Dr Lucy J.S. Clarke 🇵🇸🏳️‍⚧️🌈 no human is illegal

the legitimacy of the police in the Anglophone world has been the subject of a lot of debate in recent years. I think early modern England has a lot to tell us about our relationship with the police. blog here: drlucyjsclarke.wordpress.com/2025/06/29/1...

Richard E. Grant declaring “I’m in my leathers” with such gusto is my new vocal stim #celebritytraitors

The Cambridge student newspaper Varsity is reporting that James Orr (or, as they call him, "Disgraced theology professor James Orr") hasn't been turning up to his own lectures.

as far as I’m concerned, any respectable institution ought to reimburse the travel expenses of interviewees, especially when the position is only for ECRs. but that’s none of my business.

Let my CFP go forth into the world! Naturally, if you know me, you'll know my own research has focused on guildhalls for a couple of years now - but I've long wanted a book that considers other "theatres" of the Renaissance. So please, come and join me in proposing chapters 🙏

deeply “ageing academic” vibe, but can anyone recommend a desk pad that will cushion my elbows? I’ve been getting elbow pain for weeks after coming back to work and typing all day

why take a shit in public when you can just sign that open letter in support of Nathan Cofnas

Here is the full suspension letter from UGent that was sent to Nathan Cofnas, it shows ample reason for his suspension and potential termination. Including breach of contract, using the University of Ghent’s name and legitimacy to promote his racial supremacist views and causing reputational damage.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

arday was being used by these institutions as a symbol of their own goodness, and then he was used in turn by right-wing opportunists who wanted to smear them. he wasn't entirely a victim, of course, but he also wasn't the only one being dishonest.

when arday was hired, cambridge had five black professors. does that sound like an institution in thrall to DEI? does that sound like an institution that's handing out jobs to black academics?

they looked past his fictions because to them he was never meant to serve more than a superficial purpose. it wasn't their overzealous commitment to diversity that landed him at cambridge, it was their lack of it. they wanted a shallow commitment that could score them friendly headlines.

the story that the right wanted to tell here is about DEI run amok - institutions so obsessed with diversity that they embraced an obvious fraud. that story gets it backwards. to Cambridge et al Arday was a PR stunt. they hired him as a symbol, meant to shield them from criticism.

This. My partner the climate politics guy, when I expressed questions about this said “because Andy Burnham is doing performative things instead of addressing the problem”.

me: [sleep deprived, overheating] I’ll copy paste the summary of the thing from one email to another. I’m a genius. labour saved. perfect email to colleague. me ten minutes later: oh for fuck’s sake it needed to be a different summary for that person.

With A Level results published today, it's very welcome to see a 5% increase in students taking #History in 2026 compared with 2025. At 5%, History sees the 5th highest increase in student numbers, 2025-26, across all subjects. Full details: bit.ly/3RMKL1x #Skystorians 1/2

today in Star Chamber: a perjury case brought by the Yorkshire vicar James Lockey. the perjury? that Richard Stagge and Arthur Burnand had falsely accused him of hitting Arthur’s horse so hard it died. one can only assume the vicar said “neigh” to the accusation. STAC 5/L2/16 (1591-2) #skystorians

discovered the cost of my unending indulgence towards small children, to the tune of being charged two full pounds for a homemade cupcake that it transpired was not for charity. kid saw me across the road and knew he had a mark. 10/10 business sense, he’ll go far.

Please don’t write in the newspaper 700 years from now that I got absolutely smoked.

if I see one more person suggesting “have you asked chatGPT?” in the mum WhatsApps I’m going to mcfreakin lose it

Wealth is a disease

not to be confused with quesadilla

wedding? 10/10 experience.

I know this has been pointed out many times by many people but I just want to reiterate: Anthropic is basically using Kurt Vonnegut's drawing of an asshole as the Claude logo

I cannot rest from discourse. I will see that film again tomorrow. I will drink life to the lees. Again I will enjoy greatly, will suffer greatly, both with those that love me, and in Pleasantville NY. I am become a meme. Film showing: burnsfilmcenter.org/booking/the-...

So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)

Film you’ve watched more than six times with a gif, hard mode.

Good grief, this hits home.

Live from Philly, where both LeBron & I took our talents this week (although I'm headed back to Boston later today), here’s my 286th #ScholarSunday thread of great writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, please share widely, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ +

PSA on the Victoria Line tube in London. Phillipson and every other GC weirdo needs to take note.