George Dillard
@worldhistory.bsky.social
History, Climate, Education. Looking Through the Past newsletter at https://worldhistory.substack.com/. Other writing at https://worldhistory.medium.com/. #coys
Reposted by George Dillard
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
February 6, 2025 at 3:59 AM
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
Reposted by George Dillard
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by George Dillard
Poorest man in the world
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Poorest man in the world
Reposted by George Dillard
Man, whatever's in those files, it must be pretty horrible
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Man, whatever's in those files, it must be pretty horrible
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I don't see why we need to have a "should we sack the coach" conversation every after every disappointing result. home form of the squad is very weird but we're still top ten in the Premier League and unbeaten in the Champions League, some of y'all sound like we're still points away from relegation
November 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I don't see why we need to have a "should we sack the coach" conversation every after every disappointing result. home form of the squad is very weird but we're still top ten in the Premier League and unbeaten in the Champions League, some of y'all sound like we're still points away from relegation
In the 19th century, Americans idealized wilderness, which they defined as natural areas without people in them. The issue with this, of course, was that the “wilderness” areas that they wanted to turn into national parks had people in them. 🗃️🧵
November 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
In the 19th century, Americans idealized wilderness, which they defined as natural areas without people in them. The issue with this, of course, was that the “wilderness” areas that they wanted to turn into national parks had people in them. 🗃️🧵
Reposted by George Dillard
The gentlest, firmest, weapon for us to use in the culture wars, from Goethe:
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
October 31, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The gentlest, firmest, weapon for us to use in the culture wars, from Goethe:
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."
Reposted by George Dillard
If an attractive young woman a third my age didn't want to date me, then why did she ask me for feedback on an economics paper?
by Larry Summers
by Larry Summers
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
If an attractive young woman a third my age didn't want to date me, then why did she ask me for feedback on an economics paper?
by Larry Summers
by Larry Summers
Reposted by George Dillard
Here it is, a very special--& especially supersized—250th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Please add more below, share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
#ScholarSunday Thread 250! (11/16/25) – Black and White and Read All Over
Here it is, a very special--& especially supersized—250th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Please add more ...
blackwhiteandread.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Here it is, a very special--& especially supersized—250th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Please add more below, share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
While a civil war enveloped the nation back east, Carleton Watkins got about as far from the chaos as a person could while still being in the United States. 🧵🗃️
November 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
While a civil war enveloped the nation back east, Carleton Watkins got about as far from the chaos as a person could while still being in the United States. 🧵🗃️
Reposted by George Dillard
this is literally never not accurate
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
this is literally never not accurate
Reposted by George Dillard
www.theresaganz.com
The thesis of my book Grand Illusion is that excesses of gold in architecture are a direct indication of despotism. As the White House festoons itself with golden doodads and proposes a gilded new ballroom, I think the thesis holds. Link in bio. 💛⚜️💛
The thesis of my book Grand Illusion is that excesses of gold in architecture are a direct indication of despotism. As the White House festoons itself with golden doodads and proposes a gilded new ballroom, I think the thesis holds. Link in bio. 💛⚜️💛
Theresa Ganz
www.theresaganz.com
August 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
www.theresaganz.com
The thesis of my book Grand Illusion is that excesses of gold in architecture are a direct indication of despotism. As the White House festoons itself with golden doodads and proposes a gilded new ballroom, I think the thesis holds. Link in bio. 💛⚜️💛
The thesis of my book Grand Illusion is that excesses of gold in architecture are a direct indication of despotism. As the White House festoons itself with golden doodads and proposes a gilded new ballroom, I think the thesis holds. Link in bio. 💛⚜️💛
This is adjacent to the fact that, as a history teacher, I must gird my loins for parent conferences where I have to chat about the submarines of WWII with my students' dads...
One of the things you learn as an ancient historian is that when you sit next to a white guy on a plane and they ask you what you do, you are going to to need to tell them that you are an accountant.
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
This is adjacent to the fact that, as a history teacher, I must gird my loins for parent conferences where I have to chat about the submarines of WWII with my students' dads...
Read about a guy who busted up a famous scam, made pioneering geographic discoveries, became a leading nature writer, and led a secret life as a black man. 🗃️
worldhistory.substack.com/p/the-making...
worldhistory.substack.com/p/the-making...
The Making of the Gilded West
The intersection between science, speculation, and the conquest of nature
worldhistory.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Read about a guy who busted up a famous scam, made pioneering geographic discoveries, became a leading nature writer, and led a secret life as a black man. 🗃️
worldhistory.substack.com/p/the-making...
worldhistory.substack.com/p/the-making...
Reposted by George Dillard
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Axios tried to bust James Talarico for following adult content creators on Instagram and I'm genuinely impressed by his campaign's response
November 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Reposted by George Dillard
Reposted by George Dillard
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
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It has been my duty as a historian to record how smelly Che Guevara was. Honestly one of the stinkiest dudes in history. He was immensely proud of this & once showed off a pair of underpants he’d been wearing for two months. They were so filthy, he won a bet that they could stand up by themselves.
I am listening to Red Heat, by @alexvont.bsky.social, and I am shocked by how shitty people the male protagonists of political events in Latin America and the Caribbean were in the cold war. And the idea of how bad Che Guevara must have smelt is chasing me in nightmares
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
It has been my duty as a historian to record how smelly Che Guevara was. Honestly one of the stinkiest dudes in history. He was immensely proud of this & once showed off a pair of underpants he’d been wearing for two months. They were so filthy, he won a bet that they could stand up by themselves.
Reposted by George Dillard
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Grateful to spend two days on the Klamath watching chinook, liberated by dam removal, return to streams from which they’d been precluded since the Titanic sank. Fish are everywhere, in numbers that stagger the mind & locations that biologists figured would take years to repopulate. Too beautiful.
Reposted by George Dillard
"Speaker Johnson, it looks as though the president is currently stabbing you with a knife. Do you have any comment?"
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
November 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
"Speaker Johnson, it looks as though the president is currently stabbing you with a knife. Do you have any comment?"
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
"Well, look, this is the first I'm hearing about it. As you know, I've been really busy not doing my job, so I just don't know enough about this alleged stabbing to make a comment."
Reposted by George Dillard
Mike Johnson: ‘My Christian Faith Is More About Not Jacking Off Than Feeding The Poor’
November 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Mike Johnson: ‘My Christian Faith Is More About Not Jacking Off Than Feeding The Poor’
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O'DONNELL: Why did you pardon Changpeng Zhao?
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
November 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
O'DONNELL: Why did you pardon Changpeng Zhao?
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
Reposted by George Dillard
Reposted by George Dillard
Watched "House of Dynamite" and what struck me was how infrequently the Secretary of Defense (played by Jared Harris) failed to function because of his unwillingness to shove large tires around
November 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Watched "House of Dynamite" and what struck me was how infrequently the Secretary of Defense (played by Jared Harris) failed to function because of his unwillingness to shove large tires around
Reposted by George Dillard
Hate to break it but if you think mitigation of climate change is doomed inevitably to eternal failure due to social, economic and political limits..
..I have some v v bad news about the social, economic and political requirements for CDR to work at scale, or for geoengineering to work at scale
..I have some v v bad news about the social, economic and political requirements for CDR to work at scale, or for geoengineering to work at scale
May 15, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Hate to break it but if you think mitigation of climate change is doomed inevitably to eternal failure due to social, economic and political limits..
..I have some v v bad news about the social, economic and political requirements for CDR to work at scale, or for geoengineering to work at scale
..I have some v v bad news about the social, economic and political requirements for CDR to work at scale, or for geoengineering to work at scale