John Harney
@ludensprof.bsky.social
Associate Professor of History at Centre College. Written on: baseball in colonial Taiwan; American missionaries in interwar China. Interested in national identity, science fiction, video games. Associate Editor at www.historyrespawned.com
Pinned
John Harney
@ludensprof.bsky.social
· Sep 13
Dreams of a Young Republic - Nebraska Press
The Congregation of the Mission, a Catholic order known as the Vincentians after their founder Saint Vincent de Paul, began missionary work in China in 1699....
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu
My book is out in a couple of weeks. If you’re interested in Catholicism in China or how American and Chinese ideas interacted before the Communist revolution, you should check it out!
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
Reposted by John Harney
genAI is STOLEN WORK. Using genAI in *any* capacity is trafficking in stolen work, supporting the plunder. Period. These facts aren't even denied by the AI companies, they just find ways to make that plunder seem benevolent. Using their product enables that lie. Stop enabling the theft of our work.
"we only use AI for coming up with ideas" no you don't. you use AI to come up with the a bland version of other people's ideas. there is currently NOBODY more replaceable than you
December 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
genAI is STOLEN WORK. Using genAI in *any* capacity is trafficking in stolen work, supporting the plunder. Period. These facts aren't even denied by the AI companies, they just find ways to make that plunder seem benevolent. Using their product enables that lie. Stop enabling the theft of our work.
Reposted by John Harney
I'm getting Google ads telling me to ask Gemini to explain parts of Strangers Things, like how 'their teamwork makes the dreamwork', and if you think Stranger Things is that dense a text then idk if you should have access to the internet at all
December 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I'm getting Google ads telling me to ask Gemini to explain parts of Strangers Things, like how 'their teamwork makes the dreamwork', and if you think Stranger Things is that dense a text then idk if you should have access to the internet at all
Reposted by John Harney
If you work somewhere w/a free public space+printer for work purposes, you can make a mini zine distro! Even just 5 zine titles you periodically replenish stacks of. Search "zine"+topic, or Zine Bakery's catalog has this large subset of free zines: airtable.com/appY7WyBFjSz...
Free zines for the people! Set up a small minizine-making space as I can't refill our 2 zine racks for a while. @jkmakes.bsky.social's "Good things people are doing right now", Jess Walters' "Exchanging Perspectives" disability justice prompts, Ammon Shepherd's "How to make a zine in 6 easy steps"
December 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
If you work somewhere w/a free public space+printer for work purposes, you can make a mini zine distro! Even just 5 zine titles you periodically replenish stacks of. Search "zine"+topic, or Zine Bakery's catalog has this large subset of free zines: airtable.com/appY7WyBFjSz...
I’m getting big Metallica: Some Kind of Monster vibes from this.
December 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I’m getting big Metallica: Some Kind of Monster vibes from this.
Reposted by John Harney
I will have a little piece in here! Very pleased to be part of something this cool (and to have any sort of affiliation with Inkle, one of the most interesting game development teams in the world)
Interested in game-writing?
In early 2026 we'll be publishing a kaleidoscope: short articles by 100+ game writers - experts, freelancers, and juniors - about the craft.
~1/3 of them are in: multiple bangers, from some very famous names and games.
Sign up to be notified when it's ready here:
In early 2026 we'll be publishing a kaleidoscope: short articles by 100+ game writers - experts, freelancers, and juniors - about the craft.
~1/3 of them are in: multiple bangers, from some very famous names and games.
Sign up to be notified when it's ready here:
Sign up for news about the Game Writing Kaleidoscope
In early 2026 we’ll be publishing The Game Narrative Kaleidoscope, a collection of over 100 short essays by game writers about writing.
