Another day, another Zoom update, another round of AI tools to turn off.

Could Excel be conscious? We surveyed more than Jan 1 1900 people to find out.

"I use chatgpt as a search engine" "I use minesweeper as a website browser" "I use the lego pirate ship when I want to boil an egg"

In February, USA Rugby banned trans women from all levels of one of the world’s most inclusive sports. What happened next was telling. Across the country, teams refused to comply. The story of the Baltimore Ferals, who are pushing back: www.thebanner.com/sports/rugby...

"And unlike other non-living things, AI systems can form relationships with humans." Unlike other non-living things, AI systems are designed by coprorate interests to deceive people and make them feel that the relationships they formed are actually reciprocated. (There, fixed it for you.) >>

oof yikes. thanks for letting me know. unfollowing now. I really enjoyed his travel vlogs, but wasn't aware that he blinded Poseidon's giant son bringing the curse of the sea-god down upon his homesick and war-weary men.

Heard something scratching and scrabbling from inside a box in my office. I may have yelped, and when someone asked what was wrong, I went with the most horror-movie response ever by just saying, "There's something in here with me!"

I got some time today to be creative and write. It was so, so great!

@lauraleighwrite.bsky.social Check out the reference to your short story in the highlights from last month’s issue! Your piece was sooo good!

It's here! Check out our July/August issue, with nonfiction, fiction, a literary reflection, poetry, profiles, and reviews:

"Do you understand? They didn’t just make me worse. They made me like them." A remarkable piece of writing, well worth your time.

It cracks me up how mad people are about Eliot Page existing in a story that pretty famously contains Tiresias the Transition Enthusiast, an mpreg headburster, and a chick who hatched out of a swan’s egg. Yes hi I am Homer my gender is “lol” (Yes I said chick she’s a swan & so’s her sister. HONK.)

Kind of annoyed by how every news article that claims to be about Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister who will be taking his senate seat until the election, is actually written about her brother and not her. He was my senator & I’m quite familiar with him; I’d like to know about her now.

Hi friends! In an attempt to be better at showing up in this space, I've got a starter pack for you! Everyone in this identifies as an editor of colour. If you want to join, just let me know! #editorsky #amediting #writingcommunity go.bsky.app/FYSGqRn

I've got another starter pack for you, friends! ✨This one's for disabled editors ✨ Everyone who is in this identifies as disabled and asked to be part of it. If you want in too, just let me know! #Disability #DisabilityPride #EditorSky #AmEditing #WritingCommunity 🌈📚 go.bsky.app/JBMJNE3

No I’m not going to America’s birthday party because for me July 4th will forever be the day I stood in that house for the last time

What LM staff are reading:

I truly hate that in addition to having the usual "growing up" conversations with my daughter I will also have to teach her how to avoid the overreach of a state that wants to surveil her and her body so it can discriminate against immigrants and trans people.

I've decided to compile a definitive thread of photos of the best trees I've photographed during my walks in the countryside, together with supporting biographical information. I will put the vital story associated with each tree in the alt text, since some of it is a little long to fit in a post.

Read the alt text in this thread

Trans rights are human rights.

Very curious what others can come up with to replace "agent AI" with less anthropomorphic language. "Interconnected LLM automations"?

Are you annoyed with the anthropomorphizing language being used in the "AI" discourse, but not sure how to talk about this stuff without it? @nannainie.bsky.social and I have got you covered: buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...

***NEW EPISODE!!!*** Thrilled to post this episode with Sona Movsesian, who's co-hosted Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend since 2018. Here @hollyrizzutopal.bsky.social & Amanda Fields talk with Sona about CA wildfires, parenting twins, and her book, The World’s Worst Mom:

In celebration of #PrideMonth, we're offering a 30% discount on dozens of books, from literature to poetry to memoir. Check out some of our recommended titles at tinyurl.com/35krd5nn Use code PRIDE26UWISC on in-stock books and preorders at uwpress.wisc.edu

Today marks National Writing Day, an annual celebration of the power of writing creatively. Here's just a selection of our books which celebrate and offer guidance to writing in various forms, from crime & fantasy fiction to memoir & classic novels. #NationalWritingDay #amwriting #booksky

Preparing for an online meeting at work: 1) Open Zoom 2) Decline turning on AI for the 50-billionth time 3) Check for updates 4) Install updates 5) Check settings in the app to turn off new AI features that are on by default 6) Turn off AI settings in app 7) Repeat steps 5 & 6 on the website

Some academics would say 12 footnotes for the first paragraph of an article is too many. Those scholars are cowards.

"I feel like AI defeats the purpose of this class." I went into this past school year thinking that it might finally be the year where I had no choice but to begin integrating AI into our classroom as a tool and skill. Walking out of this year? Talking with students? I realized I was wrong.

Okay, I found the actual quote: "'I packed up everything last night and threw it in a dumpster,' he said. '... I mean, hell, they don't want me, I'm gone.'"

Just saw 7 chipmunks on my walk. I usually see lots of squirrels, who have no fear, but not chipmunks, who have nothing but fear.

A related anecdote: in response to my statement that I can't afford a CPAP machine for mild sleep apnea, the PA I saw at my Dr's office prescribed me a "new medicine" that can help with sleep apnea. A GLP-1 injectable weight loss drug. She did not tell me it was a GLP-1 or talk side effects.

Strong agree.

A phenomenon I've noticed recently is people trying to occupy some untenable middleground wrt to the use of systems sold as "AI" -- this is a position where people try to recognize the harms of this tech but also hold space for "responsible" or "ethical" use. 🧵>>

Best thing I read last week—AND something that could be a phenomenal piece to have students read, especially HS seniors on their final lap.

Today's takeaways: "we are distinct from the computational process" "Our first principle should be to work on making student learning visible to students themselves" "Ultimately, it’s really just a matter of what we choose: Ourselves, or AI?" Thanks @biblioracle.bsky.social

You might say “but the opposite is also picking a side.” You are right. It’s picking the side of inclusion rather than exclusion. You do have to pick one.

Will absolutely be coming back to check this out when I’m not at work.

Since I did do my PhD in cyanobacteria growth and treatment optimization modeling AND work in the water treatment industry, I’m gonna share my theory as to what’s happening here and how to fix it. People are focusing on the painted bottom of the pool increasing residual heat, and while that 1/19

Since 2021, alarming numbers of books with LGBTQ+ representation have been removed from schools and libraries. This Pride, join us in celebrating, reading, and sharing LBGTQ+ literature. See our full #PrideMonth banned-book reading list at: bookshop.org/lists/2026-p... #pride #bannedbooks

The Fucking Point, a short on how AI sucks. Now in one big, easily reskeetable post.

For Pride month, I'll be sharing some posts from our archives featuring queer smut writers and protagonists

My newsletter got a bit spicy this week buttondown.com/charliejane/...

@adenalbertcreative.com Thought you'd like to check this out.

At the end of the term I asked my college creative wriing students to submit anonymous thoughts on AI. No real surprises: Mood ranges from resignation to despair, capitulation from embittered erosion of standards to total, feelings of betrayal from deep to furious. 1/

Last and least, FWIW, my current AI policy for students. Subject to revision. Recommendations welcome.

"The first time we have sex after the baby, my husband tells me, 'I’m not attracted to big girls.'” @lauraleighwrite.bsky.social's story, "Circe," in our May/June issue:

(available in our shop) becauselanguage.com/shop/