Bijan Parsia
@bparsia.bsky.social
I am a Prof of Comp Sci at Uni of Manchester, UK. UCU NEC disabled member rep (2023-24). UCUCommons. All posts are my own behalf alone. He/him/they.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
What sticks out to me is how absolutely unafraid of prosecution this psychopath is. Part of it is narcissistic personality disorder, but it's mostly the perceived weakness of Democrats. Should they retake power, no one expects Democrats to hold anyone accountable.
December 5, 2025 at 4:09 AM
What sticks out to me is how absolutely unafraid of prosecution this psychopath is. Part of it is narcissistic personality disorder, but it's mostly the perceived weakness of Democrats. Should they retake power, no one expects Democrats to hold anyone accountable.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
"Why do we put hurdles in the way of the people that are actually going to drive our economy? It makes zero sense."
Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Top UK scientist says research visa restrictions endanger economy
Prof Sir Paul Nurse says the UK is
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
"Why do we put hurdles in the way of the people that are actually going to drive our economy? It makes zero sense."
Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Prof Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel prize winning scientist, says the UK's scientific future is being put at risk
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
just to drive home the point. Texas created this map in August. the lower court rendered its decision November. So three months later, a year before the election in question.
The word "eve" is doing a lot of work here in the Court's 'decision'
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
just to drive home the point. Texas created this map in August. the lower court rendered its decision November. So three months later, a year before the election in question.
Note, of course, that Trump’s birthday is not a holiday.
"The Donald Trump administration has changed which holidays qualify for free entrance to national parks, removing two holidays celebrating Black people and adding the president’s birthday."
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Note, of course, that Trump’s birthday is not a holiday.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
I give it six months before he’s donning a military uniform and giving four-hour speeches from balconies.
"The Donald Trump administration has changed which holidays qualify for free entrance to national parks, removing two holidays celebrating Black people and adding the president’s birthday."
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I give it six months before he’s donning a military uniform and giving four-hour speeches from balconies.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Solidarity with Essex UCU as they fight these unnecessary and devastating proposed cuts
One of our branch co-presidents, Jordan Osserman, talking on BBC Essex this morning about the devastating cuts to our University, and what needs to be done about them. Please share.
We had yet more shocking news this morning - stay tuned.
We had yet more shocking news this morning - stay tuned.
December 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Solidarity with Essex UCU as they fight these unnecessary and devastating proposed cuts
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
This is going to be interesting to watch from a critical perspective. Particularly within the wider context of the impacts of the pandemic, poverty, and political messaging around disability.
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM
This is going to be interesting to watch from a critical perspective. Particularly within the wider context of the impacts of the pandemic, poverty, and political messaging around disability.
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My first clear recollection of how my social anxiety affected me was when I was 5 or 6 years old and just unable to to approach one of the football (this was in the US so soccer) teams to ask which one was mine. My mom reasonably dropped me off expecting it would be easily sorted.
Yep. Social model is only so useful I’m afraid.
I'm seeing people (understandably) respond to Streeting's announcement re ADHD/autism with 'well yeah it really sucks in the UK, no wonder people have bad mental health'. Some people...do just have autism, ADHD or other mental illnesses?
December 4, 2025 at 9:39 AM
My first clear recollection of how my social anxiety affected me was when I was 5 or 6 years old and just unable to to approach one of the football (this was in the US so soccer) teams to ask which one was mine. My mom reasonably dropped me off expecting it would be easily sorted.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
I'm seeing people (understandably) respond to Streeting's announcement re ADHD/autism with 'well yeah it really sucks in the UK, no wonder people have bad mental health'. Some people...do just have autism, ADHD or other mental illnesses?
December 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I'm seeing people (understandably) respond to Streeting's announcement re ADHD/autism with 'well yeah it really sucks in the UK, no wonder people have bad mental health'. Some people...do just have autism, ADHD or other mental illnesses?
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Yep. Social model is only so useful I’m afraid.
I'm seeing people (understandably) respond to Streeting's announcement re ADHD/autism with 'well yeah it really sucks in the UK, no wonder people have bad mental health'. Some people...do just have autism, ADHD or other mental illnesses?
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Yep. Social model is only so useful I’m afraid.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
And what does it say about them that so many UK public philosophers, once informed about Yarvin, did not pull out from How the Lights Get In?
