Michelle Watson
@michwatsonoz.bsky.social
Archivist. Community historian. Genealogist. Stockton, NSW during WW1. MIM - family history researchers as an uni archives user group. Digital Humanities. LOD. (she/her) - https://www.michellewatson.org - Worimi Country
Pinned
Michelle Watson
@michwatsonoz.bsky.social
· Sep 12
After two years of work, the @stocktonhistsoc.bsky.social Online Archive is now live. I hope it can act as a model for small heritage and #GLAM groups to make their collections more accessable and create backups of unique cultural materials. Cost $100AUD p/a #GenHour
stockton.omeka.net
stockton.omeka.net
Reposted by Michelle Watson
The obvious & cruel irony is: the same welfare surveillance state which uses invasive tech to monitor our behaviour — right down to who we sleep with — refuses to monitor the outsourced providers it pays billions of dollars to make punishment decisions under social security law
December 22, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The obvious & cruel irony is: the same welfare surveillance state which uses invasive tech to monitor our behaviour — right down to who we sleep with — refuses to monitor the outsourced providers it pays billions of dollars to make punishment decisions under social security law
Reposted by Michelle Watson
#Melbourne
yesterday police appeared to have stopped a Vline train BETWEEN stations, had people out of the train on the sides of the tracks. I still can’t find any info on what or why and this was VERY close to home. Anyone know what was going on?
(VLine said no trains b/n Deer Park & Wyndham Vale)
yesterday police appeared to have stopped a Vline train BETWEEN stations, had people out of the train on the sides of the tracks. I still can’t find any info on what or why and this was VERY close to home. Anyone know what was going on?
(VLine said no trains b/n Deer Park & Wyndham Vale)
December 21, 2025 at 1:41 AM
#Melbourne
yesterday police appeared to have stopped a Vline train BETWEEN stations, had people out of the train on the sides of the tracks. I still can’t find any info on what or why and this was VERY close to home. Anyone know what was going on?
(VLine said no trains b/n Deer Park & Wyndham Vale)
yesterday police appeared to have stopped a Vline train BETWEEN stations, had people out of the train on the sides of the tracks. I still can’t find any info on what or why and this was VERY close to home. Anyone know what was going on?
(VLine said no trains b/n Deer Park & Wyndham Vale)
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Anyway we’ll be requiring undergrads’ Zotero libraries to contain a copy of everything they cite next quarter, which I guess is one very labor-intensive way to check.
December 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Anyway we’ll be requiring undergrads’ Zotero libraries to contain a copy of everything they cite next quarter, which I guess is one very labor-intensive way to check.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Coming back to this, I'm still struck by the implication that academics should care if the AI pushers "trust" all our work that's done without AI.
I don't know, man, you all seemed to trust our work enough to steal it from us wholesale.
I don't know, man, you all seemed to trust our work enough to steal it from us wholesale.
I would struggle to trust an academic who doesn‘t know how to
use AI tools.
Which is not the same as not being critical.
use AI tools.
Which is not the same as not being critical.
December 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Coming back to this, I'm still struck by the implication that academics should care if the AI pushers "trust" all our work that's done without AI.
I don't know, man, you all seemed to trust our work enough to steal it from us wholesale.
I don't know, man, you all seemed to trust our work enough to steal it from us wholesale.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
DHS said that accusations of abuses in Camp East Montana are “clickbait.”
But 911 emergency calls from the massive detention center I obtained paint a different picture, with emergency being made for life-threatening illnesses and acute mental health crises.
My story:
But 911 emergency calls from the massive detention center I obtained paint a different picture, with emergency being made for life-threatening illnesses and acute mental health crises.
My story:
Exclusive: 911 calls from migrant detention center highlight dire conditions
About 90 emergency 911 calls have been made from the Camp East Montana immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, during the 15 weeks since it opened.
www.elpasotimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
DHS said that accusations of abuses in Camp East Montana are “clickbait.”
But 911 emergency calls from the massive detention center I obtained paint a different picture, with emergency being made for life-threatening illnesses and acute mental health crises.
My story:
But 911 emergency calls from the massive detention center I obtained paint a different picture, with emergency being made for life-threatening illnesses and acute mental health crises.
My story:
Reposted by Michelle Watson
The kids public primary school is 35ºC inside for the final assembly.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has been pouring literally millions and millions into private school up the road so they can build a second music room.
But not an extra cent for us.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has been pouring literally millions and millions into private school up the road so they can build a second music room.
But not an extra cent for us.
December 19, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The kids public primary school is 35ºC inside for the final assembly.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has been pouring literally millions and millions into private school up the road so they can build a second music room.
But not an extra cent for us.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has been pouring literally millions and millions into private school up the road so they can build a second music room.
But not an extra cent for us.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
I love the fucking internet, part 972964386: "One Night In Bangkok" arranged and performed as a 16th century chanson. youtu.be/i3jHv0GZB9U?...
One Night in Bangkok but it's a 16th century chanson
YouTube video by Jonasquin
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I love the fucking internet, part 972964386: "One Night In Bangkok" arranged and performed as a 16th century chanson. youtu.be/i3jHv0GZB9U?...
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Feeling for all the different communities who are grieving and scared. Let’s meet this moment with love and empathy.
December 16, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Feeling for all the different communities who are grieving and scared. Let’s meet this moment with love and empathy.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Back when I did research, just making up data used to be called academic misconduct.
