iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Ugh, just ordering food and noticed the text in the corner. Not sure I want this frAId rice.

A photo of mushroom fried rice, with accompanying words, from Just Eat. The photo contains a sign saying 'AI generated.

James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I've probably been guilty of this in my own writing, but it's so draining when a piece of academic writing *repeatedly* tells you what it's going to do, taking ages to get to the heart of the matter... Please, just get stuck in!

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

My five-year-old, talking about Lego sets he'd like: "That's 8+, which is only 3 birthdays away. And 10+ is only 5 birthdays away!" Trust me, I know, little guy... Damn you, passage of time!

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm sure this will be a great night - @drstevex.bsky.social is a fantastic MC, and I had the pleasure of performing at the last comedy event at the Brunel Museum, which was the highlight of my comedy 'career' so far.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The misspelling of De Gaulle here is a little gaulling...

A sign reading: 'Métropole européenne de Lille. Place du général de Gaul. Travaux de voirie du 7-9 au 9-10.'

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

What about the Prince Imperial, AKA Napoleon IV, who is also buried there? He died fighting the Anglo-Zulu War, which seems right up Reform's street. Also, I once visited their tombs and it was *weird*: a caricature of a monk explaining the "brave" death of the Prince Imperial was a low point.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My son, just recently turned 5 and after his first day in Year 1: "Today we learnt left and right. Now I can go to universary and be a teacher."

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Son has just started Year 1, so we survived the first ever summer holiday - with me doing most of the childcare by myself and getting barely any work done. It was exhaustin but now he's back at school, I'm missing him!

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Proofreading my forthcoming article, and still disproportionately pleased that I managed to sneak a rubbish joke into footnote 95 (a joke that I once used on stage in a stand-up routine about this very article).

Main text reads: 'The image of spitting Frenchmen—this was gendered—appears often in Liller. A May 1916 cartoon joked that a Frenchman spits to “wash away the Germans.” More realistic drawings of locals show men or boys spitting, and in an April 1917 article about a Lille barbershop, the “dirty” barber displayed poor hygiene: blowing his nose in his hands, wiping them on his trousers, sneezing, “Or he must spit. The French must always spit.”'

Footnote 95 reads: 'W., “Der Liller Guckkastenmann.” If true, these may have been the spitting image of genuine inhabitants of Lille.'

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

#academicsky let's celebrate the edited book chapter. What's an edited book chapter that you're particularly proud of, or you think deserves more readers? #celebratebookchapter Proud of my chapter on British 'adoptions' of French communes/towns, 1918-39 in: www.wallstein-verlag.de/978383533211...

wallstein-verlag.de

Städtepartnerschaften in Europa im 20. Jahrhundert

So begann eine der ersten Städtepartnerschaften: Im Dezember 1918 schickte die Stadt Manchester der Gemeinde Lille einen Weihnachtsbaum. Städtepartnerschaften ermöglichen als »alternative Szene« der ...

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The latest one was: "I didn't have enough pieces to build a track, but - goodness! - I found a way!"

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

"Do you have an air conditioner at home?" "No, only 'air shampoo."

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

My nearly five-year-old son has become so obsessed with The Magic Faraway Tree audiobooks that he's talking like a posh child from 1939. E.g. - "I'm longing to do X" - "I expect I'll like X" - "I dare say I'll enjoy X" - "Yes, indeed, I would like my bagel toasted." - "That's a fine drawing!"

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Had a horrible start to the morning with a nuclear meltdown from my four-year-old, but I've just come out of the shower to find him in the front room, listening to an audiobook on his Yoto whilst reading another book out loud to himself. Maybe we haven't completely screwed up parenting.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Just watched a video (a French news report from 1975) from INA.fr on YouTube, and to my disgust found that YouTube had automatically turned on an AI-assisted English dub.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

My son's observation about gendered holiday childcare in the form of a question: "Were you the only Daddy at Clip 'n' climb [today], Daddy? You were the only Daddy at Bopping Tots [yesterday], too."

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Today my son finishes his first year at primary school. He's not even 5 yet, and is now on his fifth Prime Minister. Fully expect to be on Prime Minister number 18 when he finishes school for good.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

My record of performing stand-up at least once a month since January will now be broken, as I was due to perform tomorrow but the England match has meant my 'bringer' (a friend who watches, usually compulsory) has pulled out, and none of the other friends I've tried can make it. A shame.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

During this hot weather, I don't have an air conditioner so I'm having to make do with 'air shampoo.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Editing proofs for my forthcoming article. I reference more German pictures like the one on the right here showing spitting Frenchmen in occupied Lille, 1914-18. I then include one of my favourite footnote asides: 'If true, these may have been the spitting image of genuine inhabitants of Lille.'

A wall displaying French signage: 'défense d'uriner' and 'défense d'afficher' are written on the wall, covered by posters. One man urinates against the wall, another man is partially hidden by the corner, and another man spits on the floor whilst pulling a cart, in which a boy sits, smoking. The latter wear flat caps.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

"Life is life. And it's not that bad. Arcs are arcs. Poo is poo. Cars are cars." - My four-year-old's statements are giving me "Brexit means Brexit" flashbacks.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I know there are much worse things going on in the world, but: saying goodbye to your twin and his children, who are moving abroad permanently right before your (obviously joint) 40th birthday is a particular kind of sadness that is difficult to communicate.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Having a conversation with my wife in front of our four-year-old, and she says I have a chip on my shoulder. Son: "What?! Can I see?"

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

My four-year-old, when getting back from school, knowing it's too hot to play outside: "Can we watch TV, so we can have a good time and not a hot time?"

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Just tried to open the 'Clock' on my laptop, only for it to need an update. What, are we going decimal like France during the French Revolution? Should probably make a Tik Tok video about that.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I've noticed that when I stir food, my default direction and the one that feels more comfortable is anti-clockwise. Wondering if it's my inner historian wanting to turn back time.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Today I helped with my four-year-old's primary school forest school, and was delighted to see a group of children playing at making a library, including fake books and library ('lighbery') cards like this one. It gave me hope for humanity.

A slip of paper with 'lighbery' writen in it, in child's handwriting. The G is backwards.

A slip of paper containing a child's drawing of a book.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Shellfish, and almost all fruit. In French, I say, "Je n'aime ni les fruits ni les fruits de mer."

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Reposted by James Connolly

Will Clement @historywill.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

My first book, "Inspecting the home: Urban poverty and public health in nineteenth-century France", will be published by @manchesterup.bsky.social in February 2027 To find out more (or to add it to your wish lists...) see the link below: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526183149/

A book cover showing a shaded pencil illustration of a well-dressed man with a cane who has stopped in the street, bent down and raised his hat to another man, whose head is visible at street-level in the window to a cellar of the nearby building.

Text on the cover reads 'Inspecting the home. Urban poverty and public health in nineteenth-century France' Will Clement

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Despite my module covering a hundred years of modern French history, lots of students have answered the exam question on the early Fifth Republic. Some might find that a little Gaulling.

static.klipy.com

Charles De Gaulle: Public Address

Alt: Charles De Gaulle gesticulating wildly during a press conference.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

"Daddy, you're making me have a headache because you're talking too much." - my 4-year-old.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

If someone's general knowledge is really impressive, should it be recognised by calling it 'marshal knowledge'?

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

My current state, going through essays then exams.

A picture of a felt-tip pen that has 'permanent marker' written on it.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Love being rushed on my way to oral exams, dropping my son off to school breakfast club for the first time, getting an earlier train with a change, then not being able to actually get on multiple second trains because I'm faced with a wall of people.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

More franglais from my son: I was talking about when I chipped a bone in my foot as a child, and he asked, "Were you boxing [boitais/limping] when you walked?" Then he spoke about wheelchairs, calling them "rolling chairs... No, what's the English word?"

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Reposted by James Connolly

James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Random sweet memory from the last week: my four-year-old told me he's changed his mind and no longer wants to be a train driver when he's older, but "a universary school teacher like you."

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Random sweet memory from the last week: my four-year-old told me he's changed his mind and no longer wants to be a train driver when he's older, but "a universary school teacher like you."

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Talking to my four-year-old in French, pointing out a ray of sunlight (rayon de soleil), and he makes a bilingual pun on 'rayon de miel' (honeycomb) by saying, "Sunnycomb". Very proud.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Some student feedback on my modules this term. Nice to know at least a few people appreciate my attempts at humour. One day the fusion between stand-up comedy and teaching will be fully complete.

An edited list of responses on how to improve a module, highlighting 'more jokes' and 'keep the jokes going!'

A list of feedback on what students liked about a module, with 'The puns on the PowerPoints' highlighted.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

I took off my glasses to clean them, only to realise my right nose pad has fallen off. I'd argue it's more annoying than losing an iPad. I won't be able to go to the opticians until Wednesday, so until then I'll no doubt make a real spectacle of myself.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

A woman on the train is angrily discussing pet insurance on the phone with her mum: "I don't understand it. Okay, I'll just put it into Copilot to work out what's best." Stop outsourcing your thinking, people!

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

And it's happened again for the seminar of this module. Sigh.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

It's been a difficult term of teaching, especially juggling returning from research leave with my son starting primary school, so I'm even more delighted than I would've been to have been nominated for a Student Choice Award in Inspiring Teaching!

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Reposted by James Connolly

Chris Kempshall @chriskempshall.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

For the @alcs.co.uk users in the audience - it looks like our statements are available in the members area!

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

This term is nearly over, and one thing I've noticed is that I've never experienced so many colleagues teaching 10 minutes longer than they should, taking time out of my lectures and seminars. Very frustrating.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

As a child, St Patrick's Day used to mean receiving a card and a tricolour harp badge from my grandparents to wear in school. Now, it means getting WhatsApp messages from older relatives. Thus my family's Irish diaspora experience moves with the times, but becomes less visible to others.

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James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

As I got off the train, I stood behind a man holding a briefcase and another tapping away at his Nokia 3310. It was like I'd gone back in time.

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Reposted by James Connolly

Clément Salviani @clementsalviani.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Il est là, tout chaud grâce au colossal travail de compilation réalisé par @andreloez.bsky.social pour @aphg.bsky.social : le site l'Histoire par les Textes rassemble, grâce à la collaboration de nombreux enseignants ayant exercé à l'université, brochures et fascicules. www.aphg.fr/lhistoire-pa...

aphg.fr

L’histoire par les textes - Aphg

Antiquité Moyen Âge Période moderne Période contemporaine Thèmes transversaux Historiographie Liens utiles N.B. Les documents portant sur les séquences intermédiaires entre plusieurs ères (antiquité t...

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Reposted by James Connolly

James Connolly @drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

In an increasingly depressing world, I can't offer insightful takes on current events but I can offer mild distraction via lots of puns and silliness about the French Revolution and #FrHistory

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