This strikes me as an odd Jonathan Freedland article. Not sure why historians will puzzle over this. Provided all the sources don't disappear, all of this would seem well-documented and straightforward.

"On the Buses: The Andy Burnham Story" -

Do you teach Russian/Soviet history? I'm researching curricular diversity and representation, and would love to hear from you! If you have 5 minutes spare, your response* would be incredibly helpful. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... *All responses anonymous. #EduSky #HistoryTeacher #KS4 #KS4

Apologies if you have already heard it, but I do like this joke: A Blairite, a Brownite, and a Corbinite walk into a bar. And the barman says: "Good evening Mr Burnham."

Further proof, should you need it, that Burnham isn't going to be a friend of the University sector either. The descent will likely continue....

Almost the definition of optimism, adding in 2027 to the diary and putting term dates and committee meetings in.

One of the few moments in my undergraduate degree when my Dad saw there might be a point in what I was doing, was when I tried to explain Carlo Ginzburg's contribution to micro history in the Cheese and the Worms. Thanks to Ginzburg my Dad began to see there was much more to history.

I have to keep reminding myself it isn't really business as usual.

Unbelievable. The World Tonight is part of daily ritual. I listen almost every night, part of how I consume the news Disappointing doesn't even cut it. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...

I know I bang on about this, but Tereshkova is a member of the Russian State Duma, which supported Russia's full scale invasion. She has personal sanctions against her imposed by both the USA and the EU.

Fellowship Opportunity! Leibniz IEG is currently seeking applications from doctoral students in European history for 6-12 month fellowships. Details below, apply by August 15. #UWHistdept #EuropeanstudiesatUWMadison bewerbung.ieg-mainz.de/jobposting/a...

Given that certain social media platforms are now understood by politicians to be so damaging to under-16s, wouldn't it be a good idea to not transact political communication on the same platforms?

Despicable!

Four catches today, but unfortunately a loss today. 3 not out with the bat!

Playing in the same team as my eldest son tomorrow. You haven't known pressure till you have had to keep wicket to your son's bowling!

Hot off the press! The eagerly anticipated STAGING NUREMBERG: HOW THE UNITED STATES & THE SOVIET UNION FOUGHT OVER THE PORTRAYAL OF NAZI CRIMES, by Sylvie Lindeperg and translated by Claudia Gorbman. bit.ly/4fokeko #InvestigatingVisibleEvidence @columbiaup.bsky.social

Quite enjoyed working in the student common room this afternoon.

My computer 🖥️ at work stopped functioning today. Hoping I can get it replaced/repaired quickly. The last thing I needed today.

CFP alert: We are thrilled to announce the Call for Presenters for a hybrid event in collaboration with @britishlibrary.bsky.social! This will be taking place on 27th November 2026, with presentations happening both in-person and online. Deadline to submit your ideas is: 31st July 2026! #DisHist

Fox waiting for the 7:19.

I really shouldn't be surprised how low some people in UK politics are prepared to stoop, but nevertheless I am.

I'm also reminded of this Guardian Long Read by Julian Baggini about everything becoming a means to an end. www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ap...

Very triggered by this news on the Radio this morning: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The mainstream view now seems to be that the point of a degree is a financial investment. That seems damaging to the long-term health of disciplines.

I was talking to some friends I haven't seen for a couple of years over the weekend. They didn't believe that I have never used Chat-GPT or Co-Pilot etc. "But, how do you find things out?" My answer that, "I look them up in books or journals I find in library catalogues" elicited blank stares.

I know Rye a bit; I grew up close by. Such a disappointment to see Rother District Council deciding no longer to fly a Ukrainian flag.

Here in UK amongst the Kindle Daily deals is Andrey Kurkov's The Stolen Heart book two of the Kyiv mysteries series, translated by @bdralyuk.bsky.social Yours for just 99 pence in the UK amzn.eu/d/03s5aQPf

At least we won, but a duck (0 runs for me), and a dropped catch.

I am reading a published book that manages to incorrectly spell Sicily and "Nazis" twice. That is before we get to the factual errors.

Not sure what good mandatory work experience would be, if there aren't any jobs, and if employers are constantly trying to save money on staffing jobs.

British American 19th C Historians (@branchuk.bsky.social) is looking for new co-editors of its journal, American 19th C History (@anchistjournal.bsky.social) Applications due: 01.06.26. Pls share widely! @officialbaas.bsky.social @oah.org @royalhistsoc.org @historians.org @ihr.bsky.social

Wouldn't it be a good idea to give University students to study the same (or similar) subjects to previous generations? (Which doesn't mean studying the same stuff.) You might think pulling the rug out from intellectual life in the UK would be a political issue?

Afraid to be a cynic, but if you say make 20 credits of a 360 credit degree a "work placement" you could probably shrink the academic workforce by 5%, or if it is 40 credits 10%. Which isn't to say there isn't value in such a placement.

This evening I asked myself: (1) Why did I go to University? (2) Why did I decide to study history? (3) Why did I choose the University of York? This was of course over 25 years ago, so there weren't very high fees, and everything was cheaper. I thought it might be worth thinking this through 🧵

Sometimes I wonder whether the end point is just various flavours of business study degrees. It continues to amaze me that we have a system that looks like paying to access the job market. I find it hard to understand that we are abandoning disciplines, learning, and knowledge.

Need to get this off my chest. Why does the word beneficial keep cropping up. "This argument is beneficial...." "This source is beneficial to historians..." I'm intrigued by where this usage comes from? I think of using beneficial in terms of health and diet, not ideas and arguments.

Tomorrow is 25 May. The Met Office weather forecast for York predicts 32 degrees. Thirty degrees+ in Yorkshire in May. We really need to think about how to slow climate change, and adapt to the climate we now have. It strikes me that unless we reduce consumption then there is little we can do.

I have a new hero - Hasan Ali. 31 not out off 12 including 2 fours and 3 sixes. (A lovely day out with the family. Back to marking tomorrow.)

Oleksandr Mykhed's The Language of War, a deeply moving and profound book about war, is just 99p on Amazon Kindle here in the UK today. Very much worth your money and time in reading. amzn.eu/d/01udKB7K

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Oleksandr Mykhed's The Language of War, a deeply moving and profound book about war, is just 99p on Amazon Kindle here in the UK today. Very much worth your money and time in reading. amzn.eu/d/01udKB7K

I've got some free tickets to see @yorkshireccc.bsky.social in the Blast tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

One of the things that narks me about the use of AI is that do people think that I don't check references? Do they think I don't read them (it is often where I start)? What rankles is the assumption I'm lazy and not checking.

At moments like these one can only tune into @bbcradiotees.bsky.social! #UTB.

Good luck to my wife and oldest son, who are off to Wembley to watch the Championship play off final. Come on Boro! #UTB

Really excited to finally get hold of a copy of this! (Thanks to a proper book shop for helping me obtain a copy.) Looking forward to reading it. Added incentive to finish the marking!

Further evidence that British Higher education is "world leading"

Today's word of the day - перестройка / perestroika / restructuring.