Morgan Golf-French
@zenothankyou.bsky.social
History postdoc in Turin, works on race, policy, and education in the German Enlightenment.
Has strong feelings about the periodization of the 18thC. Enjoys hiking, hummus, horror films, and heavy metal. Jewish.
Has strong feelings about the periodization of the 18thC. Enjoys hiking, hummus, horror films, and heavy metal. Jewish.
Not many people know this but Descartes was short for Desmond Cartes
November 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Not many people know this but Descartes was short for Desmond Cartes
Every single thing I read in UK news is about some new form of cruelty and suffering to be meted out against asylum seekers/immigrants/trans people but everytime I'm actually in the UK I'm reminded of what a warm, welcoming, culturally vibrant place it actually is.
November 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Every single thing I read in UK news is about some new form of cruelty and suffering to be meted out against asylum seekers/immigrants/trans people but everytime I'm actually in the UK I'm reminded of what a warm, welcoming, culturally vibrant place it actually is.
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
A man has been found guilty of writing a stream of consciousness novel. He is about to start a 4 year sentence.
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
A man has been found guilty of writing a stream of consciousness novel. He is about to start a 4 year sentence.
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
17th-19th century Irish scribal abbreviations that look like text-speak: numeral 8 edition
"beannacht" (x2), "Connacht"
"beannacht" (x2), "Connacht"
November 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
17th-19th century Irish scribal abbreviations that look like text-speak: numeral 8 edition
"beannacht" (x2), "Connacht"
"beannacht" (x2), "Connacht"
Recently worked my way through a delightfully erratic eighteenth-century scrapbook that lurched between notes on universal history, reports from an HRE coronation, instructions for turning honey into sugar, and illustrated guidance for how to ride a horse.
Hope to be able to post some photos soon!
Hope to be able to post some photos soon!
November 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Recently worked my way through a delightfully erratic eighteenth-century scrapbook that lurched between notes on universal history, reports from an HRE coronation, instructions for turning honey into sugar, and illustrated guidance for how to ride a horse.
Hope to be able to post some photos soon!
Hope to be able to post some photos soon!
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
Terminal decline, you say?
I'm here all week, etc.
I'm here all week, etc.
I’m sorry but this whole Noah Smith Heathrow situation is so fucking funny. Centrist thought leader with PhD from University of Michigan struggles to navigate basic airport transfer, blames it on the relative economic decline of Western Europe
November 11, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Terminal decline, you say?
I'm here all week, etc.
I'm here all week, etc.
I am more interested (though not convinced by) the "The Phantom Menace is good, actually" discourse than the "expecting continuity from James Bond is silly, actually" discourse.
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I am more interested (though not convinced by) the "The Phantom Menace is good, actually" discourse than the "expecting continuity from James Bond is silly, actually" discourse.
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hang on, when did writing articles to mock normal people for doing normal things become so performative?
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Hang on, when did writing articles to mock normal people for doing normal things become so performative?
Has anyone else been getting a flood of libertarian ads on social media recently?
It's mostly bog-standard mugshot + smug quote fare from the usual suspects (Atlas Society, Young Americans for Liberty, etc.) but it's pure cringe like Simpsons stills with Ayn Rand's face superimposed over Lisa's.
It's mostly bog-standard mugshot + smug quote fare from the usual suspects (Atlas Society, Young Americans for Liberty, etc.) but it's pure cringe like Simpsons stills with Ayn Rand's face superimposed over Lisa's.
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Has anyone else been getting a flood of libertarian ads on social media recently?
It's mostly bog-standard mugshot + smug quote fare from the usual suspects (Atlas Society, Young Americans for Liberty, etc.) but it's pure cringe like Simpsons stills with Ayn Rand's face superimposed over Lisa's.
It's mostly bog-standard mugshot + smug quote fare from the usual suspects (Atlas Society, Young Americans for Liberty, etc.) but it's pure cringe like Simpsons stills with Ayn Rand's face superimposed over Lisa's.
Can't stop thinking about the guy who recently told me, in all seriousness, that The Phantom Menace is a 10/10 movie on a par with Empire Strikes Back
November 8, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Can't stop thinking about the guy who recently told me, in all seriousness, that The Phantom Menace is a 10/10 movie on a par with Empire Strikes Back
We have both a right and a duty to insist that our lives are administered by humans, not algorithms.
Identifying flaws in GenAI unfortunately offers a pretext for claims that perfecting the product is just a matter of time & money. So pointing to chatbots’ role in,say, suicides can only go so far if we don’t also identify the systemic, irresolvable lack of Gen AI’s human commitment bc math has none
November 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We have both a right and a duty to insist that our lives are administered by humans, not algorithms.
I don't really like the term Russophobia because it tends to get thrown around by Putin apologists trying to equate criticism with bigotry, but I do think it's striking just how many purportedly subtle commentators have an extremely flattened view of Russian society and culture as having existed...
November 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I don't really like the term Russophobia because it tends to get thrown around by Putin apologists trying to equate criticism with bigotry, but I do think it's striking just how many purportedly subtle commentators have an extremely flattened view of Russian society and culture as having existed...
