Currently reading Sergei Lebedev, The Lady of the Mine,which is an intriguing novel, but disturbing too. Remarkable writing. For Newcastle friends the book is available via the University's Libby account as an e-book.

Happy birthday JB Morrell Library from a regular user for the past 26 years. Still one of my happy places.

Featuring Curtis Yarvin!

When I was in Sixth Form I used to listen to "The Moral Maze" regularly, and find it fascinating. Today it is debating "Is democracy a failed experiment?" I find this astonishing! Is it me who has changed, or have things changed? (or both?)

Well AI appears to be advancing. It now recreate the dynamic of a lot of the meetings one has to attend.

System update progressing better. Actually wrote a good chunk of text on the new machine today!

After much gnashing of teeth I have finally worked out how to have one monitor in portrait and one in landscape in Windows 11. Not enjoying the transition to a new operating system.

My guess is that even with digital ID card you will still need multiple ids and copies of bill to register at a library, and every piece of paper related to your entire education to get payment as an external examiner in the UK.

22 September is World Car Free day. As I don't drive, it is just like any other day.

Today I finally got my reissued staff card. It has been extended until 30 September 2035, although I very much doubt I'll survive that long. But, let's give it a go!

Just thinking aloud: AI leads to a kind of "blagosphere" a superficiality in knowledge and understanding. The doing matters. It might help to blag your way through, but not detail or depth. It is a shortcut. To get good at almost anything you have to put the time in, whether its the guitar 1/2

When I was 18, I would have sworn blind that Margaret Rutherford was the one true Miss Marple. But, at some point it dawned on me that Joan Hickson was infinitely better. You live and learn.

I see that Ben Creed's Man of Bones, a book I gave one of the authors some historical advice on, is long listed for the 2025 Crime Writers Association Golden Dagger awards!

Another major chunk of writing complete!

He can't even say Azerbaijan, and remember the difference between Armenia and Albania! All the schmoozing and photo ops and he fluffs his lines.

Just a thought, but what if all the effort and thought going into AI was redirected to addressing the climate crisis?

I am going to miss my landline at work. On occasion it was really useful to be able to phone somebody or they could phone you without having to give out one's personal mobile phone number. On a couple of occasions this made a huge difference to students.

My possibly unpopular opinion is that the humanities need to put people front and centre. More humanity and fewer computers.

A reminder of what the big global environmental problems facing us are. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Shouldn't it be "who travels with whom?"? Sounds off to my ear.

I just listened to Satya Nadella of Microsoft talking about AI on Radio 4's today programme. I sensed a total lack of substance on what the benefits of AI might be. I remain far from convinced that AI can deliver even a fraction of the benefits claimed.

I always have dictionaries to hand when writing. Essential tools. on.ft.com/46n3hRj

Sticking it to the man by getting my £1.78 for a delayed train last week!

I've shaved my beard off. So I won't be posing for any photos until it grows back!

I'm very concerned for the UK's future. The past few weeks have worried me.

I repeat myself again, the point of a degree might not be future earnings. As someone once wrote: “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your graduate earnings data." www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Just to pause for a moment - Mandy is still a member of the House of Lords. Unless I missed something.

I've done it! Bitten the bullet on a new desktop tower. I hope 1. it last 8 years like the last one, 2, having outlaid the capital I'm not made redundant anytime soon, 3. the sector lasts longer than the new computer. Better news, is I have found a way to turn my old hard drives into external drive.

Fearing I am going to have to bite the bullet on upgrading my desktop for the Windows 11 upgrade.

www.theguardian.com/thefilter/20... Many good suggestions, but No to (a) multi plug blocks, fire risk (b) external hard drive (save to University network), (c) £43 water bottle (nobody needs a £43 water bottle). Key essential: tea bags, mugs, and biscuits - make your new friends a cuppa.

Slight aside: I'd really appreciate the opportunity to talk to an economist at some point, because I am confused about the government's repeated statements about growth. Many of the things that are labelled as growth, just seem to be about moving money from one place to another.

📢@newcastleuni.bsky.social Masters & PhD students! Apply for 2 x Robinson Bequest Bursaries (£3k each). 👉 Gain Special Collections & Archives experience 👉 Boost skills & employability Deadline: 26 Sept 2025 Apply: www.ncl.ac.uk/library/special-collections/robinson-bequest-core-collections-bursaries/

A "super university"? Well ok. But, IMHO all Universities are pretty super, special indeed.

I am reminded that in adaptation of Mark Tavener's novel "In the Red" adapted for radio in 1995, and TV in 1998, there is a tiny political party called the Reform Party.

John Harris is right that none of this is easy, and also right that Reform needs to be challenged on everything. If you think Brexit was a form of national self harm, then just wait for what a Reform government brings. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I've had a lovely day out in the open air. So time for a pot of tea, and to start reading this.

My desktop PC apparently isn't compatible with Windows 11, so I've got to ditch my system for a new one. I can't work out why my home system keeps nagging me about Window 10 support ending, but my workPC seems happy to muddle along on windows 10.

Have we got a new Universities or Higher Education secretary yet? It is Friday so we are due a new one.

Unbelievable that the government couldn't manage Rayner's resignation until the very moment Farage stood up to give his speech this afternoon. School boy errors.

Nadine Dorries is apparently joining Reform, which does offer one possible scenario for the implosion of Reform's and Farage's poll ratings.

🚨JOB Alert🚨 We are looking for another postdoctoral researcher to cover the history of veterans in the British colonies of Southern and/or East Africa in the interwar period. 24 month contract, deadline October 03. Please share widely. universityvacancies.com/maynooth-uni...

Science minister Patrick Vallance has announced the next Research Excellence Framework will be paused for three months to review whether its allocation of £2 billion annually in block research funding will support the government’s economic and social missions. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #REF

It was good to co-author alongside @clarekelly.bsky.social & Caitríona Leahy & with the input from Harun Šiljak & Norah Campbell. We are clearly not the only ones thinking like this, both within Trinity & beyond, so let's build community to #resistAI www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...