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Tom Rank

@tomrank.bsky.social
646 followers 310 following 1.2K posts

Reflections on literature, education - and other ramblings. Was @literaryconnect in the other place 😀 www.literaryconnections.co.uk

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Reposted by Tom Rank
British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Hwæt! 🐉 Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English? #NationalPoetryDay
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James Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 3h
This has been by far the quietest September since 2020 for small boat crossings. It's become increasingly clear that numbers really are down and it's not the weather or seasonal trends. Looking like about 25,000 people crossing this year which would be less than 2021 even.
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 4h
#NationalPoetryDay
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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5h
Borrowing costs of 6% were imposed on newly independent Caribbean & African countries by British administrators, creating a debt trap they’ve never been able to escape: alanlester.co.uk/blog/britain... www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Global bond sell-off intensifies, as UK long-term borrowing costs pass 6%
Fears that US deficit is unsustainable drive Britain’s 30-year bond yield to level not seen since 1998
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 5h
Woman walks into a Hull hairdresser and asks for a perm. Certainly, he replies: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' #NationalPoetryDay
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The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk · 7h
As part of our National Poetry Day celebrations, we are delighted to announce the winner of the 2026 Stanza Poetry Competition as ‘Morning in February at the Recreation Ground’ by Lindsay Fursland, selected by judge Maya C. Popa!
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Joanna Abena Fianu @joannafairtrade.bsky.social · 10h
I work in a social enterprise where about a quarter of our volunteers are asylum seekers, mostly from East Africa. Our other volunteers (many of whom have other challenges with physical and mental health) are happy to help the asylum seekers with their English and learn about their lives.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h
Diane Taylor on Crowborough divided; showing it reflects the mobilisation of those at both poles of the asylum debate, in response to the use of Crowborough Training Camp by Home Office, housing 300 asylum seekers in a town of 22,000 people www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
It was the most welcoming town in Britain. Why has Crowborough become so divided?
In 2022, they opened their arms to Ukrainian refugees. But this year, the arrival of more than 300 asylum seekers has split the community. Can the rift be healed?
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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 8h
A curator favourite for National Poetry Day: the opening stanzas of Emily Brontë’s ‘Honour’s Martyr’ 📖 Share your poem recs below
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 10h
We're repeatedly told that asylum seekers pose a threat to the good people of our country... Reading about the threatening and violent treatment of elderly and open minded locals in Crowborough I get the impression that the real threat comes from closer to home. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
On Facebook and other platforms, people
who are known to support the asylum
seekers have been threatened with acid
attacks, petrol bombs and rape. The dossier.
which has been seen by the Guardian, also
claims that several local businesses have
been threatened by far-right agitators, along
with a church where some asylum seekers
worship. One man was punched in the throat
after he held up a "Love Thy Neighbour"
sign, while an elderly couple were falsely
accused of supporting sex offenders. In yet
another case, a 92-year-old church volunteer
was reportedly woken at 3am for two nights
in a row by a man standing outside her
home, shining a torch through her window
and shouting abuse
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 9h
Population rose 228k mid-2024 to mid-2025 when net migration 223k So population has fallen since. Net migration 171k in Jan-Dec 2025 (so population steady/maybe marginal dip 50k). Net mig < 100k in 2026. Uk population shrink significantly if net migration dips <100k May fluctuate at 125k-200k
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Roger @rogger.bsky.social · 8h
Working in a book shop years ago people would often flag you down asking "do you work here?", and I just could not stop myself saying "Well, 'work' is a bit strong, but what can I do for you?" Across three years I got maybe two laughs and one manager complaint.
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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
or buy 400 copies of Imperial Island for less than £5k and then maybe you'd stop trying to deport everyone x
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Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 9h
Anticipate the majority of UK media to falsely blame higher bills on "net zero", when they're directly being caused by fossil fuels.
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Brian Moses @brianmosespoet.bsky.social · 9h
@PoetryDayUK poem - Finding the wonder that's still to be found when we look beyond technology. brian-moses.blogspot.com/2017/02/inst...
brian-moses.blogspot.com
Welcome to the Ssssssnake Hotel
Instead Instead of an X-box please show me a pathway that stretches to the stars. Instead of a mobile phone please teach...
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 12h
Free movement *does* benefit migrants by giving them more freedom/options, and improves labour market flexibility overall. These are good arguments for it, compared to a managed system, that I've made many times. Burnham's "it gives us Gastarbeiter" is both false and regressive.
