My bio says what it does for a reason

Rebecca Colesworthy@rcolesworthy.bsky.social · 3d ago

reading the bookforum review of Middlemen and I expect that the scholarly publishing equivalent of the agent is the freelance developmental editor. if conglomeration drove the rise of the agent, austerity drove the rise of the latter—the editor who actually edits, helps w/ the proposal, etc.

Anyway my best nonfiction book publishing advice for 2026 is to become a probiotics influencer

Some days I feel good about the future of smart nonfiction publishing, and some days I read a bunch of Publishers Lunch weekly roundups.

This is just the latest deployment of "peace" as a mask during persistent conflict. Here's an explainer: War and Peace in Time and Space by Mary L. Dudziak :: SSRN share.google/mrJasZrDhC2x... www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/u...

What Is the Board of Peace? The Trump-Backed Group, Explained.

President Trump created the international organization, aimed at resolving the long-running war in Gaza and other conflicts.

nytimes.com

"Reading Merton’s writing on norms in science as a prescriptive text, not a descriptive one, makes visible his desire to counter the active dismantlement of prestigious and powerful scientific institutions in Nazi Germany." @nataliebaviles.bsky.social & @cyberlyra.bsky.social

Merton Redux: Re-Confronting the Norms of Science in Democracy

The decimation of democratic processes that undergird state-sponsored research may be ultimately more consequential than funding cuts.

issues.org

I've been lightly tracking the Vannevar cosplay once I realized their "the 30s to 50s were the best!" mantra was colliding with their pretend love of objectivity and positivism

Carl T. Bergstrom@carlbergstrom.com · 2w ago

4. His role as Trump's science advisor and head of OSTP aside, Kratsios has no scientific experience whatsoever. His degree is a BA in politics, and his main credentials are as a Thiel apparatchik. So when he compares himself to Vannevar Bush… Kratsios is not a Vannevar. He isn't even a George W.

I suffered through Kratsios' answer to Science: the Endless Frontier. The NYT summary is good, but there's more to it. And I should say that I welcome improvements to the scientific enterprise (which is why I'm participating in @alondra.bsky.social and Jenny Reardon's Public's Science project). 🧵

Trump’s Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities (Gift Article)

Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s science adviser, proposed overhauling how the government funds research. Democrats said Mr. Trump’s actions had weakened science.

nytimes.com

Hadn't quite expected The Sheep Detectives to be such a tear-jerker

Since Trump's first attacks on the Smithsonian, museum studies scholars have been countering well-meaning coverage claiming that museums - and history - are neutral. Of course they aren't, just like science isn't neutral. Recognizing that actually strengthens attacks against these institutions.

every time you write overly defensively you should remember that you are pursuing a strategy of writing careful sentences specifically for people who demonstrably either won't or can't read them

BeijingPalmer@beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 2w ago

there is literally no amount of caveats or careful wording that will protect you from stupidity or bad faith, so you might as well say things straightforwardly and strongly to begin with.

🧵

Ben Williamson@benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 3w ago

The anatomy of an AI-supported academic article is becoming more apparent. I desk reviewed ~70 manuscripts this week for our journal. Reckon 20ish had significant AI assistance. On top of hundreds of others recently I'm starting to see patterns. Are other editors are seeing the same or similar? 1/

Always surprising to see which asides in a client's manuscript inspires a strong reaction!

Friends, authors, fellow dissidents--a quick FYI: I won't be writing for the Chronicle anymore. I took a hiatus to deal w/ Life Things & they're no longer running regular columns, which is a-OK. BUT you can still read the 10 publishing advice columns I DID write: www.chronicle.com/author/rebec...

Rebecca Colesworthy

Rebecca Colesworthy is a senior acquisitions editor at the SUNY Press in the areas of education, African American studies, women’s and gender studies, and queer studies, among others. She is on social...

chronicle.com

I would like a Mamdani for Philly, please and thank you

All three hosts eliminated, like one of those parties where the only people who live there are already asleep somewhere unseen. The world will now raid the grandpa's liquor cabinet of America

Imagine a Philly crowd so punchy for a show that they heckled Will Smith at 2 am, demanding FIREWORKS!! www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

Fireworks begin after Will Smith's set on the Parkway

Thunderstorms disrupted the city's celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary for about four hours. Extreme heat had forced adjustments to other events.

inquirer.com

Truly an amazing performance

Am feeling more FOMO for the good parts of 250 than anticipated!

This opening of the 1619 Project has long been the most ringing sentence for me about this country, its founding, and its founding document. Its truth could apply to everyone who sought to broaden and deepen equality and rights.

Great moments in U.S. History.

Big Boy is ON THE MOVE www.up.com/about-us/his...

Steam Locomotive Tracking | Union Pacific

Steam Locomotive Tracking - Follow Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 on Tour

up.com

I am in a text thread making plans for Big Boy viewing tomorrow at high noon. Pray for me.

Big Boy mania causing heat stroke www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia...

Multiple heat-related injuries at Union Pacific Big Boy event in Berks County, Pennsylvania

A large EMS presence was seen at Muhlenberg Park in Berks County for reported heat-related injuries at a Union Pacific Big Boy whistle stop event.

cbsnews.com

I frfr cannot believe this city is holding a parade featuring people wearing colonial garb with a heat index of 117

An open letter, to readers, about Charity and Sylvia. I am very pained to feel the need to write this. #queerhistory #pride

Everything written about the administrative state is now wrong

Mark Joseph Stern@mjsdc.bsky.social · last mo.

Slaughter is an earthquake: SCOTUS has overturned a 90-year-old precedent that facilitated much of modern governance by granting many agencies meaningful independence from the president. Now SCOTUS crushes that independence ... for seemingly every agency except the Federal Reserve.

This is the one true recipe for a Reflecting Pool: 2oz rum, 4oz pineapple juice, 1oz blue curacao, one Blue Razzberry Fruit Roll-Up

These centrist takes are so bad I suggested we trim the cat's nails so as to stop reading them

4 years of book club! it's been such a pleasure getting to read all these books and then talk about them with other book enthusiasts. very grateful to anyone and everyone who has come to any of our meetings to make it such a great space.