iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 1h

Indeed, but glad to hear of this initiative and would like to join in future :)

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If protesting didn't work, would those in power be doing everything they can right now to vilify protestors and crack down on free speech? Activist and author Annie Leonard offers an important history lesson on why protest is so important — and why it's needed now more than ever.

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Leonardo Carella @leonardocarella.bsky.social · 5h

In other words, a 10 percent contraction in one of Britain’s most successful exports. If it were steel or fish or other infinitely less profitable sectors, people would be having a meltdown.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 2h

“Is anyone brave enough to tell these employers that they’re asking too much for too little pay?” Employers, not universities, colleges, or schools, ought to be held responsible for job training.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Also—you don’t need me to tell you this—I think it’s not helpful to overstate an ethnonational *turn* as if the ideas did not pre-date state formation but to emphasize how there was a consolidation or hegemonization of the ethnonational that sidelined/silenced more diverse and critical conceptions.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Agree transhistorical or totalizing accounts are unhelpful, but I think there are valid questions to ask in general about when/how nationalist projects become ethnonationalist (Derrida is good on inquiring into this in his 1980s seminars of Sivamohan Valluvan’s book on nationalisms). 1/2

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The parochial English focus in this has one considerable downside, which I fear plays into the rightwing agenda to constrain freedom of thought and sideline the ECHR. There’s no mention of the Humboldtian university & older ideals on which human rights conceptions of university autonomy are based.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

So duly expecting to be added to the list for sharing this! It ought not need to be said that criticizing the government, the law, or law enforcement practices is, without more, protected by Art 10, even when harsh or potentially offensive.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Something Oxford’s special educational ChatGPT said when I prompted it to justify prioritizing that investment: “The human tutor acquires claims on the institution…they can object to working conditions; they might demand a permanent contract.” It gets it! 😝

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Reposted by Naomi Waltham-Smith

lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Amid all the talk of lawfulness, unlawfulness and the rule of law, it's important to remember that it's peaceful assembly that is protected by human rights law - not merely lawful assembly. #ParadesCommission #Garvaghy #Drumcree #PSNI

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Reposted by Naomi Waltham-Smith

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 29/09/2026

Access to culture is a right, not a privilege. Keeping museums free means millions can continue to explore, learn and be inspired, regardless of their background or income. That's good for London, and good for ensuring cost is never a barrier to discovery.

theartnewspaper.com

Culture secretary confirms free admission for all at England’s national museums will remain

The announcement by Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, came after recent discussions of introducing admission fees for overseas visitors

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

'Unspecified proposals by UK Research and Innovation to phase out some “specific” QR funding streams could reduce institutional diversity and weaken regional research capacity, specialist universities have warned.'

timeshighereducation.com

UKRI’s plans to cut QR funding risk ‘weakening regional capacity’

Proposed loss of certain quality-related streams could undermine specialist institutions’ ability to build research capacity

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Maybe you shouldn’t be encouraging the Starmerites for whom “town” has been a signifier that substituted for any genuine analysis. 😆 Keir once said to me: “I think your question [more about geographies of class socialization] is about towns.” But if you can get them to use it more meaningfully…

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

When I attended a broadly CoE secondary school after Catholic primary school, I (backed by my Irish family!) was a conscientious objector to the nationalist/imperialist hymns or ones with Berengarianist heresies!

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

In the quiet carriage? That especially gets my goat on my early morning commute to work. I just want to do my marking in peace!

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Agree. I don’t think it would hurt if they had a convincing analysis of why those people are not (or no longer) their voters—but only because that might then mean they’d know to stop chasing them.

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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 24/09/2026

Never been to the opera before? Now’s your chance. We’re giving away 70,000 free tickets to the @metopera at the iconic Lincoln Center. Go to on.nyc.gov/opera to enter the lottery. There’s not a bad seat in the house.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

They do know that they manufacture and not just measure public opinion, right?

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If the horrible but all too imaginable outcome happens, surely manslaughter if not murder charges. And I can think of a few offences that might apply to slashing a dinghy with a rescuer on board (eg criminal damage endangering life).