Featuring some very famous names, some highly experienced free...
forms.gle
December 17, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I will have a little piece in here! Very pleased to be part of something this cool (and to have any sort of affiliation with Inkle, one of the most interesting game development teams in the world)
Reposted by John Harney
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Reposted by John Harney
Good morning. So either there’ll be a major war in South America by the end of the week or Sundowning Grandpa will have forgotten all about it and moved onto the next shiny object. Is this what living under Nero felt like?
December 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Good morning. So either there’ll be a major war in South America by the end of the week or Sundowning Grandpa will have forgotten all about it and moved onto the next shiny object. Is this what living under Nero felt like?
Reposted by John Harney
gonna start a lil deployment thread to share updates... I'm currently way too early at the airport to head up to SEA
I deploy in a role called Government Operations. During a Disaster Response Operation (DRO), the Red Cross establishes an ICS like organizational structure to manage our response.
I deploy in a role called Government Operations. During a Disaster Response Operation (DRO), the Red Cross establishes an ICS like organizational structure to manage our response.
December 13, 2025 at 9:33 PM
gonna start a lil deployment thread to share updates... I'm currently way too early at the airport to head up to SEA
I deploy in a role called Government Operations. During a Disaster Response Operation (DRO), the Red Cross establishes an ICS like organizational structure to manage our response.
I deploy in a role called Government Operations. During a Disaster Response Operation (DRO), the Red Cross establishes an ICS like organizational structure to manage our response.
Reposted by John Harney
I don’t use social media to argue about politics with strangers.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I don’t use social media to argue about politics with strangers.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
It’s a website, guys. This one is not owned by a racist scam artist who, if not an outright Nazi, thinks that pretending to be a Nazi is funny. And my feed isn’t filled with horrible abusive slop either.
I’m really tired of people addicted to having lots of followers complain about a website.
I’m really tired of people addicted to having lots of followers complain about a website.
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 11:52 AM
It’s a website, guys. This one is not owned by a racist scam artist who, if not an outright Nazi, thinks that pretending to be a Nazi is funny. And my feed isn’t filled with horrible abusive slop either.
I’m really tired of people addicted to having lots of followers complain about a website.
I’m really tired of people addicted to having lots of followers complain about a website.
Reposted by John Harney
“Choosing your friends is an echo chamber,” the troll screamed miserably from outside the restaurant window at your birthday party-
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
“Choosing your friends is an echo chamber,” the troll screamed miserably from outside the restaurant window at your birthday party-
Reposted by John Harney
For today only (Dec 14) All Systems Red (1st book in The Murderbot Diaries) is on sale across all US ebook retailers for $2.99 (published by Tordotcom, edited by @leeharris.net cover art by Jaime Jones) www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...
All Systems Red ebook by Martha Wells - Rakuten Kobo
Read "All Systems Red The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells available from Rakuten Kobo. Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award for Best Novella
Winner of the Alex Award
A New York Times and USA...
www.kobo.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
For today only (Dec 14) All Systems Red (1st book in The Murderbot Diaries) is on sale across all US ebook retailers for $2.99 (published by Tordotcom, edited by @leeharris.net cover art by Jaime Jones) www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...
Reposted by John Harney
If you know people who are interested in: complex strategy games, logic puzzles, space exploration, Gustave Doré, religion in science fiction, roguelikes, taking notes and reading manuals, The Book of the New Sun, or worker placement board games, they'll want to hear about The Banished Vault.
December 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
If you know people who are interested in: complex strategy games, logic puzzles, space exploration, Gustave Doré, religion in science fiction, roguelikes, taking notes and reading manuals, The Book of the New Sun, or worker placement board games, they'll want to hear about The Banished Vault.
Reposted by John Harney
We'll be talking a lot about The Banished Vault this week, and it's on sale until Sunday.
It would mean a lot to us if you shared the game among your friends! I promise a "hey check this out" message is the number one way to get a niche game in front of people who are interested in it.
It would mean a lot to us if you shared the game among your friends! I promise a "hey check this out" message is the number one way to get a niche game in front of people who are interested in it.
