Rain!

Often feels like some "research pioneers" have never forgiven the autistic community for trying to put some agency in our own hands

Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar)@autisticrealms.bsky.social · yesterday

Sigh.... "Anyone can have autism now, says research pioneer — The Telegraph Academic warns that 'almost magnetic attraction' to having condition means term is being misused......" apple.news/AkJaGnn2lRSG...

Following Rod Liddle's death I've been thinking again about the often unacknowledged privilege in being able to see the words of a demagogue as just things you disagree with rather than things that threaten people.

Where's the righteous anger the news about Exeter has engendered? Where are the think pieces about learning loss and unconscionable redundancies? The problem will never be understood or *addressed* if we do not, collectively, respond to the full scale of it.

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3d ago

So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)

Are there racist Jews who use “chosen” in racist ways? Yeah, of course, there are racists everywhere. But it’s neither the traditional nor anywhere near the most common understanding of Jewish “chosenness.” 3/3

There are a significant number of zionist Jews who consider the land of Israel part of that deal between God & the Jews. But their theological rationale still usually isn’t racial or ethnic superiority. In that framework, the land is a reward for following the commandments. 2/3

“Chosen” in Judaism doesn’t mean “superior.” It means “chosen to receive the Torah & be bound by the commandments.” It’s a responsibility, not a gift. A contract with God. 1/3

post malone ergo propter malone@proptermalone.bsky.social · 4d ago

seeing way more of this than I would prefer lately just like, ambiently

Also: “Chosen” has nothing to do with being “saved” or going to heaven, nor does it mean non-Jews are going to hell. Those are Christian concepts. It didn’t even occur to me to mention this until just now, because the idea is so foreign to Judaism. #Jewish

Rachel@rachelneedsanap.bsky.social · 4d ago

“Chosen” in Judaism doesn’t mean “superior.” It means “chosen to receive the Torah & be bound by the commandments.” It’s a responsibility, not a gift. A contract with God. 1/3

Definitely the case here. In two weeks we find which 9 of 12 in my group will be gone. The other 3 will then have a month to prepare and find hourly-paid replacements for all the classes across two degrees. And supervise 25 PhDs. Plus admin and pastoral care and research. Management doesn’t care.

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3d ago

If you're arriving at uni this autumn, or maybe dropping your kids, remember that there could be a ghostly phalanx of absent redundant staff, lost modules and degraded degrees making it a very unhappy place. It may *look* the same, but it won't *be* the same. www.ft.com/content/e5b0...

Impersonation scams targeting writers are an epidemic. To defend yourself: check any out-of-the-blue email that purports to be from a real person in publishing or Hollywood against Writer Beware's Impersonation List writerbeware.blog/2024/03/15/t...

The Impersonation List - Writer Beware

The most pernicious scams focused on English-speaking writers these days come from overseas: publishing/marketing/fake literary agency scams from the Philippines, and ghostwriting/publishing/marketing...

writerbeware.blog

Qobuz served me up Tears for Fears’ track ‘Mother’s Talk’ today. It includes the line: ‘When the weather starts to burn/Then you know that you’re in trouble’.

The original Red Scare in the U.S. was as much about destroying Black radicals & controlling Jewish dissidents as it was about the Soviet Union. I have read so much about the history.

Morning all. Why not start your day by throwing some money this way? Cancer is awful but also REALLY HARD WORK and @maggiescentres.bsky.social make such a difference. ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/richard-s...

A lot of people are determined to read Zionism as something innate to Judaism going back to the ancient world, as opposed to a modern nationalism that emerged out of the same conditions that produced other 19th century nationalisms. Unfortunately, both some Zionists and some anti-Zionists do this.

post malone ergo propter malone@proptermalone.bsky.social · 4d ago

seeing way more of this than I would prefer lately just like, ambiently

For at least twenty years, in every hotel I've stayed in, if there's a Bible I've signed it 'Cheers for believing, all the best, Jesus'. As a full-time touring musician it's well past the thousand mark by now.

Earthquake in Israeli politics Israeli Jewish politican Yoav Segalovitz is expected to join the United Arab List, Israel's biggest Arab-Muslim party No one in Israel expected a Jewish-Arab collaboration, especially following October 7th. (1/2)

The Golden Age Of Children's TV is currently an un-whopping ninety nine pence on Kindle! I really am quite proud of it and I think you'll enjoy it, especially at this price. If you've already ready it, why not share the link? Hint Hint. www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Age-C...

Unsoicited writing advice, no. 97: You don't need to descibe basic facial expressions. ("He smiled" works just fine: writing "his lips curled upwards in a smile," or "her freckles danced exuberantly over her puckish nose" or similar makes you sound like you've never seen a human face before.)

Glad someone senior from the sector is pushing back. Labour MPs need to understand the serious real anger from graduates and the people who produce them. And the dangerous financial situation they have allowed to fester, or indeed worsened, in one of Britain’s leading sectors.

Labour has harmed universities as much as Trump, London School of Economics head says

LSE vice-chancellor Larry Kramer points to domestic student fees freeze, international student limits and rise in employers’ national insurance

ft.com

I wrote about why I think solidarity is important here in a bit more detail. open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...

Jason Arday Deserves Our Solidarity

This is so regardless of any mistakes and despite the need for accountability

open.substack.com

Another reminder of what a genuinely excellent piece of writing this is in The Onion.

Bev Craig has won the Greater Manchester Mayoral election 🔴 LAB: 309,525 - 66.3% ➡️ RFM: 157,178 - 33.7% Landslide triumph for Labour

Today's daily reminder that the UAE is currently engaged in a genocide in Sudan using weapons they receive from the US and money they receive from our tourism dollars, and every celebrity who lives or vacations in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is knowingly funding it.

He doesn’t wear a hat once in that video. #totp

A long (or short) list is a horizontal structure. Nobody ‘leads’ it.

hey girl, are you the moon? because you also look bad in pictures

Your Mum’s a category error.

Martin Nutbeem@martinnutbeem.bsky.social · 6d ago

Your Mum's a social construct.

The point isn't to produce essays, it's to teach students how to think for fuck's sake. The minute you automate that, it's over. You might as well close the course. Which they're also doing. This is an attack on learning, and everyone is just shrugging.

Full of despair today. Massive lay offs in social sciences and humanities across the country, Burnham puts out a video saying 'AI can write an essay', and my university is busy integrating co-pilot into all staff and student computers. We are being told we're defunct and there's no resistance.