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 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
End of the Han dynasty
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
End of the Han dynasty
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Time to bet on Zack Polanski entering Parliament as MP for Holborn and St Pancras by the end of this year.
February 4, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Time to bet on Zack Polanski entering Parliament as MP for Holborn and St Pancras by the end of this year.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Term one: “democracy dies in darkness”
Term two: democracy dies in daylight!
Term two: democracy dies in daylight!
turns out when Bezos suggested "democracy dies in darkness" it was a goal, not a slogan
February 4, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Term one: “democracy dies in darkness”
Term two: democracy dies in daylight!
Term two: democracy dies in daylight!
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Folk art Ghanaian poster for 'Jurassic Park'. And a Polish one for 'One Million Years BC' follows.
#WyrdWednesday #dinosaurs #Jurassic #filmposters #monstermovies #folkart #Ghana #Poland
#WyrdWednesday #dinosaurs #Jurassic #filmposters #monstermovies #folkart #Ghana #Poland
February 4, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Folk art Ghanaian poster for 'Jurassic Park'. And a Polish one for 'One Million Years BC' follows.
#WyrdWednesday #dinosaurs #Jurassic #filmposters #monstermovies #folkart #Ghana #Poland
#WyrdWednesday #dinosaurs #Jurassic #filmposters #monstermovies #folkart #Ghana #Poland
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Especially moral cowardice.
February 4, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Especially moral cowardice.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The Ancillary Review of Books anti-billionaire promise:
February 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The Ancillary Review of Books anti-billionaire promise:
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
There is a new OST song out from #cdrama #TheTruth by #LiuYuning called #Glory #荣光
The drama is nothing for me but the song is really especially beautiful 😍
The drama is nothing for me but the song is really especially beautiful 😍
荣光 (Glory) - 刘宇宁( Liu Yuning)《风过留痕 The Truth》Chi/Eng/Pinyin lyrics
YouTube video by Peachey Blossom Backup Channel
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 3:46 PM
There is a new OST song out from #cdrama #TheTruth by #LiuYuning called #Glory #荣光
The drama is nothing for me but the song is really especially beautiful 😍
The drama is nothing for me but the song is really especially beautiful 😍
I'm watching the Humble Address debate in the Commons. It's a quality debate, and MPs are taking the issues seriously and in the round. One reason for that would be that the mood of the Tory and Labour benches is actually similar.
February 4, 2026 at 3:18 PM
I'm watching the Humble Address debate in the Commons. It's a quality debate, and MPs are taking the issues seriously and in the round. One reason for that would be that the mood of the Tory and Labour benches is actually similar.
It's right to say that Kemi asked searching questions in the right sequence and with the right tone at #PMQs. It's also interesting to observe that the word Starmer probably used most often was 'process'. That says it all about him, really.
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
It's right to say that Kemi asked searching questions in the right sequence and with the right tone at #PMQs. It's also interesting to observe that the word Starmer probably used most often was 'process'. That says it all about him, really.
It's looking more and more possible that the Epstein Files will bring about the fall of ... the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
It's looking more and more possible that the Epstein Files will bring about the fall of ... the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The Boy Briefers are hitting the wall. It's all over for them. Not a minute too soon. It actually should have happened before the election. If it had Starmer would not now be facing oblivion.
February 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
The Boy Briefers are hitting the wall. It's all over for them. Not a minute too soon. It actually should have happened before the election. If it had Starmer would not now be facing oblivion.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Genuinely, this is a better outcome than the formal process is likely to get us. Yuan is incredibly good and weirdly neglected.
As a former senior advisor to Sir Keir* it pains me to say this, but I think at the present time, our country would be better served by placing the names of every Labour MP in a tombola and picking a new PM at random.
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
February 4, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Genuinely, this is a better outcome than the formal process is likely to get us. Yuan is incredibly good and weirdly neglected.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
One thing about this debate is that it's a slew of Labour MP's who Starmer has spurned for one reason or another, almost all women, going in studs first.
Thornberry showing how good she is here.
Thornberry showing how good she is here.
February 4, 2026 at 2:10 PM
One thing about this debate is that it's a slew of Labour MP's who Starmer has spurned for one reason or another, almost all women, going in studs first.
Thornberry showing how good she is here.
Thornberry showing how good she is here.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
This is good! Shame as a device is still working in the UK. I am reminded of Boris Johnson and those COVID parties. Accountability is a good thing and signifies a healthier political system however much the the US/UK comparisons abound.
