William Carruthers
@williamcarruthers.bsky.social
Lecturer in Heritage at a university near Colchester. ‘Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology’ out now with Cornell UP. Fellow, RHistS. https://williamcarruthers.co.uk // williamcarruthers.wordpress.com
Pinned
The first paperback copy of my book Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology just arrived! Available on the 15th March from @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
1/ I’m going to do a thread of the promotional writing and interviews I’ve done for my book starting with…
I have maybe once in my life been somewhere this cold and, let me tell you, it is *cold*.
I'm on the 4 bus heading downtown and this is the most packed I've ever seen a bus in Minneapolis, ever. Everyone is bundled up ready to stand outside in -14°F weather.
January 23, 2026 at 7:25 PM
I have maybe once in my life been somewhere this cold and, let me tell you, it is *cold*.
CENTO, anyone?
Another sign of US Weakness as it retreats from the world stage. Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are establishing a defence pact which could spread to other countries in the region.
You’re starting to see rival power blocs forming everywhere.
You’re starting to see rival power blocs forming everywhere.
January 23, 2026 at 7:19 PM
CENTO, anyone?
Reposted by William Carruthers
‘Perhaps it’s time for all of us to face up to what the victims of empire and colonisation have known all along: for generations, humanity’s hopes for a better future have been built on a gross distortion of history.’
David Wengrow on ‘rules-based’ order, from the blog
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ja...
David Wengrow on ‘rules-based’ order, from the blog
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ja...
David Wengrow | Against the Grotian Tradition
The World Economic Forum in Davos is ending with talk of a rupture in world affairs, a collapse of international law, a...
www.lrb.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 4:05 PM
‘Perhaps it’s time for all of us to face up to what the victims of empire and colonisation have known all along: for generations, humanity’s hopes for a better future have been built on a gross distortion of history.’
David Wengrow on ‘rules-based’ order, from the blog
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ja...
David Wengrow on ‘rules-based’ order, from the blog
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ja...
It’s weird seeing the results of this in both my job and our childrens’ primary education simultaneously.
What's happened to spending at different stages of the education spending over recent decades?
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
January 23, 2026 at 2:29 PM
It’s weird seeing the results of this in both my job and our childrens’ primary education simultaneously.
Recommended! I had one of these during Covid and the Trust were extremely helpful when I had to deal with the consequences of that.
If you are considering applying for the Trust's Early Career Fellowship scheme, listen to some of our former and current Fellows from universities across the UK talk about their areas of research and their experiences.
media.leverhulme.ac.uk/video/leverh...
Deadline: 19 February 2026, 4pm
media.leverhulme.ac.uk/video/leverh...
Deadline: 19 February 2026, 4pm
Leverhulme Early Career Fellows share their experiences
The Trust is proud to support early career researchers develop their ideas and become leaders in their field
media.leverhulme.ac.uk
January 23, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Recommended! I had one of these during Covid and the Trust were extremely helpful when I had to deal with the consequences of that.
Reposted by William Carruthers
I think what the "blocking Burham looks petty" arg misses is that Labour NEC have a strong reason for blocking - Burnham would have to walk out on a Combined Authority Mayoral job he was elected to less than two years, triggering by far the largest by-election in British history
A few people have said to me/others in articles I’ve seen that it would be insane for Labour to block a Burnham return given how weak and petty it would make the leadership look.
Sure, but never underestimate the level of personal animosity towards AB at the top. Visceral to the point of obsession
Sure, but never underestimate the level of personal animosity towards AB at the top. Visceral to the point of obsession
January 23, 2026 at 10:17 AM
I think what the "blocking Burham looks petty" arg misses is that Labour NEC have a strong reason for blocking - Burnham would have to walk out on a Combined Authority Mayoral job he was elected to less than two years, triggering by far the largest by-election in British history
Glad this exists
oh, this is really good on what @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk calls "airport book brain", where glib "solutions" are jumped on by politicians who want smooth narratives, discarding nuance and complexity. Complete with a nice pop at Jonathan Haidt, and at the "UPF" brigade, too. (ht @rorycj.bsky.social)
Airport Book Brain
How faddish ideas keep seducing.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Glad this exists
Reposted by William Carruthers
What's happened to spending at different stages of the education spending over recent decades?
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
January 23, 2026 at 11:24 AM
What's happened to spending at different stages of the education spending over recent decades?
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
- HE fallen all the way back to where it was in c.2005
- secondary schools & FE still below 2010
- early years has doubled since 2010
- primary up 12% since 2010
I think we really just have to assume that the US is going to be an unreliable member of most international organisations for the foreseeable future.
No one is safe until everyone is safe.
#PublicHealth is global. And this is deeply concerning
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
#PublicHealth is global. And this is deeply concerning
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
U.S. Formally Withdraws From World Health Organization
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:44 AM
I think we really just have to assume that the US is going to be an unreliable member of most international organisations for the foreseeable future.
Reposted by William Carruthers
in this week's newsletter! a spirited defence of the humble hipster: youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/a-spirited...
January 23, 2026 at 9:39 AM
in this week's newsletter! a spirited defence of the humble hipster: youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/a-spirited...
What I love about the Labour Party is that every day it gives you another reason to never, ever vote for it.
Yday put something of a grenade under my day/week/next three months so forgot to post this
as.ft.com/r/02c7684c-a...
as.ft.com/r/02c7684c-a...
Keir Starmer’s allies ready to block Andy Burnham’s bid for Westminster comeback
[FREE TO READ] Andrew Gwynne’s decision to stand down as an MP offers by-election opening for Labour rival to prime minister
as.ft.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:06 AM
What I love about the Labour Party is that every day it gives you another reason to never, ever vote for it.
It’s terrible. But I always wonder what old Euston was like: a notorious maze, by all accounts.
