John M. Romero
@romerojohnm.bsky.social
Historian of Russia and the Soviet Union.
Pinned
John M. Romero
@romerojohnm.bsky.social
· Oct 15
My students played Dimma Davidoff's original "Mafia" today in class. Davidoff was a psych grad student at Moscow State in 1986 when he came up with the game, whose basic principle he describes as the conflict between an "informed minority vs. uninformed minority." 1/?
Use it for my kids' daycare. I assume it wouldn't even go that far, but anything would help.
Honest question: If everyone got Universal Basic Income, no strings attached, what would YOU do with it?
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
November 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Use it for my kids' daycare. I assume it wouldn't even go that far, but anything would help.
Not really my experience at a state school in ruralish North Georgia. Some are like this, but doesn't really feel like that many more than it used to be. The floor is a little lower, the average abilities are a little less, but the good kids are still great and the great ones are amazing.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 29, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Not really my experience at a state school in ruralish North Georgia. Some are like this, but doesn't really feel like that many more than it used to be. The floor is a little lower, the average abilities are a little less, but the good kids are still great and the great ones are amazing.
Reposted by John M. Romero
Pointed out by my friend @carloshasanax.bsky.social . There's something weird and unsettling about a fairly homogeneous culture spread out across Europe that then collapses into an orgy of genocide.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Headless bodies hint at why Europe’s first farmers vanished
Wave of mass brutality accompanied the collapse of the first pan-European culture
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Pointed out by my friend @carloshasanax.bsky.social . There's something weird and unsettling about a fairly homogeneous culture spread out across Europe that then collapses into an orgy of genocide.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
We are living in the time of the Know Nothings 2
Was not expecting this blatant xenophobia on my tv first thing in the morning...
November 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
We are living in the time of the Know Nothings 2
What the fuck, man?
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
What the fuck, man?
Happy Thanksgiving to me, I just found a Georgian restaurant in Atlanta. Blessed khachapuri will be mine.
a person is holding a fork in front of a pizza with an egg in it
ALT: a person is holding a fork in front of a pizza with an egg in it
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to me, I just found a Georgian restaurant in Atlanta. Blessed khachapuri will be mine.
Reposted by John M. Romero
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Reposted by John M. Romero
Several ICE Agents Horribly Disemboweled During Attempt to Deport GWAR Back to Scumdoggia thehardtimes.net/music/severa...
Several ICE Agents Horribly Disemboweled During Attempt to Deport GWAR Back to Scumdoggia
Several ICE agents had their internal organs forcibly removed during a recent raid on “The Slave Pit,” home of the extraterrestrial rock band GWAR.
thehardtimes.net
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Several ICE Agents Horribly Disemboweled During Attempt to Deport GWAR Back to Scumdoggia thehardtimes.net/music/severa...
Mark Kelly is prob a good Dem 2028 candidate depending on how the current situation shakes out. He's more moderate than I'd like, but I'd take it if progressives could seize control of Congress.
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Mark Kelly is prob a good Dem 2028 candidate depending on how the current situation shakes out. He's more moderate than I'd like, but I'd take it if progressives could seize control of Congress.
Don't worry, regime change in Venezuela will fix this problem.
Crude oil is down 19.2% from last year.
A gallon of retail gasoline? Down 2 cents. ⛽️
A gallon of retail gasoline? Down 2 cents. ⛽️
November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Don't worry, regime change in Venezuela will fix this problem.
When you're 36 now and oatmeal just hits different
November 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
When you're 36 now and oatmeal just hits different
I stole Robert K. Massie's biography of Peter the Great off of my friend's dad's bookshelf when we were kids.
November 22, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I stole Robert K. Massie's biography of Peter the Great off of my friend's dad's bookshelf when we were kids.
Reposted by John M. Romero
The Sons of Confederate Veterans in Georgia tried to block it, but a new museum will open on December 2 at Stone Mountain to tell the story of the largest Confederate monument in the world. The museum will explore the monument and its connection to white supremacy. 🗃️ www.reuters.com/world/us/bat...
www.reuters.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The Sons of Confederate Veterans in Georgia tried to block it, but a new museum will open on December 2 at Stone Mountain to tell the story of the largest Confederate monument in the world. The museum will explore the monument and its connection to white supremacy. 🗃️ www.reuters.com/world/us/bat...
