It’s like watching a millennial parent trying to join in a TikTok craze their kid is into, only to make things worse it lasts longer

Tbf I did keep pointing it out to him via socials, and he did have to run an ‘independent’ (…) inquiry. One thing he was very good at was hiring people into adjacent senior roles to be the face of bad decisions that he then wasn’t accountable for — grim, but he was more canny than many of the others

Ah, Call-Me Anton. The half-arsed, misspelled apology I got from him years after he stood by and watched those of us who experienced gbv get bullied out of the institution for speaking out will live long in my memory.

Carried out over two years, the research is based on field trips, public surveys, and interviews (a location manager, National Trust ranger, and ecologist). Very grateful to everyone who gave their time! What’s really clear is that the industry needs to improve community relations as a bare minimum

Laughed aloud at AI replacing proofreaders

In a similar vein - I turned down a review a few months ago. Last week they asked me again because they can't find anyone to do it. As a now 'freelance' academic I'd say yes, for a fee. Guessing they suddenly found someone else though, because since I've mention pay... crickets.

Hello - could you drop me an email (same handle as here, gmail)? Was going to send you something in DMs but third-party verification has gotten in the way

Also some great docs, including Living Proof (which repurposes archival footage) and The Ants and the Grasshopper

A lot of early/young cinema works well and probably needs a separate list - as do coal movies. I’ve taught Clueless in this context, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Also Licorice Pizza, Roma, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Threads, Atlantics, Do the Right Thing, Snowpiercer, Tank Girl…

On a sadly related note, sharing this: reelnews.co.uk/2025/07/20/a...

Police historically have been selective about which laws they uphold. So the OP’s ‘police are just a bit dim’ line is beyond frustrating. I’ve watched cops assault protestors and bystanders and enable the fash at related demos. It’s the second Leeds arrest. Hardly a bumbling accident.

I can only imagine how awful it would be if academics were forced out of their jobs for trying to defend creative/intellectual curricula from the vacuous demands of managers with no subject expertise (who in this imagined scenario probably also push for gen-AI use in curriculum design)

… why do you think we *need* research ranking? There was a time before REF. Why not implement a means-tested system (rich institutions get less?) and then ensure the funds actually get spent on research. With more input and oversight from researchers. No research assessment required!

There's lots more to say about @davidharvie.bsky.social and my findings. Please read the report to support union action & honour those who shared experiences.

I'll finish with an eyeopening stat: the hidden, 'backdoor' redundancies affecting *11,500* people. 11,500 HIDDEN job cuts. This must end.

There are so many testimonies from people with protected characteristics (which don't include class) who have been targeted. From people with migrant status, or who are TU active.

It's a hostile environment. REDUNDANCIES ARE AN EDI ISSUE (side note: Athena Swan charter marks. Remember those?!).

Managers are reportedly targeting particular people (unsurprising if you've spent more than 5mins in a university, but still galling).

36% cited the targeting of people openly critical of management, while 23% noticed the targeting of people with protected characteristics for redundancy.

The report comes with an extensive content warning. Bullying is rife, as is ill health caused by redundancy processes (reported by 90% respondents).

Across 97 HEIs, 54% of respondents say senior management are bullying staff into applying for voluntary severance and/or voluntary redundancy.