John Aerni-Flessner
@lesothojohn.bsky.social
Assoc Prof, African History, MSU, RCAH.
Dreams for Lesotho: http://undpress.nd.edu/9780
Historical Dictionary: tinyurl.com/3tyha6jt
Publications here: https://tinyurl.com/ynvwp6c5
Lesotho, Southern Africa, development, borders, running, Michigan
Dreams for Lesotho: http://undpress.nd.edu/9780
Historical Dictionary: tinyurl.com/3tyha6jt
Publications here: https://tinyurl.com/ynvwp6c5
Lesotho, Southern Africa, development, borders, running, Michigan
Pinned
John Aerni-Flessner
Articles by John Aerni-Flessner.
africasacountry.com
Hello to all my new followers!
As handle suggests, mostly Lesotho/South Africa stuff here.
Academic writing can be found in above links.
Non-Academic Writing:
AIAC: africasacountry.com/author/john-...
M&G: mg.co.za/author/john-...
Daily Maverick: www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johna...
As handle suggests, mostly Lesotho/South Africa stuff here.
Academic writing can be found in above links.
Non-Academic Writing:
AIAC: africasacountry.com/author/john-...
M&G: mg.co.za/author/john-...
Daily Maverick: www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johna...
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
I was today year's old when I learned that the musical Godspell played a 5-month run in #Maseru, #Lesotho in 1973 as the first shows at the then-Holiday Inn in Maseru.
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I was today year's old when I learned that the musical Godspell played a 5-month run in #Maseru, #Lesotho in 1973 as the first shows at the then-Holiday Inn in Maseru.
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
I was today year's old when I learned that the musical Godspell played a 5-month run in #Maseru, #Lesotho in 1973 as the first shows at the then-Holiday Inn in Maseru.
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
November 25, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I was today year's old when I learned that the musical Godspell played a 5-month run in #Maseru, #Lesotho in 1973 as the first shows at the then-Holiday Inn in Maseru.
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
It would later play #Wits Theatre in #Johannesburg to a mixed-race audience in 1974. Wild times!
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Last year at this time, National Endowment for the Humanities staff were gearing up to make the calls to award grants that were recommended at the November 2024 Nat'l Council.
This year, 70% of #NEH staff are fired, 85% of Nat'l Council members are fired, and nearly all grants are terminated. #DOGE
This year, 70% of #NEH staff are fired, 85% of Nat'l Council members are fired, and nearly all grants are terminated. #DOGE
Last year at this time, I had just learned that I would receive a 12-month NEH, and I was excitedly starting to lay plans for a year of research. DOGE halted those plans by canceling my grant outright. Now DOGE is gone too, having accomplished nothing but harm to others. What a year.
November 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Oh no, Jimmy Cliff crossed the final river, comforting myself with this epic live version.
youtu.be/6utjK46tZPU
youtu.be/6utjK46tZPU
Jimmy Cliff - Many rivers to cross - Live stéréo 1970
YouTube video by Lamalopépit de Bruno Carlier
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Oh no, Jimmy Cliff crossed the final river, comforting myself with this epic live version.
youtu.be/6utjK46tZPU
youtu.be/6utjK46tZPU
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
The drug lenacapavir will be distributed to Eswatini and Zambia — the first step toward providing at least 2 million doses to the countries with the highest HIV burden, largely in Africa, by 2028.
A 'breakthrough' drug to prevent HIV, an 'unprecedented' rollout
The drug lenacapavir will be distributed to Eswatini and Zambia — the first step toward providing at least 2 million doses to the countries with the highest HIV burden, largely in Africa, by 2028.
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 12:24 AM
The drug lenacapavir will be distributed to Eswatini and Zambia — the first step toward providing at least 2 million doses to the countries with the highest HIV burden, largely in Africa, by 2028.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
the multi-year lack of a truly functional manuscripts catalog at the BL is finally over!!!!
Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
Restoring our services – November 2025 update
In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.
www.bl.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
the multi-year lack of a truly functional manuscripts catalog at the BL is finally over!!!!
