James_AL_Downs
@magiclantern.bsky.social
Writer: 'Anton Walbrook' (2020) 'Joseph Pike' (2018) & 'A Carnal Medium' (2012), photohistorian, archivist of Middle East collections at Exeter University, runs the Digital Archive of the Middle East (https://dame.exeter.ac.uk/), collector & bibliophile
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Dear BBC Archives...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
Dear BBC Archives... - Illuminations
In a way, you’re spoiling us – and we’re grateful. ‘Us’ being the nerdy types fascinated by television’s deep archive. For so long, because of rights restrictions and a general lack of interest, telev...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Dear BBC Archives...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
A letter to thank you for Mañana, the Ibsen collection and more,
to express my disappointment at how in certain ways you fail to treat these precious fragments with proper respect,
and to suggest how you could do things better.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/dear-bbc-arc...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Remember her name: Aliya Rahman
Her testimony is everything and it deserves to be heard, by everyone. Decide for yourself.
It’s powerful. It’s gut-wrenching. And no one should have to survive what she did.
ICE MUST GO‼️
Her testimony is everything and it deserves to be heard, by everyone. Decide for yourself.
It’s powerful. It’s gut-wrenching. And no one should have to survive what she did.
ICE MUST GO‼️
February 3, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Remember her name: Aliya Rahman
Her testimony is everything and it deserves to be heard, by everyone. Decide for yourself.
It’s powerful. It’s gut-wrenching. And no one should have to survive what she did.
ICE MUST GO‼️
Her testimony is everything and it deserves to be heard, by everyone. Decide for yourself.
It’s powerful. It’s gut-wrenching. And no one should have to survive what she did.
ICE MUST GO‼️
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
This seems like a good idea — English professors double down on requiring printed copies of readings
yaledailynews.com/articles/eng...
yaledailynews.com/articles/eng...
January 31, 2026 at 5:51 PM
This seems like a good idea — English professors double down on requiring printed copies of readings
yaledailynews.com/articles/eng...
yaledailynews.com/articles/eng...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
An interesting report on the role of bookshops in the community. Focused on Wales but can equally apply to England, Wales, Ireland 📚📚📚🌞
www.booksellers.org.uk/getattachmen...
www.booksellers.org.uk/getattachmen...
www.booksellers.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 7:46 AM
An interesting report on the role of bookshops in the community. Focused on Wales but can equally apply to England, Wales, Ireland 📚📚📚🌞
www.booksellers.org.uk/getattachmen...
www.booksellers.org.uk/getattachmen...
Peach, elderberry or apricot? Choices in a Devon pub
February 1, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Peach, elderberry or apricot? Choices in a Devon pub
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
SO EXCITED for this footage. I've been watching thousands of crows roost at sunset for awhile, but I've struggled to get quality flying in front of moon footage.
Last night I captured 8 of the 10,000+ crows take the path I've wanted.
More, better, to come in the future! But super jazzed for now 🪶
Last night I captured 8 of the 10,000+ crows take the path I've wanted.
More, better, to come in the future! But super jazzed for now 🪶
February 1, 2026 at 5:09 AM
SO EXCITED for this footage. I've been watching thousands of crows roost at sunset for awhile, but I've struggled to get quality flying in front of moon footage.
Last night I captured 8 of the 10,000+ crows take the path I've wanted.
More, better, to come in the future! But super jazzed for now 🪶
Last night I captured 8 of the 10,000+ crows take the path I've wanted.
More, better, to come in the future! But super jazzed for now 🪶
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
My website offering for February is a labour of love about ancient peoples, migrations and languages popping up where we today might not expect them. It's a biography of an old Indo-European language that met with success in the Middle East, with some help from horses.
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
An Unexpected ‘Indian’ Language in the Middle East
Delighted and motivated by the positive response to my recent article, Greek, the Asian and African Language, my mind has been occupied by an eagerness to share another example of historical l…
dannybate.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:59 AM
My website offering for February is a labour of love about ancient peoples, migrations and languages popping up where we today might not expect them. It's a biography of an old Indo-European language that met with success in the Middle East, with some help from horses.
