Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 3d

Proofs!

Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · Jun 30

Today I press send on a book ms *and* an article - wish me luck!

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 5d

Atlas of the Balkan Linguistic Area - an online database of language contact phenomena as attested in the Balkan languages abla.cnrs.fr

The Atlas of the Balkan Linguistic Area is an online database of language contact phenomena as attested in the Balkan languages.

abla.cnrs.fr

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 5d

Fascinating - where was your source writing from?
NB Wiktionary has quite good lists of languages into which the word was borrowed (directly or indirectly)
From Persian: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%DA%A9%...
From Turkish:
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D9%83%...

کوفته - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.wiktionary.org

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 5d

Attested in Turkish from 14th century, presumably in Persian well before that. Either of these could be language of borrowing?
www.nisanyansozluk.com/kelime/k%C3%...

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Samuël Kruizinga @samuelkruizinga.bsky.social · 8d

See the full vacancy text here: werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies...

Vacancy — PhD position - Benign Blockades? Blockades and sanctions, 1919-1939

The Amsterdam School for Historical Studies (ASH) invites applications for a fully funded PhD position (4 years, 1.0ft). This position is part of the ERC Synergy-funded research programme BLOCKADE, wh...

werkenbij.uva.nl

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 11d

The Danube Divide: Why Europe’s River of Peace Remains a Dream
www.europeanvoices.eu/en/20111437/...

The Danube Divide: Why Europe’s River of Peace Remains a Dream |...

The most important voices on the future of Europe.

www.europeanvoices.eu

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 11d

Excellent resource below, but to be fair, some of the symptoms are characteristic of bad academic writing as it has been explicitly taught

Text "LLM writing often puffs up the importance of the subject matter with reminders that it represents or contributes to a broader topic. There seems to be only a small repertoire of ways that it writes these reminders, so if they are otherwise appropriate it would be best to reword them anyway."

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 12d

Only thing AI can tell me about Pliny the Elder

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 12d

"Maybe life is really about dodging about to achieve moments where the work can happen. And often you fuck up your life in order to get that moment. But that’s the way it can be when the muses have your telephone number.”
- RIP Tony Harrison

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12d

Tony Harrison, poet and dramatist, dies aged 88

Known for his outspoken politics, the author was acclaimed for work in theatre, opera, film and TV but wanted to be thought of as a poet above all Tony Harrison, the award-winning poet and dramatist whose writings fuelled national conversations about class, obscenity and politics, has died at the age of 88, his publisher has confirmed. Harrison, a major voice in British poetry since he published his first collection in 1964, wrote front-page dispatches for the Guardian from the Bosnian war, and scandalised the nation with his 1985 poem V. Written after football hooligans desecrated his parents’ gravestones, the expletive-laden work was described as a “torrent of filth” by the Daily Mail when it was broadcast on Channel 4, prompting an early-day motion in the Commons. It is now studied in schools. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12d

Tony Harrison, poet and dramatist, dies aged 88

Known for his outspoken politics, the author was acclaimed for work in theatre, opera, film and TV but wanted to be thought of as a poet above all Tony Harrison, the award-winning poet and dramatist whose writings fuelled national conversations about class, obscenity and politics, has died at the age of 88, his publisher has confirmed. Harrison, a major voice in British poetry since he published his first collection in 1964, wrote front-page dispatches for the Guardian from the Bosnian war, and scandalised the nation with his 1985 poem V. Written after football hooligans desecrated his parents’ gravestones, the expletive-laden work was described as a “torrent of filth” by the Daily Mail when it was broadcast on Channel 4, prompting an early-day motion in the Commons. It is now studied in schools. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 13d

Today I learnt to say Калдъръм кокона [caldaram cucoana], apparently a Plovdiv phrase for a pretty lady who manages to walk in stiletto heels on the cobblestones of the Old Town...

