Ed Granter
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edgranter.bsky.social
Ed Granter
@edgranter.bsky.social
Academic in the UK. Sociology of work and organization. Critical Theory. Gardening. Food. Miscellaneous. Posts views opinions links likes reposts comments strictly personal.
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The ruling class cannot tolerate any threat to their control and ambition for more total control. They will weaponise anything and everything to neutralise opposition. They have real economic, political and media power - and it's transatlantic.
It'll be ok because Refo*m are going to protect free speech so we'll still be able to criticise fascism and capitalism without any consequences
Then they came for the universities - Farage takes his lead from Trump. It’s all so utterly depressing isn’t it?
November 30, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Reposted by Ed Granter
Then they came for the universities - Farage takes his lead from Trump. It’s all so utterly depressing isn’t it?
November 30, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Do not obey in advance
One should be in no doubt that most of Britain's elites will simply make their peace with Farage and do a deal, so long as they get left alone or benefit. Tho there is resistance to Trump in the US, it's v much the exception.(1/2) www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Cambridge University cosies up to Reform
The vice-chancellor expects Nigel Farage to model his policies on Trump and says other Russell Group members are meeting his allies
www.thetimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Ed Granter
Yr 13 student applying to university to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Anyone out there with sufficient expertise in this field who might be willing to do a mock interview to help them prepare in exchange for the handsome reward of my eternal gratitude?
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM
And no that's not because of AI it's because governments refuse to fund HE anywhere near properly
Some 10,000 jobs could be lost each year at UK universities as leaders continue to cut staff numbers to tackle ongoing financial problems, new analysis suggests. Helen Packer reports
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-universities-could-cut-10000-jobs-every-year-v-c-predicts
November 28, 2025 at 9:03 AM
November 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
'Complete this phrase: "yabba dabba ___"'
an app with child safety features just made me confirm that I am an adult by asking me the question, "what is a VCR?"
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Ed Granter
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
What if we just f***ed AI right off?
November 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I'm nicking 'kleptomatic'
So a wondrous new technology (or more accurately, a kleptomatic bullshit generator) that does the writing for you is not remotely helpful. Nobody asked for it. What would be more helpful would be if the big publishing companies paid us more and weren't so predatory or inscrutable in their practices.
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
'Fewer things better.' The new 'bold and ambitious'
The other problem with this is that research is a type of spread bet/lottery. You do lots of it and hope some of it pans out. If we had a perfect way of selecting which small bits of science and scholarship we "need", we'd have solved the funding problem. But we don't know this.
'Science minister Patrick Vallance has rejected concerns that focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group.' 1/3
November 26, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Ed Granter
Excellent library job in Cambridge.👇
November 26, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by Ed Granter
New exhibition ‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ is now open. Explore how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.

📅Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
November 26, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Oh boy
November 25, 2025 at 8:57 PM
They're really jumping the shark
Labour party today:
- Disabled people can’t drive Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on Motability. No to £25k Audis but £36k Nissans are fine
- Discredited PFI to return for funding NHS projects
- Trial by jury to be axed except for most serious cases

That’s just today
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It's fine people can go and work in industry like a refinery oh hang on we let those go bust as well
“exiting the market”
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I tell you what the barbarians aren't at the gates, they've driven through the gates in a van like in a film, then reversed over the gates, then burned the gates, then burned the van.
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
No wait it's fine we've stopped disabled people having certain cars
UK gambling industry made £15.6bn in 2024 (£16.8bn in 2025)

Most companies holed up in Gibraltar & Malta, dodge UK taxes. Some pay corporation tax at the rate of 3%-4%. No VAT on gambling.

Public bears the cost of gambling addiction.

Firms resent paying extra tax to clear their mess.

Tax them.
UK's Online Gambling Industry: The £3.8 Billion Tax Question Nobody's Answering
UK's online gambling industry generates £15.6bn annually but pays minimal tax. With £3.8bn in receipts, experts say it's time for reform Here's why.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Ed Granter
when its definitely not a hostage situation
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
For context - my late mum had a motability car for decades and I mean decades. Being disabled is hard enough. Come on now.
'Premium' cars like BMW and Mercedes cut from Motability scheme
Motability says it will provide vehicles that meet disabled peoples' needs and are safe and affordable.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Quite right, only bankers and drug dealers should be allowed nice cars. It's common sense [SARCASM]
'Premium' cars like BMW and Mercedes cut from Motability scheme
Motability says it will provide vehicles that meet disabled peoples' needs and are safe and affordable.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:31 PM
So they pay a top-up to get a 'premium' car but that option's being taken away anyway?
'Premium' cars like BMW and Mercedes cut from Motability scheme
Motability says it will provide vehicles that meet disabled peoples' needs and are safe and affordable.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
And... Many (...) disabled people can't use public transport in any conceivably practical way so could we not just LEAVE MOTABILITY ALONE?
Rachel Reeves has removed Audi, BMW, Mercedes from the motability scheme because disabled people aren’t allowed nice things ignoring the better resale values and the fact cars like the Audi A1 and BMW 1-series are hardly limos www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/con...
UK's Motability scheme no longer includes premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes | Autocar
Announcement comes just weeks after chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to axe luxury models from the programme
www.autocar.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
[resisting the urge to sarcasm] Are people aware that disabled people already face limited choices regarding MOST THINGS? Is it really worth it?
Rachel Reeves has removed Audi, BMW, Mercedes from the motability scheme because disabled people aren’t allowed nice things ignoring the better resale values and the fact cars like the Audi A1 and BMW 1-series are hardly limos www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/con...
UK's Motability scheme no longer includes premium brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes | Autocar
Announcement comes just weeks after chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to axe luxury models from the programme
www.autocar.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM