Tim Longman 🏳️🌈
@timlongman.bsky.social
Poli Sci and IR prof at BU. Posts on Africa, human rights, US politics, LGBTQ+, religion & politics. Progressive, Christian, proud gay dad.
2 books on Rwanda. Currently writing book on church and state across Africa and another on LGBTQ backlash in Africa
2 books on Rwanda. Currently writing book on church and state across Africa and another on LGBTQ backlash in Africa
Flying to Europe, so picked up Nnedi Okorafor’s latest to read on the plane. Excited to dive in!! @nnedi.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Flying to Europe, so picked up Nnedi Okorafor’s latest to read on the plane. Excited to dive in!! @nnedi.bsky.social
The trees behind our house are full of turkeys. This can’t possibly be a good omen.
January 26, 2026 at 10:08 PM
The trees behind our house are full of turkeys. This can’t possibly be a good omen.
To add to the horrors of snowmageddon, we’re now being invaded by wild turkeys.
January 25, 2026 at 8:03 PM
To add to the horrors of snowmageddon, we’re now being invaded by wild turkeys.
Spent most of the day putting away the Christmas decorations. I love the ritual of putting up decorations after Thanksgiving, then taking them back down after New Year. We put up lights to brighten the darkest night and then put things back to normal showing faith that spring will soon come.
January 2, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Spent most of the day putting away the Christmas decorations. I love the ritual of putting up decorations after Thanksgiving, then taking them back down after New Year. We put up lights to brighten the darkest night and then put things back to normal showing faith that spring will soon come.
The notes on the side show that my piano teacher assigned this to me in the fall of 1974. I don’t think I’ve played it since then until today.
I’ll admit: I still need to practice.
I’ll admit: I still need to practice.
December 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The notes on the side show that my piano teacher assigned this to me in the fall of 1974. I don’t think I’ve played it since then until today.
I’ll admit: I still need to practice.
I’ll admit: I still need to practice.
I’m curious: how long are people willing to wait at the drugstore or Target to get someone to unlock the cabinets before you just give up and go somewhere else? 10 minutes and counting here…
December 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I’m curious: how long are people willing to wait at the drugstore or Target to get someone to unlock the cabinets before you just give up and go somewhere else? 10 minutes and counting here…
A beautiful Christmas Eve sunset.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
A beautiful Christmas Eve sunset.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Fits Derrick Bell’s Third Rule of Racial Standing perfectly. Blacks who criticize other Blacks get special privileges status.
December 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Fits Derrick Bell’s Third Rule of Racial Standing perfectly. Blacks who criticize other Blacks get special privileges status.
The house next door down here in Winston-Salem has such a typical redneck family - four pick up trucks in the yard, a workshop in the garage, a barky dog.
Except, of course, they’re immigrants from China.
All those folks worried immigrants will destroy American culture need to open their eyes.
Except, of course, they’re immigrants from China.
All those folks worried immigrants will destroy American culture need to open their eyes.
December 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The house next door down here in Winston-Salem has such a typical redneck family - four pick up trucks in the yard, a workshop in the garage, a barky dog.
Except, of course, they’re immigrants from China.
All those folks worried immigrants will destroy American culture need to open their eyes.
Except, of course, they’re immigrants from China.
All those folks worried immigrants will destroy American culture need to open their eyes.
Looking at the list of Christmas songs, what strikes me is how many are completely unfamiliar. Lots of traditional English, German, and French songs I’ve never heard, some with really nice tunes and interesting lyrics.
December 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Looking at the list of Christmas songs, what strikes me is how many are completely unfamiliar. Lots of traditional English, German, and French songs I’ve never heard, some with really nice tunes and interesting lyrics.
My Great Aunt Edith worked in a settlement house in Chicago, where she taught music lessons, mostly to poor recent immigrants. I inherited her piano books, including several collections of Christmas carols from the early 1930s.
December 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My Great Aunt Edith worked in a settlement house in Chicago, where she taught music lessons, mostly to poor recent immigrants. I inherited her piano books, including several collections of Christmas carols from the early 1930s.
As I’m wrapping gifts, I am reminded that I grew up with a mom so frugal that we re-used wrapping paper year after year. We had wrapping paper that was literally older than me.
If only I could bring some of that frugality into my house today, I’d be rich!
If only I could bring some of that frugality into my house today, I’d be rich!
December 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM
As I’m wrapping gifts, I am reminded that I grew up with a mom so frugal that we re-used wrapping paper year after year. We had wrapping paper that was literally older than me.
