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Jon Hughes

@riderjon.bsky.social

4.4K followers 2.2K following 630 posts

Academic in German + Cultural Studies, Royal Holloway Uni. of London, researching film, lit, history, sport. Books on Joseph Roth, Max Schmeling. Latest book: PEOPLE ON SUNDAY, out now with Bloomsbury/BFI Film Classics. Cyclist, cat person, European.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Mar 27

It's UK publication day for my illustrated book about the Weimar film gem MENSCHEN AM SONNTAG / PEOPLE ON SUNDAY (1930). It appears in the BFI Film Classics series with @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social with beautiful cover art by Federica Masini, and packs a lot into its 104 pages. 1/2

Cover for PEOPLE ON SUNDAY (BFI Film Classics) by Jon Hughes. Features a colourful illustration of a young woman drinking a cup of coffee.

An advertisement for the book and the series. The quotation at the top reads 'A grounding Weimar classic that shaped indie cinema'. Beneath it reads: 'BFI Film Classics - Celebrating Film for over 30 Years'.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 10h

An important and beautifully produced piece of reporting. It’s also almost unbearable to read. Devastating evidence of the human cost of Israel’s criminal war.

Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead

Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive

www.theguardian.com

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 9d

Nice - my advance copy of WORLDS OF WONDER, a beautifully produced guide to children’s lit, ed. by Daniel Hahn + Julia Eccleshare. Includes my take on Kästner‘s EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES. Out soon with @princetonupress.bsky.social!

Cover of WORLDS OF WONDER, feeding a scene from ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 9d

Gosh, who’d have thought so many anti-racists would be attracted by a party whose whole shtick is racism and xenophobia? Labour really are pathetically timid.

Extract from an interview with Rachel Reeves in which she tries argue that Reform supporters aren’t racist, even though they support racist policies.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 12d

In this case the rider wasn't hit by a vehicle, but the idea that TTs on DCs are 'carefully controlled' is nonsense. No matter what organisers do, they are still sketchy, especially at roundabouts. I ignored the danger for years and used to love these fast events, but no more - just not worth it.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 20d

So interesting.

De Gruyter Brill @degruyterbrill.bsky.social · 20d

What happened when the #Nazis tried to reshape not just humans, but dogs, cows, and horses, too? Mieke Roscher (@docroscher.bsky.social) explores this in her new blog post 👉 blog.degruyter.com/bred-for-the...

Black-and-white photo of SS cavalry soldiers on horseback. Text: De Gruyter Conversations. Bred for the Reich: How the Nazis Enlisted the Animal World

Visual reading: "Animals weren’t just props. They were metaphors, models, rehearsals." - Mieke Roscher
in “Bred for the Reich”

Visual reading; “Dogs were inspected like soldiers, horses ranked for ‘racial fitness,’ and cattle catalogued as tools of national productivity.” - Mieke Roscher
in “Bred for the Reich”

Visual reading: “Even in concentration camps, animals were bred, not only for food, but also as symbols of hierarchy.” - Mieke Roscher
in “Bred for the Reich”

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 21d

What an embarrassment Trump’s second state visit to the UK is, with all the royal nonsense. Starmer was under no obligation to do this.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 22d

Funny how often Nazis seem to think that prefacing with 'I'm not racist but...' gives them a green light to spew vile racist clichés. I guess they are at least dimly aware that you aren't supposed to admit to being a racist. That may well change.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 22d

Very close to going full 'Kristallnacht', on a very similar pretext. Remember: on 9 November 1938 the police were ordered to stand down while homes and synagogues burned. The equivalent feels entirely conceivable in the USA today.

JD Vance backs mass ‘doxing’ campaign to find and harass Charlie Kirk critics

US vice-president encourages ‘calling out’ anyone who celebrates Kirk’s murder, including notifying employers

www.theguardian.com

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 23d

Drop some eyes👀

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 24d

Exactly my thoughts. Seeing the capital awash with Nazis and our streets adorned with England flags is the opposite of healthy. It’s a sign of failed political education, historical ignorance and hostility to mainstream values. To celebrate it is just appalling.

Julia Laite @julialaite.bsky.social · 24d

This is, I believe, the first official word from the Government on what happened yesterday in London. Not only inaction in the face of violence and hate, but a celebration of it. I passed through London twice yesterday with my two kids & what Labour seem to be missing is that people aren't just...

