William Carruthers
@williamcarruthers.bsky.social
Lecturer in Heritage at a university near Colchester. ‘Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology’ out now with Cornell UP. Fellow, RHistS. https://williamcarruthers.co.uk // williamcarruthers.wordpress.com
Pinned
In better news my book is coming out in paperback next March (pre-orders now available)! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Flooded Pasts by William Carruthers | Hardcover | Cornell University Press
Flooded Pasts examines a world famous yet critically underexamined event—UNESCO's International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia (1960–80)—to show how the project, its genealogy, and its...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
Going to re-post this occasionally, with added mention that I’m very happy to do more talks about it
It was a different time m.youtube.com/watch?v=3PgH...
University of Essex | Life at Essex in the 1990s: Student Views
YouTube video by University of Essex
m.youtube.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:07 PM
It was a different time m.youtube.com/watch?v=3PgH...
Reposted by William Carruthers
'Imagine my surprise to realise, from the perspective of middle age, the real heroes are the Leadbetters. The real monster is Tom Good, a man who inflicts his midlife crisis not merely on his wife, but on everyone else they know'
Quietus Best of 2025: Jonn Elledge on The Good Life
buff.ly/br6XvDj
Quietus Best of 2025: Jonn Elledge on The Good Life
buff.ly/br6XvDj
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
'Imagine my surprise to realise, from the perspective of middle age, the real heroes are the Leadbetters. The real monster is Tom Good, a man who inflicts his midlife crisis not merely on his wife, but on everyone else they know'
Quietus Best of 2025: Jonn Elledge on The Good Life
buff.ly/br6XvDj
Quietus Best of 2025: Jonn Elledge on The Good Life
buff.ly/br6XvDj
You Only Revise Your Article Twice
Make a Bond Movie academic:
License to Kill subject to ethical approval (1989)
License to Kill subject to ethical approval (1989)
Make a Bond Movie academic
The writer's use of the word 'never' is problematic, and rewording might better serve the paper (1983)
The writer's use of the word 'never' is problematic, and rewording might better serve the paper (1983)
December 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
You Only Revise Your Article Twice
Quantum of Solace is academic enough, thank you
Make a Bond movie academic
Live and Let Cite
Live and Let Cite
Make a Bond Movie academic
The writer's use of the word 'never' is problematic, and rewording might better serve the paper (1983)
The writer's use of the word 'never' is problematic, and rewording might better serve the paper (1983)
December 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Quantum of Solace is academic enough, thank you
My only and best higher ed idea is that Britain needs to find a way to offer university courses to retirees
'Record numbers of Swedish retirees are enrolling in a university run “by pensioners for pensioners” amid increased loneliness and a growing appetite for learning and in-person interactions.' 1/2
‘Keeps your mind alert’: older Swedes reap the benefits of learning for pleasure
Retirees with ‘fantastic hunger for education’ taking part in university organised events in record numbers
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
My only and best higher ed idea is that Britain needs to find a way to offer university courses to retirees
Reposted by William Carruthers
The replication of think tank world, a version which doesn’t do any actual research but has the nominal trappings to gain entry to media, is sadly a great research project for someone.
December 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The replication of think tank world, a version which doesn’t do any actual research but has the nominal trappings to gain entry to media, is sadly a great research project for someone.
Reposted by William Carruthers
Jordan Peterson watches Muppet Christmas Carol
December 24, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Jordan Peterson watches Muppet Christmas Carol
My brother has just turned on On the Buses
December 26, 2025 at 9:24 AM
My brother has just turned on On the Buses
Goes well with pocket meat?
December 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Goes well with pocket meat?
My great grandmother was born on Christmas Day and was called Albina Noella. I really can’t think of anything more Victorian.
December 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
My great grandmother was born on Christmas Day and was called Albina Noella. I really can’t think of anything more Victorian.
Merry Christmas, everyone
🦊 A Londres, 10 000 renards trottent toutes les nuits dans les rues. Devenus emblèmes de la ville, où ils font perdurer une once de vie sauvage, ces animaux suscitent autant d’attachement que d’agacement.
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
Reportage à lire dans le Libé des animaux : bit.ly/4pTZnrJ
December 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Merry Christmas, everyone
Reposted by William Carruthers
Reminiscent of the time the Archbishop of Canterbury said maybe poor people should be fed and was accused of “virtue signalling”
December 25, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reminiscent of the time the Archbishop of Canterbury said maybe poor people should be fed and was accused of “virtue signalling”
Truly, mesmerisingly awful
Want to hear about my worst ever Christmas Day? Sure you do.