Times have changed.
Times have changed.
Did you know that from tomorrow, Qualtrics is offering synthetic panels (AI-generated participants)?
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
Follow me down a rabbit hole I'm calling "doing science is tough and I'm so busy, can't we just make up participants?"
December 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Back when I did research, just making up data used to be called academic misconduct.
Times have changed.
Times have changed.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
Looks like two more people confronted and disarmed one of the gunmen at Bondi before the shooting started. The bravery is astounding and is what we should remember. Unfortunately, they were killed, probably the first victims of the attack.
December 16, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Looks like two more people confronted and disarmed one of the gunmen at Bondi before the shooting started. The bravery is astounding and is what we should remember. Unfortunately, they were killed, probably the first victims of the attack.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Reposted by Michelle Watson
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
December 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
Reposted by Michelle Watson
The collateral damage of people upset (often with good reasons) about generative AI is their digital humanities colleagues. It’s outpacing 2010 levels of vitriol, by a lot. The irony is we’re the best allies — we understand how the tech works and can translate between the doom and the hype. +
December 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The collateral damage of people upset (often with good reasons) about generative AI is their digital humanities colleagues. It’s outpacing 2010 levels of vitriol, by a lot. The irony is we’re the best allies — we understand how the tech works and can translate between the doom and the hype. +
Reposted by Michelle Watson
I write a newspaper column about Scottish history, historians and heritage.
I’m keen to feature more Early Career Researchers. Their work might not otherwise be publicised to a wide audience. Do you know anyone who might like to be in the column?
I’m keen to feature more Early Career Researchers. Their work might not otherwise be publicised to a wide audience. Do you know anyone who might like to be in the column?
December 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I write a newspaper column about Scottish history, historians and heritage.
I’m keen to feature more Early Career Researchers. Their work might not otherwise be publicised to a wide audience. Do you know anyone who might like to be in the column?
I’m keen to feature more Early Career Researchers. Their work might not otherwise be publicised to a wide audience. Do you know anyone who might like to be in the column?
Reposted by Michelle Watson
It's so fucked up to have been a kid during the D&D is the devil freakout and the Tipper Gore dirty lyrics freakout and live to see the teen suicide machine get such a pass.
December 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
It's so fucked up to have been a kid during the D&D is the devil freakout and the Tipper Gore dirty lyrics freakout and live to see the teen suicide machine get such a pass.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Are you looking for Victorian newspapers from a particular town or region? Try my new Victorian Newspapers Explorer! Just click on the map to see a list of titles from the State Library of Victoria – both digitised and non-digitised. https://slv.wraggelabs.com/newspapers/ #maps #libraries #histodons
Explore Victorian newspapers
slv.wraggelabs.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Are you looking for Victorian newspapers from a particular town or region? Try my new Victorian Newspapers Explorer! Just click on the map to see a list of titles from the State Library of Victoria – both digitised and non-digitised. https://slv.wraggelabs.com/newspapers/ #maps #libraries #histodons
Reposted by Michelle Watson
A new study of the last 50 years of US pop music shows “a significant increase in stress-related language, alongside declines in positive sentiment and lyrical complexity.”
Societal crises disrupt long-term increases in stress, negativity, and simplicity in US Billboard song lyrics from 1973 to 2023 - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Societal crises disrupt long-term increases in stress, negativity, and simplicity in US Billboard song lyrics from 1973 to 2023
www.nature.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:32 AM
A new study of the last 50 years of US pop music shows “a significant increase in stress-related language, alongside declines in positive sentiment and lyrical complexity.”
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Australia Institute research shows that nurses pay more tax than gas and oil companies.
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
December 12, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Australia Institute research shows that nurses pay more tax than gas and oil companies.
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
Sign our petition calling on the government to fix our gas export problem: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_export_problem
Reposted by Michelle Watson
"I'm not in denial, I'm in open rebellion" damn that quote goes hard
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 AM
"I'm not in denial, I'm in open rebellion" damn that quote goes hard
Reposted by Michelle Watson
Look what my awesome @simmonsuniversity.bsky.social Library Science students did! This year, we studied a manuscript broken in the 1980s (likely by Ferrini, but we don't know for sure). It's generally known as the Hours of St. Alexis because many of the roundels illustrate scenes from his Vita...
December 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Look what my awesome @simmonsuniversity.bsky.social Library Science students did! This year, we studied a manuscript broken in the 1980s (likely by Ferrini, but we don't know for sure). It's generally known as the Hours of St. Alexis because many of the roundels illustrate scenes from his Vita...
Reposted by Michelle Watson
REPEAT AFTER ME (but really, after Neil Kraus):
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Do not accept the premise that education is to blame for abysmal jobs outcomes.
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
December 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
REPEAT AFTER ME (but really, after Neil Kraus):
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Reposted by Michelle Watson
If you are near Philadelphia, have 123 dollars, and roughly 28 cubic feet of space to store 1,600 VHS tapes in reasonably climate controlled conditions until I can get up there, I will retrieve this collection of almost guaranteed vital archival value and digitize its entirety.
December 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
If you are near Philadelphia, have 123 dollars, and roughly 28 cubic feet of space to store 1,600 VHS tapes in reasonably climate controlled conditions until I can get up there, I will retrieve this collection of almost guaranteed vital archival value and digitize its entirety.