When it comes to time for my students to write a research question, I always tell them to get a blank piece of paper. Take a pen. Write the words they think must be in the question across top. Start playing with how they can be assembled. Simplicity is good. It has to finish with a question mark.

Just fucking awful treatment. I’m sorry.

Thanks Matt. I'm good.

Hiraeth.

Anyone want to guess the word beginning with S at the root of all this?

Thanks Leon and @tricksterprince.bsky.social - I'm tip top. It's all really just rather pathetic.

Yup! I appreciate the offer.

Don't be fooled. I'm a complete bastard in real life.

Absolutely not!

A novel experience today, what I can only describe as hate mail from a fellow academic, hoping that my “hatred & bigotry” don’t lead to illness and premature death. But I know that for many of my colleagues this is not a novel experience, but a daily one. With them I express my heartfelt solidarity.

This is a great idea. I have read Thorkild Hansen's "Arabia Felix."

I'm going to have a little credit to spend at Bloomsbury Academic, probably enough for two or three books - hit me up with your recommendations from the history lists. Doesn't have to have anything to do with my work. Feel free to recommend your own book!

Rug by Danish weaver Anna Thommeson with.an angular geometric pattern in shades of blue.

Rug by Danish weaver Anna Thommeson with.an angular geometric pattern in shades of blue, pink, and red.

Multiple hanging pieces with weaver Anna Thommeson on display in a gallery. All rugs are sharply geometric and symmetrical patters in shades of blue, green, red, and pink.

Rug by Danish weaver Anna Thommeson with.an angular geometric pattern in shades of green and blue.

Beautiful pieces by Danish weaver and textile artist Anna Thommeson (1908-2004) at the SMK (Copenhagen). I had no particular expectations for this exhibition, but it's superb. Up until mid-August.

I know it really makes no sense to have a favourite historical figure, but mine is unequivocally Wedgwood - another vital connection here (and Charles Darwin's other grandfather).

Erasmus Darwin is portrayed as a spectator, seated front left, in Wright of Derby’s most famous painting: An Experiment 1768. With profile largely in shadow, he is watching the experiment intently. Erasmus Darwin, Midlands Enlightenment thinker, physician, inventor, abolitionist, died #OTD 1802; founding member of Lunar Society (with Watt, Boulton & Wedgwood), grandfather of Charles Darwin, friend of Benjamin Franklin. National Gallery London

Portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Wright of Derby c.1770 Birmingham Art Gallery

Erasmus Darwin, Midlands Enlightenment thinker, physician, inventor, abolitionist, died #OTD 1802; founding member of Lunar Society (with Watt, Boulton & Wedgwood), grandfather of Charles Darwin, friend of Benjamin Franklin.
An Experiment 1768 by Wright of Derby
Portrait 1770 Birmingham AG - ALT

Ditto (except local square, not garden).

At last!

Yes, I think there are plenty of tickets sold.

At least today will be dry and yesterday was beautiful. This afternoon I am going to Parken for the first time - Denmark v.s Italy.

Now, that really is a downer!

Got it! And absolutely.

Two and a half million to live in Hellertown?

We're such downers. "That thing you love? It's going to cease to exist. Probably soon."

More quickly than that!

The swimming pier at Svannemøllen Strand, Copenhagen, at sunrise. April 17th, 2026

Went swimming.

Agreed, there is a lot of taken-for-grantedness. Small c capital might be discussed (e.g. venture capital, extensively), but capital C Capitalism, not so much, even from a positive perspective.

All star even!

This.

LOL.

What's labor?