Marc Welsh
@marcwelsh.bsky.social
Eclectic, inert, nerdish, a collection of spare parts. Niche Doctor Who references a forte. Masquerades as an academic with a political bent, tho mostly moans about how and why the current system doesn't work. Once wrote something something resilience.
Reposted by Marc Welsh
I mean yeah it’s an authoritarian takeover but can we take some comfort in the fact that the people doing it are INSANELY stupid?
December 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
I mean yeah it’s an authoritarian takeover but can we take some comfort in the fact that the people doing it are INSANELY stupid?
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Borrowed with love from Mastodon:
December 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Borrowed with love from Mastodon:
Reposted by Marc Welsh
60,000 is the *low end* estimate.
So, El Fasher looks like one of the worst single event atrocities to happen this century so far, but the evidence has come in such a trickle it seems to only now be getting verified
At least 60,000 murdered in Sudanese city, which resembles ‘a slaughterhouse’
Satellite evidence shows extent of paramilitary massacre in El Fasher
www.irishtimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:04 AM
60,000 is the *low end* estimate.
This is such a shame. But very brave of Robin Ince to show a damn sight more integrity than the BBC apparatchiks who've been asking him to 'tone it down' on speaking out for the vulnerable and marginalised, and the planet.
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This is such a shame. But very brave of Robin Ince to show a damn sight more integrity than the BBC apparatchiks who've been asking him to 'tone it down' on speaking out for the vulnerable and marginalised, and the planet.
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Murdoch’s Times apparently think baking the deeply racist replacement theory conspiracy into official government policy is a good thing…..
December 13, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Murdoch’s Times apparently think baking the deeply racist replacement theory conspiracy into official government policy is a good thing…..
Reposted by Marc Welsh
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
December 9, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
This piece on AI by Cory Doctorow is spectactular.
pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Dear newspaper TV reviewers.
We get it. You don't really like sci-fi on tv unless it's super cerebral (aka Severance) or super nostalgia-feels (aka Stranger Things).
BBC's 'War Between Land and Sea' is great - half-Torchwood tone, half-Pertwee politics.
My opinion trumps yours.
Lots of love. x
We get it. You don't really like sci-fi on tv unless it's super cerebral (aka Severance) or super nostalgia-feels (aka Stranger Things).
BBC's 'War Between Land and Sea' is great - half-Torchwood tone, half-Pertwee politics.
My opinion trumps yours.
Lots of love. x
December 8, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Dear newspaper TV reviewers.
We get it. You don't really like sci-fi on tv unless it's super cerebral (aka Severance) or super nostalgia-feels (aka Stranger Things).
BBC's 'War Between Land and Sea' is great - half-Torchwood tone, half-Pertwee politics.
My opinion trumps yours.
Lots of love. x
We get it. You don't really like sci-fi on tv unless it's super cerebral (aka Severance) or super nostalgia-feels (aka Stranger Things).
BBC's 'War Between Land and Sea' is great - half-Torchwood tone, half-Pertwee politics.
My opinion trumps yours.
Lots of love. x
Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man - an absolute blast. Great writing, cinematography and performances. Surprisingly soulful in places.
Worth a cinema seat rather than a Netflix binge.
Worth a cinema seat rather than a Netflix binge.
a man in a suit stands in front of a stained glass window with the word kepler below him
ALT: a man in a suit stands in front of a stained glass window with the word kepler below him
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man - an absolute blast. Great writing, cinematography and performances. Surprisingly soulful in places.
Worth a cinema seat rather than a Netflix binge.
Worth a cinema seat rather than a Netflix binge.
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Every new word in this sentence is worse than the last
December 6, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Every new word in this sentence is worse than the last
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Former Dulwich college pupil alleges Farage told him ‘that’s the way back to Africa’
Former Dulwich college pupil alleges Farage told him ‘that’s the way back to Africa’
Exclusive: Yinka Bankole compelled to speak out after Reform leader’s attempts to dismiss hurt of alleged targets
A former Dulwich college pupil who claims a teenage Nigel Farage told him “that’s the way back to Africa” has said he felt compelled to speak out after the Reform leader’s attempt at “denying or dismissing” the hurt of his alleged targets.
