James Elder
@jameselder.bsky.social
Business archivist by day; rowing club archivist by night. So, quite a lot of 19th and 20th century British history, and grumbling about digital and A/V preservation.
Not the UNICEF spokesman.
Be nice, I'm trying my best.
Not the UNICEF spokesman.
Be nice, I'm trying my best.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
I (and my boss Anne) am the source of one of the facts on this week’s No Such Thing As A Fish.
I (and my boss Anne) am the source of one of the facts on this week’s No Such Thing As A Fish.
November 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
I (and my boss Anne) am the source of one of the facts on this week’s No Such Thing As A Fish.
I (and my boss Anne) am the source of one of the facts on this week’s No Such Thing As A Fish.
Switching current account has proved to be a lot easier than I was anticipating.
Nice to be able to report that a voluntary scheme operated by an industry body with oversight from regulators actually works rather well.
www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
Nice to be able to report that a voluntary scheme operated by an industry body with oversight from regulators actually works rather well.
www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
Home
www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Switching current account has proved to be a lot easier than I was anticipating.
Nice to be able to report that a voluntary scheme operated by an industry body with oversight from regulators actually works rather well.
www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
Nice to be able to report that a voluntary scheme operated by an industry body with oversight from regulators actually works rather well.
www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
After “Archive Fever”, a lot of people at the theoretical end of archival science got very excited that Derrida had written about their field.
I’ve been told that Derrida eventually said words to the effect of “I wasn’t talking about *actual* archives, you yokels.”
I’ve been told that Derrida eventually said words to the effect of “I wasn’t talking about *actual* archives, you yokels.”
One of my colleagues went to a seminar at Berkeley and when someone asked a question Derrida brushed it off saying ‘what you ask may be important but it is not interesting’.
This path leads to chaos.
November 27, 2025 at 7:35 PM
After “Archive Fever”, a lot of people at the theoretical end of archival science got very excited that Derrida had written about their field.
I’ve been told that Derrida eventually said words to the effect of “I wasn’t talking about *actual* archives, you yokels.”
I’ve been told that Derrida eventually said words to the effect of “I wasn’t talking about *actual* archives, you yokels.”
I do take all of Dr Jackson's points but, as an archivist, handwritten text recognition is still an extremely exciting development.
It will allow us to improve our knowledge of our collections and to make them available in ways that can make them more accessible, more useful to more researchers.
It will allow us to improve our knowledge of our collections and to make them available in ways that can make them more accessible, more useful to more researchers.
You know what we won't need once handwriting recognition software has done its thing? Archivists, curators, conservators, catalogers, codicologists, or paleographers. We won't need archives either. We won't need diplomatics, editorial theory, book or media history, or material culture studies 🗃️🧵
November 27, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I do take all of Dr Jackson's points but, as an archivist, handwritten text recognition is still an extremely exciting development.
It will allow us to improve our knowledge of our collections and to make them available in ways that can make them more accessible, more useful to more researchers.
It will allow us to improve our knowledge of our collections and to make them available in ways that can make them more accessible, more useful to more researchers.
Reposted by James Elder
Tune in today! Also available on BBC Sounds
On today's episode of 'Materials of State' on BBC Radio 4, David Cannadine alongside Dr Mari Takayanagi
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
(@satisfactory20.bsky.social), will be examing the history of the ballot box.
We've published several articles on the history of the secret ballot 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Tune in today! Also available on BBC Sounds
A disconcerting number of helicopters flying over Central London in the last hour.
It's not the usual MPS helicopter hovering over a demo - these ones are going to and from somewhere.
It's not the usual MPS helicopter hovering over a demo - these ones are going to and from somewhere.
November 26, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A disconcerting number of helicopters flying over Central London in the last hour.
It's not the usual MPS helicopter hovering over a demo - these ones are going to and from somewhere.
It's not the usual MPS helicopter hovering over a demo - these ones are going to and from somewhere.
As I’ve said before, although I have my reservations about AI, the idea that it’s a useless technology and no good can come of it irritates me - accurate handwriting recognition and voice recognition/transcription are game changers for archives.
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
As I’ve said before, although I have my reservations about AI, the idea that it’s a useless technology and no good can come of it irritates me - accurate handwriting recognition and voice recognition/transcription are game changers for archives.
Reposted by James Elder
Nearly-perfect printed and handwritten text recognition is the most consequential technical contribution to the study of human culture of the last fifteen years, and it's not even close.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Nearly-perfect printed and handwritten text recognition is the most consequential technical contribution to the study of human culture of the last fifteen years, and it's not even close.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
It fundamentally changes our (both lay and expert) relationship with the written past.
I don't know the precise context of what Gibb said, but this is a bit of an odd statement.
The BBC's Political Editor is, whatever else one may think about him, not unsung. He's on the telly most days, he helps shape the national conversation, he has a very high profile.
The BBC's Political Editor is, whatever else one may think about him, not unsung. He's on the telly most days, he helps shape the national conversation, he has a very high profile.
Robbie Gibb describes the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason as the "unsung hero of covering politics" and "absolutely first rate"
November 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I don't know the precise context of what Gibb said, but this is a bit of an odd statement.
The BBC's Political Editor is, whatever else one may think about him, not unsung. He's on the telly most days, he helps shape the national conversation, he has a very high profile.
The BBC's Political Editor is, whatever else one may think about him, not unsung. He's on the telly most days, he helps shape the national conversation, he has a very high profile.
Maybe the failure of this stupid idea will mean that in future they reinstate the Mini that so many of us really want.
Thinking about it, I wonder if we’ll eventually get something foldable that is Mini-size when folded.
Thinking about it, I wonder if we’ll eventually get something foldable that is Mini-size when folded.
