Michael Munnik
@michaelmunnik.bsky.social
Canadian pilgrim in Wales. Sociologist of media and religion, senior lecturer at Cardiff University, Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK. Musical side-hustle at https://michaelmunnik.ca/
Started strong, 306 words added, started doing some reading and got into the weeds. Then teaching. Hoped and did not manage to return to it this afternoon.
I'm getting worried, friends. #AcWriMo
I'm getting worried, friends. #AcWriMo
Okay. This is me getting off Bluesky, shelving my worries for the BBC and my enthusiasm for Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to get some writing in.
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Well, things-to-do be damned, I still got my best day of the week in. The writing was less restrained, also less informed by scholarship. Also likely would need to be clawed back in final deliverable manuscript, so let's not big it up too much. #AcWriMo
Here's the chart for the week.
Here's the chart for the week.
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Started strong, 306 words added, started doing some reading and got into the weeds. Then teaching. Hoped and did not manage to return to it this afternoon.
I'm getting worried, friends. #AcWriMo
I'm getting worried, friends. #AcWriMo
This reminds me of watching Bond films with my dad as a kid.
Me: Why doesn't James Bond ever die?
Dad: Because then they wouldn't be able to make more James Bond movies.
Straight talker, my dad. Helped me understand things about the world.
Me: Why doesn't James Bond ever die?
Dad: Because then they wouldn't be able to make more James Bond movies.
Straight talker, my dad. Helped me understand things about the world.
James Bond’s death in No Time to Die is causing a nightmare for the next film. Writers are stuck because Bond “was blown to pieces.”
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
Anthony Horowitz, author of three 007 novels, says:
“You can't have him wake up in shower and saying it was all a dream."
radaronline.com/p/james-bond...
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This reminds me of watching Bond films with my dad as a kid.
Me: Why doesn't James Bond ever die?
Dad: Because then they wouldn't be able to make more James Bond movies.
Straight talker, my dad. Helped me understand things about the world.
Me: Why doesn't James Bond ever die?
Dad: Because then they wouldn't be able to make more James Bond movies.
Straight talker, my dad. Helped me understand things about the world.
Okay. This is me getting off Bluesky, shelving my worries for the BBC and my enthusiasm for Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to get some writing in.
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Well, things-to-do be damned, I still got my best day of the week in. The writing was less restrained, also less informed by scholarship. Also likely would need to be clawed back in final deliverable manuscript, so let's not big it up too much. #AcWriMo
Here's the chart for the week.
Here's the chart for the week.
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Okay. This is me getting off Bluesky, shelving my worries for the BBC and my enthusiasm for Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to get some writing in.
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Yesterday was a wash, but I hope for better today. #AcWriMo
Reposted by Michael Munnik
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
This from @arusbridger.bsky.social is excellent - correctly highlighting contemptible journalistic behaviour of the BBC's competitor-critics (esp the Telegraph). Bringing more journalistic expertise to the board is essential... but does the chair *want* it? www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC is in a fight for its survival
The BBC only has itself to blame for its handling of a serious error in a documentary on Trump. But its demise—as the US media landscape shows—would l...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This from @arusbridger.bsky.social is excellent - correctly highlighting contemptible journalistic behaviour of the BBC's competitor-critics (esp the Telegraph). Bringing more journalistic expertise to the board is essential... but does the chair *want* it? www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Michael Munnik
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Michael Munnik
JEOPARDY "HEAVEN EDITION"
ALEX TREBEK: Okay, God's up first in
the Double Jeopardy round!
GOD: I'll take Ron Sexsmith lyrics for 200 Alex...
ALEX TREBEK: In his 2002 song "Who" loves everyone?
GOD: Um, who is Oprah Winfrey?
ALEX TREBEK: No, the correct answer is "God"
GOD: Oh crap! RS
ALEX TREBEK: Okay, God's up first in
the Double Jeopardy round!
GOD: I'll take Ron Sexsmith lyrics for 200 Alex...
ALEX TREBEK: In his 2002 song "Who" loves everyone?
GOD: Um, who is Oprah Winfrey?
ALEX TREBEK: No, the correct answer is "God"
GOD: Oh crap! RS
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
JEOPARDY "HEAVEN EDITION"
ALEX TREBEK: Okay, God's up first in
the Double Jeopardy round!
GOD: I'll take Ron Sexsmith lyrics for 200 Alex...
ALEX TREBEK: In his 2002 song "Who" loves everyone?
GOD: Um, who is Oprah Winfrey?
ALEX TREBEK: No, the correct answer is "God"
GOD: Oh crap! RS
ALEX TREBEK: Okay, God's up first in
the Double Jeopardy round!