December 4, 2025 at 9:27 AM
And what does it say about them that so many UK public philosophers, once informed about Yarvin, did not pull out from How the Lights Get In?
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Yarvin was a headliner at the UK public philosophy conference, How the Lights Get In. He’s been saying things like this for years. And now there’s been a concerted effort to normalise him in the UK. Who is doing this? Why? How does this affect what philosophers treat as acceptable?
December 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Yarvin was a headliner at the UK public philosophy conference, How the Lights Get In. He’s been saying things like this for years. And now there’s been a concerted effort to normalise him in the UK. Who is doing this? Why? How does this affect what philosophers treat as acceptable?
This *will* cause higher rates of rejection before thus step. Unis will have to be way more stringent thus excluding viable but not conclusive cases. Thus some students the Home Office would grant visas to won’t get that chance.
New 5% rejection cap on visa applications (down from 10% previously), predicated on tightening asylum policies, is driving the change.
UK universities restricting recruitment of Bangladeshi and Pakistani students
At least nine higher education institutions have stopped applications due to tougher Home Office rules and concerns over visa abuse
www.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:09 AM
This *will* cause higher rates of rejection before thus step. Unis will have to be way more stringent thus excluding viable but not conclusive cases. Thus some students the Home Office would grant visas to won’t get that chance.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
December 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Streeting is dancing to the culture wars' tune here. Petty and spiteful. And of course all this takes the onus away from employers, who by law have to provide reasonable adjustments for people. How many of them just don't bother, I wonder.
Wes Streeting is a one-man stigma producing machine. Denying support for trans folks, now seeking to limit who has mental health care.
Why don't we, y'know, invest in housing, communuties, young people, food, art, nature, regulate social media, consider the impact of covid, long covid & deprivation
Why don't we, y'know, invest in housing, communuties, young people, food, art, nature, regulate social media, consider the impact of covid, long covid & deprivation
Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar
December 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Streeting is dancing to the culture wars' tune here. Petty and spiteful. And of course all this takes the onus away from employers, who by law have to provide reasonable adjustments for people. How many of them just don't bother, I wonder.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
i'm actually struck by how pete hegseth isn't just a cowardly man but a capital-c Coward. a guy who gets off on abusing and hurting people he thinks are weaker than him and then tries to run and hide when there might be consequences
December 2, 2025 at 1:45 PM
i'm actually struck by how pete hegseth isn't just a cowardly man but a capital-c Coward. a guy who gets off on abusing and hurting people he thinks are weaker than him and then tries to run and hide when there might be consequences
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Hearing about alarming, defamatory all-branch emails being sent blaming the GS (who does not sit on HEC) for the failure of the #UKHE ballot.
HEC called the ballot. The GS does not sit on HEC. She did her job and acted on HEC's instruction, no matter her personal view. This isn't on her.
HEC called the ballot. The GS does not sit on HEC. She did her job and acted on HEC's instruction, no matter her personal view. This isn't on her.
December 3, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Hearing about alarming, defamatory all-branch emails being sent blaming the GS (who does not sit on HEC) for the failure of the #UKHE ballot.
HEC called the ballot. The GS does not sit on HEC. She did her job and acted on HEC's instruction, no matter her personal view. This isn't on her.
HEC called the ballot. The GS does not sit on HEC. She did her job and acted on HEC's instruction, no matter her personal view. This isn't on her.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Weiss is a right-wing propagandist who for years has cynically used the tools of journalism to promote her insatiable self interest. She won’t defend her own journalists bc she isn’t one herself and has no stake in professional principles.
This CBS story is just remarkable. It states that Trump insulted their reporter, and also notes the same thing happened to reporters from Bloomberg and NYT.
Both of those organizations are quoted defending their journalists.
But Bari Weiss and CBS don't lift a finger to defend their own reporter.
Both of those organizations are quoted defending their journalists.
But Bari Weiss and CBS don't lift a finger to defend their own reporter.
Not a peep from CBS News boss Bari Weiss after Trump called CBS reporter Nancy Cordes 'stupid' at a Thurs n/c. CBS mentions the incident in this piece about Trump's repeated attacks on female reporters but Bari's MIA when it comes to standing up for Cordes.
