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
And, even at the time, the band’s vibe swung wildly from overly sincere to mawkish. Which wasn’t an issue for me really until later. Also I was heavily traumatized when the first album came out. But I didn’t know that at the time!
December 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
And, even at the time, the band’s vibe swung wildly from overly sincere to mawkish. Which wasn’t an issue for me really until later. Also I was heavily traumatized when the first album came out. But I didn’t know that at the time!
I mean, that band was so incredibly 90s. Which I think is fair, given that Placebo came out in 1996. I remember hearing Teenage Angst at a party and thinking, yes, that’s what I want a rock band to sound like right now.
Pretty interesting really as an immediate post-grunge turn of the century band.
Pretty interesting really as an immediate post-grunge turn of the century band.
December 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I mean, that band was so incredibly 90s. Which I think is fair, given that Placebo came out in 1996. I remember hearing Teenage Angst at a party and thinking, yes, that’s what I want a rock band to sound like right now.
Pretty interesting really as an immediate post-grunge turn of the century band.
Pretty interesting really as an immediate post-grunge turn of the century band.
I really, really liked Placebo for about two albums. “Come Home” is such a great introduction to that band. I always liked what Molko did with their guitar. Pure, unadulterated yearning and emoting via a pretty simple riff.
youtu.be/KFnvkypksPI?...
youtu.be/KFnvkypksPI?...
Placebo - Come Home (Official Audio)
YouTube video by PLACEBO
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I really, really liked Placebo for about two albums. “Come Home” is such a great introduction to that band. I always liked what Molko did with their guitar. Pure, unadulterated yearning and emoting via a pretty simple riff.
youtu.be/KFnvkypksPI?...
youtu.be/KFnvkypksPI?...
The world is… okay so far? I need to spend more time with it, I’ve not seen much. Kind of a disappointing beginning but that doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
One could argue there’s a relatively interesting focus on commoners in the game. But let’s see how that develops.
One could argue there’s a relatively interesting focus on commoners in the game. But let’s see how that develops.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The world is… okay so far? I need to spend more time with it, I’ve not seen much. Kind of a disappointing beginning but that doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
One could argue there’s a relatively interesting focus on commoners in the game. But let’s see how that develops.
One could argue there’s a relatively interesting focus on commoners in the game. But let’s see how that develops.
The actual history stuff, so far, I’m a fan of. We know so little of Yasuke there was room to get a little creative without getting too silly, and from what little I’ve seen that’s working.
Lots of references to religious groups and leagues that make sense for late 1500s.
Lots of references to religious groups and leagues that make sense for late 1500s.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The actual history stuff, so far, I’m a fan of. We know so little of Yasuke there was room to get a little creative without getting too silly, and from what little I’ve seen that’s working.
Lots of references to religious groups and leagues that make sense for late 1500s.
Lots of references to religious groups and leagues that make sense for late 1500s.
Avenging your dad in games is at this point… fine. The Rogues Gallery vibe is fun and a good fit with evil masked samurai. And all would be forgiven if the game stopped pausing everything to tell me how scouts work, following up with a boring cut scene of a peasant offering to be my scout.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Avenging your dad in games is at this point… fine. The Rogues Gallery vibe is fun and a good fit with evil masked samurai. And all would be forgiven if the game stopped pausing everything to tell me how scouts work, following up with a boring cut scene of a peasant offering to be my scout.
The main character, at least based on the first five hours or so, is not who I thought it was. We had an hour of a potentially interesting story around the Black man who has joined Nobunaga’s inner circle, and now I’m running around trying to find the guy who killed my dad.
December 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The main character, at least based on the first five hours or so, is not who I thought it was. We had an hour of a potentially interesting story around the Black man who has joined Nobunaga’s inner circle, and now I’m running around trying to find the guy who killed my dad.
See also Elon Musk’s adoration of Kim Stanley Robinson while misunderstanding the Mars trilogy so badly I’m not convinced he read those books, really?
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
See also Elon Musk’s adoration of Kim Stanley Robinson while misunderstanding the Mars trilogy so badly I’m not convinced he read those books, really?
That’s an incredible story that I hope you will be able to share with new colleagues! Good luck!
December 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
That’s an incredible story that I hope you will be able to share with new colleagues! Good luck!
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)