Student at the end of class today (Week 14): "Dr. Romero, I just never know what is going to come out of your mouth on any given day."
November 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Student at the end of class today (Week 14): "Dr. Romero, I just never know what is going to come out of your mouth on any given day."
There all is aching
November 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
There all is aching
Abolish the Ivies, seize their endowments.
November 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Abolish the Ivies, seize their endowments.
Reposted by John M. Romero
straight-up jury nullification. this guy did it, confessed to it, and the jury instructions explicitly said that if he did it intentionally, it was assault.
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury acquits D.C. 'sandwich guy' charged with chucking a sub at a federal agent
Sean Dunn faced single misdemeanor offense after federal grand jurors refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by prosecutors.
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
straight-up jury nullification. this guy did it, confessed to it, and the jury instructions explicitly said that if he did it intentionally, it was assault.
I'm teaching our methods course next semester for the first time. It used to be a fairly standard "here's what sources are, come up with a research topic and do research" class, but we're sort of moving towards more of a "let's close read sources" model, along with some basic historiography stuff.
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I'm teaching our methods course next semester for the first time. It used to be a fairly standard "here's what sources are, come up with a research topic and do research" class, but we're sort of moving towards more of a "let's close read sources" model, along with some basic historiography stuff.
I'm an academic, so I get the skepticism about "natsec" shit, but I'm also a Russian historian, so sign me the fuck up for "natsec" shit.
Also, expect plenty of female “National Security Democrats” in the mold of Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill to run for Congress, state legislature and other races next year.
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I'm an academic, so I get the skepticism about "natsec" shit, but I'm also a Russian historian, so sign me the fuck up for "natsec" shit.
Reposted by John M. Romero
ICE won't allow communion to be given in detention centers because demons quail and shiver at the divine presence in the Host.
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
ICE won't allow communion to be given in detention centers because demons quail and shiver at the divine presence in the Host.
Reposted by John M. Romero
IN THIS HOUSE WE BELIEVE:
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- His soul is marching on
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- His soul is marching on
If Jones wins it means he has a mandate to put Republicans in camps. Listen to the voters.
November 5, 2025 at 1:41 AM
IN THIS HOUSE WE BELIEVE:
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- His soul is marching on
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
-John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- John Brown's body lies a-moulderin in the grave
- His soul is marching on
Reposted by John M. Romero
Decision Desk has called both of Georgia's statewide races, for public service commissioner, for Democrats.
If confirmed, this would be a really huge win for Democrats:
It'd be their first statewide win in any non-federal race since 2006!
If confirmed, this would be a really huge win for Democrats:
It'd be their first statewide win in any non-federal race since 2006!
November 5, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Decision Desk has called both of Georgia's statewide races, for public service commissioner, for Democrats.
If confirmed, this would be a really huge win for Democrats:
It'd be their first statewide win in any non-federal race since 2006!
If confirmed, this would be a really huge win for Democrats:
It'd be their first statewide win in any non-federal race since 2006!
AND IT'S NOT GOOD. IT'S A TRAGEDY. THEY ARE SAD THEY HAVE TO RESORT TO BLOODSHED. FRODO NEVER RECOVERS.
Has anyone actually written something on the apparently inability of the reactionary mind to grasp the basic themes and even overt text of Tolkien?
Like at some point Gandalf turns directly to camera and says “the Men of Gondor sure are insufficient to this task, we need the hobbits to do it”
Like at some point Gandalf turns directly to camera and says “the Men of Gondor sure are insufficient to this task, we need the hobbits to do it”
this is an overtly fascist narrative - even the misreading of myth & literature is on brand
October 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
AND IT'S NOT GOOD. IT'S A TRAGEDY. THEY ARE SAD THEY HAVE TO RESORT TO BLOODSHED. FRODO NEVER RECOVERS.