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-c...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-c...
November 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Weiss is a right-wing propagandist who for years has cynically used the tools of journalism to promote her insatiable self interest. She won’t defend her own journalists bc she isn’t one herself and has no stake in professional principles.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Context for this (b/c most ppl don't know how it works but still seem to have opinions(tm)): Unis now have a goal of fewer than 1 in 20 student visas being rejected. Given Unis don't control visa decisions, and visa decisions can be... inconsistent, it's shifting pre-screening labour burden to unis.
UK universities restricting recruitment of Bangladeshi and Pakistani students on.ft.com/3Y3vHfg
UK universities restricting recruitment of Bangladeshi and Pakistani students
At least nine higher education institutions have stopped applications due to tougher Home Office rules and concerns over visa abuse
on.ft.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Context for this (b/c most ppl don't know how it works but still seem to have opinions(tm)): Unis now have a goal of fewer than 1 in 20 student visas being rejected. Given Unis don't control visa decisions, and visa decisions can be... inconsistent, it's shifting pre-screening labour burden to unis.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Will continue to bang this drum: this is the system university admins are cramming into every aspect of education. This is the system we are told “isn’t going anywhere” so we all have to adjust to it.
New from 404 Media: ChatGPT told a violent stalker to continue running his misogynistic and threat-filled podcast despite the “haters,” and to visit more gyms to find women. The man stalked women in multiple states, including touching and following from work
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
ChatGPT Told a Violent Stalker to Embrace the 'Haters,' Indictment Says
A newly filed indictment claims a wannabe influencer used ChatGPT as his "therapist" and "best friend" in his pursuit of the "wife type," while harassing women so aggressively they had to miss work a...
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Will continue to bang this drum: this is the system university admins are cramming into every aspect of education. This is the system we are told “isn’t going anywhere” so we all have to adjust to it.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Oh, look, another AI tutoring company did its own research and concluded that its own product is highly effective!
AI tutors, with a little human help, offer 'reliable' instruction, study finds. @gtoppo.bsky.social reports
AI Tutors, With a Little Human Help, Offer ‘Reliable’ Instruction, Study Finds
New UK research finds ‘extremely personalized’ AI math tutors don’t hallucinate or produce unsafe messages in sessions with kids
www.the74million.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Oh, look, another AI tutoring company did its own research and concluded that its own product is highly effective!
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Nazi psychopaths
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Nazi psychopaths
Lithgow and Laurie?! Oy.
For anybody else who wants that list:
Not too many names I recognize, but really sad to see Matthew McFadyen, Hugh Laurie, and Riz Ahmed on the list.
Not too many names I recognize, but really sad to see Matthew McFadyen, Hugh Laurie, and Riz Ahmed on the list.
Harry Potter | Every single voice you hear in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions | Wizarding World
When we say the new Harry Potter audiobook series has a full cast we’re not joking! From Albus Dumbledore to Petunia Dursley, discover the voice behind every single character in this star-studded prod...
www.harrypotter.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Lithgow and Laurie?! Oy.
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
Lithgow saying that a family friend with a trans kid came to him and literally said “please don’t do this” and he did it anyway really gives the game away. they don’t not know
Once again thinking about every actor trying to justify taking the money for the new HP series.
December 3, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Lithgow saying that a family friend with a trans kid came to him and literally said “please don’t do this” and he did it anyway really gives the game away. they don’t not know
Reposted by Bijan Parsia
'As I feel like I have mentioned a ridiculous number of times, the decision to ballot stalled long-overdue joint work on reforming the salary spine, diversity-driven pay gaps, workload, and contract types.'
#UCU members need to wake up and focus on what's achievable rather than magical thinking.
#UCU members need to wake up and focus on what's achievable rather than magical thinking.
NEW on Wonkhe: UCU pay ballot fails to meet threshold bit.ly/4rvwoeQ
December 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
'As I feel like I have mentioned a ridiculous number of times, the decision to ballot stalled long-overdue joint work on reforming the salary spine, diversity-driven pay gaps, workload, and contract types.'
#UCU members need to wake up and focus on what's achievable rather than magical thinking.
#UCU members need to wake up and focus on what's achievable rather than magical thinking.