Barker Culture
@barkerculture.bsky.social
Paul Barker's account for arts & culture, travel, genealogy, bit of GeoPol, pondering AI, some History (2026 looks Tudory and also Irish). Something like that.
Best French school protest image scrolling by (Reuters on Sky). Visiblement.
October 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Best French school protest image scrolling by (Reuters on Sky). Visiblement.
A short detour into Minoan palace-centred economies.
October 5, 2026 at 9:23 PM
A short detour into Minoan palace-centred economies.
Reposted by Barker Culture
Apple Trees and Poplars in the Setting Sun
https://botfrens.com/collections/49/contents/16946
https://botfrens.com/collections/49/contents/16946
September 25, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Apple Trees and Poplars in the Setting Sun
https://botfrens.com/collections/49/contents/16946
https://botfrens.com/collections/49/contents/16946
So many, often half-forgotten, gems from this era.
Progress in Play: Board Games and the Meaning of History”, Alex Andriesse on the world of 18/19th-century board games in which players progress chronologically through history itself: publicdomainreview.org/essay/progre... publicdomainreview.tumblr.com/post/8286679...
September 25, 2026 at 6:11 AM
So many, often half-forgotten, gems from this era.
Today's poem: “The Standing Trains” by Thomas McCarthy, first published in 1981. it is a desolate poem about the closure of much of the rail system.
September 24, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Today's poem: “The Standing Trains” by Thomas McCarthy, first published in 1981. it is a desolate poem about the closure of much of the rail system.
The Seed Picture - today's poem. It starts...
September 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
The Seed Picture - today's poem. It starts...
Reposted by Barker Culture
Quite emotional to report that we've just found our amazing survivor Marsh Tit, still here in his ancient woodland kingdom. He's now 11 yrs 4 months old, survived the 2026 heatwaves/drought and smelt the wildfires of nearby Holme Fen. I ringed him in my 30s and I'm now in my 50s.
September 20, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Quite emotional to report that we've just found our amazing survivor Marsh Tit, still here in his ancient woodland kingdom. He's now 11 yrs 4 months old, survived the 2026 heatwaves/drought and smelt the wildfires of nearby Holme Fen. I ringed him in my 30s and I'm now in my 50s.
Towering figure with perceptive humanity.
So sad to hear of the death of Bonnie Greer, novelist, broadcaster and hugely inspiration woman.
She was a great supporter of this Womensart project & WA books and our chats will be cherished always. A true intellectual & beautiful person. RIP xx
She was a great supporter of this Womensart project & WA books and our chats will be cherished always. A true intellectual & beautiful person. RIP xx
September 17, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Towering figure with perceptive humanity.
Today's poem is The Dead at Clonmacnois by T W Rolleston (1857-1920. It is a 5 verse translation of an Irish lament. Verse 2 shown.
September 17, 2026 at 5:43 AM
Today's poem is The Dead at Clonmacnois by T W Rolleston (1857-1920. It is a 5 verse translation of an Irish lament. Verse 2 shown.
Reposted by Barker Culture
Another proof that AI stands for Absent Indians and ChatGPT stands for Gujarati People Typing (@doctorow.pluralistic.net dixit).
EXCLUSIVE: Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 Media.
Inside ‘Project Lily’: The Humans Reading Your ChatGPT Chats
Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 M...
www.404media.co
September 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Another proof that AI stands for Absent Indians and ChatGPT stands for Gujarati People Typing (@doctorow.pluralistic.net dixit).
Whistler morning at Tate Britain before this exhibition ends.
September 13, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Whistler morning at Tate Britain before this exhibition ends.
The play was the thing. #Ayckbourn at #OldVic
September 13, 2026 at 8:37 AM
The play was the thing. #Ayckbourn at #OldVic
Reposted by Barker Culture
Between the PRs of (largely likely stolen) math breakthroughs, claims of "rogue AI" (actually cybercrimes by companies, but whatevs), and doomerist "whistleblowers", it feels like we've been subjected to a gish gallop of hype recently.
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September 13, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Between the PRs of (largely likely stolen) math breakthroughs, claims of "rogue AI" (actually cybercrimes by companies, but whatevs), and doomerist "whistleblowers", it feels like we've been subjected to a gish gallop of hype recently.
>>
>>
Today's Brian Boydell is Megalithic Ritual Dance. This is the last piece on the album with the blue cover. youtu.be/id3pTixV2IA?...
Megalithic Ritual Dance. Introduction. Maestoso; 1st Dance; 2nd Dance; Introduction (Reprise) ;...
YouTube video by National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland - Topic
youtu.be
September 11, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Today's Brian Boydell is Megalithic Ritual Dance. This is the last piece on the album with the blue cover. youtu.be/id3pTixV2IA?...
I didn't know I needed Henry of Huntingdon until this afternoon.
September 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I didn't know I needed Henry of Huntingdon until this afternoon.
Constable. Viewing Nature up a lot of stairs at the British Museum .
September 10, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Constable. Viewing Nature up a lot of stairs at the British Museum .
Culture trip today taking me to Kew and on to the National Archives.
September 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Culture trip today taking me to Kew and on to the National Archives.
Looking forward to this... in November. before that will read the book, play the game and so on... like some of us do.
I was lucky enough to get a viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry. Proper live action story, and compelling colours. I took too many photos - will post a bunch. Feel free to mute the thread…
September 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Looking forward to this... in November. before that will read the book, play the game and so on... like some of us do.
It also made those people wonder why they were first in the firing line. Over a decade of muddled Conservatism and then... this?
September 8, 2026 at 8:11 PM
It also made those people wonder why they were first in the firing line. Over a decade of muddled Conservatism and then... this?
Yesterday's culture dips included Ana Mendieta at Tate Modern.
September 8, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Yesterday's culture dips included Ana Mendieta at Tate Modern.
Ebenezer Howard. How one remembers the New Towns lessons.
September 7, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Ebenezer Howard. How one remembers the New Towns lessons.
This week's musical focus; Brian Boydell.
September 7, 2026 at 6:31 AM
This week's musical focus; Brian Boydell.
Poem for today: Icham of Irelaunde.
September 6, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Poem for today: Icham of Irelaunde.
A suggestion I noticed today was to treat 'AI' outputs like a drunk intern who is enthusiastic and helpful, but prone to making things up. What if you have never encountered a drunk intern? Or can't really imagine how one might behave?
September 1, 2026 at 10:43 PM
A suggestion I noticed today was to treat 'AI' outputs like a drunk intern who is enthusiastic and helpful, but prone to making things up. What if you have never encountered a drunk intern? Or can't really imagine how one might behave?
I Invoke the Seven Daughters of the Sea... Starting a month of Irish poetry with the 2nd poem in The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. This translation by P. L. Henry.
September 1, 2026 at 6:27 AM
I Invoke the Seven Daughters of the Sea... Starting a month of Irish poetry with the 2nd poem in The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. This translation by P. L. Henry.