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Nic Baker-Brian

@bluntnorthener.bsky.social
112 followers 96 following 76 posts

Professor, Late Antiquity, Wales

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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
New Iranian (Persian) translation of my Manichaeism book. Mani is still revered as an artist in modern Iran.
Persian translation front cover of a book on Mani and Manichaeism.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic... Rupert Lowe putting in a late move for thickest right winger of the week
dailyrecord.co.uk
Fury as Rupert Lowe describes Dunblane massacre as 'one murder'
The Restore UK leader, who was previously kicked-out of Nigel Farage's party, is facing a backlash over his "astonishingly insensitive" remarks on the deadliest mass shooting in UK history.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
There’s a poetic symmetry to the Makerfield result with the ten year anniversary of Brexshite coming up next week. Out far-righted by his deviant offspring Restore, Farage will have to swallow democracy without any sweetener. #RIPJoCox
bbc.co.uk
Burnham wins big majority in Makerfield by-election as pressure mounts on Starmer over leadership - live updates
Labour's Andy Burnham, who won 55% of the vote, says in his victory speech that this could be a "turning point" for the party.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Keeping an eye on these cultists
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
THIS and at the same time that academics in the Humanities are being asked to identify UNWANTED BOOKS in their own research collections. There’s never been, as far as I’m concerned, an UNWANTED BOOK😢
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Students value above all else access to resources namely books, articles etc. (print and digital). These enhance the ‘learning experience’ more than any pie-in-the-sky, proof of concept, pushing the envelope brain farts. you.38degrees.org.uk
you.38degrees.org.uk
38 Degrees
How to run an online petition There are thousands of petitions running on 38 Degrees right now. Over the years we've learnt a lot about how to word your petition, how to grow your petition and how...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
University management consultants
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... English nationalists tell Welsh museum how to present Welsh history. Reform truly are the Alan Partridge of UK politics.
bbc.co.uk
Reform to tell Welsh museums how to present history, manifesto says
Election pledges say Reform would ask museums to present history chronologically.
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Annette Yoshiko Reed @annetteyreed.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Good thing some US colleges are closing their Religious Studies departments—definitively not “useful” at all or an area of expertise that might be relevant for understanding our present…
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Classics and Medieval Studies under threat at Calgary. Please sign their petition.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
www.sehepunkte.de/2026/01/4046... A recent review of a former student’s book. The point about the institutional junking of excellence and expertise built up over years should invite further scrutiny.
sehepunkte.de
SEHEPUNKTE - Rezension von: Division of Empire - Ausgabe 26 (2026), Nr. 1
Rezension über William Lewis: Division of Empire. The Reign of the Sons of Constantine (= Oxford Studies in Late Antiquity), Oxford: Oxford University Press 2024, XI + 227 S., Diverse s./w.-Abb. Diver...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
New Biblical Time Machine podcast about everyone’s favourite dualist, Mani and the Manichaeans! With my excellent Cardiff University colleague, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com
Manichaeism – An Ancient Faith Rediscovered
Podcast Episode · Biblical Time Machine · 17/11/2025 · 41m
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Please consider signing this petition to preserve the study of the ancient world at uOttawa. There’s a rich legacy of scholarship and teaching here which we can’t afford to lose.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Robert Redford… I mean, no, really!?! Come on …
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Eve MacDonald @gevemac.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Upcoming #Carthage book events: Sept. 5th @londonpodfest live with @ancientstristan (tickets shop.kingsplace.co.uk/31650/31654) Sept. 10th @nomad_books 781 Fulham Road, London 6.30-8.30pm Oct 2nd in conversation @maimusie at @waterstones Gower St at 6.30pm (www.waterstones.com/events/searc...)
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
La France profonde
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
At least two Cardiff University ‘in scope’ historians boiling in the Cypriot heat.
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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 15/06/2025
Notes from a highly charged and devastating meeting show not a single member of Cardiff University’s senate body backed the latest cuts plans ✍️ Martin Shipton
wp.me
Inside account of meeting at which not a single member of Cardiff University's Senate backed cuts plan
Martin Shipton A member of Cardiff University’s Senate has provided Nation.Cymru with notes of a highly charged and – for the university – devastating meeting at which not a single member of the body ...
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Sarah Parkhouse @sarahparkhouse.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Peter Oakes and I have written about our Coptic Manuscripts & Community pilot project @thejohnrylands.bsky.social, where we share initial insights on how the manuscripts came to be in Manchester & how we might connect these ancient artefacts with folks today. rylandscollections.com/2025/06/13/f...
rylandscollections.com
Rylands BlogFar from Being in the ‘Most Useless’ Place: Linking John Rylands Coptic Manuscripts with the Coptic Community
Dr Sarah Parkhouse and Professor Peter Oakes write about their pilot project exploring the treasure trove of Coptic manuscripts at the John Rylands Library.
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Cardiff UCU @cardiffucu.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Latest news, announced yesterday: Music and *some* Modern Languages provision to continue, while Ancient History, Religion and Theology still for the chopping board with no evidence to support the decision shown to staff. 1/6
bbc.co.uk
Cardiff University backtracks on plans to cut music and languages
Music and modern languages will still be offered at Cardiff University, the vice chancellor says.
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Laurence Totelin @ltotelin.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Because reading and writing have lways been my way to cope, here are some musings: ancientrecipes.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/t...
ancientrecipes.wordpress.com
The House of Sleep
Yesterday, the management of my university announced that it ‘would not revisit’ its proposals to cease offering degrees in Ancient History and in Religion and Theology. While this was …
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Cardiff University’s group of teachers in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies recently established a new series, Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity, with Routledge. Proposals are welcome on a variety of topics about which see below www.routledge.com/Critical-Deb...
routledge.com
Critical Debates in Global Late Antiquity - Book Series - Routledge & CRC Press
Routledge & CRC Press Series: The series presents critical surveys of key debates in Late Antique studies (c. 250 CE – c. 800 CE), a discipline defined by its transcultural focus on the pe
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Joseph Fasano @josephfasano.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
It's final paper season.
For a Student Who Used AI to Write a Paper
 
