Plashing Vole
@plashingvole.bsky.social
Mild-mannered lecturer by day…mild-mannered lecturer by night. Welsh lit, politicians’ fictions. Fencer, cyclist, UCU. Dysgwr Cymraeg; tá gaeilge agam. Barnau fy hun.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
University of Mordor.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
University of Mordor.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
So Disney deleted their post on Threads asking users to post Disney quotes that show how their feeling - I suspect this is because it didn't quite go as they expected but the internet is forever so, for your delectation and delight...
January 20, 2026 at 5:01 PM
So Disney deleted their post on Threads asking users to post Disney quotes that show how their feeling - I suspect this is because it didn't quite go as they expected but the internet is forever so, for your delectation and delight...
In the old days I used to count Labour amongst the ‘progressive’ block alongside Plaid, the Lib Dems and Greens, despite their unionism. No longer.
An extraordinary poll in Wales today, including 50% planning to back pro-independence parties.
January 20, 2026 at 3:58 PM
In the old days I used to count Labour amongst the ‘progressive’ block alongside Plaid, the Lib Dems and Greens, despite their unionism. No longer.
184th confirmation that I was right to leave Labour.
Shabana Mahmood here, and the vibes are not getting better.
January 20, 2026 at 9:22 AM
184th confirmation that I was right to leave Labour.
Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work:
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
Well that’s me locked out. No pay for the foreseeable future, all because I refuse to reschedule lost teaching, for which I have already lost pay as part of the strike. Please donate to support @sheffielducu.bsky.social members like me at www.gofundme.com/f/heubvb-sup...
January 19, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Sheffield merely the latest university to claim that legally withdrawing your labour should actually be postponing your labour, and punishing people further. Here’s how strikes work:
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
1. You legally stop working for a period of time. You don’t get paid.
2. Win or lose you go back to work.
When I read Chris Beckett’s America City, about a short war with and annexations Canada by the US I thought it was well-written but far-fetched catastrophising.
I now realise that the only erroneous element was a US that believed in climate change. The real one just wants lebensraum.
I now realise that the only erroneous element was a US that believed in climate change. The real one just wants lebensraum.
January 19, 2026 at 4:30 PM
When I read Chris Beckett’s America City, about a short war with and annexations Canada by the US I thought it was well-written but far-fetched catastrophising.
I now realise that the only erroneous element was a US that believed in climate change. The real one just wants lebensraum.
I now realise that the only erroneous element was a US that believed in climate change. The real one just wants lebensraum.
What on earth? How does a year-old Mac run out of application memory, and how does Pages the word-processor use 208 Gbs?
January 19, 2026 at 1:04 PM
What on earth? How does a year-old Mac run out of application memory, and how does Pages the word-processor use 208 Gbs?
‘We regularly call the cops on our students. Now we’ve sold them to Microsoft’.
Big announcement from @manchester.ac.uk today:
"The University of Manchester has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, becoming the first university in the world to give Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to every student and colleague."
#GenerativeAI #Research #Manchester
"The University of Manchester has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, becoming the first university in the world to give Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to every student and colleague."
#GenerativeAI #Research #Manchester
World-first AI partnership between The University of Manchester and Microsoft announced
The University of Manchester becomes first university in the world to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to all students and staff.65,000 staff and students will receive full Microsoft ...
www.manchester.ac.uk
January 19, 2026 at 12:29 PM
‘We regularly call the cops on our students. Now we’ve sold them to Microsoft’.
(Having nuked a fault line)
January 19, 2026 at 12:05 AM
(Having nuked a fault line)
I assume the National Front didn’t want the far-right, homophobic, Monday Club alumnus, Pinochet-loving expenses cheat MP, who used to parade around with a union jack-draped bulldog. Luckily Reform had lower standards.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell becomes latest Tory to defect to Reform
Veteran MP says ‘time to put country before party’ citing Conservative position on Chagos Islands
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM
I assume the National Front didn’t want the far-right, homophobic, Monday Club alumnus, Pinochet-loving expenses cheat MP, who used to parade around with a union jack-draped bulldog. Luckily Reform had lower standards.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Was thinking this last week as the head of a school of creative and critical subjects presented us with a ChatGPT-generated list of teaching topic ideas.
Writing is thinking
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
Outsourcing the entire task of writing to LLMs will deprive us of the essential creative task of interpreting our findings and generating a deeper theoretical understanding of the world.
January 18, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Was thinking this last week as the head of a school of creative and critical subjects presented us with a ChatGPT-generated list of teaching topic ideas.
Well Marty Supreme was quite film.
January 17, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Well Marty Supreme was quite film.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
'Rainbow Wales' by @emilygarside.bsky.social is an exciting, inspiring tour of figures from culture and sport to politics and activism, and a jubilant exploration of the rich tapestry of Queer identity in Wales.
📚 www.uwp.co.uk/book/rainbow...
📚 www.uwp.co.uk/book/rainbow...
January 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM
'Rainbow Wales' by @emilygarside.bsky.social is an exciting, inspiring tour of figures from culture and sport to politics and activism, and a jubilant exploration of the rich tapestry of Queer identity in Wales.
📚 www.uwp.co.uk/book/rainbow...
📚 www.uwp.co.uk/book/rainbow...
