Sign in

Simon Farley

@sighmonger.bsky.social
810 followers 635 following 681 posts

Historian and Wu Tang affiliate, among other things | Usual disclaimers | My pronouns are ze/zir or they/them

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Simon Farley
Dustin A. Chacón @lingdustin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I've heard people make claims that AI would lead to a new Renaissance, but I didn't imagine it'd happen like this:
Screenshot of a Tweet from Pope Leo XIV. It reads: 

"In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgen to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity."
255181794795
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
So true, Courier-Mail from 1936
091
Reposted by Simon Farley
Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 22/09/2026
“If you are staring at an example of social disorder or social inefficiency, and the left refuses to explain either why it has happened or how they will fix it, then the right gets to point at someone in the immediate area and say, ‘That’s who did it.’” crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
5951601224
Reposted by Simon Farley
Rebecca Wynter @rebeccawynter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Great news: 'Nearly 4m records of enslaved people in 20 former British colonies now searchable online'. Useful write-up indicating what information is recorded too. #Skystorians 🗃
theguardian.com
Nearly 4m records of enslaved people in 20 former British colonies now searchable online
Exclusive: Collection’s 300,000 pages record lives of enslaved people in countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Mauritius, South Africa and Trinidad
12615
Reposted by Simon Farley
Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It’s very simple. A reality TV host became dictator because he turned down a role for Sharknado 4 and that’s why the king of outer space, who cheats at Diablo, got to kill Africa. Now the economy is controlled by a sex cult that has something to do with Harry Potter fanfic because of robots.
15786392558
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It's this sort of thing that gives me pause when people wring their hands about 'cancel culture' or 'academic freedom'. Some people *should* be silenced! Not silenced by their governments, perhaps not even by corporations or universities, but certainly by community activism and public shaming.
231
Reposted by Simon Farley
Cethan Leahy @cethanleahy.com · 15/09/2026
Pretty funny that Ed Sheeran seemingly only hired Irish people and yet didn't see this coming.
544952664
Reposted by Simon Farley
journeyman folklorist @aniceburrito.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
1 month progress selfie
A mudskipper with its mouth wide open
111210155
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Even excluding any living historians, this was still tough - I'm sure I've made some huge omissions
231
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
050
Reposted by Simon Farley
flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Cuaron was asked when he made this (2006) how he created such a convincing, organic-looking future Britain. He said he looked at what was happening at the time and then just assumed for the movie that everything would keep going on much the same trajectory as it was then, for twenty years or so.
41000236
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
😍😍😍 inshallah they will never be back up
020
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Every time I buy fancy Spanish potato chips I am disappointed
020
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Effective today, I've been promoted from Assistant Lecturer (Level A) to Lecturer (Level B). For those outside of academia, this will seem very trivial, and maybe it is, but it's a big deal to me! I'm feeling proud and grateful.
7250
Reposted by Simon Farley
Jimmy Two Heads 💀🎃 @jimmytwohands.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I know exactly why, poindexter. It’s because it looks cool as fuck
This 11,000-Year-Old Statue from Turkey Shows a Man Riding a Leopard.
Archaeologists Aren't Sure
Why
The strange sculpture reverses a recurring Stone Age motif of humans confronting dangerous predators.
13398201831
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Today is a beautiful day to join your union
040
Reposted by Simon Farley
lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I guess I'll add that Dolly Parton is up there with Fred Rogers in terms of truly achieving what I think a Christian living their faith in public life should be like.
151863245
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Dream blunt rotation
030
Reposted by Simon Farley
the babahuck @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
genuinely cannot imagine anything like this ever happening again.
DSA •
@DemSocialists
X.com
Democratic Socialists of America extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Dolly Parton, a hero of the working-class and an inspiration to us all.Donald J. Trump
@reaDonald Trump
+
Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you. President DONALD J. TRUMP
664479772
Reposted by Simon Farley
Boze Herrington, Library Owl @sketchesbyboze.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly Parton rose from poverty to stardom. She gave $500 to every student in her hometown who finished high school; she built hospitals & bald eagle preserves; her Imagination Library has gifted 300 million books to children. Roger Ebert met her and came away thinking she was a literal angel. RIP.
“In Dallas for the premier of '9 to 5', I had an uncanny experience, and on the plane home to Chicago I confessed it to Siskel: I had been granted a private half hour with Dolly Parton, and as we spoke I was filled with a strange ethereal grace. This was not spiritual, nor was it sexual. It was healing and comforting. Gene listened and said, "Roger, I felt the exact same thing during my interview with her." We looked at each other. What did this mean? Neither one of us ever felt that feeling again. From time to time we would refer to it in wonder.”
40118043397
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Possibly the horniest bush poetry I have yet encountered (by the aptly named Thomas Bracken, 1877)
Two verses of a poem printed in an old newspaper, reading as follows:

"I have not forgotten that eve in September, 
When love-dreams were nursed in the cradle of Spring,
The pictures we painted, I well can remember, 
Were bright as the hues of the paroquet's wing; 
’Twas under the shade of the wattles you pressed me,
Their ringlets of gold played with mine on your cheek,
The young moon was veiled as you fondly caressed me,
And whispered “Farewell,” by the side of the creek.

