David Veevers
@davidveevers.bsky.social
Lecturer in Early Modern History | ‘dazzling’ - BBC History | 'miasma enthusiast' - The Critic | 'belligerent academic' - The Daily Mail | tired dad | Stephen King aficionado | academia’s longest commute | writing my third book
Pinned
Reposted by David Veevers
Next week's New Netherland Institute seminar ventures to the Indian Ocean featuring a paper by the Illustrious @davidveevers.bsky.social (ed. am hoping @wadehistory.bsky.social is able to attend 😁) @deborahhamer.bsky.social www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/programs/sch...
NNI Scholars' Seminar :: New Netherland Institute
www.newnetherlandinstitute.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Next week's New Netherland Institute seminar ventures to the Indian Ocean featuring a paper by the Illustrious @davidveevers.bsky.social (ed. am hoping @wadehistory.bsky.social is able to attend 😁) @deborahhamer.bsky.social www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/programs/sch...
The big tell in the attack on the BBC (which I agree is deeply unbalanced and flawed, see Gaza) is that it’s followed by a demand for its abolition, never to reform or fix it. Why? Because they don’t want a properly functioning publically-owned media platform full stop.
November 10, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The big tell in the attack on the BBC (which I agree is deeply unbalanced and flawed, see Gaza) is that it’s followed by a demand for its abolition, never to reform or fix it. Why? Because they don’t want a properly functioning publically-owned media platform full stop.
When I’m in a coffee shop or on the train or even in a park with my kids, I’m always reading. When I look around me, everyone has their nose in a phone. How can I be performing for an audience that isn’t even watching anything not on their screens?
I do draw a line at bare feet in public, though.
I do draw a line at bare feet in public, though.
November 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
When I’m in a coffee shop or on the train or even in a park with my kids, I’m always reading. When I look around me, everyone has their nose in a phone. How can I be performing for an audience that isn’t even watching anything not on their screens?
I do draw a line at bare feet in public, though.
I do draw a line at bare feet in public, though.
Henry off school with a tummy bug, so we’re wrapped up on the sofa watching the film adaptation of one of our favourite books: Allsburg’s The Polar Express. The animation on this used to freak me out, but I’ve come around to liking it in recent years. And we love ourselves some Hanks.
a man in a suit and tie is talking to another man who is wearing a hat that says this is the polar express .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is talking to another man who is wearing a hat that says this is the polar express .
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Henry off school with a tummy bug, so we’re wrapped up on the sofa watching the film adaptation of one of our favourite books: Allsburg’s The Polar Express. The animation on this used to freak me out, but I’ve come around to liking it in recent years. And we love ourselves some Hanks.
Managers cite concern for students in everything they do, but never actually prioritise student opinion or voices in any of their decision making. They do irreparable harm to student courses and turn around to staff and ask: ‘right: how can we improve student satisfaction and recruitment?’
We've had 2 massive mergers in 2 years. In both cases, QMUL refused to hear students (staff was told not to talk about it with students for fear of repercussions), and *after* both of them, management said 'our bad, we'll talk to students next time'.
#UKHE managers don't prioritise students.
#UKHE managers don't prioritise students.
Did @uniofnottingham.bsky.social consult any students before announcing the proposed course closures? @uonucu.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Managers cite concern for students in everything they do, but never actually prioritise student opinion or voices in any of their decision making. They do irreparable harm to student courses and turn around to staff and ask: ‘right: how can we improve student satisfaction and recruitment?’
Reposted by David Veevers
Farewell then Tim Davie. Under his watch the BBC whitewashed genocide, had the BBC News website resembling a “migrant crime” X account, boosted trans hate and the right wing STILL hate him. Quite an achievement
BREAKING: Tim Davie resigns as BBC's director-general - with CEO of BBC News also stepping down
news.sky.com/story/tim-da...
news.sky.com/story/tim-da...
Tim Davie resigns as BBC's director-general - with CEO of BBC News also stepping down
Tim Davie has resigned as the BBC's director-general.
news.sky.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Farewell then Tim Davie. Under his watch the BBC whitewashed genocide, had the BBC News website resembling a “migrant crime” X account, boosted trans hate and the right wing STILL hate him. Quite an achievement
Reposted by David Veevers
Little bit helps us stay alive thank you from my heart
@spaciousseasidesai.bsky.social @knifesquid.bsky.social @irishninja.bsky.social
@cthonides.bsky.social @davidveevers.bsky.social
@niasolstice.bsky.social @goobsimar.bsky.social
@freshmintytaste.bsky.socialEvery .
@spaciousseasidesai.bsky.social @knifesquid.bsky.social @irishninja.bsky.social
@cthonides.bsky.social @davidveevers.bsky.social
@niasolstice.bsky.social @goobsimar.bsky.social
@freshmintytaste.bsky.socialEvery .
November 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Little bit helps us stay alive thank you from my heart
@spaciousseasidesai.bsky.social @knifesquid.bsky.social @irishninja.bsky.social
@cthonides.bsky.social @davidveevers.bsky.social
@niasolstice.bsky.social @goobsimar.bsky.social
@freshmintytaste.bsky.socialEvery .
@spaciousseasidesai.bsky.social @knifesquid.bsky.social @irishninja.bsky.social
@cthonides.bsky.social @davidveevers.bsky.social
@niasolstice.bsky.social @goobsimar.bsky.social
@freshmintytaste.bsky.socialEvery .
Just read a passage in a book that describes elderly people as time machines: able to recall the past whilst being reminders to younger people of the future that awaits them. I think that’s a pretty magical understanding of age.
November 9, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Just read a passage in a book that describes elderly people as time machines: able to recall the past whilst being reminders to younger people of the future that awaits them. I think that’s a pretty magical understanding of age.
