OH MY GOODNESS. The Closing of the Tabs, August 22, 2025 version, is completely wonderful. I just submitted a fresh book chapter to editors -- gaining a few days thanks to my rescheduled AC flight had a hidden advantage in that I could take a bit more writing time -- but now I'm freeeee

I can't believe I've been able to write so productively during this time of crisis in my family. It's a slow, predictable crisis, but still emotionally draining and painful. My heart goes out to friends who've endured losing a parent to slow deterioration. Not an easy part of being a human being.

Reading a chapter is a beautiful book for my almost-complete book chapter (one of two I've been working on this summer), so wanted to highlight the title for others as it's quite excellent! Apel, Dora. Calling Memory into Place. Rutgers University Press, 2020, doi.org/10.36019/978....

I have now submitted all the summer reviews I'd promised. A note to mention how useful it can be to perform peer review to drafts that are well-matched to one's area of research and expertise. I say that because we're in the midst of a reviewer crisis; very few academics are agreeing to review.

I teach my "Project Management and Ethical Collaboration for Humanists" class with this, and have gotten a lot out of it myself. If you're struggling going back to work at a university this fall, grab a friend, schedule some coffee meet-ups to talk about it, and do this workbook.

Good thing I have reviews to write, otherwise this day of brainfog and grief wouldn't be productive at all.

I participated in a fiction writing workshop this weekend and am surprised by how much it's helped motivate me to write academically now that I'm home, in front of my computer. I feel we forget how important creativity is to scholarly work.

I tried a ‘fashion’ yesterday. Felt nice!

I've seen some talk about how we are witnessing the end of the professoriate as we know it and this may be true, but I think it's bigger: it's the decimation of the mission-oriented profession. Want to make a middle-class living serving the public good? Capitalism doesn't want that for you.

Very pleased to share my text “Spiritually overqualified: Robert Rauschenberg and ‘The Happy Apocalypse’ commission” in Burlington Contemporary now available online in issue 12 with a number of other interesting essays. contemporary.burlington.org.uk/journal/jour...

Also, fellow academics, if you're rehashing an argument you've made (at length) in a previous publication in a new article, how do you handle this? I don't want to self-plagiarize but I have already done this work quite painstakingly elsewhere!

Relatedly, any good books on public art on your dashboard?

Thoroughly enjoying writing this article about public art. It's funny how topics that are peripheral to what sometimes feels like the 'real work' (eg the book; the teaching) feel like a clever form of cheating the system.

Want a career in academia? You might consider working as an RA or other contract worker doing some combo of communications/organizational/editorial work. It chips away at the ego just enough that when you organize anything later in your career, nothing will surprise or bother you!

BRAG POST: I wrote almost a thousand (academic) words today! And it's a Monday!

I'm trying to help a family here in Boulder raise a bit of money to give their aunt/sister/daughter a funeral - if you'd consider chipping in, we'd all be grateful ❤️ www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-ho...

Also, it feels sooo good to return to my work after a few weeks of not having my time be my own. Oh wait, and also the last year of all new preps and f/t teaching. A relief to discover that I can still think and read and write, perhaps even better than before -- or at least in a new way.

Working on a book chapter about public art, memory, place, and the archive. A set of ideas I've been playing with for a few projects, always in different configurations, applied to different cities I've known. Feels poetic. The Newfoundland breeze is passing through my office as I write abt Toronto.

I And now for my favourite part of article submission: The 👯‍♀️ C L O S I N G of the T A B S 👯‍♀️

C'est moi!

Bonjour, friends. I am posting for accountability: I am not allowed to clean anything until this article is 98% finished. My microwave, fridge, bathroom, and laundry are immaculate tho.

This was the conference. The recorded talks will be available on YouTube and I can't wait to watch them!

A big thank you to the organizers of the 2025 @redico.eu conference! It's an impressive task to organize across continents and time zones. Great conversations and ReDICo is such an interesting project!

Wow. What a fascinating moment we're living thru. www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc...

