Just submitted my third and final Chinese assignment. To say I am relieved would be an under statement!

A man in a woolly hat and reflective jacket positions a blown-up image of a black and white photograph on an exterior concrete wall.

OAJ Issue 11 contributor, Bob Gaunt, has written a blog post for Design@Open, reflecting on how his research into Michael Danyliw’s photographs of Brinksway has sparked new conversations, public events and renewed local interest in a lost working-class neighbourhood. www.open.ac.uk/blogs/design...

Streeting relaunches women’s health strategy to tackle ‘medical misogyny’ Health secretary says NHS is ‘failing women’ and pledges to end ‘gaslighting’ by doctors

Good news that Labour pledge to tackle NHS “gaslighting” women. The health chapter in WHO WANTS NORMAL? sets out shocking medical discrimination of well known women who suffered for years with long term health conditions. Doctors ignored or even ridiculed them. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Does anyone else’s cat refuse to eat broken dental bites or is it just my little fusspot?

Iran war: We spoke to the man making Lego-style AI videos that experts say are powerful propaganda

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is my favorite climate change chart. Japanese monks, aristocrats, and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years and accidentally built the world's longest climate dataset.

Adorable!

Easter Thought For The Day: "And, in a very real way, isn't dying and coming back to life the true meaning of Easter?"

Change your future for good 💚🩷. Choose your perfect course at OU. Register now for October 2026, February, and April 2027: https://ow.ly/7w4m50YyuLc #OUfamily #TheOpenUniversity

I think you will find it is pronounced Dogtanian.

I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE LEARN THIS

The ol’Imposter Syndrome has got a firm grip on me.

Extremely disappointed with @ipswichtown.bsky.social right now. Not what I thought the club stood for, frankly. They’ve got some serious making up to do.

I'd completely forgotten it was #ALCSDay - that's cheered me up! A nice little payment on top of my book royalties. :)

Out today in the UK buijones.com/books/everyt... … cc @uselesstree.bsky.social @fromtga.bsky.social (should be available at Blackwell’s on Broad Street ) @prashantrao.bsky.social @peterfrankopan.bsky.social (and some London bookstores too)

Complex with Kimberley Wilson - Are you burnt out? - BBC Sounds Kimberley asks Dr Peter Olusoga when does stress tip into burnout.

A good listen for anyone in academia who feels a tad overwhelmed from time to time (understatement!): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... I'm off for a micro-break ...

A victorian drawing, maybe an engraving, as would be printed in newspapers or books: it shows a crowded street. A bearded wealthy man with a top hat is pondering. A young poorer woman selling flowers (and herself) wearing a low-cut top is smiling and offering him a flower. Another, well dressed woman with a parasol stands between them, giving him A LOOK. A tiny long-haired dog that looks like a wig is sniffing at the young woman's skirt. Her ankles are there for all to see.

I was looking for something about agricultural diets but found this Victorian version of the Distracted Boyfriend meme

Call for urgent international monitoring of Iran’s cultural heritage - Museums Association Sites face ‘intensifying risks’ due to escalating conflict and communication blackout

News | Call for urgent international monitoring of Iran’s cultural heritage

Sites face ‘intensifying risks’ due to escalating conflict and communication blackout

a close up of a cat with a pink sticker on its face ALT: a close up of a cat with a pink sticker on its face

How nice! I've been given an OU 'Going the Extra Mile' award!

ITFC x CALL ME TED FOR FOUNDATION WARM-UP SHIRTS undefined

I flipping love the new @callmeteditfc.bsky.social, @ipswichtown.bsky.social collaboration! www.itfc.co.uk/news/2026/ma... #Ipswich #heritage #uppatowen

OpenARC is the hub for Arts & Humanities research at The Open University, exploring what it means to be human and contributing to a more informed and culturally literate society. Follow for research insights & events:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/company/openarc-research-centre
🔗 bsky.app/profile/open...

1️⃣4️⃣ The Objects, Collections and Museums Research Group brings together researchers engaging with material things, the curatorial practices that define them, and the museums and collections that house them.

Convenors: Dr Amy Jane Barnes & Dr Amanda Sciampacone.

🔗 fass.open.ac.uk/research/gro...

The UK has fallen from 1st to 22nd within Europe, on LGBTQ-focused protective legislature. It's narrowly ahead of Albania - a Muslim country - and dead last in western Europe. This is owing to a surge in anti-LGBTQ sentiment that needs FAR more attention than you or your party have given it.

I don't think I've seen the Simpsons episode where Lisa got access to a time machine ;)

Bronze statuette of a priest or offrant
Etruscan
3rd–2nd century BCE

www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

Chipperfield’s first major UK project in listing bid Chipperfield’s first major UK project in listing bid

The Twentieth Century Society has made a listing bid for David Chipperfield’s River & Rowing Museum in Henley – the architect’s first major UK project

A painting of two women figures, one wears a red dress and sits by a door, the other in the foreground is in shadow, with flowers in front.

Our A-Z resource of 1,000 women artists gives you a place to start exploring.

Here's K 👉 artuk.org/discover/curations/an-a-...

🧑‍🎨 Christine Kinsey (b.1942) © the artist 📸 Carmarthenshire Museum

#WomensHistoryMonth

I don’t know why a version of this story gets telegraphed every six months. I don’t know why people scoff or find it objectionable and invariably the real story is never one about censorship. It’s a case of giving people information. It’s actually about being aware of trauma that isn’t your own.

The Brain at Rest: The Life-Changing Science of Doing Nothing – The Sunday Times Bestseller The Brain at Rest: The Life-Changing Science of Doing Nothing – The Sunday Times Bestseller : Jebelli, Joseph: Amazon.co.uk: Books

A highly recommended read: www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Rest-d...

A small ceramic white bowl with faded black decoration with gold kintsugi repairs

This bowl is an example of the Japanese practice of kintsugi - a method of repairing broken ceramics using lacquer mixed with powdered gold.

For 50+ years, The Open University and BBC have co-produced inspiring content 📺 Explore free learning on OU Connect: https://connect.open.ac.uk/ #OUfamily #TheOpenUniversity #OUconnect #BBC