Julia Laite
@julialaite.bsky.social
Teller of small stories. Professor of history at Birkbeck. Rider of bikes, grower of vegetables, Brook custodian & friend to five ducks. Townie Cantabrigian. Eternally homesick Newfoundlander; researching the island's history & the legacies of empire.
Pinned
Julia Laite
@julialaite.bsky.social
· Jun 27
The Disappearance of Lydia Harvey
Lydia Harvey was meant to disappear. She was young and working class; she'd walked the streets, worked in brothels, and had no money of her own. In 1910, politi
blackwells.co.uk
Hello new followers! If you like small histories of women surviving against the patriarchal odds, are interested in the history of trafficking, and are a nerd for historical details, then my book might be for you!
blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Sometimes I just have to stop and let the wonder of fungi blow my mind. I live on the same planet as this lifeform. Incredible.
(Cribraria Rufa, Buckinghamshire, photographed by Barry Webb)
(Cribraria Rufa, Buckinghamshire, photographed by Barry Webb)
February 8, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Sometimes I just have to stop and let the wonder of fungi blow my mind. I live on the same planet as this lifeform. Incredible.
(Cribraria Rufa, Buckinghamshire, photographed by Barry Webb)
(Cribraria Rufa, Buckinghamshire, photographed by Barry Webb)
Reposted by Julia Laite
Hey @thetimes.com what is ’racism’ - surely depicting the Obamas as monkeys is just old fashioned racism?
February 6, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Hey @thetimes.com what is ’racism’ - surely depicting the Obamas as monkeys is just old fashioned racism?
Reposted by Julia Laite
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection
‘I’ve lost my friends’: advocacy groups warn Australia’s social media ban risks isolating kids with disabilities
Despite the ban’s aim to protect young people, experts are concerned that those in marginalised communities or living with disabilities could lose vital support networks
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:06 AM
I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone
I don't really care much about the Olympics, but Haiti's uniforms take winterwear to epic new levels of awesomeness. The only hand-painted uniforms in the games, for a nation (to quote designer Stella Jean) 'that refuses to disappear.
February 6, 2026 at 11:31 AM
I don't really care much about the Olympics, but Haiti's uniforms take winterwear to epic new levels of awesomeness. The only hand-painted uniforms in the games, for a nation (to quote designer Stella Jean) 'that refuses to disappear.
Reposted by Julia Laite
Epstein managed different networks. The UK media has rightly centred the powerful pedophile ring. It has maintained an uncanny silence about the global, anti-democratic, far right political network. Farage is up to his neck in it. If it weren’t for unprecedented double standards it’d be career over.
Dinner with Mr Brexit: Bannon’s European Revolution – Planned with Farage, Backed by Epstein
Nigel Farage was the figurehead and his partner Laure Ferrari started it. Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were providing almost daily support
bylinetimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Epstein managed different networks. The UK media has rightly centred the powerful pedophile ring. It has maintained an uncanny silence about the global, anti-democratic, far right political network. Farage is up to his neck in it. If it weren’t for unprecedented double standards it’d be career over.
Night two of swearing I'll never paint the house myself again. I'm covered in paint, crooked as sin (as we say back home), and my neck is wrenched. And yet, I will put good money on future me forgetting this all over again.
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone'
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
February 5, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Night two of swearing I'll never paint the house myself again. I'm covered in paint, crooked as sin (as we say back home), and my neck is wrenched. And yet, I will put good money on future me forgetting this all over again.
Reposted by Julia Laite
Late posting pictures from the wonderful celebration of the 100th issue of @historyworkshop.org.uk Saturday, with @julialaite.bsky.social introducing the blockbuster issue & the incomparable Anna Davin reflecting on radical friendship. Has been a joy to be part of this community for a decade now.
February 5, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Late posting pictures from the wonderful celebration of the 100th issue of @historyworkshop.org.uk Saturday, with @julialaite.bsky.social introducing the blockbuster issue & the incomparable Anna Davin reflecting on radical friendship. Has been a joy to be part of this community for a decade now.
'This is the strangers case;
And this your mountainish inhumanity'
And this your mountainish inhumanity'
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 PM
'This is the strangers case;
And this your mountainish inhumanity'
And this your mountainish inhumanity'
As Françoise Vergès compels us to ask (and it's one of the most important questions of all):
'Who cleans the world?'
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
'Who cleans the world?'
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘In the end, you feel blank’: India’s female workers watching hours of abusive content to train AI
Women in rural communities describe trauma of moderating violent and pornographic content for global tech companies
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:42 PM
As Françoise Vergès compels us to ask (and it's one of the most important questions of all):
'Who cleans the world?'
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
'Who cleans the world?'
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Take the time to do this folks. The proposed changes to ILR are shocking and cruel, which is made abundantly clear in the text of the public consultation linked below. Please lend your voice to try to mitigate the cruelty.
PS. Not too late to tell the government what you think about their proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain - the public consultation is open until 12th Feb.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
February 5, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Take the time to do this folks. The proposed changes to ILR are shocking and cruel, which is made abundantly clear in the text of the public consultation linked below. Please lend your voice to try to mitigate the cruelty.
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone'
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
February 4, 2026 at 10:23 PM
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone'
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
[Next time comes. She gets quotes for house painting]
'Oh hell no, I'm definitely going to be painting myself.'
[paints herself]
'I'm never painting again next time I'm going to hire someone.'
[cont...]
I have just costed a 10-day field trip for fourteen people from Canada to various places in the UK and it came in for less than this.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000, documents reveal
Reform UK leader who received two guest passes from Iranian-born billionaire declares attendance at event on register of MPs’ interests
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:48 PM
I have just costed a 10-day field trip for fourteen people from Canada to various places in the UK and it came in for less than this.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Is it because it's a fundamental part of your anatomy?
February 4, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Is it because it's a fundamental part of your anatomy?
I half expect this headline to read 'Elon Musk's SpaceX applies to launch 1m satellites into orbit so he can kill people from space', and for there to be an "Explainer" beneath it asking 'Should Elon be able to kill people from space?' Because that's the state of the discourse right now.
February 2, 2026 at 8:43 PM
I half expect this headline to read 'Elon Musk's SpaceX applies to launch 1m satellites into orbit so he can kill people from space', and for there to be an "Explainer" beneath it asking 'Should Elon be able to kill people from space?' Because that's the state of the discourse right now.
Am I surprised by the sheer number of figure skating drama-romances on Netflix? Yes. Am I complaining? No.
February 2, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Am I surprised by the sheer number of figure skating drama-romances on Netflix? Yes. Am I complaining? No.
Times are really hard and many things suck and the internet is increasingly broken but four years ago a man named Tom McGovern recorded the best cover of Jack and Diane ever and I can still listen to it whenever I want. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QX5...
Jack and Diane but most of the lyrics are "suckin' on a chili dog"
YouTube video by Tom McGovern
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Times are really hard and many things suck and the internet is increasingly broken but four years ago a man named Tom McGovern recorded the best cover of Jack and Diane ever and I can still listen to it whenever I want. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QX5...
Reposted by Julia Laite
A beautiful story, told from clues put together by paleobiologist @dmcediacaran.bsky.social and colleagues, that honours a Beothuk woman's words and layers earth's deep time with historical time and cosmic time as well.
Here is a writeup of our work on #Aninoides and how it helped us to uncover a little bit of Beothuk astronomy. Obviously :-)
With huge thanks to @julialaite.bsky.social
gazette.mun.ca/research/dig...
With huge thanks to @julialaite.bsky.social
gazette.mun.ca/research/dig...
Digging up history
What do a fossil, a comet and Beothuk history have in common?
gazette.mun.ca
January 30, 2026 at 3:55 PM
A beautiful story, told from clues put together by paleobiologist @dmcediacaran.bsky.social and colleagues, that honours a Beothuk woman's words and layers earth's deep time with historical time and cosmic time as well.
Imbolc. Today we're half-way between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox, a good time to count the snowdrops and notice the birds return. And it's time to take the winter star down, because spring will take care of the light from here on.
February 1, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Imbolc. Today we're half-way between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox, a good time to count the snowdrops and notice the birds return. And it's time to take the winter star down, because spring will take care of the light from here on.
Still glowing from this. HWJ has changed immensely over the last 50 years but the spirit of collegiality, care, social justice and warmth is still very much alive and well.
A packed house @bbkhistorical.bsky.social for History Workshop Journal's 50th anniversary/100th issue celebration! It's a joy to see so many wonderful historians here to mark @historyworkshop.org.uk's incredible 50 years.
February 1, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Still glowing from this. HWJ has changed immensely over the last 50 years but the spirit of collegiality, care, social justice and warmth is still very much alive and well.
Reposted by Julia Laite
Such a fun and inspiring day celebrating @historyworkshop.org.uk 100th issue. A timely reminder of the importance of history and its dissemination. Very much why I aspire to be a public historian ✊🏻
@historyworkshop.org.uk is my vibe ✌️
@historyworkshop.org.uk is my vibe ✌️
A packed house @bbkhistorical.bsky.social for History Workshop Journal's 50th anniversary/100th issue celebration! It's a joy to see so many wonderful historians here to mark @historyworkshop.org.uk's incredible 50 years.
January 31, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Such a fun and inspiring day celebrating @historyworkshop.org.uk 100th issue. A timely reminder of the importance of history and its dissemination. Very much why I aspire to be a public historian ✊🏻
@historyworkshop.org.uk is my vibe ✌️
@historyworkshop.org.uk is my vibe ✌️
A packed house @bbkhistorical.bsky.social for History Workshop Journal's 50th anniversary/100th issue celebration! It's a joy to see so many wonderful historians here to mark @historyworkshop.org.uk's incredible 50 years.
January 31, 2026 at 2:36 PM
A packed house @bbkhistorical.bsky.social for History Workshop Journal's 50th anniversary/100th issue celebration! It's a joy to see so many wonderful historians here to mark @historyworkshop.org.uk's incredible 50 years.
Reposted by Julia Laite
Really cool that while we have a national panic about teenagers on phone too much, phone is also causing pensioners to build car bombs www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Ulez bomber: the retired electrician who turned bomb-making extremist
Shy 63-year-old’s decision to blow up London traffic camera linked to online conspiracy theories and Islamophobia
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Really cool that while we have a national panic about teenagers on phone too much, phone is also causing pensioners to build car bombs www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...