Viv Marsh
@vivmarsh.bsky.social
Scribe, hack, recovering academic, pianist, linguist, Blackpudlian. Was China media, now revisiting East/West Germany. My book in paperback https://tinyurl.com/2p8wv94n - new book coming...
Reposted by Viv Marsh
The BBC can retrieve something from this mess (and show US broadcasters what a spine is) by sending Donald Trump a four letter response: “See you in court!” www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit
The corporation must show it will not be cowed, unlike American broadcast media, and call the president’s bluff
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The BBC can retrieve something from this mess (and show US broadcasters what a spine is) by sending Donald Trump a four letter response: “See you in court!” www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Not least that, more often than not, the Lancs/Yorks t' is silent. Eg' I'm going up t'shop' sounds like 'I'm going up shop' with a very faint glottal something before 'shop'.
Always eye-opening when someone with a southern English accent tries to write a northern English accent "phonetically" revealing what an alien perspective they have of the relationship between sounds and letters
November 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Not least that, more often than not, the Lancs/Yorks t' is silent. Eg' I'm going up t'shop' sounds like 'I'm going up shop' with a very faint glottal something before 'shop'.
You know you're not properly awake when the radio has David Byrne singing 'I saw a woman in a leotard / Now I'm not sure how I feel about the oven glove'
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
You know you're not properly awake when the radio has David Byrne singing 'I saw a woman in a leotard / Now I'm not sure how I feel about the oven glove'
Reposted by Viv Marsh
One of their best, and most important
October 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
One of their best, and most important
Unlike in the Other Place, is it possible here to be appalled at the Manchester synagogue attack and believe that the government of Israel is waging a campaign of genocide in Gaza? It really shouldn't be too difficult to hold both those views at the same time. Why equate British Jews with Netanyahu?
October 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Unlike in the Other Place, is it possible here to be appalled at the Manchester synagogue attack and believe that the government of Israel is waging a campaign of genocide in Gaza? It really shouldn't be too difficult to hold both those views at the same time. Why equate British Jews with Netanyahu?
Reposted by Viv Marsh
Is there a reason I ask that the Times are using a picture of asylum seekers in a boat to describe rules for migrants who came on legal routes such as skilled worker visas for doctors?
Tough new conditions to be imposed on migrants who want to settle in the UK will not apply to more than a million people who arrived in the UK under the post-Brexit immigration surge
Labour’s tough new rules will not apply to migrants already in UK
www.thetimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Is there a reason I ask that the Times are using a picture of asylum seekers in a boat to describe rules for migrants who came on legal routes such as skilled worker visas for doctors?
Reposted by Viv Marsh
I’ve noticed a huge drop off in engagement recently on BlueSky around EU, Brexit and Freedom of Movement.
Can you help resharing things?
Has anyone else noticed that?
#VoicesofLostFOM #SaveFOM
#fbpe
Can you help resharing things?
Has anyone else noticed that?
#VoicesofLostFOM #SaveFOM
#fbpe
September 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I’ve noticed a huge drop off in engagement recently on BlueSky around EU, Brexit and Freedom of Movement.
Can you help resharing things?
Has anyone else noticed that?
#VoicesofLostFOM #SaveFOM
#fbpe
Can you help resharing things?
Has anyone else noticed that?
#VoicesofLostFOM #SaveFOM
#fbpe
Reposted by Viv Marsh
Been thinking about the way gAI is being sold to us is as the universal tool, a kind of Swiss Army Knife—especially in higher ed. What might have a use in Compsci doesn’t have a use/is harmful in the humanities and arts, and there is something coercive about how it’s being forced on us regardless.
September 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Been thinking about the way gAI is being sold to us is as the universal tool, a kind of Swiss Army Knife—especially in higher ed. What might have a use in Compsci doesn’t have a use/is harmful in the humanities and arts, and there is something coercive about how it’s being forced on us regardless.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
Alan Kurdi was his name. He and his Syrian family were fleeing war and trying to make it to Canada.
It is very nearly the tenth anniversary of that brief moment when, for 2 or 3 days, British newspapers remembered refugees are desperate human beings who need our help, rather than scum that it's okay to threaten with violence.
