Rob Dale
@robdale.bsky.social
Historian of Russia and the Soviet Union. Cyclist, marathon runner, train traveller. Based in Newcastle and York.
Pinned
Rob Dale
@robdale.bsky.social
Β· Dec 17
I've done it! I've pressed send and submitted my book manuscript. πΎ,π»πΎπ»πΎπ»πππ Fingers crossed!
At last Russian history through visual sources module in MA, pays dividends on Nicholas Ge's What is Truth on University Challenge! Only taken 22 years to be useful!
February 2, 2026 at 9:04 PM
At last Russian history through visual sources module in MA, pays dividends on Nicholas Ge's What is Truth on University Challenge! Only taken 22 years to be useful!
Long term impact of compound interest (of course the maths already known, but now people confronted by a line on a statement), shifting graduate job market, higher interest rates, and the journalistic process of people writing about what others are writing about, would all be part of my analysis.
February 2, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Long term impact of compound interest (of course the maths already known, but now people confronted by a line on a statement), shifting graduate job market, higher interest rates, and the journalistic process of people writing about what others are writing about, would all be part of my analysis.
I used to use Parker Quick (only ink I could get as a boy) that was horrible stuff for gunk. So a different ink might help. I use diamine ink, which I find economical good on the page, and washes out when I get it down my shirt!
February 1, 2026 at 8:08 PM
I used to use Parker Quick (only ink I could get as a boy) that was horrible stuff for gunk. So a different ink might help. I use diamine ink, which I find economical good on the page, and washes out when I get it down my shirt!
It is a Nahvalur (brand) model (Triad). It was c. Β£20 I think. Stick the nib unit in a small tub of warm water, should dissolve the ink.
February 1, 2026 at 7:35 PM
It is a Nahvalur (brand) model (Triad). It was c. Β£20 I think. Stick the nib unit in a small tub of warm water, should dissolve the ink.
I think the brand is Nahvalur. It is written on it, but very subtly. It is a Triad and I think it is about Β£20. (Although I think my wife got it in a sale). It is triangular in shape. I have a Kaweco sport this I love. I have had a load of Lamy Safaris, but I lose them. Also the last one leaked.
February 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
I think the brand is Nahvalur. It is written on it, but very subtly. It is a Triad and I think it is about Β£20. (Although I think my wife got it in a sale). It is triangular in shape. I have a Kaweco sport this I love. I have had a load of Lamy Safaris, but I lose them. Also the last one leaked.
I got a new fountain pen for Christmas and it is such a joy to write with. Makes one actually want to write longhand. I can see myself giving a lot of these as gifts.
February 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
I got a new fountain pen for Christmas and it is such a joy to write with. Makes one actually want to write longhand. I can see myself giving a lot of these as gifts.
Hot off the presses Mark B. Smith's book Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as Civilization 1953 - 1991. Looking forward to reading this, although I have at least one book to finish before I start.
February 1, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Hot off the presses Mark B. Smith's book Exit Stalin: The Soviet Union as Civilization 1953 - 1991. Looking forward to reading this, although I have at least one book to finish before I start.
Woke up to a very positive email this morning. Extra spring in the step, also sun is out, and I've seen loads of snow drops.
January 31, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Woke up to a very positive email this morning. Extra spring in the step, also sun is out, and I've seen loads of snow drops.
I'm sure someone told me during my degree to just follow what published work in good books and journals did and follow that. Of course as we know from our own writing, sweating the small stuff is easier than confronting the big problems.
January 30, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I'm sure someone told me during my degree to just follow what published work in good books and journals did and follow that. Of course as we know from our own writing, sweating the small stuff is easier than confronting the big problems.
Agreed, Manchester airport is terrible. An embarrassment really.
January 30, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Agreed, Manchester airport is terrible. An embarrassment really.
So get children off screens, but the rest of us are stuck with it.
January 30, 2026 at 8:56 AM
So get children off screens, but the rest of us are stuck with it.
Similarly get children off screens, but headlong embrace of AI in everything else. Do your reading electronically, make your bus and train tickets electronically, forcing people to pay by card or phone, do all your school work on a device, shop online, phone necessary to log into work systems.
January 30, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Similarly get children off screens, but headlong embrace of AI in everything else. Do your reading electronically, make your bus and train tickets electronically, forcing people to pay by card or phone, do all your school work on a device, shop online, phone necessary to log into work systems.
Today on R4 is having a discussion on children, social media, devices etc. Ok, I have some quibbles. But message is we have to protect kids from this stuff, meanwhile after childhood everything else is digital and you have to use your phone or be sat behind a screens.
