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James Crossland

@jamescrossland.bsky.social

2.1K followers 900 following 1.3K posts

Professor of #History. Author of "Rogue Agent" and "The Rise of Devils". #spies, #terrorism, extremism, fake news, weird stories, terrible people and things that are not real 🗃️

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · Sep 1

🔊Summer's over. Back to work.

Upcoming "Rogue Agent" events in Cheshire, London and the Isle of Wight
#history #historybookchat
🗃️📝💙📚✏️

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Reposted by James Crossland

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 1d

MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference

We have seen previous cases of political interference, including most recently the case of the former Member of the European Parliament, Nathan Gill

www.gov.uk/government/n...

MI5 issues guidance on countering espionage and interference

MI5's National Protective Security Authority issues new security guidance to protect democratic institutions from espionage and foreign interference

www.gov.uk

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 1h

ATTENTION: Anyone in Cheshire tomorrow fancy a spy story?

I will be speaking at the Methodist Church in Nantwich about Robert Bruce Lockhart and the plot to bring down Lenin #history 📚 🗃

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 2h

Unless you storm in with a toy AK and demand it.

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 2h

Its the stylish salt and pepper shakers and bottle of red that throws me off

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 2h

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
BREAKING NEWS: young people are more savvy than their lazy ass parents who think this stuff is great

Pupils fear AI is eroding their ability to study, research finds

One in four students say AI ‘makes it too easy’ for them to find answers

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by James Crossland

Tom Reagan’s Hat @rufustsuperfly.bsky.social · 13h

Milei looks like all the cast of Are You Being Served in one

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 14h

Low-key massively destructive idea of the 21st century - "on demand"

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 2d

Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies

Want to See Marilyn Monroe in Game of Thrones? AI Could Make It Soon

Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies

www.scientificamerican.com

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Reposted by James Crossland

Brewminate (Matthew A. McIntosh) @brewminate.bsky.social · 15h

TODAY IN HISTORY: October 14, 1912 – Theodore Roosevelt Shot while Campaigning for President

💥 Shot in the chest, Roosevelt continued his speech: “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”

His "Progressive" era advanced reform and racial exclusion.

Progress for whom?

#History #Brewminate

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Reposted by James Crossland

Robert Evans (the Only Robert Evans) @iwriteok.bsky.social · 2d

the boys who landed at Normandy or fought in Stalingrad couldn't have imagined the horrors of 21st century war

A picture and headline from an article: Unicorn bride marries Kenny from south park at Portland ICE protest

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Reposted by James Crossland

The girl Bar-boo-ssa (~'o')~ @thegreatbarbossa.bsky.social · 23h

oh you asked chatgpt? well I got high on paint fumes and asked the fae in the woods and they think you're lame as hell for that.

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Reposted by James Crossland

Matthew Dowd @matthewjdowd.bsky.social · 21h

on this day in 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne is first published.

“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.”

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.”

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 16h

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

Two in one day? Who says justice is dead?

Supreme Court declines Alex Jones challenge to defamation judgement

In 2022 it was ruled that the conspiracy theorist would have to pay $1.4bn to families of the victims of Sandy Hook.

www.aljazeera.com

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 16h

This is astonishing research and the person responsible should be given an honorary doctorate.

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 16h

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

Think this is the cue to put on Ice Cube's "It Was A Good Day"
#grifters

Supreme Court declines Alex Jones challenge to defamation judgement

In 2022 it was ruled that the conspiracy theorist would have to pay $1.4bn to families of the victims of Sandy Hook.

www.aljazeera.com

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Reposted by James Crossland

Luca Trenta @lucatrenta.bsky.social · 17h

This has long been an issue in the context of Russia’s (c)overt foreign policy. A balance is needed between confronting and exposing Russia’s activities and refraining from seeing an all-powerful Russian hand behind every development.

Roman A. @romanad.bsky.social · 19h

"But overestimating Putin’s power means doing his job for him. It means amplifying every one of his threats, mistaking posturing for reality, and making policy decisions based not on facts but on what Putin wants us to believe." via
@theatlantic.com

www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

Putin Is Not Winning

Underestimating the Russian leader is dangerous, but ascribing dark powers to him plays right into his hands.

www.theatlantic.com

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 20h

Awesome recognises awesome

David Lynch's Worlds @davidlynchsworlds.bsky.social · 1d

#NaomiWatts brings up #DavidLynch during her #HollywoodWalkofFame celebration speech:

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 20h

He needs a suit of armour, otherwise I'm just not going to take him seriously.

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 21h

I could not agree with this more. I have had to re-purchase my favourite books on multiple occasions because I literally read them to death.

Nick Pettigrew @nick-pettigrew.bsky.social · 1d

The veneration of Books As Objects misses the point entirely. If you're reading a book, turn the corners down, break the spine, spill soup on it. It's your book, go nuts. A pristine, unread book is a tragedy in a way that a beloved, much-read book that looks like the dog's been at it could never be.

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

Reposted by James Crossland

Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 23h

Time travel exists between the pages of a book.

This luggage tag fell out of a pile of old books, and everything about it looks like the past.

A photo showing both sides of an old BEA luggage tag with flight information written on it.

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 22h

The left: earnest public speaker, telling the story of Robert Bruce Lockhart to a full ballroom of #history lovers at the @iowlf.bsky.social

The right: devil incarnate summoning the dark legions to do my bidding

I like both of these.
#booksky
@ljmuresearch.bsky.social @ljmuhistory.bsky.social

James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 1d

I love space. Its absolutely fucking terrifying.

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 1d

A black hole fell into a star - then ate its way out again www.newscientist.com/article/2499...

A black hole fell into a star – then ate its way out again

Stars often fall into black holes, and now it seems the opposite can also occur, producing an extra long-lasting explosion as the star is consumed from within

www.newscientist.com

Reposted by James Crossland

Nitish Pahwa @nitishpahwa.com · 1d

had the great privilege of speaking with Cory Doctorow about his new book Enshittification, how he came to coin the word on @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy, the myriad ways the concept has manifested throughout tech's modern history, and how he maintains hope that we may yet de-enshittify the commons:

He Coined the Word That Describes Why the Internet Sucks Right Now. His New Book Could Help Make It Better.

His newest book provides ideas for how to de-enshittify the world wide web that’s become our everyday life.

slate.com

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Reposted by James Crossland

Toby Earle 🇺🇦 @tobyontv.bsky.social · 1d

‘I was stopped by police while driving my silver Bentley stuffed with cash and I told them I’m a journalist’

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James Crossland @jamescrossland.bsky.social · 1d

Peace