Tobias Jones
@tobiasjones.bsky.social
Italy-based journalist & award-winnning writer: Ultra, The Po, Blood on the Altar, A Place of Refuge, The Dark Heart of Italy, Utopian Dreams etc. Carpenter, listener, teacher - always co-building communities (Windsor Hill Wood, Common Home etc.)
Anyone got a spare Everton ticket for the Chelsea game tomorrow? Will pay good, hard cash!
December 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Anyone got a spare Everton ticket for the Chelsea game tomorrow? Will pay good, hard cash!
An extraordinarily deep and moving essay:
"This texturelessness, and the filmy feeling it generates, is my synaesthetic reaction to something that, at the moment, remains uncanny: the knowledge that I am trying to parse meaning from something that, while grammatical, has no motivation to carry it."
"This texturelessness, and the filmy feeling it generates, is my synaesthetic reaction to something that, at the moment, remains uncanny: the knowledge that I am trying to parse meaning from something that, while grammatical, has no motivation to carry it."
I'm very proud of this essay and delighted one of my fave sites is hosting it. On language as the surface of a lake and how the advertiser's dream is to sever it from an ecology of meaning, how we resist this, and why we should absolutely feel okay shaming users of AI. lithub.com/on-the-rise-...
On the Rise of ChatGPT and the Industrialization of the Post-Meaning World
When you teach children to analyze, or appreciate, poetry, you get used to a certain complaint, that you’re making it up, that the writer did not give that much thought to choosing a colon over a c…
lithub.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
An extraordinarily deep and moving essay:
"This texturelessness, and the filmy feeling it generates, is my synaesthetic reaction to something that, at the moment, remains uncanny: the knowledge that I am trying to parse meaning from something that, while grammatical, has no motivation to carry it."
"This texturelessness, and the filmy feeling it generates, is my synaesthetic reaction to something that, at the moment, remains uncanny: the knowledge that I am trying to parse meaning from something that, while grammatical, has no motivation to carry it."
Parma Udinese. In posizione!
November 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Parma Udinese. In posizione!
Reposted by Tobias Jones
This is a story I’ve been wanting to write for ages. It’s about how a generation of fans have brought the ultra movement to Scotland, and what that says about fandom, connection and friendship in a world where so much of life is digital observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
‘It is an identity’: The march of the Scottish ultras | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is a story I’ve been wanting to write for ages. It’s about how a generation of fans have brought the ultra movement to Scotland, and what that says about fandom, connection and friendship in a world where so much of life is digital observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
Thinking about the burden and joy of writing about real people...
Do subscribe. It's free. Or you can buy me a cuppa if you fancy it. 🍵
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
Do subscribe. It's free. Or you can buy me a cuppa if you fancy it. 🍵
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
The Ethics of Writing about Real People
(it's not "befriend and betray")
tobiasjones.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Thinking about the burden and joy of writing about real people...
Do subscribe. It's free. Or you can buy me a cuppa if you fancy it. 🍵
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
Do subscribe. It's free. Or you can buy me a cuppa if you fancy it. 🍵
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
Making cappelletti (egg-free, meat-free and normal versions) for our Christmas lunch. The record to beat is 1,373. As usual, my only role is taster and washer-upper!
November 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Making cappelletti (egg-free, meat-free and normal versions) for our Christmas lunch. The record to beat is 1,373. As usual, my only role is taster and washer-upper!
How "the system" (gov, unis) screws up the hopes of its young:
Here the (rightly tough) exams to enter Italian medical schools were leaked and copied before exams began. All results might now be annulled.
Honesty and meritocracy still steep challenges here.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Here the (rightly tough) exams to enter Italian medical schools were leaked and copied before exams began. All results might now be annulled.
Honesty and meritocracy still steep challenges here.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Ministero: "Pronti a annullare esami medicina se confermate irregolarità"
Segnalate alla Conferenza dei rettori foto di prove circolate prima di diffusione ufficiale
www.rainews.it
November 21, 2025 at 8:34 AM
How "the system" (gov, unis) screws up the hopes of its young:
Here the (rightly tough) exams to enter Italian medical schools were leaked and copied before exams began. All results might now be annulled.
Honesty and meritocracy still steep challenges here.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Here the (rightly tough) exams to enter Italian medical schools were leaked and copied before exams began. All results might now be annulled.
Honesty and meritocracy still steep challenges here.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Upsets this w/e. Nigeria out. Hungary folded.
But Italy losing 1-4 at home to Norway was almost unsurprising. The Azzurri will prob. be OK against old foes Northerns Macedonia or Ireland, but they last won a WC group game in 2006. More despair than upset here.
www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazio...
But Italy losing 1-4 at home to Norway was almost unsurprising. The Azzurri will prob. be OK against old foes Northerns Macedonia or Ireland, but they last won a WC group game in 2006. More despair than upset here.
www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazio...
www.gazzetta.it
November 17, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Upsets this w/e. Nigeria out. Hungary folded.
But Italy losing 1-4 at home to Norway was almost unsurprising. The Azzurri will prob. be OK against old foes Northerns Macedonia or Ireland, but they last won a WC group game in 2006. More despair than upset here.
www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazio...
