Nicholas Walmsley
@hulegu.bsky.social
Gentleman at Large | Astana, Tokyo| I do what I enjoy and enjoy what I do | opinions do not represent employer &c. | IG: ngwalmsley
academic colleagues can be weird which is not news I’m sure but …
it’s the hella busy final week of classes and then grading period and only now are people issuing social invites left right and centre
I just don’t have the energy or the patience
it’s the hella busy final week of classes and then grading period and only now are people issuing social invites left right and centre
I just don’t have the energy or the patience
November 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
academic colleagues can be weird which is not news I’m sure but …
it’s the hella busy final week of classes and then grading period and only now are people issuing social invites left right and centre
I just don’t have the energy or the patience
it’s the hella busy final week of classes and then grading period and only now are people issuing social invites left right and centre
I just don’t have the energy or the patience
Reposted by Nicholas Walmsley
DINER JOURNALISM IS BACK ON THE MENU
November 26, 2025 at 3:53 AM
DINER JOURNALISM IS BACK ON THE MENU
Reposted by Nicholas Walmsley
In Bishkek, the embassy of Ukraine is right next to the new presidential palace (Palace of Unity) built under Japarov. During Putin’s official visit to the palace yesterday, the Kyrgyz authorities covered up the view of the Ukrainian embassy with a giant screen displaying KG and RU flags
November 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM
In Bishkek, the embassy of Ukraine is right next to the new presidential palace (Palace of Unity) built under Japarov. During Putin’s official visit to the palace yesterday, the Kyrgyz authorities covered up the view of the Ukrainian embassy with a giant screen displaying KG and RU flags
apparently having an affair with your gym-coach is called a “fituationship”
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 AM
apparently having an affair with your gym-coach is called a “fituationship”
being organized and booking my haircut in Tokyo one month out
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
being organized and booking my haircut in Tokyo one month out
this thread 🧵 🙌
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
this thread 🧵 🙌
the week of consultations on final term-papers in lieu of classes is simultaneously my most exhausting and most rewarding week of the semester
one 15min. session with each and every student and there are 55 of them that truly reveal to me whether or not my teaching has been effective
one 15min. session with each and every student and there are 55 of them that truly reveal to me whether or not my teaching has been effective
November 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
the week of consultations on final term-papers in lieu of classes is simultaneously my most exhausting and most rewarding week of the semester
one 15min. session with each and every student and there are 55 of them that truly reveal to me whether or not my teaching has been effective
one 15min. session with each and every student and there are 55 of them that truly reveal to me whether or not my teaching has been effective
this is a really good explainer from @aijanco.bsky.social
As Kyrgyzstan's snap parliamentary elections approach, there’s a distinct lack of energy or interest.
Is Politics Dead in Kyrgyzstan?
As snap parliamentary elections approach, there’s a distinct lack of energy or interest.
buff.ly
November 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
this is a really good explainer from @aijanco.bsky.social
potato and cabbage pirozhki based on a recipe from Caroline Eden’s superb ‘Green Mountains’ @edentravels.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
potato and cabbage pirozhki based on a recipe from Caroline Eden’s superb ‘Green Mountains’ @edentravels.bsky.social
who else had a moment when they discovered that Adobe Acrobat contains an AI-fuelled add-on that will offer to summarise a pdf for you 😣
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
who else had a moment when they discovered that Adobe Acrobat contains an AI-fuelled add-on that will offer to summarise a pdf for you 😣
this happened to me this summer when a manuscript I reviewed for a journal included a load of AI-generated balderdash about stuff I HAD WRITTEN
Hey folks. I have spent *days* reading and meticulously drafting comments on a very lengthy manuscript. Which I have just found includes an AI-faked quote. Attributed to ME.
Here is a thread of my feelings
Here is a thread of my feelings
a man in a blue shirt says " i am untethered and my rage knows no bounds ! "
ALT: a man in a blue shirt says " i am untethered and my rage knows no bounds ! "
media.tenor.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
this happened to me this summer when a manuscript I reviewed for a journal included a load of AI-generated balderdash about stuff I HAD WRITTEN
anyway another case of Travis Head doing Travis Head stuff and the Poms have been well and truly stuffed
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
anyway another case of Travis Head doing Travis Head stuff and the Poms have been well and truly stuffed
if Australia wrap this up today there’ll actually be time left for another Test
November 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
if Australia wrap this up today there’ll actually be time left for another Test
Reposted by Nicholas Walmsley
The people who say "why this obsession with Palestine? why don't you post about Sudan?" never post about Sudan themselves.