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
Foggentor living up to its name
February 1, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Foggentor living up to its name
For #StandingStoneSunday I've come up to the double stone rows and menhirs of Merrivale on Dartmoor in misty dtizzle
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 AM
For #StandingStoneSunday I've come up to the double stone rows and menhirs of Merrivale on Dartmoor in misty dtizzle
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the zebras, for tomorrow is their special day!
To pre-celebrate International Zebra Day, here is an illustration of a zebra from 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#InternationalZebraDay #RareBooks
To pre-celebrate International Zebra Day, here is an illustration of a zebra from 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#InternationalZebraDay #RareBooks
January 30, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the zebras, for tomorrow is their special day!
To pre-celebrate International Zebra Day, here is an illustration of a zebra from 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#InternationalZebraDay #RareBooks
To pre-celebrate International Zebra Day, here is an illustration of a zebra from 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
📷 Reserve 590 BUF
#InternationalZebraDay #RareBooks
Had an early morning stroll near Brampford Speke - water levels have dropped a little overnight but many paths, like this one, remain impassable #Devon
January 31, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Had an early morning stroll near Brampford Speke - water levels have dropped a little overnight but many paths, like this one, remain impassable #Devon
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
PhD funding for early career historians completing a doctorate.
Applications are invited for the Society's Centenary PhD Fellowships for the academic year 2026-27 bit.ly/49MzqmT.
Two awards of £8500 per student, held jointly with @ihr.bsky.social. Closing date: 31 January 2026 #Skystorians
Applications are invited for the Society's Centenary PhD Fellowships for the academic year 2026-27 bit.ly/49MzqmT.
Two awards of £8500 per student, held jointly with @ihr.bsky.social. Closing date: 31 January 2026 #Skystorians
January 22, 2026 at 8:47 AM
PhD funding for early career historians completing a doctorate.
Applications are invited for the Society's Centenary PhD Fellowships for the academic year 2026-27 bit.ly/49MzqmT.
Two awards of £8500 per student, held jointly with @ihr.bsky.social. Closing date: 31 January 2026 #Skystorians
Applications are invited for the Society's Centenary PhD Fellowships for the academic year 2026-27 bit.ly/49MzqmT.
Two awards of £8500 per student, held jointly with @ihr.bsky.social. Closing date: 31 January 2026 #Skystorians
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Monthly sessions offer archiving skills and resources to document underrepresented stories in Portland's Black community.
Portland Black Memory Lab preserves community history through free workshops
Monthly sessions offer archiving skills and resources to document underrepresented stories in Portland's Black community.
www.oregonlive.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Monthly sessions offer archiving skills and resources to document underrepresented stories in Portland's Black community.
Watching 'The Color of Paradise' [رنگ خدا] tonight. I've been trying to learn more Persian in recent months for archive purposes but wish I had a better understanding #Iran
January 29, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Watching 'The Color of Paradise' [رنگ خدا] tonight. I've been trying to learn more Persian in recent months for archive purposes but wish I had a better understanding #Iran
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
SUPPORT MERIP: Help us keep bringing the world critical coverage of the Middle East without paywalls by making a donation today!
buff.ly/Wrm3aPi
buff.ly/Wrm3aPi
Donate
SUPPORT MERIP'S CRITICAL WORK BY DONATING For 50 years, MERIP has published critical analysis of Middle Eastern politics, history, and social justice not available in other publications. Our articles…
www.merip.org
January 29, 2026 at 9:00 PM
SUPPORT MERIP: Help us keep bringing the world critical coverage of the Middle East without paywalls by making a donation today!
buff.ly/Wrm3aPi
buff.ly/Wrm3aPi
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Here's the @visithmml.bsky.social webinar from yesterday. It was especially interesting on the process of moving digital images from the field to tagged, backed up, and usable MS facsimiles, and on details of the photographic process in the question period at the end. youtu.be/CXR18p1M1sc?...
Winter Lecture Series: Building a Digital Library
YouTube video by Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Here's the @visithmml.bsky.social webinar from yesterday. It was especially interesting on the process of moving digital images from the field to tagged, backed up, and usable MS facsimiles, and on details of the photographic process in the question period at the end. youtu.be/CXR18p1M1sc?...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Chloe is just mind-blowingly talented! Do check out her work. 🙂
What if my wrestler drawings suddenly became really popular
Right! Woo! You can’t see me! I’ve added these new old wrestler drawings to my wrestler drawings shop, because honestly why not. 🤼
Dusty Rhodes Transfigurations, Hayes and space, Cena and dog etc, Orton and Edge in brown ink. Ta for looking.
www.chloecumming.com/wrestlerdraw...