But Italy losing 1-4 at home to Norway was almost unsurprising. The Azzurri will prob. be OK against old foes Northerns Macedonia or Ireland, but they last won a WC group game in 2006. More despair than upset here.
www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazio...
Thinking about books and what we share and how...
[with thanks to Tom Gauld for allowing me to use his cartoon and thus showing how it's done]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/ex-libris
[with thanks to Tom Gauld for allowing me to use his cartoon and thus showing how it's done]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/ex-libris
Ex-Libris
Ownership and book socialism
tobiasjones.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Thinking about books and what we share and how...
[with thanks to Tom Gauld for allowing me to use his cartoon and thus showing how it's done]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/ex-libris
[with thanks to Tom Gauld for allowing me to use his cartoon and thus showing how it's done]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/ex-libris
Cyclists have better lives... and socks.
Canale di Burana.
Canale di Burana.
November 8, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Cyclists have better lives... and socks.
Canale di Burana.
Canale di Burana.
Train at Parma station. Now I've posted this I guess I never will get back to the US.
November 8, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Train at Parma station. Now I've posted this I guess I never will get back to the US.
Thinking about all the off-desk aspects of the writing life: walking, gardening and, especially, table tennis.
[good people, subscribe: it's free, it really won't overwhelm your inbox]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/manual-lab...
[good people, subscribe: it's free, it really won't overwhelm your inbox]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/manual-lab...
Manual Labour
What are you picking up when you're not putting down words?
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Thinking about all the off-desk aspects of the writing life: walking, gardening and, especially, table tennis.
[good people, subscribe: it's free, it really won't overwhelm your inbox]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/manual-lab...
[good people, subscribe: it's free, it really won't overwhelm your inbox]
tobiasjones.substack.com/p/manual-lab...
Doing the olive harvest. Hard work but always sociable & rewarding. [Not our land obvs, just helping friends.]
October 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Doing the olive harvest. Hard work but always sociable & rewarding. [Not our land obvs, just helping friends.]
Huge Palestinian flag at the Teatro Regio's Falstaff this evening.
October 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Huge Palestinian flag at the Teatro Regio's Falstaff this evening.
Back cycling along the Po* (aka. "Padus") The river in autumn is so mellow.
[*There's a great book called "The Po" in case you missed it... available in both English and Italian.]
[*There's a great book called "The Po" in case you missed it... available in both English and Italian.]
October 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Back cycling along the Po* (aka. "Padus") The river in autumn is so mellow.
[*There's a great book called "The Po" in case you missed it... available in both English and Italian.]
[*There's a great book called "The Po" in case you missed it... available in both English and Italian.]
The colours of autumn: the Christmas cake has to be prepared in early October and then be watered regularly with brandy!
October 8, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The colours of autumn: the Christmas cake has to be prepared in early October and then be watered regularly with brandy!
On the true crime beat in Rome.
October 6, 2025 at 8:29 AM
On the true crime beat in Rome.
Parma Lecce. In posizione.
October 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Parma Lecce. In posizione.
This story from Parma's lovely palazzo Tarasconi is hilarious: a Dali exhibition has 21 artworks confiscated, suspected of being counterfeits. Please, someone, commission me to do a long dive into wtf just happened!
www.gazzettadiparma.it/arte-e-cultu...
www.gazzettadiparma.it/arte-e-cultu...
Mostra di Salvador Dalí a Parma: sequestrate 21 opere ritenute false. Indagine dei carabinieri - Video
Mostra di Salvador Dalí a Parma: sequestrate 21 opere ritenute false. Indagine dei carabinieri: i dettagli e le dichiarazioni nel video del 12TgParma. [articlepreview id="896093" link="https://www.gaz...
www.gazzettadiparma.it
October 2, 2025 at 7:50 AM
This story from Parma's lovely palazzo Tarasconi is hilarious: a Dali exhibition has 21 artworks confiscated, suspected of being counterfeits. Please, someone, commission me to do a long dive into wtf just happened!
www.gazzettadiparma.it/arte-e-cultu...
www.gazzettadiparma.it/arte-e-cultu...
Parma v Torino. In posizione.
P need a first Serie A win of the season.
P need a first Serie A win of the season.
September 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Parma v Torino. In posizione.
P need a first Serie A win of the season.
P need a first Serie A win of the season.
Parma v Spezia (coppa italia)
In posizione
In posizione
September 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Parma v Spezia (coppa italia)
In posizione
In posizione
Very sad to hear that Claudia Cardinale has died. A sultry legend of Italian cinema. It always amazed me that Italian was only her fourth language, after Arabic, French and her parents' Sicilian dialect (she was born and raised in Tunisia).
Sit tibi terra levis.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Sit tibi terra levis.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
È morta Claudia Cardinale, aveva 87 anni
L'attrice era nella sua casa di Nemours, vicino a Parigi. Lavorò con Visconti, Fellini, Leone. Nel 1993 il Leone d'Oro alla carriera della Mostra del Cinema di Venezia
www.rainews.it
September 24, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Very sad to hear that Claudia Cardinale has died. A sultry legend of Italian cinema. It always amazed me that Italian was only her fourth language, after Arabic, French and her parents' Sicilian dialect (she was born and raised in Tunisia).
Sit tibi terra levis.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
Sit tibi terra levis.
www.rainews.it/articoli/202...