Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
@ajaanmark.bsky.social
From Australia, have also spent time in Malaysia and Thailand.
Sociologist, educator, flaneur, SFF appreciator
Starting a new Linguistics research project in intercultural pragmatics
Interested in Asia things and languages. Also: Buddhism.
He/Him
Sociologist, educator, flaneur, SFF appreciator
Starting a new Linguistics research project in intercultural pragmatics
Interested in Asia things and languages. Also: Buddhism.
He/Him
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Trump’s gutter racism reminded me of how the Clintons abetted his rise in 2016 because they thought he’d be easy to beat, and how all the way in 2008 they also flirted with releasing racist anti-Obama memes. What is Clintonesque about Trump, and what was Trumpian about the Clintons?
February 6, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Trump’s gutter racism reminded me of how the Clintons abetted his rise in 2016 because they thought he’d be easy to beat, and how all the way in 2008 they also flirted with releasing racist anti-Obama memes. What is Clintonesque about Trump, and what was Trumpian about the Clintons?
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
You do occasionally realise how Yvette managed to lose to both Corbyn and 2015 Andy Burnham.
Home Secretary confirms that the UK government did not formally trigger the break clause in the asylum seeker relocation treaty with Rwanda until Dec 2025. (Rwanda says that delay means the UK owes £100m in payments due under the treaty).
February 6, 2026 at 3:28 PM
You do occasionally realise how Yvette managed to lose to both Corbyn and 2015 Andy Burnham.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I love how Liz Truss has recognised her thankfully short stint as UK Prime Minister is below running some dodgy YouTube channel.
February 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
I love how Liz Truss has recognised her thankfully short stint as UK Prime Minister is below running some dodgy YouTube channel.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
www.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Not to take away from a really important story, but what is important about it is tells is what the US new national security strategy means in practice:
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I love the sculpture of Hodge, Samuel Johnson's cat, in Gough Square. He's shown contemplating an oyster.
But I guess Ozzy would have to have two vast and trunkless legs of stone.
But I guess Ozzy would have to have two vast and trunkless legs of stone.
February 6, 2026 at 2:58 PM
I love the sculpture of Hodge, Samuel Johnson's cat, in Gough Square. He's shown contemplating an oyster.
But I guess Ozzy would have to have two vast and trunkless legs of stone.
But I guess Ozzy would have to have two vast and trunkless legs of stone.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Look, Book VII of Caesar's Gallic Wars is pretty epic. The Battle of Alesia, especially. So it is nice to see a freely downloadable commentary (in three parts) and vocab for teaching Book VII to students. pixeliapublishing.org/book/alesia/
February 6, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Look, Book VII of Caesar's Gallic Wars is pretty epic. The Battle of Alesia, especially. So it is nice to see a freely downloadable commentary (in three parts) and vocab for teaching Book VII to students. pixeliapublishing.org/book/alesia/
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
You always have the backstop of the guillotine manufacturing based economic recovery.
February 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
You always have the backstop of the guillotine manufacturing based economic recovery.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
This myth making around Starmer "the decent man" has got to end! He knew exactly what he was doing appointing Mandelson and the line he was just badly advised isn't working we don't believe it!
February 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
This myth making around Starmer "the decent man" has got to end! He knew exactly what he was doing appointing Mandelson and the line he was just badly advised isn't working we don't believe it!
Farcical.
Labour MPs & party insiders tell me they’ve never seen Keir Starmer so angry as over Mandelson’s lies about Epstein links.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
February 6, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Farcical.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
youtu.be/Xtt78SW-mgg?...
for your Friday, a Latin cover of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
for your Friday, a Latin cover of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Everybody wants to rule the world cover in Classical Latin (SOFTBARDCORE)
YouTube video by the_miracle_aligner
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 2:13 PM
youtu.be/Xtt78SW-mgg?...
for your Friday, a Latin cover of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
for your Friday, a Latin cover of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Cover reveal for the paperback (and hopefully more affordable) edition of ‘Paganism Persisting’ (co-authored with @robincdouglas.bsky.social) which releases on 21 April with @uexeterpress.bsky.social. I'm especially pleased with the Lithuanian cover image 😉 www.exeterpress.co.uk/products/pag... 📚
February 6, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Cover reveal for the paperback (and hopefully more affordable) edition of ‘Paganism Persisting’ (co-authored with @robincdouglas.bsky.social) which releases on 21 April with @uexeterpress.bsky.social. I'm especially pleased with the Lithuanian cover image 😉 www.exeterpress.co.uk/products/pag... 📚
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Vladimir: He may not do things by the book...