GOD: I'll take Ron Sexsmith lyrics for 200 Alex...
ALEX TREBEK: In his 2002 song "Who" loves everyone?
GOD: Um, who is Oprah Winfrey?
ALEX TREBEK: No, the correct answer is "God"
GOD: Oh crap! RS
Oh yes! I've loved Lightfoot's song all my life, but I only learned about this cover today. Fab take. RIP to the workers from the wreck, 50 years ago.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Oh yes! I've loved Lightfoot's song all my life, but I only learned about this cover today. Fab take. RIP to the workers from the wreck, 50 years ago.
Reposted by Michael Munnik
Also in case its not being mentioned in your feed, there is still a remaining vote for this and Somehow they didn't anticipate the outrage, so there's apparently some hesitation now.
If those were your senators, call them and don't stop. I will also be calling even though they arent mine
If those were your senators, call them and don't stop. I will also be calling even though they arent mine
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Also in case its not being mentioned in your feed, there is still a remaining vote for this and Somehow they didn't anticipate the outrage, so there's apparently some hesitation now.
If those were your senators, call them and don't stop. I will also be calling even though they arent mine
If those were your senators, call them and don't stop. I will also be calling even though they arent mine
Okay. Teaching done, and I'm just trying to process my worries and frustration at this time.
My eye's been off the ball last week with other stuff, so I had no wind of this business with the BBC. Anger from Trump about "unfair" edits seemed like more bloviating.
But the peril for BBC is immense.
My eye's been off the ball last week with other stuff, so I had no wind of this business with the BBC. Anger from Trump about "unfair" edits seemed like more bloviating.
But the peril for BBC is immense.
Fuming this morning after a shock at breakfast when I turned the radio on.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Okay. Teaching done, and I'm just trying to process my worries and frustration at this time.
My eye's been off the ball last week with other stuff, so I had no wind of this business with the BBC. Anger from Trump about "unfair" edits seemed like more bloviating.
But the peril for BBC is immense.
My eye's been off the ball last week with other stuff, so I had no wind of this business with the BBC. Anger from Trump about "unfair" edits seemed like more bloviating.
But the peril for BBC is immense.
Fuming this morning after a shock at breakfast when I turned the radio on.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Fuming this morning after a shock at breakfast when I turned the radio on.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
I have sudden teaching in an hour. All I'll say now is this business with the BBC is terrible, and people with no understanding of journalism should not have such a massive hand in how a news organisation runs.
Reposted by Michael Munnik
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
Reposted by Michael Munnik
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
November 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
Reposted by Michael Munnik
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(Even a gratuitous one.)
The Fells were some fine early 90s Arizona garage-rock and no one knows about 'em...
(Even a gratuitous one.)
The Fells were some fine early 90s Arizona garage-rock and no one knows about 'em...
November 8, 2025 at 11:24 AM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(Even a gratuitous one.)
The Fells were some fine early 90s Arizona garage-rock and no one knows about 'em...
(Even a gratuitous one.)
The Fells were some fine early 90s Arizona garage-rock and no one knows about 'em...
Reposted by Michael Munnik
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(does this count? Meh - too good an album not to post it)
@annahmeredith.bsky.social
(does this count? Meh - too good an album not to post it)
@annahmeredith.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(does this count? Meh - too good an album not to post it)
@annahmeredith.bsky.social
(does this count? Meh - too good an album not to post it)
@annahmeredith.bsky.social
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(Even a gratuitous one.)
(Even a gratuitous one.)
November 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM
If you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.
(Even a gratuitous one.)
(Even a gratuitous one.)
Reposted by Michael Munnik
Lower the maximum wage.
November 8, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Lower the maximum wage.
Once more for the North Americans: I'm remembering Leonard Cohen, my inspiration, co-national, and songwriting buddy. Here's a video I stitched together of CC licensed photos for "On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken". Music by me, words by him in the 1970s. Dead nine years today. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
Michael Munnik, "On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken" by Leonard Cohen and Michael Munnik
YouTube video by Michael Munnik
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Once more for the North Americans: I'm remembering Leonard Cohen, my inspiration, co-national, and songwriting buddy. Here's a video I stitched together of CC licensed photos for "On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken". Music by me, words by him in the 1970s. Dead nine years today. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
Well, things-to-do be damned, I still got my best day of the week in. The writing was less restrained, also less informed by scholarship. Also likely would need to be clawed back in final deliverable manuscript, so let's not big it up too much. #AcWriMo
Here's the chart for the week.
