Dr Gaz J Johnson
@legionofllama.bsky.social
Hiking YouTuber, sometime voice-actor, university press supremo & former chief editor. Loves gaming, woodworking, renovation, scifi, Eurovision, comic books, nature, weasels & gooses. Frequently sardonic, occasionally witty. (https://linktr.ee/llordllama)
The fun of meeting my successor as Editor-in-Chief, and wishing them well on their journey in the role. And remembering too how baffling it all was when I started off all those long years ago.
December 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The fun of meeting my successor as Editor-in-Chief, and wishing them well on their journey in the role. And remembering too how baffling it all was when I started off all those long years ago.
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Campus is suddenly much improved this lunchtime.
Campus is suddenly much improved this lunchtime.
December 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Campus is suddenly much improved this lunchtime.
Campus is suddenly much improved this lunchtime.
Ah, day 42 in the current job - doubtless this means I'll uncover the question to life, the universe and everything by its end.
Which, to be fair, looking at my meeting schedule seems improbable at best.
Which, to be fair, looking at my meeting schedule seems improbable at best.
December 2, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Ah, day 42 in the current job - doubtless this means I'll uncover the question to life, the universe and everything by its end.
Which, to be fair, looking at my meeting schedule seems improbable at best.
Which, to be fair, looking at my meeting schedule seems improbable at best.
Mrs Llama's out at the WI for a cheese tasting night, and keeps sending me updates.
She had better also be nabbing me some samples or that's Christmas cancelled. 🤣
She had better also be nabbing me some samples or that's Christmas cancelled. 🤣
December 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Mrs Llama's out at the WI for a cheese tasting night, and keeps sending me updates.
She had better also be nabbing me some samples or that's Christmas cancelled. 🤣
She had better also be nabbing me some samples or that's Christmas cancelled. 🤣
Well buttocks, starting the week with hearing the news my favourite aunt's passed away overnight (at home, with loved ones, as good as these things get). While she's been unwell for a long time, it's still a kick to the ribs.
December 1, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Well buttocks, starting the week with hearing the news my favourite aunt's passed away overnight (at home, with loved ones, as good as these things get). While she's been unwell for a long time, it's still a kick to the ribs.
Wham! - Last Christmas (Official Video)
YouTube video by WhamVEVO
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Winter hiking mode engaged. Frosty start but sun later means I wasn't totally chilled to the bone. But way too soggy to cross fields after the downpours of the last few days!
Mrs Llama guest appearance for the final mile (knocked my pace right down 😂)
Mrs Llama guest appearance for the final mile (knocked my pace right down 😂)
November 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Winter hiking mode engaged. Frosty start but sun later means I wasn't totally chilled to the bone. But way too soggy to cross fields after the downpours of the last few days!
Mrs Llama guest appearance for the final mile (knocked my pace right down 😂)
Mrs Llama guest appearance for the final mile (knocked my pace right down 😂)
Good to see with all my ad & tracker blockers in place, that Fb ads continue to know me and what I really want oh so well...
November 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Good to see with all my ad & tracker blockers in place, that Fb ads continue to know me and what I really want oh so well...
Saturday lunch with the Keeper of Traken pt3. This is a cracking story and even Adric can't ruin this one.
Tony Ainley is an absolute star in this one, especially knowing what is to come next adventure.
Tony Ainley is an absolute star in this one, especially knowing what is to come next adventure.
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Saturday lunch with the Keeper of Traken pt3. This is a cracking story and even Adric can't ruin this one.
Tony Ainley is an absolute star in this one, especially knowing what is to come next adventure.
Tony Ainley is an absolute star in this one, especially knowing what is to come next adventure.
As its a soggy old day a trip to Asda and Next have been the highlights. I did the weekly shop, Mrs Llama emerged with a new swan jumper.
I think she had more fun!
I think she had more fun!
November 29, 2025 at 11:26 AM
As its a soggy old day a trip to Asda and Next have been the highlights. I did the weekly shop, Mrs Llama emerged with a new swan jumper.
I think she had more fun!
I think she had more fun!
Putting the Christmas lights up outside* has led to the first festive argument. Ah, the season of goodwill. 😂🎄
Meanwhile, the neighbour's roof tried to kill Mrs Llama, which she was less than impressed with.
*Not going on until after my birthday!
Meanwhile, the neighbour's roof tried to kill Mrs Llama, which she was less than impressed with.
*Not going on until after my birthday!
November 28, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Putting the Christmas lights up outside* has led to the first festive argument. Ah, the season of goodwill. 😂🎄
Meanwhile, the neighbour's roof tried to kill Mrs Llama, which she was less than impressed with.
*Not going on until after my birthday!
Meanwhile, the neighbour's roof tried to kill Mrs Llama, which she was less than impressed with.
*Not going on until after my birthday!
If I have many more lengthy meetings with our local scholars in the Arts Centre Café, the staff are going to allocate me a regular seat.
Still, it IS a top place to have meetings and does a brilliant hot chocolate - perfect for the weather.
Still, it IS a top place to have meetings and does a brilliant hot chocolate - perfect for the weather.