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries
Press Release: Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Adm...
librarytechnology.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Costs (the money needed to provide an education) have risen. Prices (what students pay) have been at or below inflation for the past decade. That doesn't get nearly enough attention.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Costs (the money needed to provide an education) have risen. Prices (what students pay) have been at or below inflation for the past decade. That doesn't get nearly enough attention.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
The Cloudflare outage has taken out chatGPT. Maybe AI did become sentient and decided the internet was horrible and it would rather just live in a data center in the woods away from all of this.
November 18, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The Cloudflare outage has taken out chatGPT. Maybe AI did become sentient and decided the internet was horrible and it would rather just live in a data center in the woods away from all of this.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
@faisalahali.bsky.social, Alex Thurston, and I have done a podcast episode on the end of the Cold War in West and East Africa. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering a variety of experiences of the late 1980s/early 1990s, and their legacies. Have a listen! alexthurston.substack.com/cp/179131463
Podcast Episode: The End of the Cold War from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa
I talk with Faisal Ali and Nathaniel Powell about a pivotal period in African history.
alexthurston.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
@faisalahali.bsky.social, Alex Thurston, and I have done a podcast episode on the end of the Cold War in West and East Africa. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering a variety of experiences of the late 1980s/early 1990s, and their legacies. Have a listen! alexthurston.substack.com/cp/179131463
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades. n.pr/4pgYetu
Americana troubadour Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter, dies at 59
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades.
n.pr
November 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades. n.pr/4pgYetu
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Haha yes! Also you could probably make your own Land Grant Trophy with items laying around our store.
The Sickos Committee Game of the Week Rankings - GOTW
A BOWL ELIGIBILITY ELIMINATION BOWL.
THE WINNER GETS THE MOST EPIC RIVALRY TROPHY ADORNED WITH THE BEST KNICKKNACKS FROM YOUR GRANMOTHER’S HOUSE!
THE LAND GRANT TROPHY!! 🏆
OUR GAME OF THE WEEK!!
PENN STATE 🆚 MICHIGAN STATE!!
A BOWL ELIGIBILITY ELIMINATION BOWL.
THE WINNER GETS THE MOST EPIC RIVALRY TROPHY ADORNED WITH THE BEST KNICKKNACKS FROM YOUR GRANMOTHER’S HOUSE!
THE LAND GRANT TROPHY!! 🏆
OUR GAME OF THE WEEK!!
PENN STATE 🆚 MICHIGAN STATE!!
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Haha yes! Also you could probably make your own Land Grant Trophy with items laying around our store.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Reports of the death of the bachelor’s degree have been greatly exaggerated. Enrollment is near pre-pandemic levels, real tuition is flat or down, and the college wage premium remains high.
I explore how the narrative became disconnected from the data.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/is-college...
I explore how the narrative became disconnected from the data.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/is-college...
Is college enrollment really plummeting?
Reports of the death of the bachelor’s degree have been greatly exaggerated.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reports of the death of the bachelor’s degree have been greatly exaggerated. Enrollment is near pre-pandemic levels, real tuition is flat or down, and the college wage premium remains high.
I explore how the narrative became disconnected from the data.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/is-college...
I explore how the narrative became disconnected from the data.
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/is-college...
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Like, guys.
The US Government booked 50+ seats on a flight for "refugees."
3 people turned up.
They are not coming.
www.news24.com/citypress/ne...
The US Government booked 50+ seats on a flight for "refugees."
3 people turned up.
They are not coming.
www.news24.com/citypress/ne...
US books dozens of seats for Afrikaner ‘refugees’, but only three pitch up | News24
Far fewer ‘refugees’ arrived for their flights than were catered for. Despite this, the US government has targeted resettlement of 6 000 people by the end of November.
www.news24.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Like, guys.
The US Government booked 50+ seats on a flight for "refugees."
3 people turned up.
They are not coming.
www.news24.com/citypress/ne...
The US Government booked 50+ seats on a flight for "refugees."
3 people turned up.
They are not coming.
www.news24.com/citypress/ne...
