George McKay
@georgemckay.bsky.social
Prof Media Studies. Writes about popular music, festival, disability, jazz, peace, protest, gardening, + most recently Oxford Handbook of...Punk Rock. Charcot Marie Tooth. Plays music: double bass, bands (jazz, folk)
7-9 pm at the very fine York Tavern, Norwich. ‘Old jazz, new jazz, green jazz, blue jazz’. In the Golden Triangle!
November 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
7-9 pm at the very fine York Tavern, Norwich. ‘Old jazz, new jazz, green jazz, blue jazz’. In the Golden Triangle!
Reposted by George McKay
Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @RSPB and @NaturalEngland, there are now 283 booming males in 2024.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Hidden wonders: my fascinating encounters with the Bittern
Elusive and majestic, the Bittern’s booming call echoes across Minsmere’s reeds – a symbol of hope and conservation success
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Back in 1997, there were just 11 booming male Bitterns left in the UK – almost extinct. Thanks to conservation by @RSPB and @NaturalEngland, there are now 283 booming males in 2024.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/environment/...
Reposted by George McKay
It’s that time of year again. A darker take on The Good Life, perfect for Halloween or just another grim night in Blighty. Less pumpkin spice, more existential dread.
Watch it while you still can, it disappears at midnight on Sunday.
👀 youtube.com/watch?v=aaynJpIuaCY
Watch it while you still can, it disappears at midnight on Sunday.
👀 youtube.com/watch?v=aaynJpIuaCY
Sleaford Mods Ft. Gwendoline Christie & Big Special - The Good Life (Dark Version)
YouTube video by Sleaford Mods
youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:14 AM
It’s that time of year again. A darker take on The Good Life, perfect for Halloween or just another grim night in Blighty. Less pumpkin spice, more existential dread.
Watch it while you still can, it disappears at midnight on Sunday.
👀 youtube.com/watch?v=aaynJpIuaCY
Watch it while you still can, it disappears at midnight on Sunday.
👀 youtube.com/watch?v=aaynJpIuaCY
WE don’t fkn want him!
October 31, 2025 at 2:17 PM
WE don’t fkn want him!
Reposted by George McKay
Attention Norfolk folk.
If the kids come round Trick or Treating tonight, and you don't want to open the door, just shout 'Prince Andrew Lives here now' through the letterbox to them and problem solved.
If the kids come round Trick or Treating tonight, and you don't want to open the door, just shout 'Prince Andrew Lives here now' through the letterbox to them and problem solved.
October 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Attention Norfolk folk.
If the kids come round Trick or Treating tonight, and you don't want to open the door, just shout 'Prince Andrew Lives here now' through the letterbox to them and problem solved.
If the kids come round Trick or Treating tonight, and you don't want to open the door, just shout 'Prince Andrew Lives here now' through the letterbox to them and problem solved.
Reposted by George McKay
I wrote about the stupid white paper.
In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.
In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I wrote about the stupid white paper.
In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.
In summary, with these people in the driver's seat and apparently unbothered by consequences, we're so cooked.
Reposted by George McKay
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
Some of my brilliant colleagues @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social have organised the NQIFF 2025 film festival in Norwich. It's all free! Info and programme here: www.nqiff.com #queerfilm #filmfestival
October 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Some of my brilliant colleagues @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social have organised the NQIFF 2025 film festival in Norwich. It's all free! Info and programme here: www.nqiff.com #queerfilm #filmfestival
New blog abt Winnie Atwell, on the occasion of the new blue plaque marking her achievements. georgemckay.org/winifred-atw...
October 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
New blog abt Winnie Atwell, on the occasion of the new blue plaque marking her achievements. georgemckay.org/winifred-atw...
RIP Tony Harrison, who blew my mind when I read his work as a student in Hull. I took my mum (working class) to see him read @norwichartscentre.bsky.social in 1984 we were both v moved. I took my copy for him to sign & made notes on what he read. I still say “Ay ay stutterer Demosthenes” sometimes
September 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
RIP Tony Harrison, who blew my mind when I read his work as a student in Hull. I took my mum (working class) to see him read @norwichartscentre.bsky.social in 1984 we were both v moved. I took my copy for him to sign & made notes on what he read. I still say “Ay ay stutterer Demosthenes” sometimes
Always loved that Danny Thompson (RIP) played with free drummer John Stevens in a band too. One of those more surprising folk / jazz crossovers. Here’s a foto I found of Thompson from 1978, in Norwich! (That’s a cello not a bass tho)
September 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Always loved that Danny Thompson (RIP) played with free drummer John Stevens in a band too. One of those more surprising folk / jazz crossovers. Here’s a foto I found of Thompson from 1978, in Norwich! (That’s a cello not a bass tho)
Reposted by George McKay
I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
September 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose???
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.
Always a pleasure to see some music at the Bim when in Amsterdam with my Rhythm Changes conference pals
August 31, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Always a pleasure to see some music at the Bim when in Amsterdam with my Rhythm Changes conference pals
Reposted by George McKay
Jackie Grant on why, under Rule 10, you could even be making yourself worse off by staying in USS into the year when you are going to cease pensionable service.
