History professor, disc golfer and board-gamer who believes the echoes of the past weave through the present. It’s our job to understand them, in all their brilliance and awfulness.https://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lt5vxna5ec2jAs someone who has argued for the uniqueness of every historic moment in my classroom while acknowledging the truth of historical patterns and continues - I loooove the poetry/truth of “History may not repeat itself, but it rhymes!” [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Jul 2025 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt5vxna5ec2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3llbqojmpqs2yNow more than ever, we need journalists to do their job - they need to loudly and aggressively pursue the misuse and abuse of power - even if it might cost them their “insider” access. Maybe especially so. Thanks to Drew for making that evident. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Mar 2025 12:05 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3llbqojmpqs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lkqku32amc2kHahaha. After some 15 years of AAA membership(with some gaps) and never using it for anything, I let it lapse last month, and this morning, during NJ freeway rush hour, the alternator died and I needed a tow. Chef’s kiss, 10/10, no notes to the gods of irony!19 Mar 2025 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkqku32amc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3likbq76uns2oFirst they came for the air traffic controllers and I said nothing, then they came for the Park Rangers, epidemiologists, teachers and librarians and I realized we were now just as in dumb as they wanted us to be. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jfk-library-boston-closed-federal-job-cuts/.19 Feb 2025 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3likbq76uns2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lhwiskqsbs26@lv4allorg.bsky.social Residents of Lehigh Valley who want to reach out to Ryan Mackenzie and express concern about Musk tearing down the Dept of Education can try the website below.I tried the office number and got nowhere, but the #s below are more active. https://mackenzie.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-mackenzie-announces-opening-central-office11 Feb 2025 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhwiskqsbs26https://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lhuekdqov22gI almost feel bad for my students who are about to read Hett’s excellent “Death of Democracy.” It’s just too on point these days to stomach…11 Feb 2025 00:08 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhuekdqov22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3ldwf62ih4s2iPlayed Nations Dice game this morning solo. Regular Nations is, admittedly, one of my favorite of all time and this version is just a great little take off on it that lasts about an hour.22 Dec 2024 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldwf62ih4s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3ldceqszwc22uOk boardgamers, I need assistance! Next semester I’m teaching world geography for the first time and want to match concepts with boardgames. So monopolies with Pan Am, farming with Atiwa, political geography with Votes for Women, and Pandemic, of course. Other suggestions?!?14 Dec 2024 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldceqszwc22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lc7bflp5p22zI need help folks, it’s my turn to recommend a movie for family movie night and I’m thinking about “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” - but I’ve got a teen son who doesn’t like “mean” humor - is it too mean for the soulful payoff I remember?30 Nov 2024 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc7bflp5p22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lbzdmvjmps23Much to my foodie family’s horror, I shall once again be making green bean casserole not from scratch, but with the 5 ingredients Campbell Soup recommends!28 Nov 2024 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbzdmvjmps23https://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lbdrn3b6cs2qCurrently rereading Jonny Steinberg’s “Midlands” for class and am reminded of what a brilliant writer he is. The story remains deeply relevant even a quarter-century on!20 Nov 2024 01:16 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbdrn3b6cs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lasd7azwbc2sCurrently grading papers connected to ANC resistance efforts and *gasps in historian* I am trying hard not to veer into anachronism as parallels with the current moment keep messing with my focus.13 Nov 2024 02:42 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lasd7azwbc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lakaa7hvo22fSaint Firmin is feeling on point today.09 Nov 2024 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lakaa7hvo22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3lahwzgmfjx2lGot knocked down, but I’ll get up again!08 Nov 2024 23:38 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3lahwzgmfjx2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3laby4ywkay2fYes, this is how democracies die. Citizens, animated by a relentless propaganda machine telling them to be afraid of people who are not them and the terror of slightly higher milk prices, voted for the autocrat. Somewhere, Hannah Arendt is wagging her finger at us…06 Nov 2024 14:42 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3laby4ywkay2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3la7ea2f6yn2xIm speaking it into existence - Harris takes 5 of 7 swing states and one surprise defection, be it Iowa or, please sweet baby Jesus, Texas.05 Nov 2024 13:40 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3la7ea2f6yn2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3l7objx6erv2dCurrently waiting in line with my 18 year old son to vote early in PA. It’s an hour wait and I had to listen to an old guy go on an anti-immigrant tirade, but happy to do my part in saving our democracy! #KamalaHarris29 Oct 2024 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3l7objx6erv2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3l4ojggft4b27Watching democracy in action with my youngest - Bethlehem Walz rally.21 Sep 2024 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3l4ojggft4b27https://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3klqhb5jgmg2wForget best and worst, I want to know who the most mid President was. The medianist of the medians.19 Feb 2024 03:01 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3klqhb5jgmg2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rjhoule.bsky.social/post/3kj2gn4xase2s Calling for suggestions! I’m teaching a class on the most significant moments in sports history(think Owens in Berlin) and am looking for suggestions on best media - readings, podcasts or video. Thanks in advance!15 Jan 2024 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:eac5fza65eweb4dzpvhn5xao/app.bsky.feed.post/3kj2gn4xase2s