Dani Hall
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academicgifts.bsky.social
Dani Hall
@academicgifts.bsky.social
340 followers 250 following 190 posts
Creator and boss of Present Indicative and The Literary Gift Company.
Also part-time doctoral candidate (education) at the University of Reading - for school governance chat head here: @danigov.bsky.social.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dani Hall
bibliophibian.bsky.social
fun with linguistics!
December 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
therisingtithes.bsky.social
Anyone who has ever met a writer (especially one with neurodivergent hyperfixations) knows that ideas are free. The tree of ideas is always laden, & there is too much windfall to eat.

Maybe pay thoughtful creative people a living wage to act on their ideas instead of letting the echoing box chirp.
jasonsanford.bsky.social Jason Sanford @jasonsanford.bsky.social · 12d
This column on Vox is the biggest pile of steaming AI crap I've seen this year. Human's aren't running out of ideas. Instead, those with power and money don't want to listen to ideas that threaten their power and money.

Ideas are plentiful. Putting those ideas into action is the hard part.
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
I understand people have been ‘gifting’ for centuries but as an expert in this field I remain unconvinced. #nevergiftupneversurrender
December 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Dani Hall
suw.bsky.social
Honestly, if people want quirky gifts, they are better off going to www.presentindicative.com or bahhumbug.shop which are both run by the fabulous @academicgifts.bsky.social who will absolutely appreciate the custom more than whoever's selling the Guardian's list of tat.
Present Indicative: The Intelligent Gift Company
Clever gift ideas, graduation gifts, teacher gifts and intelligent presents. Academic gift ideas including science, mathematics, psychology, philosophy, arts.
www.presentindicative.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:14 AM
academicgifts.bsky.social
Brilliant!
gwenfar.bsky.social Gwenfar @gwenfar.bsky.social · 29d
My partner got me a fab geological timeline glass for my birthday. I've worked out the exact mix I like for my favourite elderflower cordial & tonic drink. I told him, when you pour in the elderflower, go up to the Edicaruan period. Don't go over the line coz you'll hit the Cambrian explosion.
A tall glass with an image of a simplified geological timeline in white, with the oldest periods at the bottom, coming forward in time as you go up the glass. It has orange juice in it, which more easily shows the timeline. The Edicarian period isn't on it, but for those who don't know, this comes just before the Cambrian period.
November 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
Doing some product pics. This may be just too leafy?
A jigsaw puzzle featuring lots of different leaves on top of wrapping paper featuring even more leaves.
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
abookishgirl.bsky.social
People of London! PLEASE SHARE. I lost my necklace last night (10th Nov), and I'm hoping someone has found it. I caught the Northern Line from High Barnet to Leicester Square, then walked to the Prince Charles Cinema, then the same back again. I only noticed it was gone when I got home.
Green pendant of a little man, possibly African tribal symbol, on a thick silver chain
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
It’s that special time of year when our ‘other’ gift shop wakes up from its deep a slumber to say BAH!

bahhumbug.shop
Bah Humbug!
Bah Humbug gifts for grumpy Christmas haters.
bahhumbug.shop
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
waltydunlop.bsky.social
Just remembered something rather touching about "Asterix in Belgium". Goscinny died halfway through work on it, so for the rest of the book, to mark the exact point of his passing, Uderzo has drawn either rain, or darkened, lowering skies into pretty much every panel.
October 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Dani Hall
stephencollins.bsky.social
[Scene is a DRINKS PARTY with various monstrous horror characters - proper grown-up, modern horror film type nightmare things - and they are standing around chatting. A little GREEN BLOB MONSTER called Dan is being introduced to the other monsters]. 1 MONSTER 1 [introducing the little blob to the other monsters]: Everybody, this is Dan GROUP OF THREE MONSTERS: Hi Dan! 2 MONSTER 2: Pleased to meet you Dan, I’m Peter 3 MONSTER 3: I’m Mary MONSTER 4: I’m Sean 4 MONSTER 1: Peter is an extended metaphor for bereavement 5 MONSTER 1: Mary is a manifestation of intergenerational trauma 6 MONSTER 1: And Sean is a body-horror chimera expressing the cannibalistic dynamics of late-stage capitalism. 7 MONSTER 4: And what do you, Dan? 8 BLOB MONSTER: I’m a green blob that lives in the toilet and bites you on the arse. 9 MONSTER 3: Gosh… So is that like a metaphor for… society… or…? BLOB MONSTER: No. 10 BLOB MONSTER: I’m a basic, old fashioned, meaningless horror movie monster. I’m a green blob in your toilet. I bite you on the arse. 11 [They all look disgusted] 12 [As the other monsters look awkward and drift away, Blob monster thinks]: I hate parties [ends]
October 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Dani Hall
cyclesixmile.bsky.social
Send this fake NY Times Wirecutter recommendation to every dad you know. It's the only way to save our neighborhoods.
NY Times Wirecutter page showing "The Best Leaf Blower" with a photo of some rakes
October 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

