Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
@suyh.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA. 19th century US | capitalism | immigration. Author of Flowering Gold: American Capital and the Opium War (forthcoming with Yale University Press). YNWA.
Pinned
Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
@suyh.bsky.social
· Jun 12
I’m delighted to share that my article, “The Opiated Ocean” is out today in the #AHR: doi.org/10.1093/ahr/....
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
Not sure if it’s a testament or condemnation of my culinary skills that my six-year-old’s favorite dish that I make is uotmil (oatmeal) 😂
September 9, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Not sure if it’s a testament or condemnation of my culinary skills that my six-year-old’s favorite dish that I make is uotmil (oatmeal) 😂
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
I recently became acquainted with "Osanaetoki Bankokubanashi" 童絵解万国噺, a Japanese illustrated history of America from 1861. The retelling of the revolutionary era is quite something. Here, for instance, is John Adams wielding a sword in mortal combat with a gigantic serpent.
August 20, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I recently became acquainted with "Osanaetoki Bankokubanashi" 童絵解万国噺, a Japanese illustrated history of America from 1861. The retelling of the revolutionary era is quite something. Here, for instance, is John Adams wielding a sword in mortal combat with a gigantic serpent.
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
This year's rising seniors have never experienced a year of college without generative AI. It's AI's senior year, too. And AI is ubiquitous: Over 90 percent of college students now use it in some way.
I wrote about how AI already changed college forever. (Gift link)
I wrote about how AI already changed college forever. (Gift link)
College Students Have Already Changed Forever
Members of the class of 2026 have had access to AI since they were freshmen. Almost all of them are using it to do their work.
www.theatlantic.com
August 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This year's rising seniors have never experienced a year of college without generative AI. It's AI's senior year, too. And AI is ubiquitous: Over 90 percent of college students now use it in some way.
I wrote about how AI already changed college forever. (Gift link)
I wrote about how AI already changed college forever. (Gift link)
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
A great read on UChicago, arguing we’re seeing the result of decades of mismanagement: “The university’s trustees and leaders view it preeminently as a tax-free technology incubator, and its debt load is so great that it is abandoning ideals it once held dear in order to sustain that goal.”
The Crisis of the University Started Long Before Trump
The University of Chicago is in crisis. Under extraordinary financial strain, it has diminished its faculty-student ratio and hired hundreds of “lecturers”: teachers whom it pays little and whom it do...
www.compactmag.com
August 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A great read on UChicago, arguing we’re seeing the result of decades of mismanagement: “The university’s trustees and leaders view it preeminently as a tax-free technology incubator, and its debt load is so great that it is abandoning ideals it once held dear in order to sustain that goal.”
I’m delighted to be featured in the SSRC’s latest issue of Frontiers in Social and Behavioral Science. Working on my article made me rethink of opium not as a social “vice” but as a resource for managing epidemic risk, explaining its prevalence on the high seas and the Chinese coolie trade.
In @historians.org American Historical Review, a study by Alastair Su @suyh.bsky.social explores the use of opium as a preventative measure against disease during the transport of Chinese indentured laborers in the mid-19th century.
Read more: academic.oup.com/ahr/article-...
Read more: academic.oup.com/ahr/article-...
July 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I’m delighted to be featured in the SSRC’s latest issue of Frontiers in Social and Behavioral Science. Working on my article made me rethink of opium not as a social “vice” but as a resource for managing epidemic risk, explaining its prevalence on the high seas and the Chinese coolie trade.
Historians don’t always get to visit the places they write about, but I’m so glad I did!
July 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Historians don’t always get to visit the places they write about, but I’m so glad I did!
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
The academic’s mid-summer crisis is a mid-life crisis in miniature:
You realize summer is half gone, & not only that: you see that the longest & least burdened days came early, & they are well past. You compare all you thought you’d do against the days remaining & grieve for what never will be
You realize summer is half gone, & not only that: you see that the longest & least burdened days came early, & they are well past. You compare all you thought you’d do against the days remaining & grieve for what never will be
July 6, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The academic’s mid-summer crisis is a mid-life crisis in miniature:
You realize summer is half gone, & not only that: you see that the longest & least burdened days came early, & they are well past. You compare all you thought you’d do against the days remaining & grieve for what never will be
You realize summer is half gone, & not only that: you see that the longest & least burdened days came early, & they are well past. You compare all you thought you’d do against the days remaining & grieve for what never will be
RIP Diogo 🥺 You were always one of my favorites.
July 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
RIP Diogo 🥺 You were always one of my favorites.
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
In “The Opiated Ocean,” @suyh.bsky.social analyzes the regulation of opium in 19th century Chinese trade, arguing its widespread provision among the indentured workers was a means to stave off seaborne epidemics to preserve profitability of contract labor. #AHR 🗃️
The Opiated Ocean: Drugs, Addiction, and Disease in La Trata Amarilla
Abstract. In December 1853, British officials at Hong Kong amended the Passenger Acts to allow the substitution of “opium for tobacco” on voyages taking in
academic.oup.com
June 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In “The Opiated Ocean,” @suyh.bsky.social analyzes the regulation of opium in 19th century Chinese trade, arguing its widespread provision among the indentured workers was a means to stave off seaborne epidemics to preserve profitability of contract labor. #AHR 🗃️
I’m delighted to share that my article, “The Opiated Ocean” is out today in the #AHR: doi.org/10.1093/ahr/....
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
June 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I’m delighted to share that my article, “The Opiated Ocean” is out today in the #AHR: doi.org/10.1093/ahr/....
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
For those curious, here’s how the article came about🧵 (1/5)
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
Always an Onion article.
Third Amendment Rights Group Celebrates Another Successful Year
WASHINGTON, DC—The National Anti- Quartering Association, America’s foremost Third Amendment rights group, held its annual gala in Washington Monday to honor 191 consecutive years of advocating the pr...
theonion.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Always an Onion article.
My firstborn daughter graduated kindergarten today. Where has all the time gone 😭
June 4, 2025 at 3:05 AM
My firstborn daughter graduated kindergarten today. Where has all the time gone 😭
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
BREAKING - A 3-judge panel of the US Court of International Trade has just INVALIDATED Trump's tariffs.
Says Trump CANNOT use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to unilaterally impose tariffs; that power belongs to Congress.
MORE TK
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Says Trump CANNOT use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to unilaterally impose tariffs; that power belongs to Congress.
MORE TK
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
May 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
BREAKING - A 3-judge panel of the US Court of International Trade has just INVALIDATED Trump's tariffs.
Says Trump CANNOT use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to unilaterally impose tariffs; that power belongs to Congress.
MORE TK
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Says Trump CANNOT use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to unilaterally impose tariffs; that power belongs to Congress.
MORE TK
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
I’m pleased to share that “The Opiated Ocean” will appear in this June’s #AHR issue as the opening article. For those interested in drug, labor and commodity history—stay tuned!
In #AHAPerspectives, get a sneak peek of the June issue of the American Historical Review, including articles on opium, terminology for slavery, and counterrevolution, a forum on the concept of "Big Asia," and contributions on searchability and using archival databases in the classroom. 🗃️
Rethinking a Continent – AHA
Get a sneak peek of the June 2025 issue of the American Historical Review.
www.historians.org
May 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I’m pleased to share that “The Opiated Ocean” will appear in this June’s #AHR issue as the opening article. For those interested in drug, labor and commodity history—stay tuned!
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
In #AHAPerspectives, get a sneak peek of the June issue of the American Historical Review, including articles on opium, terminology for slavery, and counterrevolution, a forum on the concept of "Big Asia," and contributions on searchability and using archival databases in the classroom. 🗃️
Rethinking a Continent – AHA
Get a sneak peek of the June 2025 issue of the American Historical Review.
www.historians.org
May 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
In #AHAPerspectives, get a sneak peek of the June issue of the American Historical Review, including articles on opium, terminology for slavery, and counterrevolution, a forum on the concept of "Big Asia," and contributions on searchability and using archival databases in the classroom. 🗃️
ELF final: stoppable force meets moveable object
May 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
ELF final: stoppable force meets moveable object
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
Today's front page.
May 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Today's front page.
An alarmist take, but mostly correct. Over the last two years, I have seen how robots have not only eaten my students’ homework, but the concept of homework itself.
The only check left is convincing my students that outsourcing one’s thinking is a bad idea. Some will agree; most will not.
The only check left is convincing my students that outsourcing one’s thinking is a bad idea. Some will agree; most will not.
Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College
ChatGPT has unraveled the entire academic project.
nymag.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:51 PM
An alarmist take, but mostly correct. Over the last two years, I have seen how robots have not only eaten my students’ homework, but the concept of homework itself.
The only check left is convincing my students that outsourcing one’s thinking is a bad idea. Some will agree; most will not.
The only check left is convincing my students that outsourcing one’s thinking is a bad idea. Some will agree; most will not.
So many final papers missing this semester. But my students can’t help it if Biden keeps eating their homework!!!
April 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
So many final papers missing this semester. But my students can’t help it if Biden keeps eating their homework!!!
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
personally would like to see every store show what part of the price increase is due to tariffs bc if these tariffs ever come down, i need to see that price go right back down
April 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
personally would like to see every store show what part of the price increase is due to tariffs bc if these tariffs ever come down, i need to see that price go right back down
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
You will never get a new, revolutionary, truly good sentence or work of art by seeking out the perfect middle of all known beliefs. It's why AI is flawed as a creative machine, and why governing to polls is futile.
We want new, beautiful, surprising things, politically, artistically, and otherwise.
We want new, beautiful, surprising things, politically, artistically, and otherwise.
April 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
You will never get a new, revolutionary, truly good sentence or work of art by seeking out the perfect middle of all known beliefs. It's why AI is flawed as a creative machine, and why governing to polls is futile.
We want new, beautiful, surprising things, politically, artistically, and otherwise.
We want new, beautiful, surprising things, politically, artistically, and otherwise.
Reposted by Alastair Y. Su（苏源豪）
Nothing is more emblematic of the Trump Administration's approach to trade policy than this.
Two weeks after "Liberation Day", with a trade war on China raging, they are only now ordering an investigation of what rare earths the US imports, from whom, and why.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Two weeks after "Liberation Day", with a trade war on China raging, they are only now ordering an investigation of what rare earths the US imports, from whom, and why.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Ensuring National Security and Economic Resilience Through Section 232 Actions on Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as
www.whitehouse.gov
April 16, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Nothing is more emblematic of the Trump Administration's approach to trade policy than this.
Two weeks after "Liberation Day", with a trade war on China raging, they are only now ordering an investigation of what rare earths the US imports, from whom, and why.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Two weeks after "Liberation Day", with a trade war on China raging, they are only now ordering an investigation of what rare earths the US imports, from whom, and why.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
The dingo ate my panel
Australian academics refuse to attend US conferences for fear of being detained.
"the conference organisers very explicitly said, ‘We don’t believe it is safe for everyone to travel to the US'"
"the conference organisers very explicitly said, ‘We don’t believe it is safe for everyone to travel to the US'"
Australian academics refuse to attend US conferences for fear of being detained
‘When academics fear travelling or partnering with US institutions, the impacts ripple through the entire global knowledge ecosystem,’ one says
www.theguardian.com
April 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
The dingo ate my panel
feminism in 2025: literally blasting women into space
April 14, 2025 at 2:07 PM
feminism in 2025: literally blasting women into space