David O'Flaherty
@doflaherty.bsky.social
Transcribing English inquest records with some annotations, 1888-89 North East Middlesex coroner's district. Pals with Emma and Molly. Learning astrophotography for the peace and quiet of it. Views are my own.
Pinned
David O'Flaherty
@doflaherty.bsky.social
· Nov 21
A description of the new NE Middlesex coroner's district in London Gazette May 1888 as it existed until 1894. Its first coroner, Dr. Roderick Macdonald, won election in June and served until his death in March 1894. By the end of 1888, probably about 500 inquests had been held.
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
Saw this!
Giant copy of the Constitution being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue.
October 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Saw this!
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
Every book of history involving original research should be accompanied by a 2nd vol where the historian relates the false starts, twists & turns etc the research took before it finally got its ultimate framing/shape. Not only is this fascinating it’s also fundamental to the historian’s craft(ing).
August 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Every book of history involving original research should be accompanied by a 2nd vol where the historian relates the false starts, twists & turns etc the research took before it finally got its ultimate framing/shape. Not only is this fascinating it’s also fundamental to the historian’s craft(ing).
"Stephen Miller Tears Up as Son Says First 14 Words."
Stephen Miller Tears Up As Son Says First 14 Words
theonion.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:57 PM
"Stephen Miller Tears Up as Son Says First 14 Words."
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
Brilliant satire @theonion.com:
“Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her department to comb through all its articles, images, videos, and social media posts to remove any ‘un-American, leftist propaganda’ related to upholding the rule of law, keeping the nation safe, or protecting citizen’s rights”
“Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her department to comb through all its articles, images, videos, and social media posts to remove any ‘un-American, leftist propaganda’ related to upholding the rule of law, keeping the nation safe, or protecting citizen’s rights”
DOJ Removes All Mentions Of Justice From Website
WASHINGTON—In the latest of a series of escalations in President Donald Trump’s highly publicized war on “woke,” the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly removed all mentions of justice from its webs...
theonion.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Brilliant satire @theonion.com:
“Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her department to comb through all its articles, images, videos, and social media posts to remove any ‘un-American, leftist propaganda’ related to upholding the rule of law, keeping the nation safe, or protecting citizen’s rights”
“Attorney General Pam Bondi directed her department to comb through all its articles, images, videos, and social media posts to remove any ‘un-American, leftist propaganda’ related to upholding the rule of law, keeping the nation safe, or protecting citizen’s rights”
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
Book historian Bill Bell's latest blog post is a meditation on the liberating experience of the British Museum Reading Room. crusoesbooks.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/a... #bookhistory
Ambient Reading
‘The swing-doors swung open; and there one stood under the vast dome.’ IN THE 1830s, the Italian political dissident Antonio Panizzi became Keeper of Printed Books at the British Museum…
crusoesbooks.wordpress.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Book historian Bill Bell's latest blog post is a meditation on the liberating experience of the British Museum Reading Room. crusoesbooks.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/a... #bookhistory
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
So you find yourself doomscrolling through Bluesky and feeling more and more downhearted and then up pops an engrossing thread that a fave scholar has taken the trouble to put together and suddenly the world looks a little brighter. Thanks, @peteorford.bsky.social!
Not one, but two early editions of Dombey and Son arrived in the post. Both published in Dickens's lifetime, they tell a story of his branding and marketing which contributed to his success. 1/
July 31, 2025 at 11:29 AM
So you find yourself doomscrolling through Bluesky and feeling more and more downhearted and then up pops an engrossing thread that a fave scholar has taken the trouble to put together and suddenly the world looks a little brighter. Thanks, @peteorford.bsky.social!
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
A reviewer bagged on Eco for looking pretentious on this cover, but his pipe is a corncob, not very grandiose imo.
July 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
A reviewer bagged on Eco for looking pretentious on this cover, but his pipe is a corncob, not very grandiose imo.
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
Mural of Statue of Liberty in shame unveiled in France the day before 4th of July
July 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Mural of Statue of Liberty in shame unveiled in France the day before 4th of July
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
If you've been to Paris, is it true about the butter?
Paris Can Be Intimidating—But It Has Great Butter
A conversation with Caity Weaver about following Mark Twain there
www.theatlantic.com
June 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
If you've been to Paris, is it true about the butter?
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/o...
Opinion | Really, Secretary Rubio? I’m Lying About the Kids Dying Under Trump?
www.nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/o...
Happy Pride Month!
Celebrate Pride With Us
Pride is power. Joining us in raising our flag high and making it clear - These Colors Don’t Run.
www.hrc.org
June 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Happy Pride Month!
New book by my favorite novelist and new pipe!
May 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
New book by my favorite novelist and new pipe!
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
🎼 'Gather round while I sing you of Wernher Von Braun,
A man whose allegiance was ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown,
"Ha, Nazi, Schmazi," says Wernher von Braun...'
A man whose allegiance was ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown,
"Ha, Nazi, Schmazi," says Wernher von Braun...'
Vance: the US space program didn't need immigrants.
I... I just... wow
I... I just... wow
May 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM
🎼 'Gather round while I sing you of Wernher Von Braun,
A man whose allegiance was ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown,
"Ha, Nazi, Schmazi," says Wernher von Braun...'
A man whose allegiance was ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown,
"Ha, Nazi, Schmazi," says Wernher von Braun...'
Today is release day.
‘Kay has the unusual ability to create a world on the page that comes to life the moment you start reading.’
Blogcritics, Richard Marcus review. Nice.
blogcritics.org/book-review-...
Blogcritics, Richard Marcus review. Nice.
blogcritics.org/book-review-...
Book Review: ‘Written on the Dark’ by Guy Gavriel Kay - Blogcritics
Written on the Dark Written on the Dark is the latest book from the pen and mind of historical/fanta
blogcritics.org
May 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today is release day.
Bought this book at an exhibition at The Art Institute back in the 90s. I don't think I've seen it since until today. I like Marie Spartali here from 1870 as she looks lost in thought.
May 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bought this book at an exhibition at The Art Institute back in the 90s. I don't think I've seen it since until today. I like Marie Spartali here from 1870 as she looks lost in thought.
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
None of them have any idea what the Librarian of Congress does. For example, there’s no children’s section because it’s a research library.
Reporter: The president fired the Librarian of Congress. Why?
Leavitt: There were quite concerning things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.
Leavitt: There were quite concerning things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.
May 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
None of them have any idea what the Librarian of Congress does. For example, there’s no children’s section because it’s a research library.
Reposted by David O'Flaherty
It's important to understand the position of the US government in this case. They are arguing no court can have habeas corpus jurisdiction while they are randomly moving political prisoners about the country.
These are the actions of a secret police. These are the actions of a Gestapo.
These are the actions of a secret police. These are the actions of a Gestapo.
May 7, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It's important to understand the position of the US government in this case. They are arguing no court can have habeas corpus jurisdiction while they are randomly moving political prisoners about the country.
These are the actions of a secret police. These are the actions of a Gestapo.
These are the actions of a secret police. These are the actions of a Gestapo.
