iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The cat just walked across my computer keyboard to type a very clear "loooool" so I guess he's not very impressed by this chapter.

Words on a page: the island that they're settling. The current box welcomes players "to the uninhabited island of Catan." loooooooooooo.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Some big steam-powered equipment thanks to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. As you can see, they preserve lots of steam equipment, including stuff beyond the farm. #histSTM #mininghist

Steam shovel labeled “The Kentuckian” in a field.

Sand and Gravel machines in a big hanger.

Guy in green hat in front of the “Montana boiler.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

We really have a record-sitting cat in this household.

Orange cat on top of records, below a window.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

A sight in Minnesota that you really otter see.

Guy in green hat in front of a giant otter statue.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Photos from abandoned buildings in Picher, Oklahoma. Unlike many “ghost towns,” many folks didn’t leave until the 2000s/2010s, but lead poisoning, subsidence concerns, and then a major tornado convinced most to take government offers for their homes and businesses.

Water tower for Picher, Oklahoma with scattered buildings and pavement.

White building with holes in it behind it pavement and telephone poles.

Picher-Cardin High School building behind a fence.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

“Chat piles”—large piles of mine waste, many of which still tower over the now uninhabited towns of Picher and Cardin, Oklahoma. The EPA is working with contractors to clear them out. Some can go into pavement!

Hill of white rock waste by the side of the road.

Hill of white rock waste with orange water flowing below it.

White rock waste with equipment to move it behind.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

These images are from a Passive Treatment System for mine drainage outside of Commerce, Oklahoma. Notice how the orange color becomes clear through a series of ponds.

Orange water in a pond with a guy in the way.

Guy in blue shirt now in front of clear water in a pond.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Tar Creek, which flows by what was once Picher, Oklahoma. Notice the orange-ish color, which is water seeping out of the mines below.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Here is a memorial to Picher-Cardin, Oklahoma, two towns evacuated and declared uninhabitable due to lead contamination and undermining.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Now lead/zinc district photos from the Mining History Association Conference, including this image of a Mickey Mantle statue. Mantle was known locally as the “Commerce Comet,” in reference to his birthplace of Commerce, Oklahoma. His Dad was a lead-zinc miner there.

Statue of a baseball player labeled “Mickey Charles Mantle, a great teammate” in front of a red and white building and a red pickup truck.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Headstone for Tony McTeer, a labor leader who died of silicosis just before his dream—a union for tri-state’s lead/zinc miners in MO/KS/OK—formed. Thanks to historian Jarod Roll for taking us there.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Memorial at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (at the edge of Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg, Kansas) for 17 miners buried in a mass grave. They were among the 44 killed in a coal mining disaster in Frontenac, Kansas. explorecrawfordcounty.com/frontenacmin...

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

This is the Franklin-Arma Historic Sidewalk in SE Kansas. Constructed in 1936, this 1.7-mile, three-foot-wide concrete path is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it’s the longest sidewalk in the United States connecting two communities. A rather charming landmark!

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Then we stopped by Big Brutus, once the largest electric steam shovel. It was…really big! (And you can go inside it!)

Group of people being towered over by a big steam shovel.

Guy in front of 6 foot tall treads of massive steam shovel.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Some photos from the recent Mining History Association conference in southeast Kansas (with stops in SW Missouri, and NE Oklahoma). #envhist #mininghistory First up, the Heartlands Railroad Museum.

Image of a Western Union Telegraph and Cable Office with a spitting prohibited sign.

Guy in glasses outside of a display with a “Rock Island Lines” jug.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Remember when media organizations had editors?

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

I have been on the search for some sandals that can handle midwestern snow storms.

Photo of open sandal that is labeled “Men’s All Weather Sandals.” For $64.99.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Nice that our daughter gave the cat another person to cuddle with.

Photo of a pink skeleton wearing a wig and reading a book with a black and white cat curled up next to it.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Duh nuh nuh nuh. (click, click) Duh nuh nuh nuh. (click, click). Duh nuh nuh nuh. Duh nuh nuh nuh. Duh nuh nuh nuh. (click, click).

An image of text that says 'Announcing Release of Adams Family Correspondence, Volume 16 The Adams Papers has published Volume 16 of the Adams Family. Correspondence, providing annotated transcriptions of Adams family letters. Volume 16 follows the Adams family from November 1804 through July 1809 as John and Abigail Adams guide their growing family through challenges, big and small. The letters cover such topics as family life, the 1806 Miranda Expedition, and the deteriorating relations between the United States and Great Britain. The Adams Papers Adams Family Correspondence Learn more about these topics on the Beehive blog." Text accompanied by a book cover for the Adams Papers.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Let’s play a game. What college has this W?

Photo of guy in glasses in front of restaurant and a W on a hill.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Why yes, I am wearing a very self-serving shirt from @raygunsite.com

Guy wearing maroon T shirt with white lettering that says “America Needs Historians.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

So glad that in these days of egg shortages I was still able to acquire a carton of gluten free eggs.

Text on a carton that reads “Farm Fresh Eggs, Grade A. Gluten Free.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Me: what’s new in clothing? Banana Republic: Would you like volcanic sand particles in your pants?

Banana Republic product details that suggest temp-regulating clothing comes from 37.5 Technology that uses the power of active particles derived from volcanic sand.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Me: what’s new in clothing? Banana Republic: Would you like volcanic sand particles in your pants?

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Hello. I'd love to submit to your academic journal, which I've never heard of until your email to me, but I'm afraid that all of my articles contain around 20% plagiarism, so I guess I'll have to look elsewhere. #academia #highered

Dear Professor | Scientist | Scholar, You are invited to submit original research article (s) as per your research expertise. Article (s) can be submitted from the journal website by using the ‘Article Submission System’ throughout the year if:

= Plagiarism of the article is less than 15%, including references.

