iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Just to say I'm starting my DPhil in Economic and Social History at New College, Oxford this term! Very excited to get into it. Anyone else working on early modern Germany/the Holy Roman Empire here?

021

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

from "Classical Studies memes for Hellenistic teens" on FB

Plato's Cave allegory, illustrated. the shadows on the cave wall are captioned "increasingly insane and extreme positions", the prisoners labeled "internet users", the figures holding the shadow's shapes labeled "algorithms", the fire labeled "random internet users expressing their idiosyncratic beliefs". the space above the cave is labeled "literally just outside" and the philosopher freed from the chains of the physical world labeled "guy who logs off"

7366511200

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

The Non-Select Committee @nonselectcommittee.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Social media is predominantly a world of illusion 🪄 ✨ But our latest analysis of Starmer and Sunak’s (largely) unsuccessful attempts to self-fashion via Twitter in the run up to the 2024 election 🗳️ finds that no filter can manufacture charisma... tinyurl.com/5y6p2mvy #twitter #socialmediastrategy

tinyurl.com

Posting Through It: Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak’s Social Media Strategy on Twitter in the 2024 General Election

Oliver Haythorne analyses Starmer and Sunak's attempts at self-fashioning via Twitter before the 2024 election, and why they failed.

031

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Rafe Meager (they/them) @economeager.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

my only question about people who get on X or tiktok and post that gpt helped them solve the reimann hypothesis is whether they are in their heart of hearts aware that they have no idea what's going on at any level, or if they're like true believers in their own shit

5513

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

THREAD: How Does Culture Impact Economic Growth? Economists are not famous for their discussions of culture and religion. However, increasingly they have come to recognize that culture might play a role in influencing long-term economic growth. China might provide an interesting case study. 1/

110

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Unbelievably excited to own this now…

The title page of Alexander Pope’s collected works, 1780 edition, volume IV

010

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

THREAD: What Do Cross-Gender Social Networks Look Like Across the World? Gender often defines or colours our social networks and interactions. We might be more or less likely to make friends with someone because of their gender. How does this look on the global scale, and how do we measure it? 1/

An image of a Facebook network, visualized as a graph

110

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

THREAD: How Much Do We Really Want Equality? Most people are, in principle, in favour of equality. Generally, we like the idea that people at the very least have the same opportunities - and sometimes that people's outcomes aren't too extremely different. But how far does this principle go? 1/

Georges Seurat, Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte/A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1884-1886

100

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

THREAD: How Did Classic Maya Political Networks Work? The Classic Maya period captures the imagination. Jungle temples, jaguar gods, and jewelled masks jump into the mind's eye. Yet it's important not to exoticize these people, or forget how they lived. What was Classic Maya politics like? 1/

A Classic Maya step temple, half covered by jungle, in Calakmul

100

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Definitely worth following! And not *just* because I've written a piece for them...

010

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

THREAD: The "Paradox of Abolition" in the Danish West Indies On 1 January 1803, the slave trade was ended in the realms of the King of Denmark. The abolition had been announced just over a decade earlier in 1792. How did life change for enslaved people in the decade between those dates? 1/

A photo of some black women in Danish St Croix. This photo is actually from after not only the abolition of the trade in enslaved people in 1803, but also after emancipation in 1848. However, conditions hadn't changed all that much!

110

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

William B. Fuckley @opinionhaver.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

dude I think I might be on my way to just straight up believing that one or both of them is literally taking orders from Moscow or Beijing

481395256

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).

For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your service”

13513096112086

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

mulboyne.bsky.social @mulboyne.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Visitors to the Observation Deck at Tokyo Skytree today saw a Diamond Fuji, where the sunset aligned with the peak of Mt.Fuji. www.sankei.com/article/2025...

A sunset Diamond Fuji, viewed from Tokyo Skytree

421524

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Mia Farrow @miafarrow.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

This is Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll. Last Friday he refused Justice Department order to identify & assist in firing all agents involved in Jan. 6 riot cases, He is said to have pushed back forcefully. Thank you Brian Driscoll!🇺🇸

13387580911464

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Imma keep it real with you Doug Ford, fire away

A tweet from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. It reads “Starting today and until U.S. tariffs are removed, Ontario is banning American companies from provincial contracts.

Every year, the Ontario government and its agencies spend $30 billion on procurement, alongside our $200 billion plan to build Ontario. U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame.

We’re going one step further. We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink. Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy.

Canada didn't start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we're ready to win it.”

602731448

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Dr Francis Young @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

The latter explanation is of course the correct one

4848

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

THREAD: How Did Wages Change Over Time in Premodern England? In the modern day, we get upset when our wages - or rather, our wages in terms of prices - don't grow. Yet for much of history, nobody just assumed that their wages would grow. What did wage change look like in premodern England? 1/

A mediaeval manuscript illustration of some labourers in a field

110

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

THREAD: How Far Is There Intersectional Labour Market Discrimination? Intersectionality has become a big part of both pop feminism and academic study, particularly in law and sociology. It says that oppressed identities "intersect": people in multiple oppressed categories are extra oppressed. 1/

210

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

if we staff ICE with Uvalde police officers, they'll never enter schools

8966736911896

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

because they have trained themselves to think of politics as a social game in which they are participants, and not as something that determines whether people live or die

8667581242

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

THREAD: What Are the Long-Term Effects of the 1933 Soviet Famine? The USSR (particularly Ukraine) suffered a serious famine, partly man-made, in 1932-1933. Millions died, and millions more were permanently scarred by malnourishment. What were its long-term effects on the Soviet economy? 1/

A photo from the Ukrainian SSR during the Holodomor

131

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Novelty Cistern @noveltycistern.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

ME: *writing in my journal with the sole aim of pissing off future historians and archaeologists* I returned to my home - which is built in the usual style - by the normal way, and prepared and ate dinner in the way I often but not always do

270232893307

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

scenequeenrocks.bsky.social @scenequeenrocks.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

It’s officially pink sky now that I’m here

1630424

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Pin this, save it, we’ll need it. “When a prison camp opens in your town…when a DREAMer is disappeared from your classroom…when the President destroys what’s left of the Constitution…They will all say they didn’t know this was coming. And I want the American people to know that they did.” AOC 🔥🎯

24299396230587

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Lawrence Miles @lawrence-miles.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

American technogarchs have announced a government-backed $500 billion "AI infrastructure" project. And they've called it, erm... "Stargate". I'll add it to the list.

0143

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

THREAD: How Did Road Networks Improve in 19th Century England? Today, it's so easy to take road networks for granted. Motorways span our countries, and well-maintained roads connect every small community to every other with ease. Yet, this wasn't always the case. So how did it change? 1/

John Constable's 1826 painting Country Road between East Bergholt and Flatford

110

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Brendon the Employable @thestatsrobot.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Meanwhile, they don't seem to have trouble distinguishing it.

2173

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

wint @dril.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

oh, youre here from tik tok? (chuckle's lightly ) Is that like reddit for babies

742434514309

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Ryan Broderick @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

lmao no, TikTok users are not moving to Bluesky. They would literally rather learn Mandarin than learn how to read a feed of text posts. This is a millennial retirement home.

2527558014877

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Emily McGovern @emilyscartoons.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Get thee to a nunnery ✝️

7177551437

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

www.slowtravelberlin.com @slowberlin.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Walk at Dusk (Man Contemplating a Megalith) by Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840)

38314

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 18/01/2025

Yup, @jamellebouie.net has this exactly right. What these guys are celebrating/pursuing/yearning for is not masculine energy, it's *adolescent* energy. Drinking Red Bull, crushing Call of Duty, refusing to clean your room. It is indescribably pathetic. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/o...

658225655616

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

pixelatedboat aka “mr bluesky” @pixelatedboat.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Welcome, teens coming here from tiktok. I think you’ll find that through the magic of the written word I am able to craft sentences that are as vivid and compelling as any short-form video!

458188581359

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Some cool stills from A Canterbury Tale (1944). A lovely little film about my home county - and home country.

A shot from A Canterbury Tale, showing Thomas Colpeper dark against a lantern projector white dot

A still from A Canterbury Tale, showing a ray of light illuminating Sgt. Bob Johnson in his bed

A shot from A Canterbury Tale, showing Alison Smith standing in front of a bar which reads "...and Honour the Truth"

A shot from A Canterbury Tale, showing Sgt. Bob Johnson standing beneath a beam in the dark

110

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

THREAD: How Did People Live in an Early Modern Multiethnic City? Cultural diversity in cities is nothing new. Some areas of early modern Europe contained lots of ethnic groups; the vast lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were the prime example. So how did people live in these cities? 1/

A picture of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the historic centre of Lviv

1153

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 16/01/2025

one thing i’m stuck on is this idea that “masculine” energy means license to act like a chud in public, as opposed to more traditional notions of public masculinity, such as those that put a premium on the performance of integrity, honesty, honor and generosity.

1591533328582

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Millennials in 2020: The youth are the FUTURE and we should listen to their profound wisdom. The youth of every generation have ALWAYS been on the side of progress! We’re still young too. Right? RIGHT?! Millennials in 2025:

726215

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

I think Zoomers/Gen Alpha acting like 2024’s economy was basically 2008 has to be the Millennial generation’s biggest OH MY GOD IN MY DAY WE WALKED TO SCHOOL UPHILL BOTH WAYS IN THE SNOW DURING MID-JULY SHUT THE FUCK UP moment thus far.

33899100

Oliver Haythorne @josephrohrbach.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

THREAD: How Good Was Social Mobility for Irish Immigrants in the US in the 19th Century? I'm back, after a doctoral-applications-driven hiatus! The Irish Famine drove many Irish people to flee to the US. There, they were often greeted with hostility - but how bad were their economic prospects? 1/

A picture of Irish immigrants in 19th century Kansas

111

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Dr Francis Young @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

I’m very excited to have got a 1st edition of Conan Doyle’s ‘The Coming of the Fairies’. There’s something tremendously moving about seeing the photographs as first published 🧚

1025527

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Ben Golub @bengolub.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

i'm excited to be judging a Quora knowledge contest questions are below. if you like thinking about economics, write good answers to these questions!! first prize is $1000 second prize is $200 (which can buy a set of steak knives) contests.quora.com/Now-Open-Jan...

12614

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

big lou @thetallblonde.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

being on bluesky

Tweet from furby Hancock:

Waiter: so how is everything?
Me: great!
Waiter: (disgusted) even war?

178250282689

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

Mateusz Fafinski @calthalas.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Breaking: Historians demand more permanent jobs or they will allow even *more* history to happen.

430370

Reposted by Oliver Haythorne

John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Tbf I'd legit do this as well if someone introduced themselves to me as a NYT journalist in the middle of my morning commute.

720226