Sarah May
@sarahmay1.bsky.social
Heritage, Archaeologist, solidarity, she/her - hoping for more kindness, often anxious and sharp. Professionally garrulous. Living in Cardiff. Ageless, so no DMs
Reposted by Sarah May
This is a useful thread on the controversy today. But away from the detail, when BBC Verify have to effectively fact-check their own Political Editor (who is *not* a columnist but an Editor at a public broadcaster!), you know there is something of a problem.
Did Rachel Reeves and the Government “mislead” people about the state of the public finances and the need for tax rises before the Budget?
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
December 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This is a useful thread on the controversy today. But away from the detail, when BBC Verify have to effectively fact-check their own Political Editor (who is *not* a columnist but an Editor at a public broadcaster!), you know there is something of a problem.
Reposted by Sarah May
Whilst I don’t think the whole tradition of yarnbombing is ‘at risk’ for various reasons, changes to the design of UK postboxes will have an effect on toppers in many places.
I can see the Post Office having to relent in some cases with famous boxes.
Thoughts?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I can see the Post Office having to relent in some cases with famous boxes.
Thoughts?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Titchfield solar postbox plan 'puts yarn-bombing tradition at risk'
An MP vows to fight to save a village's long-running tradition of elaborate postbox toppers.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Whilst I don’t think the whole tradition of yarnbombing is ‘at risk’ for various reasons, changes to the design of UK postboxes will have an effect on toppers in many places.
I can see the Post Office having to relent in some cases with famous boxes.
Thoughts?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I can see the Post Office having to relent in some cases with famous boxes.
Thoughts?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Sarah May
If the entirety of your op/ed compares demographic changes in London to the Khmer Rouge's mass murder of millions of people, you are willingly engaged in stochastic terrorism, and should be held responsible for any and all violent actions committed by fascists against non-white people
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
If the entirety of your op/ed compares demographic changes in London to the Khmer Rouge's mass murder of millions of people, you are willingly engaged in stochastic terrorism, and should be held responsible for any and all violent actions committed by fascists against non-white people
Reposted by Sarah May
Reasons to resign:
Tories: doubling the cost of mortgages; throwing birthday parties while people are separated from their dying relatives for reasons you imposed
Labour: holding press conference & not saying thing that previously you had later said was not untrue but which the OBR didn't also say
Tories: doubling the cost of mortgages; throwing birthday parties while people are separated from their dying relatives for reasons you imposed
Labour: holding press conference & not saying thing that previously you had later said was not untrue but which the OBR didn't also say
December 1, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reasons to resign:
Tories: doubling the cost of mortgages; throwing birthday parties while people are separated from their dying relatives for reasons you imposed
Labour: holding press conference & not saying thing that previously you had later said was not untrue but which the OBR didn't also say
Tories: doubling the cost of mortgages; throwing birthday parties while people are separated from their dying relatives for reasons you imposed
Labour: holding press conference & not saying thing that previously you had later said was not untrue but which the OBR didn't also say
Reposted by Sarah May
Visiting Norwich Science Festival in February? Interested in the connections between AI, history, film & technological change? Come hear our talk "Do Humans Dream of Electric Gods?" with a spot of terrifying robot futures on screen for good measure! Suitable for adults & kids 12+, tickets free:
Do Humans Dream of Electric Gods? | Norwich Science Festival
Join UEA's Dr Lorna Richardson and Dr Geraint D’Arcy for a deep-dive in to cinema, history, and AI.
norwichsciencefestival.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Visiting Norwich Science Festival in February? Interested in the connections between AI, history, film & technological change? Come hear our talk "Do Humans Dream of Electric Gods?" with a spot of terrifying robot futures on screen for good measure! Suitable for adults & kids 12+, tickets free:
Reposted by Sarah May
Oddly, chemical warfare is not a war crime when you use it against your own people.
This is something that the US glossed over when talking about Saddam Hussein and the Kurds. We never mention how many of our "less-than-lethal" "riot" controls would be war crimes.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is something that the US glossed over when talking about Saddam Hussein and the Kurds. We never mention how many of our "less-than-lethal" "riot" controls would be war crimes.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
WW1 toxic compound sprayed on Georgian protesters, BBC evidence suggests
Anti-government demonstrators are likely to have been targeted with camite, our investigation finds.
www.bbc.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Oddly, chemical warfare is not a war crime when you use it against your own people.