by Joseph Fasano

Now I let it fall back
in the grasses.
I hear you. I know
this life is hard now.
I know your days are precious
on this earth.
But what are you trying
to be free of?
The living? The miraculous
task of it?
Love is for the ones who love the work.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Don’t usually post personal stuff but wanted to note a momentous day. My son is now a school leaver, finishing secondary school. He’s coped with Covid, lockdowns and his mum going through cancer (x2). He is very irritating sometimes but also very loveable and I am very proud of him today.
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Rachel Wagner @drrachelwagner.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
What many students don’t understand is humanities profs don’t assign writing to get the product. We are extending invitations to know yourself. If you conjure AI, it doesn’t impact us. You cheat only yourself. And knowing yourself today is the best defense you’ve got against fascism.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Specifically for my Gospel of Mary student
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
The existential threat to the study of Theology in a secular Welsh university context is a major issue and one which Cardiff has yet to address. Wales should not have to rely on English institutions for this provision.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
#Cardiff #optimism
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Catching up with the excellent work by my Cardiff colleague @rklwood.bsky.social
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
**Job Klaxon Deadline 31 March ‘25 www.archaeology.wiki/blog/2025/03...
archaeology.wiki
Fully-funded PhD Late Antiquity
Cardiff University (Wales, UK) is offering a fully funded full-time PhD on the theme of Health and Healing in Late Antiquity.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
New book by Cardiff University’s Susanna Towers #religion #ancienthistory #lateantiquity #manichaeism
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Andy Williams @llantwit.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Open letter to the Cardiff Uni VC Larner from the three most senior officials of united churches org Cytun says proposed cuts to religious studies & the Humanities more broadly will be “disastrous” for Wales. nation.cymru/news/churche...
nation.cymru
Churches condemn 'tragic' cuts to religious studies
Martin Shipton The umbrella organisation representing Wales’ churches has deplored the “tragic” demise of theology departments at Welsh universities. In an open letter to vice chancellors and Cabinet ...
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NationCymru @nation.cymru · 04/03/2025
Joey Molland, guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for 1970s hits like No Matter What and Day After Day, has died aged 77
wp.me
Joey Molland, guitarist with 1970s Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger, dies aged 77
Joey Molland, guitarist with the Welsh pop-rock band Badfinger that was known for 1970s hits like No Matter What and Day After Day, has died aged 77. Molland was the last to join and had been the last...
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
This is the original column written as a homage to the great @timothysnyder.bsky.social's 'On Tyranny'. It keeps going endlessly viral which makes me think there is an appetite for a pro-democracy, anti-broligarchy media & movement. 6/ open.substack.com/pub/broligar... bsky.app/profile/caro...
open.substack.com
How to Survive the Broligarchy
Three months ago, I warned we were entering the age of technoauthoritarianism. It's now here. We can and must fight back.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Vance was right on just one thing: Europe lacks a clear positive vision of what it wants to defend. The answer must be "the things Vance rejects": truth, science, liberal democracy, rule of law, resisting dictators, climate action. It will have to do that without, & sometimes against, the US Govt.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Mani. The first religious globalist? New podcast with Cardiff’s Nic Baker-Brian podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com