‘Backstabbing Robert Jenrick won’t stab ME in the back’ says Nigel Farage, welcoming a man who’s never seen a party he didn’t want to lead.
Jenrick: ‘what, little ol’ me? With this knife?’
Jenrick: ‘what, little ol’ me? With this knife?’
'plotting in secret'
January 15, 2026 at 11:20 AM
‘Backstabbing Robert Jenrick won’t stab ME in the back’ says Nigel Farage, welcoming a man who’s never seen a party he didn’t want to lead.
Jenrick: ‘what, little ol’ me? With this knife?’
Jenrick: ‘what, little ol’ me? With this knife?’
It’s not always the same car, or the same driver, but it’s always Heavenly Desserts people blocking the cycle path, @wolvescouncil.bsky.social, @yplac.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 7:53 AM
It’s not always the same car, or the same driver, but it’s always Heavenly Desserts people blocking the cycle path, @wolvescouncil.bsky.social, @yplac.bsky.social
Today in AI: Grok helps paedophiles; West Mids Police make policy and mislead policy based on Co-Pilot hallucinations; my university says we need ‘AI Tutors’. And the planet keeps on burning.
January 14, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Today in AI: Grok helps paedophiles; West Mids Police make policy and mislead policy based on Co-Pilot hallucinations; my university says we need ‘AI Tutors’. And the planet keeps on burning.
Something’s on fire and the city is wreathed in toxic smoke. This apocalyptic atmosphere bears no relation to the all-day governors’ meeting I’m about to join.
January 14, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Something’s on fire and the city is wreathed in toxic smoke. This apocalyptic atmosphere bears no relation to the all-day governors’ meeting I’m about to join.
Very sad to hear that Séan O Sé has died. He was on fine form when I saw him at Puck a few months ago. A pioneering musician and a lovely man.
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...
Renowned Irish traditional singer Seán Ó Sé dies, aged 89
One of the country's best known Irish traditional singers Seán Ó Sé has died.
www.rte.ie
January 13, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Very sad to hear that Séan O Sé has died. He was on fine form when I saw him at Puck a few months ago. A pioneering musician and a lovely man.
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...
At least @daisyeblack.bsky.social has given me something cheery to read.
January 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM
At least @daisyeblack.bsky.social has given me something cheery to read.
Today’s activities: an all-day meeting to decide how specifically to make our surviving degree courses worse, the general outlines already having been imposed (fewer modules, fewer hours per module, fewer assessments, fewer subject modules, fewer academics).
January 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Today’s activities: an all-day meeting to decide how specifically to make our surviving degree courses worse, the general outlines already having been imposed (fewer modules, fewer hours per module, fewer assessments, fewer subject modules, fewer academics).
How timely that the first episode of Industry S4 is about the effect of the Online Safety Bill and the financiers of exploitative online platforms.
January 12, 2026 at 10:14 PM
How timely that the first episode of Industry S4 is about the effect of the Online Safety Bill and the financiers of exploitative online platforms.
2000 or so Americans named after a character in a hit 1990-2000s sitcom share my name. Almost nobody before or since.
January 12, 2026 at 9:55 PM
2000 or so Americans named after a character in a hit 1990-2000s sitcom share my name. Almost nobody before or since.
Today’s book post: Liam Harrington’s The Hill in the Dark Grove (not sure how that works, topologically) and the April 1930 issue of The Studio for its pieces on Gwasg Gregynog and Eric Gill (not then known to be a monster).
January 12, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Today’s book post: Liam Harrington’s The Hill in the Dark Grove (not sure how that works, topologically) and the April 1930 issue of The Studio for its pieces on Gwasg Gregynog and Eric Gill (not then known to be a monster).
A friend’s father survived a heart attack thanks to a lifeguard doing chest compressions properly: every rib broken and his entire torso is a mass of bruises. It takes real bravery to do it.
People put off giving CPR by unrealistic TV depictions, researchers say
People put off giving CPR by unrealistic TV depictions, researchers say
Most dramas show characters searching for pulse and giving breaths but experts say chest compressions on their own can save lives
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a dramatic intervention, but researchers say TV portrayals are often misleading – potentially influencing whether viewers feel able to carry it out themselves.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:31 AM
A friend’s father survived a heart attack thanks to a lifeguard doing chest compressions properly: every rib broken and his entire torso is a mass of bruises. It takes real bravery to do it.
I have to say that R3’s cheery trip round the US feels very weird right now. It’s good to be reminded that there’s more to the place than a violent dictatorship but the complete absence of any acknowledgment of what’s going on is really odd. Not even the Kennedy Center despoliation mentioned.
BBC Radio 3
Radio 3's American Roadtrip
Georgia Mann presents live from the City of Angels, including a visit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and live music from film music pianist and conductor, Scott Dunn.
Radio 3's American Roadtrip
Georgia Mann presents live from the City of Angels, including a visit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and live music from film music pianist and conductor, Scott Dunn.
January 12, 2026 at 9:40 AM
I have to say that R3’s cheery trip round the US feels very weird right now. It’s good to be reminded that there’s more to the place than a violent dictatorship but the complete absence of any acknowledgment of what’s going on is really odd. Not even the Kennedy Center despoliation mentioned.