The frightened birds flew from their nests in the bushes, 
The magpie took wing from his perch on the pine,
The water-fowl, startled, dashed wild through the rushes, 
As sweetly, your lips were imprinted on mine; 
Through mossy-capp’d boulders the merry stream babbled, 
The sly ’possum laughed when he heard our lips speak
The one note of love, and the stupid geese gabbled, 
Disturbed by the chirp of our kiss at the creek."
151
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Animals that were in every TV show I watched and book I read as a kid: * Killer bees * Frill-necked lizards * Hammerhead sharks And where are they now???
220
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
You see this in other sectors - maybe even in academia - people who rose to greatness by leaping on trends at just the right time are convinced that AI is simply another wave to catch. If they are lucky, these people will live long enough to look back on this period with mild embarrassment.
2295
Reposted by Simon Farley
Peter @notalawyer.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
“if we don’t stand up for the free speech of racists, it puts everyone’s free speech in danger.” - guy who only ever talks about free speech when it’s racism
7380451678
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Street artists in Melbourne seem to love painting fairy wrens, but they always paint the hyper-blue splendid fairy wren, which is only found in WA, rather than our local superb fairy wren. And so, I have armed myself and will be declaring a righteous and God-ordained war against
090
Reposted by Simon Farley
mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
guys literally only want one thing and its fucking disgusting
2760941
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Cars and Guns: a history of the United States of America in just two objects
020
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The Chills, Frostbite, Frozen Fingers and Chapped Lips would make for a great festival line-up
050
Reposted by Simon Farley
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 14/08/2026
I genuinely think this is the first time I've heard or seen push back against the head of Australia's data centre lobby. Not just in media interviews, in any context. She is stunned and totally thrown off for the whole interview. Not surprising! www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
abc.net.au
The plan to build a data centre next to a Sydney Metro station - ABC listen
Ryde Council is worried about a proposed data centre at Lane Cove Road in Macquarie Park - a site immediately next to the Macquarie Park Metro Station.   Hamish Macdonald spoke to CEO of Data Centres...
1215349
Reposted by Simon Farley
Jørgen Heszlein @heszlein.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
New estimate of Elon Musk’s death toll just dropped www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
9136761736
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I want to see Eddy Current Suppression Ring at Meredith but unfortunately nobody I would go to Meredith with has ever heard of Eddy Current Suppression Ring
220
Reposted by Simon Farley
History Australia @historyaustralia.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
‘Do-it-yourself biological control’: the unauthorised introduction of blackberry rust to Australia by Simon Farley www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... @sighmonger.bsky.social #historyaustralia #openaccess
082
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Chet Hanks is living quietly in a sharehouse in Brunswick West and working as a groundskeeper at the University of Melbourne. I asked him to speak in patois for me but he wouldn't. "I don't do that anymore, man."
010
Reposted by Simon Farley
Liz Crash @lizcrash.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
did what i always do at Census time: bitch and moan incessantly about the false promises of legibility to the state, then tick the box saying “yes! please hang onto my identified data for 99 years and then make it public“
1271
Reposted by Simon Farley
laura olin @lauraolin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Abdul El-Sayed on capitalism: “I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.”
We’ve spoken about capitalism versus socialism.

Do you want to talk about capitalism? Let’s talk about capitalism. Are you recording? Capitalism is about leveraging the laws of supply and demand to efficiently allocate capital expenditure to maximize value. When capitalism works, it’s because you have free entry and exit into markets. So if you believe in capitalism, you have to believe in government regulation to protect markets. In fact, right now, we have exactly the opposite. You don’t have to be a socialist to believe that you should be taxing billionaires their wealth. In fact, if you are a capitalist, you should believe in that. So, I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.
10869251510
Reposted by Simon Farley
Patrick Monahan @pattymo.com · 07/08/2026
Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag delivers
DoorDash push notification:
Message from your Dasher
Here I am
1946925
Reposted by Simon Farley
Willie Dustice @williedustice.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Coming summer 2027: Jason Momoa and Jason Mantzoukas in a buddy comedy of 'Epic' proportions: Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
051
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
My primary goal for my next five years of reading will be to bring that 66% down to a less embarrassing 50% - and to try to make sure that, if I must read something by a pom or a seppo, it will at least not be written by a white person.
110
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Since early 2014, I have read 439 books. Of those, ~289 - about two-thirds - were written by British or USian authors. Of that 66%, only 7% (~21 books) were written by people of colour. This makes me sad.
A pie chart representing the figures expressed in the text of the post
030
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I like the alchemy at work in posts like this where someone takes a mid idea for a post (lead) and surrounds it with a meta-post, thus turning it into a good post overall (gold)
050
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Is it just me or is the jasmine in Melbourne flowering early this year?
100
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I'm being hatecrimed by Spotify rn
060
Reposted by Simon Farley
Aidan O'Sullivan @aidanosullivan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Fascinating - Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were populating upland lakes with brown trout. There are some species in Ireland that may have been brought in too, eg a small, cuddly bear cub is easy to transport in a boat … and how did red deer get here in the end?
24714
Reposted by Simon Farley
Brawlcats @brawlcats.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
airbnb I’m staying at unintentionally created the toughest punk album cover of 2027
158363796434
Simon Farley @sighmonger.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I'm seeing nostalgia for How I Met Your Mother creeping into the zeitgeist and I don't like it.
070
Reposted by Simon Farley
New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is just to say I have OCRed the text thet was in tne arch:ve and whicb yov were prabaldy seamhing for "breahtast" Fargme ms fheg mem debo:w5 sb ?mccf mmb 5c oc1b
7778522571
Reposted by Simon Farley
Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
We still have the cultural image that actual Nazis were defeated in the 1940's, and the remaining Nazis are either unemployed basement-dwellers or fringe militias in Idaho. There is still a reluctance by media and business leaders to say openly that the world's wealthiest person is a Nazi.
423220833