Pinned
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
If children were more politically active they would be quite pissed to be told that their screen time is “the most urgent public health issue” while the largest measles outbreak since the vaccine sweeps their schools because of conspiracies that the adults in their life believed from social media.
‘It’s the most urgent public health issue’: Dr Rangan Chatterjee on screen time, mental health – and banning social media until 18
‘It’s the most urgent public health issue’: Dr Rangan Chatterjee on screen time, mental health – and banning social media until 18
The hit podcaster, author and former GP says a failure to regulate big tech is ‘failing a generation of children’. He explains why he quit the NHS and why he wants a ban on screen-based homework
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:52 AM
If children were more politically active they would be quite pissed to be told that their screen time is “the most urgent public health issue” while the largest measles outbreak since the vaccine sweeps their schools because of conspiracies that the adults in their life believed from social media.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
New article from me at the @trylon.org blog Perisphere:
When The Wind Blows and How Nostalgia Lies To Us
(I'd really love it if you'd give it a read and share it!)
www.perisphere.org/2026/02/13/w...
When The Wind Blows and How Nostalgia Lies To Us
(I'd really love it if you'd give it a read and share it!)
www.perisphere.org/2026/02/13/w...
When The Wind Blows and How Nostalgia Lies to Us – Perisphere
|Wil McMillen| Everyone is scared. Everyone is broke. Unemployment is skyrocketing. There’s a madman in the White House who is threatening to blow up anyone who looks at him wrong. It’s 1983, and I’m ...
www.perisphere.org
February 13, 2026 at 6:47 PM
New article from me at the @trylon.org blog Perisphere:
When The Wind Blows and How Nostalgia Lies To Us
(I'd really love it if you'd give it a read and share it!)
www.perisphere.org/2026/02/13/w...
When The Wind Blows and How Nostalgia Lies To Us
(I'd really love it if you'd give it a read and share it!)
www.perisphere.org/2026/02/13/w...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
This is taking far too long.
February 15, 2026 at 8:43 AM
This is taking far too long.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
There's nothing for you here!
February 10, 2026 at 11:03 PM
There's nothing for you here!
Of course I studied the classics
February 10, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Of course I studied the classics
You don't hear much about ISTRA these days, do you? Who's doing the protecting of universal peace now? I think I had this on a badge, or maybe an embroidered patch.
February 10, 2026 at 1:05 AM
You don't hear much about ISTRA these days, do you? Who's doing the protecting of universal peace now? I think I had this on a badge, or maybe an embroidered patch.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
I’ve worked at the Southbank Centre for over 8 years now.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
December 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I’ve worked at the Southbank Centre for over 8 years now.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
In that time I’ve become desensitised to mad conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. But in my first few years I noted down ‘overhead’ snippets that would be ridiculous in any other setting.
I’ve just found those notes. Strap in.
Whoever you don't like, they're probably not as bad as this guy.
Well, if it’s 8 February, it must be the 94th anniversary of Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk (a fascist from New Zealand who said he was King of Poland) going on trial for attempting to get into print his poem ‘Here Lies John Penis’ 🧵
February 8, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Whoever you don't like, they're probably not as bad as this guy.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
AI intends to kill us all
February 7, 2026 at 1:38 PM
AI intends to kill us all
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
That splendid sign-off of the Queen Mother’s – “Tinkety tonk old fruit, & down with the Nazis” – celebrates its 85th anniversary today
February 7, 2026 at 10:50 AM
That splendid sign-off of the Queen Mother’s – “Tinkety tonk old fruit, & down with the Nazis” – celebrates its 85th anniversary today
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
‘I’ve lost my friends’: advocacy groups warn Australia’s social media ban risks isolating kids with disabilities
Despite the ban’s aim to protect young people, experts are concerned that those in marginalised communities or living with disabilities could lose vital support networks
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:06 AM
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
Now the Daily Sketch is online, the true glory of the Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot article can be revealed. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot
Clipping found in The Daily Sketch published in London, Greater London, England on 3/15/1971. Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot
www.newspapers.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Now the Daily Sketch is online, the true glory of the Wilfred Brambell fashion shoot article can be revealed. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Of course, if I'd known @folkloresociety.bsky.social was on here I would have tagged them at the appropriate points.
