will pooley
@willpooley.bsky.social
historian of witchcrafts, folklore, France 18-20th c
ass. ed. French History
ed. Cambridge Elements in Magic
also #CreativeHistories
that’s an actual photo of me
ass. ed. French History
ed. Cambridge Elements in Magic
also #CreativeHistories
that’s an actual photo of me
Pinned
will pooley
@willpooley.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Sheet Happens
When I started working on witchcraft cases in France from 1790-1940, I knew I wanted to count them. This, of course, was my first mistake. The oldest version I have of the Excel spreadsheet I built…
williamgpooley.wordpress.com
My reintroduction: historian of french magic, folklore, witchcraft, tarot. I blog about all that, as well as writing, creative historical methods, quantification and research process.
A surprising number of you sickos can’t get enough spreadsheet chat🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2024/05/22/s...
A surprising number of you sickos can’t get enough spreadsheet chat🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2024/05/22/s...
winbuzzer.com/2026/01/28/g...
(what’s the betting that the answer to this mystery is LLMs and crawlers)
(what’s the betting that the answer to this mystery is LLMs and crawlers)
February 4, 2026 at 7:20 AM
winbuzzer.com/2026/01/28/g...
(what’s the betting that the answer to this mystery is LLMs and crawlers)
(what’s the betting that the answer to this mystery is LLMs and crawlers)
who can deny how useful it has been?
but not only is it proprietary and can therefore just be sunsetted for commercial reasons, but it piggybacked on lots of communal goods, much to alphabet’s benefit
but not only is it proprietary and can therefore just be sunsetted for commercial reasons, but it piggybacked on lots of communal goods, much to alphabet’s benefit
February 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
who can deny how useful it has been?
but not only is it proprietary and can therefore just be sunsetted for commercial reasons, but it piggybacked on lots of communal goods, much to alphabet’s benefit
but not only is it proprietary and can therefore just be sunsetted for commercial reasons, but it piggybacked on lots of communal goods, much to alphabet’s benefit
Google books going down is just the latest in the long catalogue of “don’t rely on big tech to save the commons”
February 3, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Google books going down is just the latest in the long catalogue of “don’t rely on big tech to save the commons”
Reposted by will pooley
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe
Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AI, says science and technology professor Jack Stilgoe
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
Reposted by will pooley
*drum roll*
Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026!
I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...
Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026!
I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...
February 2, 2026 at 4:26 PM
*drum roll*
Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026!
I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...
Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026!
I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...
Reposted by will pooley
I just learned about something called recency bias.
It's my favorite thing ever.
It's my favorite thing ever.
February 3, 2026 at 6:14 AM
I just learned about something called recency bias.
It's my favorite thing ever.
It's my favorite thing ever.
Reposted by will pooley
What happens if you fail to pay your exorcist tax?
Your house gets repossessed👻
Your house gets repossessed👻
a cartoon of a skeleton and two ghosts with the letter k on a gravestone
Alt: a cartoon of a skeleton and two ghosts dancing in front of gravestones
media.tenor.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
What happens if you fail to pay your exorcist tax?
Your house gets repossessed👻
Your house gets repossessed👻
Reposted by will pooley
New article by Katherine Astbury and Abigail Coppins, 'French prisoner-of-war sociability in Hampshire during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars'
Open Access here: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
@frenchhistory.bsky.social
Open Access here: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
@frenchhistory.bsky.social
French prisoner-of-war sociability in Hampshire during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Abstract. Daniel Gordon in his monograph on Citizens without Sovereignty explored how, in eighteenth-century France, sociability enabled those without powe
doi.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:29 PM
New article by Katherine Astbury and Abigail Coppins, 'French prisoner-of-war sociability in Hampshire during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars'
Open Access here: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
@frenchhistory.bsky.social
Open Access here: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
@frenchhistory.bsky.social
Reposted by will pooley
Just uploaded a recording of the SSFH Douglas Johnson lecture to the society's youtube channel. You can explore some past lectures there as well:
www.youtube.com/@societyfort...
🗃️#skystorians
www.youtube.com/@societyfort...
