Ian M
@ianm70.bsky.social
330 followers 470 following 1K posts
computer geek, book person, Tolkien nerd, history researcher, science, occasional politics. He/Him.
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ianm70.bsky.social
“Books are sufficient to themselves. They ask for nothing and they are silently patient, but they are always there for you”.’
Karl Largerfeld
Reposted by Ian M
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
When does death begin?

In the 18th century, no one could agree—some said when the pulse stopped, others when the body began to rot. Out of that debate came a century of strange experiments on severed heads.

Learn more in our kids’ book DEAD ENDS (w/ @tealcartoons.bsky.social): shorturl.at/FS3nd
A cartoon by Adrian Teal that depicts a guillotine and a severed head, with a modern-looking doctor holding a stethoscope to the head. The cover of DEAD ENDS featuring a cartoon man being electrocuted back to life
Reposted by Ian M
sardonicus.eu
N Cramer Roberts’ poster promoting the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, c1929
travel poster
 a ship passing a light house
ianm70.bsky.social
tolkiensociety.org
You can get a regular magazine all about J.R.R. #Tolkien!

Join the Tolkien Society and get our magazine Amon Hen delivered to your letterbox, or your inbox, every 2 months! Digital and postal memberships are available - and we ship worldwide. Join at www.tolkiensociety.org/join #BookSky
ianm70.bsky.social
This could be useful to people wanting to attack #AI arxiv.org/pdf/2510.07192 #LLM #ChatGPT etc
arxiv.org
Reposted by Ian M
ashleyvotesblue.bsky.social
Diversity is our strength, no matter what racist, bigoted Republicans say.

Real Americans embrace diversity, equity and inclusion.

Real Americans reject Trump and his white nationalist cronies.

Trump is bad, project 2025 is bad and the people who love America, the real patriots reject both.
Reposted by Ian M
shelleybwoke.bsky.social
Now on Medium

I remixed the parable of the Prodigal Son, specifically for trans people - trans femme, trans masc, and enby versions.

"For this son of mine is dead and my daughter is alive again; he was lost and she is found.’ So they began to celebrate."
💜🏳️‍⚧️

medium.com/@shelleybwok...
The rest of the story of the Prodigal Transitioned Child
One of the ways I put my seminary training to use is looking at parables through a different lens. Trans people often have strained…
medium.com
Reposted by Ian M
troptwtcharity.bsky.social
Happy #Tolkientober to our wonderful community! With two weeks left before our big event, we wanted to give you two important updates: the platform of the livestream and the start time. We look forward to seeing you there for some fun including announcing raffle winners! 1/2
#TolkienfansForPalestine
It is a poster of Samwise Gamgee holding a Palestinian flag. The top right corner of the poster reads Tolkien Creatives (in black color) For (red color) Palestine (green color). In the top middle corner are the words "A Tolkien Palestine Solidarity Fundraiser. Below that (and above Sam’s head) are the words taken from The Rings of Power score "The Sun Yet Shines". Also in the colors of the Palestinian flag. Underneath Samwise Gamgee are the words “Join Tolkien Trivia Stream On YouTube!” in the colors of the Palestinian flag. And below that are two hearts that are also in the colors of the Palestinian flag. The first heart states “Date: 25th Oct 25. The second heart states “Time: 1:00pm EST / 6:00pm BST”
Reposted by Ian M
huckelcommasean.bsky.social
HOLY SHIT WHAT. WHAT TBE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. TOLKIEN WAS NOT SHY ABOUT WHAT HIS DECISIONS AND LORE WAS. READ THEORY
Reposted by Ian M
denniswise.bsky.social
Just saw that this came out! Holmes has always written *extremely* insightful reviews and articles. I'll be looking forward to this one .... although mainly to see what he says about Tolkien's alliterative poetry!

mcfarlandbooks.com/product/tolk...
Tolkien’s Glee - McFarland
Tolkien’s Glee A Reading of the Songs in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings John R. Holmes 978-1-4766-9865-6 978-1-4766-5735-6
mcfarlandbooks.com
Reposted by Ian M
economymedicine.bsky.social
Tolkien would have loathed everything about Thiel and Thiel will never understand why.
starshine.bsky.social
art lit criticism is my passion ass guy
Yes, Thiel said, perking up. "There are all
these ways where trying to live
unnaturally long goes haywire" in
Tolkien's works. But you also have the
elves. "And then there are sort of all these
questions, you know: How are the elves
different from the humans in Tolkien?
And they're basically
- I think the main
difference is just, they're humans that
don't die
"Why can't we be elves?" he said.
ianm70.bsky.social
John Lydon may have predicted this.
Reposted by Ian M
stephenmcgann.uk
It is a truth too often unacknowledged, that a populist in possession of the public's rage must be in perpetual want of an enemy.
Reposted by Ian M
stephenmcgann.uk
Many claims are made for the power of poetry to change lives. All I can offer on the death of Brian Patten is a simple truth. This poem - sent to me by my not-then-wife - is the reason I am with her 40 years on.

RIP Brian. x
Reposted by Ian M
stephenmcgann.uk
No fee, I'm afraid.
unenthusiast.com
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/
hammancheez.bsky.social
"The chancellor approved it"
Reposted by Ian M
premnsikka.bsky.social
Former Tory Minister Michael Gove says the post-Brexit Tory trade deals with Australia and New Zealand were bad for UK farmers.

Why did he/Tories Tories sign them?

Brexit hasn't yielded any economic benefits. UK gave up the best trade deals and now scavenges for whatever it can get.
Michael Gove admits that post-Brexit trade deals were bad for farmers
Michael Gove has admitted for the first time that the Australia and New Zealand trade deals negotiated by the former Tory government did not protect Britain’s farmers.
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
Reposted by Ian M
fernmonkey.bsky.social
My friend Sascha is a professional musician and he's lost a viola bow on the way to Heathrow. Please signal boost to help him get it back.
Lost viola bow on the way from Honor Oak Station to Heathrow Terminal 2. The bow slid from its bow case somewhere along the way, possibly on the train. TFL contacted already.
It weighs 68.2 grams and has got a stamped DODD next to the frog. If any info on this, please pm me.
Reposted by Ian M
samfr.bsky.social
Goes back to the argument I made in the Guardian earlier this year that the world is in danger because the techbros have completely misunderstood a bunch of sci-fi and fantasy...

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by Ian M
manmademoon.bsky.social
In the battle of US political satire, who do you think is bringing the most heat…
The Onion
South Park
SNL
Kimmel
Colbert
Daily Show