David Pattie
@davidpattie.bsky.social
Teaches Drama at University of Birmingham. Scot. And unfeasibly tall.
Written about Beckett, UK theatre, popular music, Eno, Kraftwerk, Velvets, Talking Heads, and why gigs look the way they do.
Written about Beckett, UK theatre, popular music, Eno, Kraftwerk, Velvets, Talking Heads, and why gigs look the way they do.
Well, there you go: my body's turned up for the first day back after the break, but my brain's still somewhere between here and Scotland. If anyone sees a disembodied brain hitchhiking its way down the M6, could they let me know?
January 5, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Well, there you go: my body's turned up for the first day back after the break, but my brain's still somewhere between here and Scotland. If anyone sees a disembodied brain hitchhiking its way down the M6, could they let me know?
Trump announces military strike on Oslo. 'They're holding the Nobel Peace Prize hostage', he tells press. 'We're gonna liberate it. From the bad guys. They're bad guys. I mean, just the worst guys.'
January 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Trump announces military strike on Oslo. 'They're holding the Nobel Peace Prize hostage', he tells press. 'We're gonna liberate it. From the bad guys. They're bad guys. I mean, just the worst guys.'
Is it just me, or does 2026 already feel like it's been a year long?
January 3, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Is it just me, or does 2026 already feel like it's been a year long?
@drnjwaddell.bsky.social- don’t want to worry you or anything, but you’re currently on Radio 4.
January 1, 2026 at 2:24 PM
@drnjwaddell.bsky.social- don’t want to worry you or anything, but you’re currently on Radio 4.
Wasn’t expecting Stranger Things to finish with her torching Kings Landing like that.
December 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Wasn’t expecting Stranger Things to finish with her torching Kings Landing like that.
I wish you all unbridled joy!
I wish you all the best of health!
Here’s to 2026!
25 can fuck itself.
I wish you all the best of health!
Here’s to 2026!
25 can fuck itself.
December 31, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I wish you all unbridled joy!
I wish you all the best of health!
Here’s to 2026!
25 can fuck itself.
I wish you all the best of health!
Here’s to 2026!
25 can fuck itself.
Glad this is doing the rounds again. Few things are perfect. This is.
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
December 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Glad this is doing the rounds again. Few things are perfect. This is.
Reposted by David Pattie
Some alternative questions:
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
December 30, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Some alternative questions:
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
1. Should I add butter to this food?
2. Would melted cheese on top improve this food?
3. Should I add a bit more butter to this food?
4. What's on telly?
Erm… OK.
Seems I’m a categorical imperative. Right. Better get on with that then.
Seems I’m a categorical imperative. Right. Better get on with that then.
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 30, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Erm… OK.
Seems I’m a categorical imperative. Right. Better get on with that then.
Seems I’m a categorical imperative. Right. Better get on with that then.
Reposted by David Pattie
On this day in 2019, we lost Alasdair Gray, who passed away at the Royal Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. A writer & artist whose work left a lasting mark on Scottish culture, Gray’s voice, imagination, and vision continue to resonate through his novels, essays, and artwork.
December 29, 2025 at 9:53 AM
On this day in 2019, we lost Alasdair Gray, who passed away at the Royal Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. A writer & artist whose work left a lasting mark on Scottish culture, Gray’s voice, imagination, and vision continue to resonate through his novels, essays, and artwork.
Reposted by David Pattie
Reposted by David Pattie
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
The winter gales will rage and howl
The winter storms will hit
I've got my Out of Office on
And I don't give a shit
The winter storms will hit
I've got my Out of Office on
And I don't give a shit
December 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The winter gales will rage and howl
The winter storms will hit
I've got my Out of Office on
And I don't give a shit
The winter storms will hit
I've got my Out of Office on
And I don't give a shit
Y'know what'd be great? When you send a work email this time of year, the out of office replies should be different colours. Then your inbox would look all festive.
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Y'know what'd be great? When you send a work email this time of year, the out of office replies should be different colours. Then your inbox would look all festive.
Emails are down to a trickle, I have coffee, and I'm brainstorming for the next book(s). I've had a message from a student about assessment, and I'm pretty sure I was able to help.
Sometimes, not often, academia is this. Not enough. Not nearly enough. But sometimes it's this.
Sometimes, not often, academia is this. Not enough. Not nearly enough. But sometimes it's this.
December 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Emails are down to a trickle, I have coffee, and I'm brainstorming for the next book(s). I've had a message from a student about assessment, and I'm pretty sure I was able to help.
Sometimes, not often, academia is this. Not enough. Not nearly enough. But sometimes it's this.
Sometimes, not often, academia is this. Not enough. Not nearly enough. But sometimes it's this.
Reposted by David Pattie
From my own niche: institutions of higher education should stop chasing trends, work internally to assert a set of values, and then build curriculum around those values.
just a collection of "inevitable" multi-billion dollar tech that was going to be the future of everything until everyone in the audience who was supposed to just get on board said "lol no"
December 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
From my own niche: institutions of higher education should stop chasing trends, work internally to assert a set of values, and then build curriculum around those values.
But have you been through the desert on a horse with no name?
I’ve been on the road in the new all-electric Jaguar
I’ve been on the road in the new all-electric Jaguar
www.independent.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
But have you been through the desert on a horse with no name?
Reposted by David Pattie
Great, now do a customs union and the single market.
EXCL: An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Great, now do a customs union and the single market.
Altman: CHATGPT THE BABY'S BEEN CRYING FOR TWELVE HOURS OH GOD I'M SO TIRED
ChatGPT: That's a very interesting question and I'm glad you've asked it let's break this down into sections a baby crying produces tears mucus and a loud noise how loud the noise is depends on the nature of the problem and
ChatGPT: That's a very interesting question and I'm glad you've asked it let's break this down into sections a baby crying produces tears mucus and a loud noise how loud the noise is depends on the nature of the problem and
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Altman: CHATGPT THE BABY'S BEEN CRYING FOR TWELVE HOURS OH GOD I'M SO TIRED
ChatGPT: That's a very interesting question and I'm glad you've asked it let's break this down into sections a baby crying produces tears mucus and a loud noise how loud the noise is depends on the nature of the problem and
ChatGPT: That's a very interesting question and I'm glad you've asked it let's break this down into sections a baby crying produces tears mucus and a loud noise how loud the noise is depends on the nature of the problem and
It's possible- it's just possible- that Sam Altman isn't really that intelligent.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It's possible- it's just possible- that Sam Altman isn't really that intelligent.
Reposted by David Pattie
Just me and the legendary Comrades Bates and Bird ranting about "Rewriting the Modernist Wife: Beckett, Stein, Toklas, Dumesnil" at the MLA 2026 in Toronto. I am so grateful to @lizbaz.bsky.social for the invitation to be part of such a progressive panel.
beckettreview.org/2025/12/06/b...
beckettreview.org/2025/12/06/b...
Beckett Society Panel, MLA 2026, Toronto
The annual convention of the Modern Language Association will take place in January 2026 in Toronto. As ever, the Samuel Beckett Society will be represented at a guaranteed panel. This year’s…
beckettreview.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Just me and the legendary Comrades Bates and Bird ranting about "Rewriting the Modernist Wife: Beckett, Stein, Toklas, Dumesnil" at the MLA 2026 in Toronto. I am so grateful to @lizbaz.bsky.social for the invitation to be part of such a progressive panel.
beckettreview.org/2025/12/06/b...
beckettreview.org/2025/12/06/b...
Reposted by David Pattie
December 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by David Pattie
I live in Wales and today received my Join Us letter from Reform UK, complete with SAE which I posted back to them, immediately, empty. If every other person in Wales did this, Reform would spend over £1.5 million on postage. Not sorry. Join me Cymru.
December 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I live in Wales and today received my Join Us letter from Reform UK, complete with SAE which I posted back to them, immediately, empty. If every other person in Wales did this, Reform would spend over £1.5 million on postage. Not sorry. Join me Cymru.