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 14d

Had never occurred to me that all these French town names are in fact plurals (as are many Romanian town names..)
- Rickard, History of the French Language, p. 5

"Remis, the home of the tribe known to the Romans as the Remi,
gives rise to Reims (Rheims). This explains in many cases the -s
ending of modern French towns, for example Angers, Limoges,
Nantes, Poitiers, Sens, Tours and Troyes. Paris takes its name from
the Parisii" (Rickard, History of French, p. 5)

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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · 14d

Today is the European Day of Languages. And this year, we mark 25 years of celebrating multilingualism in our Union. 🥳

Languages open doors. They help us connect, explore cultures, make lifelong friends, and journey further.

We remain stronger, united in our diversity.

europa.eu/!6FkntW

An infinity loop made of various European country flags, with a blue heart containing the EU stars at the center-right. Below, bold and regular text reads: "From many languages, one unbreakable bond." A small EU emblem is placed in the bottom-right corner.

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 14d

Mamaliga Festival held in Nova Cherna, Bulgaria, now in its 12th year. Next Saturday 4 October, for anyone in the vicinity
elia-centre.eu/en/1474#:~:t...

Nova Cherna Mamaliga Festival | Tourist Information Center •Eastern Danube Elia•

A main attraction of the festival every year is the preparation of mamaliga (polenta) in an authentic way.

elia-centre.eu

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HistoryLab @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social · 15d

📢 New Seminar Series!

We are thrilled to be working alongside @ihr.bsky.social on a brand new seminar series titled Migration and Mobility. We are coming together for a special edition of the seminar to showcase the work of PGRs and ECRs on migration and mobility history (1/3)

Migration and Mobility History

Call for Papers: IHR History Lab and Migration and Mobility Seminar

Taking place at the IHR Senate House and online, 10th February 2026, 5.30pm-7.30pm. The IHR History Lab and Migration and Mobility are coming together for a special edition of our seminar series to showcase the work of PGRs and ECRs working on migration and mobility history.

We invite submissions of 20 minute papers from PGRs and ECRs on the topic of migration and mobility (broadly defined), focusing on any period or place.

This is an opportunity to share your research with, and recieve feedback from, established and emerging scholars working on migration and mobility studies. To apply, send abstracts of under 250 words, with a short bio, to Kathleen Commons at kabcommons@gmail.com by 5pm on 15th November.

Migration and Mobility History

About the Seminars

History Lab is the national network for postgraduate students in history and related disciplines. Based at the Institute of Historical Research, it serves as an intellectual and social forum that connects, empowers, and supports the postgraduate community.

The IHR Migration and Mobility seminar provides a space for historians and scholars from other disciplines to come together to discuss migration and mobility in history. The seminar seeks to attract papers on a diverse range of themes and periods in migration and mobility history, including the emerging field of pre-modern migration histories, and histories of migration within the Global South. We will take an interdisciplinary approach, working with sociologists, legal scholars, and geographers with an interest in historical migration and mobility.

if you have any queries about this seminar, contact Kathleen at kabcommons@gmail.com

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 15d

There was indeed a swan-panic in 2003 Britain - I remember it well - but it wasn't a British invention. Rumours thatthe swans at Schönbrunn Palace were being eaten by Roma migrants were widespread in 1990s Austria.
So the British rumour was itself a migrant...

Joel Budd @joelbudd.bsky.social · 15d

Absolutely not. Britain came up with the migrants-eating-beloved-animals meme ("Swan bake", The Sun, 2003). And which country pioneered irresponsible speculation about medicines and autism? America is a re-exporter.

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 15d

We have exported our greatest domestic product: stupidity

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Joel Budd @joelbudd.bsky.social · 15d

Absolutely not. Britain came up with the migrants-eating-beloved-animals meme ("Swan bake", The Sun, 2003). And which country pioneered irresponsible speculation about medicines and autism? America is a re-exporter.

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 15d

We have exported our greatest domestic product: stupidity

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Hannah Booth @hannahbooth.bsky.social · 16d

Trijn van Leemput was a Dutch heroine of the Eighty Year’s War and became a lasting symbol of Utrecht’s resistance against the Spanish.

