January 2015

Several blog posts I want to write (one on books and double dipping in particular) but no time, so instead I'll moan about that!

By extension: pre-pay to guarantee a certain classification! Refund if you don't get a 2:1. Perhaps insurance companies will step up.

Pass everyone? Hold staff responsible for lost income on dropouts? Totally commoditize education & only value the result?

Keucheyan gives the best, although least specific, definition of neoliberalism: the restoration of the profit rate by all means necessary.

“I did kick out at the left side of her face as trained to do. ... I do remember hitting harder because it had no effect.”

I'm sceptical that The Sun removed Page 3 solely due to social pressure. They've replaced it with a full-page Sainsbury ad. Massive revenue.

Reading Razmig Keucheyan's /The Left Hemisphere: Mapping Critical Theory Today/ on my train journey home today. So far it's fantastic.

Just had the loveliest email saying that my book is on someone's course. Never underestimate how happy such an email can make the recipient!

(I didn't choose the title on that piece, which is reblogged from a previous post... If I thought it could be done "easily", well...)

"Odious Political Party X isn't happy about photo Y. Better not RT, eh?" [subtext: Y is fake & you'll look foolish for RTing]

Other Uber ideas: Uber Prison (spare basements); Uber Denistry (where enthusiasm trumps experience); Uber Airlines (how hard can it be?)

Had a great day at #HEFCEmetrics (although I don't want to hear the word "metrics" again for a long time). Thanks @elebelfiore @jameswilsdon

I disagree somewhat with @geoffcrossick on change in ScholComms having to come wholly from within disciplines #HEFCEmetrics

Welch says high quality in arts & hums will focus on: fewer pubs at higher qual; targeting outlets w/ peer review #HEFCEmetrics

Delgado put metrics in contrast to peer review there. Is it? Is REF subpanel peer review? (breadth of expertise etc) #HEFCEmetrics

Maria Delgado now talking about data richness of REF. Data/evidence seems to cause less anxiety than metrics among academics. #HEFCEmetrics

Jonathan Adams asserts that impact of Arts and Humanities cannot neatly be divided between extra and intra -academic contexts #HEFCEmetrics

“@effjayem @arrroberts @martin_eve Turn it into a competition with rules and of course participants will game it.” #HEFCEmetrics

Define "gaming" of metrics. Are the efforts universities put into getting good scores in last, non-metric REF, gaming? #HEFCEmetrics

Conversely if 20 people view it and then go change the world as a result, then the hits figure is irrelevant #HEFCEmetrics

Is number of hits "impact"? I'd say it's evidence of dissemination. If 6m people watch a video but don't act - no impact #HEFCEmetrics

. @mikethelwall argues that metrics for quality are perhaps not possible but can be for impact of Hums work #HEFCEMetrics

Looking forward to tomorrow's @HEFCE Independent Metrics Review workshop on Hums & Social Sciences. Hope to see some of you there!

"ongoing campaigns of top-loading acquisitions of smaller publishers by large conglomerates that span hums & sciences" OA & Hums, p. 35.

#Force2015 looks ace from live-tweets. Sadly, missing it as I have hospital procedure today that, trust me, you don't want livetweeted.

MAC-limited DHCP network. Want to connect router to that net & for it to run own DHCP for internal wireless clients (NAT) Any router advice?

By trawling charity commission though I see many societies w/ £100k+ revenue from subscription publishing when many don't have access. 2/2

I've been told: we don't have an economic problem with journals in the humanities because they cost less than in STEM. 1/2

Jeb Bush runs for President & Europe's all like: "ya know, America, we nailed this being ruled by a single rich family thing a while back".

But also greatly enjoyed the construction of narrative through parody of academic discourse. Not so keen on all the typographical features.

“@labourpress Tory dossier says Labour will cancel cuts to the arts budget. We won't.” < bloody hell. You're supposed to be the alternative.

Really enjoyed our panel on ScholComms today. Thanks to all who came. Thanks to @cecymarden and others for organising! #s253 #aha2015

A reminder re our panel on digital innovation in publishing at #AHA2015. Starting at 8.30. Me, @kfitz, @lisarnorberg, @mkgold & @CecyMarden

I'm glad that James Dyson is attacking Theresa May's awful policy on student immigration in the UK. His interest is purely economic, though.

Dear SwiftKey: a default prediction of "affair" after "I'm just having an" is going to cause problems. I wanted to say "excellent breakfast"

"Rail fares frozen again, says George Osborne" / "Rail fares in rise by an average of 2.2%" / "increase continues to outstrip wage growth"

But also, check out Horse - Celebrate (Magimix) and any of their remixes of Pop Will Eat Itself's RSVP. @jon_fugler

Relistened to a load of old Fluke remixes this evening. Really superb stuff. New Order, Talk Talk & Human League among the best @jon_fugler