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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale
@robdale.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1K following 990 posts
Historian of Russia and the Soviet Union. Cyclist, marathon runner, train traveller. Based in Newcastle and York.
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1h
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...
Understanding Post-Soviet Tyranny, in Order to Fight It
www.nytimes.com
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1h
Congratulations.
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 19h
I sat in an extremely comfy office chair today. Wish I had thought to look at the model, not that I could probably afford one.
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 23h
on.ft.com/4h0iJHK
Mapping the shifting mental boundaries of Europe
Two books look at how so much central and eastern Europe identity has long been defined by an animosity to Moscow
on.ft.com
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
Just made a complete fool of myself thinking the seats I normally sit in the cafe outside the Brotherton Library were ok to sit in. Apparently, I haven't noticed they were being used as a kind of pop up IT helpdesk. Just thought people were working on their laptops.
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
Back in one of my happy places today. The Brotherton in Leeds. SCONUL is a wonderful thing!
The Brotherton Library Done at the University of Leeds. The Brotherton Library Leeds.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
World Mental Health Day - As Jerry Springer used to say "Take care of yourself, and each other."
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
🙏🏼
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
Yes, in 1945 and 1948. In 1948 I think the nominee was a Prof from Charles University in Prague, which is even harder to fathom.
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
Yes, but Stalin was nominated twice, which is often a mind-bending fact for undergraduates.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d
This can't be far from where my Mum lives.
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
I see the point, but when the job is created doesn't that money just come from somewhere else in the public budget?
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
(D) How does this create economic growth? Doesn't it just juggle where disposable money in the economy is being spent? Can an economist explain?
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
(B) If the restaurant stays open later, ok I might have another pint of Tetley's there, but otherwise I might have just had that at the pub nextdoor. (C) Pubs and restaurants are often shutting early because they can't pay staff for long hours. How will stay open longer 🧵 continues
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
Again, I need an economist to explain: www.theguardian.com/business/202... How does extending licences boost economic growth? Isn't this increasingly desperate? (A) If I stay on in the pub and spend £20 more on mild, isn't that just £20 I don't spend on the weekly shop? 🧵
Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth
Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help ailing hospitality sector but health experts criticise plans
www.theguardian.com
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
The endless attacks on the humanities in the UK are so short sighted. Reading books is a joy, and a life well spent. The one thing that got me through some very dull jobs in the years between BA, MA and PhD was reading on the bus or train to and from work, and in the evenings.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
Also isn't it an indictment of our society that a career in nursing, or care, or retail, or working in a cafe, or cleaning etc. aren't also valued and don't allow people to carve out a secure life.
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robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d
Surely the prob isn't arts+hums but the lack of good jobs. If everyone has brilliant maths + a science, I don't think it will create lots of high paying jobs. Isn't it more likely to lower pay in the sector? We understand not everyone can play pro footie similarly only so many biotech jobs.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d
I think our whole staff network runs on W10 still. I assume a deal has been done to get a year of extra security support. There isn't much money around so perhaps explains it.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d
One thing I think universities in the UK, and the humanities even more so, will have to soon confront is a deep seam of anti-intellectualism in British public life.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d
Agreed. Such a narrow conception of what education is about. Reducing things to assessment and future earnings.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d
Work machine still running W10, and for the foreseeable. Upgraded home machine last week.
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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d
I've got a trip to Birmingham booked into the diary, which I am really looking forward to!
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 4d
Robert Generic has a first class history degree!
robdale.bsky.social
Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 4d
I found The World at One pretty unacceptable today. Discovering a hidden network of judges (which as a historian of Stalinism sounds like tearing off the mask of the hidden internal enemy) was rushed over, ignoring how Jenrick is riding roughshod over how the system works .