Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
@serviliusahala.bsky.social
Mediterranean archaeologist | Binghamton NY U.S.A.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Look around. The case for more, not less, liberal arts education - actual, real education in reading, writing, thinking, arguing, analyzing, & synthesizing by doing the actual hard work for which there is no substitute - is stronger than it’s ever been at any point in human history.
November 30, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
November 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Signs you might be a far right authoritarian party (#3267):
Wait, is this the Professor Watchlist, but for media … and instead of being posted on an independent group’s website it’s on the official website of the people who control armed men with badges and a distinct disregard for the Constitution?
What is this mess
November 30, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Signs you might be a far right authoritarian party (#3267):
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Trump's shutdown of USAID, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths from malnutrition and disease, overshadows his plans for a gilded ballroom that could seat as many as 1,350 people at glitzy state dinners. #Trump #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace
November 30, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Trump's shutdown of USAID, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths from malnutrition and disease, overshadows his plans for a gilded ballroom that could seat as many as 1,350 people at glitzy state dinners. #Trump #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
November 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I really appreciate that @pbsnews.org ended the interview with this graphic.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
It captures, in the simplest and starkest terms, the brutal arithmetic driving this country's homelessness catastrophe.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
The legal, media, and academic institutions capitulating to an authoritarian ordering payments for favorable treatment are damning themselves to irrelevance. They are destroying their institutions. They will be — and should be — shunned for failing in their most basic purposes for existing.
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The legal, media, and academic institutions capitulating to an authoritarian ordering payments for favorable treatment are damning themselves to irrelevance. They are destroying their institutions. They will be — and should be — shunned for failing in their most basic purposes for existing.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Everyone in politics, everyone in media knows what’s happening here: the White House is controlled by a repellant white supremacist who waits with bated breath for any opportunity to run nonwhite people out of America. They know who it is, what he’s doing. But they won’t SAY it.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Everyone in politics, everyone in media knows what’s happening here: the White House is controlled by a repellant white supremacist who waits with bated breath for any opportunity to run nonwhite people out of America. They know who it is, what he’s doing. But they won’t SAY it.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
He's clearly deranged, and it's a scandal that that's not on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
November 28, 2025 at 5:18 AM
He's clearly deranged, and it's a scandal that that's not on the front page of every newspaper in the country.
Folks, the president is not special. Not exceptional. Not a king. Not a semi-divine entity. Just a citizen. Stop pretending that this senile harpy man-baby deserves any better treatment than what he gives out. Impeach. Convict. Remove. Imprison.
November 28, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Folks, the president is not special. Not exceptional. Not a king. Not a semi-divine entity. Just a citizen. Stop pretending that this senile harpy man-baby deserves any better treatment than what he gives out. Impeach. Convict. Remove. Imprison.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
“We’ve tried to not have to do it, but we've got direct orders,” the masked ICE agents told them www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/i...
November 25, 2025 at 12:26 PM
“We’ve tried to not have to do it, but we've got direct orders,” the masked ICE agents told them www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
Last Week in the #pleiadesgazetteer (17-24 November 2025), the editorial college published 14 new and 286 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Jeffrey Becker, Anne Chen, Tom Elliott, Maxime Guénette, Brady Kiesling, Gabriel Mckee and Enes […]
[Original post on hcommons.social]
[Original post on hcommons.social]
November 25, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Last Week in the #pleiadesgazetteer (17-24 November 2025), the editorial college published 14 new and 286 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Jeffrey Becker, Anne Chen, Tom Elliott, Maxime Guénette, Brady Kiesling, Gabriel Mckee and Enes […]
[Original post on hcommons.social]
[Original post on hcommons.social]
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
On Nov. 22, Vahid Abedini, an Iranian Studies professor at University of Oklahoma, was boarding a flight to attend the Middle East Studies Assn mtg in Washington, D.C. when he was detained by ICE.
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
November 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
On Nov. 22, Vahid Abedini, an Iranian Studies professor at University of Oklahoma, was boarding a flight to attend the Middle East Studies Assn mtg in Washington, D.C. when he was detained by ICE.
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
Just finished watching episode six of the American Revolution and it has left me with a lot to think about. Thanks to Ken Burns for his excellent and steady work.
November 22, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Just finished watching episode six of the American Revolution and it has left me with a lot to think about. Thanks to Ken Burns for his excellent and steady work.
This timeline is difficult to understand.
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
This timeline is difficult to understand.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
The adventures of a precocious 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger debuted on November 18, 1985. NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with the comic strip's editor, Lee Salem, in 2005.
40 years ago, Calvin and Hobbes' raucous adventures burst onto the comics page
The adventures of a precocious 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger debuted on November 18, 1985. NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with the comic strip's editor, Lee Salem, in 2005.
n.pr
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The adventures of a precocious 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger debuted on November 18, 1985. NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with the comic strip's editor, Lee Salem, in 2005.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
"Quiet, piggy." –A real thing the President of the United States said to a journalist asking him a question.
November 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
"Quiet, piggy." –A real thing the President of the United States said to a journalist asking him a question.
Domestic terrorism. Daily.
America 2025.
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Domestic terrorism. Daily.
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
"The Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika as a hate symbol.
"Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines.
"The new policy similarly downgrades the definition of nooses and the Confederate flag."
Free link wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
"Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines.
"The new policy similarly downgrades the definition of nooses and the Confederate flag."
Free link wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
"The Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika as a hate symbol.
"Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines.
"The new policy similarly downgrades the definition of nooses and the Confederate flag."
Free link wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
"Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines.
"The new policy similarly downgrades the definition of nooses and the Confederate flag."
Free link wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
Reposted by Jeffrey A. Becker Ph.D. RPA
NEWS: Coordinated operation across Europe dismantles antiquities smuggling ring
Around 20 people face charges of antiquities trafficking and money laundering. The criminal group has been operating in Western Europe, the Balkans, the United States for over 16 years.
apnews.com/article/bulg...
Around 20 people face charges of antiquities trafficking and money laundering. The criminal group has been operating in Western Europe, the Balkans, the United States for over 16 years.
apnews.com/article/bulg...
Coordinated operation across Europe dismantles antiquities smuggling ring
Law enforcement agencies have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network trafficking stolen cultural goods across Europe.
apnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM
NEWS: Coordinated operation across Europe dismantles antiquities smuggling ring
Around 20 people face charges of antiquities trafficking and money laundering. The criminal group has been operating in Western Europe, the Balkans, the United States for over 16 years.
apnews.com/article/bulg...
Around 20 people face charges of antiquities trafficking and money laundering. The criminal group has been operating in Western Europe, the Balkans, the United States for over 16 years.
apnews.com/article/bulg...