John Harney
@ludensprof.bsky.social
Associate Professor of History at Centre College. Written on: baseball in colonial Taiwan; American missionaries in interwar China. Interested in national identity, science fiction, video games. Associate Editor at www.historyrespawned.com
Pinned
John Harney
@ludensprof.bsky.social
· Sep 13
Dreams of a Young Republic - Nebraska Press
The Congregation of the Mission, a Catholic order known as the Vincentians after their founder Saint Vincent de Paul, began missionary work in China in 1699....
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu
My book is out in a couple of weeks. If you’re interested in Catholicism in China or how American and Chinese ideas interacted before the Communist revolution, you should check it out!
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
Reposted by John Harney
Your ‘I don’t even NEED to take lots of cognitive tests’ T-shirt is answering a lot of questions about etc
December 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Your ‘I don’t even NEED to take lots of cognitive tests’ T-shirt is answering a lot of questions about etc
Reposted by John Harney
Keep going everyone. Bullying works. No one wants this shit.
It's truly wild to me that this just keeps happening. Coca-Cola runs an AI ad and people overwhelmingly react with disgust. They do it again, and people are disgusted again. Now McDonald's makes an AI ad that's so bad that so many people are furious about it they pull it down.
People hate AI slop!
People hate AI slop!
McDonald's Pulls Down AI-Generated Holiday Ad After Deluge of Mockery
McDonald's Netherlands is catching flak for a stupefying AI-generated video, which was roundly condemned on social media.
futurism.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Keep going everyone. Bullying works. No one wants this shit.
Reposted by John Harney
My friend’s 80-year old mother has been crushing our fantasy football league for 15 years. She just texted the chain that Philip Rivers is too old for her ☠️
December 9, 2025 at 8:07 PM
My friend’s 80-year old mother has been crushing our fantasy football league for 15 years. She just texted the chain that Philip Rivers is too old for her ☠️
So I’m finally playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. I… have mixed feelings! On the one hand it’s giving real History Respawned vibes - @whitakeralmanac.bsky.social - but on the other… am I going to be allowed to play the game, at some point? Hopefully it settles down after a while.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
So I’m finally playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. I… have mixed feelings! On the one hand it’s giving real History Respawned vibes - @whitakeralmanac.bsky.social - but on the other… am I going to be allowed to play the game, at some point? Hopefully it settles down after a while.
Reposted by John Harney
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
The two standout science-fiction films of 2025
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
www.newscientist.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
From Mickey 17 and M3gan 2.0 to a musical about the end of the world, this was an eclectic year for science-fiction films. Film columnist Simon Ings shares his two breakout hits
I had the opposite reaction to The Culture at first, where I struggled to engage with the books for large sections. Then I got in the groove, and the subtexts became much clearer.
What’s wild about the tech bros is that Banks is taking a serious look, and they have COMPLETELY missed the point.
What’s wild about the tech bros is that Banks is taking a serious look, and they have COMPLETELY missed the point.
read the first two "Culture" series books while vacationing, and though they are ripping yarns and perfect beach reads (especially Consider Phlebas) the standard view amongst the technology brothers that they are somehow serious looks at a plausible (if deep) future never really occurred to me
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
I had the opposite reaction to The Culture at first, where I struggled to engage with the books for large sections. Then I got in the groove, and the subtexts became much clearer.
What’s wild about the tech bros is that Banks is taking a serious look, and they have COMPLETELY missed the point.
What’s wild about the tech bros is that Banks is taking a serious look, and they have COMPLETELY missed the point.
Reposted by John Harney
One thing worth remembering about today is that Pearl Harbor was one of the last occasions in US history in which catastrophic military failure was followed up by a serious official investigation which led to specific consequences for senior leaders. That doesn’t really happen any more.
December 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
One thing worth remembering about today is that Pearl Harbor was one of the last occasions in US history in which catastrophic military failure was followed up by a serious official investigation which led to specific consequences for senior leaders. That doesn’t really happen any more.