Surely not, but… astonishingly: yes.
Can USS DB pension benefits decrease by paying more?
Surely not, but… astonishingly: yes. This is because when USS scheme members cease service on any day other than 31 March, USS applies an unusual and little-known mechanism of revaluation. Instead …
henrytapper.com
August 23, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Jackie Grant on why, under Rule 10, you could even be making yourself worse off by staying in USS into the year when you are going to cease pensionable service.
Reposted by George McKay
MPs have launched a fan-led review of live music - with an online survey, which you will find via: committees.parliament.uk/committee/37...
August 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
MPs have launched a fan-led review of live music - with an online survey, which you will find via: committees.parliament.uk/committee/37...
Reposted by George McKay
From the deserts of Sudan
to the gardens of Japan.
From Milan to Yucatan,
or the wilds of Borneo
to the vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hit me with your library card. Hit me. Hit me.
to the gardens of Japan.
From Milan to Yucatan,
or the wilds of Borneo
to the vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hit me with your library card. Hit me. Hit me.
July 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
From the deserts of Sudan
to the gardens of Japan.
From Milan to Yucatan,
or the wilds of Borneo
to the vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hit me with your library card. Hit me. Hit me.
to the gardens of Japan.
From Milan to Yucatan,
or the wilds of Borneo
to the vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hit me with your library card. Hit me. Hit me.
Reposted by George McKay
The Old Vic seeks an Education & Community Intern. Funded by John Lyon's Charity Inclusive Internship fund to support young people with learning disabilities into the creative workforce
Closing - 29 Jul
Location - London
££ - £8.6K
disabilityarts.online/opportunity-...
Closing - 29 Jul
Location - London
££ - £8.6K
disabilityarts.online/opportunity-...
July 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The Old Vic seeks an Education & Community Intern. Funded by John Lyon's Charity Inclusive Internship fund to support young people with learning disabilities into the creative workforce
Closing - 29 Jul
Location - London
££ - £8.6K
disabilityarts.online/opportunity-...
Closing - 29 Jul
Location - London
££ - £8.6K
disabilityarts.online/opportunity-...
Reposted by George McKay
'The report estimates that while 8,900 people are being, or have recently been, affected by compulsory redundancies across the sector’s 165 institutions, a further 11,500 people have been affected by “back-door” redundancies, such as voluntary severance'. zenodo.org/records/1563... 3/3
Universities Degraded: Staff Experiences & Employer Practices of Redundancies in UK Higher Education
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conducted between August and October 2024 and publicised mainly by members of the University and College Union (UCU), the ‘Survey for UCU Members on HE Redundancies’ invited response...
zenodo.org
July 22, 2025 at 6:07 AM
'The report estimates that while 8,900 people are being, or have recently been, affected by compulsory redundancies across the sector’s 165 institutions, a further 11,500 people have been affected by “back-door” redundancies, such as voluntary severance'. zenodo.org/records/1563... 3/3
Reposted by George McKay
The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful
The UK’s economic problems are quite deep-rooted. The best summary I can offer is “we don’t make enough valuable, productive stuff and sell it to the world any more”.
Things like planning and energy no doubt play a role in that - but I don’t think they’re enough to fix it on their own
Things like planning and energy no doubt play a role in that - but I don’t think they’re enough to fix it on their own
July 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful
Reposted by George McKay
Plans to cut mental health courses at the University of East Anglia have been criticised as “short-sighted” and a “dereliction of civic responsibility”.
More on the proposed Clinical Psychology course closures at UEA via @timeshighered.bsky.social - www.timeshighereducation.com/news/closure...
More on the proposed Clinical Psychology course closures at UEA via @timeshighered.bsky.social - www.timeshighereducation.com/news/closure...
Closure of UEA mental health courses ‘deeply concerning’
University says NHS and apprenticeship changes make programmes ‘no longer viable’ but union calls move a ‘dereliction of civic responsibility’
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Plans to cut mental health courses at the University of East Anglia have been criticised as “short-sighted” and a “dereliction of civic responsibility”.
More on the proposed Clinical Psychology course closures at UEA via @timeshighered.bsky.social - www.timeshighereducation.com/news/closure...
More on the proposed Clinical Psychology course closures at UEA via @timeshighered.bsky.social - www.timeshighereducation.com/news/closure...
With Tangential Trio at the Rumsey Wells in Norwich on Thursday evening just in case you are in the area & fancy some ‘old jazz, new jazz, green jazz, blue jazz’ …
July 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
With Tangential Trio at the Rumsey Wells in Norwich on Thursday evening just in case you are in the area & fancy some ‘old jazz, new jazz, green jazz, blue jazz’ …
Reposted by George McKay
Good to see the government is drawing up the terms of reference for the Battle of Orgreave public inquiry - but this wasn’t an isolated event. Let’s not forget the grossly excessive police violence used against Travellers at the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985 www.gypsy-traveller.org/news/40-year...
July 21, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Good to see the government is drawing up the terms of reference for the Battle of Orgreave public inquiry - but this wasn’t an isolated event. Let’s not forget the grossly excessive police violence used against Travellers at the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985 www.gypsy-traveller.org/news/40-year...