Realize this sounds superstitious, but is it possible to... jinx an entire team?

"They just want to turn it off." A fascinating story of the librarians who have started teaching classes showing people how to remove AI "features" from their phones and apps. www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/02/m...

There's actually a clique on here that I shorthand as "anti-Freud Bluesky." Blocking them all coz, sure they have every right to spread their msg, but I need to reduce my exposure to the reactionary jackhammer. I'm a delicate flower. 🌸

This is most concerning. @mayor.nyc.gov needs to give serious attention. gothamist.com/news/fdny-ev...?

Not a huge fan of fireworks, can do without them, but I did repost a little video of fireworks last night. People seem to like the spectacle....and I felt some affection for the phenomenon.

We've been buzzing on here about bicentennial events of 1976. That year Martha WIlson created Franklin Furnace Archives, a platform for experimental artists. This 50th birthday collection is now showing up for pre-order. (I wrote a piece, and I'm psyched!) www.barnesandnoble.com/w/back-to-th...

Two of the most accomplished, innovative women I‘ve known have philosophy degrees, and their careers (way outside academia) began long before the current AI mania. I often encounter philosophy majors doing profitable, interesting things. It’s news to me that these folks were “underemployed”

Instead of that New York Times article, please have a look at my @mitpress.bsky.social book _Contraception_, which details the benefits of having access to technologies to control one's reproductive capacity and bodily autonomy. #contraception mitpress.mit.edu/978026253842...

RADIO: Terrebonne, Hungary, Carney and ...De Daumier-Smith. (April 2026) #by-elections soundcloud.com/tracyquan202...

A $3 @mta.info subway fare and some good Q train timing can buy you one hell of a view of the July 4th fireworks and the Brooklyn Bridge light show! Huge shoutout to the train operator for slow rolling over the Manhattan Bridge and the conductor for announcing it.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=f-KP... Chantal Hebert.

Chantal Hebert is the sociologist of soccer.

Busy week. Pope did a major ex-communication and Taylor Swift (arguably a pop culture pope) has a wedding party w 1000 guests ...in midtown. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Is everyone in the state of Utah named Scott? healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...

The Idea of North, UK edition.

Wild! I‘ve detected some followers of this disfavored faction. Recall the priest at my auntie’s funeral. He made a point of saying faith is not a private matter and other severe claims. I remember a dressmaker who was still annoyed w the liberalism of Paul or John xxiii. Interesting new times.

I converted to Catholicism last week. Here‘s why Pope Leo was wrong to excommunicate the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X

I realize some think it's corny to observe July 4, but every nation has a day and a flag and an anthem. Right next door is the most flag waving nation ever. Most countries make a fuss when there's a special anniversary like 100 or the Queen's Jubilee. Therefore: happy 250x4.

Am I the only one who saw "baby bump retires" upon first reading? Must b the heat.

@bfcc1.bsky.social :)

At first I thought Grand Marnier an odd name for a patriotic 🇺🇲 vessel, but it's actually Grand Mariner. Much more in keeping w July 4 theme. ⛵️🚢

I just observed some casual whorephobia in a post critical of the presidency. I wonder how many of our friends will just let that happen for partisan reasons. It's a slippery slope, folks. Try not to be that person. Don't allow sexual slurs to become normalized in this way.

:-) Omg

Train Dad is back! Andy Byford spoke to @wnyc.org Bridgid Bergin on @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social this morn. Have a listen. wnyc.org/browse/shows... "I want to play my small part in giving [New Yorkers] the station this city deserves."

Happy Birthday 🍁🇨🇦🎂

I don't know what to think about the word "moderate." A reasonable word, a useful word, but also (at times) opaque. Currently I see the NYPD commissioner referred to as "more moderate," and have no idea why.

UPPER EASTSIDE

Undergrad, the HKU student publication, announced that it would cease publication, ending its 74-year run • The HKUSU, which was forced to sever ties with the university in 2021, said it failed to recruit enough members to form an editorial board www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

@wychstreet.bsky.social I just remembered this HK radio segment from 2020. soundcloud.com/tracyquan202...

YEP

An excerpt from Canadian author PM Bovy's new book. 📚💙 It may be confusing to call this a Canadian piece, since she is talking about a US-made film and book (by NWA). But the commentary and tone is very CDN imho. And anyhoo, everyone knows that Ken was portrayed by a Canadian! 😀

A more nuanced piece than Bsky reaction might suggest. I wonder if that's coz reactions are mainly from USA? The essay is v Canadian & reflects the experimental nature of Canadian life. Also: women in Canada are ahead of the US in many respects. That said, she refers to NWA, a US author.

New podcast, devoted to Ishmael, the Pequod, and all things MobyD, has something in common w the novel. You listen, re-listen, and discover new phrasings, details. They begin at Loomings, then flip back to the preamble. As you do.

@peterjosyph.bsky.social I am watching the Stacy Keach movie again (Luther) and it's better than I thought. BTW I had to recycle the ppbk. It was literally disintegrating in my hands. Book dust! Some of it was suitable for composting. The rest I recycled. Book had a good long run!

At risk of sounding smug, my dad was ahead of his time. All the columns this week about how fatherhood has changed are puzzling me, coz they’re descrbing …my dad!

Contemporary governments have been working w contractors for a long time, and sometimes [Gottschalk + Ash, for example] the results were excellent. Still, there's a time and place for permanent staff.

Is there a period in our history when the pool was serviced by full time civil service employees, i.e. some sort of ranger/engineer team, a park maintenance dept w proper training, education & experience? Dare I speak of expertise or, worse, experts in the management of public spaces? SINCERE QUERY

You can pry the coffee cup from my cold dead hands....

🍽️🍜🫖 How do people here feel about replacing morning coffee with green tea or matcha? Is it something you tried?

www.pequodpod.com/2623386/epis... It's happening

What’s the appeal of music streaming services? When you have a library card which gives one access to almost the entire Naxos collection, can borrow DVDs and CDs, and there’s a backlog of CDs all over the apartment….it just seems weird.

Eventually, people will realize they’ve been idolizing a suburban wanker who sees New York not as a walkable city where people live and work, but (of course!) as a violent amusement park. 🙄

Gotta confess. I live in D12 and find the various allegations about these candidates mind numbing. Was happy with Nadler, in part because he freed us from Carolyn Maloney.... He's a tough act to follow.

June 19, 2026: Prime Minister Carney at the G7, challenges facing the Liberals in the Fall, Conservatives call out Carney for skipping Question Period www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY20... @rosiebarton.bsky.social @acoyne.bsky.social @chebert18.bsky.social @althiaraj.bsky.social 🍁⚽️

www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/w... gift link via @jimmyjazz1968.bsky.social (@pforsyth.bsky.social not that you need this via NYT, but might be of interest to see how they're covering it)