Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · 3d

Something I never thought I would ever say - I will he talking to Carlus Acosta and Tony Iommi about the Black Sabbath ballet in Birmingham next week. www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/to...

Tony Iommi and Carlos Acosta join academics for an evening exploring the legacy of Black Sabbath - University of Birmingham

Overlooked elements of Black Sabbath’s legacy are being uncovered and celebrated at a special University of Birmingham event.

www.birmingham.ac.uk

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · 7d

I knew it. Just forgot to mention it to anyone…

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 7d

A new measure of mental and personality traits suggests the late 50s are your cognitive prime

Forget youthful brilliance — the human mind actually peaks at 60

A new measure of mental and personality traits suggests the late 50s are your cognitive prime

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Paul Jackson

Dave Lee @davelee.me · 20d

Dutch late night TV has its take

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Reposted by Paul Jackson

Trey @tsauro.bsky.social · 21d

Some times you only need 2.

Love this video.

youtu.be/uT3SBzmDxGk?...

2CELLOS - Thunderstruck [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

YouTube video by 2CELLOS

youtu.be

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · 23d

Henry the Navigator in Porto. The person who rounded up the Portuguese fleet, pointed to the horizon and said ‘sail that way’. What could possibly go wrong?

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Reposted by Paul Jackson

Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · Sep 6

Timeless humour!

A 2,000 year-old Roman souvenir pen with a joke inscription roughly equivalent to:

“I went to Rome and all I got you was this cheap pen!" 😂

Dated circa 70 AD, this iron stylus pen was recovered in London during excavations by MOLA.
📷 Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA

#Archaeology

The photo shows four images of the same Roman iron stylus pen, one below the other. The knib to the left. It has an inscription which runs along its length on four sides. The four images show the four lines of inscribed text which read:

‘ab urbe v[e]n[i] munus tibi
gratum adf(e)ro acul[eat]um ut habe[a]s memor[ia]m nostra(m) rogo si fortuna dar[e]t quo possem largius ut longa via ceu sacculus est (v)acuus’

‘I have come from the City. I bring you a welcome gift
with a sharp point that you may remember me. I ask, if fortune allowed, that I might be able (to give)
as generously as the way is long (and) as my purse is empty.’

The pen was used to write on wax-filled wooden writing tablets. Found in London (Roman ‘Londinium’) by MOLA. Photo by Juan Jose Fuldain/MOLA

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Reposted by Paul Jackson

LeftwardSwing 🏳️‍⚧️ 🌈 🏳️‍🌈 ♿ @leftwardswing.bsky.social · Aug 21

The Thai cover band you didn't know you needed in your life.

Crank it! 😀 🎸

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Reposted by Paul Jackson

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · Jul 19

totally agree - this is a point I make repeatedly on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk #Insidebriefing podcasts. Hunt was deeply irresponsible on the NIC cuts and this overshadows all his other decisions.

Simon Nixon @nixonsimon.bsky.social · Jul 18

I think @robertshrimsley.bsky.social is much too kind to Jeremy Hunt here. In time, Hunt will come to be reviled as second worst chancellor in modern times after Kwarteng. In 1997, faced with similar circumstances, Ken Clarke put the national interest first. Hunt salted the earth. Shame on him

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 18

Really enjoyed Alex Fernandez ‘The Carnation Revolution’ and Tom Gallagher’s ‘Salazar: the dictator who refused to die’ as a holiday pair recently - often been to Portugal but shamefully ignorant about politics! Both really good…

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 15

That Adam Smith, Glasgow University

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 13

Rethymnon in Crete reputedly has the largest Venetian colonial fortress still extant - occupied by the Ottomans (eventually) hence the dome over the original church

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 13

Venetian lighthouse and old port, Crete

Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 9

Model of the amazing Palace of Knossos

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jul 9

Minoan bull’s head. Astonishing detail.

Reposted by Paul Jackson

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jun 23

‘The argument with the public [about international aid] was not lost in the past few years, it was lost somewhere around 2012-2013.’

Great blog from @duncangreenlse.bsky.social with clear ideas on building the idea of development as solidarity

blogs.lse.ac.uk/activism-inf...

What does the UK public really think about aid? From someone who knows. - Activism Influence and Change

David Hudson, an academic with years of research on public opinion on aid, responds to a UK Government Minister’s recent comments about public support (or in the minister's view, the lack of it). I co...

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jun 18

Whahay!

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Paul Jackson @jacksopb.bsky.social · Jun 3

Paddington…

Reposted by Paul Jackson

Paul Greatrix @registrarism.bsky.social · May 20

Will Rankers Keep on Ranking, Regardless?

A recent report has presented a detailed analysis of the methodologies used by major university rankings. There are some sensible recommendations for change. But will the rankers keep on ranking, regardless?

wonderfulhighered.com/2025/05/20/w...

Will Rankers Keep on Ranking, Regardless?

A recent report from an independent research organisation in the US has presented a detailed analysis of the methodologies used by a number of major university rankings. There are some significant …

wonderfulhighered.com

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Reposted by Paul Jackson

Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · May 19

"Fishing was the industry that encapsulated the essence of Brexit: it is an industry that voted overwhelmingly for Brexit. And it is one that in, Farage’s words, has been ‘gutted’ by Brexit." Written in March 2024.

westcountryvoices.com/how-fishing-...