This is something that the US glossed over when talking about Saddam Hussein and the Kurds. We never mention how many of our "less-than-lethal" "riot" controls would be war crimes.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is something that the US glossed over when talking about Saddam Hussein and the Kurds. We never mention how many of our "less-than-lethal" "riot" controls would be war crimes.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sarah May
Last week I checked in on a friend, someone who I thought would be one of the very last immigrants (who have any other options) to leave Germany, only to find that they and their family are already in the process of leaving. Their explicit reason: the rise of fascism. Very, very disturbing times.
December 1, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Last week I checked in on a friend, someone who I thought would be one of the very last immigrants (who have any other options) to leave Germany, only to find that they and their family are already in the process of leaving. Their explicit reason: the rise of fascism. Very, very disturbing times.
Reposted by Sarah May
It's finally here. A history of the Nova Scotia lobster fishery.
Morton is truly an historian's historian, and from the installments I've seen, the book is going to have riches of social history, politics, economics, and even some marine biology.
share.google/J3GYgjTkjV9I...
Morton is truly an historian's historian, and from the installments I've seen, the book is going to have riches of social history, politics, economics, and even some marine biology.
share.google/J3GYgjTkjV9I...
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It's finally here. A history of the Nova Scotia lobster fishery.
Morton is truly an historian's historian, and from the installments I've seen, the book is going to have riches of social history, politics, economics, and even some marine biology.
share.google/J3GYgjTkjV9I...
Morton is truly an historian's historian, and from the installments I've seen, the book is going to have riches of social history, politics, economics, and even some marine biology.
share.google/J3GYgjTkjV9I...
Is there an opposite of FOMO, where you're glad to see other people's excitement without being drawn to share in it? I'm not in the mood for conferences myself, but I remember this joyful feeling and am glad others have it
Sooo very excited to be able to go to @tag2025york.bsky.social in person to delve into power and stones and transformations!!
Plus I need to stack up on British tea, Christmas chocolates and pop tarts!! 😁🎄🎄🎄
I also always wanted to see the Shambles!!
Plus I need to stack up on British tea, Christmas chocolates and pop tarts!! 😁🎄🎄🎄
I also always wanted to see the Shambles!!
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Is there an opposite of FOMO, where you're glad to see other people's excitement without being drawn to share in it? I'm not in the mood for conferences myself, but I remember this joyful feeling and am glad others have it
Reposted by Sarah May
Fascinating discussion of historic Hardship grant applications to the Royal Literary Fund, with copyright clearance given, but nary a mention of ethics... Should we really know details of an "unpublished note from Sylvia Plath’s doctor" ...? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
From Dylan Thomas’ shopping list to a note from Sylvia Plath’s doctor: newly uncovered case files reveal the hidden lives of famous writers
Exclusive: Hardship grant applications to the Royal Literary Fund, including unseen letters by Doris Lessing and a note from James Joyce saying that he ‘gets nothing in the way of royalties’, show aut...
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Fascinating discussion of historic Hardship grant applications to the Royal Literary Fund, with copyright clearance given, but nary a mention of ethics... Should we really know details of an "unpublished note from Sylvia Plath’s doctor" ...? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reposted by Sarah May
Also, complain long and loud, when GenAI screws up your interaction with a company - obtaining/using their products, contacting customer service, whatever. Do this direct and on social media. Employees may well be unable to push back against directives to use this garbage without risking their jobs.
This!
You DON’T HAVE TO USE IT!
It’s so easy NOT to use it.
They can’t force us to use it.
stop rolling over & saying “Well, you just have to get used to it. You can’t stop it”… how’d that work for <insert absolute garbage tech or even any insidious, violent movement (like the NF or N*zis) here>?
You DON’T HAVE TO USE IT!
It’s so easy NOT to use it.
They can’t force us to use it.
stop rolling over & saying “Well, you just have to get used to it. You can’t stop it”… how’d that work for <insert absolute garbage tech or even any insidious, violent movement (like the NF or N*zis) here>?
ALL you have to do is just not use it, tell these companies you aren't using it, and make fun of people who do. We need a mass collective effort to make genAI extremely uncool, lame, embarrassing, cringe. Everyone needs to react to it with a MOUNTAIN of hostility until they run out of steam.