Estragon: But he gets results?
Vladimir: No.
Estragon: But he gets results?
Vladimir: No.
February 6, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Vladimir: He may not do things by the book...
Estragon: But he gets results?
Vladimir: No.
Estragon: But he gets results?
Vladimir: No.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
There’s a lot of really bad Lobby correspondent style writing on Starmer at the moment.
Passive tense, vague unsourced statements, lots of talk about him being a “decent” man
This explains why we’re in the mess we are.
Terrible soap opera client journalism.
Passive tense, vague unsourced statements, lots of talk about him being a “decent” man
This explains why we’re in the mess we are.
Terrible soap opera client journalism.
February 6, 2026 at 2:39 PM
There’s a lot of really bad Lobby correspondent style writing on Starmer at the moment.
Passive tense, vague unsourced statements, lots of talk about him being a “decent” man
This explains why we’re in the mess we are.
Terrible soap opera client journalism.
Passive tense, vague unsourced statements, lots of talk about him being a “decent” man
This explains why we’re in the mess we are.
Terrible soap opera client journalism.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Latin sentence of the day:
"Towards the end of the party, some, with a drunken heaving, were throwing up their whole dessert; while others, unable even to go home due to the sluggishness of their step, torn away from the punch bowls, were lying down on my bed."
Benningh's Satyricon, early 17th c.
"Towards the end of the party, some, with a drunken heaving, were throwing up their whole dessert; while others, unable even to go home due to the sluggishness of their step, torn away from the punch bowls, were lying down on my bed."
Benningh's Satyricon, early 17th c.
February 6, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Latin sentence of the day:
"Towards the end of the party, some, with a drunken heaving, were throwing up their whole dessert; while others, unable even to go home due to the sluggishness of their step, torn away from the punch bowls, were lying down on my bed."
Benningh's Satyricon, early 17th c.
"Towards the end of the party, some, with a drunken heaving, were throwing up their whole dessert; while others, unable even to go home due to the sluggishness of their step, torn away from the punch bowls, were lying down on my bed."
Benningh's Satyricon, early 17th c.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Iran has learned the lessons from Russia, dragging out talks to interminable lengths while Trump and his dimwitted envoy Steve Witkoff think there’s a deal in sight.
February 6, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Iran has learned the lessons from Russia, dragging out talks to interminable lengths while Trump and his dimwitted envoy Steve Witkoff think there’s a deal in sight.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
It's also silly - Starmer is gone one way or another come the local elections; this isn't *why* he's gone, it's just another straw on a "beleaguered" camel's back lol.
February 6, 2026 at 2:20 PM
It's also silly - Starmer is gone one way or another come the local elections; this isn't *why* he's gone, it's just another straw on a "beleaguered" camel's back lol.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Keir Starmer is unable to turn his government around, which is a hard task, but also his job.
So far, Labour MPs have been unable to either turn Starmer around or kick him out. That’s also a hard task (made harder by the Labour rule book), but it’s their job, too.
So far, Labour MPs have been unable to either turn Starmer around or kick him out. That’s also a hard task (made harder by the Labour rule book), but it’s their job, too.
February 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Keir Starmer is unable to turn his government around, which is a hard task, but also his job.
So far, Labour MPs have been unable to either turn Starmer around or kick him out. That’s also a hard task (made harder by the Labour rule book), but it’s their job, too.
So far, Labour MPs have been unable to either turn Starmer around or kick him out. That’s also a hard task (made harder by the Labour rule book), but it’s their job, too.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
"Plumes make me feel safer when traveling."
February 6, 2026 at 1:50 PM
"Plumes make me feel safer when traveling."
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Seen on my walk today…
February 6, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Seen on my walk today…
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
This is a really good formulation of the problem a society allowing people to become wealthy and powerful enough to make themselves everybody's problem:
Sociologist C. Wright Mills saw this coming—and tried to warn us—60+ years ago.
jacobin.com/2026/02/wrig...
jacobin.com/2026/02/wrig...
February 6, 2026 at 1:55 PM
This is a really good formulation of the problem a society allowing people to become wealthy and powerful enough to make themselves everybody's problem:
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
He was DPP for pity’s sake!
He is not some cow for magic beans swapping naïf.
He made a series of bad decisions which led him to this place.
99% of people he prosecuted could say the same about their own situation.
Life is unfair. But this is down to you, mate.
He is not some cow for magic beans swapping naïf.
He made a series of bad decisions which led him to this place.
99% of people he prosecuted could say the same about their own situation.
Life is unfair. But this is down to you, mate.
Labour MPs & party insiders tell me they’ve never seen Keir Starmer so angry as over Mandelson’s lies about Epstein links.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
But those who know him well say that anger has now turned inwards. That Starmer is, above all else, a man of public service, and will be grappling with his conscious this w/e.
February 6, 2026 at 1:55 PM
He was DPP for pity’s sake!
He is not some cow for magic beans swapping naïf.
He made a series of bad decisions which led him to this place.
99% of people he prosecuted could say the same about their own situation.
Life is unfair. But this is down to you, mate.
He is not some cow for magic beans swapping naïf.
He made a series of bad decisions which led him to this place.
99% of people he prosecuted could say the same about their own situation.
Life is unfair. But this is down to you, mate.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
What makes this arguably the best recorded version of Tchaikovsky's 6th isn't just the volcanic climaxes, the beautiful rhapsodizing, or the perfect sound quality and acoustics--but above all the phrasing, which is always full of meaning.
What a masterpiece, and really points the way to Mahler.
What a masterpiece, and really points the way to Mahler.
February 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
What makes this arguably the best recorded version of Tchaikovsky's 6th isn't just the volcanic climaxes, the beautiful rhapsodizing, or the perfect sound quality and acoustics--but above all the phrasing, which is always full of meaning.
What a masterpiece, and really points the way to Mahler.
What a masterpiece, and really points the way to Mahler.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Genuinely, truly, do not think it’s his fault, but I swear Will Stancil has become the Thanos of the internet.
Open Bluesky: Will Stancil. Group chat: Will Stancil discourse. Podcast: Will Stancil discourse. Newspaper: Will Stancil interview (or an op-ed about him).
He is…inevitable.
Open Bluesky: Will Stancil. Group chat: Will Stancil discourse. Podcast: Will Stancil discourse. Newspaper: Will Stancil interview (or an op-ed about him).
He is…inevitable.
February 6, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Genuinely, truly, do not think it’s his fault, but I swear Will Stancil has become the Thanos of the internet.
Open Bluesky: Will Stancil. Group chat: Will Stancil discourse. Podcast: Will Stancil discourse. Newspaper: Will Stancil interview (or an op-ed about him).
He is…inevitable.
Open Bluesky: Will Stancil. Group chat: Will Stancil discourse. Podcast: Will Stancil discourse. Newspaper: Will Stancil interview (or an op-ed about him).
He is…inevitable.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Drop some cats 😻
Adding a clip with the 3 leads of #cdrama #MoonlitReunion
#XuKai #TianXiwei and the cat 🐈 😻 not very lucky despite in Xu Kai's arms...
Adding a clip with the 3 leads of #cdrama #MoonlitReunion
#XuKai #TianXiwei and the cat 🐈 😻 not very lucky despite in Xu Kai's arms...
February 6, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Drop some cats 😻
Adding a clip with the 3 leads of #cdrama #MoonlitReunion
#XuKai #TianXiwei and the cat 🐈 😻 not very lucky despite in Xu Kai's arms...
Adding a clip with the 3 leads of #cdrama #MoonlitReunion
#XuKai #TianXiwei and the cat 🐈 😻 not very lucky despite in Xu Kai's arms...