Simon Briercliffe

In charge of sharp objects, are you mad?

It argued that players who were born male and went through male puberty have specific physical advantages in cue sports, such as an ability to generate higher break speed, greater hand span to bridge over balls and a longer reach. A spokesperson said: "The court found that pool is a game in which men have an advantage over women and that allowing only those born as women to compete in our women's competitions is necessary to secure fair competition."

I'm 6'3" and these are all advantages I have over someone say 5' tall, of any gender or none. Let me tell you that my record at pool does not suggest any sort of advantage

All events at The Exchange - University of Birmingham All events and exhibitions at The Exchange, Centenary Square

Excited to be part of the Autumn Programme at #TheExchange
'Pioneers: Thrift Radiates Happiness' the story of Birmingham Municipal Bank as part of Birmingham Heritage Week
📅Weds 17 Sept
#UnlockingtheVaults project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and University of Birmingham

Sign the Petition Stop Mass Redundancies at Lancaster University – Hold Senior Management Accountable

Goodbye to the history department at Lancaster University, where the @socialhistsoc.bsky.social was founded 49 years ago. From tomorrow we are
part of a School of Global Affairs. Next year, who knows what will be - please sign our petition against mass redundancies chng.it/PZfTFDjNcr

Page of illustrations from The Worm Book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, showing various worm illnesses such as The Trembles and Depression

Delusions: thinks he is a French loaf

Oh this is sad! The Ahlbergs' books were a staple of my childhood - Allan signed my copy of The Worm Book for me at River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester, must be early 1990s. His memoir The Bucket is lovely too, Black Country fans should note his wonderful descriptions of growing up in Oldbury.

Sad to learn today that Dr Marie Rowlands has passed away - she was a fixture of Midlands history for decades (especially if you're into Catholics) and was unfailingly kind, generous with her time, and a really lovely person to talk history with, well into her 90s.

Oh no, hope not (but I'd never put too much hope in footballer politics after idolising Matt Le Tissier as a kid)

Has anyone ever had more main protagonist energy than Chloe Kelly?

Whereas Lucy Bronze gives me Terry Butcher energy.

Maybe also Hannah Hampton, who thought anyone could follow Mary Earps?

Chloe Kelly for joint queen

As per this post, here's Maude up The Wrekin this morning.

All famines are man-made, all famines are political. Historians of empire and humanitarianism have known this forever. Gaza is not starving, Gaza is being starved, by Israel, and this starvation is enabled by our government and by every other government that does not step in to force food and aid.

We are proud to announce that South Asian Britain: Connecting Histories, a landmark educational website on the histories of South Asians in Britain, is now live!

Visit southasianbritain.org

@qmul.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @britishlibrary.bsky.social #AHRC @uobartsmatter.bsky.social

For some reason I feel like Suggs would love this

Twenty years ago today, Jean Charles de Menezes was assassinated at Stockwell station. Head of the Met Police, Ian Blair, was made a Lord. Cressida Dick, who led the operation, was promoted to Blair's position.

6 people on stage holding artwork

I didn't get great pics, but I had the privilege to attend a 100th birthday party at the museum today, for Prince Albert Jacob - Jake came from Trinidad to join the RAF in 1943 and returned to the Black Country in 1947. He's been in the West Midlands ever since, what a legend.

Lucy Bronze for queen

That's great - she was a pretty remarkable woman.

I sometimes forget that my colleagues at the living history museum might be living history themselves: had a chat with one today whose parents knew Nye Bevan and therefore Jennie Lee got him an apprenticeship at Sotheby's via her role on the Arts Council.

who could possibly have foreseen

WeTransfer just changed their TOS giving themselves permission to train AI on any content you transfer and produce derivative works based on content you transfer that they are allowed to monetize and you are not allowed payment for.

Stop using WeTransfer.

Tell me about it, both my nans were confectioners, and they were magicians as far as I could tell

Cover of a cookery book entitled The Complete Book Of Curries by Harvey Day. The cover has a photograph of shallots, onions, tomatoes and aubergines in a cast-iron pan (although the shallots look more like sausages)

Found a treasure from 1966 in a charity shop. Currently not clear why they advertised a book of curries with what looks like French peasant ingredients.

I like the Beastie Boys style pronunciation guide

We were the family always one generation behind our friends in consoles.

It's been a while, but I suspect Kerry might a shout - gorgeous beaches and walking, and little towns like Kenmare, Dingle and Castletownbere are lovely.

Currently soliciting tourist recommendations for Ireland, south of a line drawn between Limerick and Wicklow - specifically: cute towns, good (beachcombing!) beaches, <3 hour walks, *craft* beer (not THAT one) food that is either really high end or the most greasy junk ever (vegetarian only).

Exactly! It's a great mood.