Paul Schoon
@paulschoon.bsky.social
Moderately crumbly English local history freak. A Yorkshireman researching early modern social structures and networks in Bedfordshire. Kellogg College, Oxford. I’m here for fun, knowledge and respectful debate, so be nice. Keyboard warriors get blocked.
Today’s name of the day comes from a Bedfordshire Will dating to 1700 and is the seasonally appropriate Mr. Praise Noel.
January 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Today’s name of the day comes from a Bedfordshire Will dating to 1700 and is the seasonally appropriate Mr. Praise Noel.
Some Victorian gardeners protected their salad crops by building shelters at either end of a border and fixing a wire between the two, to which they would attach a poor cat by a collar and chain. Moggie would spend its life patrolling the valuable beds and protecting them from birds and mice.
January 9, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Some Victorian gardeners protected their salad crops by building shelters at either end of a border and fixing a wire between the two, to which they would attach a poor cat by a collar and chain. Moggie would spend its life patrolling the valuable beds and protecting them from birds and mice.
news.sky.com/story/former...
He seems such a nice man, and in retrospect was a quality player, but as an eight year old I couldn’t abide him, for no other reason that he played for Spurs and not Leeds. Time has mellowed me. Another childhood great gone.
He seems such a nice man, and in retrospect was a quality player, but as an eight year old I couldn’t abide him, for no other reason that he played for Spurs and not Leeds. Time has mellowed me. Another childhood great gone.
Former Spurs and England footballer Martin Chivers has died
The forward scored 13 goals in 24 appearances for England, won two League Cups and a UEFA Cup, and helped Spurs dominate in the 1970s.
news.sky.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:39 AM
news.sky.com/story/former...
He seems such a nice man, and in retrospect was a quality player, but as an eight year old I couldn’t abide him, for no other reason that he played for Spurs and not Leeds. Time has mellowed me. Another childhood great gone.
He seems such a nice man, and in retrospect was a quality player, but as an eight year old I couldn’t abide him, for no other reason that he played for Spurs and not Leeds. Time has mellowed me. Another childhood great gone.
I found this little beauty in an Oxfam shop. Original dust cover, in perfect nick despite being 52 years old, and smells of old book.
January 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
I found this little beauty in an Oxfam shop. Original dust cover, in perfect nick despite being 52 years old, and smells of old book.
Suddenly nobody is talking about the Epstein files.
January 5, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Suddenly nobody is talking about the Epstein files.
If it’s now legal to bomb a country, and then arrest the president for some infraction, I am looking forward to the Dutch landing in Washington DC and dragging the Great Orange Pumpkin off to The Hague.
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
If it’s now legal to bomb a country, and then arrest the president for some infraction, I am looking forward to the Dutch landing in Washington DC and dragging the Great Orange Pumpkin off to The Hague.
Stuart Ramsay on Caracas explosions
news.sky.com/video/share-...
A week ago it was Nigeria; yesterday it was Iran; today it is Venezuela. I hope someone from the government has enough spine left to tell this hoodlum that enough is enough. I felt more confident about world peace in the Cold War.
news.sky.com/video/share-...
A week ago it was Nigeria; yesterday it was Iran; today it is Venezuela. I hope someone from the government has enough spine left to tell this hoodlum that enough is enough. I felt more confident about world peace in the Cold War.
Stuart Ramsay on Caracas explosions
Sky's Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay gives the latest after explosions heard in Caracas
news.sky.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Stuart Ramsay on Caracas explosions
news.sky.com/video/share-...
A week ago it was Nigeria; yesterday it was Iran; today it is Venezuela. I hope someone from the government has enough spine left to tell this hoodlum that enough is enough. I felt more confident about world peace in the Cold War.
news.sky.com/video/share-...
A week ago it was Nigeria; yesterday it was Iran; today it is Venezuela. I hope someone from the government has enough spine left to tell this hoodlum that enough is enough. I felt more confident about world peace in the Cold War.
