Richard Baker
@rchrdbkr.bsky.social
Composer based in Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Research Fellow @guildhallschool.bsky.social. Weithiau yn Gymraeg.
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Profile photo: Claire Shovelton
Artist website: https://rchrdbkr.com/
Reposted by Richard Baker
The scribe emerges in the margin from the line-filler to write the text.
Bodleian Library MS. Douce 6; Psalter; c.1320 CE-1330 CE; Flanders (Ghent) f.61r @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Bodleian Library MS. Douce 6; Psalter; c.1320 CE-1330 CE; Flanders (Ghent) f.61r @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:43 PM
The scribe emerges in the margin from the line-filler to write the text.
Bodleian Library MS. Douce 6; Psalter; c.1320 CE-1330 CE; Flanders (Ghent) f.61r @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Bodleian Library MS. Douce 6; Psalter; c.1320 CE-1330 CE; Flanders (Ghent) f.61r @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Richard Baker
“Nobel Peace Prize” as a tangible object (concrete) vs. an institutional designation (abstract): good moment for teaching the ubiquitous linguistic phenomenon of polysemy
January 16, 2026 at 12:18 PM
“Nobel Peace Prize” as a tangible object (concrete) vs. an institutional designation (abstract): good moment for teaching the ubiquitous linguistic phenomenon of polysemy
Reposted by Richard Baker
A really remarkable interview. Enormous love and respect to Ben for being so open about what he has suffered and how he has learned to cope.
This interview with conductor Ben Glassberg by my colleague Elisabeth Schwarz is well worth your time and a salutary reminder of the pressures performers face under the social media microscope: bachtrack.com/interview-be...
January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
A really remarkable interview. Enormous love and respect to Ben for being so open about what he has suffered and how he has learned to cope.
Reposted by Richard Baker
"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 AM
"And we now have María on the line who would like to swap a Nobel Peace Prize for the presidency of Venezuela..."
Reposted by Richard Baker
Reposted by Richard Baker
Reposted by Richard Baker
The Reform pitch is increasingly “the last government was terrible, so we’ve hired everyone who was in it”.
January 15, 2026 at 4:50 PM
The Reform pitch is increasingly “the last government was terrible, so we’ve hired everyone who was in it”.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Early on in this Presidency I said that a major indicator that a society has moved from democracy to authoritarianism is to treat all opposition as treason.
January 15, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Early on in this Presidency I said that a major indicator that a society has moved from democracy to authoritarianism is to treat all opposition as treason.
Reposted by Richard Baker
This is incredible: 81% of working class and 83% of young voters have seen video of Renee Good's killing, per new data I've obtained. Majority of working class disapproves of ICE enforcement. ICE brutality is breaking through big time.
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
January 15, 2026 at 12:06 PM
This is incredible: 81% of working class and 83% of young voters have seen video of Renee Good's killing, per new data I've obtained. Majority of working class disapproves of ICE enforcement. ICE brutality is breaking through big time.
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
Some thoughts on this here:
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
Reposted by Richard Baker
the European mission to Greenland was fourth in the BBC news running order this morning, which feels a bit like doing a light "and finally..." item about the archduke's motorcade taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo
January 15, 2026 at 10:01 AM
the European mission to Greenland was fourth in the BBC news running order this morning, which feels a bit like doing a light "and finally..." item about the archduke's motorcade taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo
Reposted by Richard Baker
hard to see someone else living your dream job
BREAKING: The UK is sending a single military officer to Greenland at the request of Denmark to participate in a multi-nation exercise
January 15, 2026 at 12:22 PM
hard to see someone else living your dream job
Reposted by Richard Baker
This isn't satire. This is a real headline published in the UK.
January 15, 2026 at 10:29 AM
This isn't satire. This is a real headline published in the UK.
Reposted by Richard Baker
“In defence of my colleague, he was motivated purely by considerations of personal advantage.”
January 15, 2026 at 12:23 PM
“In defence of my colleague, he was motivated purely by considerations of personal advantage.”
Reposted by Richard Baker
I feel like the best way to understand the Greenland situation is simply to substitute the word "Sudetenland" every time you time you read "Greenland"
January 14, 2026 at 4:39 PM
I feel like the best way to understand the Greenland situation is simply to substitute the word "Sudetenland" every time you time you read "Greenland"
Reposted by Richard Baker
And here we are: the entire transatlantic alliance is now talking about Greenland, instead of talking about ending the war in Ukraine.
January 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
And here we are: the entire transatlantic alliance is now talking about Greenland, instead of talking about ending the war in Ukraine.
Reposted by Richard Baker
Greenland. My latest in @thebulwark.com
Asking the world’s most elite special operations force to brainstorm ways to “attack” an island three times the size of Texas populated by roughly 56,000 people, most of whom already host and love American troops, is lunacy.
NEW from @markhertling.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/3LuoB0O
NEW from @markhertling.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/3LuoB0O
The Best Military ‘Option’ for Greenland: Let It Be
Attacking an ally with special forces would be the wrong tool for the wrong mission.
lnk.thebulwark.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Greenland. My latest in @thebulwark.com
Reposted by Richard Baker
How is it possible that the president of the United States proposes an invasion of a NATO territory & there is no immediate impeachment? Did the democratic system in the US completely collapse? I don't think it’s any sort of wild over exaggeration to say they are essentially now a failed democracy.