In April 1976, in a café at Cambridge railway station, Douglas Adams bought some biscuits. We know this because he told the story so many times that it somehow opened up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, travelling both forwards and backwards and, intriguingly, sideways in time. (1/some...)
February 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Of course, if I'd known @folkloresociety.bsky.social was on here I would have tagged them at the appropriate points.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
The main conclusion I have come to after learning the teachings of Subud, the Maharishi, Scientology, Gurdjieff, the Nation of Islam, Meher Baba, Aleister Crowley, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and Christian Science is that owning a guitar must turn off your brain somehow.
February 4, 2026 at 10:37 AM
The main conclusion I have come to after learning the teachings of Subud, the Maharishi, Scientology, Gurdjieff, the Nation of Islam, Meher Baba, Aleister Crowley, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and Christian Science is that owning a guitar must turn off your brain somehow.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Hot Take 2: if this is Mandelson's position, there is no reason for him not to issue a statement to this effect. If he has not issued a statement to this effect, the BBC's "understanding" of his actual position may be inaccurate. Stop letting people play this game.
My postgraduate qualifications.
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 AM
My postgraduate qualifications.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Peter Mandelson: a man undone because he just cares too much about other people, and their yachts. My SKETCH.
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
February 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Peter Mandelson: a man undone because he just cares too much about other people, and their yachts. My SKETCH.
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
thecritic.co.uk/no-f...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Ah, 3 February: 389th anniversary of the widely documented day the arse falls out of the out-of-control Dutch tulip market, the country’s economy collapses, and loads of financially ruined people hurl themselves into canals
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
February 3, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Ah, 3 February: 389th anniversary of the widely documented day the arse falls out of the out-of-control Dutch tulip market, the country’s economy collapses, and loads of financially ruined people hurl themselves into canals
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Well, except for all the bits that aren’t true... 🧵
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Stumbled across video about early 1900s Manchester. All #AI, it's like a fever dream. The absurd narration ("If Manchester sneezes, the global textile market catches a cold") slips between various accents. Most of the visuals are insane: impossible equipment, vanishing objects, plus see Alt texts.
February 3, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Stumbled across video about early 1900s Manchester. All #AI, it's like a fever dream. The absurd narration ("If Manchester sneezes, the global textile market catches a cold") slips between various accents. Most of the visuals are insane: impossible equipment, vanishing objects, plus see Alt texts.
Sadly, this seems to be the only bit of "It's Childsplay" to have escaped onto the internet. No biscuits, but gives the general idea, anyway. youtu.be/vBAwBSLy3q0?...
IT'S CHILDSPLAY 1976 - Hilarious finale Morecambe & Wise with child writer of sketch
YouTube video by PREHISTORICTELEVISION1956
youtu.be
February 2, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Sadly, this seems to be the only bit of "It's Childsplay" to have escaped onto the internet. No biscuits, but gives the general idea, anyway. youtu.be/vBAwBSLy3q0?...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Another day, another Ipsos survey that uses gender as a lens on public attitudes to science without taking into consideration that 1 in 8 British men think they could win a tennis point against Serena Williams www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/public-...
February 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Another day, another Ipsos survey that uses gender as a lens on public attitudes to science without taking into consideration that 1 in 8 British men think they could win a tennis point against Serena Williams www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/public-...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
This piece of brilliance from @vizcomic.bsky.social is the story of my life
February 1, 2026 at 12:12 PM
This piece of brilliance from @vizcomic.bsky.social is the story of my life
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
A history of one of Britain's best-loved sociopathic toddlers. cwickham.blogspot.com/2026/02/suga...
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 AM
A history of one of Britain's best-loved sociopathic toddlers. cwickham.blogspot.com/2026/02/suga...