Mastodawn

Bob McWilliams Jul 5, 2023

Jacob Ward Jul 5, 2023

I've finally decided to experiment with Mastodon, so here's an #introduction #histodons

I'm a historian of science, technology, and neoliberalism. My first book (coming out Spring 2024) investigates the digitalisation and privatisation of Britain's telecom infrastructure, and I've recently started a new project on the history of futurology in British government.

I grew up and went to university in London, and now I work at Maastricht University, in the History department and STS research programme.

I had a Twitter account but was shocking at actually using it. Twitter always felt a bit too "broadcast" and exposing for me, which I think I reacted to by only posting declarations and announcements (when I posted at all). I'd like to be more active here and I hope there's more space for dialogue and interaction. Thanks for reading!

Bob McWilliams Mar 12, 2023

God

Mar 11, 2023

Spend less time worrying about drag queens and more time worrying about youth pastors, boy scout leaders, and republican house speakers.

Bob McWilliams Mar 12, 2023

Radical Graffiti Mar 11, 2023

"Save the Bees, Plant more Trees, Clean the Seas, Punch Nazis"
Sticker seen in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Bob McWilliams Mar 12, 2023

Abandoned America Mar 12, 2023

In my first year of undergrad, I went to a western PA school and a bunch of people in my dorm were KKK asshats. What I learned from that is you're never safe from those people unless you're one of them, and even then probably not. There will always be something they'll single you out for if you're not in on it with them. It doesn't matter what it is. That's why you can never trust them and why you should never feel safe with them. You aren't. Nobody is.

Bob McWilliams Mar 12, 2023

jlbdixon Mar 11, 2023

LGBTQ Americans are not political agendas. They are human beings with lives and having their very existence legislated and questioned is unamerican and in violation of our Constitution. The rights codified in our founding documents do not restrict those rights to heterosexuals.
If LGBTQ Americans offend you that should be your problem because this is America. The existence of and protection of the rights of LGBTQ Americans is not an infringement on religious freedom.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/10/dad-dresses-as-julius-caesar-at-school-board-meeting-to-protest-teachers-gender-fluid-attire/

Dad dresses as Julius Caesar at school board meeting to protest teacher's gender-fluid attire

A Concord, New Hampshire, father who was banned from occupying an elementary school’s property dressed up as Julius Caesar at a recent school board meeting.

New York Post

Bob McWilliams Mar 4, 2023

From the Vinyl Vault, classic Wayne Shorter from 1964 on my show tonight on Kansas Public Radio. #jazz #vinyl #jazzvinyl

Bob McWilliams Mar 2, 2023

Open Culture (Official)Mar 1, 2023

Ukraine Releases a Banksy Stamp That Features a Kid Judo Flipping an Older Man Resembling Vladimir Putin

https://www.openculture.com/2023/03/ukraine-releases-a-banksy-stamp-featuring-a-kid-judo-flipping-a-figure-that-resembles-vladimir-putin.html via @openculture

Ukraine Releases a Banksy Stamp That Features a Kid Judo Flipping an Older Man Resembling Vladimir Putin

Last fall, Banksy traveled to Ukraine and spray-painted a series of murals that offered a stinging commentary on the war launched by Vladimir Putin and Russia's military forces.

Open Culture

Bob McWilliams Mar 2, 2023

Just A Guy Mar 2, 2023

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Bob McWilliams Mar 2, 2023

Augie Ray Feb 27, 2023

This is what conservatives sound like when they complain about cancel culture after saying or doing racist, sexist or otherwise abusive things.

Bob McWilliams Mar 2, 2023

MattJ Mar 2, 2023

If you went to a community college or state university, you did not pay for all of your education. You benefited from tax payer dollars.

In the last 20 years, states started putting less money into advanced education. This is one of the reasons why so many are in debt.

Forgiving those student loans is not giving them a free ride. This is not a zero sum game. Those of us who are not in debt with school loans can still benefit from not having a large percentage of the community beholden to the banks. If those with loans are not paying the banks they can put that money into other things and boost the economy.

The only people benefitting from student loan debt are the banks. The rest of us are not getting screwed by forgiving it. We all gain but not evenly.