Morning walk around the Los Angeles reservoir. It ain’t Hampstead Heath, but it’ll have to do.
Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
Medieval historian interested in other stuff
Just returned to America after an absence of slightly more than two years. Anything interesting happen while I was away?
Just returned to America after an absence of slightly more than two years. Anything interesting happen while I was away?
These two pictures ended up together in my photo library, one the iconic shot of William Holden floating in a swimming pool in Sunset Boulevard, the other of David Bowie seeming to float in space from the “You’re Not Alone” show at the Lightroom in London. Bowie would’ve appreciated the serendipity
On leaving England, I shall miss terribly my friends in the Egyptian goose community
'I'm an atheist, so I will have a humanist funeral... 'I want to come into "Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince, and disappear to Cocktails For Two by Spike Jones. 'My ashes can be scattered on Hampstead Heath. I love it there.’ humanists.uk/2026/07/29/b...
Bill Oddie OBE (1941–2026): ‘I’m an atheist, so I will have a humanist funeral’
Humanists UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of the naturalist, broadcaster, and humanist Bill Oddie OBE, who has died at the age of 85. He told a journalist in 2012: ‘I'm an atheist, so I wi...
humanists.uk
Humanists UK@humanists.uk · last wk.Bill Oddie has died aged 85. We'll certainly be thinking of this quote today. #Humanist #Nature #Birdwatching #Humanists #HumanistsUK #BillOddie
I can’t decide if the view from our back deck is more Charles Dickens or Mary Poppins. Maybe there’s no difference.
Autocorrect maliciously changed the name of legendary biblical scholar Andre Wilmart into Andre Walmart. These days.
Autocorrect maliciously changed the name of legendary biblical scholar Andre Wilmart into Andre Walmart. These days.
This is the version I read, checked out from the Cushing, Oklahoma,, Public Library.
Stori3d Past@stori3dpast.bsky.social · 2w agoCheck out this beauty I picked up. A 1969 LOTR box set (5/4/4 imprints) by Houghton-Mifflin. Not the usual cheap book-of-the-month but proper publishers' set. 2nd Ed Houghton-Mifflins tend to be more sought-after than 2nd ed Allen & Unwin, largely on the beauty of the packaging & dustjackets.
Yes, visited Greenwich and the Cutty Sark today. Fitting in tourist things while there’s still time
Jay Rubenstein@medievaljay.bsky.social · 2w agoSpotted today on the mid-deck of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Argentinian fans not letting it go.
Spotted today on the mid-deck of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Argentinian fans not letting it go.
Spotted in London yesterday. This was popular graffiti when I was in first grade. 53 years later still getting laughs, I guess?
A fallen tree, a raven, a tangle of shadow, I’ll miss my morning walks on the Heath.
One of the best crusade scholars working today, Thomas Smith.
History Rage Podcast@historyrage.bsky.social · 2w ago🚨 BONUS EPISODE🚨 ⚔️ One of history's greatest military campaigns has been almost forgotten. Thomas Smith explains why it's time the Fifth Crusade reclaimed its place in history. 🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/44935c #History #Crusades 📜 @yalebooks.bsky.social
I received wonderful, generous emails from Albert Drrolez. Wish we could have met in person. Superb scholar and colleague
Steven Van Impe@svanimpe.bsky.social · 3w agoSad news I've only just heard: Albert Derolez has left us. He was 91, and one of the foremost palaeographers and codicologists in the world.
“The Star Wars”
Michael Warburton@michaelwarburton.bsky.social · 3w ago“Truly a film for children of all ages.” In 1975 while employed at United Artists as the first female VP at that or any other studio, Marcia Nasatir read an unusual story at the request of UA production chief Mike Medavoy who was seeking an interesting sci-fi project. #StarWars
Despite the number of aches and pains that have come to characterize my everyday existence, I am still having a hard time accepting the reality that I am now eligible for many senior discounts.
This, in particular. Increasingly of the view that government policy towards universities is the test case of whether it really has a wider economic policy.
Jonathan Portes@jdportes.bsky.social · 3w ago"A closed country will be poorer. A country that underinvests will not grow. A state that refuses to reform tax will ration ambition. And a Labour government afraid to say these things will discover once again that caution, too, has costs." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
One of the striking things seeing the Melisende Psalter in person is how much the gold letters glitter. This is a page from a litany -- a long list of saints' names. Some names are written in gold, so when read the page, those names sparkle. In the high-res PDF, they are all a dull brown.
Jay Rubenstein@medievaljay.bsky.social · 3w agoSo I spent the afternoon with British Library Manuscript Egerton 1139, a.k.a., the Melisende Psalter. I have thoughts. Mainly, I wish I had a week with it.
So I spent the afternoon with British Library Manuscript Egerton 1139, a.k.a., the Melisende Psalter. I have thoughts. Mainly, I wish I had a week with it.
One of the striking things seeing the Melisende Psalter in person is how much the gold letters glitter. This is a page from a litany -- a long list of saints' names. Some names are written in gold, so when read the page, those names sparkle. In the high-res PDF, they are all a dull brown.
Jay Rubenstein@medievaljay.bsky.social · 3w agoSo I spent the afternoon with British Library Manuscript Egerton 1139, a.k.a., the Melisende Psalter. I have thoughts. Mainly, I wish I had a week with it.
It has been blessedly windy at night in London. Though, as a side effect, it led to technical difficulties on my morning walk.
