Brad Proctor
@bdproctor.bsky.social
Historian at the Evergreen State College, occasional/lapsed banjo player, IndyCar fan.
Olympia, WA. 🏳️🌈
Olympia, WA. 🏳️🌈
The Christmas table train before I boxed it up yesterday
December 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The Christmas table train before I boxed it up yesterday
Look I adore trains and love rail service and am desperate for massive federal investment for it and not just because of flight delays today and also the pictures are cool and it's neat the engineer has experienced such change but let's not rizz up the PRC okay?
These two images of Chinese train driver Han Junjia were taken less than 30 years apart.
Transformative change is possible when it is relentlessly pursued.
Transformative change is possible when it is relentlessly pursued.
December 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Look I adore trains and love rail service and am desperate for massive federal investment for it and not just because of flight delays today and also the pictures are cool and it's neat the engineer has experienced such change but let's not rizz up the PRC okay?
Reposted by Brad Proctor
Had an absolute blast with this Time Out exclusive:
'Die Hard' screenwriter @stevenedesouza.bsky.social ranking 10 'Die Hard'-inspired action flicks www.timeout.com/news/10-die-...
'Die Hard' screenwriter @stevenedesouza.bsky.social ranking 10 'Die Hard'-inspired action flicks www.timeout.com/news/10-die-...
10 ‘Die Hard’ clones ranked by the screenwriter of ‘Die Hard’
Yippee-ki-yay! Steven E de Souza sorts the ‘Die Hards’ from the try hards
www.timeout.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Had an absolute blast with this Time Out exclusive:
'Die Hard' screenwriter @stevenedesouza.bsky.social ranking 10 'Die Hard'-inspired action flicks www.timeout.com/news/10-die-...
'Die Hard' screenwriter @stevenedesouza.bsky.social ranking 10 'Die Hard'-inspired action flicks www.timeout.com/news/10-die-...
Reposted by Brad Proctor
I made some rapid response points. Significant omissions by the Times
December 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I made some rapid response points. Significant omissions by the Times
About to board a plane and it is so early I am not entirely sure which direction is up
December 28, 2025 at 10:26 AM
About to board a plane and it is so early I am not entirely sure which direction is up
Reposted by Brad Proctor
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
Reposted by Brad Proctor
It’s going to be some bullshit respectability from the center and some bullshit bleating about identity politics from the left and some bullshit religious forgiveness from the right.
I’m just going to expire from unrequited rage.
I’m just going to expire from unrequited rage.
It’s very very frustrating to know that there isn’t much chance of any accountability for this behavior after Trump
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
It’s going to be some bullshit respectability from the center and some bullshit bleating about identity politics from the left and some bullshit religious forgiveness from the right.
I’m just going to expire from unrequited rage.
I’m just going to expire from unrequited rage.
Reposted by Brad Proctor
When Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, said two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, half-sunk, a shattered visage lies
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, left from the Grey Havens and sailed to the undying lands.
December 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM
When Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton
Reposted by Brad Proctor
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
This moment has extra salience this year
December 24, 2025 at 3:33 AM
This moment has extra salience this year
Reposted by Brad Proctor
me taking a selfie for social media:
December 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
me taking a selfie for social media:
Reposted by Brad Proctor
i was wondering where the shipment i ordered from those elves was
Mystery as hundreds of Victorian shoes wash up on Ogmore beach
Mystery as hundreds of Victorian shoes wash up on Ogmore beach
More than 400 leather hobnailed boots, thought to date back to the 19th Century, have been found.