Now starts the annual battle of arguing that I should be allowed to go to bed at 10:30 pm to read my book, while everybody else insists that I stop up to see in the New Year while watching absolute rubbish on TV.
December 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Now starts the annual battle of arguing that I should be allowed to go to bed at 10:30 pm to read my book, while everybody else insists that I stop up to see in the New Year while watching absolute rubbish on TV.
I can’t believe I’ve been overlooked for a knighthood again!
December 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I can’t believe I’ve been overlooked for a knighthood again!
List of essential tasks written. All that remains is to work my way through them and then Christmas can begin. I estimate 17 February.
December 22, 2025 at 6:07 PM
List of essential tasks written. All that remains is to work my way through them and then Christmas can begin. I estimate 17 February.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Here’s a radical idea: if you want to claim an academic qualification, do the bloody work!
Here’s a radical idea: if you want to claim an academic qualification, do the bloody work!
King's Foundation chair and nominee peer admits 'misleading' doctorate claim
Dame Ann Limb tells the Sunday Times she did not complete a doctorate previously listed on her CV.
www.bbc.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Here’s a radical idea: if you want to claim an academic qualification, do the bloody work!
Here’s a radical idea: if you want to claim an academic qualification, do the bloody work!
I’ve just read the Christmas edition of Radio Times and found two hours’ worth of programming that I fancy watching. I hope Santa brings me some good books.
December 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I’ve just read the Christmas edition of Radio Times and found two hours’ worth of programming that I fancy watching. I hope Santa brings me some good books.
My patience with junior doctors is at an end. If they’ve lost the likes of me, they’re in big trouble.
December 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
My patience with junior doctors is at an end. If they’ve lost the likes of me, they’re in big trouble.
news.sky.com/story/donald...
Just when you thought Trump couldn’t get any more deranged. And if that gets me banned from the US then so be it.
Just when you thought Trump couldn’t get any more deranged. And if that gets me banned from the US then so be it.
Donald Trump launches attack on film director Rob Reiner, found stabbed to death alongside his wife
Donald Trump has launched an extraordinary attack on film director Rob Reiner, who was found stabbed to death with his wife on Sunday.
news.sky.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
news.sky.com/story/donald...
Just when you thought Trump couldn’t get any more deranged. And if that gets me banned from the US then so be it.
Just when you thought Trump couldn’t get any more deranged. And if that gets me banned from the US then so be it.
Reposted by Paul Schoon
19. Put it this way, countries in SE Asia have embraced this philosophy for good reasons, as
@globalhlthtwit.bsky.social
rightly points out, relentlessly.
They coped with SARS1, SARS2, avian flu, Nipah, etc...they know their onions! Just compare the death rates, folks.
20. Immunity debt, no.
@globalhlthtwit.bsky.social
rightly points out, relentlessly.
They coped with SARS1, SARS2, avian flu, Nipah, etc...they know their onions! Just compare the death rates, folks.
20. Immunity debt, no.
December 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
19. Put it this way, countries in SE Asia have embraced this philosophy for good reasons, as
@globalhlthtwit.bsky.social
rightly points out, relentlessly.
They coped with SARS1, SARS2, avian flu, Nipah, etc...they know their onions! Just compare the death rates, folks.
20. Immunity debt, no.
@globalhlthtwit.bsky.social
rightly points out, relentlessly.
They coped with SARS1, SARS2, avian flu, Nipah, etc...they know their onions! Just compare the death rates, folks.
20. Immunity debt, no.
news.sky.com/story/weak-a...
I gather that EU leaders are understandably cheesed off and are thinking of calling in over $2 trillion of US debt. It would pretty much collapse the US economy. The implications are momentous but every time I see Trump the little devil on my shoulder says ‘do it’.