August 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Alan Kurdi was his name. He and his Syrian family were fleeing war and trying to make it to Canada.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
If you pre-order my book from @Waterstones with code SUMMER25 then you get 25% off! The book is about @BBCNews women foreign correspondents (offer available until end July) @DCU
July 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
If you pre-order my book from @Waterstones with code SUMMER25 then you get 25% off! The book is about @BBCNews women foreign correspondents (offer available until end July) @DCU
Reposted by Viv Marsh
Historians: this is a worrying development. Historians use the Hansard to analyze what was said in parliamentary discussions. If the Hansard is subject to editing out things that are politically unacceptable at the time, we (and future historians) have a problem.
Parliament and Hansard have removed “We are all Palestine Action” from my speech on Wednesday 2 July 2025 — despite me saying it.
This is a blatant attempt to censor me and rewrite the record.
This is not how a democracy behaves.
We will not be silenced.
This is a blatant attempt to censor me and rewrite the record.
This is not how a democracy behaves.
We will not be silenced.
July 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Historians: this is a worrying development. Historians use the Hansard to analyze what was said in parliamentary discussions. If the Hansard is subject to editing out things that are politically unacceptable at the time, we (and future historians) have a problem.
My final thoughts on CGTN, for those who are interested in anglophone Chinese media, are in my chapter for the 2nd edition of the Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media - out later this summer: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...
Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media
The new, second edition of this successful Handbook explores the growing and evolving field of Chinese media, offering a window through which to observe multi-directional flows of information, culture...
www.routledge.com
July 1, 2025 at 8:43 PM
My final thoughts on CGTN, for those who are interested in anglophone Chinese media, are in my chapter for the 2nd edition of the Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media - out later this summer: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...
Reposted by Viv Marsh
This is a shockingly racist call by a House Republican for Zohran Mamdani to be denaturalized and deported. But instead of being viewed as unserious, it's now being promoted and circulated by LibsOfTikTok, Benny Johnson and MAGA regulars.
Democrats need to understand that Republicans are serious.
Democrats need to understand that Republicans are serious.
June 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is a shockingly racist call by a House Republican for Zohran Mamdani to be denaturalized and deported. But instead of being viewed as unserious, it's now being promoted and circulated by LibsOfTikTok, Benny Johnson and MAGA regulars.
Democrats need to understand that Republicans are serious.
Democrats need to understand that Republicans are serious.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
I’m old fashioned enough to think the BBC should be leading on what the deal is and what it means. Rather than the political claims from both sides.
May 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I’m old fashioned enough to think the BBC should be leading on what the deal is and what it means. Rather than the political claims from both sides.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
I’ve been working on C16/C17 obstetrics texts today and I’m here to tell you this basically didn’t improve *at all* until into the twentieth century.
(And arguably still hasn’t in many respects, honestly.)
(And arguably still hasn’t in many respects, honestly.)
May 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I’ve been working on C16/C17 obstetrics texts today and I’m here to tell you this basically didn’t improve *at all* until into the twentieth century.
(And arguably still hasn’t in many respects, honestly.)
(And arguably still hasn’t in many respects, honestly.)
This is accurate but so depressing for those of us in the UK who still hold out hope of a rapprochement with continental Europe in our lifetimes. In 2020s politics, unfortunately, emotion trumps reason (and yes, I realise what verb I've just used). I am sick to death of it but can't escape.
This is looking like the worst week for remainers/joiners since Boris Johnson's landslide. And it wasn't because of the new Pope's elevation.
The obstacles to joining the Brussels system are mounting; even the medium term now looks unlikely
A 🧵
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐱
The obstacles to joining the Brussels system are mounting; even the medium term now looks unlikely
A 🧵
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐱
May 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This is accurate but so depressing for those of us in the UK who still hold out hope of a rapprochement with continental Europe in our lifetimes. In 2020s politics, unfortunately, emotion trumps reason (and yes, I realise what verb I've just used). I am sick to death of it but can't escape.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
May 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Viv Marsh
Periodic reminder that there is nothing you can give the far right that will satisfy them.
Remove a right, they’ll go after another. Attack a minority, they’ll want worse attacks and find new groups to attack.
There’s no end to the authoritarianism. Just more, and worse, until everyone’s crushed.
Remove a right, they’ll go after another. Attack a minority, they’ll want worse attacks and find new groups to attack.