What they mean is "it's fine you don't care about Sudan. You should be similarly indifferent to Palestine"
(of course, many people do post about both and other crises)
What they mean is "it's fine you don't care about Sudan. You should be similarly indifferent to Palestine"
(of course, many people do post about both and other crises)
November 20, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The people who say "why this obsession with Palestine? why don't you post about Sudan?" never post about Sudan themselves.
What they mean is "it's fine you don't care about Sudan. You should be similarly indifferent to Palestine"
(of course, many people do post about both and other crises)
What they mean is "it's fine you don't care about Sudan. You should be similarly indifferent to Palestine"
(of course, many people do post about both and other crises)
I’ve been glancing through Harvard’s much-ballyhooed report about grading culture within their walls
tl;dr pretty much everyone agrees that grade-inflation has devalued all grades and that grades themselves actually undermine rather than reinforce academic excellence
tl;dr pretty much everyone agrees that grade-inflation has devalued all grades and that grades themselves actually undermine rather than reinforce academic excellence
November 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I’ve been glancing through Harvard’s much-ballyhooed report about grading culture within their walls
tl;dr pretty much everyone agrees that grade-inflation has devalued all grades and that grades themselves actually undermine rather than reinforce academic excellence
tl;dr pretty much everyone agrees that grade-inflation has devalued all grades and that grades themselves actually undermine rather than reinforce academic excellence
I think I’m going to cancel classes tomorrow because I have important matters to attend to
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
The Ashes 2025: Key battles and where series will be won and lost in Australia
With the help of analysts CricViz, BBC Sport looks at where the 2025-26 Ashes series will be won and lost.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I think I’m going to cancel classes tomorrow because I have important matters to attend to
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
I’d also say all the lanyard-wearing self-styled eco-warriors are part of the problem because they’re not doing a lick of work but they do get some good footage for their reels
Scientists at #COP30 coming with hard hitting truths in response to the potential roadmaps to phase out #fossilfuels and end #deforestation.
"Forest protection cannot be used as offsets. Standing forests cannot be an excuse to keep burning fossil fuels"
planetarysciencepavilion.org/2025/11/19/s...
"Forest protection cannot be used as offsets. Standing forests cannot be an excuse to keep burning fossil fuels"
planetarysciencepavilion.org/2025/11/19/s...
Scientists statement on state of COP30 Negotiations, November 19, 2025 - Planetary Science Pavilion
We are at a planetary crossroad. We are already facing danger. Suffering for billions of people and rapidly approaching tipping points in the Amazon and the Tropical Coral Reef systems and many others...
planetarysciencepavilion.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I’d also say all the lanyard-wearing self-styled eco-warriors are part of the problem because they’re not doing a lick of work but they do get some good footage for their reels
the food of champions
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
the food of champions
let’s me tell you kids back in the day this was the OG appointment television
The first episode of House of Cards was broadcast on this day in 1990.
November 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
let’s me tell you kids back in the day this was the OG appointment television
on we go
confession time
this is the first book or anything I’ve read by Roy since God of Small Things
confession time
this is the first book or anything I’ve read by Roy since God of Small Things
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
on we go
confession time
this is the first book or anything I’ve read by Roy since God of Small Things
confession time
this is the first book or anything I’ve read by Roy since God of Small Things
just booked tickets to see a Finnish Death Metal band in Astana next month which is not actually the reason why I pursued a career in Central Asian studies but here we are
November 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
just booked tickets to see a Finnish Death Metal band in Astana next month which is not actually the reason why I pursued a career in Central Asian studies but here we are
Them: nobody should be punished or persecuted for exercising their right to free speech
Also them: by “nobody” we only mean us
Also them: by “nobody” we only mean us
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Them: nobody should be punished or persecuted for exercising their right to free speech
Also them: by “nobody” we only mean us
Also them: by “nobody” we only mean us
Reposted by Nicholas Walmsley
No more sobering analyses of higher ed! Only intoxicating ones from now on. Thanks!
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
No more sobering analyses of higher ed! Only intoxicating ones from now on. Thanks!
I think it is incontrovertible now that everything in Bishkek that pre-dates independence is slated for demolition and then redevelopment
they’ve now drained and flattened the quite pleasant water-features next to the tsum shopping centre in Central Bishkek
they’ve now drained and flattened the quite pleasant water-features next to the tsum shopping centre in Central Bishkek
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I think it is incontrovertible now that everything in Bishkek that pre-dates independence is slated for demolition and then redevelopment
they’ve now drained and flattened the quite pleasant water-features next to the tsum shopping centre in Central Bishkek
they’ve now drained and flattened the quite pleasant water-features next to the tsum shopping centre in Central Bishkek