@judeseal
PhD. from Royal Holloway, University of London. Repost ≠ Endorsement / All views my own. Primary Research: History/Archaeology of Medicine, Disability, Disease, Trauma. Palæopathology. Religion. 'Theorist' & 'Massive Autodidact'
What worries me is 1) how so many people have been so readily convinced thar they are incapable of doing things they are extremely capable of doing, and 2) Sam Altman's ever increasing pile of disturbing statements.
In regards to (1) someone recently expressed surprise that I write things by hand.
B) He once referred to my MA as a 'Diploma in Reading'.
C) In the reception, on a shelf, was a brand new watering can.... All the plants in the building were plastic. That summed up the company.
Indeed. He was also the first person I have ever met to use the term 'upskill' unironically. What also stuck with me was:
A) He casually missed an MRI appointment because he was too busy organising his wife's birthday party (costing the NHS a minimum £165).
(Continued...)
I convinced them to end my contract 2 months early by mutual consent. On my last day, I pointed out the reason their sign language resources didn't sell was because they were in American Sign Language. They aren't mutually intelligible. ASL has roots in French Sign Language, BSL in BANZSL.
No. Another time I worked for a now defunct education supply company which specialised in 'diversity and inclusion resources' for primary schools. It was tne most racist and ableist office I have ever worked in. The managing director repeatedly used a racial slur for my heritage to my face.
I'm happy to dig out my old notes and see if I ever found anything on. I wrote an essay on ordeals as an undergraduate. I need to index those boxes properly anyway.
I couldn't remember the exact reference. It came up during a discussion of various bar bets based on eating various foods without drinking anything. I then vaguely remembered the link to Ethrelred and Cnut via the law codes on injury (which relates to my work on history & archaeology of medicine.
This reminds me I really should finish writing the article on Anglo-Saxon wergild and bōt and disability which I started writing in 2020... back when I was spending most of my time working out of an airing cupboard, which I'd managed to cram a desk into. It had serious post apocalypse vibes.
A Blue box marked "Monopoly" at the top in white writing against a red rectangle. Instead of an illustrative picture on the box, there's a big white question mark. It's all very mysterious.
The new *Chichester* edition of Monopoly was released this morning...
...AND WE'RE IN IT!!!! 🤩😎
🚗🎩👍🐕💰🐈⬛🐧🦆
For some reason, this reminds me of the time I was described as an organisation's 'diversity quota all in one'.
Kristi Noem being defenestrated from the Department of Homeland Security on the first day of Crufts is just...
#JusticeForCricket
'MEMORY, March 2026' - Edited still photograph.
UEA's own coverage - www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/a... - I wonder what an online plagiarism detector would say...
An image captured from DIESEL POWER ON BRITISH RAILWAYS (1965)
DIESEL POWER ON BRITISH RAILWAYS (1965) | https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-diesel-power-on-british-railways-1965-online
Metropolitan Museum Acquires Another Vase
Metropolitan Museum Acquires Another Vase https://theonion.com/metropolitan-museum-acquires-another-vase-1830499658/
Also wofth noting under Athelstan theft of a value of more than 8 silver pennies (later 12 pennies for those over 15) was punishable by death.
(8 pennies - maybe 8 sheep)
Entirely depended on where you were and tne exact time period. 9 deniarii is a rough value across a large gepgraphical one.
In England under Cnut it could have been bread and cheese to a value of a silver penny (a fair amount).
(www.medievalists.net/2023/04/the-... << simple overview)
Various amounts used but records suggest nine denarii worth of unleavened barley bread, and one of goat or sheep cheese aged and solid. Given the context (religious framing, in church) nerves likely made it harder to swallow. It was only used for theft.
Well - nine denarii of unleavened barley bread, and one of hard and aged goat or sheep cheese without water... not exactly easy. Also this ordeal is only for trials of theft.
And for those who took it - in tne context it was administered the psychological effects would likely make it harder.
Corsned!
Yes - I was aware but only because of
a) A pub bet resultibg from a unit on crime and punishment I read as an undergraduate.
and
b) my research interests includong medicine/sciebce/magic.
Corsned! (Accursed morsel) - It's in the Laws of Ethelred II (iirc), and mentioned in those of Cnut. The basic idea was barley bread and cheese were consecrated. The accuseed then had to eat and swallow ir. If they did so without choking or coughing etc they were innocent.
BBC News - Beleaguered water company throws bottles into skip
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
For anyone in London on 13th March 2026 and interested in my research - tickets are now available for my talk at @paulmelloncentr.bsky.social -
www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/whats-on/for...
#disability #medhist #histmed #medievalsky #skystorians #medicine #history
Four-panel comic of a black cat with stern eyes and the text “I wish your March is full of…”. In the final panel, the cat’s eyes turn big and shiny as it holds a green clover.
Wishing you a March full of… 🍀🐾
More from this incredible manuscript.
Kansas threatens to jail trans people who don’t surrender ID cards ➡️ https://bit.ly/4l50Jyc
📷 Envato
I see everyone is now an expert in Middle Eastern politics when you have never been, don't speak any of the languages, and have no background whatsoever. Keep posting it's really fascinating for those of us who work there.
Eeek. Hope you feel better soon.