According to legend, in 1577 Trijn led a group of women to begin the demolition of the city’s Vredenburg Castle — hence the pickaxe and the brick.

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Yorkshire CCC @yorkshireccc.bsky.social · 17d

It is with profound sadness that The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announces the passing of Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE, one of cricket’s most beloved figures, who died peacefully at home at the age of 92.

Read more: yorkshireccc.com/news/harold-...

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 17d

Nice pic of Romania on the cover - close to Istanbul as it should be

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 18d

Happy Independence Day, Bulgarian friends! (even if it was in fact 5 October in the Gregorian calendar). Son has just landed in Sofia and would be very happy to be invited to any parties (related to this or otherwise..)

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 18d

A scholar is listing their languages as 'Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan' - huh?

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University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 20d

NEW: Oxford will be the first UK university to give all staff and students free ChatGPT Edu access, from this academic year.

ChatGPT Edu is built for education, with enhanced privacy and security.

Graphic from the University of Oxford, featuring an image of a glowing, digital brain with the text: 'Generative AI at Oxford'. Highlights that ChatGPT Edu is now available to all staff and students. Includes a link for more information: ox.ac.uk/gen-ai

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · 21d

Gone into production!

Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · Aug 8

Revise and resubmit for the article. People should be more happy with this, I got such constructive suggestions, how can you not want that? Always be grateful for good peer review, it will improve your published work

Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · Jun 30

Today I press send on a book ms *and* an article - wish me luck!

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Liverpool University Press @livunipress.bsky.social · 29d

On the National Day of Catalonia, explore Catalonia’s literature, history & identity with a free issue of Catalan Review, published for the North American Catalan Society.

Available online at: bit.ly/CATR-36-1
#Catalan @wviestenz.bsky.social @berlihe.bsky.social

Graphic for the journal Catalan Review: A bright photographic close up of an orange and dark brown mosaic path with decorative moulded trim leading to a bright teal blue surface sits in the background. Overlaid white text on a transparent orange banner reads 'published on behalf of the North American Catalan Society'. A journal cover for Catalan Review sits to the right, it is a bright white with the journal's title in a rich bright red gothic font.

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PLATFORMA @platforma4dev.bsky.social · Sep 9

🇪🇺 Tomorrow @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu delivers her #SOTEU speech, setting #EU priorities for the year ahead

At PLATFORMA & @ccre-cemr.bsky.social we’ll be listening with our Bingo,📝 hoping she recognises the role of #LocalGov in international action

Check what we would love to hear in her speech!

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Stefan Andreasson @bstefan.bsky.social · Sep 5

Fascinating by Gabe Eckhouse & @ewangibbs.bsky.social on "Two Late Imperial Oil Booms" (UK & US). To my mind though a crucial distinction is the massive domestic resource base and origins of the US #oilandgas industry & the imperial origins of the UK's. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Two Late Imperial Oil Booms: A comparison of the constrained national energy imaginaries of the UK’s North Sea and US hydraulic fracturing

The UK and the US dominated global oil production for nearly a century. Imperial power was central to their control over the extraction and flow of oi…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · Sep 5

"La prima vedere, un subiect simplu dar spectaculos, ori în realitate este dificil, pentru că autorul a înțeles să-l trateze într-un mod complex [...] Merită ca munca lui să fie dusă mai departe."
- thanks to Radu Mârza for this review #Istoriamămăligii
peregristorii.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/a...

Alex Drace-Francis, ”Istoria mămăligii. Povestea globală a unui preparat naţional” (Humanitas, 2023)

Alex Drace-Francis, Istoria mămăligii. Povestea globală a unui preparat naţional. Traducere din engleză de Anca Bărbulescu. București, Ed. Humanitas, 2023, 290 pagini. Alex Drace-Francis este un is…

peregristorii.wordpress.com

Alex Drace-Francis @alexdrace.bsky.social · Sep 4

Learning a foreign language and have trouble with days of the week? Start from Romanian and learn Welsh, problem solved

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