January 13, 2026 at 9:49 PM
How is it possible that the president of the United States proposes an invasion of a NATO territory & there is no immediate impeachment? Did the democratic system in the US completely collapse? I don't think it’s any sort of wild over exaggeration to say they are essentially now a failed democracy.
Reposted by Richard Baker
It would be weird to go to war with Germany again but this time with us as white nationalist invaders and them as defenders of multicultural global order
January 14, 2026 at 9:30 PM
It would be weird to go to war with Germany again but this time with us as white nationalist invaders and them as defenders of multicultural global order
I remember doing a performance of ‘Match me, Sydney’ by Tom Phillips upstairs in the Eagle in c.1997. Happy days.
The first 'gastropub' at 35
wp.me/p15p2Q-aWB
wp.me/p15p2Q-aWB
35 years of the Eagle, Farringdon Rd. It started a democratic trend in pub food still too little copied
35 years of the Eagle: it started a democratic trend in pub food still too little copied The Eagle Pub in Farringdon Rd, just outside the Square Mile of the City of London is 35 years old this Janu…
wp.me
January 14, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I remember doing a performance of ‘Match me, Sydney’ by Tom Phillips upstairs in the Eagle in c.1997. Happy days.
I sincerely hope there are people in the Foreign Office working on the US that have a background in reality television, given POTUS's propensity for governing like the producer of Jersey Shore/RHOSLC. Maybe they should get Andy Cohen/someone else from Bravo in to consult.
January 14, 2026 at 1:03 PM
I sincerely hope there are people in the Foreign Office working on the US that have a background in reality television, given POTUS's propensity for governing like the producer of Jersey Shore/RHOSLC. Maybe they should get Andy Cohen/someone else from Bravo in to consult.
Reposted by Richard Baker
LAB: 0 (-27)
The Labour Party came out of the Welsh Labour movement—it's the heartland.
Now, after just a year of the Starmer govt, the colour red has been wiped off the electoral map.
There's a reason why he will be remembered as one of the worst prime ministers in British history.
The Labour Party came out of the Welsh Labour movement—it's the heartland.
Now, after just a year of the Starmer govt, the colour red has been wiped off the electoral map.
There's a reason why he will be remembered as one of the worst prime ministers in British history.
Welsh Westminster Voting Intention:
PLC: 29% (+10)
RFM: 25% (-5)
LAB: 13% (-2)
GRN: 12% (-2)
CON: 12% (-1)
LDM: 6% (-2)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-12 Jan.
Changes w/ 28 Nov - 10 Dec.
My Seat Model:
PLC: 15 (+11)
RFM: 12 (+12)
GRN: 2 (+2)
CON: 2 (+2)
LDM: 1 (=)
LAB: 0 (-27)
PLC: 29% (+10)
RFM: 25% (-5)
LAB: 13% (-2)
GRN: 12% (-2)
CON: 12% (-1)
LDM: 6% (-2)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-12 Jan.
Changes w/ 28 Nov - 10 Dec.
My Seat Model:
PLC: 15 (+11)
RFM: 12 (+12)
GRN: 2 (+2)
CON: 2 (+2)
LDM: 1 (=)
LAB: 0 (-27)
January 14, 2026 at 11:40 AM
LAB: 0 (-27)
The Labour Party came out of the Welsh Labour movement—it's the heartland.
Now, after just a year of the Starmer govt, the colour red has been wiped off the electoral map.
There's a reason why he will be remembered as one of the worst prime ministers in British history.
The Labour Party came out of the Welsh Labour movement—it's the heartland.
Now, after just a year of the Starmer govt, the colour red has been wiped off the electoral map.
There's a reason why he will be remembered as one of the worst prime ministers in British history.
Reposted by Richard Baker
I am unstoppable unless there’s a minor inconvenience.
December 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I am unstoppable unless there’s a minor inconvenience.
One consolation of @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social not being in govt – she can hold ministers’ feet to the fire on AI and copyright (thread):
On House of Lords Tv right now - Digital committee hearing on AI and copyright with Secs of State Liz Kendal and Lisa Nandy. #AI #art #music #AIandcopyright
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Parliamentlive.tv
Communications and Digital Committee
www.parliamentlive.tv
January 13, 2026 at 3:29 PM
One consolation of @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social not being in govt – she can hold ministers’ feet to the fire on AI and copyright (thread):
Reposted by Richard Baker
Of course, Philip Clark has written some of the best words surrounding yesterday's Feldman centenary. I hadn't made the Talk Talk connection before, but it makes absolutely perfect sense.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFQE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFQE...
January 13, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Of course, Philip Clark has written some of the best words surrounding yesterday's Feldman centenary. I hadn't made the Talk Talk connection before, but it makes absolutely perfect sense.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFQE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFQE...
Reposted by Richard Baker
One out of 12 rams is uninterested in females. Deemed “non-procreative" by farmers, they're typically sent to slaughter. German farmer Michael Stücke rescues the gay rams. His company Rainbow Wool, sells fabulous wool products from his flock of gay sheep. rainbow-wool.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
One out of 12 rams is uninterested in females. Deemed “non-procreative" by farmers, they're typically sent to slaughter. German farmer Michael Stücke rescues the gay rams. His company Rainbow Wool, sells fabulous wool products from his flock of gay sheep. rainbow-wool.com