Yinka Bankole, who claims he had just started at the school when a 17-year-old Farage singled him out for abuse, said he had decided to tell his story in full after watching the Reform leader’s press conference on Thursday. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Former Dulwich college pupil alleges Farage told him ‘that’s the way back to Africa’
Come on BBC. Do the right thing and follow the Spanish and Irish lead. Withdraw support for #Eurovision. This is a problem entirely of the EBUs making. The horror in Gaza and the gradual annexation of the West Bank continues.
#gaychristmas
#gaychristmas
December 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Come on BBC. Do the right thing and follow the Spanish and Irish lead. Withdraw support for #Eurovision. This is a problem entirely of the EBUs making. The horror in Gaza and the gradual annexation of the West Bank continues.
#gaychristmas
#gaychristmas
"...the decision to ballot stalled long-overdue joint work on reforming the salary spine, diversity-driven pay gaps, workload, and contract types..."
i.e. opportunities to actually improve working conditions consciously squandered.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
i.e. opportunities to actually improve working conditions consciously squandered.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
UCU pay ballot fails to meet threshold
No industrial action expected from UCU on the 2025-26 New Jnches pay round
wonkhe.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
"...the decision to ballot stalled long-overdue joint work on reforming the salary spine, diversity-driven pay gaps, workload, and contract types..."
i.e. opportunities to actually improve working conditions consciously squandered.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
i.e. opportunities to actually improve working conditions consciously squandered.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
This result should be a wake-up call for the union in how we plan and strategise, and also understand the nature of the precarious state of our sector.
I suspect for some it won't be. But Dave Hitchcock lays things out much more eloquently than I could here. Have a read.
I suspect for some it won't be. But Dave Hitchcock lays things out much more eloquently than I could here. Have a read.
Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.
The HE Ballot failed, now what?
If you’re reading this it is because today the UCU’s 2025 national ballot over pay and conditions in universities has failed. The last time…
hitchcockian.medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This result should be a wake-up call for the union in how we plan and strategise, and also understand the nature of the precarious state of our sector.
I suspect for some it won't be. But Dave Hitchcock lays things out much more eloquently than I could here. Have a read.
I suspect for some it won't be. But Dave Hitchcock lays things out much more eloquently than I could here. Have a read.
*aaand breathe* - UCU ballot result.
In my view some serious errors of judgement were involved in pursuing this expensive and ultimately futile course of action.
Glad to hear the GS and Pres Elect emphasising the need for moving into listening and collaboration mode going forward.
In my view some serious errors of judgement were involved in pursuing this expensive and ultimately futile course of action.
Glad to hear the GS and Pres Elect emphasising the need for moving into listening and collaboration mode going forward.
December 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
*aaand breathe* - UCU ballot result.
In my view some serious errors of judgement were involved in pursuing this expensive and ultimately futile course of action.
Glad to hear the GS and Pres Elect emphasising the need for moving into listening and collaboration mode going forward.
In my view some serious errors of judgement were involved in pursuing this expensive and ultimately futile course of action.
Glad to hear the GS and Pres Elect emphasising the need for moving into listening and collaboration mode going forward.
I like that last sentence. That should be inscribed on the cover page of every module handbook.
And I speak as a relative advocate for incorporating AI into teaching and learning!
And I speak as a relative advocate for incorporating AI into teaching and learning!
I've blogged on idea that #AI 'democratises' various skills, such as illustration and writing. I think that misses the point of learning a skill entirely. It's the learning of the skill that enriches and frees us, not us being able to offload it to a machine: blog.matthewbarnard.phd/democratisat...
