Welcome to the Leverhulme Library, where we showcase recently published books from researchers the Trust has funded. This month we have Tanja Bastia, Kristen Bluemel, @lauriestras.bsky.social @awickenden.bsky.social and @mjewitt.bsky.social.

All together now… in solidarity foreverz, babes 💪 happy May 1, everyone! youtu.be/VRwr5R8T7eY

It’s 2326 on a Thursday night and of course I had to dig out my Capelli because something was bugging me. #earlymodern

The BBC News homepage has now COMPLETELY removed its Climate section?! It has now been relegated to a sub-menu via the "More" button in the right-hand corner.

Just got the best scam email in work its claiming to be from the gardaí about a criminal investigation but is written like a letter from the leprechaun in Darby o gill and the little people I have printed it out

He's just so ... old. I mean, he's also a war criminal and all around horror show of a human being, but this is just peak "back in my day, we didn't have anxiety and depression" Grandpa Simpson behaviour. Stop. Asking. Tony. Blair. For his opinion. On ANYTHING. (for hell's sake)

Since it is #WorldTapirDay, and they are so brilliant, here’s a link to the official advice on keeping tapir in Northern Ireland, which is one of the best leaflets that there is.

People like small manageable reforms, but things will only improve with big radical measures. The power of government over the House of Commons and whips over MPs should be significantly reduced. MPs have to be constitutionally de-infantalised.

A good summary why UK HE has ended up in such a mess. I’d also add the growth of a managerial layer who refuse to take any responsibility for things they are responsible for; fall in available research funding, which wastes huge amounts of labour; and the pointless hamster wheel of REF! 🫠

Love this essay as a way to start the weekend www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-le...

#Nuntastic + rabbits

If you want to contribute to the Trans Unity Quilt and missed out here's your chance, it's going to be very powerful and is oddly therapeutic decorating the patch. @transunityquilt.bsky.social for more info

“What are you in for?” “Felony bralessness”

UK HE, everyone. Will Labour ever acknowledge this crisis?

Thinking this has the requisite features from all three panels, especially tritones with a muffled Pang of Foreboding youtu.be/KJsvMYfVZ3I

This feels personal. Also perfect. #nuntastic

Constantly reminded of this Ted Chiang passage on capitalism, technology and progress from the New Yorker whenever I see the tech “elite” snowflaking about criticism.

The live Europa Q&A with archaeologist @aalekas.bsky.social. And what a corker it was! We went from immigration policy, operatic deaths, and immaculate conception, to ancient tax havens, property theft, and flying penises. 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/2W8X... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

REJOIN "is the rational and the patriotic approach," Neil Kinnock says at the launch of @bestforbritain.org's new report. "In an era of Trump's tariffs and tantrums, colossal Chinese advance, Russia's war on the West, and turmoil in the Middle East, our 'special relationship' has to be with Europe."

Vance keeps making it clear that he was taught to understand Catholicism as a set of loopholes and get-out-of-Hell-free clauses, which oddly is the very caricature that people used to cite to oppress and exclude Catholics in America. Now it's "Humble fidelity? No, arrogant casuistry!"

BBC News is going very hard on its investigation into advisers who help people ‘fake’ asylum claims, focusing especially on people who falsely claim to be gay. But it doesn’t say what percentage of claims are made on the basis of sexuality. As of 2023 — the last available figures — it was 3%.

Women make up half of this world and The Cleveland Orchestra spared 30 minutes combined across 23 concert programs in Severance for pieces written by women.

Trump. Camp and evil. Antichrist Liberace. Act Five is coming.

Of the many things I didn't expect to live to see, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America working together to end capitalism may be the least expected. arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-end-of...

Electronic music concert in grad school featuring music for Disklavier (player piano); at the end of a contemplative work, nobody was at the piano but it spontaneously burst out in “Surrey With A Fringe On Top” from “Oklahoma!”. Later in the same show, the fire alarm went off.

Yet another example of the shameless dishonesty of framing anti-trans campaigners as pro women's safety campaigners. There are no trans women in NI women's jails. There are, however, men and women held together in Larne House immigration detention centre. Not a peep from this lot about that.

A great moment to remember why Scruton's FT column came to an abrupt end.

anyone teaching L’Arianna - esp if you are using the last chapter of my Ferrara book - please get your students to listen to this!! Women on the water’s edge, indeed

Forgot Alt text. Feminist killjoy cake!

It's mostly loud bigots with a lot of money behind them. I can't overestimate the point to which there is capital-m Money behind the anti-trans lobby. People have paid employment in being anti-trans. It's no wonder they have the time and capability for lawfare, media work, etc.

Like, I'm a legal expert in precisely this area, but if I want to give a talk, write a press release, write a political brief, submit to a consultation, do media work, intervene in a court case, or any of that, I have to do it outside my 9-5. Sex Matters have a person on staff to do those things.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE PARTNERS WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD ON TOUR AMID ‘LIFE & DEATH’ FIGHT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS Welch says that reproductive healthcare is being "relentlessly attacked."

Still my favourite cover youtu.be/dWUa7aAIfLE

Yep. If anything the billionaires are making it worse.

Indentured labourers typically had shorter periods of indenture than this in the 19-th century British empire.

Bad vibes. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog looking at how discussion of Brexit and the reset is still saturated with dishonesty, and the latest episodes in the 'vibe politics' that have embedded that dishonesty in British politics: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/bad-...

Could not love this more! Qua! And thank you @emilyscartoons.bsky.social

Do you ever fantasize about shooting yourself into space to escape the Sisyphean menace of email? Well, BAD NEWS

MORE OF THIS 👇🏻 New York City’s public hospital system announced that it would not be renewing its contract with Palantir as controversy mounts in the UK over the data analytics and AI firm’s government contract

If you’re an overthinker & find it difficult to unlatch the burdensome thoughts there’s one thing I found the works more than meditation, breathing & other things. That’s humming. Sing or hum a song or a tune. Impossible for worrying thoughts to maintain their possession of you while humming.

An “adult content” label for the cover of an academic book on eroticism in early modern music? Announcing the death of an internationally admired scholar? @moderation.bsky.app seriously tho, SERIOUSLY Yeet your AI into the sun please

An “adult content” label for the cover of an academic book on eroticism in early modern music? Announcing the death of an internationally admired scholar? @moderation.bsky.app seriously tho, SERIOUSLY Yeet your AI into the sun please

Still reeling from the news of the death oh Bonnie Blackburn, FBA. She was the kindest, smartest, most generous scholar I’ve ever known; she fought my corner from the time we first met 33 years ago; she made everything I’ve ever written about early modern music better. I cannot process our loss.

Been crafting today with @vidda.bsky.social for @transunityquilt.bsky.social Stage one complete !

Your AI joke blends atmosphere, tension, and character in a way that feels quietly addictive. It seamlessly balances tone across genres without losing narrative control. Your ability to blend tension, romance, and seduction in a joke format really stands out.

Amarilli mia bella #TinyJoys

This will only interrupt your scrolling for a few seconds. Just do it, please?

Make your Monday morning better. Lovely writing about the GOAT

Palantir CEO promises that his technology will reduce educated women's economic and political power newrepublic.com/post/207693/...