20-ish years ago, my then-girlfriend said her brother had invited us to spend Christmas day with him and his girlfriend at said girlfriend's mum's house. Sounds cosy, right? Nope. 1/
20-ish years ago, my then-girlfriend said her brother had invited us to spend Christmas day with him and his girlfriend at said girlfriend's mum's house. Sounds cosy, right? Nope. 1/
December 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Truly, mesmerisingly awful
History departments offer courses based on who they can hire, which these days is no one. Then they work out how to provide the broadest coverage possible regardless. Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
History departments offer courses based on who they can hire, which these days is no one. Then they work out how to provide the broadest coverage possible regardless. Merry Christmas!
Hilariously inaccurate
December 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Hilariously inaccurate
I’ve got used to this with the delivery companies, but not even Royal Mail is bothering to wait for us to get the parcel from them at the front door at the moment and just leaving it somewhere random
Oh I can beat that. One time Royal Mail faked OHs signature on a multiple hundred pound Boots order then left it basically on the street, despite being told to leave it with neighbour.
December 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I’ve got used to this with the delivery companies, but not even Royal Mail is bothering to wait for us to get the parcel from them at the front door at the moment and just leaving it somewhere random
Reposted by William Carruthers
I’ve used the BBC Written Archives Centre for research and I deplore the new restrictive rules and the sneaky way they were introduced. It’s unbecoming of a public institution that is supposed to be about informing people to effectively close off proper archival research.
Just up on the Telegraph, a thorough and thoughtful piece about the wrongheaded policy changes at WAC. Thanks to Kate Murphy, @illuminations.bsky.social, @unamccormack.bsky.social and @marklewisohn.bsky.social for giving up their time. Gift link here
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/65a1031...
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/65a1031...
The BBC scandal of 2025 that went unnoticed
The Written Archives Centre has closed its doors to the public, despite being funded by the licence fee
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I’ve used the BBC Written Archives Centre for research and I deplore the new restrictive rules and the sneaky way they were introduced. It’s unbecoming of a public institution that is supposed to be about informing people to effectively close off proper archival research.
If there was an academia wrapped it would say: ‘you read these articles, those abstracts, half of this book, a third of that one, maybe a chapter from this…’
December 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If there was an academia wrapped it would say: ‘you read these articles, those abstracts, half of this book, a third of that one, maybe a chapter from this…’
Basically, it’s the Festivus airing of grievances
Can I suggest an academics-bringing-disciplinary-grudges-and-petty-disagreements-to-a-boxing-ring YouTube channel?
Theoretical, epistemic, professional and personal grudges all catered for
The winner of each bout slugs it out with the VC of their choice
Theoretical, epistemic, professional and personal grudges all catered for
The winner of each bout slugs it out with the VC of their choice
Sometimes I feel like I too might be up for punching a YouTuber, but I don’t think I’d do it half as well as Mr Joshua, so I’m not sure I could expect quite the same remuneration. Eh, stick to the podcasts I guess
December 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Basically, it’s the Festivus airing of grievances
Reposted by William Carruthers
Reposted by William Carruthers
Wishing all our friends, followers, and well-wishers a peaceful and relaxing few days ahead x
December 24, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Wishing all our friends, followers, and well-wishers a peaceful and relaxing few days ahead x
This is true (my brother-in-law married us in the States) but the thing I always remember is having to outline that perhaps guests should dress up a bit because we knew all the Brits would expect to and weren’t sure the Americans would too (granted, it was in Vermont)
so one of the interesting cultural differences between the UK and US is that the ability to perform a marriage is *way* more limited in the UK - you basically have to be either a registrar (the civil servant option) or an actual minister in charge of a registered physical building
December 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
This is true (my brother-in-law married us in the States) but the thing I always remember is having to outline that perhaps guests should dress up a bit because we knew all the Brits would expect to and weren’t sure the Americans would too (granted, it was in Vermont)
Reposted by William Carruthers
‘Club seals for free speech’
December 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
‘Club seals for free speech’
I genuinely don’t think you know obsession and conspiracy until you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of Beatles internet forums
December 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I genuinely don’t think you know obsession and conspiracy until you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of Beatles internet forums
Reposted by William Carruthers
Oops.
"'All of us were more confident about large language models a year ago'... strategic shift away from generative AI toward more predictable "deterministic" automation... after Salesforce reportedly reduced its support staff from 9,000 to 5,000 employees...”
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
After laying off 4,000 employees and automating with AI agents, Salesforce executives admit: We were more confident about…. - The Times of India
Tech News News: Salesforce, one of the world's most valuable enterprise software companies, is pulling back from its heavy reliance on large language models after enc.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Oops.