I gather that EU leaders are understandably cheesed off and are thinking of calling in over $2 trillion of US debt. It would pretty much collapse the US economy. The implications are momentous but every time I see Trump the little devil on my shoulder says ‘do it’.
'Weak' and 'decaying': Donald Trump gives withering verdict on European allies
The US president gave his bruising assessment of Europe's leadership, criticising them for immigration and failing to end the war in Ukraine.
news.sky.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
news.sky.com/story/weak-a...
I gather that EU leaders are understandably cheesed off and are thinking of calling in over $2 trillion of US debt. It would pretty much collapse the US economy. The implications are momentous but every time I see Trump the little devil on my shoulder says ‘do it’.
I gather that EU leaders are understandably cheesed off and are thinking of calling in over $2 trillion of US debt. It would pretty much collapse the US economy. The implications are momentous but every time I see Trump the little devil on my shoulder says ‘do it’.
Severance: two seasons down and I still haven’t got the faintest idea what’s going on.
December 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Severance: two seasons down and I still haven’t got the faintest idea what’s going on.
Explain to me, while avoiding the words ‘sycophancy’ and ‘corruption’, how a man who sanctions extra-judicial murder, the tactics of ICE, calling for the death of opponents and deploying the National Guard, can win the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. What a load of corrupt, sycophantic nonsense.
December 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Explain to me, while avoiding the words ‘sycophancy’ and ‘corruption’, how a man who sanctions extra-judicial murder, the tactics of ICE, calling for the death of opponents and deploying the National Guard, can win the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. What a load of corrupt, sycophantic nonsense.
Unfortunate name of the day: Miss Betteris Tatt, married in Barton Le Cley 6 Jan 1783.
December 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Unfortunate name of the day: Miss Betteris Tatt, married in Barton Le Cley 6 Jan 1783.
Despite half the street already having lights and trees blinking incessantly, we have decided that Christmas can be discussed after 14 December and actively celebrated from 22 December.
December 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Despite half the street already having lights and trees blinking incessantly, we have decided that Christmas can be discussed after 14 December and actively celebrated from 22 December.
My 30-year old high-achieving son decompresses by gaming. Today I asked him which game he was playing. ‘Lego Harry Potter’ came the reply.
‘But that’s a game for four year olds’, I said. With no trace or irony he replied, ‘No, it’s a seven-plus.’
I appear to have failed as a father.
‘But that’s a game for four year olds’, I said. With no trace or irony he replied, ‘No, it’s a seven-plus.’
I appear to have failed as a father.
December 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
My 30-year old high-achieving son decompresses by gaming. Today I asked him which game he was playing. ‘Lego Harry Potter’ came the reply.
‘But that’s a game for four year olds’, I said. With no trace or irony he replied, ‘No, it’s a seven-plus.’
I appear to have failed as a father.
‘But that’s a game for four year olds’, I said. With no trace or irony he replied, ‘No, it’s a seven-plus.’
I appear to have failed as a father.
The Muppets Christmas Carol is the best adaptation of the book. Only three weeks until I am allowed to watch it.
November 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
The Muppets Christmas Carol is the best adaptation of the book. Only three weeks until I am allowed to watch it.
My wife is teaching Othello at the moment. I dare not tell her that I learned the plot from an episode of ‘The Kids From Fame’.
November 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My wife is teaching Othello at the moment. I dare not tell her that I learned the plot from an episode of ‘The Kids From Fame’.
An interesting quote on radio 4 this morning: your bookcase is a picture of the person you once were and an invitation to the person you are likely to become.
November 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
An interesting quote on radio 4 this morning: your bookcase is a picture of the person you once were and an invitation to the person you are likely to become.
I was writing a paper when the cat decided to walk across the keyboard. I thought what I’d written was pretty good but apparently it’s mbsi. Jgl&?:k
November 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I was writing a paper when the cat decided to walk across the keyboard. I thought what I’d written was pretty good but apparently it’s mbsi. Jgl&?:k