George McKay
LightNews LightNews
banner
georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay
@georgemckay.bsky.social
360 followers 250 following 62 posts

Prof Media Studies. Writes about popular music, festival, disability, jazz, peace, protest, gardening, + most recently Oxford Handbook of...Punk Rock. Charcot Marie Tooth. Plays music: double bass, bands (jazz, folk)

Videos
Art 63%
Computer science 11%
Posts Replies Media Videos

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · 14h
Looks like it yes, from when I worked @salforduni.bsky.social

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · 10d
WE don’t fkn want him!

Reposted by George McKay

sleafordmods.bsky.social
Sleaford Mods @sleafordmods.bsky.social · 10d
It’s that time of year again. A darker take on The Good Life, perfect for Halloween or just another grim night in Blighty. Less pumpkin spice, more existential dread.

Watch it while you still can, it disappears at midnight on Sunday.

👀 youtube.com/watch?v=aaynJpIuaCY
Sleaford Mods Ft. Gwendoline Christie & Big Special - The Good Life (Dark Version)
YouTube video by Sleaford Mods
youtube.com

Reposted by George McKay

simonpegg.bsky.social
Simon Pegg @simonpegg.bsky.social · 11d
Attention Norfolk folk.

If the kids come round Trick or Treating tonight, and you don't want to open the door, just shout 'Prince Andrew Lives here now' through the letterbox to them and problem solved.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Peter Campbell, Karin Wahl‐Jorgensen , and 2 more

davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dr Dave Hitchcock @davehitchcock.bsky.social · 19d
I wrote about the stupid white paper.

In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins, Mel Bartley, Karen R. Lips , and 37 more

anavaldi.bsky.social
ana valdivia @anavaldi.bsky.social · 20d
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:

- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Oct 8
Some of my brilliant colleagues @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social have organised the NQIFF 2025 film festival in Norwich. It's all free! Info and programme here: www.nqiff.com #queerfilm #filmfestival

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Oct 2
New blog abt Winnie Atwell, on the occasion of the new blue plaque marking her achievements. georgemckay.org/winifred-atw...

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 27
RIP Tony Harrison, who blew my mind when I read his work as a student in Hull. I took my mum (working class) to see him read @norwichartscentre.bsky.social in 1984 we were both v moved. I took my copy for him to sign & made notes on what he read. I still say “Ay ay stutterer Demosthenes” sometimes

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 25
Always loved that Danny Thompson (RIP) played with free drummer John Stevens in a band too. One of those more surprising folk / jazz crossovers. Here’s a foto I found of Thompson from 1978, in Norwich! (That’s a cello not a bass tho)

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 25
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
From Kate Bush to Pentangle to T-Rex, the late Danny Thompson’s musical brilliance knew no bounds
The bassist, who has died aged 86, was an extraordinary and wildly versatile presence in British music, bringing his personality into everything he played
www.theguardian.com

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 18
Tonight

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 17
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...
Carol Ann Duffy writes ‘bombsite’ poem about Trump’s UK state visit
Exclusive: Former poet laureate has reader contrasting pomp and ceremony of banquet with ruins left by war
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Dorothy Bishop , and 25 more

nposegay.bsky.social
Dr. Nick Posegay @nposegay.bsky.social · Sep 17
I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???

This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
By creating an Account with Academia.edu, you grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable license, permission, and consent for Academia.edu to use your Member Content and your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness, city, institutional affiliations, citations, mentions, publications, and areas of interest) in any manner, including for the purpose of advertising, selling, or soliciting the use or purchase of Academia.edu's Services.

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Sep 15
Great point and suggestion

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Aug 31
Always a pleasure to see some music at the Bim when in Amsterdam with my Rhythm Changes conference pals

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Aug 27
Love bass talk of all kinds

Reposted by George McKay, Julie Cupples

henrytapper.bsky.social
Henry Tapper @henrytapper.bsky.social · Aug 23
Surely not, but… astonishingly: yes.
Can USS DB pension benefits decrease by paying more?
Surely not, but… astonishingly: yes. This is because when USS scheme members cease service on any day other than 31 March, USS applies an unusual and little-known mechanism of revaluation. Instead …
henrytapper.com

Reposted by George McKay

musicvenuetrust.bsky.social
Music Venue Trust @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social · Aug 18
MPs have launched a fan-led review of live music - with an online survey, which you will find via: committees.parliament.uk/committee/37...

