Karl Appuhn
@appuhn.bsky.social
Historian of Renaissance Italian trees, critters, medical practitioners, and assorted other stuff. Californian in exile. Veteran. Semi-pro Curmudgeon.
Pinned
Karl Appuhn
@appuhn.bsky.social
· Dec 23
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
I started this thread because some folks had suggested that Historians could do their research using LLMs, and anyone who disagreed was ignorant. I wanted some stories that illustrated why that's not true. The results exceeded my expectations. Most of the replies are in the form of quote-skeets.
The University did agree not to use Donald out of state. But it was basically a win, courtesy of an undergrad history major.
February 12, 2026 at 1:08 AM
The University did agree not to use Donald out of state. But it was basically a win, courtesy of an undergrad history major.
There was a good outcome version of this at Oregon. Colleague taught a similar kind of course. At that time Disney was trying to force Oregon to stop using Donald as the mascot. One of the students found a photo of Walt with the then UofO president and a duck. Disney had to back off.
February 12, 2026 at 1:08 AM
There was a good outcome version of this at Oregon. Colleague taught a similar kind of course. At that time Disney was trying to force Oregon to stop using Donald as the mascot. One of the students found a photo of Walt with the then UofO president and a duck. Disney had to back off.
Seriously, fuck that noise.
February 11, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Seriously, fuck that noise.
I'm afraid that the Calico who is our landlord would not stand for anyone encroaching on her hard won territory.
February 10, 2026 at 3:12 PM
I'm afraid that the Calico who is our landlord would not stand for anyone encroaching on her hard won territory.
One person's psycho tortie is another person's I can fix her tortie.
February 10, 2026 at 3:07 PM
One person's psycho tortie is another person's I can fix her tortie.
That was definitely the case in 2018. It seems unlikely that it would be different this time. The whole point of being a low info, low propensity voter is not to vote most of the time.
February 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM
That was definitely the case in 2018. It seems unlikely that it would be different this time. The whole point of being a low info, low propensity voter is not to vote most of the time.
Sure, but he'd be doing it in a leisurely manner as befits one of life's great pleasures.
February 10, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Sure, but he'd be doing it in a leisurely manner as befits one of life's great pleasures.
If there's any justice in the world
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 AM
If there's any justice in the world
The most unrelatable
undebatable
senior roundtable
This is what we call the conference shoooooooooow
undebatable
senior roundtable
This is what we call the conference shoooooooooow
February 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
The most unrelatable
undebatable
senior roundtable
This is what we call the conference shoooooooooow
undebatable
senior roundtable
This is what we call the conference shoooooooooow
They listened to our concerns and made the headline active voice. What more do you want Matt?
February 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
They listened to our concerns and made the headline active voice. What more do you want Matt?
Probably has the DTs all the time now.
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Probably has the DTs all the time now.
I don't have a personal stake in any of this, but as an early modern historian I just want to say it's been too long since there's been a good schism.
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics.
Pope Leo XIV faces crisis as a traditionalist group plans bishop consecrations without consent
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics. A breakaway group attached to the traditional Latin Mass, the Society of St.
bit.ly
February 4, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I don't have a personal stake in any of this, but as an early modern historian I just want to say it's been too long since there's been a good schism.
If you have to ask...
February 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
If you have to ask...
Imagine if we had to follow the law. That's just unfair.
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Imagine if we had to follow the law. That's just unfair.
It's hot dog off a street cart.
I said what I said.
I said what I said.
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 PM
It's hot dog off a street cart.
I said what I said.
I said what I said.
Watching the ice floes go upstream on the Hudson is fun. You don't usually get to see the effect of the tides.
February 3, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Watching the ice floes go upstream on the Hudson is fun. You don't usually get to see the effect of the tides.
I am against capital punishment on principle. But I'm willing to make an exception for mass murderers.
February 2, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I am against capital punishment on principle. But I'm willing to make an exception for mass murderers.
The first option is the only way if we want to save the republic. And it has to involve real consequences for all of these assholes.
Th future is basically:
1. Some sort of wide-ranging tribunal to credibly sort through the crime spree
2. We see a sort of Nixon style forgive-and-forget policy
3. We never get the chance to pursue the first two options
1. Some sort of wide-ranging tribunal to credibly sort through the crime spree
2. We see a sort of Nixon style forgive-and-forget policy
3. We never get the chance to pursue the first two options
Exclusive: A U.S. official has alleged wrongdoing by U.S. spy chief Tulsi Gabbard in a complaint that is so highly classified it has sparked months of wrangling over how to share it with Congress, according to people familiar with the matter.
February 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The first option is the only way if we want to save the republic. And it has to involve real consequences for all of these assholes.
I didn't know that this existed. I am genuinely afraid to listen to it. I might die laughing.
February 2, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I didn't know that this existed. I am genuinely afraid to listen to it. I might die laughing.
Surely it was cleared with Putin ahead of time.
February 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Surely it was cleared with Putin ahead of time.
Not quite ready to walk over to Manhattan, but we're getting close.
February 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Not quite ready to walk over to Manhattan, but we're getting close.
Raze it and salt the earth. It's the only way to be sure.
Mar-a-Lago delenda est.
By this point it feels strange to say things like this and not reflexively end with a "Furthermore he should be impeached and removed from office"
February 2, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Raze it and salt the earth. It's the only way to be sure.
Decameron, Day One, Story One.
February 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Decameron, Day One, Story One.
See, that's what I'm talking about.
February 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM
See, that's what I'm talking about.