Matt Fitzpatrick
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kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
Matt Fitzpatrick
@kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
4K followers 1.4K following 340 posts
Historian, particularly of Germany, empires, colonialism, mass expulsions, global royals and ideas. Occasionally complaint rock and other nonsense. Living and working on Kaurna yarta.
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kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
Matt Fitzpatrick @kilderbenhauser.bsky.social · Jun 19
Official release day for my newie 'A Pacific Power: Liberal Imperialism in German Samoa'. And I have copies!! Would love to see this in a few libraries. You can order it here: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
jhaentzschel.bsky.social
Mein Kommentar zum Kolonialismus-Rollback von Wolfram Weimer
www.sueddeutsche.de/meinung/deut...
Deutschland war in der Erinnerungskultur schon mal weiter
Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer streicht das Geld zusammen, das die Erinnerung an deutsche Kolonialverbrechen ermöglichen soll. Was für ein Fehler
www.sueddeutsche.de
September 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
I was just sounding off about psychohistory the other day, and here we are. Remember that terrible book "The Psychopathic God"? It's back, only stupider.
manwithoutatan.bsky.social Bodie A. Ashton @manwithoutatan.bsky.social · 9h
We do not need yet more post facto diagnoses of Adolf Hitler. Such things have been happening since the 1940s and historians — real ones, not the ones who write Father’s Day pulp — put no stock in them, because as explanatory devices they tell us, in the technical jargon of my discipline, fuck all.
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
roofjoke.netzpolitik.org
Was für eine Schande für Europa. Die kürzlich erst beschlossene Lieferkettenrichtlinie sollte Konzerne zur Verantwortung ziehen für Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Umweltschäden im Ausland. Um die Regeln zu verwässern, wie Friedrich Merz es gefordert hatte, stimmen Konservative mit Rechtsextremen.
spiegel.de DER SPIEGEL @spiegel.de · 10h
Europa-Parlament: Konservative kooperieren mit extremen Rechten: Die europäischen Konservativen brechen ein Tabu. Im Europaparlament lassen sie es auf eine Mehrheit mit Rechtsextremen ankommen, um das Lieferkettengesetz zu lockern. Die Schuld geben sie den Sozialdemokraten.
Europa-Parlament: Konservative kooperieren mit extremen Rechten
Die europäischen Konservativen brechen ein Tabu. Im Europaparlament lassen sie es auf eine Mehrheit mit Rechtsextremen ankommen, um das Lieferkettengesetz zu lockern. Die Schuld geben sie den Sozialdemokraten.
www.spiegel.de
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
he-mel.bsky.social
Kolonien hießen "Deutsch Südwestafrika" und "Deutsch Ostafrika", und die "Hottentottenwahl" war zum Reichstag. Eine offizielle Forderung der "Heim ins Reich" Ideologie war betitelt mit "Auch hier liegt deutsches Land". Vielleicht sollte der Kulturstaatsminister deutsche Geschichte besser kennen?
November 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
museumsfernsehen.de
Wie sich die Deutsche Erinnerungspolitik selbst "dekolonisiert" @jhaentzschel.bsky.social in der SZ (Abo oder Onleihe) www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/wolfr...
Weimers Erinnerungspolitik: Kolonialismus kommt nicht vor
Im neuen Gedenkstättenkonzept von Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer kommt der Kolonialismus nicht vor.
www.sueddeutsche.de
November 13, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
saschaharnisch.bsky.social
Looking forward to having you with us tonight!
For anyone interested in joining Matt's talk via WebEx, just send a quick email (sascha.harnisch@uni-erfurt.de) or DM to me, and I'll forward the link. We'll start at 12:15pm EST/ 3:45am ACDT (sorry Australia).
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social Matt Fitzpatrick @kilderbenhauser.bsky.social · 3d
If you happen to be in Erfurt tomorrow, I will be there too, speaking at the university about the Germans in Siam before WWI.
And if you're in Berlin, I'll be at the FU discussing the fate of Chinese contract labourers in German Samoa.
November 11, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
miketqub.bsky.social
More evidence for the coming reckoning on the Gaza genocide
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
If you happen to be in Erfurt tomorrow, I will be there too, speaking at the university about the Germans in Siam before WWI.
And if you're in Berlin, I'll be at the FU discussing the fate of Chinese contract labourers in German Samoa.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
martinawinkle14.bsky.social
Sie hat so viel Wichtiges geleistet. Möge sie nun in Frieden ruhen. Gisela Bock, 1942-2025.
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
theonion.com
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
dropsitenews.com
Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati was fired after asking the European Commission whether Israel should pay to rebuild Gaza, just as the EU says Russia must rebuild Ukraine. His outlet, Agenzia Nova, dismissed him weeks later, calling the question “out of place.”