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Quite! Or if you’re genuinely trying to acquire understanding of another field in an interdisciplinary context, do what reading you can and show some humility and curiosity.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Glad to hear this! Obviously ET takes too long, but press the leverage you have to get a better outcome. I’m just so sorry they’re putting you through this.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

@gwr.com You’re advertising an Oxford-London fare starting from £6.50. BR Fares confirms this advance single fare should be available. But suddenly as of today you have none on sale whatsoever. Would you like to clarify for Oxford-London commuters if you’ve withdrawn the fare—in effect a 215% hike?

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Chris Millard @chrismillard83.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

“Universities have managed staff costs significantly below inflation,[between 2016-17 and 2023-24] increasing only 14% compared to the 41.2% increase in RPIX [measure of inflation]” Substantial real terms pay cut, which continues a trend existing years before that…

gov.uk

Cost of undergraduate provision and qualifications in England

A study of the full economic cost of providing undergraduate-level higher education and other qualifications in England.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As much daylight as possible, meals on destination schedule, hydration, no more than one 20-min nap, no coffee—and a would-you-please-turn-left-professor op up.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

You think it wouldn’t qualify under 203(4)? It’s “members of staff” in the redundancy clause.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

We need to make a clearer case for culture as a structural precondition for a prosperous and thriving society, not as something nice-to-have. And it will take some creative imagination beyond the visitor economy and supply chain or labour mobility mediated spillovers to demonstrate this.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Oh, I just want to see you take them to the cleaners!

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Asylum Welcome @asylumwelcome.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Asylum seekers don't choose where they're accommodated. They deserve to live in dignity and safety while their claims are considered. That's why we're calling for community-based accommodation rather than large, isolated sites. Read more on our website: www.asylum-welcome.org/bicester-news/

asylum-welcome.org

Asylum Welcome responds to plans for large-scale asylum accommodation at MOD Bicester - Asylum Welcome

Please help us support more refugees, like Hira, who built a community in her asylum centre, when we helped fund her an art class.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This does feel like quite a low bar given the burning pyres around the country

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I posted this in reply to the OP which may be relevant and things are stricter still on redundancies for academic employees: www.mills-reeve.com/publications...

mills-reeve.com

Cutting hours can give rise to redundancy dismissal

How cutting employees' hours can create a redundancy situation.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Good! Since I’m not sure it is, as I posted in response to your OP.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Its awful! It’s aiways worth checking specific circumstances with an employment lawyer since it might not be: www.mills-reeve.com/publications...

mills-reeve.com

Cutting hours can give rise to redundancy dismissal

How cutting employees' hours can create a redundancy situation.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I’m so sorry to hear this. Don’t trust your employer on this. Have a look at this to start with and talk to an employment lawyer if need be: www.mills-reeve.com/publications...

mills-reeve.com

Cutting hours can give rise to redundancy dismissal

How cutting employees' hours can create a redundancy situation.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

*That* thread could at least have identified some of the genuine issues with Jäger’s argument. Instead it engages in that particularly pointless epistemic vice of accusing the other of being epistemically vicious.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

It feels like like a plot line from Industry

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Except that some of those in some places are explicitly out there fighting fascists because the state won’t.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

That’s reserved for Black boys making or sharing drill videos

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

As the FT reports the government is considering charging international visitors, a reminder of the charity law considerations and a question about whether they’ve really considered the dynamic public value of free access: www.stoneking.co.uk/literature/e...

stoneking.co.uk

What would it really mean to end free admission to our national museums?

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The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

NEW: London has among the lowest violent crime rates in England & Wales, tops a ranking of best cities, and pays more in tax than it gets back – but the public overestimate crime risk, underestimate its standing, and don't know it's a net fiscal contributor. Our latest Mistaken Britain study ⬇️

kcl.ac.uk

London misperceptions: public often wrong on capital's crime, quality of life, contribution to public finances and Muslim population | King's College London

A third believe there are "no-go" areas ruled by Sharia law

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

He knows, right, that lots of research isn’t done “at the bench”? And while I agree with reducing admin hurdles, I’m concerned that fewer longer awards will make the system less inclusive and support fewer researchers and institutions based on prestige over quality of proposals.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

And this is the person to whom UUK were listening giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Maybe they shouldn’t have listened to HEPI. The political naïveté is shocking. Why else are they in post if not for their nous? And Rose Stephenson’s work in free speech suggests she hasn’t really thought through the difference between “open-minded” and just plain gullible.

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Naomi Waltham-Smith @auralflaneur.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Although awarding gaps in some institutions for arts subjects suggest it’s for public school boys

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