Jack Flaherty
@meanderinghist.bsky.social
Writer, Wikipedian, support worker, history student at the Open University, and FASS rep at @oustudents.bsky.social. Focused on the late 19th century.
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
AND TROY PARROTT DOES IT
homer simpson is sitting at a table with a picture of a heart on the wall behind him
Alt: homer simpson is sitting at a table with a picture of a heart on the wall behind him
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
AND TROY PARROTT DOES IT
I was thinking a few weeks ago about the lack of notable historical deaths due to opium overdose. Don't recall ever reading one in a history book, although it must have been rather regular. Reading The Muslim Empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, & Mughals by Stephen Dale regarding Safavid Isma‘il II
November 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I was thinking a few weeks ago about the lack of notable historical deaths due to opium overdose. Don't recall ever reading one in a history book, although it must have been rather regular. Reading The Muslim Empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, & Mughals by Stephen Dale regarding Safavid Isma‘il II
I'm running a Disability History Month edit-a-thon for Wikipedia for @openuniversity.bsky.social @oustudents.bsky.social. So happy that @oulibrary.bsky.social has done a disability history reading list to get students started university.open.ac.uk/library/libr...
www.oustudents.com/ents/event/2...
www.oustudents.com/ents/event/2...
Disability History Month Wikipedia edit-a-thon
A Wikipedia edit-a-thon for Disability History Month, inviting OU students to learn how to edit Wikipedia and contribute to improving coverage of disability-related topics. This session is designed to be welcoming, practical, and impactful.
www.oustudents.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I'm running a Disability History Month edit-a-thon for Wikipedia for @openuniversity.bsky.social @oustudents.bsky.social. So happy that @oulibrary.bsky.social has done a disability history reading list to get students started university.open.ac.uk/library/libr...
www.oustudents.com/ents/event/2...
www.oustudents.com/ents/event/2...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
In fairness, occasionally they sell out to the Russians.
John Le Carre was right about the British establishment and how the alumni of the best schools will sell out their own country for status and money and in particular a desperate desire for American attention
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM
In fairness, occasionally they sell out to the Russians.
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
John Le Carre was right about the British establishment and how the alumni of the best schools will sell out their own country for status and money and in particular a desperate desire for American attention
November 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
John Le Carre was right about the British establishment and how the alumni of the best schools will sell out their own country for status and money and in particular a desperate desire for American attention
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
The Wikipedia Signpost republished this Grokipedia essay today (from @techpolicypress.bsky.social last week). Signpost is the unofficial (but sorta official) newspaper of the English Wiki community, and is reliably useful for all things Wikipedia "Inside Baseball." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2025-11-10/Opinion - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The Wikipedia Signpost republished this Grokipedia essay today (from @techpolicypress.bsky.social last week). Signpost is the unofficial (but sorta official) newspaper of the English Wiki community, and is reliably useful for all things Wikipedia "Inside Baseball." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
My annual post about how the Morning Star reported the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM
My annual post about how the Morning Star reported the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
hatfulofhistory.com/2014/11/07/h...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
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.
🧪🧬🧫
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 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
The FT again bursts the AI hype with actual reality.
AI’s awfully exciting until companies want to use it: Rightmove edition - on.ft.com/491pzLj via @FT
AI’s awfully exciting until companies want to use it: Rightmove edition - on.ft.com/491pzLj via @FT
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The FT again bursts the AI hype with actual reality.
AI’s awfully exciting until companies want to use it: Rightmove edition - on.ft.com/491pzLj via @FT
AI’s awfully exciting until companies want to use it: Rightmove edition - on.ft.com/491pzLj via @FT
This is how I flirt
November 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This is how I flirt
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
Lost grave of daughter of Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano found by A-level student
Lost grave of daughter of Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano found by A-level student
Fitzwilliam Museum has uncovered student’s work from 1977 that revealed Cambridgeshire location of child’s burial place
An A-level pupil found the lost grave of the Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano’s daughter, revealing a story of love and solidarity in 18th-century rural England.
Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, escaped enslavement to become a celebrated author and campaigner in Georgian England. His memoir, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, was a bestseller. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Lost grave of daughter of Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano found by A-level student
A historical parody film that actually looks great and sounds funny. Not sure the last time I've laughed so hard at a film trailer www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4aL...
Fackham Hall | Official Green Band Trailer | Bleecker Street
YouTube video by Bleecker Street
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A historical parody film that actually looks great and sounds funny. Not sure the last time I've laughed so hard at a film trailer www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4aL...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
Once again, @mcsweeneys.net does not miss.
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
Hi, It’s Me, Wikipedia, and I Am Ready for Your Apology
“Wikipedia, the constantly changing knowledge base created by a global free-for-all of anonymous users, now stands as the leading force for the dum...
www.mcsweeneys.net
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Once again, @mcsweeneys.net does not miss.
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
------------------------------------------------
"In 2004, you saw some college guy using me and thought, 'What a lazy cheater.'
Now you’d think, 'At least he’s not asking Gemini.'
In a few years, you’ll say, 'Wow, look, a human being who can read.'"
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
Mildly related: I've lost count of how many young women approached me after I appeared on University Challenge.
Core message: revelatory for them to see a clever, confident, blue-haired queer woman with a nose ring calmly inhabiting a competition space.
Representation matters.
Core message: revelatory for them to see a clever, confident, blue-haired queer woman with a nose ring calmly inhabiting a competition space.
Representation matters.
October 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Mildly related: I've lost count of how many young women approached me after I appeared on University Challenge.
Core message: revelatory for them to see a clever, confident, blue-haired queer woman with a nose ring calmly inhabiting a competition space.
