Plashing Vole
@plashingvole.bsky.social
Mild-mannered lecturer by day…mild-mannered lecturer by night. Welsh lit, politicians’ fictions. Fencer, cyclist, UCU. Dysgwr Cymraeg; tá gaeilge agam. Barnau fy hun.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
University of Mordor.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
University of Mordor.
The subheading is inaccurate. Like all university senior managers, they want to cut millions from *other people’s salaries*. Never their own: the number and pay of senior staff only increases.
February 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
The subheading is inaccurate. Like all university senior managers, they want to cut millions from *other people’s salaries*. Never their own: the number and pay of senior staff only increases.
The report says he’s negotiating a place in the Lotds as a reward to failure. What a way to run an allegedly serious country.
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days
Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the door
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:14 PM
The report says he’s negotiating a place in the Lotds as a reward to failure. What a way to run an allegedly serious country.
‘We’ve installed these hives to remind you drones that the Queen gets fed first. We hope that this analogy sinks in’.
February 9, 2026 at 11:16 AM
‘We’ve installed these hives to remind you drones that the Queen gets fed first. We hope that this analogy sinks in’.
Good riddance to Morgan McSweeney for so many reasons, but principally for being an immigrant responsible for relentlessly pushing an anti-immigrant agenda, and for reproducing Fine Gael’s negative, joyless political machine within Labour (an open door, one could say). Power without principles.
February 8, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Good riddance to Morgan McSweeney for so many reasons, but principally for being an immigrant responsible for relentlessly pushing an anti-immigrant agenda, and for reproducing Fine Gael’s negative, joyless political machine within Labour (an open door, one could say). Power without principles.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
New on the CDBU blog: 5 low cost things employers could do to help precarious staff 💰
Words by @hagenilda.bsky.social ✍️
Words by @hagenilda.bsky.social ✍️
Our employers say they care about precarious staff. Here are five low cost things they could do right now to help us – and them - CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
February 7, 2026 at 4:19 PM
New on the CDBU blog: 5 low cost things employers could do to help precarious staff 💰
Words by @hagenilda.bsky.social ✍️
Words by @hagenilda.bsky.social ✍️
Liars, the lot of them.
More geographical confusion. Nigel Farage said Reform's new leader in Wales had "come back to the Valleys", so his children could grow up Welsh. Nation Cymru report he had moved from London to Bath in the west of England, about 50-60 miles from Islwyn, across the border
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
nation.cymru/news/the-new...
The new leader of Reform UK Wales lives in Bath, not Wales
Martin Shipton The newly appointed leader of Reform UK in Wales hasn’t moved back to his home town in the Valleys, but has bought a £1m house near Bath, we can reveal. Dan Thomas, the former Conservat...
nation.cymru
February 7, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Liars, the lot of them.
I’m enjoying the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Almost every element seems designed to trigger JD Vance there.
February 6, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I’m enjoying the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Almost every element seems designed to trigger JD Vance there.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
I’m allowed to talk about this now, so: CTHULHU CYMRAEG: THE NIGHT COUNTRY will be out on Feb 16th! Five novelettes interpreting Lovecraftian themes from a Welsh point of view.
Ebook pre-orders are up now, paperbacks to follow shortly. amzn.eu/d/09yEM2f5
Ebook pre-orders are up now, paperbacks to follow shortly. amzn.eu/d/09yEM2f5
Cthulhu Cymraeg The Night Country: Lovecraftian Tales from Wales eBook : Jones, Mark Howard, George, J. L., Lewis, Paul, Probert, John Llewellyn, Saunders, C. M., Wilkinson, Charles, Teng, Tais: Amazo...
Cthulhu Cymraeg The Night Country: Lovecraftian Tales from Wales eBook : Jones, Mark Howard, George, J. L., Lewis, Paul, Probert, John Llewellyn, Saunders, C. M., Wilkinson, Charles, Teng, Tais: Amazo...
amzn.eu
February 5, 2026 at 2:35 PM
I’m allowed to talk about this now, so: CTHULHU CYMRAEG: THE NIGHT COUNTRY will be out on Feb 16th! Five novelettes interpreting Lovecraftian themes from a Welsh point of view.
Ebook pre-orders are up now, paperbacks to follow shortly. amzn.eu/d/09yEM2f5
Ebook pre-orders are up now, paperbacks to follow shortly. amzn.eu/d/09yEM2f5
Reposted by Plashing Vole
This year's H.M. Chadwick Lecture is being given by Prof. Barry Lewis on 19th March with the title 'The flourishing of vernacular literature in the Wales of Llywelyn the Great'. #Skystorians #HanesCymru
The Zoom registration link is here:
The Zoom registration link is here:
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: H.M. Chadwick Lecture: 'The flourishing of vernacular literature in the Wales of Llywelyn the Great', Professor Barry Lewis (Dublin Institute for Advanced...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: H.M. Chadwick Lecture: 'The flourishing of vernacular literature in the Wales of Llywelyn the Great', Professor Barry Lewis (Dublin Institute for Advanced...
cam-ac-uk.zoom.us
February 5, 2026 at 10:23 AM
This year's H.M. Chadwick Lecture is being given by Prof. Barry Lewis on 19th March with the title 'The flourishing of vernacular literature in the Wales of Llywelyn the Great'. #Skystorians #HanesCymru
The Zoom registration link is here:
The Zoom registration link is here:
Deeply annoyed by enshittified Apple Keynote 15: no improvements, just constant nagging to use 'AI' and pay for a premium version. The old one is simple, elegant, and free (except that users have paid for a Mac). Opening the old one brings up a message to get the new one, every single time.
February 5, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Deeply annoyed by enshittified Apple Keynote 15: no improvements, just constant nagging to use 'AI' and pay for a premium version. The old one is simple, elegant, and free (except that users have paid for a Mac). Opening the old one brings up a message to get the new one, every single time.
So when do the course closures, job losses and contract dilutions begin? Becaue there’s absolutely no way that this isn’t the plan.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Greenwich and Kent announce merger to become UK’s first ‘super-university’
Formal approval given for new university group to operate from August, with both institutions keeping their names
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:14 AM
So when do the course closures, job losses and contract dilutions begin? Becaue there’s absolutely no way that this isn’t the plan.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The classic managerial response: it’s not *what* we’re doing, we just didn’t *disguise it* sufficiently to fool you peasants.
Ian Chapman ‘very sorry’ for UKRI not engaging on funding changes
Chief executive says funder has “not done our communications in the right way”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Chief executive says funder has “not done our communications in the right way”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Ian Chapman ‘very sorry’ for not engaging on funding changes - Research Professional News
Chief executive says UKRI has “not done our communications in the right way”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The classic managerial response: it’s not *what* we’re doing, we just didn’t *disguise it* sufficiently to fool you peasants.
Barnsley the AI town? I’m old enough to remember when it was going to be a Tuscan hill town. How did that turn out?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3000474.stm
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3000474.stm
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Barnsley rebranded UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants join AI push
Minister announces Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe to help apply AI to local schools, hospitals, GPs and businesses
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Barnsley the AI town? I’m old enough to remember when it was going to be a Tuscan hill town. How did that turn out?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3000474.stm
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/3000474.stm
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Sitting on the table is the least of this monster’s crimes. Last year she ate the blue tit chicks; the year before she lured her own twin brother down to a busy road and came back alone and unremorseful.
February 2, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Sitting on the table is the least of this monster’s crimes. Last year she ate the blue tit chicks; the year before she lured her own twin brother down to a busy road and came back alone and unremorseful.
Robert Jenrick demanding probity in public life following the Mandelson story is a whole new level of political entertainment. The pot and kettle must be on the phone to their agent demanding a raise.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Mandelson’s conduct with Epstein ‘far below standard expected’, says minister as Brown calls for inquiry into ‘shocking’ leak - UK politics live
Darren Jones making statement to MPs following Epstein files revelations
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Robert Jenrick demanding probity in public life following the Mandelson story is a whole new level of political entertainment. The pot and kettle must be on the phone to their agent demanding a raise.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Why are UK universities failing? A pretty good analysis that chimes with my experience as a governor.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Why are UK universities failing? - LSE Impact
The HE sector in the UK faces the prospect of a university going into administration. How have universities fallen so low and is change possible?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
February 2, 2026 at 8:17 AM
Why are UK universities failing? A pretty good analysis that chimes with my experience as a governor.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
@keithbeard.bsky.social Condolences on your loss Keith. Having read your Other Lives obituary, she sounds wonderful.
February 1, 2026 at 11:19 PM
@keithbeard.bsky.social Condolences on your loss Keith. Having read your Other Lives obituary, she sounds wonderful.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
Less than a week until #Wolverhampton litfest and we’re excited about the #blur drummer Dave Roundtree on Friday and @stuartmaconie.bsky.social on Sunday preceded by Francis Dunnery on Thursday www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Wolverhampton Literature Festival: All you need to know
Plan out which events you will attend during the city's three-day literature festival next weekend.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Less than a week until #Wolverhampton litfest and we’re excited about the #blur drummer Dave Roundtree on Friday and @stuartmaconie.bsky.social on Sunday preceded by Francis Dunnery on Thursday www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Currently wishing a gruesome death on the fellow passenger listening to a football match on speakerphone and refusing to switch it off. The guard scuttled past him with eyes averted.
February 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Currently wishing a gruesome death on the fellow passenger listening to a football match on speakerphone and refusing to switch it off. The guard scuttled past him with eyes averted.
The Time-Traveller’s Mistress? The Time-Traveller’s Second Wife?
Didn’t see the first film but hated the novel. Something very creepy about an adult repeatedly appearing to a child announcing that they’ll be lovers at some point in her future.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
Didn’t see the first film but hated the novel. Something very creepy about an adult repeatedly appearing to a child announcing that they’ll be lovers at some point in her future.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
Sequel to The Time Traveler’s Wife to be published this autumn
Audrey Niffenegger’s follow-up to her global bestseller focuses on Alba, the daughter of Henry and Clare, as she negotiates two marriages and various modern-era dystopias
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The Time-Traveller’s Mistress? The Time-Traveller’s Second Wife?
Didn’t see the first film but hated the novel. Something very creepy about an adult repeatedly appearing to a child announcing that they’ll be lovers at some point in her future.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
Didn’t see the first film but hated the novel. Something very creepy about an adult repeatedly appearing to a child announcing that they’ll be lovers at some point in her future.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
I wonder if there’s a downside to having a heavy, power-hungry electrical device powered by batteries directly over your head.
This guy built an autonomous flying umbrella (powered by drones) that automagically follows you around in the rain. (A possible counter to a personal raincloud?) [youtube.com]
I Built a Fully Autonomous Flying Umbrella
Bambu H2D 3D Printer ($300 off): https://tidd.ly/3Yu0bHI
Best Mid-range 3D Printer: https://tidd.ly/4qbxF9K
Best Budget 3D Printer ($160 off): https://tidd.ly/4psCgDu
Try Onshape Free – Engineers Get Up to 6 Months Pro: https://onshape.pro/IBuildStuff
Thank you to HolyBro for providing most of the
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:37 AM
I wonder if there’s a downside to having a heavy, power-hungry electrical device powered by batteries directly over your head.
@gwenynen.bsky.social How are you feeling?
January 29, 2026 at 7:49 PM
@gwenynen.bsky.social How are you feeling?
Well the three people who turned up for my session on The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air were very enthusiastic. They love The Fresh Prince!
a man is getting out of a taxi in front of a sign that says permission
ALT: a man is getting out of a taxi in front of a sign that says permission
media.tenor.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Well the three people who turned up for my session on The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air were very enthusiastic. They love The Fresh Prince!
It won’t fix everything in HE funding but it might help social mobility: charge university students the same fees as their parents paid for their secondary education.
(Also all unis to be co-operatives, numbers caps, random distribution of students to institutions offering a course).
(Also all unis to be co-operatives, numbers caps, random distribution of students to institutions offering a course).
January 29, 2026 at 9:23 AM
It won’t fix everything in HE funding but it might help social mobility: charge university students the same fees as their parents paid for their secondary education.
(Also all unis to be co-operatives, numbers caps, random distribution of students to institutions offering a course).
(Also all unis to be co-operatives, numbers caps, random distribution of students to institutions offering a course).