'Scale of unite the kingdom march shows free speech alive and well in UK, says minister

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 25d

Shocking to see a large scale (de facto) Nazi rally in London. Yaxley-Lennon proclaiming ‘Britain has awoken’, presumably a deliberate echo of ‘Deutschland erwache’.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 26d

Yes, same - not since 2008 though. Looking forward to it as it might be the last time.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 26d

£85 standing (plus the inevitable booking fee). That is definitely not cheap, but I guess the going rate for shows on this scale.

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 26d

Ah yes, the good old physical ticket, also a thing of the past! The process was quite surreal and I have no clue if all those steps resulted in a fair process. They were most definitely not 10 quid - but at least no 'dynamic pricing'.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · 26d

In about the only positive in a shitty week, I have miraculously managed to buy Radiohead tickets after surviving a week-long process involving registration, a lottery for an 'unlock code', a waiting room, a different verification code, multiple page crashes, and a randomized 'queue'.

a woman in a black jacket is giving a peace sign

ALT: a woman in a black jacket is giving a peace sign

media.tenor.com

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Sep 4

Question: how is a 'three-month pause' that does not affect the eventual deadline a 'pause' in any meaningful sense? More absolute nonsense from the world's worst 'framework'.

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨BREAKING🚨

Patrick Vallance announces three-month pause in REF.

Science minister announces hiatus but says results for next Research Excellence Framework still on track for 2029.

Free to read:
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Vallance announces three-month pause in REF - Research Professional News

Science minister announces hiatus but says results still on track for 2029

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Sep 3

Note how the flags are always 'half mast' because these geniuses' ladders are too short. The look is less 'patriotism' and more 'the queen died'.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Sep 2

This is funny, as the mistake is so obvious, but often it isn't. And the 'AI Overview' is now the first thing you see after any search. It's *insane* this is seen as acceptable - imagine if other everyday tech (like GPS or, say, light switches) was this flawed!

Anil Dash @anildash.com · Sep 2

Good news about the cutting-edge AI tools from the $3-trillion-dollar company.

Google AI search result for “was 2010 fifteen years ago?” returning: “No, 2010 was 14 years ago, not 15 years ago. The current year is 2025, and to find the number of years ago 2010 was, you subtract 2010 from 2025, which equals 14.
Current Year: 2025
Past Year: 2010
Years Ago: 2025 - 2010 = 14 years”

Reposted by Jon Hughes

Dr Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social · Sep 1

The Routledge Handbook to Auschwitz-Birkenau is out, a massive labor of love by Sarah Cushman, Joanne Pettit, and Dominic Williams. The preparations went back to summer 2021, so four years ago. I am indebted to the editors for all their hard work, help, and also light touch in dealing with us.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Sep 1

The heart sinks, especially as subtitles have not stopped shows like Squid Game being huge. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised. Reminds me a bit of the multiple language versions made of early sound films like The Blue Angel.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Aug 31

I recently received these lovely signed copies of recent books by Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social after having my name drawn from Tom’s hat. Suki has given them the sniff test and approved - really looking forward to reading ‘1983’. Thanks Tom!

Two paperback books by Tom Cox (1983 and Ring the Hill) being sniffed by my cat Suki.

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Aug 29

Kind of reminds me of... :)

Reposted by Jon Hughes

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · Aug 29

Here’s 10 questions MPs might ask about the royal family - if only they were allowed to www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/monarc...

The 10 questions MPs should ask about the royal family—if they were allowed

Politicians are rightly happy to wade in on all the important issues of the day. But there’s one glaring exception

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Jon Hughes @riderjon.bsky.social · Aug 29

Even more problematic - the far-fetched idea of a Stasi officer risking everything to protect a dissident from discovery. Despite that, it's a terrific film that rings true in other ways!

Reposted by Jon Hughes

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · Aug 27

My second novel, 1983, is now out in paperback. Roscoe and I have decided to give away signed copies to 4 randomly selected people who repost this and pop a reply below.

You might like it if you like:
The old, fun idea of The Future
D&D
Nottinghamshire
Robots
Imaginative children
Aliens
Mining

Miss Roscoe the cat - aka The CEO - posing with four paperbacks of my book 1983 and looking kind of pissed off after I told her a cat only appears very briefly in it

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