Apple’s ‘skinny’ iPhone falls flat with disappointing early sales on.ft.com/44gIRZQ
Apple’s ‘skinny’ iPhone falls flat with disappointing early sales
Consumers chose better value and superior performance over slim new design of Air model
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Maybe the failure of this stupid idea will mean that in future they reinstate the Mini that so many of us really want.
Thinking about it, I wonder if we’ll eventually get something foldable that is Mini-size when folded.
Thinking about it, I wonder if we’ll eventually get something foldable that is Mini-size when folded.
Reposted by James Elder
This is a good note to end the week. The plight of @britishlibrary.bsky.social has been picked up in @nature.com’s influential daily briefing. Thanks everyone (including @floragraham.bsky.social)
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
This is a good note to end the week. The plight of @britishlibrary.bsky.social has been picked up in @nature.com’s influential daily briefing. Thanks everyone (including @floragraham.bsky.social)
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
who is getting the word out there about our national library
us17.campaign-archive.com?u=2c6057c528...
Sometimes you read threads involving journalists and policy wonks who talk as if everyone is a higher rate taxpayer.
I sometimes feel like I am going mad.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Sometimes you read threads involving journalists and policy wonks who talk as if everyone is a higher rate taxpayer.
Reposted by James Elder
I know it’s easy to call for a Select Committee inquiry and, reader, that’s what I have done
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I know it’s easy to call for a Select Committee inquiry and, reader, that’s what I have done
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by James Elder
“Around six months after the cyber incident I talked to the then chair of the science select committee, who was not aware of this incident” w o w
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
“Around six months after the cyber incident I talked to the then chair of the science select committee, who was not aware of this incident” w o w
That's AWS, Azure and Cloudfare in the last few weeks.
For a distributed network, the web sure does have some single points of failure.
For a distributed network, the web sure does have some single points of failure.
November 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
That's AWS, Azure and Cloudfare in the last few weeks.
For a distributed network, the web sure does have some single points of failure.
For a distributed network, the web sure does have some single points of failure.
Reposted by James Elder
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Absolutely. This is some cheek from Pichai.
Kagi is great, and worth the small subscription I pay for it.
Kagi is great, and worth the small subscription I pay for it.
OK, even putting aside that doing online searches is hardly "sourcing accurate information", Google is up to the hilt in regurgitating AI nonsense when you search! Its "search" is so contaminated by this stuff that I switched to Kagi, which is *much* better. Very little AI and more relevant results.
'"This is why people also use Google search, and we have other products that are more grounded in providing accurate information."'
That's alright then, a Google search or other Google products will fix it. Problem neatly sorted.
That's alright then, a Google search or other Google products will fix it. Problem neatly sorted.
November 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Absolutely. This is some cheek from Pichai.
Kagi is great, and worth the small subscription I pay for it.
Kagi is great, and worth the small subscription I pay for it.
Reposted by James Elder
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by James Elder
Don't worry, Nora. We don't blame you for the Nuzzi profile. That's obviously Carl Bernstein's fault.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
bsky.app/profile/anna...
November 16, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Don't worry, Nora. We don't blame you for the Nuzzi profile. That's obviously Carl Bernstein's fault.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Well that was fun. Seeing it in the cinema gave me license to imagine what it was like seeing it for the first time in 1985. It is *such* an entertaining film.
Time for Back To The Future at the Olympic Studies in Barnes.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Well that was fun. Seeing it in the cinema gave me license to imagine what it was like seeing it for the first time in 1985. It is *such* an entertaining film.
Time for Back To The Future at the Olympic Studies in Barnes.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
November 16, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Time for Back To The Future at the Olympic Studies in Barnes.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
I first saw it on BBC1, Christmas 1988 (and via Betamax thereafter).
Nice to finally see it on the big screen.
The received wisdom that Tusk by Fleetwood Mac is not a good album is absolute nonsense isn’t it?
November 15, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The received wisdom that Tusk by Fleetwood Mac is not a good album is absolute nonsense isn’t it?
Reposted by James Elder
I despair of Labour. Can we not just have a sensible budget, delivered on the day, that apologises for hard choices and then just gets on with giving us something that will give us some hope? All this briefing and speculation makes them look like clowns.
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I despair of Labour. Can we not just have a sensible budget, delivered on the day, that apologises for hard choices and then just gets on with giving us something that will give us some hope? All this briefing and speculation makes them look like clowns.
It’s slightly odd when a big new Edgar Wright films comes out to remember being one of what seemed to be a very small group of people watching Spaced in 1999.
I guess there were actually quite a few of us but we only had dial-up internet so cult TV was less visible in them days.
I guess there were actually quite a few of us but we only had dial-up internet so cult TV was less visible in them days.
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It’s slightly odd when a big new Edgar Wright films comes out to remember being one of what seemed to be a very small group of people watching Spaced in 1999.
I guess there were actually quite a few of us but we only had dial-up internet so cult TV was less visible in them days.
I guess there were actually quite a few of us but we only had dial-up internet so cult TV was less visible in them days.
When I see people having wildly different opinions about films (cf @kermodemovie.bsky.social and @stephenkb.bsky.social on Die, My Love) I’m reminded of Big Talk with Raymond Terrific:
Come on boffins! Let’s sort this out! It’s a simple question, is it a good film or not?
Come on boffins! Let’s sort this out! It’s a simple question, is it a good film or not?
November 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
When I see people having wildly different opinions about films (cf @kermodemovie.bsky.social and @stephenkb.bsky.social on Die, My Love) I’m reminded of Big Talk with Raymond Terrific:
Come on boffins! Let’s sort this out! It’s a simple question, is it a good film or not?
Come on boffins! Let’s sort this out! It’s a simple question, is it a good film or not?