S2E3: Mani and Manichaeism in Sasanian Iran and Roman Empire
Podcast Episode · Scholars Unravel Middle East · 13/02/2025 · 1h 3m
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
‘These subjects play a central role in fostering a sense of global citizenship and nurturing respect for cultural diversities.’ www.change.org/p/save-our-r...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Save Our Religion And Theology Degree!
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
‘No Theology in Welsh universities is a tragedy’ www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/ert...
bbc.co.uk
'Dim diwinyddiaeth ym mhrifysgolion Cymru yn drasiedi'
Wrth i Brifysgol Caerdydd ystyried dod â phwnc diwinyddiaeth i ben, dywed arbenigwyr yn y maes bod
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
‘Any reduction to these degree subjects would undermine economic potential and social cohesion for the whole of Wales’ www.learnedsociety.wales/cardiff-univ...
learnedsociety.wales
Cardiff University reorganisation plans: LSW Statement - The Learned Society of Wales
As Wales’ National Academy, the Learned Society of Wales has been increasingly concerned that Welsh universities are operating within a difficult financial context. Economic strain, the impacts of imm...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
In a gloomy week, a ray of light. A new edition of Cardiff University Press’ Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture has just dropped. Read it here for free jlarc.cardiffuniversitypress.org
jlarc.cardiffuniversitypress.org
Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture
The Journal for Late Antique Religion and Culture is a full text open access online journal, edited by members and associates of the Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture and published by Cardi...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
It’s the Overheads, Stupid!
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Prof Laurie Stras @lauriestras.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Sharing this again because, in my experience of being a union branch leader during a massive, year-long onslaught of redundancy consultations, no one ever brought up the problem of the cost allocation death spiral. I wish I'd had this information in my arsenal. www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-a...
linkedin.com
The Cost Allocation Death Spiral and the University
The Cost Allocation Death Spiral and the University Accountants, as people whose business it chiefly is to bring hard news to powerful people, generally avoid emotional terms. They prefer softer, nuan...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Excellent new addition to Late Antique and Constantinian scholarship, Cardiff’s own Will Lewis
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
Serious Christmas Day dog walking stylee
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Cardiff graffiti at its finest
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Universities would have gone bankrupt long ago if staff had billed them for all the unpaid hours clocked up over the years.
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Today’s fascinating read
Darnton’s book entitled The Great Cat Massacre
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Laurence Totelin @ltotelin.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
There is still time to apply for 4 doctoral fellowships at Cardiff University, as part of the Marie Curie StoryPharm project, on Storytelling as pharmakon in premodernity and beyond. Deadline 16 December. Details on the individual posts in the thread. euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/277190
euraxess.ec.europa.eu
4 PhD MSCA fellowships in "StoryPharm": Storytelling as Pharmakon in Premodernity and Beyond: Training the New Generation of Researchers in Health Humanities
Are you getting or have already received an MA in Ancient or Medieval History, Art History, Byzantine Studies, Classics, Cultural Heritage Studies, Medieval Studies, Philology (Arabic, English, French...
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Nic Baker-Brian @bluntnorthener.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
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