Reposted by John Harney
your fair share of taxes: an unconscionable ripoff at best, and theft at worst
$1,500/month to live in a Singapore hotel with the most unfuckable greedheads imaginable: an exciting opportunity to experience true freedom (with Singaporean characteristics)
$1,500/month to live in a Singapore hotel with the most unfuckable greedheads imaginable: an exciting opportunity to experience true freedom (with Singaporean characteristics)
December 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
your fair share of taxes: an unconscionable ripoff at best, and theft at worst
$1,500/month to live in a Singapore hotel with the most unfuckable greedheads imaginable: an exciting opportunity to experience true freedom (with Singaporean characteristics)
$1,500/month to live in a Singapore hotel with the most unfuckable greedheads imaginable: an exciting opportunity to experience true freedom (with Singaporean characteristics)
Reposted by John Harney
pouring a jar of babybels into the coinstar and waiting for it to dispense a giant megabel of equal value
December 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
pouring a jar of babybels into the coinstar and waiting for it to dispense a giant megabel of equal value
Reposted by John Harney
My book about Nintendo is out soon! Early readers have said incredibly nice things about it! Pre-order here for US/UK: linktr.ee/super_nintendo
December 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
My book about Nintendo is out soon! Early readers have said incredibly nice things about it! Pre-order here for US/UK: linktr.ee/super_nintendo
They say cats can’t be trained but every time we use the fridge to pour filtered water one of the cats sits patiently, hoping for ice, like the barbarians receiving guns at the start of Zardoz.
Yes, I stand by that reference.
Yes, I stand by that reference.
December 5, 2025 at 11:54 AM
They say cats can’t be trained but every time we use the fridge to pour filtered water one of the cats sits patiently, hoping for ice, like the barbarians receiving guns at the start of Zardoz.
Yes, I stand by that reference.
Yes, I stand by that reference.
Reposted by John Harney
✨Today is Bandcamp friday! Best day to support your fav artists on the platform 😇
bibikigarcia.bandcamp.com/album/arco-o...
bibikigarcia.bandcamp.com/album/arco-o...
Arco (Original Game Soundtrack) [Deluxe Edition], by José Ramón "Bibiki" García
64 track album
bibikigarcia.bandcamp.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
✨Today is Bandcamp friday! Best day to support your fav artists on the platform 😇
bibikigarcia.bandcamp.com/album/arco-o...
bibikigarcia.bandcamp.com/album/arco-o...
Reposted by John Harney
I made this. Use this for good.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I made this. Use this for good.
Reposted by John Harney
Pencil-neck tough guys with Brooks Brothers suits and crew cuts, chicken hawks, salivating at the chance to be push-button butchers
December 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Pencil-neck tough guys with Brooks Brothers suits and crew cuts, chicken hawks, salivating at the chance to be push-button butchers
Reposted by John Harney
Historian here it’s Hannah Arendt’s death anniversary and she was of course prescient.
December 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Historian here it’s Hannah Arendt’s death anniversary and she was of course prescient.
Reposted by John Harney
A glimpse inside Konami's offices in 2001 and at the workspace of Shadow of Memories' Junko Kawano. The producer, director, writer, and one of the artists for Konami's fascinating time-bending adventure game.
Phew, that's a lot of hats for someone to wear at once.
Phew, that's a lot of hats for someone to wear at once.
July 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
A glimpse inside Konami's offices in 2001 and at the workspace of Shadow of Memories' Junko Kawano. The producer, director, writer, and one of the artists for Konami's fascinating time-bending adventure game.
Phew, that's a lot of hats for someone to wear at once.
Phew, that's a lot of hats for someone to wear at once.
Reposted by John Harney
Promise Mascot Agency is probably my game of the year~ I don't finish games often but I was hooked and ended up binging it~ def would recommend~
Promise Mascot Agency is 30% OFF in a Steam Daily Deal!
To celebrate we're releasing Promise Mascot Agency: The Art of Kaso-Machi!
Presenting a 400+ page PDF featuring art from Ikumi Nakamura, Mai Mattori, Inko Ai Takita and lots of the amazing devs who worked on the game! 🥳
To celebrate we're releasing Promise Mascot Agency: The Art of Kaso-Machi!