Reposted by David Veevers
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Voting results from the AGM
Read about the National Trust's 2025 Annual General Meeting and the results from the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 PM
National Trust council elections saw a defeat for the Restore Trust campaign.
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
35k members voted to re-elect a slate of council candidates endorsed by the nominations committee
12k - 13.5k voted for candidates on Restore Trust slate
Non-slate candidated
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...
Reposted by David Veevers
I honestly don’t get the value of this company. They hoover up energy and water. Their product constantly gets things wrong and, in extreme cases, coaches people into suicide.
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I honestly don’t get the value of this company. They hoover up energy and water. Their product constantly gets things wrong and, in extreme cases, coaches people into suicide.
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
And it’s all built on what seems to be malicious and vast intellectual property theft.
What does OpenAI offer the world?
I'm at 5 right now after a year of 1 and 3.
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I'm at 5 right now after a year of 1 and 3.
Quite the view out of our bedroom window this morning. Glorious sun yesterday, overcast rainbow today. Nice contrast to constant rain.
November 9, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Quite the view out of our bedroom window this morning. Glorious sun yesterday, overcast rainbow today. Nice contrast to constant rain.
Basically a perfect late autumn afternoon here on the Sussex coast.
November 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Basically a perfect late autumn afternoon here on the Sussex coast.
Reposted by David Veevers
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
Fireworks terrified my nan. Reminded her of the blitz. She spent many a night with her daughter sleeping on the underground. I’m not sure why but as I’ve gotten older, I appreciate that a lot more than I did at the time as a kid.
November 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Fireworks terrified my nan. Reminded her of the blitz. She spent many a night with her daughter sleeping on the underground. I’m not sure why but as I’ve gotten older, I appreciate that a lot more than I did at the time as a kid.
Can't remember a more productive writing week. I ignored emails and wrote my little heart out - the result of pent up frustration at not being able to properly write since teaching started in September. My piecemeal reading, thinking, and research flowed into prose. So satisfying. Now brain mushy.
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Can't remember a more productive writing week. I ignored emails and wrote my little heart out - the result of pent up frustration at not being able to properly write since teaching started in September. My piecemeal reading, thinking, and research flowed into prose. So satisfying. Now brain mushy.
Maritime colleagues: was it common to omit names of women travelers - specifically wives - when mentioning passengers onboard? Asking in context of ships coming from England to colonies in early c17th. Can't prove this man's wife went with him, but his young son did (who are both mentioned by name).
November 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Maritime colleagues: was it common to omit names of women travelers - specifically wives - when mentioning passengers onboard? Asking in context of ships coming from England to colonies in early c17th. Can't prove this man's wife went with him, but his young son did (who are both mentioned by name).
Two can play at that game. Paramount subscription cancelled for being pro-genocide.
Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Does this sound familiar?
Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."
Paramount Has Blacklist for Stars Deemed “Overtly Antisemitic” — World of Reel
It sure looks like the likes of Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo won’t be making movies for Paramount in the foreseeable future.
www.worldofreel.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Two can play at that game. Paramount subscription cancelled for being pro-genocide.
Reposted by David Veevers
Even I thought this was one of mine!
November 6, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Even I thought this was one of mine!
Reposted by David Veevers
PUBLICATION DAY!
My new book, ‘Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, rebel, kingmaker’ is out today.
“An epic journey”, “a powerful new biography”, “highly readable”, “vivid portrait”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/margaret-...
@headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
#History #WomensHistory
My new book, ‘Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, rebel, kingmaker’ is out today.
“An epic journey”, “a powerful new biography”, “highly readable”, “vivid portrait”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/margaret-...
@headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
#History #WomensHistory
Margaret Beaufort
Survivor. Rebel. Conspirator. Mother and grandmother of kings. Margaret Beaufort was one of the most remarkable and influential women of the Middle Ages.Margare…
www.bloomsbury.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:46 PM
PUBLICATION DAY!
My new book, ‘Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, rebel, kingmaker’ is out today.
“An epic journey”, “a powerful new biography”, “highly readable”, “vivid portrait”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/margaret-...
@headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
#History #WomensHistory
My new book, ‘Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, rebel, kingmaker’ is out today.
“An epic journey”, “a powerful new biography”, “highly readable”, “vivid portrait”.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/margaret-...
@headofzeus.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
#History #WomensHistory
Is there a German word for when you make a cup of tea, drink it, and then immediately make another one?
November 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Is there a German word for when you make a cup of tea, drink it, and then immediately make another one?
Reposted by David Veevers
Horrific, stupid news from @uniofnottingham.bsky.social — they are closing their music department. Apparently they all found out suddently in a meeting yesterday.
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Horrific, stupid news from @uniofnottingham.bsky.social — they are closing their music department. Apparently they all found out suddently in a meeting yesterday.
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It is one of the best music departments in the country — solidarity with my colleagues and their students
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by David Veevers
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
During colonisation of Grenada, Indigenous Kalinago were trapped by French at Morne des Sauteurs. With no hope, 40 jumped to their deaths. Survivors included 'quite beautiful' 12 year old girl fought over by 2 French officers, until a third came up and shot her dead, ending the dispute.
November 6, 2025 at 11:44 AM
During colonisation of Grenada, Indigenous Kalinago were trapped by French at Morne des Sauteurs. With no hope, 40 jumped to their deaths. Survivors included 'quite beautiful' 12 year old girl fought over by 2 French officers, until a third came up and shot her dead, ending the dispute.
Reposted by David Veevers
Every Welsh schoolchild of a certain vintage and disposition has this imprinted on their soul if it was on their classroom wall
A mythical map of Wales in Tales from the Mabinogion by Margaret Jones, 1980
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Every Welsh schoolchild of a certain vintage and disposition has this imprinted on their soul if it was on their classroom wall