Miasma
@itsthemiasma.bsky.social
Historian in the making studying early modern Britain. Reposting = commonplacing. Leave miasma theory where it belongs: history.
Reposted by Miasma
For USians, this @davidolusoga.bsky.social series is also available on PBS and is excellent. 👇
1/5 It was entirely predictable that The Telegraph would jump on @DavidOlusoga’s Empire series to fight its right wing culture war for control of our public history. Let’s see what they’ve done:
November 27, 2025 at 4:50 PM
For USians, this @davidolusoga.bsky.social series is also available on PBS and is excellent. 👇
Reposted by Miasma
Maybe esp. Phil Deloria's NYer piece on "the Invention of Thanksgiving." I still send that around to a lot of folks this time of year. Hope you and yours are where you wish to be, in all ways, this week/end. 4// www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...
The Invention of Thanksgiving
Massacres, myths, and the making of the great November holiday.
www.newyorker.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Maybe esp. Phil Deloria's NYer piece on "the Invention of Thanksgiving." I still send that around to a lot of folks this time of year. Hope you and yours are where you wish to be, in all ways, this week/end. 4// www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...
Reposted by Miasma
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
UNBOUND AUTHORS: Leftover copies of your books in the UK (MacMillan) warehouse will be pulped within the next week or two. DM me for a link to the warehouse stock list and contacts.
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
If you have no dosh, another publisher (Wilton Sq) is willing to buy the books & distribute on a 50/50 profit split
Reposted by Miasma
Palaeography 🧵! Or why it can take a historian a while to confirm what they already suspected must be the case and not really get any further than they were—but this time with confidence 😂
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
November 19, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Palaeography 🧵! Or why it can take a historian a while to confirm what they already suspected must be the case and not really get any further than they were—but this time with confidence 😂
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
Reposted by Miasma
First discovered by a boy seaman in the Grand Fleet:
"Dear Mam, I cannot tell you where I am. I don't know where I am. But where I am is miles and miles of bugger all. Love, Ted."
"Dear Mam, I cannot tell you where I am. I don't know where I am. But where I am is miles and miles of bugger all. Love, Ted."
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
First discovered by a boy seaman in the Grand Fleet:
"Dear Mam, I cannot tell you where I am. I don't know where I am. But where I am is miles and miles of bugger all. Love, Ted."
"Dear Mam, I cannot tell you where I am. I don't know where I am. But where I am is miles and miles of bugger all. Love, Ted."
Reposted by Miasma
THREAD.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
November 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
THREAD.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
Reposted by Miasma
2/2 Here you get a better appreciation of the overall scene - large numbers of fragmented corvid flocks are spooked, with many birds still in the trees.
The Peregrine doesn't use a stooping strategy, but often just suddenly launches from a tree & accelerates at high speed, using a level attack.
The Peregrine doesn't use a stooping strategy, but often just suddenly launches from a tree & accelerates at high speed, using a level attack.
November 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
2/2 Here you get a better appreciation of the overall scene - large numbers of fragmented corvid flocks are spooked, with many birds still in the trees.
The Peregrine doesn't use a stooping strategy, but often just suddenly launches from a tree & accelerates at high speed, using a level attack.
The Peregrine doesn't use a stooping strategy, but often just suddenly launches from a tree & accelerates at high speed, using a level attack.
Yesterday while discussing the execution of Charles I a kid asked, “how tall was Charles II?” We asked the internet. The AI thing at the top of the page provided three separate estimates ranging from 5’10 to 6’2, with linked sources; none of these sources mentioned his height at all. #nonsense
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Yesterday while discussing the execution of Charles I a kid asked, “how tall was Charles II?” We asked the internet. The AI thing at the top of the page provided three separate estimates ranging from 5’10 to 6’2, with linked sources; none of these sources mentioned his height at all. #nonsense
Reposted by Miasma
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
well, what the heck. it's the tuesday before thanksgiving, and whoever is on here deserves a treat: the first new translation I've posted in a long while: the Life and Martyrdom of Susanna:
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
Life and Martyrdom of Susanna
andrewjacobs.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
Reposted by Miasma
A package hasn't "shipped" if you've only "created the label"
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A package hasn't "shipped" if you've only "created the label"
Reposted by Miasma
SMH is pleased to offer the Allan R. Millett Dissertation Research Grant. The winner receives an award of $1200.00 for doctoral dissertation research on a topic in any field of military history.
For details on applying:
www.smh-hq.org/millettnom.h...
For details on applying:
www.smh-hq.org/millettnom.h...
Applications | The Society for Military History
www.smh-hq.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
SMH is pleased to offer the Allan R. Millett Dissertation Research Grant. The winner receives an award of $1200.00 for doctoral dissertation research on a topic in any field of military history.
For details on applying:
www.smh-hq.org/millettnom.h...
For details on applying:
www.smh-hq.org/millettnom.h...
Reposted by Miasma
24 November 1582: John Dee, who has been in intense conversation with the angels the past few days, records a rather distressing night in his diary: 'I dremed that I was deade, and afterward my bowels wer taken out I walked and talked with diverse, and among other with the Lord .... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM
24 November 1582: John Dee, who has been in intense conversation with the angels the past few days, records a rather distressing night in his diary: 'I dremed that I was deade, and afterward my bowels wer taken out I walked and talked with diverse, and among other with the Lord .... 1/
#earlymodern
#earlymodern
Befehle sind Befehle defense never withstands the test of time
Following illegal orders will get you arrested. Obedience is not a defence. They literally spelled that out at Nuremberg.
