Dr Una McIlvenna
@unamcilvenna.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer at ANU who writes about – and sometimes sings – ballads about executions, disasters, military conflicts & politics from the 16th to the 19th century. Personal website: unamcilvenna.com
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
No matter how long I live after we get through this dark chapter, I will never get over the immorality, the amorality, the corruption, the criminality and the cruelty in service to one of the worst humans to ever walk the earth.
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
No matter how long I live after we get through this dark chapter, I will never get over the immorality, the amorality, the corruption, the criminality and the cruelty in service to one of the worst humans to ever walk the earth.
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
I remain convinced DOGE was a massive, planetary scale data exfiltration scheme and that Palantir has it all now
Musk's people infiltrated the GSA technology arm early on and demanded root-level access to computer systems, trying to circumvent normal security procedures. Here's one example where they pushed so hard they forced someone to resign rather than give in.
Why did they do this?
Why did they do this?
Musk Ally Demands Admin Access to System That Lets Government Text the Public
A worker resigned in protest rather than giving Thomas Shedd access to Notify.gov, which they said would allow him to see "all personally identifiable information moving through the Notiy system, incl...
www.404media.co
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM
I remain convinced DOGE was a massive, planetary scale data exfiltration scheme and that Palantir has it all now
Aussies, you need to wake up.
@australianlabor.bsky.social are a right wing party and have been so for decades. Look at their voting record when they were in opposition. They are not the party of Whitlam and have not been so for DECADES.
@australianlabor.bsky.social are a right wing party and have been so for decades. Look at their voting record when they were in opposition. They are not the party of Whitlam and have not been so for DECADES.
Disgraceful
Today @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social succeeded in establishing new powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction.
Thanks @senatorthorpe.bsky.social @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social @davidpocock.bsky.social @pennyallmanpayne.com for trying to stop this dangerous law.
Thanks @senatorthorpe.bsky.social @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social @davidpocock.bsky.social @pennyallmanpayne.com for trying to stop this dangerous law.
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Aussies, you need to wake up.
@australianlabor.bsky.social are a right wing party and have been so for decades. Look at their voting record when they were in opposition. They are not the party of Whitlam and have not been so for DECADES.
@australianlabor.bsky.social are a right wing party and have been so for decades. Look at their voting record when they were in opposition. They are not the party of Whitlam and have not been so for DECADES.
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Disgraceful
Today @tanyaplibersekmp.bsky.social succeeded in establishing new powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction.
Thanks @senatorthorpe.bsky.social @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social @davidpocock.bsky.social @pennyallmanpayne.com for trying to stop this dangerous law.
Thanks @senatorthorpe.bsky.social @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social @davidpocock.bsky.social @pennyallmanpayne.com for trying to stop this dangerous law.
Shame Labor shame: New powers to cancel Centrelink payments before conviction pass the senate
Welfare recipients have a right to be treated equally under the law, and should not be subject to punishment before having access to legal advice for any reason, ever.
apcentre.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Disgraceful
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
i think tech and ai positive people are going to be in for a big shock when anti tech and anti ai sentiment becomes a major part of leftwing politics going forward especially as datacenters continue to destroy communities and raise electricity bills
Is this platform still massively against AI or has it moved more towards acceptance?
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 AM
i think tech and ai positive people are going to be in for a big shock when anti tech and anti ai sentiment becomes a major part of leftwing politics going forward especially as datacenters continue to destroy communities and raise electricity bills
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Many men feel the stripper really likes them. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Many men feel the stripper really likes them. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
'Exiting the market' is such a crap euphemism. It's not like the 'university' will then go and apply all its assets to another market. Those assets (human and non-human) will be dispersed, wasted, destroyed. Un-creative destruction. Which we can't afford as a society.
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
The weirdest thing for anyone who, like me, grew up in Canada in the 80s, is watching John Roberts on Fox, who was back then a long-haired music VJ, very rock n roll, so far from whatever this is
November 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
The weirdest thing for anyone who, like me, grew up in Canada in the 80s, is watching John Roberts on Fox, who was back then a long-haired music VJ, very rock n roll, so far from whatever this is
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
🚨BREAKING -- A new UN report has found Israel's annihilation of Gaza has erased 69 years of human development, marking the worst economic collapse ever recorded.
All with the UK government's support👇
unctad.org/publication/...
All with the UK government's support👇
unctad.org/publication/...
November 26, 2025 at 10:19 AM
🚨BREAKING -- A new UN report has found Israel's annihilation of Gaza has erased 69 years of human development, marking the worst economic collapse ever recorded.
All with the UK government's support👇
unctad.org/publication/...
All with the UK government's support👇
unctad.org/publication/...
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
In stead of sending a link to old threads every time someone uses the term "Dark Ages", I decided to put it all in an article.
Why most historians no longer use the biased misnomer “dark ages”.
Read it here:
fakehistoryhunter.net/2025/11/25/w...
or:
fakehistoryhunter.substack.com/p/why-most-h...
Why most historians no longer use the biased misnomer “dark ages”.
Read it here:
fakehistoryhunter.net/2025/11/25/w...
or:
fakehistoryhunter.substack.com/p/why-most-h...
Why most historians no longer use the biased misnomer “dark ages”
This is not YET another article on why calling the early middle ages the dark ages is iffy, it’s a list of sources & references. These days most historians no longer use the term “D…
fakehistoryhunter.net
November 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
In stead of sending a link to old threads every time someone uses the term "Dark Ages", I decided to put it all in an article.