Reposted by George McKay

sleafordmods.bsky.social
Sleaford Mods @sleafordmods.bsky.social · Mar 14
UK GRIM live on KEXP from The Triple Door. Recorded 19th April 2023. Still here, still GRIM.

Witness the fitness and check out the full performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE0k...

Reposted by George McKay

charlrwalker.bsky.social
Charlotte Walker @charlrwalker.bsky.social · Mar 19
The reality of claiming PIP: a 🧵

1) To claim PIP you have to describe in excruciating detail all the ways you cannot function. This means that you are forced to think in very detailed terms exactly how disabled you are, which often has a devastating effect on the mental health of the applicant 1/?

Reposted by George McKay

gsoh31.bsky.social
Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Jun 25
Bradford Uni looking to cut Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Biomedical Sciences and Forensics (among others). Not as if we need those is it. Britain - the stupid country. 🇬🇧 www.ucu.org.uk/article/1406...
University of Bradford staff to down tools for 10 days over £16m cuts programme
Staff at the University of Bradford will begin ten days of strike action next week over plans to make £16m of cuts, slash hundreds of jobs and close multiple courses.
www.ucu.org.uk

Reposted by George McKay

orkneylibrary.bsky.social
Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · Jul 25
From the deserts of Sudan
to the gardens of Japan.
From Milan to Yucatan,
or the wilds of Borneo
to the vineyards of Bordeaux.

Hit me with your library card. Hit me. Hit me.
A display of travel books for the deserts of Sudan, Japan, Yucatan, Milan, Bordeaux and Borneo

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Jul 24
Love the names

Reposted by George McKay

disabilityarts.bsky.social
Disability Arts Online @disabilityarts.bsky.social · Jul 24
The Old Vic seeks an Education & Community Intern. Funded by John Lyon's Charity Inclusive Internship fund to support young people with learning disabilities into the creative workforce

Closing - 29 Jul
Location - London
££ - £8.6K

disabilityarts.online/opportunity-...
The Old Vic in bold black text.

georgemckay.bsky.social
George McKay @georgemckay.bsky.social · Jul 22
With Tangential Trio at the Rumsey Wells in Norwich on Thursday evening just in case you are in the area & fancy some ‘old jazz, new jazz, green jazz, blue jazz’ …

Reposted by George McKay

uea-ucu.bsky.social
UEA UCU says join a union @uea-ucu.bsky.social · Jul 22
Plans to cut mental health courses at the University of East Anglia have been criticised as “short-sighted” and a “dereliction of civic responsibility”.

More on the proposed Clinical Psychology course closures at UEA via @timeshighered.bsky.social - www.timeshighereducation.com/news/closure...
Closure of UEA mental health courses ‘deeply concerning’
University says NHS and apprenticeship changes make programmes ‘no longer viable’ but union calls move a ‘dereliction of civic responsibility’
www.timeshighereducation.com

Reposted by Tim M. Blackburn, Elizabeth Stokoe, Eric Herring , and 7 more

nameshiv.bsky.social
Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · Jul 22
The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful
acjsissons.bsky.social Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · Jul 21
The UK’s economic problems are quite deep-rooted. The best summary I can offer is “we don’t make enough valuable, productive stuff and sell it to the world any more”.
Things like planning and energy no doubt play a role in that - but I don’t think they’re enough to fix it on their own

Reposted by George McKay

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Jul 22
'The report estimates that while 8,900 people are being, or have recently been, affected by compulsory redundancies across the sector’s 165 institutions, a further 11,500 people have been affected by “back-door” redundancies, such as voluntary severance'. zenodo.org/records/1563... 3/3
Universities Degraded: Staff Experiences & Employer Practices of Redundancies in UK Higher Education
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conducted between August and October 2024 and publicised mainly by members of the University and College Union (UCU), the ‘Survey for UCU Members on HE Redundancies’ invited response...
zenodo.org

Reposted by George McKay

marcwillerskc.bsky.social
marcwillerskc.bsky.social @marcwillerskc.bsky.social · Jul 21
Good to see the government is drawing up the terms of reference for the Battle of Orgreave public inquiry - but this wasn’t an isolated event. Let’s not forget the grossly excessive police violence used against Travellers at the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985 www.gypsy-traveller.org/news/40-year...