This is preying on my mind a bit. Jeffrey Epstein was not primarily a British scandal! So far we've removed a Prince from the Royal family, fired our US ambassador who was one of the most important political figures of the last few decades and banned the CEO of Barclays from the financial industry..
One by one, Europeans mentioned in the Epstein files who still hold political office are beginning to resign or are being forced out of office.
Meanwhile, ruled by an administration almost entirely made up of Epstein associates, the US carries on as if nothing really happened.
Meanwhile, ruled by an administration almost entirely made up of Epstein associates, the US carries on as if nothing really happened.
February 4, 2026 at 2:24 PM
This is good! Shame as a device is still working in the UK. I am reminded of Boris Johnson and those COVID parties. Accountability is a good thing and signifies a healthier political system however much the the US/UK comparisons abound.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
If Starmer does fall, Labour will have one chance to reset. It will have to make the right, decisive calls on leadership and direction.
February 4, 2026 at 2:26 PM
If Starmer does fall, Labour will have one chance to reset. It will have to make the right, decisive calls on leadership and direction.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Not enough oof in the world for this.
It is worth recalling that the position of U.K. Ambassador to the US was not vacant at the time the Prime Minister chose to appoint Peter Mandelson to the role. A highly competent and respected woman was replaced.
February 4, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Not enough oof in the world for this.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Looks like Starmer has completely lost control over the PLP.
Many quite explicitly calling out the Government for not going far enough, and demanding that the ISC see all files relating to Mandleson.
Many quite explicitly calling out the Government for not going far enough, and demanding that the ISC see all files relating to Mandleson.
February 4, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Looks like Starmer has completely lost control over the PLP.
Many quite explicitly calling out the Government for not going far enough, and demanding that the ISC see all files relating to Mandleson.
Many quite explicitly calling out the Government for not going far enough, and demanding that the ISC see all files relating to Mandleson.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
As a former senior advisor to Sir Keir* it pains me to say this, but I think at the present time, our country would be better served by placing the names of every Labour MP in a tombola and picking a new PM at random.
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
February 4, 2026 at 2:43 PM
As a former senior advisor to Sir Keir* it pains me to say this, but I think at the present time, our country would be better served by placing the names of every Labour MP in a tombola and picking a new PM at random.
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
I tried it and got Yuan Yang.
*before he became unpopular
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
As good a time as any to repost my article from September on the *Very Clever* people in the government. For a group of people who think that they are smarter than everyone else Morgan McSweeney and co have a lengthy track record of fouling things up.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Why the 'very clever' people in Starmer's inner circle are on a collision course with Labour MPs
Labour MPs treated with contempt by Keir Starmer’s inner circle appear to be about to snap, if the mutterings in parliament are anything to go by
www.scotsman.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:44 PM
As good a time as any to repost my article from September on the *Very Clever* people in the government. For a group of people who think that they are smarter than everyone else Morgan McSweeney and co have a lengthy track record of fouling things up.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Absolutely stark raving mad.
Keir Starmer: "Morgan McSweeney is an essential part of my team. He helped me change the Labour Party and win the election. Of course I have confidence in him."
February 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Absolutely stark raving mad.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The former Prince Andrew is now fair game for discussion in the House of Commons, Mr Speaker has just said.
February 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The former Prince Andrew is now fair game for discussion in the House of Commons, Mr Speaker has just said.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The vibes they are a'changin' bsky.app/profile/rmcu...
The tone of this debate about releasing the Mandelson info is really fascinating. It's become a matter on the sovereignty of parliament itself. Owen Patterson has been mentioned. And Labour MPs are standing firm against the government.
Starting to really wonder how Starmer gets through this
Starting to really wonder how Starmer gets through this
February 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The vibes they are a'changin' bsky.app/profile/rmcu...
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I'd echo this. The mood in the last couple of hours has got *extremely* dark.
I have never seen anger like this on the Labour benches in private and in public. This is the kind of territory where things can move very fast.
February 4, 2026 at 2:11 PM
I'd echo this. The mood in the last couple of hours has got *extremely* dark.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I keep thinking about this!!
The maddening thing about this is that they're utterly wrong. You actually CAN pick and choose. You can decide that the job is not worth it to you if it requires you to ignore your principles, and proceed accordingly. A lot of people in this job do that. You do that! I do that!
February 4, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I keep thinking about this!!