December 8, 2025 at 8:48 PM
We'll be talking a lot about The Banished Vault this week, and it's on sale until Sunday.
It would mean a lot to us if you shared the game among your friends! I promise a "hey check this out" message is the number one way to get a niche game in front of people who are interested in it.
It would mean a lot to us if you shared the game among your friends! I promise a "hey check this out" message is the number one way to get a niche game in front of people who are interested in it.
Reposted by John Harney
I wrote a new article: it’s on the Fallout franchise, & it’s just been published in Games&Culture
I’m currently trying to wrap my head around a bigger project on historical video game promotion and branding & this article is a slice (in progress) of that
+ it’s open access!
doi.org/10.1177/1555...
I’m currently trying to wrap my head around a bigger project on historical video game promotion and branding & this article is a slice (in progress) of that
+ it’s open access!
doi.org/10.1177/1555...
December 8, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I wrote a new article: it’s on the Fallout franchise, & it’s just been published in Games&Culture
I’m currently trying to wrap my head around a bigger project on historical video game promotion and branding & this article is a slice (in progress) of that
+ it’s open access!
doi.org/10.1177/1555...
I’m currently trying to wrap my head around a bigger project on historical video game promotion and branding & this article is a slice (in progress) of that
+ it’s open access!
doi.org/10.1177/1555...
Reposted by John Harney
friendly reminder that you didn't waste your year. any moments of happiness or comfort. any small accomplishments, they all matter. this has been a really hard year, and simply surviving is something to be proud of.
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
friendly reminder that you didn't waste your year. any moments of happiness or comfort. any small accomplishments, they all matter. this has been a really hard year, and simply surviving is something to be proud of.
Reposted by John Harney
A U.S. customs officer having to go through my social media history
December 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
A U.S. customs officer having to go through my social media history
So, after careful consideration I have decided the best Placebo album is Placebo.
This has actually always been true.
This has actually always been true.
December 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
So, after careful consideration I have decided the best Placebo album is Placebo.
This has actually always been true.
This has actually always been true.
Reposted by John Harney
I’ve never understood this argument. I can’t choose to not get sick?
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I’ve never understood this argument. I can’t choose to not get sick?
Reposted by John Harney
Your ‘I don’t even NEED to take lots of cognitive tests’ T-shirt is answering a lot of questions about etc
December 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Your ‘I don’t even NEED to take lots of cognitive tests’ T-shirt is answering a lot of questions about etc
Reposted by John Harney
Keep going everyone. Bullying works. No one wants this shit.
It's truly wild to me that this just keeps happening. Coca-Cola runs an AI ad and people overwhelmingly react with disgust. They do it again, and people are disgusted again. Now McDonald's makes an AI ad that's so bad that so many people are furious about it they pull it down.
People hate AI slop!
People hate AI slop!
McDonald's Pulls Down AI-Generated Holiday Ad After Deluge of Mockery
McDonald's Netherlands is catching flak for a stupefying AI-generated video, which was roundly condemned on social media.
futurism.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Keep going everyone. Bullying works. No one wants this shit.
Reposted by John Harney
My friend’s 80-year old mother has been crushing our fantasy football league for 15 years. She just texted the chain that Philip Rivers is too old for her ☠️
December 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
My friend’s 80-year old mother has been crushing our fantasy football league for 15 years. She just texted the chain that Philip Rivers is too old for her ☠️
So I’m finally playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. I… have mixed feelings! On the one hand it’s giving real History Respawned vibes - @whitakeralmanac.bsky.social - but on the other… am I going to be allowed to play the game, at some point? Hopefully it settles down after a while.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
So I’m finally playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. I… have mixed feelings! On the one hand it’s giving real History Respawned vibes - @whitakeralmanac.bsky.social - but on the other… am I going to be allowed to play the game, at some point? Hopefully it settles down after a while.
Reposted by John Harney
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
The two standout science-fiction films of 2025
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
www.newscientist.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits