right to control their children's identities and futures.
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Faisal فيصل @faisalhamadah.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Reposting because my uni has properly decided AI is ‘inevitable’ this school year.
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PeculiarAmelia @theartfulldodger.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Footballers are in the news paper again for sexual abuse. aAnd all the headlines say football has a misogyny problem. Yes it does, very much, but can I ask is there any institution filled predominantly with men with access to money and some power that doesn't have a misogyny problem?
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Harry Carr @harrydcarr.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Misogynistic grifters and charlatans currently hold a monopoly on validating the entirely legitimate anger boys and young men have about issues like these. We need a pro-feminist alternative that channels that anger into positive change.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Reform's ludicrously thin-skinned decision to suspend Tim Montgomerie has robbed them of one of their best media performers inews.co.uk/opinion/refo...
inews.co.uk
Reform's shattered confidence is behind its latest act of self harm
Ian Dunt: In suspending Tim Montgomerie, the party has lost one its best media operators
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
There’s an underlying assumption a lot of people are making that if a black guy successfully misleads you, it means you have set your racism levels too low.
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Simon Thomson @scfthomson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
So happy to have an episode this week, even if it’s a pretty bleak sequence of events.
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lakerpatrick.bsky.social @lakerpatrick.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
On this day in 1944, the Gestapo found Anne Frank and her family in their Secret Annex. Her diary stands as a warning against hatred and persecution. Eighty years later, we should recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.🙂‍↕️
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Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The Premier League returns this month. As a lifelong Red, I’ve written to Liverpool FC about links to six sponsors implicated in Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians. The club has not yet responded. Liverpool must answer supporters and end complicity in apartheid and genocide.
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Sonja Drimmer @sonjadrimmer.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
It requires expertise to be able to say, “I do not know the answer to that question, and that is becauae thus far scholarly consensus is that we do not have the knowledge needed at this time to answer that question.” Sometimes “I don’t know” is a far more rigorous answer than people might think.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The thing that has been most surprising to me about the rise in racism are the people who don’t support it, don’t sit in mute silence, but instead are…visibly incapable of understanding why it’s a bigger problem than, say, changing the type of property tax I pay.
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Doctors TARDIS @doctorstardis.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
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mseviechops.bsky.social @mseviechops.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I see Ann Widdecombe has died. When she was Home Secretary I showed her round Drake Hall womens’s prison. There was a pregnant woman on a bed in the early stages of Labour and she asked the prison officers why she wasn’t handcuffed to the bed. That’s the kind of woman she was.
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Tits McGee @scientits.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
‘Say yes and never do it’ Mel Brooks knew how to deal with the studios
You have some wonderful stories of basically getting away with stuff at the studios.

I’d learned one very simple trick: say yes. Simply say yes. Like Joseph E. Levine, on “The Producers,” said, “The curly-haired guy—he’s funny looking. Fire him.” He wanted me to fire Gene Wilder. And I said, “Yes, he’s gone. I’m firing him.” I never did. But he forgot. After the screening of “Blazing Saddles,” the head of Warner Bros. threw me into the manager’s office, gave me a legal pad and a pencil, and gave me maybe twenty notes. He would have changed “Blazing Saddles” from a daring, funny, crazy picture to a stultified, dull, dusty old Western. He said, “No farting.” I said, “It’s out.”That’s probably the most famous scene in the movie, the campfire scene.

I know. He said, “You can’t punch a horse.” I said, “You’ll never see it again.” I kept saying, “You’re absolutely right. It’s out!” Then, when he left, I crumpled up all his notes, and I tossed it in the wastepaper basket. And John Calley, who was running [production at] Warner Bros. at the time, said, “Good filing.” That was the end of it. You say yes, and you never do it.

That’s great advice for life.

It is. Don’t fight them. Don’t waste your time struggling with them and trying to make sense to them. They’ll never understand.
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Eoghan Sweeney @eoghan.eurosky.social · 28/06/2026
I don't want to hear another word about how much white European visitors are enjoying ranch dressing while team officials, Africa's top referee, and now one of the world's most celebrated fans are turned away from the World Cup. The USA is an utterly unfit host — it's as simple as that
aljazeera.com
DR Congo superfan denied US visa to support team at World Cup
Michel Kuka Mboladinga is iconic for his motionless tribute at DRC games, but a US World Cup repeat has been denied.
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Titan Books @titanbooks.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
REVOLUTION IN THE HEART: STORIES INSPIRED BY URSULA K. LE GUIN is coming September 2026! 🌎 ✨ This anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan, features 15 brand new stories by a group of celebrated authors, all inspired by the legendary and award-winning Ursula K. Le Guin. Available to pre-order now!
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Medieval Manuscripts @blmedieval.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The Cotton Genesis (Cotton MS Otho B VI, 5th century) was one of the tragic victims of the Ashburnham House fire in 1731. Today, we’re delighted to release new multispectral imaging of the manuscript, allowing us to read its texts for the first time in hundreds of years. www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
bl.uk
Rescued from the flames: the Cotton Genesis restored to life
New multispectral imaging at the British Library has helped us to read one of the earliest surviving illuminated Bibles.
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Simon Little 🍁 @simonplittle.ca · 18/06/2026
Sports betting ads should be illegal
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Kepano Kolohe @alala55.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
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Nancy Armour @nrarmour.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Wrote about the Marta erasure. It’s really not that hard to celebrate Messi’s incredible achievement while acknowledging Marta holds the overall record.
usatoday.com
Celebrate Lionel Messi's World Cup goals record without erasing Marta's | Opinion
Marta is the all-time World Cup scoring leader, with 17 goals across five tournaments. The erasure happening on men's World Cup broadcasts is BS.
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Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
When I was at school I got told “you work hard considering you’re black” when I was in year seven, I was 11 so thought it was a compliment And when I was 15, the kid who called me a n*gger got made head boy This was late 00s/early 2010s But of course, anti-white discrimination is the scourge
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Helen Gittos @helengittos.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
A die stamp, potentially for making foils akin to those on the Sutton Hoo helmet has been found in Kent. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The @findsorguk.bsky.social record is here: finds.org.uk/database/art...
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Simon Thomson @scfthomson.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Sri Lanka playing *brilliantly* here. The world cup is alive! #CWC
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Bridget Phillipson MP @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The Gestapo marched hundreds of thousands of innocent people to their deaths. I've ended private schools' tax breaks to invest in state schools. No responsible leader makes vile comparisons like this. Kemi Badenoch is not fit to be Prime Minister.
A quote from a Kemi Badenoch interview in the Spectator, comparing Bridget Phillipson to a Gestapo officer.
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Alexander Clifford @alexclifford.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Inspired by this public lecture by @helengittos.bsky.social & the Hild novels of @nicolaz.bsky.social, Y8s have been immersing themselves for project week in 7th c. Northumbrian material culture & history Each group made a dress, necklace & broach that Hild could have worn & illuminated manuscripts
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