If only I could bring some of that frugality into my house today, I’d be rich!
If only I could bring some of that frugality into my house today, I’d be rich!
The animals are all here watching to make sure I finish my grading and don’t get distracted by things like posting on Bluesky.
December 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The animals are all here watching to make sure I finish my grading and don’t get distracted by things like posting on Bluesky.
“But the package says brisket!”
“Yes,” I said. “Corned beef brisket. Which is Irish, not Jewish.”
Anyhoo, in case you’re wondering, corned beef cooked like raw brisket is … not good.
Happy Hanukkah. Hope your dinners are more edible than ours was!
“Yes,” I said. “Corned beef brisket. Which is Irish, not Jewish.”
Anyhoo, in case you’re wondering, corned beef cooked like raw brisket is … not good.
Happy Hanukkah. Hope your dinners are more edible than ours was!
December 15, 2025 at 2:42 AM
“But the package says brisket!”
“Yes,” I said. “Corned beef brisket. Which is Irish, not Jewish.”
Anyhoo, in case you’re wondering, corned beef cooked like raw brisket is … not good.
Happy Hanukkah. Hope your dinners are more edible than ours was!
“Yes,” I said. “Corned beef brisket. Which is Irish, not Jewish.”
Anyhoo, in case you’re wondering, corned beef cooked like raw brisket is … not good.
Happy Hanukkah. Hope your dinners are more edible than ours was!
Okay, ready for the season now!
December 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Okay, ready for the season now!
Notice that the list of countries whose immigrants are being denied citizenship are all places with predominantly Black and brown residents.
December 9, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Notice that the list of countries whose immigrants are being denied citizenship are all places with predominantly Black and brown residents.
“What Trump’s security strategy lacks”
Short answer: Security. Strategy.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/07/w...
Short answer: Security. Strategy.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/07/w...
December 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
“What Trump’s security strategy lacks”
Short answer: Security. Strategy.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/07/w...
Short answer: Security. Strategy.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/07/w...
“White House holiday decor, stranded at sea, uncontrollable vomiting”
Someone at CNN was having fun writing headlines.
Someone at CNN was having fun writing headlines.
December 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
“White House holiday decor, stranded at sea, uncontrollable vomiting”
Someone at CNN was having fun writing headlines.
Someone at CNN was having fun writing headlines.
In honor of Susan Stamberg’s passing, I made Mama Stamberg’s Cranberry Relish for Thanksgiving. It was a surprise hit for those willing to try it.
As an avid @npr.org fan, I always listened with anticipation for Stamberg’s recipe segment and laughed at how she would sneak it in. Funny. And yummy.
As an avid @npr.org fan, I always listened with anticipation for Stamberg’s recipe segment and laughed at how she would sneak it in. Funny. And yummy.
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
In honor of Susan Stamberg’s passing, I made Mama Stamberg’s Cranberry Relish for Thanksgiving. It was a surprise hit for those willing to try it.
As an avid @npr.org fan, I always listened with anticipation for Stamberg’s recipe segment and laughed at how she would sneak it in. Funny. And yummy.
As an avid @npr.org fan, I always listened with anticipation for Stamberg’s recipe segment and laughed at how she would sneak it in. Funny. And yummy.
Since my daughter is now a cheerleader, this is my first time experiencing the weird New England tradition of high school football on Thanksgiving. I don’t get the idea of having a school event on a family holiday. This was not a Midwestern tradition. Can someone explain?
November 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Since my daughter is now a cheerleader, this is my first time experiencing the weird New England tradition of high school football on Thanksgiving. I don’t get the idea of having a school event on a family holiday. This was not a Midwestern tradition. Can someone explain?
I feel like my 12-year-old and I accomplished something today. Before and after photos.
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I feel like my 12-year-old and I accomplished something today. Before and after photos.
These guys are really hoping you’re having a vegetarian Thanksgiving!
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
These guys are really hoping you’re having a vegetarian Thanksgiving!
I’ve been in Atlanta almost a week, and today is the first day the air is clear enough to see the hills on the horizon. It’s still pretty hazy, though. I’d forgotten what air pollution does to the sky and hadn’t realized how clear the skies back in Boston are.
November 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I’ve been in Atlanta almost a week, and today is the first day the air is clear enough to see the hills on the horizon. It’s still pretty hazy, though. I’d forgotten what air pollution does to the sky and hadn’t realized how clear the skies back in Boston are.