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Josie Glausiusz @josiegz.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
“Any mention of civil rights, feminism or social reform [topics that are central to Woolf’s work] are usually classified as ‘social topics’ by [Facebook's] automatic system” and are filtered out." Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism
Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism
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English and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 9h
Today is National Poetry Day! To celebrate, @barbarableiman.bsky.social has put together a free-to-download, classroom-ready resource featuring poems on the theme of Wonder and an accompanying activity. Download yours here: buff.ly/YRBD122 #nationalpoetryday @poetrydayuk.bsky.social
buff.ly
National Poetry Day 2026, Thursday October 1st –An EMC Activity
Wonder – an EMC resource for National Poetry Day 2026.
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James @jamesindevon.bsky.social · 20h
Probably the SIL fonts: in order for the Bible to be translated and printed in as many languages as possible, they created suitable fonts and released them as Open Source to help those communities. (You never specified which ecclesial body approved...) software.sil.org/fonts/
software.sil.org
Fonts - SIL Language Technology
We have created subsets of our Latin and Cyrillic fonts for different regions of the world. See Font Subsets for further information.
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 30/09/2026
NEW ANALYSIS: Record wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis 🌤️ wind/solar generation up 14% in 2026 to date 🏭 gas down ~10% 🚢 >100 LNG cargoes avoided
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Alf Dubs @alfdubs.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Published today and available in all good bookshops or so I'm told! geni.us/TheBoyWithTh...
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Justin on eurostar @eurostarjustin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Been to 5 of these so far... 🍺🚄 www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/...
theguardian.com
‘Delays are always welcome’: 10 of the best railway station pubs in England
Converted from Victorian buffet bars, ticket offices and waiting rooms, these station pubs offer beautifully restored interiors, real ales and a slice of railway history
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Jack Lynch @jacklynch000.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Teaching Swift today, and will always share this on “Modest Proposal” day.
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Love Your Classical Music Geek @loveinner.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
#LYICMGat50 here we are, at 6.36 am on 26 August 2026, exactly 50 years - to the minute - since my birth. At #1 in the 50 recordings I’ve chosen to celebrate, we have Richard Hickox’s incredible Vaughan Williams 5. And how apt, given today is also the anniversary of RVW’s death.
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Ralph Berry @rdrberry.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A fine autumn glow on a classic Bradford #Flatiron mill Parkinsons Buildings on #Goitside #Northern
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Ralph Berry @rdrberry.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A fine autumn walk from work in #Manningham. And pointed echoes of a civic decency under threat from the political descendants of those who opposed this ...#kindertransport #Bradford @stopreformuk.bsky.social @redstarneil.bsky.social
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Ian Duhig @ianduhig.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Blyton's best yet
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My six monthly reminder for U.K. academic authors to make sure you’re signed up. Especially if your works are used as teaching materials.
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Ian McMillan @imcmillan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
So good to get a frame at last for this wonderful birthday gift from January of one of my favourite poems by one of my favourite poets.
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John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is what consistently leaves this country stuck & broken in the most basic ways
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Working Class History @workingclasshistory.com · 30/09/2026
#OtD 10 Oct 1889 a nationwide wave of schoolchildren's strikes was sparked in East London, when kids from a dozen schools walked out of class and took to the streets waving red flags, and banners emblazoned with "No cane" and "Shorter hours" stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8241...
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Shell @risu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I hate 💯 attendance policies as I have a child who is off sick, but sad about her “attendance data” I had to ask her “the teacher who is off sick all half term so you have a sub, or the teacher who was sick half of last week - should they come in or stay home?” Sometimes rest is good
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Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Yeast Sussex
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Fr Chase 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 @kalanthropos.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
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András Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
(sigh) IF IT'S CAPPED, THEN IT'S NOT A SAFE ROUTE
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martinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“Just like that, I lost my girls”: the mother who feels betrayed by the family courts www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Just like that, I lost my girls’: the mother who feels betrayed by the family courts
