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 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Here’s @kenlmathis.bsky.social’s final update ahead of Thailand’s general election on Sunday.
“2026 Election: Closing Thoughts” www.coffeeparliament.com/p/2026-elect...
“2026 Election: Closing Thoughts” www.coffeeparliament.com/p/2026-elect...
2026 Election: Closing Thoughts
An ambiguous election
www.coffeeparliament.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Here’s @kenlmathis.bsky.social’s final update ahead of Thailand’s general election on Sunday.
“2026 Election: Closing Thoughts” www.coffeeparliament.com/p/2026-elect...
“2026 Election: Closing Thoughts” www.coffeeparliament.com/p/2026-elect...
This is the woman who launched a meme simply by appearing on a podcast!
February 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
This is the woman who launched a meme simply by appearing on a podcast!
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
look the man was born in the 15th century and came to the UK in the 1890s, it's remarkable enough he learned English.
reading a bunch of emails from dracula with the subject line "re: bood" body text "nd more thalls 4 blod" and being like "did he disable spell check, how is he even sending these out like this"
February 5, 2026 at 9:06 AM
look the man was born in the 15th century and came to the UK in the 1890s, it's remarkable enough he learned English.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Always a pleasure to appear on this podcast.
We talked about Mandelson and consequences, of course, but also had a meaty chat about upcoming special needs reforms. And Ancient Greece.
We talked about Mandelson and consequences, of course, but also had a meaty chat about upcoming special needs reforms. And Ancient Greece.
🔥 NEW: Binfire of the Vanities
👿 Mandelson: Beyond the schadenfreude
🎒 Education: What next for SEND policy?
🏺 Plus a very Homeric Wokey Dokey
@sturdyalex.bsky.social, @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/61di...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
👿 Mandelson: Beyond the schadenfreude
🎒 Education: What next for SEND policy?
🏺 Plus a very Homeric Wokey Dokey
@sturdyalex.bsky.social, @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/61di...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Binfire of the Vanities
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 05/02/2026 · 1h 12m
podcasts.apple.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Always a pleasure to appear on this podcast.
We talked about Mandelson and consequences, of course, but also had a meaty chat about upcoming special needs reforms. And Ancient Greece.
We talked about Mandelson and consequences, of course, but also had a meaty chat about upcoming special needs reforms. And Ancient Greece.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Wondering why Keir Starmer’s Government did so little to address the foreign tech and media oligarchs besetting us? Mandelson might provide an answer. And his removal an occasion for a fresh start
February 4, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Wondering why Keir Starmer’s Government did so little to address the foreign tech and media oligarchs besetting us? Mandelson might provide an answer. And his removal an occasion for a fresh start
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I'm deadly serious, we need public tribunals, and expropriations.
February 5, 2026 at 9:23 AM
I'm deadly serious, we need public tribunals, and expropriations.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
This is good.
Theresa May’s impotence. Boris Johnson’s scandals. Liz Truss’s management of opposition day debates. Keir Starmer has crammed a decade of Tory missteps into 18 months.
My newsletter, out now.
My newsletter, out now.
The Eras Torture
Keir Starmer has crammed a decade of Tory missteps into 18 months
www.linestotake.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:26 AM
This is good.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Maximum clubbing wear!
Just been made aware of Haiti's winter Olympics get-up.
That skirt looks warm, has good pockets, and has a massive horse on it. DING DING DING.
That skirt looks warm, has good pockets, and has a massive horse on it. DING DING DING.
February 5, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Maximum clubbing wear!
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Recumbant water buffalo https://collections.artsmia.org/art/844/
February 5, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Recumbant water buffalo https://collections.artsmia.org/art/844/
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Imagining the horror of an appointment when you talk about next steps then instead of referring you to another consultant or for more tests they tell you that you’re being referred for an exorcism.
Curious. It was definitely an x ray I had last month. Not an exorcism. 😏
February 5, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Imagining the horror of an appointment when you talk about next steps then instead of referring you to another consultant or for more tests they tell you that you’re being referred for an exorcism.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Oh hey my undergrad Japanese lit prof who somehow still remembers me from 25 years ago (most of my profs couldn’t remember me for 25 minutes) wrote and translated a book that you should all buy. Go on, then.
February 5, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Oh hey my undergrad Japanese lit prof who somehow still remembers me from 25 years ago (most of my profs couldn’t remember me for 25 minutes) wrote and translated a book that you should all buy. Go on, then.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
who is going around talking up a 2024 intake parliamentary under secretary as a serious leadership prospect
“Al” refers to Al Carns… an outside chance but interesting to see him included. He is popular among the new intake of MPs, I am told.