December 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Also, complain long and loud, when GenAI screws up your interaction with a company - obtaining/using their products, contacting customer service, whatever. Do this direct and on social media. Employees may well be unable to push back against directives to use this garbage without risking their jobs.
Reposted by Sarah May
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by Sarah May
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Sarah May
« Ui, bonjour, prends ma monnaie »
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
« Ui, bonjour, prends ma monnaie »
Reposted by Sarah May
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Just a reminder to the museums sector, UK national minimum wage for over 21 years old is £12.21 per hour, or at 40hrs per week, £25396...
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Reposted by Sarah May
US CENTCOM announced Sunday that American and Syrian forces conducted joint strikes targeting #ISIS weapons depots in #Syria, marking the first official announcement of joint military action since Syria joined the International Coalition during al-#Sharaa’s visit to #Washington.
December 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
US CENTCOM announced Sunday that American and Syrian forces conducted joint strikes targeting #ISIS weapons depots in #Syria, marking the first official announcement of joint military action since Syria joined the International Coalition during al-#Sharaa’s visit to #Washington.
Reposted by Sarah May
Researchers from Yamanashi Prefecture's Mount Fuji Research Institute and the University of Tokyo begin excavation of houses buried in the 1707 eruption of Mt. Fuji in Oyama town, Shizuoka prefecture. #Japan #archaeology 🏺 www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Excavation begins of houses buried by Mt. Fuji volcanic ash | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Japanese researchers have launched a large-scale project to excavate houses buried by ash during an eruption of Mount Fuji more than 300 years ago.
www3.nhk.or.jp
December 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Researchers from Yamanashi Prefecture's Mount Fuji Research Institute and the University of Tokyo begin excavation of houses buried in the 1707 eruption of Mt. Fuji in Oyama town, Shizuoka prefecture. #Japan #archaeology 🏺 www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Reposted by Sarah May
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Sarah May
When you see stuff like this, you should ask yourself: what would happen if a PM was ever elected who was not 100% reliably One Of The Lads, and he or she asked to see the Northern Ireland files from the 1970s? What then.
Special forces chief tried to cover up concerns about SAS conduct in Afghanistan, inquiry told
Whistleblower says chain of command failed to stop extrajudicial shootings, including of children, after alarm was raised
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
When you see stuff like this, you should ask yourself: what would happen if a PM was ever elected who was not 100% reliably One Of The Lads, and he or she asked to see the Northern Ireland files from the 1970s? What then.
Reposted by Sarah May
Reposted by Sarah May
This bit from the obit stood out to me
November 30, 2025 at 5:18 AM
This bit from the obit stood out to me
Reposted by Sarah May
Ask who is providing the infrastructure. Ask what outsourced private IT firms are taking a cut, and how big it is. Ask about staffing and the frequency of syllabus updates. Ask.
'The Russell Group institution, one of the UK’s largest, has announced plans to expand beyond its traditional fully campus-based model of higher education and increase its digital and global presence, as well as its flexible learning opportunities.' 1/2
Half of Manchester students to be learning online in 10 years
Russell Group institution announces major pivot into digital teaching as universities evolve further beyond traditional models
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Ask who is providing the infrastructure. Ask what outsourced private IT firms are taking a cut, and how big it is. Ask about staffing and the frequency of syllabus updates. Ask.
Reposted by Sarah May
Reposted by Sarah May
Thickening plot - apparently Meta suggests well-rendered, correctly presented pre-made ads which, when published are absolute bullshit like this.
Hearsay at the moment, but if that’s even slightly the case, it’s a giant scandal that, I predict, will get absolutely no traction whatsoever.
Hearsay at the moment, but if that’s even slightly the case, it’s a giant scandal that, I predict, will get absolutely no traction whatsoever.
November 30, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Thickening plot - apparently Meta suggests well-rendered, correctly presented pre-made ads which, when published are absolute bullshit like this.
Hearsay at the moment, but if that’s even slightly the case, it’s a giant scandal that, I predict, will get absolutely no traction whatsoever.
Hearsay at the moment, but if that’s even slightly the case, it’s a giant scandal that, I predict, will get absolutely no traction whatsoever.
Reposted by Sarah May
thought this was an Onion headline
OpenAI says a suicidal teenager should have read their fine print
OpenAI says a suicidal teenager should have read their fine print
OpenAI says a suicidal teenager should have read their fine print
www.independent.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
thought this was an Onion headline