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
I’ve been saying, for all but the very VERY individual and extreme, this whole “refugee program” business is being *roundly* rejected by white South Africans…
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
Prominent Afrikaners refuse to be 'pawns,' and hit back at Trump's claims about South Africa
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
n.pr
November 11, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I’ve been saying, for all but the very VERY individual and extreme, this whole “refugee program” business is being *roundly* rejected by white South Africans…
Hey, if you are around #Madison, #Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon and want to hear all about the #Lesotho Highlands Water Project ( #LHWP ), come out to the Department of Anthropology Colloquium!
www.anthropology.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
www.anthropology.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
www.anthropology.wisc.edu
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Hey, if you are around #Madison, #Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon and want to hear all about the #Lesotho Highlands Water Project ( #LHWP ), come out to the Department of Anthropology Colloquium!
www.anthropology.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
www.anthropology.wisc.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Happy to report that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign academic senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution against the federal “compact” all of us in higher ed have been offered, encouraging our administrators to keep opposing it. #MADC www.senate.illinois.edu/2025-2026/20...
www.senate.illinois.edu
November 11, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Happy to report that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign academic senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution against the federal “compact” all of us in higher ed have been offered, encouraging our administrators to keep opposing it. #MADC www.senate.illinois.edu/2025-2026/20...
In case you needed to hear it: There is no "genocide" in South Africa. Especially not against white folks, even Afrikaners.
No genocide! Graciously took my MSU study abroad students there in 2019 (no genocide) and my family there in 2022. No genocide!
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
No genocide! Graciously took my MSU study abroad students there in 2019 (no genocide) and my family there in 2022. No genocide!
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
Prominent Afrikaners refuse to be 'pawns,' and hit back at Trump's claims about South Africa
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and po...
www.npr.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 AM
In case you needed to hear it: There is no "genocide" in South Africa. Especially not against white folks, even Afrikaners.
No genocide! Graciously took my MSU study abroad students there in 2019 (no genocide) and my family there in 2022. No genocide!
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
No genocide! Graciously took my MSU study abroad students there in 2019 (no genocide) and my family there in 2022. No genocide!
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
Prominent Afrikaners refuse to be 'pawns,' and hit back at Trump's claims about South Africa
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
n.pr
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
50 years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the last large freighter to sink on the American Great Lakes.
Waking up to snow today (and, I am sure, significant wind and waves last night on the lakes) makes us all realize the power of nature.
Waking up to snow today (and, I am sure, significant wind and waves last night on the lakes) makes us all realize the power of nature.
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
50 years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the last large freighter to sink on the American Great Lakes.
Waking up to snow today (and, I am sure, significant wind and waves last night on the lakes) makes us all realize the power of nature.
Waking up to snow today (and, I am sure, significant wind and waves last night on the lakes) makes us all realize the power of nature.
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Happy University Press Week! Join us in celebrating how authors, university press publishing professionals & so many others #TeamUP to advance knowledge. Explore this @bookshop.org collection of university press books to find your next thought-provoking read: https://bit.ly/4nhTQcc. #ReadUP
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Happy University Press Week! Join us in celebrating how authors, university press publishing professionals & so many others #TeamUP to advance knowledge. Explore this @bookshop.org collection of university press books to find your next thought-provoking read: https://bit.ly/4nhTQcc. #ReadUP
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
Happy University Press Week! Have you told your university press how much you love them lately?? 🥰
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Happy University Press Week! Have you told your university press how much you love them lately?? 🥰
Reposted by John Aerni-Flessner
@lesothojohn.bsky.social a shout for this blog among your followers will be much appreciated.Thank you
ntatechris.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...
ntatechris.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...
The Immorality of Lesotho’s Banking Fees: A Nation Held Hostage by Its Own Banks
Dr Chris Mokolatsie argues that Lesotho’s banking system is exploiting the poor — and that government must act to restore financial dignity. I had two exasperating conversations recently that left …
ntatechris.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:56 AM
@lesothojohn.bsky.social a shout for this blog among your followers will be much appreciated.Thank you
ntatechris.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...
ntatechris.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/t...