“Maybe the leaders of our nation’s wealthiest universities can’t think a generation ahead anymore, beholden as they are to board members who think in terms of the next quarter….” - François Furstenberg @publicbooks.bsky.social www.publicbooks.org/the-misuses-...

Released on this day in 1977: The Saints’ debut album ‘(I’m) Stranded’, making Brisbane - and a rundown abode on inner-city Petrie Terrace - Australia’s counter-culture centre of gravity ⚡️ youtu.be/Ujuz7cwI0wc?...

49 years ago today (I'm) Stranded is the debut album by Australian punk rock group The Saints released on this day in 1977 included the singles '(I'm) Stranded' and 'Erotic Neurotic'. #punk #punks #punkrock #oldschoolpunk #thesaints #imstranded #history #punkrockhistory #otd

Thx to Nicholas Brown from ANU for this thoughtful engagement with my book and what it can tell us about Australian politics for @insidestory.bsky.social insidestory.org.au/frontlash/

Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”: Why It’s a Great Painting in 15 Minutes

On 17 February 1909 Muriel Matters, Australian-born suffrage supporter, organised an airship emblazoned with "Votes for Women" to distribute Women’s Freedom League leaflets over parliament for the state opening. #WomensHistory #GenderHist #OTD Image: Wikimedia Commons

Manila streets bestowing wisdom 🙌

Who do the winning medals belong to: country or empire?

A long time in the making, @booklearning.bsky.social and I have published this article in AJPH on exploring the question of who joins far right political groups, using membership application forms for the National Front of Australia in the 1970s-80s. 🧵 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Very sad to share the news of this legend of Australian political cartooning, and art. Dear Jon Kudelka has died, and we will be the poorer and more dull for his passing. Sending love and condolences to his family. What a legacy of scorching wit and joyful capturing of life he leaves.

just like Brisbane/Meeanjin, every great city should have its own Brown Snake [Manila version pictured]

“The research pointed to the former Morrison government’s job-ready graduate scheme as directly relating to the decline. Implemented in 2021, that scheme substantially increased the cost of arts & creative courses to cheapen Stem courses” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

I hear the Philippines is nice this time of year 👀

#OtD 6 Feb 1916 the Cabaret Voltaire nightclub opened in Zürich, Switzerland. Described as "history's wildest nightclub" it was the spiritual home of the often radical Dada art movement, formed by artists revolted by the capitalist carnage of WWI stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1060...

They took the time to lift tons of things word for word from this piece I wrote, but not to mention once that they were taking credit for my work. www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

🎬REVIEW: Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver turns 50 this month. It is widely regarded as one of the most important American films. It is also one of the most troubling.

I'm not sure I ever saw a heavier, louder or more masculine gig than Mark of Cain at the Doghouse in Hobart. This makes me so happy.

I'm the millionth person to share this but seriously, this kid and his mum are amazing. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

came here only to say STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND PLAY THIS TUNE REALLY FKN LOUD you’ll be glad you did 8m 17s later : youtu.be/gIsnb1TKYjE?...

Besides everything else, Farrar makes a couple of straight factual errors in this piece "We would get to elect 12 out of 88 Senators" No guarantee whatsoever, as NZ is not an Original State. The fact NZ is listed in clause 6 is immaterial. Original States are defined separately in the very same...

James is the most instinctive and natural of broadcasters: a skill that presents as casual ease, but is in fact a rare and honed genius. A craft. And he listened … that’s the trick. I loved every second of the many hours we nattered together on air. He’s the best. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

2 February 1912: ‘Black Friday’ (or ‘Baton Friday’) in Brisbane amid Australia’s first general strike. After days of mass strike action in support of sacked tramway workers, Queensland police and ‘specials’ unleashed violent baton charges on marching unionists in the streets of central Brisbane #otd

“Glory to the Conquerors of the Universe!”: Propaganda Posters from the Soviet Space Race (1958–1963)

142 years ago, on the 1st of February 1884, the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary was published. The work spanned from 'A' to 'Ant'. It took until 1928 for the final volume, up to and including words starting with 'Z' to be published. #otd #history 🗃️

Steve Bannon interfered in the 2019 Australian federal election, as part of a global effort to stifle climate action. He should face investigation under Australia’s foreign interference laws. #auspol www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

‘Wildcard’

Hear Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast from 1938: The Original Tale of Mysterious Objects Flying Over New Jersey

Underwhelming public responses in the wake of the alleged attack on an Invasion Day rally in Perth leave First Nations people across Australia feeling their "pain matters less".

31 January, 1971 - Anti-fascists in Melbourne fight with neo-Nazis as the National Socialist Party of Australia attempt to hold a rally on the banks of the Yarra. The NSPA HQ in Nicholson Street is later attacked by protestors.

Complaining about the comedic depiction of Indigenous kids in jail, but doing nothing about the fact of Indigenous kids being massively over incarcerated? That's the Australian way.

yeah it’s nice ‘n’ all but it’s no QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY ANNEXE (1979)

Akira Iriye, one of the pioneers in the internationalization of U.S. history, passed away. RIP. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

I wrote a belated tribute to one of my teachers, the late, legendary Graeme Turner. An enormous loss to Australian cultural studies and critical thinking. www.patreon.com/posts/149223...

An interesting fact about the forthcoming royal commission is that the attempted terrorist attack in Perth on Monday will likely not come under its terms of reference

it looks like you're trying to write a policy, would you like help with that 📎

Rivers Flow brings together poetry, stories and reflections shaped by the songs of Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter – and the truths they continue to carry, Tony Smith writes. #AustralianMusic #FirstNations #Books

#OtD 25 Jan 1995 Manchester United football legend Eric Cantona kung fu kicked a fascist football hooligan, who attended far-right NF and BNP rallies and had convictions for violent crime including attacking an anti-fascist. Commemorative merch here: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...

FACT OF THE DAY. 25 January 1890. The attempt by American journalist Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran) to travel around the world in less than 80 days was successful. She aimed to emulate Jules Verne’s fictional character, Phileas Fogg, in Around The World in 80 Days. Bly took 72 days.

Wishing a happy ‘Eric Cantona kung-fu kicked a racist yob in the crowd at Selhurst Park’ day to all who celebrate 👑 🎉 www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Gonna need more consensus on this, from people to the right of this president of literally the most famously left-wing club in Europe, before I get too excited about professional sports executives growing a moral backbone.

Do not miss this. Absolutely fascinating for anyone who loves political cartoons.

me walking into the cinema to see wuthering heights

Expo Oz spotted in the wild! :D

remembering Mark E. Smith of #TheFall today, as he’d want to be remembered 🖤

Lots of excitement backstage at the Coldest 100. Kick-off at noon AEST #coldest100 #hottest100

Just had to write something about the passing of Rob Hirst, what Midnight Oil meant to me and so many others in Australia, and wanted to have a crack at my favourite 20 Oils tracks.

*historical Queensland election result spider senses tingling*

📷 Fences of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. The building behind the wire was the kitchen of section BIa (the oldest women’s camp at Birkenau). ▶ Watch a video about the development of the Birkenau camp: https://youtu.be/e-gQDCLlzHA --- Photo: instagram.com/sarettasa3

I wrote this some time ago - with all of us knowing this day would come, and Rob, of course, fighting like the bloody-minded bastard he was to the very end. He irrevocably changed my life - and how our country saw itself. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/j...

Epic news for Pacific history researchers: 'SPC will act as a caretaker of the archive, not a copyright holder. Decisions around access and use will be led by Pacific countries, communities, and knowledge holders.' #archives #Pacific #history