Best paper i wrote was 10-15 pages on the history of the Beowulf manuscript. Covered 1200 years in about six hours with a daylong marathon of Storage Wars in the background. By the end I wasn’t even sure what time zone I was physically in.

I just had a slice of homemade challah with butter. Simple pleasures.

Finished the complete rewrite of my book chapter and submitted it to the editor. I keep yawning! Always forget the energy expenditure of writing. #AcademicSky

Half a dozen exhibits later, I've finally figured out how the Photoshop "straighten" tool is supposed to work. 🤦‍♀️

I’m actually pretty good with money as long as I don’t need to eat or live

It’s the edible banned books thing at work tomorrow and i’m working with fondant for the first time as a result. I remain deeply suspicious of this substance for two primary reasons. 1, nothing edible should behave like modeling clay. 2, *I bought it at the craft store.*

I am disproportionately amused by this bit of sign damage in my workplace.

If you see this post, share a random photo (or meme) from your photo gallery without explaining it.

The messaging on AI in academia has very strong “you aren’t allowed to say no” vibes. It’s extremely unsettling and uncomfortable, especially for anyone who spent their formative years getting pelted with “no means no” lessons.

In related news I drizzled a little pomegranate syrup on a roasted acorn squash half and it was delicious.

It’s been a strange and unexpectedly emotional day. I managed to regain some equilibrium with a sensible dinner and finishing an ornament.

😭😭😭

Just a reminder to tell creators when you like their work. Today I sent a fan email to a retired academic whose books I tremendously enjoy reading, and he replied within a few hours!

The language of non-consent around AI is really telling. "It's too late to be scared." "It's here whether we want it or not." "You'll have to learn to work with it." "You can't fight the inevitable." All just variations of "you're not allowed to say no." Creepy technology made by creepy people.

I’m so tired, in body and soul.

The Committee for the First Amendment first launched in the 1940s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee accused Hollywood actors, directors and writers of being communists or sympathizers.

I feel a sudden need for octopus earrings.

Paging @totalusrankium.bsky.social

I don’t make the rules.

“I use it for brainstorming.” is quickly becoming my most hated pro-AI statement. YOU TOOK YOUR BRAIN OUT OF THE EQUATION. THAT IS NOT BRAINSTORMING.

Historic ‘causes’ of #Autism

L’shanah tovah everyone. Wishing you all a good year to come. Have something sweet (fruit counts if you aren’t a dessert guy) to get the year off to a good start. There’s a lot of darkness right now but the story’s not over yet.

VT just closed its religious studies department.

If you have a PBS Passport account (if you donate to NPR you also have this access), watch the miniseries “The Dictator’s Playbook.” Highly educational.

I swear I can feel my hair going gray.

A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say. This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand. All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.

I started taking a voice class for the first time in about a decade today. Any music student knows that those teachers are prone to saying ridiculous things (when out of context). Tonight’s gem: You have to have space in your face!!

To all who wryte storyes & poemes, to everyone who doth wryte scriptes & screenplayes, to those who make art of all kyndes, and to those who designe and performe yn daunse, and theatre -- thanke yow. Whethir you make for a few friendes or an audience of millions, thanke yow. You helpe us all.

All hail Roger Perrinjaquet, inventor of the immersion blender. (I am making apple butter)

I know how to party (this is actually a fascinating read).

My birthday is next week. I don’t feel like planning anything. Birthdays are important to me, especially as I approach the age at which my mom was first diagnosed with cancer, but less in a party way than a “made it through another year” way. I wish I had a partner/bff to make a fuss for me though.

Hm. Groany puns, I guess?

Maybe the Mandela Effect is a sign that time travel is real.

And the idea that the world is separated into "belief" and "non-belief"? Yeahhhh that's the least Jewish idea in the world, by the way. Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. But Jews can, are, long have been atheists, agnostics, that's a thing. What matters to us is what you DO.

Another fancy crow Thursday

Baking for my coworkers. Don’t you wish you worked with me? www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/card...

ok so I'm going through local newspaper photos to select for the next exhibit and I'm here to tell you that in 1998, the Reno humane society had a 3-legged dog called I-Lean.

One of these years I’ll remember to stay off the dating apps during Burning Man season. All these out-of-towners in my feed, c’mon guys you say you want a LTR but you’re swiping right on someone who lives two full states away?

I’m increasingly convinced that I am in the wrong city for the kind of people I want to date. I’m just not interested (and sometimes actively dislike) in what seem to be the standard off-work activities around here. TLDR Indoor cat, seeking same.

It was wonderful to speak with Elspeth Olson about her recent portal article, "Scaffolded Assignments and Embedded Archivists: A Critical Assessment of the Themes in Archival Instruction Literature, 2013-2023." Read the full article on our preprint site. @lunabrd.bsky.social @unr-scua.bsky.social

Two weeks of student worker interviews, on-site faculty candidate visits, and conducting interviews for my own research project… this introvert is excited for the three-day weekend. #AcademicSky #LibrarySky

Gold rushes are gonna gold rush.

Janet is the only AI I want.

Once again, if your business requires theft to operate, you don't have a business, you have a criminal enterprise.

I have absolutely torn through the audiobook of “Blood in the Machine” by Brian Merchant. It’s mostly about the early 19thC Luddite uprising in Britain, but ties it closely to modern issues of gig employment, inhumane factory/warehouse conditions, and automation/AI. Highly recommend.

Tiny pleasure: dinner is rice, @ranchogordo.bsky.social beans, a generous topping of crumbled cotija cheese, and the last two tablespoons of homemade mole poblano. Plus grapes.

9am and I’m already having an utterly crap day.

I went to the gym and was rewarded with a welcome rainstorm, a vivid double rainbow, AND a colorful sunset.

Just found a poppyseed in my hair and I’m very confused.