The Failure of the US Government to Fund Science Infrastructure is Causing Things to Literally Collapse
The Arecibo Observatory collapsed, laying bare the problems of funding science infrastructure.
What a Mangled Press Conference on COVID Can Tell Us About the Need for Good Data Storytelling
Last week the UK government COVID held a press briefing in an attempt to get the country behind new travel and social restrictions. What lessons can we learn from this bad example of how not to present evidence to support our positions?
Real, Substantive Change Takes Time, Hard Work
Some inspiration in difficult times from a classical source.
VOTE!
No post from us today — US readers, please vote!
A Fast Trip Through 13 Centuries of English
Planning a trip back through time? Have you thought about whether you’ll be able to understand what anyone is saying?
Fixing the Present Requires an Understanding of History
John Oliver presents a fairly devastating look at how history is taught in America and how that has contributed to our current problems.
Revisiting: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Our Story: Hamiltunes and the Burden of Founding Histories
Looking back at a 2015 post on the musical “Hamilton”, which raises questions about history and historical practice that reflects what scholars are and aren’t doing.
The Spread of Folklore, the Impact of Mass Media, and What Happens After Batman Smells
Regional variance in childhood jokes offers a fun look at the impact of mass media on culture.
The Font of the Future
Beloved by Stanley Kubrick, hated by Nazis — a look at Futura, the font of the future.
Getting Medieval On Popular Music
It’s Friday and we could all use a break. How about a “bardcore” cover of a Dolly Parton song?
Three Pulitzer Prize Winners Discuss Racism, Slavery, and Resistance in American History
A fascinating conversation among important authors about racism, history, and our current moment.
Happy Juneteenth!
Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Let us all continue to learn what we must learn, do what we must do, so that our nation can be what we want it to be.
Educating Ourselves: Ten Quotes from Researchers Exploring Issues Around Race
Shocking, sobering and thought-provoking quotes from, and links to, plain language summaries of research relating to systemic or institutionalized racism, white privilege, and related topics.
A Font for these Uncertain Times
Uncertain times call for distressed typography.
If I Knew Then What I Know Now
A time traveler goes back four months to explain to herself what’s been happening in 2020.