Seeking #activist teachers who are also qualified, fully registered & working in #Scotland schools. This is for my @unistrathclyde.bsky.social PhD exploring their experiences of #professionallearning & #activism.

Grateful for your support!
forms.office.com/e/cjNE3UkNyY
June 2, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
accounts-leaving-x.bsky.social
The Literary Gift Company (creating unique gifts for readers, writers & book lovers. From literary maps to bookish mugs & totes, they design their own products & support indie bookshops too; based in Reading, UK) leaves X (3.594 followers)

Bluesky: @literarygifts.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Dani Hall
ksej.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... something adorable out of my home town. The hospital got a play MRI scanner so kids can scan their toys before they go for their real scan, and it's really helping them stay calm
Hospital says toy MRI scanner helps save £150k - BBC News
Children can play with the Kitten Scanner to prepare them for a real scan.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
academicgifts.bsky.social
This has been an exciting collaboration to work on. 😊
September 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
Vinted - mixing it up a little.
September 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
tomgauld.bsky.social
My latest cartoon for @newscientist.com

p.s. this week I am on a USA/Canada tour with my new book. Details and preorder links at tomgauld.com
Panel 1. image of a huge nuclear plant. “Reactor Overheating” 2. A worker in a hazmat suit works at a computer. The screen reads: “Press cancel to avoid critical overload” 3 - 9. The worker continues to type at the computer. The screen changes in each panel and reads: “Enter password to confirm” “Incorrect password” “Incorrect password” “Do you want to reset your password?” “Reset link has been sent to your email” “Please choose a new password” “New password can't be the same as old password” The colour gets hotter in each panel. Starting blue in 1 and ending in red in 9. Panel 10. Wide view. The entire earth is blown up.
September 15, 2025 at 5:46 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
This is also me. Attempting to untangle my brain a tiny bit.
danigov.bsky.social Dani Hall @danigov.bsky.social · Sep 20
I’ve set up a new account because @academicgifts.bsky.social had too many hats. Follow me here if you are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas about school governance, academia and education. Or even better feel free to follow both of me!
September 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
biggreenbooks.bsky.social
"THE BIG GREEN BOOKS 500 CLUB"

I've set up a thing where I can regularly send £500 of books to schools who need them.

It costs £1 a week to help out, or whatever you can.

Here's the plan.

biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-bo...

Please share (and join!)

Thanks.

Currently we have £289.12!
A bank statement showing £289.12.
September 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
academicgifts.bsky.social
That title.
September 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
academicgifts.bsky.social
Nope
September 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
thirty-bob.bsky.social
Actually it's quite a good question; I, too, would like to know what kind of cockamamie set-up this is.
November 28, 2023 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Dani Hall
loreandordure.com
Need something a little... expressive?... for your office pinboard for the new academic year? Let me send you a postcard!

(These are about the only things I can reliably send to the US at the moment, because they're straightforwardly correspondence and tariff-exempt.)

Shares appreciated!
Postcard Project! (NO is a complete sentence) £10+ - Kate W. - Lore & Ordure's Ko-fi Shop
Let me send you a postcard! Hand-printed, creative typography letterpress postcard printed front and back in white on heavyweight red card. The fr...
ko-fi.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:49 AM
academicgifts.bsky.social
An unsolicited email from a marketing company informs me that my ‘front-end is clearly dialed in’. It’s not 100% clear if this is a good thing.
September 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM