Paul Erickson
@mrsidetable.bsky.social
Minnesota, Chicago, Austin. NY, RI, Ann Arbor. Old books, gingham, Saabs, side tables. All opinions my own. RT ≠ endorsement.
Director of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.
Director of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.
I’ve never seen this many sky-blue quarter-zips in one place in my life.
January 2, 2026 at 4:27 AM
I’ve never seen this many sky-blue quarter-zips in one place in my life.
Reposted by Paul Erickson
Maybe teams with three losses shouldn’t be in the college football playoff it is just a suggestion
January 1, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Maybe teams with three losses shouldn’t be in the college football playoff it is just a suggestion
Reposted by Paul Erickson
If you have a salty front seven and a legit offensive line, you, too, can shove Ryan Day's team into a locker ... for at least a half, maybe more
January 1, 2026 at 1:55 AM
If you have a salty front seven and a legit offensive line, you, too, can shove Ryan Day's team into a locker ... for at least a half, maybe more
There truly is nothing more beautiful in sports than a building full of sad numbskulls from Ohio.
January 1, 2026 at 3:54 AM
There truly is nothing more beautiful in sports than a building full of sad numbskulls from Ohio.
Buckeye fans already leaving. What a bunch of clowns.
January 1, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Buckeye fans already leaving. What a bunch of clowns.
Was at a stop light on Mulholland Drive in September if 2000, in my shitty Nissan Sentra. A silver Mercedes pulled up next to me. I looked over, and saw that George Hamilton was driving. He looked back an me, gave me a smart salute, and drove off.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Was at a stop light on Mulholland Drive in September if 2000, in my shitty Nissan Sentra. A silver Mercedes pulled up next to me. I looked over, and saw that George Hamilton was driving. He looked back an me, gave me a smart salute, and drove off.
Looking forward to seeing PJ Fleck get a vat of interest rates dumped on his head, I guess?
December 27, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Looking forward to seeing PJ Fleck get a vat of interest rates dumped on his head, I guess?
@ajhasocial.bsky.social Please spread the word about the Charles R. Eisendrath Fellowship at the Clements Library. The fellowship supports research on the relation of journalism to US history before 1900 in both pictorial and written reportage and commentary. See clements.umich.edu/research/fel...
Apply for a Clements Library Fellowship - UM Clements Library
clements.umich.edu
December 26, 2025 at 3:22 AM
@ajhasocial.bsky.social Please spread the word about the Charles R. Eisendrath Fellowship at the Clements Library. The fellowship supports research on the relation of journalism to US history before 1900 in both pictorial and written reportage and commentary. See clements.umich.edu/research/fel...
American cities are safer than they have ever been in my lifetime. So why are so many people afraid of setting foot in a city? What could they possibly be hearing about urban life that makes them so anxious? It's a mystery, I tell you.
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
American cities are safer than they have ever been in my lifetime. So why are so many people afraid of setting foot in a city? What could they possibly be hearing about urban life that makes them so anxious? It's a mystery, I tell you.
I'm sad that my dad is no longer around, because he (an avid if consistently below-average golfer) would have loved this sort of thing:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
The hickory experiment: What century-old clubs taught me about modern golf
In an era of $600 drivers and 'optimized' swings, a band of tinkerers and hobbyists find purity in the 'sweet spot' of a 100-year-old game.
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I'm sad that my dad is no longer around, because he (an avid if consistently below-average golfer) would have loved this sort of thing:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
Reposted by Paul Erickson
The O in OU has always stood for “overrated.”
Lots of media complainer men are angry at Tulane and JMU for taking up postseason spots that could've gone to programs that have frequently proven themselves in big games. In unrelated news Oklahoma's 4-11 in BCS/NY6/CFP games since 2002
December 20, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The O in OU has always stood for “overrated.”
Reposted by Paul Erickson
Go home and play soldier you sullen dipshits.
December 20, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Go home and play soldier you sullen dipshits.
That’s the way to shut up all those dumb Aggies.
December 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
That’s the way to shut up all those dumb Aggies.