= The articles are within the scope of the journal.

= The article is original and result-oriented.

= For more detailed information, please visit ‘Guidelines for Authors’. Warmest regards. Editor-In-Chief Attachment:

Journal Consortium of BEIESP

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I understand that we all have different personal means, but if I had an extra $4000 I’m not sure a home skee-ball machine would be my first choice for a holiday purchase.

Image of a Santa that says “Santa did it again!” And an image of a skee-ball machine in red and black along with text that indicates it costs $3999.99.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Best line in the newspaper today, presented without context:

Text that reads: “There’s also the sounds: guttural grunts, yelps, barks, screeches, wails and farts all day and night.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Eddie Bauer asks “middle-aged dads” like myself: why not wear a flannel shirt over your flannel shirt?

Photo of guy outdoors wearing a flannel shirt over a flannel shirt, citing a quote by a “middle aged dad.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 02/11/2024

Finally a movie that answers the question “what if Frosty the Snowman was a hunk?”

Netflix movie “Hot Frosty” about a magic scarf that turns a snowman into a hunky guy. Image with guy, girl, scarf, and snow.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 06/10/2024

First paper to be discussed by the Energy History Working Group: Robert Lifset on #envhist, oil companies, & the 1970s energy crisis. Come join us via Zoom through the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine on Friday, October 11th!

Text over cream background that recounts the schedule on https://www.chstm.org/content/energy-history

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 04/09/2024

Today marks my first day as the chair of Faculty Council. Here’s an anonymous comments box for Faculty Council. It hasn’t been used for years and the key has been lost. But I suppose faculty members might still feel better if they put a complaint inside! #HigherEd

Image of locked tan comments box for Augustana College.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 03/08/2024

Be clear, Western History Association! Is the tour of the Truman Library and neighborhood full or can I still come if I pay you $1 million?

Text that says "Sorry these events are sold out. Tour Full Truman Presidential Library and Historic Neighborhood." $1,000,000."

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 02/08/2024

Perhaps the recall happened due to the embarrassment over the misspelling of “saudage”? I’d issue a recall too!

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 02/08/2024

Perhaps a typo made because the author and/or editor became excited to eat an eclair when they saw that there was a shop dedicated to sweets, hence the misspelling of LeClaire as “Eclaire”?

“Shelly’s Sweets expands” article, listing the site of the article as “Eclaire, Iowa,” not “LeClaire, IA.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 29/07/2024

I didn’t realize that chewing gum could make me look like Dolph Lundgren (whom I assume is still the most culturally relevant figure with a prominent jaw line)!

Photo about new article with trend where men chew stuff gum to build their jaw muscles, which isn’t making dentists happy.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 29/07/2024

Energy historians! Come present your work with the Energy History Working Group. We are building the 2024-25 schedule now. We workshop WIP in the field of energy history via Zoom. Priority deadline August 15th! #energyhist #envhist #mininghistory @sarahthestan.bsky.social

Energy History Working Group CFP. Meets 2nd Friday of each month at 12:30EST via Zoom. More info at https://www.chstm.org/content/energy-history

Priority deadline of August 15, 2024. Topics on extraction, energy systems, waste, mining, health, culture, fossil fuels, electrification, nuclear or water power, technologies, labor of energy production welcome. Send abstract, explanation of what you hope to gain, relevant bio info to brianleech@augustana.edu

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 14/06/2024

Me holding things at the conference. 1. A brush from the Donner Party 2. A gold bar…kind of.

Brush in a box surrounded by white tissue paper.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 13/06/2024

Sign outside of Tintic High School. Go Miners!

Sign that lists the 17 graduates of Tintic High School. Mascot: Miners.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 13/06/2024

Model of a teacher apparently upset at students at the Tintic Mining Museum.

Model hiding face in fake schoolroom scene.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 13/06/2024

Mining History Association conference tours continued…to the Tintic district. Bridal Veil Falls (seen on the way south).

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 13/06/2024

Proof that I actually presented at this conference and didn’t just wander around mine sites. Here is my #envhist #mininghistory presentation on the Bingham Canyon Mine.

Photo of crowd listening to talk with two screens showing PowerPoint slides on either side of a speaker.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Tour of Ontario # 3 silver mine’s buildings in Park City, Utah. Mine closed in the 1980s, briefly re-opened in 90s as a Six Flags-authored theme park. Many exhibits still stand! #publichistory

Flashlights peering in on model of mining town.

Cage with warning signs like “No horseplay on the cage.”

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Tour of the Spiro mine drainage tunnel, which now provides Park City, UT with 1/3 of its drinking water (once it has been treated to remove some of the worst of the many minerals unearthed). #mininghistory

Guy underground in tunnel, yellow car behind.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Make Dad’s day! With beer and the Tums he’ll have to take after drinking the beer!

Advertisement that reads “Make Dad’s Day” with photos of a beer mug, a water bottle, cologne, and Tums.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Here’s the lamp room (where miners would pick up their headlamp and other materials before heading down the shaft) and the Silver King mill below. #ParkCity #Utah #mininghistory

Looking through a broken out window and into a room with a bench and wooden slots to hold items.

Long building that is falling in, heading up a mountainside, hidden partly by trees.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Here’s the hoisting works and the headframe within the Silver King shaft house.

Broken glass on windows looking through to a metal structure.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

To the Silver King Mine site, with the shafthouse in the front of this photo.

Metal building with snow damage, people walking on dirt road to it.

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Brian Leech @brianleechphd.bsky.social · 12/06/2024

Then a ski lift ride in the morning…

Image of a ski lift going up a hillside.

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