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
If I have many more lengthy meetings with our local scholars in the Arts Centre Café, the staff are going to allocate me a regular seat.
Still, it IS a top place to have meetings and does a brilliant hot chocolate - perfect for the weather.
Still, it IS a top place to have meetings and does a brilliant hot chocolate - perfect for the weather.
One joy of the job - joining the Wednesday walkers group for a circle around campus. Even on a frosty old day like today!
November 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
One joy of the job - joining the Wednesday walkers group for a circle around campus. Even on a frosty old day like today!
Realisation this morning that it's pretty much 30 years to the day since I met the young lady who is now Mrs Llama.
30...long years. 😂
Our first date* anniversary isn't for some month's into 2026 though.
30...long years. 😂
Our first date* anniversary isn't for some month's into 2026 though.
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Realisation this morning that it's pretty much 30 years to the day since I met the young lady who is now Mrs Llama.
30...long years. 😂
Our first date* anniversary isn't for some month's into 2026 though.
30...long years. 😂
Our first date* anniversary isn't for some month's into 2026 though.
Reposted by Dr Gaz J Johnson
LLM-based gen AI for writing, audio, art, and video are "digital vultures bloated on stolen books [and other human-made things] which they churn together and vomit out in imitations of words from actual thinking, feeling brains."
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Basement adventures showed me why ChatGPT can only ever be garbage.
In The British Library. Photo by Surekha Davies. Hallo readers, First, a news flash: Join me for a virtual book launch for HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY...
buttondown.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
LLM-based gen AI for writing, audio, art, and video are "digital vultures bloated on stolen books [and other human-made things] which they churn together and vomit out in imitations of words from actual thinking, feeling brains."
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Realised I hit a milestone yesterday, 20% of my contracted time on this post complete. Still a long road to go, but nice to spot a fair chunk of the work's in the rear view mirror already.
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Realised I hit a milestone yesterday, 20% of my contracted time on this post complete. Still a long road to go, but nice to spot a fair chunk of the work's in the rear view mirror already.
Reposted by Dr Gaz J Johnson
"exiting the market" is a fun euphemism for thousands of students left without a school, thousands of people put out of work, entire local economies destroyed, and priceless knowledge lost.
I never thought it would be possible to have a stupider university policy than the Tories, but Labour schooled me.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Fifty higher education providers at risk of exiting market in England, MPs told
Regulator says 24 are at more immediate risk and may have to stop degree courses within next 12 months
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"exiting the market" is a fun euphemism for thousands of students left without a school, thousands of people put out of work, entire local economies destroyed, and priceless knowledge lost.
Reposted by Dr Gaz J Johnson
It goes without saying that the neoliberal language of a higher education "market" from which providers will "exit" is bleak. No media organisation challenges it, though. They all just repeat the mantra, as though education could never be a public good.
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
It goes without saying that the neoliberal language of a higher education "market" from which providers will "exit" is bleak. No media organisation challenges it, though. They all just repeat the mantra, as though education could never be a public good.
105 minutes to drive the 40 miles home tonight was rather taking the piss, even for the horror that it's the M69
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
105 minutes to drive the 40 miles home tonight was rather taking the piss, even for the horror that it's the M69
Not Croxley Green!!!! Oh noes.
Always pictured the Holy Stone of Clonrickert as slightly smaller than this
Boulders blunder 'bulldozed' green space laws as dozens may need removing
Controversial boulders could be removed from The Green, Croxley Green, after the revelation they were not placed with the necessary permission.
www.watfordobserver.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Not Croxley Green!!!! Oh noes.
Nothing like a lunchtime meeting with one of my favourite academics to run on and conversations to thread all over the place before we both realise it's been 90 minutes and we both need to be in our next meeting! 😀👍
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Nothing like a lunchtime meeting with one of my favourite academics to run on and conversations to thread all over the place before we both realise it's been 90 minutes and we both need to be in our next meeting! 😀👍
One day I will acquire the ability to spell 'Edinburgh' without three attempts.
Today, is not that day.
Today, is not that day.
November 25, 2025 at 8:55 AM
One day I will acquire the ability to spell 'Edinburgh' without three attempts.
Today, is not that day.
Today, is not that day.
Reposted by Dr Gaz J Johnson
Despite the headline, the actual bishop remains unbashed.
Priest bashes bishop's car into soap star's partner's Skoda while drunk
metro.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Despite the headline, the actual bishop remains unbashed.
Today is brought to you in association with meetings, and twinned with meetings, meetings and meetings.
Plus some meetings :)
Plus some meetings :)
November 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Today is brought to you in association with meetings, and twinned with meetings, meetings and meetings.
Plus some meetings :)
Plus some meetings :)
Slowly but surely installing all my regular programmes onto Baby-I, although more a case of as and when I actually need to start using them.
Guess I need to configure my a/v stuff next. Beyond my headphones anyway.
Guess I need to configure my a/v stuff next. Beyond my headphones anyway.
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Slowly but surely installing all my regular programmes onto Baby-I, although more a case of as and when I actually need to start using them.
Guess I need to configure my a/v stuff next. Beyond my headphones anyway.
Guess I need to configure my a/v stuff next. Beyond my headphones anyway.