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.
Reposted by James Elder
Bezos could retrieve something from the disaster of his ownership of the @washingtonpost.com by emulating the Scott family in 1932. Give the paper away and endow it with, say, $1.5 bn. And have an independent trust run it in the public interest.
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Bezos could retrieve something from the disaster of his ownership of the @washingtonpost.com by emulating the Scott family in 1932. Give the paper away and endow it with, say, $1.5 bn. And have an independent trust run it in the public interest.
Reposted by James Elder
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Signet rings are a slightly strange, unspoken class signifier aren’t they?
February 5, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Signet rings are a slightly strange, unspoken class signifier aren’t they?
Oo, Stoppard’s Arcadia is being revived at the Old Vic.
Love that play.
Love that play.
February 3, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Oo, Stoppard’s Arcadia is being revived at the Old Vic.
Love that play.
Love that play.
Need to read this more carefully, but at first glance it appears thoughtful and helpful.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
AI Preparedness Guidelines for Archivists — Archives & Records Association
www.archives.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Need to read this more carefully, but at first glance it appears thoughtful and helpful.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Certainly more helpful than, on the one hand, ill-informed boosterism from tech bros and, on the other, 'AI should never be used by archivists!' absolutism.
Further to this, my suggestion for a simple change that would improve productivity in the archives, information and humanities sectors is to allow people who aren't affiliated to a university to get access to databases like ProQuest.
I seem always to be encountering this problem.
I seem always to be encountering this problem.
Does anyone know...
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
February 3, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Further to this, my suggestion for a simple change that would improve productivity in the archives, information and humanities sectors is to allow people who aren't affiliated to a university to get access to databases like ProQuest.
I seem always to be encountering this problem.
I seem always to be encountering this problem.
Does anyone know...
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
February 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Does anyone know...
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
A set of microfilms of historic UK Parliamentary papers (Command Papers etc) were scanned as part of a JISC-funded project a decade or more ago.
Website appears to be dead.
Looks like Southampton Uni members can still get at them - can anyone else?
Beginning to see a lot of cars of unfamiliar marques - presumably Chinese - around and about.
January 31, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Beginning to see a lot of cars of unfamiliar marques - presumably Chinese - around and about.
Reposted by James Elder
Don’t forget what Ukrainians are going through.
January 31, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Don’t forget what Ukrainians are going through.
Sad to say farewell to Chris Dodd.
The sport of rowing was extremely lucky to have had a chronicler who cared deeply about its history, was hardworking and capable in research, and who could really *write*.
And thanks to Tim Koch of @heartheboatsing.bsky.social for writing a proper send-off.
The sport of rowing was extremely lucky to have had a chronicler who cared deeply about its history, was hardworking and capable in research, and who could really *write*.
And thanks to Tim Koch of @heartheboatsing.bsky.social for writing a proper send-off.
Chris Dodd: Wedded To The Printed Page
Chris Dodd, journalist, author and one of the founders of the River and Rowing Museum in Henley, has died aged 84. This was a favourite photograph of Chris’, it shows him speaking at the museum in …
heartheboatsing.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Sad to say farewell to Chris Dodd.
The sport of rowing was extremely lucky to have had a chronicler who cared deeply about its history, was hardworking and capable in research, and who could really *write*.
And thanks to Tim Koch of @heartheboatsing.bsky.social for writing a proper send-off.
The sport of rowing was extremely lucky to have had a chronicler who cared deeply about its history, was hardworking and capable in research, and who could really *write*.
And thanks to Tim Koch of @heartheboatsing.bsky.social for writing a proper send-off.
Idea: An English-language remake of Sisu set in Minnesota.
January 29, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Idea: An English-language remake of Sisu set in Minnesota.
I’m old enough to remember when the initial interest rate on student maintenance loans (this was when fees were still funded by grant) was so low that, if you didn’t “need” it, you could make a small amount of money by putting it in a high-interest savings account for a year or two then repaying.
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Student loans are 'fair', says Rachel Reeves, amid backlash | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 12:02 PM
I’m old enough to remember when the initial interest rate on student maintenance loans (this was when fees were still funded by grant) was so low that, if you didn’t “need” it, you could make a small amount of money by putting it in a high-interest savings account for a year or two then repaying.
The perks of being a business archivist.
January 28, 2026 at 10:26 PM
The perks of being a business archivist.
Reposted by James Elder
The belief that fertility collapse is an existential risk is something of a tell.
There are 7 billion of us. Humanity dying out due to lower birthrates is something we don’t have to worry about for a good few centuries yet.
That aspect of Children of Men is not likely (though others may be).
There are 7 billion of us. Humanity dying out due to lower birthrates is something we don’t have to worry about for a good few centuries yet.
That aspect of Children of Men is not likely (though others may be).
October 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The belief that fertility collapse is an existential risk is something of a tell.
There are 7 billion of us. Humanity dying out due to lower birthrates is something we don’t have to worry about for a good few centuries yet.
That aspect of Children of Men is not likely (though others may be).
There are 7 billion of us. Humanity dying out due to lower birthrates is something we don’t have to worry about for a good few centuries yet.
That aspect of Children of Men is not likely (though others may be).
My occasional howl of rage that it's so difficult to borrow or buy academic e-books and articles if you are not affiliated to a university.
January 27, 2026 at 3:44 PM
My occasional howl of rage that it's so difficult to borrow or buy academic e-books and articles if you are not affiliated to a university.
Alan Allport’s “Britain at Bay 1938-1941” (the first of a new two-volume history of Britain in World War II) is excellent so far.
The title is slightly misleading as it begins with a good 100 pages or more on Britain in the 1930s.
Covers the Empire, the regions and nations, and electoral politics.