Representation matters.
Core message: revelatory for them to see a clever, confident, blue-haired queer woman with a nose ring calmly inhabiting a competition space.
Representation matters.
I'm incredibly pleased and delighted to have been elected as President of the new @oupips.bsky.social society for @oustudents.bsky.social. We have a strong leadership team and I'm looking forward to all the events and community building we will be doing over the next year. @oupolitics.bsky.social
Sign up for our newsletter and view upcoming news and events on the website.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5aoomyvnig3yd2gsydj4m2qo/bafkreid46qhlhchmn5etsc4zibjxp23bw5jqd7shjgbuoxpxygfov74g3i@jpeg)
October 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I'm incredibly pleased and delighted to have been elected as President of the new @oupips.bsky.social society for @oustudents.bsky.social. We have a strong leadership team and I'm looking forward to all the events and community building we will be doing over the next year. @oupolitics.bsky.social
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
A reminder to all, that our AGM takes place at 5pm today.
Everyone is welcome, and all committee positions are open for election.
Sign up here - events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f504f6...
Everyone is welcome, and all committee positions are open for election.
Sign up here - events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f504f6...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
A reminder to all, that our AGM takes place at 5pm today.
Everyone is welcome, and all committee positions are open for election.
Sign up here - events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f504f6...
Everyone is welcome, and all committee positions are open for election.
Sign up here - events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f504f6...
As I'm spending another Saturday night creating a Powerpoint for @oupips.bsky.social, I'm growing very concerned. Not at my lack of social life, but the fact that I'm getting really good at PowerPoint
October 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
As I'm spending another Saturday night creating a Powerpoint for @oupips.bsky.social, I'm growing very concerned. Not at my lack of social life, but the fact that I'm getting really good at PowerPoint
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
WRITE YOUR DAMN LONG BOOK
October 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
WRITE YOUR DAMN LONG BOOK
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
This is horrifying, but I’m glad the Wikipedians are safe. It could have been far worse, given that the MAGA fascists have been trying to incite violence against Wikipedia editors, and trumpists are defenders of pedophiles like the gunman. gothamist.com/news/gunman-...
Gunman storms stage at Wikipedia conference in Manhattan, no injuries reported
The unidentified man was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
gothamist.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:12 AM
This is horrifying, but I’m glad the Wikipedians are safe. It could have been far worse, given that the MAGA fascists have been trying to incite violence against Wikipedia editors, and trumpists are defenders of pedophiles like the gunman. gothamist.com/news/gunman-...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
This is fabulous & one of the many reasons I’m really proud to be an @openuniversity.bsky.social student! @ougradsch.bsky.social @oulibrary.bsky.social #NeverTooOld
How lovely is this 😍 So proud to work for this amazing institution @openuniversity.bsky.social BBC News - Great-grandmother graduates university at 90 years old
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Londonderry: 90-year-old woman graduates university
90-year-old Maryette was the oldest of more than 300 graduates at the Open University's ceremony in Belfast on Tuesday.
www.bbc.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This is fabulous & one of the many reasons I’m really proud to be an @openuniversity.bsky.social student! @ougradsch.bsky.social @oulibrary.bsky.social #NeverTooOld
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
I had a chat with Ashley Mackie, head of the Student Union for Open University Scotland, about loneliness when studying remotely. We also talk briefly about University Challenge and how special it felt to represent the UK's largest student body on national TV.
youtu.be/HtGB7CYbXiY?...
youtu.be/HtGB7CYbXiY?...
On Track with The Open University in Scotland – Study Challenges
YouTube video by The Open University
youtu.be
October 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I had a chat with Ashley Mackie, head of the Student Union for Open University Scotland, about loneliness when studying remotely. We also talk briefly about University Challenge and how special it felt to represent the UK's largest student body on national TV.
youtu.be/HtGB7CYbXiY?...
youtu.be/HtGB7CYbXiY?...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
![^ Experiment
The king ordered the experiment to be conducted using a pair of identical twins. Both of the twins had been tried for the crimes they had committed and condemned to death. Their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment
on the condition that one of the twins drink three pots of coffee, and the other drink the
same amount of tea, every day for the rest of their lives. 7]
The tea drinking twin died first at the age of 83, long after the death of Gustav Ill, who was assassinated in 1792. The age of the coffee-drinking twin at his death is unknown, as both doctors assigned by the king to monitor this study predeceased him. 7][51[81[9]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36n7wd7gg4tapamnog4zyyc6/bafkreicnpsghzhvzj5jgft274mn73os42xnc5sb5rfnblui4752nzt7luq@jpeg)
October 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Even better than donating money is donating your time. It's fun to be a Wikipedia editor. Share your knowledge, learn, and get nerdy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Just a reminder that Wikipedia is the only remaining reliable source of information that right wing billionaires can't control. (Although they'll never stop trying.)
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
October 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Even better than donating money is donating your time. It's fun to be a Wikipedia editor. Share your knowledge, learn, and get nerdy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikiped...
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
Just a reminder that Wikipedia is the only remaining reliable source of information that right wing billionaires can't control. (Although they'll never stop trying.)
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
October 12, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Just a reminder that Wikipedia is the only remaining reliable source of information that right wing billionaires can't control. (Although they'll never stop trying.)
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Please donate to them whenever you can. Even a little bit helps.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Reposted by Jack Flaherty
The 21st century is such a spectacular failure when viewed from the ideological optimism of the 1990s
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist
The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The 21st century is such a spectacular failure when viewed from the ideological optimism of the 1990s
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...