Reposted by Paul Erickson
slow day in the office so figured we'd start some beef with museums
December 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
slow day in the office so figured we'd start some beef with museums
Reposted by Paul Erickson
Jeff Kent might not have the stats to be a Hall of Famer, but when a guy's the best on his team-
[touches earpiece] oh really?
well, when he's beloved by fans
[touches earpiece] huh
or teammates
[touches earpiece] you don't say
if there's no one more deserving at his position
[Lou Whitaker appears]
[touches earpiece] oh really?
well, when he's beloved by fans
[touches earpiece] huh
or teammates
[touches earpiece] you don't say
if there's no one more deserving at his position
[Lou Whitaker appears]
December 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Jeff Kent might not have the stats to be a Hall of Famer, but when a guy's the best on his team-
[touches earpiece] oh really?
well, when he's beloved by fans
[touches earpiece] huh
or teammates
[touches earpiece] you don't say
if there's no one more deserving at his position
[Lou Whitaker appears]
[touches earpiece] oh really?
well, when he's beloved by fans
[touches earpiece] huh
or teammates
[touches earpiece] you don't say
if there's no one more deserving at his position
[Lou Whitaker appears]
Ohio State has now gone 5 years without winning a conference championship.
December 7, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Ohio State has now gone 5 years without winning a conference championship.
Tonight we are all Hoosiers.
December 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Tonight we are all Hoosiers.
I know, everybody's asking for money today. But if you care about preserving the written and printed evidence of the American past--evidence that can't be faked by AI--please think about a gift to the Clements Library at the University of Michigan. Thanks!
maizeraise.umich.edu/schools/Univ...
maizeraise.umich.edu/schools/Univ...
Conserving Collections at Clements Library
Join me and make a gift to A Crowdfunding Default
maizeraise.umich.edu
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I know, everybody's asking for money today. But if you care about preserving the written and printed evidence of the American past--evidence that can't be faked by AI--please think about a gift to the Clements Library at the University of Michigan. Thanks!
maizeraise.umich.edu/schools/Univ...
maizeraise.umich.edu/schools/Univ...
Reposted by Paul Erickson
At least Texas A&M can take solace knowing the academic side of its institution is being run well.
November 29, 2025 at 3:58 AM
At least Texas A&M can take solace knowing the academic side of its institution is being run well.
Reposted by Paul Erickson
If you are waiting for holiday events, why not take a moment and read this excellent Jonathan Beecher Field piece from the Commonplace catalog. It looks at the widening gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics like #Thanksgiving. 🗃️ commonplace.online/article/come...
Come On, Lilgrim - Commonplace
The gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics is an enduring challenge for early Americanists. In the case of Thanksgiving, that gap is widening.
commonplace.online
November 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
If you are waiting for holiday events, why not take a moment and read this excellent Jonathan Beecher Field piece from the Commonplace catalog. It looks at the widening gap between academic and popular understandings of early American topics like #Thanksgiving. 🗃️ commonplace.online/article/come...
In a strong field, it seems like this particular member of the BU Cross Country team may be the biggest asshole in Boston.
Reading between the lines, it sounds like the captains of Boston University's cross country team want the ICE snitch off their team, and they're upset that the Dept of Athletics won't make it happen
dailyfreepress.com/11/21/08/216...
dailyfreepress.com/11/21/08/216...
OP-ED: An open letter to the Boston University community from the captains of the BU Cross Country team
Op-Eds do not reflect the editorial opinion of The Daily Free Press. They are solely the opinion of the author. Tucker Bowerfind (CAS ‘26), Adrienne Buettner-Cable (CAS ‘27), Caroline Collins (COM ‘28...
dailyfreepress.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:53 AM
In a strong field, it seems like this particular member of the BU Cross Country team may be the biggest asshole in Boston.
Well that’s pretty damn fine writing for this place.
/13 Why? For proximity to power. For prestige. For attention.
Some tongues were made to praise God. Some tongues were made to sing. Some were made for poetry, some for prose, some to agitate and some to soothe.
But some tongues were made for the boot.
Some tongues were made to praise God. Some tongues were made to sing. Some were made for poetry, some for prose, some to agitate and some to soothe.
But some tongues were made for the boot.
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Well that’s pretty damn fine writing for this place.
Reposted by Paul Erickson
Spence this tweet is still up. A decade later!
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Spence this tweet is still up. A decade later!