There’s no end to the authoritarianism. Just more, and worse, until everyone’s crushed.
April 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Periodic reminder that there is nothing you can give the far right that will satisfy them.
Remove a right, they’ll go after another. Attack a minority, they’ll want worse attacks and find new groups to attack.
There’s no end to the authoritarianism. Just more, and worse, until everyone’s crushed.
Remove a right, they’ll go after another. Attack a minority, they’ll want worse attacks and find new groups to attack.
There’s no end to the authoritarianism. Just more, and worse, until everyone’s crushed.
Exactly this. Labour needs to acquire and publicise some principles of its own rather than this ridiculous defensive strategy.
Would very much like “heading off the threat of Reform/Farage” to STOP being the way government decides on policy. It’s done nothing but profound harm since 2016 and Farage is still going strong. It doesn’t work for anyone, except him.
on.ft.com/42eewsY
on.ft.com/42eewsY
April 9, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Exactly this. Labour needs to acquire and publicise some principles of its own rather than this ridiculous defensive strategy.
This is just so depressing. Labour are supposed to be intelligent people. A partial solution - at least - to Britain's economic woes is staring them in the face and they choose not to acknowledge it, while most of the population suffers in many different ways. Only hedge fund people ever gained.
It's fascinating how ideology has permeated Labour now as much as the Tories and Reform.
We have the solution to trade borders.
But for UKG the solution is haram, forbidden, taboo.
How long are you going to let ideology dominate your politics, UK?
1
bsky.app/profile/nial...
We have the solution to trade borders.
But for UKG the solution is haram, forbidden, taboo.
How long are you going to let ideology dominate your politics, UK?
1
bsky.app/profile/nial...
This pops up every so often when trade figures come out. UKG promises to "tear down" barriers but does nothing.
Important to say, only the UK has this problem. We've been tearing down these barriers for years. It's called the single market.
Apparently, however, the has to reinvent the wheel.
🧵
Important to say, only the UK has this problem. We've been tearing down these barriers for years. It's called the single market.
Apparently, however, the has to reinvent the wheel.
🧵
March 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This is just so depressing. Labour are supposed to be intelligent people. A partial solution - at least - to Britain's economic woes is staring them in the face and they choose not to acknowledge it, while most of the population suffers in many different ways. Only hedge fund people ever gained.
Why would anyone want the US to lead an alliance that includes Europe ? Our habits and customs are completely different. I am European and speak several European languages. My Europe and their US are light years away from one another. I have nothing to do with Trump. Please, let's disengage.
February 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Why would anyone want the US to lead an alliance that includes Europe ? Our habits and customs are completely different. I am European and speak several European languages. My Europe and their US are light years away from one another. I have nothing to do with Trump. Please, let's disengage.
This is a completely inane headline. SEO diktats aside, there is no excuse for this. You know what the situation is in terms of international law. Where SEO has a conflict with reality, you know where you have to draw the line. Please do it.
Can Donald Trump really take ownership of Gaza?
Can Donald Trump really take ownership of Gaza?
BBC Verify examines international law to understand if the US has the authority to "take over" the Gaza Strip.
www.bbc.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is a completely inane headline. SEO diktats aside, there is no excuse for this. You know what the situation is in terms of international law. Where SEO has a conflict with reality, you know where you have to draw the line. Please do it.
Reposted by Viv Marsh
"Sorry, we can't make this technology that sucks and nobody wants and that uses enough power to blow up the moon unless we *also* steal people's shit to throw into our content woodchipper in order to produce mediocre digital particleboard out of the cumulative artbarf."
futurism.com/the-byte/ope...
futurism.com/the-byte/ope...
OpenAI Pleads That It Can’t Make Money Without Using Copyrighted Materials for Free
OpenAI is begging Parliament to allow it to use copyrighted works because it's "impossible" for the company to make money without them.
futurism.com
December 20, 2024 at 2:05 PM
"Sorry, we can't make this technology that sucks and nobody wants and that uses enough power to blow up the moon unless we *also* steal people's shit to throw into our content woodchipper in order to produce mediocre digital particleboard out of the cumulative artbarf."
futurism.com/the-byte/ope...
futurism.com/the-byte/ope...