Mitch Lerner
@mitchelllerner.bsky.social
Diplomatic historian, Director of East Asian Studies at Ohio State. Former director of Institute for Korean Studies, former SHAFR president. Boxer, hockey player, beer drinker, Democrat, Red Sox fan. Gets hurt a lot (especially lately).
I learned some really important things about diplomacy on my trip to Taiwan, but this lesson from the restroom at a prominent think tank is perhaps most impactful.
July 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I learned some really important things about diplomacy on my trip to Taiwan, but this lesson from the restroom at a prominent think tank is perhaps most impactful.
In case anyone is worried that I didn’t represent the finest Ohio fashions while I was meeting government officials in Taiwan.
July 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
In case anyone is worried that I didn’t represent the finest Ohio fashions while I was meeting government officials in Taiwan.
Because I have nerve damage in both feet, I’m pretty selective about my shoes, and there’s one kind that I like enough so that I own two pairs of them. Unfortunately, when I packed for the conference that I am currently attending, I grabbed the two right shoes.
June 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Because I have nerve damage in both feet, I’m pretty selective about my shoes, and there’s one kind that I like enough so that I own two pairs of them. Unfortunately, when I packed for the conference that I am currently attending, I grabbed the two right shoes.
Checking out the very cool Star Trek exhibit at the Lancaster design museum. This quote is on the wall at the start. Gene Roddenberry was certainly prescient in a lot of ways.
June 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Checking out the very cool Star Trek exhibit at the Lancaster design museum. This quote is on the wall at the start. Gene Roddenberry was certainly prescient in a lot of ways.
Feeling like SB1 signatures are easy to get in Columbus, I headed to redder counties. This “No Kings” rally in a small town an hour northwest of us was a great experience. It was a small group and they got heckled by plenty of locals, but they were passionate and knowledgeable and happy to sign!
June 15, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Feeling like SB1 signatures are easy to get in Columbus, I headed to redder counties. This “No Kings” rally in a small town an hour northwest of us was a great experience. It was a small group and they got heckled by plenty of locals, but they were passionate and knowledgeable and happy to sign!
I am checking out hotels for my trip to DC tomorrow. An online review for this one is generally positive, giving it an 8/10, despite noting that it has “too many rapes and robberies.” I suppose if there was a child sex ring or a slave labor camp, it might have fallen to a 7?
May 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I am checking out hotels for my trip to DC tomorrow. An online review for this one is generally positive, giving it an 8/10, despite noting that it has “too many rapes and robberies.” I suppose if there was a child sex ring or a slave labor camp, it might have fallen to a 7?
We are checking out this trendy new Asian fusion restaurant. I admit that I would feel better about it if they could spell “Buddha” correctly.
May 17, 2025 at 3:45 AM
We are checking out this trendy new Asian fusion restaurant. I admit that I would feel better about it if they could spell “Buddha” correctly.
So far, these are the best signs at the education protest.
May 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
So far, these are the best signs at the education protest.
Lots of great signs at the rally so far, but this is definitely my favorite:
April 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Lots of great signs at the rally so far, but this is definitely my favorite:
I’m not sure that would help.
March 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I’m not sure that would help.
The key to giving senate testimony is to be sure you dress conservatively.
February 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The key to giving senate testimony is to be sure you dress conservatively.
Hockey players aren’t human. This is ridiculous.
February 2, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Hockey players aren’t human. This is ridiculous.
The sports bar we are in for pre-game can’t figure out how to limit phone access to their TV. Things are getting ugly.
December 22, 2024 at 12:01 AM
The sports bar we are in for pre-game can’t figure out how to limit phone access to their TV. Things are getting ugly.
My family eats turkey bacon only, but tonight I went crazy and bought real bacon. And OMG, this is disgusting. This isn’t meat; it’s a mix of grease and fat. People really eat this stuff?
Edit: ok, it’s delicious. But still… I don’t think I can eat more than 7 or 8 pieces without getting sick.
Edit: ok, it’s delicious. But still… I don’t think I can eat more than 7 or 8 pieces without getting sick.
December 20, 2024 at 3:14 AM
My family eats turkey bacon only, but tonight I went crazy and bought real bacon. And OMG, this is disgusting. This isn’t meat; it’s a mix of grease and fat. People really eat this stuff?
Edit: ok, it’s delicious. But still… I don’t think I can eat more than 7 or 8 pieces without getting sick.
Edit: ok, it’s delicious. But still… I don’t think I can eat more than 7 or 8 pieces without getting sick.
Wherein the NYT demonstrates an inability to distinguish between correlation and causation. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/u...
November 28, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Wherein the NYT demonstrates an inability to distinguish between correlation and causation. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/u...
Today, my boxing group hosted a “punches and pints” workout at a local brewery. That’s two things I might need to most over the next 4 years. If only it was “punches, pints, and passports.”
November 10, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Today, my boxing group hosted a “punches and pints” workout at a local brewery. That’s two things I might need to most over the next 4 years. If only it was “punches, pints, and passports.”
Voting and democracy: these are a few of my favorite things.
November 5, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Voting and democracy: these are a few of my favorite things.
I wasn’t going to make an election prediction this year. But, then I looked at my pathetic history of recent sports bets and my confident predictions that the CBJ are going to win the Stanley Cup every year, and I figured I might at as well use my bad luck for a reverse jinx, right?
November 4, 2024 at 9:17 PM
I wasn’t going to make an election prediction this year. But, then I looked at my pathetic history of recent sports bets and my confident predictions that the CBJ are going to win the Stanley Cup every year, and I figured I might at as well use my bad luck for a reverse jinx, right?
That moment during the meeting with the vice provost when you realize that the name “Mitch” doesn’t always transcribe well.
October 30, 2024 at 10:34 PM
That moment during the meeting with the vice provost when you realize that the name “Mitch” doesn’t always transcribe well.
Marinated a pork tenderloin all day, but decided not to use the smoker. So, a quick search for how to best cook it in the oven offered this sophisticated explanation.
October 26, 2024 at 1:12 AM
Marinated a pork tenderloin all day, but decided not to use the smoker. So, a quick search for how to best cook it in the oven offered this sophisticated explanation.