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Björn Heile

@bjornheile.bsky.social

1.1K followers 1.1K following 630 posts

Berlin-born and Glasgow-based academic, primarily interested in weird music. Oh, and I'm associate editor of Contemporary Music Review. Professional profile: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/cca/staff/bjornheile

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Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · Nov 14

This is kind of my introductory post. It's great to meet so many people over here again. I'm not a direct refugee from Twitter/X: I have left that years ago but went to Mastodon. That's still great but rather quiet.
As you may know, I'm primarily interested in #music, particularly #modernist.

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Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4h

Often not only intuitively but reflectedly as well. In my Master's level course in research skills, we review literature on music and anxiety (the topic was chosen by students). Most medical and psychological studies are worthless because they don't understand music and don't talk to anyone who does

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 11h

Square that circle: 'this project *has the potential* to push the frontier...'. Likewise, that article *should have been read* by millions.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 13h

That newest policy about 'A level English' epitomises that, since it has precisely zero benefits. It doesn't help anyone and simply creates an arbitrary obstacle. I suppose it's meant to signal that the government is 'tough on immigration', but it will hardly pacify the racists.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 1d

In the cold light of reason, you're probably right.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 1d

It's rather lovely, I find. We visited the distillery many years ago and were a bit sceptical. When they did a tasting at our local wine shop I immediately bought a bottle, though (despite its original, rather steep prize).

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Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 1d

In fact*, the English word 'battle' derives from that place name, not the other way around!

*Not actually a fact: I just made that up.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 1d

That's exactly what I thought! And here's the evidence. Uncanny.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 1d

Sanatorium?

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 2d

I suppose we still have to 'bear witness' or whatever, but it's at least equally important to switch off and to find other foci.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 2d

I just heard a fawning and unreasonably extended live report on R4's Today about Trump's 'triumphant' arrival in Israel, so your words are especially welcome as an antidote.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 2d

Never mind 'hand working people'!

Reposted by Björn Heile

NewsThump @newsthump.com · 2d

NEWS! Vegan tampons taste nothing like the real thing, insists furious Nigel Farage

Vegan tampons taste nothing like the real thing, insists furious Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage is apparently furious today after biting into a tampon at the National Trust-owned Sizergh Castle only to discover the tampon was vegan.

buff.ly

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Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 2d

But in a political culture as benighted as that of the UK, that's more than enough.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 3d

Beautiful day with morning mist.

Autumnal colours in the sunshine with mist at the shores of Loch Long.

Ardmay and the Arrochar torpedo pier in the morning mist on Loch Long.

Morning mist with sunshine on autumnal colours across Loch Long.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

Autumnal colours

Colourful leaves on group of trees near the shoreline of Loch Long

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

Curlew

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

Unfortunately not, no. She has always been a Trump ally.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

You are right. But I just blocked this person.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

O.k., looks like they're gonna lose. 😒

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

Whereas, when you're alive, 'you can fight another day'. In general, I'm deeply sceptical about the endorsement of what are ultimately military values in ethics. Doing the right thing is mostly not about killing and dying but their avoidance.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 4d

In any case, the notion of heroism that demands endangering your life is very questionable. If you value life, you can't make an exception of your own.

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Reposted by Björn Heile

Sachin Nakrani @sachinnakrani.bsky.social · 4d

Stewart Lee has had his say on the Riyadh Comedy Festival and it’s as excellent as you’d expect it to be.

youtube.com/shorts/oqnjS...

Stewart Lee goes off on the Riyadh Comedy Festival, Louis CK and Cancel Culture

YouTube video by Class Clown Podcast

youtube.com

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Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

Decolonise counterpoint!

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

She had the support of Marco Rubio, so it rather looks to me as if they went for someone who even Trump can't object to.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

You win!

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

I'm guessing that, unlike an individual who is treated like a serious contender, you have at least fulfilled some basic preconditions, such as not threatening peaceful neighbours with invasion and using the military in your own country to intimidate the legitimate opposition. So go ahead!

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

The whole framing is extraordinary: how was it possible to capture media attention in this way for something so utterly baseless?! 'Respectable' commentators debated this as if it were serious.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 5d

Bias = any form of critical self-reflection.

Björn Heile @bjornheile.bsky.social · 6d

The last word on the cockup vs. conspiracy conundrum.

Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 6d

The thing about crashing a tank through a museum of antiquities is that you don't have to be a particularly skilled driver to do a lot of damage.

James @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social · 6d

It's difficult at times to hold both "this admin is doing lasting and serious damage to our institutions and the globe" and "this admin is full of the most bafflingly incompetent idiots you've ever seen who fall over themselves like a Vaudeville act constantly."

The duality of man is incredible.

Reposted by Björn Heile

Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 6d

The thing about crashing a tank through a museum of antiquities is that you don't have to be a particularly skilled driver to do a lot of damage.

James @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social · 6d

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