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Befehle sind Befehle defense never withstands the test of time
Reposted by Miasma
An interview with a historian who set out to weave a textile of the type that would have been sold to plantations for use by enslaved people, using period equipment.
www.publicbooks.org/cloth-and-co...
www.publicbooks.org/cloth-and-co...
Cloth and Complicity: Seth Rockman on Plantations, Textiles, and the Art of Weaving - Public Books
“But I had found a set of instructions in the archives of one of New England's leading manufacturers of low-end woollen cloth for enslaved wearers.”
www.publicbooks.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:25 AM
An interview with a historian who set out to weave a textile of the type that would have been sold to plantations for use by enslaved people, using period equipment.
www.publicbooks.org/cloth-and-co...
www.publicbooks.org/cloth-and-co...
I love how easy it is to do online research into secondary literature; the immediate gratification of downloading full text is so satisfying, HOWEVER, often the notes and the bibliography are not included, and I hate this like poison. #historyrant
November 21, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I love how easy it is to do online research into secondary literature; the immediate gratification of downloading full text is so satisfying, HOWEVER, often the notes and the bibliography are not included, and I hate this like poison. #historyrant
Reposted by Miasma
The US FAA has issued a new security NOTAM warning operators of risks to civil aviation based on an increase in military drills and GNSS interference in Venezuela. www.flightradar24.com/blog/aviatio...
US issues security NOTAM for Venezuelan airspace | Flightradar24 Blog
The US FAA issued a security notice for Venezuelan airspace, warning operators of civilian aircraft of potential dangers.
www.flightradar24.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The US FAA has issued a new security NOTAM warning operators of risks to civil aviation based on an increase in military drills and GNSS interference in Venezuela. www.flightradar24.com/blog/aviatio...
Reposted by Miasma
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Reposted by Miasma
Sir Anthony Weldon, A Cat May Look Upon a King (printed for William Roybould, at the Unicorn in Pauls Church-yard, 1652)
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Sir Anthony Weldon, A Cat May Look Upon a King (printed for William Roybould, at the Unicorn in Pauls Church-yard, 1652)
Reposted by Miasma
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, you may be entitled to compensation. Have YOU been involved in a food-related lunar gravitational mishap that wasn’t your fault? You could be in line for a big payout from the estate of Sir Isaac Newton. Call the hotline now.
November 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, you may be entitled to compensation. Have YOU been involved in a food-related lunar gravitational mishap that wasn’t your fault? You could be in line for a big payout from the estate of Sir Isaac Newton. Call the hotline now.
Reposted by Miasma
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
November 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
Extra super looking forward to reading this one.
NEW PUBLICATION
Our @historians.org American Historical Review article presents a pathbreaking methodology to analyse the invisible biochemical traces that #earlymodern users left behind on the surface of paper recipes
doi.org/10.1093/ahr/...
Our @historians.org American Historical Review article presents a pathbreaking methodology to analyse the invisible biochemical traces that #earlymodern users left behind on the surface of paper recipes
doi.org/10.1093/ahr/...
The Scientific Analysis of Renaissance Recipes: Proteomics, Medicine, and the Body in the Material Renaissance
Abstract. Collaborations between the humanities and sciences allow for novel insights into the material world of Renaissance recipe cultures, and in partic
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Extra super looking forward to reading this one.
Reposted by Miasma
“How did ordinary people understand and cope with risk in times of personal crisis and in everyday life?”
just snuck a last minute reference (before a piece went to proofs) to this wonderful series
🗃️
www.historyworkshop.org.uk/series/risk-...
just snuck a last minute reference (before a piece went to proofs) to this wonderful series
🗃️
www.historyworkshop.org.uk/series/risk-...
Risk and Uncertainty
How did ordinary people understand and cope with risk in times of personal crisis and in everyday life? This series brings historical perspectives to our own experiences of navigating an increasingly ...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“How did ordinary people understand and cope with risk in times of personal crisis and in everyday life?”
just snuck a last minute reference (before a piece went to proofs) to this wonderful series
🗃️
www.historyworkshop.org.uk/series/risk-...
just snuck a last minute reference (before a piece went to proofs) to this wonderful series
🗃️
www.historyworkshop.org.uk/series/risk-...
Tempted to make this my new MS Teams profile pic.
He fell asleep in 1782, took a nap while sitting at a crowded table, being surrounded by fellow humans discussing importrant things in a meeting, and eventually everyone present realized the sleeper cell among them (see the lovely "attention" hint and manicule in the image).
November 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Tempted to make this my new MS Teams profile pic.
New #KenBurns doc is "educational." AmRev not my period; ❤️the maps but the historians are suited talking heads; no tramping across battlefields with pink hair or crossing the Delaware in period costume like British history docs do. Actory voiceovers borderline distracting, music misused, repetitive.
November 21, 2025 at 1:06 PM
New #KenBurns doc is "educational." AmRev not my period; ❤️the maps but the historians are suited talking heads; no tramping across battlefields with pink hair or crossing the Delaware in period costume like British history docs do. Actory voiceovers borderline distracting, music misused, repetitive.