🗃️#skystorians
Society for the Study of French History
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Just uploaded a recording of the SSFH Douglas Johnson lecture to the society's youtube channel. You can explore some past lectures there as well:
www.youtube.com/@societyfort...
🗃️#skystorians
www.youtube.com/@societyfort...
🗃️#skystorians
Reposted by will pooley
I am still shocked at just how much emailing is involved in being evil
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 AM
I am still shocked at just how much emailing is involved in being evil
Reposted by will pooley
Will's whole thread on the threat of Reform to UK HE is on the money. And yeah, I've seen the environment already 'deplatformed' in very real ways at institution level (counterbalanced by rise of, you guessed it, AI). Please do read what a prick NF was about wind in the 00s! (and some Cons tbf)
what wd REF target within unis? There are the obvious things/subjects but let’s not forget their immense climate change scepticism. Reminded of @dudleymarianna.bsky.social book pointing out that Farage campaigned against wind farms and the EU with UKIP manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182937/
Manchester University Press - Electric wind
Electric wind - Browse and buy the eBook edition of Electric wind by Marianna Dudley
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Will's whole thread on the threat of Reform to UK HE is on the money. And yeah, I've seen the environment already 'deplatformed' in very real ways at institution level (counterbalanced by rise of, you guessed it, AI). Please do read what a prick NF was about wind in the 00s! (and some Cons tbf)
it’s probably my cloud backup causing the problem but big sigh
February 2, 2026 at 12:13 PM
it’s probably my cloud backup causing the problem but big sigh
MS word playing a ‘fun’ game today where it deletes any document I keep open for longer than 5 mins *while I am still editing it* 🤡
just what I need in essay marking season!
just what I need in essay marking season!
February 2, 2026 at 12:12 PM
MS word playing a ‘fun’ game today where it deletes any document I keep open for longer than 5 mins *while I am still editing it* 🤡
just what I need in essay marking season!
just what I need in essay marking season!
indeed. tho I wouldn’t be surprised if plenty of uni leaders were lobbying HARD with shadow cabinet then to preserve student fees at the elevated rate or higher, which ofc was in the sights of left wing of the LP
February 2, 2026 at 10:50 AM
indeed. tho I wouldn’t be surprised if plenty of uni leaders were lobbying HARD with shadow cabinet then to preserve student fees at the elevated rate or higher, which ofc was in the sights of left wing of the LP
the mistaken reading of febvre or heidegger or indeed US figures who supported or said nothing about the red scare is “history has judged them”. the point isn’t that in hindsight today’s analogous figures will look bad (tho i hope they will). it is that it is. wrong.
wrong wrong wrong
wrong wrong wrong
February 2, 2026 at 10:16 AM
the mistaken reading of febvre or heidegger or indeed US figures who supported or said nothing about the red scare is “history has judged them”. the point isn’t that in hindsight today’s analogous figures will look bad (tho i hope they will). it is that it is. wrong.
wrong wrong wrong
wrong wrong wrong
IF a reform govt ever comes to pass, watch with interest for which institutional leaders refuse. if your career is more important than the (always aspirational) ideals of the university, you don’t deserve that leadership.
February 2, 2026 at 10:01 AM
IF a reform govt ever comes to pass, watch with interest for which institutional leaders refuse. if your career is more important than the (always aspirational) ideals of the university, you don’t deserve that leadership.
if the choice were, for instance, you can keep your job if you agree that all the staff and students who are immigrants will lose theirs, i would consider it a stain on my conscience to stay a moment longer. a fun hypothetical that we may live to experience! but AND THIS IS IMPORTANT we may not.
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 AM
if the choice were, for instance, you can keep your job if you agree that all the staff and students who are immigrants will lose theirs, i would consider it a stain on my conscience to stay a moment longer. a fun hypothetical that we may live to experience! but AND THIS IS IMPORTANT we may not.