The theory of parental alienation is a ‘harmful pseudo-science’, according to recent official guidance in England and Wales. Yet it led to Sarah’s two daughters being taken away six years ago – and ne...
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Faculty of English, University of Oxford @engfac.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
English Faculty/OWC #Shakespeare Webinar on Richard III with Emma Smith @oldfortunatus.bsky.social and Susan L. Anderson 🗓️5 October 🕑6-7.15pm 📍Online via Zoom All welcome! The discussion will be followed by a Q&A. #RichardIII FREE but booking required:
shakespeare-webinar-richard-iii.eventbrite.co.uk
English Faculty/OWC Shakespeare Webinar: Richard III
In this free webinar, Professor Emma Smith will be discussing the new edition of Richard III from Oxford World's Classics.
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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Excellent blog. There were very serious concerns about the English Research Review, as well as the Mathematics one.
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David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
SCOOP A Pentagon influencer called liberal women a "pestilence" who will end western civilization. He's also: • Praised dictators like Franco and Pinochet • Said people without kids should not be allowed vote • Called immigrants "semihuman savages" www.wired.com/story/a-pent...
wired.com
A Pentagon Influencer Called Liberal Women a ‘Pestilence’ Who Will End Western Civilization
Kurt Schlichter was part of a task force rooting out so-called woke ideologies at the military’s war colleges. He has called to bar childless adults from voting.
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Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Really impressed how through misunderstanding the basics and oppositionalism, you’ve managed to talk yourself into the corner of “ending a tax relief on *6 million* higher rate tax payers that will allegedly raise *£14 billion quid* is irrelevant” from the left. It’s a skill.
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Immigration Bot @immigrationbot.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"‘Taking back control’ turns out to be staggeringly expensive. That’s something to mull over as budget day approachesEvery 100,000 immigrants lost to the UK costs the treasury £7bn, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. That figure is unsurprising if you’ve been…" — The Guardian
theguardian.com
Cutting immigration to the UK means billions less for the Treasury. Can the country really afford that? | Zoe Williams
‘Taking back control’ turns out to be staggeringly expensive. That’s something to mull over as budget day approaches, writes Zoe Williams
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Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
(Approx 7 million higher rate U.K. taxpayers, fwiw. Given a million of those are pensioners, this proposal looks like it’s targeting the 6 million difference. Or at least those of the six million paying into a private pension, which should be a hefty chunk?)
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Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Tbf not sure I trust Richard Murphy’s sums, but I agree the numbers aren’t tiny (there are over a million higher rate tax payers, who are pensioners but surely this proposal is regarding tax relief on those paying into their pension - that is, those who are working age higher rate taxpayers now?)
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Chris Bertram @crookedfootball.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Always the case that irregular migrants adapt to enforcement. That’s how we got “small boats” in the first place. Hard borders kill, but governments won’t take responsibility
bbc.co.uk
More attempts at longer migrant small boat crossings in Channel
The government says it is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings.
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Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This month, small boat arrivals reached their lowest level since December 2021. There were 27,900 arrivals in the last year. In our new commentary, we explore why arrivals have fallen, including how much of the decline may be due to policy. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
Q&A: Why have small boat arrivals declined in 2026? - Migration Observatory
Small boat arrivals declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. This commentary analyses the numbers and explains what we can – and cannot – know about the reasons for the decline.
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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Having one of those days today.
In the Park
 
In the park,
the tall trees are waving
in the morning breeze.
 
I wave back
only to realize they are waving
at the person behind me.


Brian Bilston
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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why might that be, Telegraph?
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Emmanuel Carrère, Kolkhoz.
In my baccalaureate exams, which I took in 1975, I got a 4 in philosophy. To put that into perspective, 10 is a passing mark, 14 to 16 is very good, and 4 is a straight fail. But you have to ask: philosophy isn't maths, so a 4 in it is absurd: why not a 5? Why not a 3? Why not a O, for that matter? Without telling me, my father approached the Paris School Board and after some time was able to view my exam paper. The marker had written: 'insufferable pedantry'.
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Just tax the compute. Datacentre? Cool. Fund your own power generation and water reservoirs, and then pay tax for every computational act your datacentre does. And we'll use the tax income to offset societal and job damage. Overnight, AI becomes something AI giants are desperate to restrict.
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