Presenting a 400+ page PDF featuring art from Ikumi Nakamura, Mai Mattori, Inko Ai Takita and lots of the amazing devs who worked on the game! 🥳
December 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Promise Mascot Agency is probably my game of the year~ I don't finish games often but I was hooked and ended up binging it~ def would recommend~
Reposted by John Harney
Does it hurt to get shot with a gun? The HHS has issued new guidance that it actually hurts more not getting shot with a gun. Health watchdogs warn that promoting getting shot with a gun will make more people get hurt from bullets, though the actual science is disputed by some researchers
December 4, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Does it hurt to get shot with a gun? The HHS has issued new guidance that it actually hurts more not getting shot with a gun. Health watchdogs warn that promoting getting shot with a gun will make more people get hurt from bullets, though the actual science is disputed by some researchers
Reposted by John Harney
If Trump dies during one of these things how long will it take for anyone to notice
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 3, 2025 at 12:40 PM
If Trump dies during one of these things how long will it take for anyone to notice
Reposted by John Harney
I love seeing BTS like this bc it comes from a piece of art where you're like "How did he do that??" to watching carefully over the process and going "Ooooooh, so that's how he did that" and unlocking some new knowledge for yourself that makes art seem less impossible
Scott Wills paints a background for the first run of Samurai Jack (2001–2004), created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Cartoon Network Studios
December 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I love seeing BTS like this bc it comes from a piece of art where you're like "How did he do that??" to watching carefully over the process and going "Ooooooh, so that's how he did that" and unlocking some new knowledge for yourself that makes art seem less impossible
Apart from the fact that this is very obviously a ploy for the Russians to regroup and invade again - because that’s what they did last time! - that 30-50km strip of land is Ukraine’s land. Why SHOULD they give it to a bully that has been murdering their people and kidnapping their children?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that if Ukraine takes the right steps, its GDP could surpass Russia’s within 10 years.
"They are literally fighting over a 30-50 km strip in Donetsk, roughly 20% of the region still under Ukrainian control and now a central issue in negotiations."
"They are literally fighting over a 30-50 km strip in Donetsk, roughly 20% of the region still under Ukrainian control and now a central issue in negotiations."
December 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Apart from the fact that this is very obviously a ploy for the Russians to regroup and invade again - because that’s what they did last time! - that 30-50km strip of land is Ukraine’s land. Why SHOULD they give it to a bully that has been murdering their people and kidnapping their children?
Reposted by John Harney
Ukraine already tried giving up land for Russia’s word to stop attacking, with the Minsk Agreements of 2014-15. Russia violated them with a full scale invasion in 2022.
Why would Ukraine think land for peace would work this time, especially when a Putin-sympathetic US won’t do security guarantees?
Why would Ukraine think land for peace would work this time, especially when a Putin-sympathetic US won’t do security guarantees?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that if Ukraine takes the right steps, its GDP could surpass Russia’s within 10 years.
"They are literally fighting over a 30-50 km strip in Donetsk, roughly 20% of the region still under Ukrainian control and now a central issue in negotiations."
"They are literally fighting over a 30-50 km strip in Donetsk, roughly 20% of the region still under Ukrainian control and now a central issue in negotiations."
December 3, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Ukraine already tried giving up land for Russia’s word to stop attacking, with the Minsk Agreements of 2014-15. Russia violated them with a full scale invasion in 2022.
Why would Ukraine think land for peace would work this time, especially when a Putin-sympathetic US won’t do security guarantees?
Why would Ukraine think land for peace would work this time, especially when a Putin-sympathetic US won’t do security guarantees?
It’s so hard to text, like, “you know what, I haven’t seen They Live in forever” right after an angry text about how our press won’t go after a racist murderer who sleeps through cabinet meetings.
December 3, 2025 at 12:14 PM
It’s so hard to text, like, “you know what, I haven’t seen They Live in forever” right after an angry text about how our press won’t go after a racist murderer who sleeps through cabinet meetings.
What frustrates me is how so many have just given up on the fact our government runs on vibes, at best.
When asked why he pardoned a drug trafficker who got 45 years in prison, the president said he was set up. What’s this based on? The guy was convicted in a court of law!
When asked why he pardoned a drug trafficker who got 45 years in prison, the president said he was set up. What’s this based on? The guy was convicted in a court of law!
December 3, 2025 at 12:13 PM
What frustrates me is how so many have just given up on the fact our government runs on vibes, at best.
When asked why he pardoned a drug trafficker who got 45 years in prison, the president said he was set up. What’s this based on? The guy was convicted in a court of law!
When asked why he pardoned a drug trafficker who got 45 years in prison, the president said he was set up. What’s this based on? The guy was convicted in a court of law!
Reposted by John Harney
When we look back on the horror of these years, these mid-ocean assassinations will be seen as particularly morally squalid episodes, militarily pointless exercises in cruelty in the service of amusing the regime’s online fans.
December 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
When we look back on the horror of these years, these mid-ocean assassinations will be seen as particularly morally squalid episodes, militarily pointless exercises in cruelty in the service of amusing the regime’s online fans.