Stephen Baker
@stephenbaker.bsky.social
Socialist. Trade unionist. Strummer of strings. Co.Down. Researches, writes & teaches. Radical whore of sociology. "...clean living under difficult circumstances." Proudly Paddystinian.
Instead of Keir Starmer…
… how about we try Wes Streeting!
… how about we try Wes Streeting!
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Instead of Keir Starmer…
… how about we try Wes Streeting!
… how about we try Wes Streeting!
Ards Historical Society’s Bully’s Acre exhibition in the Newtownards Tourist Information centre. The @heartsofdown.bsky.social Forgotten Famine film is the centrepiece.
October 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Ards Historical Society’s Bully’s Acre exhibition in the Newtownards Tourist Information centre. The @heartsofdown.bsky.social Forgotten Famine film is the centrepiece.
Just voted in the @ucu.org.uk pay and conditions ballot. Voted YES.
I’m sick of worsening pay and conditions. I’m sick of working in a constant state of crisis. I’m sick of the exploitative, careless leadership in this sector.
I’m looking forward to fighting back with @ucu-ulster.bsky.social
I’m sick of worsening pay and conditions. I’m sick of working in a constant state of crisis. I’m sick of the exploitative, careless leadership in this sector.
I’m looking forward to fighting back with @ucu-ulster.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Just voted in the @ucu.org.uk pay and conditions ballot. Voted YES.
I’m sick of worsening pay and conditions. I’m sick of working in a constant state of crisis. I’m sick of the exploitative, careless leadership in this sector.
I’m looking forward to fighting back with @ucu-ulster.bsky.social
I’m sick of worsening pay and conditions. I’m sick of working in a constant state of crisis. I’m sick of the exploitative, careless leadership in this sector.
I’m looking forward to fighting back with @ucu-ulster.bsky.social
In the 90s Caroline Aherne ripped the piss out of this sort of nonsense.
How this shit moved from Kilroy to news and current affairs is mind blowing.
How this shit moved from Kilroy to news and current affairs is mind blowing.
October 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
In the 90s Caroline Aherne ripped the piss out of this sort of nonsense.
How this shit moved from Kilroy to news and current affairs is mind blowing.
How this shit moved from Kilroy to news and current affairs is mind blowing.
“Hidden” you say.
October 1, 2025 at 9:22 PM
“Hidden” you say.
How it started and how it's going.
September 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
How it started and how it's going.
… and another Tory is confirmed as having joined (rebranded them self as) Reform.
September 17, 2025 at 5:23 AM
… and another Tory is confirmed as having joined (rebranded them self as) Reform.
Your licence fee. This…
September 11, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Your licence fee. This…
September 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
“It is quite clear that a free curiosity has more power to make us learn than a terrifying obligation.”
I’m putting this St Augustine quote on the front of my module guide and telling the students that this is St Augustine.
I’m putting this St Augustine quote on the front of my module guide and telling the students that this is St Augustine.
September 2, 2025 at 9:51 PM
“It is quite clear that a free curiosity has more power to make us learn than a terrifying obligation.”
I’m putting this St Augustine quote on the front of my module guide and telling the students that this is St Augustine.
I’m putting this St Augustine quote on the front of my module guide and telling the students that this is St Augustine.
I feel this is worth revisiting in light of the British media and politics fixation on 'small boats'.
The UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, undertook a mission to the UK in 2018. This is the summary at the top of his report.
The UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, undertook a mission to the UK in 2018. This is the summary at the top of his report.
September 2, 2025 at 7:57 AM
I feel this is worth revisiting in light of the British media and politics fixation on 'small boats'.
The UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, undertook a mission to the UK in 2018. This is the summary at the top of his report.
The UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, undertook a mission to the UK in 2018. This is the summary at the top of his report.
Heart of Down this evening.
August 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Heart of Down this evening.
Reading this second hand copy. Surprised to find a recipe scribbled at the back.
I love the notes you find in old books. Makes them much more interesting sometimes than brand new copies.
I love the notes you find in old books. Makes them much more interesting sometimes than brand new copies.
August 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reading this second hand copy. Surprised to find a recipe scribbled at the back.
I love the notes you find in old books. Makes them much more interesting sometimes than brand new copies.
I love the notes you find in old books. Makes them much more interesting sometimes than brand new copies.
Reform UK are doing the thinking for Labour. In which case, it’s always worth recalling the words of Stuart Hall.
August 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reform UK are doing the thinking for Labour. In which case, it’s always worth recalling the words of Stuart Hall.
As French Prime Minister François Bayrou says a huge, deadly wildfire sweeping through the south of France is a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale" the BBC Newsnight offers this trailer for tonight’s show.
August 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
As French Prime Minister François Bayrou says a huge, deadly wildfire sweeping through the south of France is a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale" the BBC Newsnight offers this trailer for tonight’s show.
Story in the Irish News about research into Great Irish Famine
"With the weakest in society succumbing to disease and starvation, this left only the healthiest to survive into adulthood. They grew up to be significantly taller than average."
Six links to other news at the foot of this report.
"With the weakest in society succumbing to disease and starvation, this left only the healthiest to survive into adulthood. They grew up to be significantly taller than average."
Six links to other news at the foot of this report.
August 6, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Story in the Irish News about research into Great Irish Famine
"With the weakest in society succumbing to disease and starvation, this left only the healthiest to survive into adulthood. They grew up to be significantly taller than average."
Six links to other news at the foot of this report.
"With the weakest in society succumbing to disease and starvation, this left only the healthiest to survive into adulthood. They grew up to be significantly taller than average."
Six links to other news at the foot of this report.
This film was a labour of love. The joy of working with friends, neighbours and comrades and the excitement of discovering an important aspect of the past in our midst.
Click here for full film and info about the making of it: www.heartsofdown.org/work/the-for...
Follow @heartsofdown.bsky.social
Click here for full film and info about the making of it: www.heartsofdown.org/work/the-for...
Follow @heartsofdown.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
This film was a labour of love. The joy of working with friends, neighbours and comrades and the excitement of discovering an important aspect of the past in our midst.
Click here for full film and info about the making of it: www.heartsofdown.org/work/the-for...
Follow @heartsofdown.bsky.social
Click here for full film and info about the making of it: www.heartsofdown.org/work/the-for...
Follow @heartsofdown.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Can't find a link but this is the article.
June 5, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Can't find a link but this is the article.
The state of this. Lineker leaves with sort of dignity and integrity that the BBC is utterly lacking in.
May 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The state of this. Lineker leaves with sort of dignity and integrity that the BBC is utterly lacking in.
Capital funding for higher education will be slashed from next year with support diverted from certain subjects including journalism and media studies towards lab-based courses in the latest blow to England’s cash-strapped universities.
May 19, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Capital funding for higher education will be slashed from next year with support diverted from certain subjects including journalism and media studies towards lab-based courses in the latest blow to England’s cash-strapped universities.