Here's the chart for the week.
November 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Well, things-to-do be damned, I still got my best day of the week in. The writing was less restrained, also less informed by scholarship. Also likely would need to be clawed back in final deliverable manuscript, so let's not big it up too much. #AcWriMo
Here's the chart for the week.
Here's the chart for the week.
It was great to have a chunk of the team from @britishacademy.bsky.social visit us at Cardiff for the day. I expect higher level talks also went on, but nice of them to give time to front-line academics and research support officers, talking about funding schemes and broader work. It felt useful.
an aerial view of a river surrounded by fields with the words diolch
Alt: GIF with slight movement: an aerial view of a river surrounded by bright green fields with the words diolch (Welsh for "thank you" - more Welsh gifs, plis!)
media.tenor.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
It was great to have a chunk of the team from @britishacademy.bsky.social visit us at Cardiff for the day. I expect higher level talks also went on, but nice of them to give time to front-line academics and research support officers, talking about funding schemes and broader work. It felt useful.
Reposted by Michael Munnik
Versions? There's a cool old demo I did, guitar and vocals with my flatmate at the time Ben Young adding a couple of layers of bouzouki. Great solo. michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
And a sweet recording of just me in Edinburgh at the Live Music Archive archive.org/details/mm20...
And a sweet recording of just me in Edinburgh at the Live Music Archive archive.org/details/mm20...
On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken, by Michael Munnik
from the album Jacob (early demos)
michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Versions? There's a cool old demo I did, guitar and vocals with my flatmate at the time Ben Young adding a couple of layers of bouzouki. Great solo. michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
And a sweet recording of just me in Edinburgh at the Live Music Archive archive.org/details/mm20...
And a sweet recording of just me in Edinburgh at the Live Music Archive archive.org/details/mm20...
Reposted by Michael Munnik
I wrote about that song's inspiration and progress on my blog. I still think it was one of the gutsiest but best things I've done musically. anearthwithoutgrammar.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/s...
Of course, you can buy & download here... still a few CDs left! michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
Of course, you can buy & download here... still a few CDs left! michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
SongStories: “On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken”
In another seam of the Michael Munnik Multiverse, this song allowed me to stop doing journalism and never even think of becoming a university lecturer. Instead, it precipitated the mass upheaval th…
anearthwithoutgrammar.wordpress.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I wrote about that song's inspiration and progress on my blog. I still think it was one of the gutsiest but best things I've done musically. anearthwithoutgrammar.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/s...
Of course, you can buy & download here... still a few CDs left! michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
Of course, you can buy & download here... still a few CDs left! michaelmunnik.bandcamp.com/track/on-hea...
Reposted by Michael Munnik
It was 9 years ago we lost Leonard Cohen, a magnificent poet and songwriter.
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
Michael Munnik, "On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken" by Leonard Cohen and Michael Munnik
YouTube video by Michael Munnik
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
It was 9 years ago we lost Leonard Cohen, a magnificent poet and songwriter.
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
It was 9 years ago we lost Leonard Cohen, a magnificent poet and songwriter.
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
Michael Munnik, "On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken" by Leonard Cohen and Michael Munnik
YouTube video by Michael Munnik
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
It was 9 years ago we lost Leonard Cohen, a magnificent poet and songwriter.
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
I had the privilege of writing a song with him. He didn't know until I told his publisher, his agent, and his lawyer. But a melody inspired by his 70s poem fused into On Hearing a Name Long Unspoken. youtu.be/FycRg8IobCA
I won't be able to put much time in at the digital coalface today, as the @britishacademy.bsky.social is visiting campus and I'm due to get some lunch and ask questions about fellowships.
Will try to get some words down in the next hour, though. #AcWriMo
Will try to get some words down in the next hour, though. #AcWriMo
Whoops. Accountability at the end of the day. Up 500+ words. Felt good about the writing & the direction. Then read a 2009 article to refresh my ideas & felt demoralised, sure that nobody needs the book. About par for the course.
(And it's not true. I need the book.)
Onwards and upwards. #AcWriMo
(And it's not true. I need the book.)
Onwards and upwards. #AcWriMo
Only (?) one meeting today, so I hope to get much more progress on my writing project today.
Wish me luck. #AcWriMo
Wish me luck. #AcWriMo
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
I won't be able to put much time in at the digital coalface today, as the @britishacademy.bsky.social is visiting campus and I'm due to get some lunch and ask questions about fellowships.
Will try to get some words down in the next hour, though. #AcWriMo
Will try to get some words down in the next hour, though. #AcWriMo