Tim Watson
@timwatson.bsky.social
English professor in Miami. British-American. London > Bishop's Stortford > Brighton > Brooklyn > Miami. Subtropical gardener. Florida Mangos: A Cultural History, forthcoming from U of Florida Press. Posts are my own and do not represent my employer.
Trying to follow the intricacies of the coup against the BBC but distracted by the very British phrase "gardening leave" and wishing it could be a literal thing (instead of a euphemism for fired but still on the payroll).
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Trying to follow the intricacies of the coup against the BBC but distracted by the very British phrase "gardening leave" and wishing it could be a literal thing (instead of a euphemism for fired but still on the payroll).
Has something shifted in higher ed?The New York Times hasn't quoted Christopher R#f0 for at least a month now.
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Has something shifted in higher ed?The New York Times hasn't quoted Christopher R#f0 for at least a month now.
Florida Tree Snail, Everglades National Park
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Florida Tree Snail, Everglades National Park
It's abundantly clear: ordinary people with whistles and inflatable costumes on the streets of U.S. cities represent the overall opinion of Americans far more accurately than our elected representatives.
I'm not a political scientist, but I bet there are opinion polls on this if you need them.
I'm not a political scientist, but I bet there are opinion polls on this if you need them.
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
It's abundantly clear: ordinary people with whistles and inflatable costumes on the streets of U.S. cities represent the overall opinion of Americans far more accurately than our elected representatives.
I'm not a political scientist, but I bet there are opinion polls on this if you need them.
I'm not a political scientist, but I bet there are opinion polls on this if you need them.
Reposted by Tim Watson
Reposted by Tim Watson
After their resounding victory in Tuesday’s elections, the Democrats had no choice but to surrender.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 AM
After their resounding victory in Tuesday’s elections, the Democrats had no choice but to surrender.
Reposted by Tim Watson
The smartest thing a politician can do in 2026 is to come up with a bold plan for shoring up and EXPANDING public libraries. Call it Project 2050. It's a way to reintroduce the grammar of commoning and the commons to a new generation in a way they can easily grasp. Such low hanging fruit.
November 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The smartest thing a politician can do in 2026 is to come up with a bold plan for shoring up and EXPANDING public libraries. Call it Project 2050. It's a way to reintroduce the grammar of commoning and the commons to a new generation in a way they can easily grasp. Such low hanging fruit.
Lepidopterist friends: Cloudless Sulphur or Orange-Barred Sulphur?
It's feeding on the flowers of a Bahama senna, hence the yellow caterpillar.
It's feeding on the flowers of a Bahama senna, hence the yellow caterpillar.
November 9, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Lepidopterist friends: Cloudless Sulphur or Orange-Barred Sulphur?
It's feeding on the flowers of a Bahama senna, hence the yellow caterpillar.
It's feeding on the flowers of a Bahama senna, hence the yellow caterpillar.
Reposted by Tim Watson
so Cuomo is in fact the living epitome of Rich People Threatening To Leave New York When Mamdani Wins Who Do Not In Fact Leave New York
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
so Cuomo is in fact the living epitome of Rich People Threatening To Leave New York When Mamdani Wins Who Do Not In Fact Leave New York
Reposted by Tim Watson
I feel like Sandwich guy's defense attorney may have majored in creative writing in college, because these 2 sentences are just absolutely beautiful.
Defense begins, “This case, ladies and gentlemen, is about a sandwich. A sandwich that according to Agent Lairmore somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of mustard and onions but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapper.”
November 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I feel like Sandwich guy's defense attorney may have majored in creative writing in college, because these 2 sentences are just absolutely beautiful.
This week was my 35th* PhD defense. The new Dr isn't on here so I won't be specific. But it's always a privilege and a delight to be part of this conversation. And I learn so much, and get so much hope for the future.
*(36th, I suppose, if I count my own PhD, although I'd rather forget that day)
*(36th, I suppose, if I count my own PhD, although I'd rather forget that day)
November 6, 2025 at 3:46 AM
This week was my 35th* PhD defense. The new Dr isn't on here so I won't be specific. But it's always a privilege and a delight to be part of this conversation. And I learn so much, and get so much hope for the future.
*(36th, I suppose, if I count my own PhD, although I'd rather forget that day)
*(36th, I suppose, if I count my own PhD, although I'd rather forget that day)
Reposted by Tim Watson
When Trump speaks in Miami today, look at this great election map by @mcimaps.bsky.social from yesterday's Miami election, zoom in to precincts 982 & 980, where the Freedom Tower and Trump's future corruption monument are located: Democrat Eileen Higgins got >60% of the vote there.
In Miami, Democrat Eileen Higgins easily advanced to a December runoff with Republican Emilio Gonzalez
Thanks to incredibly strong Democratic turnout, fellow Dem Ken Russell almost edged into second!
This also marks the end for several longtime politicos. Carollo, Suarez, Portilla. The titans fell
Thanks to incredibly strong Democratic turnout, fellow Dem Ken Russell almost edged into second!
This also marks the end for several longtime politicos. Carollo, Suarez, Portilla. The titans fell
November 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
When Trump speaks in Miami today, look at this great election map by @mcimaps.bsky.social from yesterday's Miami election, zoom in to precincts 982 & 980, where the Freedom Tower and Trump's future corruption monument are located: Democrat Eileen Higgins got >60% of the vote there.
Reposted by Tim Watson
Africana Studies is going to have one hell of an update to their "what our majors have done with their degree after graduation" page.
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Africana Studies is going to have one hell of an update to their "what our majors have done with their degree after graduation" page.
Reposted by Tim Watson
A propos of nothing
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
A propos of nothing
Reposted by Tim Watson
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
June 25, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
Reposted by Tim Watson
Don't forget that Zohran Mamdani spent his entire campaign standing proudly beside the trans community. He went to trans rights rallies just to show support. He proudly waved trans rights flags without hesitation. He refused to back down in support of trans rights. That makes me happy.
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Don't forget that Zohran Mamdani spent his entire campaign standing proudly beside the trans community. He went to trans rights rallies just to show support. He proudly waved trans rights flags without hesitation. He refused to back down in support of trans rights. That makes me happy.
Attn: Maria Salazar (FL-27)
Republicans who think your seat is safe: no it's not
Looks like the Dems will pick up 12 seats in the VA House of Delegates, which will go from 51-49 to 63-37 D-R. That's an honestly shocking result.
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Attn: Maria Salazar (FL-27)
Reposted by Tim Watson
this is so much better than the last time we were all new yorkers
June 25, 2025 at 4:02 AM
this is so much better than the last time we were all new yorkers
The city of Miami hasn't elected a Democrat as mayor in almost 30 years, and a woman has never been mayor, but Eileen Higgins is well ahead tonight and looks like the clear favorite in the run off next month (run off between the top two candidates bc nobody got above 50%).
November 5, 2025 at 2:33 AM
The city of Miami hasn't elected a Democrat as mayor in almost 30 years, and a woman has never been mayor, but Eileen Higgins is well ahead tonight and looks like the clear favorite in the run off next month (run off between the top two candidates bc nobody got above 50%).
Reposted by Tim Watson
I've been trying to remember when I first learned about Mamdani. It was definitely a video, maybe 9 months ago, and I'm pretty sure it was just Mamdani standing on a street corner in Queens (Jackson Heights?) talking to people who passed by about stuff ... what stuff? I can't remember.
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I've been trying to remember when I first learned about Mamdani. It was definitely a video, maybe 9 months ago, and I'm pretty sure it was just Mamdani standing on a street corner in Queens (Jackson Heights?) talking to people who passed by about stuff ... what stuff? I can't remember.