I'm staying in Hungary for research, but today I'm in Slovakia for a day trip.
One thing that's striking is English is much more visible in Hungary, but I've had more luck using German as an auxiliary language. Meanwhile German is a lot more visible in SK, but everybody speaks English.
One thing that's striking is English is much more visible in Hungary, but I've had more luck using German as an auxiliary language. Meanwhile German is a lot more visible in SK, but everybody speaks English.
November 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I'm staying in Hungary for research, but today I'm in Slovakia for a day trip.
One thing that's striking is English is much more visible in Hungary, but I've had more luck using German as an auxiliary language. Meanwhile German is a lot more visible in SK, but everybody speaks English.
One thing that's striking is English is much more visible in Hungary, but I've had more luck using German as an auxiliary language. Meanwhile German is a lot more visible in SK, but everybody speaks English.
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
Would any successful Bodleian visiting fellow recipients be willing to share their application materials with me? Especially if medieval/early modern. Ta!
November 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Would any successful Bodleian visiting fellow recipients be willing to share their application materials with me? Especially if medieval/early modern. Ta!
The great thing about working on early modern academia is you never know if the archive will a) overturn everything we thought we knew about early modern philosophy or b) be nothing but complaints about low pay
November 6, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The great thing about working on early modern academia is you never know if the archive will a) overturn everything we thought we knew about early modern philosophy or b) be nothing but complaints about low pay
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
I am Ozymandias, King of Kings. Press 1 to look upon my works, press 2 to despair
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. I am out of the office but checking emails. Responses may be slower than usual. If your matter is urgent, please feel free to look upon my works and despair.
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and see it, say it, sorted.
November 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I am Ozymandias, King of Kings. Press 1 to look upon my works, press 2 to despair
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
Whoever wrote in the blurb for this edition of Edward Said’s Out of Place that the book reveals “an unimaginably rich world of colorful characters and exotic eastern landscapes” desperately needs to read some Edward Said
November 3, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Whoever wrote in the blurb for this edition of Edward Said’s Out of Place that the book reveals “an unimaginably rich world of colorful characters and exotic eastern landscapes” desperately needs to read some Edward Said
Truly vile to see right-wing USians try to make gun lobby-cum-white nationalist hay out of the horrendous attack in Cambridgeshire.
Every act of violence is a problem requiring serious attention, but by just about every metric the UK is a safer, healthier, less violent place than the USA.
Every act of violence is a problem requiring serious attention, but by just about every metric the UK is a safer, healthier, less violent place than the USA.
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Truly vile to see right-wing USians try to make gun lobby-cum-white nationalist hay out of the horrendous attack in Cambridgeshire.
Every act of violence is a problem requiring serious attention, but by just about every metric the UK is a safer, healthier, less violent place than the USA.
Every act of violence is a problem requiring serious attention, but by just about every metric the UK is a safer, healthier, less violent place than the USA.
Important to also note that smartphones, including relatively new iPhones, can be bought for <€100.
I recently broke (through my own fault entirely) an iPhone that was brand new in 2022. One option for a replacement was the exact same model for €95.
I recently broke (through my own fault entirely) an iPhone that was brand new in 2022. One option for a replacement was the exact same model for €95.
Never take seriously those who ridicule low income people for having a smartphone or laptop.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
“If they’re so poor how did they buy an iPhone???”
Because they’re trying to escape poverty, not the 1700s, genius. If you think basic tech access is luxury, survive a month without it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Important to also note that smartphones, including relatively new iPhones, can be bought for <€100.
I recently broke (through my own fault entirely) an iPhone that was brand new in 2022. One option for a replacement was the exact same model for €95.
I recently broke (through my own fault entirely) an iPhone that was brand new in 2022. One option for a replacement was the exact same model for €95.
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my book I invented Gatsby lifestyle as a cautionary tale
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
November 1, 2025 at 4:48 AM
F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my book I invented Gatsby lifestyle as a cautionary tale
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
It gets even better when you read it. Kicks off with "how dare poor countries not know their place" then settles into "we should simply do the things that got us into this mess" with a side of "citation: rich dudes who benefit from all this"
November 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It gets even better when you read it. Kicks off with "how dare poor countries not know their place" then settles into "we should simply do the things that got us into this mess" with a side of "citation: rich dudes who benefit from all this"
No, Adobe, I neither need nor want an AI summary of my Flixbus ticket. It's literally just a QR code.
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 AM
No, Adobe, I neither need nor want an AI summary of my Flixbus ticket. It's literally just a QR code.
As an Ulm-enjoyer and Barcelona-hater, I can't begin to express my displeasure with this development.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Four feet higher and rising: Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes world’s tallest church
Antoni Gaudí’s masterwork is still under construction but now stands taller than Ulm Minster in southern Germany
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
As an Ulm-enjoyer and Barcelona-hater, I can't begin to express my displeasure with this development.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by Morgan Golf-French
So why does the BBC label the academic and economist Faiza Shaheen an "activist" but refuse to do the same for the former academic, turned anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin?
October 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
So why does the BBC label the academic and economist Faiza Shaheen an "activist" but refuse to do the same for the former academic, turned anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin?