Medieval Visual Culture Seminar Silver trees and pearl crosses: Franco-Mongolian diplomacy and cultural exchange in thirteenth-century Karakorum Emily Guerry (Christ Church) 5pm March 12 Arumugam 2.1, St Catherine’s College www.hoa.ox.ac.uk/event/mediev... @oxhistoryfaculty.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk

UPDATE on running an analog course at Rutgers-Newark - Background: I changed my History of South Asia II class to be analog this term. This means: No laptops, e-books, zoom, Canvas, pdfs, or online assignments. Yes to handwritten notes, physical books, and in-class quizzes / exams. Midway now...

A fluffy dog walking under a horse, c.1230.

Are you interested in organizing the 2026 ESEH Summer School in Environmental History? ESEH offers advisory and financial support to the selected proposal. Consider submitting a proposal by 15 March 2026! eseh.org/call-for-pro... #EnvHist

I just learned that Ayatollah Khamenei and Ayatollah Khomenei are not the same person. Here's my plan for regime change in Iran....(1/23)

🚨 JERSEY CITY DATE CHANGE Meeting the Moment: Building Solidarity Through Training & Community—Jersey City will be on 3/18 Join fellow union members for rapid-response training to address ICE in our communities. Dinner at 5pm; training at 6pm 1600 John F Kennedy Blvd RSVP: https://loom.ly/yst_3SE

One hour. 12pm EST / 5pm GMT @starwarsexplained.com #redactedstandingby

Don't worry everyone! We may be at war with Eurasia now, but we will eventually be at war with Eastasia. We will always have been at war with Eastasia. www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

As the laid off Middle East News Editor, I concur. Management eliminated the positions of every single staff correspondent and bureau chief in the Middle East.

I lived a few streets down from the site where the Philadelphia Police Department firebombed an entire city block in 1985, and when I mention it in lecture most of my students seem absolutely incredulous

In the news 100 years ago today: Jimmy the cat from Barnes, who can "sit up" and balance a reel of cotton. Unlike my stupid cats.

Texas AG Ken Paxton has declared that it is illegal for mental health providers and therapists to treat trans youth. It means that trans youth will be denied access to any mental healthcare that isn't conversion therapy. Paxton also threatens parents of trans youth with child abuse investigations.

Global #EnvHist community, don't miss our Verena Winiwarter Prize for the best article that contributes to global environmental history, focusing on comparisons and connections between different parts of the world or on areas outside mainstream scholarship in the field. Deadline: 15 August 2026

It is wild how many people seem to not be able to understand that multiple things can be true at once. The false binary people seem to cling to must be dispelled to understand reality. The Iranian government is oppressive AND declaring war and trying to force regime change is a fucking disaster.

It is wild how many people seem to not be able to understand that multiple things can be true at once. The false binary people seem to cling to must be dispelled to understand reality. The Iranian government is oppressive AND declaring war and trying to force regime change is a fucking disaster.

"No peaceful demonstrator should ever be killed for standing up to their government. Unless, of course, they’re a suburban mom in an SUV that’s driving away from law enforcement."

Why simply do a book talk, when you can do a book talk/musical performance, painting samples of the text with samples of the music being described?

This is a type of ICE "ruse," and is a tactic the agency has deployed for decades. In 2015, ICE went to my former client's house posing as cops and convinced his 16-year-old US citizen niece to call him home from work with a fake story (the "identity theft ruse" explained below), then arrested him.

I’m transgender, I live in Kansas, if you want to help rn donate to either the ACLU of Kansas or the ACE foundation in Wichita - the ACE foundation especially is the organization that will help people with money for groceries, rent, etc. More orgs also included in attached img acefoundationict.org

GM: Charisma check. Mamdani: [rolls natural 20] GM: that’s a d6 how did you Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊

Madness. Very impressed with Zohran. Very glad she is free. As university staff who was briefed on how to deal with ICE if they show up to my office.... Madness. Columbia is at fault for not doing more, but two years ago they showed they don't care for students. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Easter is coming... 😔🐇

This is so bad. Even if one of these companies' leadership had "good" politics, it would be bad. But they're not, so it's so much worse.

I hate the dismissive way politics-heads talk about lefties having “purity tests” as an insult. It’s such a sneer. But looked at another way - what it really means is that they have DIFFERENT purity tests. E.g. if we demand full trans rights, that’s supposedly a purity test. Why? [cont]

The corporation you wanted to win less won.

A huge swath of media will now be under Trump's direct allies. CBS and Paramount have drastically moved towards the right, firing centrist news people and replacing them with right wing extremists. Now Trump's friends will also control WB including CBS and HBO. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...

People are always like what’s something you miss from the past and one of mine is antitrust laws

This is very bad. Handing CNN to Bari Weiss/David Ellison is very, very bad.

The deadline for EU/EEA students to apply for our new Master's Program in Public Environmental Humanities is rapidly approaching - apply by 1 March! Nordic students have more time and can apply until 15 April. Join us to explore #envhum in practice! www.uis.no/en/studies/m...

Hautala, Roman. Masters of the Earth: A History of the Golden Horde, 1219–1502. London: Reaktion Books, 2026. reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/masters... #mongolsky #tengri #medievalsky

"Once the prophecies of the strategic initiative have been brought to fulfillment, budget deficits will shrink, prestige and reputation will grow, that weird smell on the first floor of the student center will dissipate, and you’ll never be frazzled or beleaguered again."

Very cool looking CFP for a special issue of Animal History on the intersection between African Studies and Animal Studies: networks.h-net.org/group/announ...

"This machine-slop will lead to the death of my craft, all so we can reflexively consume mass-produced garbage and keep the working class poor. I get why Luddites are pissed, and if these tapestries weren’t so funny, I’d be right there with them, bashing those machines to bits."

Good morning

Had a very nice chat the other day with the Greenhouse Book Talk folks about my new book, horses, and music, the recording is up now: newnatures.org/greenhouse/e...

“The Justice Department has withheld some Epstein files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor, an NPR investigation finds.” www.npr.org/2026/02/24/n...

"An environment-free world will benefit all, not merely the privileged few. No more time wasted raking the yard, because there will be no more leaves. No more being woken up by annoying birds, because there will be no more birds."

My sweet Teebo. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 18. She looks nothing like either Teebo (nor was she male) but that didn't stop the Star Wars obsessed 11 year old Kenny. Shortly after getting her I went to the first Star Wars Celebration. Also started anti-depressants. It was quite a year.

When I was 11 I named my first cat Teebo. I named her after the characterization in the animated show, not in the movie. This was because the names of Teebo and Paploo were switched around late in the game, and the animated show had Teebo with movie Paploo's personality and vice versa.

In a parallel universe, Sir Ratnik rides out astride his trusty steed Panthera - 14th century, Paris. Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Ms. 143, f. 76v

“A fig newton? Pour MOI??”

I was reading about Alysa Liu, who won gold medals at the Olympics in figure skating, and I think there is really something to her crazy story that can speak to people in creative fields, especially those who suffer from burnout. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

Counterpoint: No. ICE doesn’t need reform. Abolition and prosecution is the bare minimum.

This AI stuff is turning me into a villain from an old Czech play. I'm stomping around in my boyar haircut, fuming, stroking my drooping mustaches and saying things like "I hate these roboti, I deny them even the dubious but undoubtedly human dignity of suffering!"

Hey, Democrats, go ahead and attend the State of the Union, but only if you react in real time with this silhouette as your spirit guide.

Is the president mocking the U.S. women’s hockey team on a celebratory call with the men’s team going to attract even an iota of the sustained handwringing that the idea of trans athletes disadvantaging women’s sports has gotten

Precisely why we drafted this on behalf of @modernlanguage.bsky.social. Ed tech providers (like Canvas) need to take the lead in cutting this off at the knees. Professional organizations and our institutions can’t do it themselves. cc @annamillsoer.bsky.social www.mla.org/Resources/Ad...

I was reading about Alysa Liu, who won gold medals at the Olympics in figure skating, and I think there is really something to her crazy story that can speak to people in creative fields, especially those who suffer from burnout. www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...