The title is slightly misleading as it begins with a good 100 pages or more on Britain in the 1930s.
Covers the Empire, the regions and nations, and electoral politics.
January 27, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Alan Allport’s “Britain at Bay 1938-1941” (the first of a new two-volume history of Britain in World War II) is excellent so far.
The title is slightly misleading as it begins with a good 100 pages or more on Britain in the 1930s.
Covers the Empire, the regions and nations, and electoral politics.
The title is slightly misleading as it begins with a good 100 pages or more on Britain in the 1930s.
Covers the Empire, the regions and nations, and electoral politics.
Ignore a lot of the nonsense hype about AI, it’s fora like this which are thinking about use cases which may prove to be genuinely useful.
Handwritten Text Recognition
Document parsing and Named Entity Recognition.
etc
Properly applied, deep learning can potentially be a great help to archivists
Handwritten Text Recognition
Document parsing and Named Entity Recognition.
etc
Properly applied, deep learning can potentially be a great help to archivists
In December, hundreds of library, museum, archive and research staff gathered at the British Library to share the state of the art in AI research for cultural heritage. Find out more: https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/fantastic-futures-2025-highlights-and-resources #AI4LAM
Fantastic Futures 2025: highlights and resources
Hundreds of information professionals gathered in the British Library’s Knowledge Centre to share the state of the art in AI research for cultural heritage.
www.bl.uk
January 26, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Ignore a lot of the nonsense hype about AI, it’s fora like this which are thinking about use cases which may prove to be genuinely useful.
Handwritten Text Recognition
Document parsing and Named Entity Recognition.
etc
Properly applied, deep learning can potentially be a great help to archivists
Handwritten Text Recognition
Document parsing and Named Entity Recognition.
etc
Properly applied, deep learning can potentially be a great help to archivists
Reposted by James Elder
In December, hundreds of library, museum, archive and research staff gathered at the British Library to share the state of the art in AI research for cultural heritage. Find out more: https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/fantastic-futures-2025-highlights-and-resources #AI4LAM
Fantastic Futures 2025: highlights and resources
Hundreds of information professionals gathered in the British Library’s Knowledge Centre to share the state of the art in AI research for cultural heritage.
www.bl.uk
January 26, 2026 at 11:58 AM
In December, hundreds of library, museum, archive and research staff gathered at the British Library to share the state of the art in AI research for cultural heritage. Find out more: https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/fantastic-futures-2025-highlights-and-resources #AI4LAM
Reposted by James Elder
Centenary day on the blog, with a Magic Rays extract, recounting JLB's 26 Jan '26 public presentation of 'true television', plus links to Don McLean's article at The Conversation, and contemporary reports at Andre Lang's History of Television website.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/centenary-day/
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/centenary-day/
Centenary day - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Happy 100th birthday, television! Exactly one hundred years ago tonight, John Logie Baird gave the first public presentation of what he called ‘true television’ in his workshop abou...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Centenary day on the blog, with a Magic Rays extract, recounting JLB's 26 Jan '26 public presentation of 'true television', plus links to Don McLean's article at The Conversation, and contemporary reports at Andre Lang's History of Television website.
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/centenary-day/
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/centenary-day/
I’ve found all the Lime bikes - they’re in Putney.
January 24, 2026 at 2:29 PM
I’ve found all the Lime bikes - they’re in Putney.
Quote with a gif of where you’re from.
January 23, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Quote with a gif of where you’re from.
No, Donald.
In Icelandic, Daði (pronounced Daddy) is a given name. I believe it translates into English as 'Dave'.
In Icelandic, Daði (pronounced Daddy) is a given name. I believe it translates into English as 'Dave'.
Trump on NATO: "Until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me. They called me daddy."
(He means Greenland.)
(He means Greenland.)
January 21, 2026 at 3:53 PM
No, Donald.
In Icelandic, Daði (pronounced Daddy) is a given name. I believe it translates into English as 'Dave'.
In Icelandic, Daði (pronounced Daddy) is a given name. I believe it translates into English as 'Dave'.
Occasionally people ask what Simpsons line you find yourself repeating regularly.
Whenever I see one of the TfL “Baby on Board!” badges, I always hear:
“Baby on board,
Something something
Burt Ward”
This thing writes itself!
Whenever I see one of the TfL “Baby on Board!” badges, I always hear:
“Baby on board,
Something something
Burt Ward”
This thing writes itself!
January 21, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Occasionally people ask what Simpsons line you find yourself repeating regularly.
Whenever I see one of the TfL “Baby on Board!” badges, I always hear:
“Baby on board,
Something something
Burt Ward”
This thing writes itself!
Whenever I see one of the TfL “Baby on Board!” badges, I always hear:
“Baby on board,
Something something
Burt Ward”
This thing writes itself!
Reposted by James Elder
Is It Good Or Bad For The President Of The United States To Say That A Racial Group Has Inferior IQs? I’ve Been Waiting For Somebody To Ask So I Can Finally Reveal The True Rational Answer In 45,000 Words. Today By Scott Alexander At Astral Codex Ten.
January 21, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Is It Good Or Bad For The President Of The United States To Say That A Racial Group Has Inferior IQs? I’ve Been Waiting For Somebody To Ask So I Can Finally Reveal The True Rational Answer In 45,000 Words. Today By Scott Alexander At Astral Codex Ten.
Reposted by James Elder
One of my fave things about the BBC is that a bunch of old stories are still rendered in the original UI from the time they were published. The site's a living museum of every CMS they've ever run. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news...
BBC NEWS | UK | England | White horses defaced by activists
news.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 6:30 PM
One of my fave things about the BBC is that a bunch of old stories are still rendered in the original UI from the time they were published. The site's a living museum of every CMS they've ever run. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news...