Michael Shallcross
@michaelshallcross
Wrote a book about G.K. Chesterton and literary modernism. Now working in uni admin, but still doing research - see pinned thread for info on my current project, 'Inscribing Pandemonium'. Also posting about music, culture, politics, random nonsense.
I got the strap on my suitcase fixed by a leathersmith, and she gave me the section of newspaper that was used as padding in the original strap. It includes an advert for 'Rupert and the Wonderful Boots' by Mary Tourtel, first published in 1928.
#NowPlaying payday splurge on a classic Blur live set from 1995, reissued on vinyl in 2025. Fab versions of Great Escape album tracks like 'Fade Away', which never appeared in the set again after '95.
If you have to watch England lose a world cup semi-final, John Dwyer is a considerably better soundtrack than Alan Shearer.
At the Irish Centre in Leeds to see Osees. Promised the boy I'd try to avoid finding out the football score so he could tell me himself in the morning. Not looking good for keeping that promise...
G.K. Chesterton, 'How I Found the Superman' (1909) '"In connexion with hair like that one must speak in parables." "Well, what on earth is it," I asked in some irritation, "if it isn't hair? Is it feathers?" "Not feathers, as we understand feathers," answered Hagg in an awful voice.'
Thinking again about this remarkable 2024 Guardian interview with Starmer, which imo explains a lot about how he ended up here. A man with a genuinely pathological unwillingness to entertain the prospect of possessing an inner life.
Was reminded this morning of this curious question, posed by one particular academic publisher in their reader reports. Zero tolerance of sarcastic monographs!
Stained glass panel designed by my partner, inspired by 'Rock Bottom Riser' by Smog 🤩
Latest splendid stained glass designs by my partner - panels inspired by the Unthanks and the Afghan Whigs.
#NowPlaying new discogs purchase. My favourite David Pajo record - have loved this for years, but never knew it had a vinyl release until I thought to check the other day. All the songs are squeezed onto the first side, with an etched b-side.
#NowPlaying A good 8:35pm on a Tuesday during a heatwave record
Check out this fabulous poster my mother-in-law just discovered in her loft 🤩
Nevermind the Guardian list, how many of the 93 books cited at one time or another by Mark E. Smith have you read
Friday night in Scarborough "Woyzeck, you go through the world like an open razor"
Amazing exchange here, prompted by a poster saying that REM seem nice.
"the bastard offspring of Natasha Kinski and an irate squid." #FallFriday
8 years after I took this photo, just overheard Thomas in the bath shouting "Alexa, play Mr Pharmacist" A foolish thing to be proud of, and yet, and yet