Democratisation and AI
A philosophical critique of AI “democratisation,” exploring how skill, freedom and education relate, drawing on Plato, Aristotle, Heidegger and Berlin.
blog.matthewbarnard.phd
November 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I like that last sentence. That should be inscribed on the cover page of every module handbook.
And I speak as a relative advocate for incorporating AI into teaching and learning!
And I speak as a relative advocate for incorporating AI into teaching and learning!
Feel free to sign, or not.
Partic if you're in Ceredigion. Come on. We can beat Dwyfor Meirionydd surely!?!
Geogers might be intrigued by the accompanying map.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Partic if you're in Ceredigion. Come on. We can beat Dwyfor Meirionydd surely!?!
Geogers might be intrigued by the accompanying map.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Feel free to sign, or not.
Partic if you're in Ceredigion. Come on. We can beat Dwyfor Meirionydd surely!?!
Geogers might be intrigued by the accompanying map.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Partic if you're in Ceredigion. Come on. We can beat Dwyfor Meirionydd surely!?!
Geogers might be intrigued by the accompanying map.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Marc Welsh
“Just three companies – DMG Media, News UK and Reach – control 90% of UK national newspaper circulation, a 20% increase in market concentration since 2014. Newsquest and National World – control 51% of the UK’s 882 local newspapers and local news websites”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media ownership affect political decisions
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:32 PM
“Just three companies – DMG Media, News UK and Reach – control 90% of UK national newspaper circulation, a 20% increase in market concentration since 2014. Newsquest and National World – control 51% of the UK’s 882 local newspapers and local news websites”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
We all know he's trying to avoid saying, don't we?
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
We all know he's trying to avoid saying, don't we?
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Remember how we kept getting told that a European Army was a REALLY BAD idea?
It's January 31st, 2020, and Nathan Gill is celebrating our imminent departure from the EU.... and that terrible idea of a European Army.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Remember how we kept getting told that a European Army was a REALLY BAD idea?
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Reposted by Marc Welsh
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
Covid inquiry live: ‘Inexcusable’ delays under Johnson led to 23,000 deaths
Lockdowns may have been avoided if Boris Johnson’s government had acted faster, damning report finds
www.thetimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
Interesting as a summary of some things needed for an 'AI first HE institution'.
The thing I think missing at the moment is a vision, an ability for institutions and their staff to visualise what an HE institution that embeds AI in its work actually looks like.
The thing I think missing at the moment is a vision, an ability for institutions and their staff to visualise what an HE institution that embeds AI in its work actually looks like.
Last week on Wonkhe: Janice Kay and Rachel Maxwell set out all the elements of a whole-institution AI strategy and the leadership capabilities required to make it real
Adopting AI across an institution is a pressing leadership challenge
Janice Kay and Rachel Maxwell set out all the elements of a whole-institution AI strategy and the leadership capabilities required to make it real
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Interesting as a summary of some things needed for an 'AI first HE institution'.
The thing I think missing at the moment is a vision, an ability for institutions and their staff to visualise what an HE institution that embeds AI in its work actually looks like.
The thing I think missing at the moment is a vision, an ability for institutions and their staff to visualise what an HE institution that embeds AI in its work actually looks like.
Reposted by Marc Welsh
It makes me wonder whether Prescott actually consulted the original source himself & doctored it or simply took dictation from someone else. A person, for example, who had helped insert a right-wing lobbyist who hadn’t done journalism for over 20 years into such a potentially important position…
The remarkable story we discussed this morning. (No paywall but do consider subscribing.) www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-e...
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Prescott himself doctored Trump quote in his anti-BBC report
A report alleging Panorama broadcast misleading Trump quotes contains misleading quotes itself
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
It makes me wonder whether Prescott actually consulted the original source himself & doctored it or simply took dictation from someone else. A person, for example, who had helped insert a right-wing lobbyist who hadn’t done journalism for over 20 years into such a potentially important position…