Dusty Rhodes Transfigurations, Hayes and space, Cena and dog etc, Orton and Edge in brown ink. Ta for looking.
www.chloecumming.com/wrestlerdraw...
January 29, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Chloe is just mind-blowingly talented! Do check out her work. 🙂
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
French senate adopts a bill to ease the return of colonial-era artifacts to their countries of origin
French senate adopts a bill to ease the return of colonial-era artifacts to their countries of origin
The new legislation aims to broaden the restitution of colonial-era assets, introducing clear criteria and a transparent process for handling requests from the countries involved.
www.lemonde.fr
January 29, 2026 at 1:39 AM
French senate adopts a bill to ease the return of colonial-era artifacts to their countries of origin
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Just 4 days left to apply! ⏰
Apply now for the CBRL Andrea Zerbini Award - funding of up to £4,000 to support research and travel to the Levant.
🗓 Deadline: 1 February 2026 (Midnight GMT)
🔗 More details: www.cbrl.ac.uk/news/cbrl-an...
Apply now for the CBRL Andrea Zerbini Award - funding of up to £4,000 to support research and travel to the Levant.
🗓 Deadline: 1 February 2026 (Midnight GMT)
🔗 More details: www.cbrl.ac.uk/news/cbrl-an...
January 28, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Just 4 days left to apply! ⏰
Apply now for the CBRL Andrea Zerbini Award - funding of up to £4,000 to support research and travel to the Levant.
🗓 Deadline: 1 February 2026 (Midnight GMT)
🔗 More details: www.cbrl.ac.uk/news/cbrl-an...
Apply now for the CBRL Andrea Zerbini Award - funding of up to £4,000 to support research and travel to the Levant.
🗓 Deadline: 1 February 2026 (Midnight GMT)
🔗 More details: www.cbrl.ac.uk/news/cbrl-an...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
Very excited about @marcowenjones.bsky.social presenting on "Dysinfluence: Transnational Deception Operations in the Middle East", Tuesday 3 February, 17:00-18:30 London time. For details and to register, please see
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Marc Owen Jones - Dysinfluence: Transnational Deception Operations in the Middle East
www.exeter.ac.uk
January 27, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Very excited about @marcowenjones.bsky.social presenting on "Dysinfluence: Transnational Deception Operations in the Middle East", Tuesday 3 February, 17:00-18:30 London time. For details and to register, please see
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
www.exeter.ac.uk/events/detai...
Reposted by James_AL_Downs
This is the last of the books I wrote for Unbound (and didn't get paid what I was owed for) to be republished by @swiftpress.bsky.social.
The new version can be pre-ordered here for April: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
The new version can be pre-ordered here for April: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
January 25, 2026 at 2:10 PM
This is the last of the books I wrote for Unbound (and didn't get paid what I was owed for) to be republished by @swiftpress.bsky.social.
The new version can be pre-ordered here for April: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
The new version can be pre-ordered here for April: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
I read a similar article on the militarisation of UK police dress a long time ago - late 1990s I think - that commented on the end of the soft chunky pullover phase and the introduction of combat trousers tucked into boots etc
I wrote something for Politico about the real issue with Greg Bovino's overcoat. IMO, it isn't about whether the overcoat is tied to any particular regime, but about how immigration enforcement has become increasingly warlike in terms of strategy, discourse, and dress. 🧵
January 25, 2026 at 2:16 PM
I read a similar article on the militarisation of UK police dress a long time ago - late 1990s I think - that commented on the end of the soft chunky pullover phase and the introduction of combat trousers tucked into boots etc
Surf up on Towan Beach this morning
January 25, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Surf up on Towan Beach this morning
O beato solitudine
January 23, 2026 at 8:02 PM
O beato solitudine
Passing through this part of Oxford so popped in to revisit this extraordinary and troubling cornucopia
January 22, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Passing through this part of Oxford so popped in to revisit this extraordinary and troubling cornucopia