Virginia Preston

Looking forward to this so much!

Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising upwards with text “Art Show Iridescence eastercon2026.org”

Display in the Iridescence Art Show.

The Art Show at Iridescence is all about celebrating the incredible creativity in our community. It is a space where fans can admire, celebrate, and buy art directly from creators.

Full info on the website eastercon2026.org/art-show

Phoenix in red and yellow flames rising above white text “Volunteer Iridescence eastercon2026.org”

We are looking for volunteers.
Volunteering is at the heart of Eastercon. It is what makes the convention possible!

By giving a little of your time, you help shape the experience for everyone while joining a welcoming, creative community.

The form is on our website eastercon2026.org/volunteering

Really interesting thread about how people can and do change their minds - needed to hear this after a conversation last night with someone struggling with getting a person v close to them to see past the far right narratives.

Hello lovely Easterconners - We've been busy in the background getting things in place to bring you an amazing Eastercon next year!

If you're a member you should have received an update email today. We're sorry if you got it more than once, we're tech wrangling and grateful for your patience.

Really looking forward to reading about your ideas for programme!

Very excited to be running programme for next year’s Eastercon, now seated, Iridescence 2026. GOHs
- RJ Barker
- ⁠Dr Karen Lord
- ⁠Emma Newman
- ⁠John Wilson and Serena Culfeather

The front cover of a scientific journal titled Ornithologist, dated 1 April 2025. The main headline reads: “BIRDS: DECODED - Groundbreaking New Science.” Below that, a subheading says: “What are the UK’s birds really saying? Pioneering new research provides the answers.”

WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language.

The results tell us a lot!

Extracts below... 🧵

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social a reminder. Because apparently you need it.

Past & Present Fellowships Past & Present Fellowships are available for two years, and open to researchers who have completed a doctorate in history.

Applications are open for the 2025-27 Past & Present Fellowships @ihr.bsky.social are open

Applications close on 31st Jan 2025

Fellows appointed will commence on 1st Oct 2025 and be tenable for 24 months

Please share with your network

www.history.ac.uk/fellowships/...

For new people, here’s a new #proofofcat. This is Sam

Just discovered this gem and deem it worthy of my first reskeet (re-skeet?) 🙌 It has it all! History, humor, cats!

Acquisition announcement. [Three photos of the editors Lord, Newitz, and Older] WE WILL RISE AGAIN: Speculative Stories About Political Protest, Resistance, and Hope. Karen Lord, Annalee Newitz, and Malka Older. Coming Fall 2025. Saga Press.

Fall 2025, Saga Press. Mark your calendars!

Cover of The Green Man's War by Juliet E McKenna. Image features a white wyrm against a forested background.

It's up on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/...

Spiky. #BuffyRevamped

What period? My thesis Constructing Communities: Living and Working in the Royal Navy c1815-53 is available online through the British Library. Oliver Walton’s thesis is about working in the RN in 2nd half of the C19th. Glyn Prysor’s Citizen Sailors is about the Second World War.

Yay Octothorpe!

Brilliant!

‘Not *another* pause for emoting.’

also that it is a health and safety nightmare! (some of those are jokes but not all)

The Green Man series are brilliant books - I've reread all at least once and will do again. Love the way McKenna uses specific local folklore & thinks about how swan maidens, dryads, naiads and wyrms might live in the present day. (Also cover art I like so much I made fan pottery of the first one.)

I will go and fetch it and take a photo!

Really looking forward to listening to this - was there for the recording and it was great (and I immediately ordered The Masters of Solitude as recommended by @tadethompson.bsky.social - have been slightly distracted by Hugo reading but it's at the top of the tottering TBR pile).

Let’s boost this again. You will need photo ID to vote in a UK election because the Conservatives have tried to minimise the defeat they robustly deserve. Get it free from the link below.

(I mean I agree about the ludicrousness of the whole thing, just don't want anyone to be put off getting a voter ID if needed)

Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) Apply for photo ID to vote (Voter Authority Certificate) in some elections and referendums in Great Britain if you do not have an accepted form of ID.

actually the council voter ID is free and fairly easy - you need a photo and your National Insurance number. It's annoying and unnecessary, but you don't have to have a passport or driving licence to vote (www.gov.uk/apply-for-ph...)

She’s not sure we should have pulled up all the encroaching ivy - she likes to investigate what’s lurking in it

What’s up has mostly been gardening, that’s what. Weeding and chopping and today is planting things out

I am still getting used to it and remembering to check!