J (he/him)

Since the #Olympics are on, let's repost a classic thread here: a brief history of the practice of "sex verification" in sport.

Content warning: This thread will mention anti-intersex discrimination, FGM practices and body shaming.

YouTube video by Little Simz Little Simz - Introvert (Official Video)

Probably the best song this decade

youtu.be/hxfGQ2AJHGk?...

New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare

The number of trans youth suicides in the UK quadrupled in 2021 following significant restrictions in access to care. The NHS tried to cover this up with a fake report that tried to hide the truth.

goodlawproject.org/new-data-sho...

A person removes a book from a library shelf. Text overlay: "Books are being challenged in Scottish schools. Librarians fear a 'chilling effect' on freedom of speech."

🔴NEW: Books are being removed or restricted in Scottish school libraries following complaints, creating a “chilling effect” that campaigners warn threatens both freedom of speech and inclusive education.

Read the story: https://www.theferret.scot/books-scottish-schools-librarians/

I have that 😍

So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it’s about the mass abuse of women and girls | Marina Hyde Obsessing over individual players and political chaos leaves less time to focus on the misogyny. And that’s for the best, isn’t it guys, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

Marina Hyde saying what every woman is thinking www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Another first time watch. A real hidden gem for me; skulduggery, carousing sailors, phantoms in the night on horseback, Peter Cushing on top form. Oh & the wonderful Michael Ripper.

WHY ARE ALL DRESS OPTIONS NOW ”FOX NEWS HOST” OR “POTATO SACK”????

Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.

It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.

A great comedy actor, but he was born in 1915 so this year would have been his 111 birthday

I'm enjoying this range, but hopefully this is the last story set on the Powell Estate. Getting a bit repetitive now.

@bunnydarke.bsky.social and @eofftv.bsky.social, Powerhouse Films have got a buy three get 20% deal on Blu-ray’s at the moment, including lots of Hammer (which are already quite cheap). I think it’s worth sharing! Here’s my recent order.
www.powerhousefilms.co.uk

STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT with Paul Litchfield | Smersh Pod

STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT
with @paullitchfield.bsky.social
shows.acast.com/smershpod/ep...

Richard's fundraiser for Scope Help Richard Herring raise money to support Scope

Good luck to all those of you doing No Solero February this year. I have managed 9 hours so far. Not sure I can take it all the way this time. If you manage it please donate the £23.33 you've saved here www.justgiving.com/page/nolero

Prog 444

A lovely example of 'Indiana Jones' dry humour here.

Catherine O'Hara & Eugene Levy performing "A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow" from A MIGHTY WIND at the 2004 Oscars🌈💔

Giving this a listen after a first time watch. Great film. Always enjoyed seeing Ronald Lewis in a movie, even though I think he could only exist during this period (late 50s - early 60s).

If Britain had a Department of Culture, it would be able to engage with this issue.

Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: 'I'd rather quit the industry than use generative AI' The latest GDC survey also found that managers are more likely to use generative AI than their employees.

"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.

Nigella Lawson replacing Prue Leith (who previously replaced Mary Berry) on the great British bake off is the Uk equivalent of Marisa Tomai playing Aunt May.

Witch of Endor. Occasional reminder that my article on "The Witch of Endor in Folklore and History" is free for download here.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

House of Terrors (1965) Original title: 怪談せむし男/Kaidan semushi otoko The original title translates as The Ghost of the Hunchback which is blunt for surprisingly accurate title. Directed by Hajime Satô – later of Kait…

Hajime Satô's House of Terrors (1965) is a terrific Gothic, heavily inspired by The Haunting (1963) and contemporary Italian horror films but still unmistakenly Japanese. Hard to find for years, it's emerged as something of a lost gem.

eofftvreview.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/h...

Struve Geodetic Arc The Struve Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816...

The 19th century Struve Geodetic Arc is, to me, one of the most extraordinary properties on the World Heritage List. It crosses 10 countries and was used to determine the size and shape of the world. 🧪 🏺 #ContemporaryArchaeology

1970s Ivor the Engine cast with a 2001 monolith

1970s animated Paddington with a 2001 monolith

Going through old files, I just stumbled across these 2001: A Space Odyssey / 1970s kids' TV mashups. No recollection of doing them. They must have been stuff intended for #Scarfolk, but got forgotten.

Much though I have enjoyed all of my many trips to the USA over forty or so years I have realised that I cannot go there any more until there is what we might call ‘regime change’ Like Iran they are killing their own citizens. Tragic

Yarp.