Today, Euronews’ Vincenzo...
Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati was fired after asking the European Commission whether Israel should pay to rebuild Gaza, just as the EU says Russia must rebuild Ukraine. His outlet, Agenzia Nova, dismissed him weeks later, calling the question “out of place.” Today, Euronews’ Vincenzo Genovese raised the issue directly with the Commission—asking for comment on the firing and repeating the same question about Israel’s responsibility for Gaza’s destruction. Brussels said it reaffirmed the EU’s “commitment to press freedom,” without commenting on the firing or the question itself.
November 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
robshum.bsky.social
“The fedora, angled just so, is his homage to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin.”
November 9, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
marquelawyers.com.au
There were ample laws to prevent this or shut it down. The NSW Police just didn’t want to.
November 9, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
peterjelinek.bsky.social
"Das Problem war doch nicht etwa, was unsere Feinde taten, sondern was unsere Freunde taten."
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
ketanjoshi.co
Something I've really noticed among institutional "responses" to generative technologies is that "DO NOT USE THIS TOOL, IT'S COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE" is fudamentally erased from any possibility of ever being an option

Often paired with fatalist stuff like "this isn't going away"
View Steve Little’s graphic link Steve LittleSteve Little • 2ndPremium • 2nd AI Program Director, National Genealogical Society; Founder/Owner: AI Genealogy Insights; United Methodist ClergyAI Program Director, National Genealogical Society; Founder/Owner: AI Genealogy Insights; United Methodist Clergy 1d • 1 day ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn Follow This spring, genealogists discovered a problem: new AI "photo restoration" tools and techniques using GPT-4o and Nano Banana don't actually "restore" historical images—they generate plausible new images that can permanently corrupt our historical record. The image below shows the issue. One is a historical photograph. The other is an AI-generated face based on that photograph—convincing, but completely fabricated. The man on the left is my grandfather; the man on the right is not. By August, when Google's Nano Banana made this technology instantly accessible to millions, unlabeled AI "restorations" began appearing throughout online family trees. Many were being treated as authentic historical photographs. Expert genealogists responded. The Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy—led by genealogists who deeply understand evidential standards and the Genealogical Proof Standard—developed practical guidelines to address this challenge. Today they released their statement: "Protecting Trust in Historical Images." Three core recommendations: 1. Always label modified images 2. Always cite the original source 3. Use as illustration, not evidence These aren't restrictive rules—they're practices that let us explore what these technologies offer while protecting the integrity of our shared historical record. As a technical advisor to the Coalition, I'm grateful to the expert genealogists who led this work and to our broader community for taking these challenges seriously. Read the full story of how the genealogy community identified and addressed this challenge: https://lnkd.in/eTgZtTW4 I’ve been privileged to serve as a technical advisor to the Coalition, but the real work here was done by genealogists who deeply understand evidential standards and the Genealogical Proof Standard. This statement reflects their expertise. The Coalition’s three core recommendations are simple and practical: Always Label modified images. Always Cite the original source. Use as Illustration, Not Evidence. For detailed guidance on implementing these recommendations, see the educational articles linked at the bottom of the statement. When we use AI tools—and many of us will—we're accountable for accuracy, transparency, and ethical practice. Our Responsibility These tools aren’t going away. As genealogists, our responsibility is clear: we must be the “humans in the loop.” When we use AI tools—and many of us will—we’re accountable for accuracy, transparency, and ethical practice. The Coalition’s guidelines help us meet that responsibility. They protect the integrity of our shared historical record while allowing us to explore what these technologies might offer.
November 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
evansmithhist.bsky.social
My annual post about how the Morning Star reported the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989

hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
Watched a BBC debate about misinformation and AI yesterday and a view emerged that if only an unbiased ur-source for AI's information could be created, its problems of misinformation would be solved. Found myself giving the implacable TV a rather loud "all knowledge is positioned" tutorial.
November 9, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
brittanytrang.com
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
I really don't like psychohistory as a methodology, but one day someone will investigate Elon's pivot to building armies of robots as a reflection of his subconscious recognition that he has been utterly rejected by his own species. The same of his impulse to go to Mars.
November 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
ardenthistorian.bsky.social
The man who has caused this will now be a trillionaire. 600.000 deaths, two thirds of them children.
November 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
adamrothman.bsky.social
A campus novel/speculative fiction about a university whose computer systems become so hopelessly infected by viruses that the school returns to paper. Strangely, everyone becomes smarter and happier until they are eaten by wolves.
November 7, 2025 at 11:37 AM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
Great initiative, perfect director.
frankbongiorno.bsky.social frankbongiorno.bsky.social @frankbongiorno.bsky.social · 6d
Delighted that the University of Canberra has announced my appointment as Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, and Director of UC's new Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas. Looking forward to developing this exciting initiative from early 2026. www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/med...
UC launches newly established Vice-Chancellor’s Centre of Public Ideas and appointment of inaugural director
UC to establish the Vice-Chancellor’s Centre of Public Ideas, and Prof Frank Bongiorno AM to take up Donald Horne Professorship as Centre director.
www.canberra.edu.au
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
anjalikdayal.bsky.social
"'We’re seeing a velocity of killing that can only be compared to the Rwandan genocide,' Yale lab executive director Nathaniel Raymond told CNN this week, saying sources had told his lab that thousands of people were dead." www.smh.com.au/world/africa...
In fallen city stained by blood, latest images reveal grim development
New satellite images taken over El Fasher suggest the next step of a large-scale massacre is under way, as international pressure grows.
www.smh.com.au
November 7, 2025 at 12:37 AM
kilderbenhauser.bsky.social
My French is not great- working knowledge at a push - but doing research in the archive in Aix-en-Provence for a week has been a really positive experience with really helpful staff. And I've found some fabulous stuff too.
November 7, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by Matt Fitzpatrick
brionyneilson.bsky.social
Thrilled to see this introduction by me and Charlotte Ann Legg to our special issue on "Connected Histories of Empire: France, Britain & the Pacific" is now out and in open access. The rest of our special issue – with a fantastic array of articles – will be out soon! @journalpacifichist.bsky.social
Connected Histories of Empire: France, Britain, and the Pacific
This special issue explores the connected histories of France, Britain, and the Pacific in the 19th and early 20th centuries at the level of states, colonial administrations, people, practices, and...
www.tandfonline.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM