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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 9h

I think our whole staff network runs on W10 still. I assume a deal has been done to get a year of extra security support. There isn't much money around so perhaps explains it.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 10h

One thing I think universities in the UK, and the humanities even more so, will have to soon confront is a deep seam of anti-intellectualism in British public life.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 10h

Agreed. Such a narrow conception of what education is about. Reducing things to assessment and future earnings.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 19h

Work machine still running W10, and for the foreseeable. Upgraded home machine last week.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

I've got a trip to Birmingham booked into the diary, which I am really looking forward to!

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

Robert Generic has a first class history degree!

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

I found The World at One pretty unacceptable today. Discovering a hidden network of judges (which as a historian of Stalinism sounds like tearing off the mask of the hidden internal enemy) was rushed over, ignoring how Jenrick is riding roughshod over how the system works .

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

I for one would like to know more about Honest Bob's Moscow years.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed, but "national poet" parallel missed, and also worth noting that security at almost any library is hardly Fort Knox.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

This was a fascinating read.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Surprised there was no reference to the story of thefts of Shakespeare first folios. theconversation.com/the-strange-...

The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist

The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 1d

Britain (just like Khrushchev) is one of those words that is easy to mispell. It should be on everyone's list of words to tripple check when proof reading.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/3692782...

Tories misspell crucial word on choc bar at conference in mortifying bungle

TORY officials had a bitter taste in their mouths after a chocolate bar given out at the annual party conference featured a shocking error. Attendees were left feeling bittersweet after the confect…

www.thesun.co.uk

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d

I was doing well today until the cat commandeered my desk. She keeps pushing my keyboard off the desk. Totally ignoring the mouse.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 2d

Does anyone know when Alexander Benois left Russia. First three sources I have read say 1924, 1926 and 1927!

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 3d

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/w...

Ivan Klima, Czech Novelist Who Chafed Under Totalitarian Regimes, Dies at 94

www.nytimes.com

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 4d

Currently reading Sergei Lebedev, The Lady of the Mine,which is an intriguing novel, but disturbing too. Remarkable writing. For Newcastle friends the book is available via the University's Libby account as an e-book.

Photograph of the cover of Sergei Lebedev's book "The Lady of the Mine".

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 5d

Happy birthday JB Morrell Library from a regular user for the past 26 years. Still one of my happy places.

University of York Library @uoylibrary.bsky.social · 5d

Finally, some exterior shots, including an ariel shot of the campus once the first wave of buildings were all finished in the mid to late 60s.

Happy birthday to the JBM! Here's to the next 59 years. 🎂

A student climbs the library bridge with the Morrell in the background

60s cars parked in front of the crisp, white Morrell

An ariel shot of the campus showing the lake, central hall, the library and other buildings

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks for reminding us of this. My book is in.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

Featuring Curtis Yarvin!

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

When I was in Sixth Form I used to listen to "The Moral Maze" regularly, and find it fascinating. Today it is debating "Is democracy a failed experiment?" I find this astonishing! Is it me who has changed, or have things changed? (or both?)

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

When I was in Sixth Form I used to listen to "The Moral Maze" regularly, and find it fascinating. Today it is debating "Is democracy a failed experiment?" I find this astonishing! Is it me who has changed, or have things changed? (or both?)

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks Jens.

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 6d

Well AI appears to be advancing. It now recreate the dynamic of a lot of the meetings one has to attend.

Halloween name @bootsmcgoot.bsky.social · 7d

"i just use it to generate ideas"

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 7d

System update progressing better. Actually wrote a good chunk of text on the new machine today!

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 8d

After much gnashing of teeth I have finally worked out how to have one monitor in portrait and one in landscape in Windows 11. Not enjoying the transition to a new operating system.

Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 8d

on.ft.com/3ILVwfS

The Winter Warriors — when the Soviets invaded Finland

Olivier Norek’s fast-paced fictionalisation of how the Finns fought off Russia during the second world war carries striking parallels with the present day

on.ft.com

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 8d

After much gnashing of teeth I have finally worked out how to have one monitor in portrait and one in landscape in Windows 11. Not enjoying the transition to a new operating system.

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Rob Dale @robdale.bsky.social · 13d

My guess is that even with digital ID card you will still need multiple ids and copies of bill to register at a library, and every piece of paper related to your entire education to get payment as an external examiner in the UK.

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