Whoever it is, eyes are darting around for Starmer’s replacement.
Whoever it is, eyes are darting around for Starmer’s replacement.
February 5, 2026 at 9:28 AM
who is going around talking up a 2024 intake parliamentary under secretary as a serious leadership prospect
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe latest former African leader to be named in Epstein files www.bbc.com/news/article...
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe latest former African leader to be named in Epstein files
Epstein considered approaching Mugabe about a new currency in 2015 - the latest batch of files show.
www.bbc.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe latest former African leader to be named in Epstein files www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The Buddha wasn't lying (be terrified).
February 5, 2026 at 10:14 AM
The Buddha wasn't lying (be terrified).
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I see we are potentially memeing another indentikit middle-aged white man into the Labour leadership.
I see some people have the hots for a former soldier, a special forces former soldier too. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Who is Al Carns? Former Marine and Labour minister with sights on leadership
Ex-special forces colonel, who is sounding alarm on Russia, has risen swiftly to role of armed forces minister
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:22 AM
I see we are potentially memeing another indentikit middle-aged white man into the Labour leadership.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
All Elon ever wanted was for people to think he was funny. He tried to buy that by buying Twitter. It didn't work. He made some half-arsed memes. That didn't work either. He went onstage with Dave Chapelle. People booed so much he had a breakdown.
Elon is sad because he isn't funny.
Elon is sad because he isn't funny.
February 5, 2026 at 3:06 AM
All Elon ever wanted was for people to think he was funny. He tried to buy that by buying Twitter. It didn't work. He made some half-arsed memes. That didn't work either. He went onstage with Dave Chapelle. People booed so much he had a breakdown.
Elon is sad because he isn't funny.
Elon is sad because he isn't funny.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I've been reading a lot about the old Colombo Plan and Malaysia used to love telling Australian diplomats spruiking it in KL to shove the White Australia policy up their arses lol
Australia’s New Colombo Plan to offer 500 scholarships annually by 2028 - https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/02/05/australias-new-colombo-plan-to-offer-500-scholarships-annually-by-2028
Australia’s New Colombo Plan to offer 500 scholarships annually by 2028
PETALING JAYA: Australia's New Colombo Plan (NCP) will expand to offer 500 scholarships annually by 2028 to build a larger cohort of students with stronger Indo-Pacific capabilities.
www.thestar.com.my
February 5, 2026 at 10:24 AM
I've been reading a lot about the old Colombo Plan and Malaysia used to love telling Australian diplomats spruiking it in KL to shove the White Australia policy up their arses lol
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
Does rather beg the question: why is his government pursuing policies that represent the polar opposite of these values?
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer will hold a speech tomorrow to say Britain is stronger as a "tolerant, decent and respectful country"
February 5, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Does rather beg the question: why is his government pursuing policies that represent the polar opposite of these values?
😩
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer will hold a speech tomorrow to say Britain is stronger as a "tolerant, decent and respectful country"
February 5, 2026 at 8:29 AM
😩
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
If Starmer & McSweeney finally go over the revelations in the Mandelson files
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
February 5, 2026 at 7:58 AM
If Starmer & McSweeney finally go over the revelations in the Mandelson files
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
Their toxic immigration plans must go with them.
NO MORE politicians in the pockets of the seedy rich blaming the outcomes of their greed & corruption on immigrants!
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
I just stumbled across this photo I took in Chiang Mai in 2019. Strong agree.
February 5, 2026 at 8:06 AM
I just stumbled across this photo I took in Chiang Mai in 2019. Strong agree.
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
They discovered this by taking a taste?
February 5, 2026 at 8:06 AM
They discovered this by taking a taste?
Reposted by Dr Mark | 北马克 |🍉🇦🇺🇲🇾🇹🇭
The ‘worst political scandal of this century’ is quite the claim. In my usual helpful manner, I shall help to explain why I think this is very possibly true via the media of synecdoche and the proverbial sausage.
Had forgotten until reading @duncanrobinson.bsky.social’s peerless column that Peter Mandelson once publicly said Keir Starmer was too fat.
Britain’s worst political scandal of this century
The Mandelson affair threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership
www.economist.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:43 AM
The ‘worst political scandal of this century’ is quite the claim. In my usual helpful manner, I shall help to explain why I think this is very possibly true via the media of synecdoche and the proverbial sausage.
Teaching is a great vocation!
February 5, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Teaching is a great vocation!