5 yr Postdoc at Edinburgh - how and why digital participation is transforming experience of warfare. Data Viz, NLP, text & data mining, principally related to Russian war against Ukraine.

newly posted: Julia Polyck-O’Neill : Poems, Attention, Unthought... / @juliapoly.bsky.social ; periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/2025/05/juli...

C'est moi!

When Trump attacked Canada, millions turned to #CBC — because we knew we could trust it. Now Poilievre wants to axe it. Not reform it. Not improve it. Destroy it. In normal times, that would be reckless. In these times, it feels like treason.

And this historic assault on labor is nowhere to be found on *any* of the major newspapers' front pages today.

We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems. As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting. But what can authors do? Read here: societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...

I just submitted my CSDH/SCHN submission reviews. I highly recommend participating in conference submission reviews if invited. So lovely to see brilliant scholarship in the wild.

The exhibition featured this great 1968 National Film Board of Canada documentary: "Examining the arduous work of assessing and documenting the geographical landscape, including sampling and analysis of soil, forestry, timber, wildlife, resources, industrial sites, and many other aspects..."

Exciting Job Opportunity! UBC is hiring an Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) in Transdisciplinary Wildfire Sciences. Accepting applications until April 30. ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...

Fabulous night yesterday at @edincollegeofart.bsky.social who threw me an inaugural party, talking digital/arts/hums/creativity. Packed house and packed zoom! Thanks to all who were there. And don’t let the dystopian nightmare bullshit dim your sparkle.

Trustworthy Infrastructures is hiring! Come work with @livgar.bsky.social, Joan Mukogosi, and me, as we look to build out our Nodes & Conduits project. We're really looking forward to getting to know you and your work - please don't hesitate to reach out with any additional questions!

Watching this online. Amazing.

Come talk about #DataRescue with us! www.datarescueproject.org/data-rescue-... We also have some materials for your event: osf.io/zbdxt/

I've been trying to catch up on my own projects over the break (ours began on Monday) and I just wrote two new poems -- both on creative (non)cognition and both dedicated to Kate Hayles. I'm hoping my full ms will be ready for the end of the month. Feels nice!

Please read. This is useful and important.

I'm almost done my grading. I thought it would be clever/strategic to have the major assignments in all three courses due on the same date to streamline grading, possibly forgetting that this makes for almost 100 assignments and I am just one guy. That said, grades are in well ahead of the deadline

Our friends at @versobooks.bsky.social have launched a new virtual reading group focusing on the work and ideas of the late Fredric Jameson.

Check out our Data Rescue Overview LibGuide, compiling some of the amazing @datarescue2025.bsky.social work archiving and locating missing and at-risk government data: campusguides.lib.utah.edu/c.php?g=2463...

I'm actually incredibly nervous about this immanent blizzard. I've had colleagues sending me tips on how to prepare, and have been told that St John's hasn't had a major power outage due to weather in quite a few years, but until I see how everything works out, I'm v anxious!

I've never been one for sportsball, but as a huge fan of Kendrick, I wish I could watch the halftime show. Especially now that we've acquired all the storm snacks et al we will need for tonight's blizzard.

Please share this CFP for the Interdisciplinary UCalgary Communication, Media and Film Graduate Conference with any grad students in your life. Mediating the Moment: A(n Interdisciplinary) Conversation Full details: sites.ucalgaryblogs.ca/cmfgradconfe...

I often listen before I teach my Complexities of Data course. Such excellent conversations.

The text on the front banners say 'We are the Firewall'. Massive demo in Berlin today against right-wing extremism.

My main contribution to society this week was teaching my Short Fiction students about nihilism (more specifically, existential nihilism). They're in for a wild ride!

I just submitted my reviews for #DH2025 @adho-org.bsky.social -- the proposals were all stellar. A reminder that reviews are due tomorrow!

I think I've just submitted my first 'big' grant application?! The experience has been challenging, but I've learned so much about collaboration!