Fascinated by the now thankfully finished trend in mid 2010s* station design towards what I think of as the “Birmingham New Street maze”, where a perfectly nice train station is bisected by a frankly unnecessary number of ticket gates. Why?
*So I think the design choice is actually 2005-7?
*So I think the design choice is actually 2005-7?
January 22, 2026 at 11:11 PM
It’s terrible. But I always wonder what old Euston was like: a notorious maze, by all accounts.
Reposted by William Carruthers
This as “customized mRNA vaccines against high-risk skin cancers appeared to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and death by nearly 50 percent over five years when compared with standard treatment alone” arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
January 22, 2026 at 9:35 PM
This as “customized mRNA vaccines against high-risk skin cancers appeared to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and death by nearly 50 percent over five years when compared with standard treatment alone” arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
I know this is about GERD but it’s weird when your research becomes vaguely relevant
'Trump: “We are working on Egypt and Ethiopia.
“A dam was built, and the water no longer flows the way it should. When I think of Egypt, I think of the Nile — and I think of the Nile with water in it.”'
The Nile -
“A dam was built, and the water no longer flows the way it should. When I think of Egypt, I think of the Nile — and I think of the Nile with water in it.”'
The Nile -
a man wearing a sweater that says " me " on it
Alt: David Rose from Schitt's Creek saying "ME?!" whilst checking that the person who's talking to him is talking about him
media.tenor.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:36 PM
I know this is about GERD but it’s weird when your research becomes vaguely relevant
So, let’s say I’ve just turned up at London Bridge and the train I would have got is no longer going to my stop. The next one is currently ten minutes late. Can I claim delay repay on this?
January 22, 2026 at 8:02 PM
So, let’s say I’ve just turned up at London Bridge and the train I would have got is no longer going to my stop. The next one is currently ten minutes late. Can I claim delay repay on this?
I’ve just had an email asking me to review an email
January 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I’ve just had an email asking me to review an email
This is brutal
If you gave the Starmer ministry an Empire they'd have found a way to do a Groudnut scheme
January 22, 2026 at 3:50 PM
This is brutal
Reposted by William Carruthers
In the 2010s, the Icelandic tv station Channel 2 accidentally added subtitles from a gritty crime drama to an episode of Teletubbies.
I have translated some of the highlights
I have translated some of the highlights
January 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM
In the 2010s, the Icelandic tv station Channel 2 accidentally added subtitles from a gritty crime drama to an episode of Teletubbies.
I have translated some of the highlights
I have translated some of the highlights
Reposted by William Carruthers
kinda feels like they already lost it. (also, what a thing to say out loud)
Delicious to me
January 22, 2026 at 11:32 AM
kinda feels like they already lost it. (also, what a thing to say out loud)
Reposted by William Carruthers
And yet universities are facing financial doom. What a great system.
Anyway. In 2024-5, over £15bn of interest was applied to student loans. Repayments totalled just £5bn.
And now those young people are coming into their professional prime with what is in essence a bespoke additional tax. And people are panicking. Finally.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
And now those young people are coming into their professional prime with what is in essence a bespoke additional tax. And people are panicking. Finally.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Britain's youth are living in Nick Clegg's shadow
All except the richest graduates since 2012 face a bespoke additional tax. No wonder they're radicalised
www.newstatesman.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:21 AM
And yet universities are facing financial doom. What a great system.
Reposted by William Carruthers
I work for a national museum and I welcome this announcement but this headline from Gov.uk - 'to restore national pride' - is utterly bizarre.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government announces bumper £1.5 billion package to restore national pride
£1.5 billion will be invested in cultural organisations over a five-year period – turning the corner on underfunding over the last decade and more
www.gov.uk
January 22, 2026 at 7:50 AM
I work for a national museum and I welcome this announcement but this headline from Gov.uk - 'to restore national pride' - is utterly bizarre.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
This is like that quote in an article about the property market in London from an estate agent whose surname was Jackson-Stops.
Or consider being born to parents who can give you a role in the family firm?
www.ft.com/content/c894...
www.ft.com/content/c894...
January 22, 2026 at 7:52 AM
This is like that quote in an article about the property market in London from an estate agent whose surname was Jackson-Stops.
Reposted by William Carruthers
Kent, Essex and Sussex say they won’t renew Elsevier journal subscriptions amid concern about cost of nationally agreed deal www.timeshighereducation.com/news/three-m... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Three major research universities opt out of new Elsevier deal
Complaints over ‘price increases’ and open access models spur UK institutions to walk away from offer from publishing giant, despite nationally negotiated agreement
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Kent, Essex and Sussex say they won’t renew Elsevier journal subscriptions amid concern about cost of nationally agreed deal www.timeshighereducation.com/news/three-m... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Reposted by William Carruthers
Kemi is right that people are being radicalised online and that we need to be more cautious about how we regulate social media, the issue is that she hasn't noticed that she is "people."
Significant harms were raised in the Lords yesterday that do not uniquely apply to people under 16
Then you have this from Kemi 🤦♂️
There are incredibly dark and damaging dangers online and this goes much wider than young people
The idea that a hard-start at 16 will fix this is for the birds
Then you have this from Kemi 🤦♂️
There are incredibly dark and damaging dangers online and this goes much wider than young people
The idea that a hard-start at 16 will fix this is for the birds
January 22, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Kemi is right that people are being radicalised online and that we need to be more cautious about how we regulate social media, the issue is that she hasn't noticed that she is "people."
1/ I’m going to do a thread of the promotional writing and interviews I’ve done for my book starting with…
The first paperback copy of my book Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology just arrived! Available on the 15th March from @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
January 22, 2026 at 6:07 AM
1/ I’m going to do a thread of the promotional writing and interviews I’ve done for my book starting with…