Why most historians no longer use the biased misnomer “dark ages”.
Read it here:
fakehistoryhunter.net/2025/11/25/w...
or:
fakehistoryhunter.substack.com/p/why-most-h...
Why most historians no longer use the biased misnomer “dark ages”.
Read it here:
fakehistoryhunter.net/2025/11/25/w...
or:
fakehistoryhunter.substack.com/p/why-most-h...
Advice please. What are US airports currently like re: the detention of incoming passengers? Are we still seeing the same crazy detentions we were seeing in March-April? Is it safe to enter, do you think? Planning a trip in April next year and wondering whether it will be safe to do or not...
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Advice please. What are US airports currently like re: the detention of incoming passengers? Are we still seeing the same crazy detentions we were seeing in March-April? Is it safe to enter, do you think? Planning a trip in April next year and wondering whether it will be safe to do or not...
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 24, 2025 at 11:39 PM
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
A local artist traded me some odd objects for some of my art. One was a soup bomb. I assumed ”bomb” meant it was for the bath, maybe a little vegetal. My mom LOVES baths.
Turns out it was soup. In a ball. And my mom had to call for help to get out of the bathtub.
Turns out it was soup. In a ball. And my mom had to call for help to get out of the bathtub.
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A local artist traded me some odd objects for some of my art. One was a soup bomb. I assumed ”bomb” meant it was for the bath, maybe a little vegetal. My mom LOVES baths.
Turns out it was soup. In a ball. And my mom had to call for help to get out of the bathtub.
Turns out it was soup. In a ball. And my mom had to call for help to get out of the bathtub.
Tell me again how great AI is - this one can't even tell time 🙄
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Tell me again how great AI is - this one can't even tell time 🙄
Hadn’t heard about the news that inspired this post, but have since found out it’s referring to felching. As a historian of sexuality I’m very familiar with what that is - appears others are not so 😃
can't believe rfk jr wants to stop me from eating red M&Ms but he'll eat *** out of an ****
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Hadn’t heard about the news that inspired this post, but have since found out it’s referring to felching. As a historian of sexuality I’m very familiar with what that is - appears others are not so 😃
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Oh, man. One of cinema's most reliable weirdos, and I mean that in a highly complimentary fashion. RIP.
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Udo Kier, German Actor Who Appeared in ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ ‘Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein,’ Dies at 81
Udo Kier, a German actor who collaborated with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna, died on Sunday morning. He was 81.
variety.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Oh, man. One of cinema's most reliable weirdos, and I mean that in a highly complimentary fashion. RIP.
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Dear Bluesky,
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
This is the Observer's coverage of the Reform Russian Spie Scandal... 600 words on page 22 of the printed newspaper.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
More MEPs investigated in Russian bribe probe | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Dear Bluesky,
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
My hot take is that over the next 10 years, we're going to see more emphasis on and investment in the humanities at Ivy League and other fancy schools just as state schools and small privates continue to decimate and even eliminate the humanities.
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
"The humanities really are a resource — a confidence for living in our times.” Dean Sara Guyer on the modern utility of humanities degrees
This interview originally appeared on the Division of Arts
bit.ly
November 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
My hot take is that over the next 10 years, we're going to see more emphasis on and investment in the humanities at Ivy League and other fancy schools just as state schools and small privates continue to decimate and even eliminate the humanities.
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
Reading this as a historian of a period when women regularly wrote farewell letters to their families before giving birth because they knew how dangerous it was, and knowing how grateful they would have been for reliable medical care and medicine, makes me want to scream in frustration
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reading this as a historian of a period when women regularly wrote farewell letters to their families before giving birth because they knew how dangerous it was, and knowing how grateful they would have been for reliable medical care and medicine, makes me want to scream in frustration
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
For this week's #ThursdayFilmRec 🗃️🎥🍿🎬 #HATM
Watch (or Rewatch) one of my favorite films: "Broadcast News" (1987) - Dir. James L. Brooks
Fantastic performances by Holly Hunter, William Hurt, & Albert Brooks.
And, this unforgettable scene featuring Joan Cusack. ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCE...
Watch (or Rewatch) one of my favorite films: "Broadcast News" (1987) - Dir. James L. Brooks
Fantastic performances by Holly Hunter, William Hurt, & Albert Brooks.
And, this unforgettable scene featuring Joan Cusack. ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCE...
Broadcast News - Tape Scene
YouTube video by Peter Ghosh
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For this week's #ThursdayFilmRec 🗃️🎥🍿🎬 #HATM
Watch (or Rewatch) one of my favorite films: "Broadcast News" (1987) - Dir. James L. Brooks
Fantastic performances by Holly Hunter, William Hurt, & Albert Brooks.
And, this unforgettable scene featuring Joan Cusack. ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCE...
Watch (or Rewatch) one of my favorite films: "Broadcast News" (1987) - Dir. James L. Brooks
Fantastic performances by Holly Hunter, William Hurt, & Albert Brooks.
And, this unforgettable scene featuring Joan Cusack. ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCE...
Reposted by Dr Una McIlvenna
At least it's honest, right? Intrusive questioning of women who don't conform to norms about how they should look, and women then being banned if they tell their inquisitor to mind his own sodding business, has always been the logical end point for the patriarchal project that is TERFdom.
November 20, 2025 at 6:43 AM
At least it's honest, right? Intrusive questioning of women who don't conform to norms about how they should look, and women then being banned if they tell their inquisitor to mind his own sodding business, has always been the logical end point for the patriarchal project that is TERFdom.