Richard Baker
@rchrdbkr.bsky.social
Composer based in Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Research Fellow at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London. Own views here. Weithiau yn Gymraeg.
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Oh, my loathing for it is boundless. BOUNDLESS.
Is this platform still massively against AI or has it moved more towards acceptance?
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Oh, my loathing for it is boundless. BOUNDLESS.
I think this objection works even if you’re of no faith: “AI won’t stand in authentic wonder” is a complete - and disqualifying- sentence.
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I think this objection works even if you’re of no faith: “AI won’t stand in authentic wonder” is a complete - and disqualifying- sentence.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Now here’s the kind of news you drop going into a long holiday weekend. Maybe no one will notice. 🤡
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
November 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Now here’s the kind of news you drop going into a long holiday weekend. Maybe no one will notice. 🤡
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Richard Baker
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
November 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
So disrespectful that people read the leaked budget. The effects shots weren't even done yet, and no music. So unfair to the creatives who put it together.
Reposted by Richard Baker
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Richard Baker
our common life depends upon each other's toil
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
our common life depends upon each other's toil
I’m sure there will be the usual pearl clutching about this, but people pay it uncomplainingly when they’re in foreign cities. It’s totally reasonable, and good policy.
Mayors in England to get power to impose tourism tax on overnight visitors at 'modest' rate - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I’m sure there will be the usual pearl clutching about this, but people pay it uncomplainingly when they’re in foreign cities. It’s totally reasonable, and good policy.
Reposted by Richard Baker
What an incredible week it has been for Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Thank you so much to everyone who has bought, streamed, or downloaded the album, & who came to launch it with us. If you would like info about programming her music, please do contact me!!
November 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
What an incredible week it has been for Avril Coleridge-Taylor. Thank you so much to everyone who has bought, streamed, or downloaded the album, & who came to launch it with us. If you would like info about programming her music, please do contact me!!
Reposted by Richard Baker
This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre.
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre.
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
Reposted by Richard Baker
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Richard Baker
What an interesting choice of words
November 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
What an interesting choice of words
A home in London worth £2M is not necessarily a ‘mansion’ - in some UK cities it might be a perfectly normal family home - and this name seems intended to obscure this. Can’t we just call it property tax and leave it at that? They’re quite common, in other countries.
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid on.ft.com/4rocFhe
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid
‘Mansion tax’ set to affect more than 100,000 properties, mostly in London and the south-east
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
A home in London worth £2M is not necessarily a ‘mansion’ - in some UK cities it might be a perfectly normal family home - and this name seems intended to obscure this. Can’t we just call it property tax and leave it at that? They’re quite common, in other countries.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Richard Baker
In honour of its proponents, I suggest that the Dmitriev-Witkoff proposal should henceforth be called the Dim-Wit Plan
November 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In honour of its proponents, I suggest that the Dmitriev-Witkoff proposal should henceforth be called the Dim-Wit Plan
Reposted by Richard Baker
Иigel Faяage would really hate it if you signed and shared this petition.
I suspect ьoяis Johиsoи would too.
I suspect ьoяis Johиsoи would too.
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Иigel Faяage would really hate it if you signed and shared this petition.
I suspect ьoяis Johиsoи would too.
I suspect ьoяis Johиsoи would too.
Reposted by Richard Baker
I heard there was a secret chord
November 23, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I heard there was a secret chord
Reposted by Richard Baker
My new book "The Illustrated Guide to Pedagogy: A Toolkit for Research-Informed Teaching" is doing phenomenally well, #3 in the Amazon bestseller list!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/47OlQQl
We are also running a workshop based on the book in Caerphilly 20.11.25, which is sold out.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/47OlQQl
We are also running a workshop based on the book in Caerphilly 20.11.25, which is sold out.
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 AM
My new book "The Illustrated Guide to Pedagogy: A Toolkit for Research-Informed Teaching" is doing phenomenally well, #3 in the Amazon bestseller list!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/47OlQQl
We are also running a workshop based on the book in Caerphilly 20.11.25, which is sold out.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/47OlQQl
We are also running a workshop based on the book in Caerphilly 20.11.25, which is sold out.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Happy Birthday, Benjamin Britten.
Born on this day in 1913.
Born on this day in 1913.
November 22, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Happy Birthday, Benjamin Britten.
Born on this day in 1913.
Born on this day in 1913.
Reposted by Richard Baker
“The family try everything. They promise to replace the sodden carpets and find new, innovative ways to warm the house. Someone with a laptop wonders if AI might be the answer. But no one ever looks upwards and says: maybe we should just repair the giant hole in the roof.….Brexit”
“Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof”, says Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
“The family try everything. They promise to replace the sodden carpets and find new, innovative ways to warm the house. Someone with a laptop wonders if AI might be the answer. But no one ever looks upwards and says: maybe we should just repair the giant hole in the roof.….Brexit”
Reposted by Richard Baker
Just saw someone described as an "ontologist" and now I want Clinical Ontologist to be a job title.
Welcome to the Department of Clinical Ontology. Let's go over your chart. I see that you are. Are you still as you were or are you otherwise? For your case of being, I prescribe becoming.
Welcome to the Department of Clinical Ontology. Let's go over your chart. I see that you are. Are you still as you were or are you otherwise? For your case of being, I prescribe becoming.
November 21, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Just saw someone described as an "ontologist" and now I want Clinical Ontologist to be a job title.
Welcome to the Department of Clinical Ontology. Let's go over your chart. I see that you are. Are you still as you were or are you otherwise? For your case of being, I prescribe becoming.
Welcome to the Department of Clinical Ontology. Let's go over your chart. I see that you are. Are you still as you were or are you otherwise? For your case of being, I prescribe becoming.
Reposted by Richard Baker
while I’m being cranky, access journalism needs to go. When the president does his “I’m alpha because I insulted you” thing somebody needs to fall on his sword and say “what the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” on a hot mic. the hero of the wizard of Oz is Toto.
November 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
while I’m being cranky, access journalism needs to go. When the president does his “I’m alpha because I insulted you” thing somebody needs to fall on his sword and say “what the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” on a hot mic. the hero of the wizard of Oz is Toto.
Reposted by Richard Baker
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
November 22, 2025 at 7:34 AM
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
Conductor friend just sent me this clip, and we’re both boggling as to a) how it happened and b) why anyone thought it was a good idea to use it for promotional purposes:
Britten: Four Sea Interludes // Gianandrea Noseda & London Symphony Orchestra
YouTube video by London Symphony Orchestra
youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Conductor friend just sent me this clip, and we’re both boggling as to a) how it happened and b) why anyone thought it was a good idea to use it for promotional purposes:
Reposted by Richard Baker
It's November, I'm on the Welsh coast. It's freezing. There's a mosquito in the bathroom. I remember when all you got in the uk were midges.
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
It's November, I'm on the Welsh coast. It's freezing. There's a mosquito in the bathroom. I remember when all you got in the uk were midges.