www.bbc.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
i was wondering where the shipment i ordered from those elves was
Reposted by Brad Proctor
Just finished my umpteenth rewatch of the season 13 holiday episode of Bob’s Burgers, which is one of the best ever episodes and features one of the best voice cameos ever from one of the best poets ever - Saeed Jones! - @theferocity.bsky.social
December 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Just finished my umpteenth rewatch of the season 13 holiday episode of Bob’s Burgers, which is one of the best ever episodes and features one of the best voice cameos ever from one of the best poets ever - Saeed Jones! - @theferocity.bsky.social
Reposted by Brad Proctor
But it is neither surprising nor unreasonable that the dominant academic response right now is anger—we weren’t consulted about massive decisions that completely upended how we teach & now how we research & publish—& those upheavals were even celebrated as a comeuppance against uppity intellectuals+
December 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
But it is neither surprising nor unreasonable that the dominant academic response right now is anger—we weren’t consulted about massive decisions that completely upended how we teach & now how we research & publish—& those upheavals were even celebrated as a comeuppance against uppity intellectuals+
Reposted by Brad Proctor
ok i DO feel better | patreon.com/lubchansky
December 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
ok i DO feel better | patreon.com/lubchansky
Reposted by Brad Proctor
From 2022: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 AM
From 2022: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Brad Proctor
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
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December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
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Reposted by Brad Proctor
I know disciplinary standards differ, but I've been at this for decades and I've never cited a paper I didn't read. Didn't like, sure; didn't understand, often; kind of drifted off in the middle there, it happens. But didn't read at all? Nah. Come on.
December 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I know disciplinary standards differ, but I've been at this for decades and I've never cited a paper I didn't read. Didn't like, sure; didn't understand, often; kind of drifted off in the middle there, it happens. But didn't read at all? Nah. Come on.
In its original run, the city council of Tacoma, WA sought to ban the screening of racist films in order to prevent its being shown there. They passed this ordinance against advice of the city attorney (who said it might be unconstitutional) because the local black community demanded it.
one thing that is important to know is that BIRTH OF A NATION is so racist that people at the *time*, in 1915, were like, “holy shit this is racist”
When the slightest bit of research shows he was consistently racist and a daddy issues Confederate fanboy.
People try to paint BIRTH OF A NATION as a masterpiece with some unfortunate racism. The whole movie is racist, the “masterpiece “ thing was backfilled to excuse it.
People try to paint BIRTH OF A NATION as a masterpiece with some unfortunate racism. The whole movie is racist, the “masterpiece “ thing was backfilled to excuse it.
December 19, 2025 at 4:08 PM
In its original run, the city council of Tacoma, WA sought to ban the screening of racist films in order to prevent its being shown there. They passed this ordinance against advice of the city attorney (who said it might be unconstitutional) because the local black community demanded it.
This is the way!!
Josh O’Connor calls THE LAST JEDI “so beautiful.”
“The end of that movie - how anyone could be a Jedi... I just remember seeing that movie in the cinemas and I wept of that last image with the boy. It’s just one of the most iconic images in cinema”
(Source: @letterboxd)
“The end of that movie - how anyone could be a Jedi... I just remember seeing that movie in the cinemas and I wept of that last image with the boy. It’s just one of the most iconic images in cinema”
(Source: @letterboxd)
December 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
This is the way!!
Sharing my favorite aesthetics, answers to what the future should look like, from the left/liberals/anti-fascism:
December 19, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Sharing my favorite aesthetics, answers to what the future should look like, from the left/liberals/anti-fascism:
Reposted by Brad Proctor
given everything we know about the forces that have intentionally destroyed higher education as a site of secure employment, anyone making the argument that they didn’t get a job because they’re white and male is either a lying grifter or so bad at analysis they should lose their PhD
December 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
given everything we know about the forces that have intentionally destroyed higher education as a site of secure employment, anyone making the argument that they didn’t get a job because they’re white and male is either a lying grifter or so bad at analysis they should lose their PhD
Automatic extra line spaces at the end of paragraphs are the bane of my word processing existence.
December 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Automatic extra line spaces at the end of paragraphs are the bane of my word processing existence.
Reposted by Brad Proctor
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! Yes! YES! YES!!!!!
December 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! Yes! YES! YES!!!!!
Reposted by Brad Proctor
There is only one Gateway to the West.
December 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
There is only one Gateway to the West.