quite. they’ve driven both main parties straight into the same policy area that was absolutely fringe 10 or 15 years ago
February 2, 2026 at 9:46 AM
quite. they’ve driven both main parties straight into the same policy area that was absolutely fringe 10 or 15 years ago
there are many possible historical analogies, but let’s say i would not make lucien febvre’s choices under vichy, for example
February 2, 2026 at 9:45 AM
there are many possible historical analogies, but let’s say i would not make lucien febvre’s choices under vichy, for example
look, IF this future comes to pass, i think it would be fair to say the already crumbling edifice would essentially collapse. i for one don’t want a job teaching what made great britain “great” or why our european neighbours are politically inferior. there comes a point at which we should refuse
February 2, 2026 at 9:32 AM
look, IF this future comes to pass, i think it would be fair to say the already crumbling edifice would essentially collapse. i for one don’t want a job teaching what made great britain “great” or why our european neighbours are politically inferior. there comes a point at which we should refuse
what wd REF target within unis? There are the obvious things/subjects but let’s not forget their immense climate change scepticism. Reminded of @dudleymarianna.bsky.social book pointing out that Farage campaigned against wind farms and the EU with UKIP manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182937/
Manchester University Press - Electric wind
Electric wind - Browse and buy the eBook edition of Electric wind by Marianna Dudley
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 9:27 AM
what wd REF target within unis? There are the obvious things/subjects but let’s not forget their immense climate change scepticism. Reminded of @dudleymarianna.bsky.social book pointing out that Farage campaigned against wind farms and the EU with UKIP manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182937/
AND i suspect that under the guise of “reform proofing” a certain percentage of university leaders could not be happier to see a de-emphasis on initiatives they always resented or misunderstood too.
Those people will have a real leopards eating faces moment if their anticipation comes true
Those people will have a real leopards eating faces moment if their anticipation comes true
February 2, 2026 at 9:24 AM
AND i suspect that under the guise of “reform proofing” a certain percentage of university leaders could not be happier to see a de-emphasis on initiatives they always resented or misunderstood too.
Those people will have a real leopards eating faces moment if their anticipation comes true
Those people will have a real leopards eating faces moment if their anticipation comes true
When i say silently, i mean, why are so many WP an access schemes suddenly deemphasized? Why so little energy around EDI within institutions? The “answers” tend to: everything is crisis! Cash short flow is causing tough decisions!
Ok if these things aren’t core to the mission, what IS??
Ok if these things aren’t core to the mission, what IS??
February 2, 2026 at 9:22 AM
When i say silently, i mean, why are so many WP an access schemes suddenly deemphasized? Why so little energy around EDI within institutions? The “answers” tend to: everything is crisis! Cash short flow is causing tough decisions!
Ok if these things aren’t core to the mission, what IS??
Ok if these things aren’t core to the mission, what IS??
That’s not *just* fault of university leaders scrabbling to reform-proof institutions. It’s largely consequence of Cons meddling in HE because “free speech”, then embraced by the new Labour govt.
Backlash against EDI+WP is here, and no less pernicious just because it has often happened silently.
Backlash against EDI+WP is here, and no less pernicious just because it has often happened silently.
February 2, 2026 at 9:20 AM
That’s not *just* fault of university leaders scrabbling to reform-proof institutions. It’s largely consequence of Cons meddling in HE because “free speech”, then embraced by the new Labour govt.
Backlash against EDI+WP is here, and no less pernicious just because it has often happened silently.
Backlash against EDI+WP is here, and no less pernicious just because it has often happened silently.
Just to offer the counterpoint here, as I think it is very very important we do so: this is absolutely anticipatory obedience 101.
Much as university leaders might see it as their responsibility to “plan” for this possibility, in effect REF are getting to set the agenda without winning any election
Much as university leaders might see it as their responsibility to “plan” for this possibility, in effect REF are getting to set the agenda without winning any election
Before anyone gets too angry about this, several things. (1) Universities in the UK, unlike the US, are pretty much under the financial and admin control of central govt. If RefUK moves to wipe them out, as they will, then some will choose life. (1/3) www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...
Universities try to woo Reform as party gains ground
Serious lobbying efforts under way, with right-wing party expected to be more sympathetic to elite universities than rest of the sector
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Just to offer the counterpoint here, as I think it is very very important we do so: this is absolutely anticipatory obedience 101.
Much as university leaders might see it as their responsibility to “plan” for this possibility, in effect REF are getting to set the agenda without winning any election
Much as university leaders might see it as their responsibility to “plan” for this possibility, in effect REF are getting to set the agenda without winning any election