January 30, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Today on R4 is having a discussion on children, social media, devices etc. Ok, I have some quibbles. But message is we have to protect kids from this stuff, meanwhile after childhood everything else is digital and you have to use your phone or be sat behind a screens.
I had a teacher at school (it was a state school), who was a bachelor. He used to moan about having to pay taxes to educate other people's children. We literally had to explain to him he got paid to educate them.
January 29, 2026 at 10:49 PM
I had a teacher at school (it was a state school), who was a bachelor. He used to moan about having to pay taxes to educate other people's children. We literally had to explain to him he got paid to educate them.
Intense week in a new admin role. (Great new seminar groups) But, the darts, in the form of the Winmau World Masters, is on the television. So a chance to unwind!
January 29, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Intense week in a new admin role. (Great new seminar groups) But, the darts, in the form of the Winmau World Masters, is on the television. So a chance to unwind!
The directorship of SSEES has been advertised. Closing date 15th February. Spread the word!
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL β University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
January 29, 2026 at 7:48 PM
The directorship of SSEES has been advertised. Closing date 15th February. Spread the word!
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Reposted by Rob Dale
The Gerd Bucerius Scholarship, funded by ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS in partnership with CEU, supports outstanding MA students in Historical Studies.
The scholarship includes:
1οΈβ£ 100% tuition waiver
2οΈβ£ monthly stipend
3οΈβ£ one-time research allowance of β¬ 1.000
www.linkedin.com/posts/zeit-s...
The scholarship includes:
1οΈβ£ 100% tuition waiver
2οΈβ£ monthly stipend
3οΈβ£ one-time research allowance of β¬ 1.000
www.linkedin.com/posts/zeit-s...
Apply now for Bucerius History Scholarship at the Central European University in ViennaΒ
Β
Are you passionate about history, interested in pursuing a Masterβs degree, and speak fluent English? Thenβ¦ |...
Apply now for Bucerius History Scholarship at the Central European University in ViennaΒ
Β
Are you passionate about history, interested in pursuing a Masterβs degree, and speak fluent English? Then se...
www.linkedin.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:20 AM
The Gerd Bucerius Scholarship, funded by ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS in partnership with CEU, supports outstanding MA students in Historical Studies.
The scholarship includes:
1οΈβ£ 100% tuition waiver
2οΈβ£ monthly stipend
3οΈβ£ one-time research allowance of β¬ 1.000
www.linkedin.com/posts/zeit-s...
The scholarship includes:
1οΈβ£ 100% tuition waiver
2οΈβ£ monthly stipend
3οΈβ£ one-time research allowance of β¬ 1.000
www.linkedin.com/posts/zeit-s...
What technology takes from us β and how to take it back www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte.... Clearly I am not alone in my thoughts from yesterday.
January 29, 2026 at 7:14 AM
What technology takes from us β and how to take it back www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte.... Clearly I am not alone in my thoughts from yesterday.
Quite wet on my cycle to the railway station this morning. But, I did hear some owls calling to each other. This at least disproved that it isn't "Too-Wet-To-Woo".
January 29, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Quite wet on my cycle to the railway station this morning. But, I did hear some owls calling to each other. This at least disproved that it isn't "Too-Wet-To-Woo".
Reposted by Rob Dale
Getting closer and closer to release date!
Oleksa Drachewych argues that Russiaβs instrumentalization of its memory of WWII has played a significant role in leading Russian forces to commit similar atrocities in its war against Ukraine.
ibidem-Verlag
Columbia University Press
www.ibidem.eu/Fachgebiete/...
cup.columbia.edu/book/replayi...
ibidem-Verlag
Columbia University Press
www.ibidem.eu/Fachgebiete/...
cup.columbia.edu/book/replayi...
January 28, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Getting closer and closer to release date!
I wonder if Fitbit and Garmin can work out who academics are from their big data? There must be a whole cohort of people dashing around, busy, active, but spend their Wednesday afternoons every week In term time sat in meetings.
January 28, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I wonder if Fitbit and Garmin can work out who academics are from their big data? There must be a whole cohort of people dashing around, busy, active, but spend their Wednesday afternoons every week In term time sat in meetings.
It is very interesting. People and groups that don't go along are often interesting (non-conformists as it were). I'd be interested in if sources would really let us penetrate Luddites inner world. So we could better understand what they thought they were doing, rather than what we think.
January 28, 2026 at 10:20 AM
It is very interesting. People and groups that don't go along are often interesting (non-conformists as it were). I'd be interested in if sources would really let us penetrate Luddites inner world. So we could better understand what they thought they were doing, rather than what we think.