Michael J. Murphy

Only fascists and maniacs glorify war…

"The working classes have always been the caring classes — not just because they do almost all of the caring labor, but also because, perhaps partly as a result, they actually are more empathetic than the rich. Psychological studies show this, by the way. The richer you are, the less competent you are at even understanding other people’s feelings. So trying to reimagine work — not as a value or end in itself, but as the material extension of caring — is a good start." . - David Graeber

Faculty at our uni have been in contract negotiations since July 2025 with little progress (and no raises this year). Lots of admin foot-dragging. Would you use this QR code to email to our chancellor demanding admin come to the table and negotiate a fair contract? TIA! #AcademicSky

The majority of faculty on campus work on semester contracts w/no job security. Even those with tenure can be denied due process. Don’t cut us out of collective bargaining. The higher ed lobbyist agenda is NOT pro-worker! @donscott757.bsky.social @senlouiselucas.bluesky.bot @ssurovell.bsky.social

Pervert Politics: Trumpism’s Body Obsessions How Republicans went from the party of prudes to the party of perversion.

“The body is the primary subject of Trumpian politics. This is true both in the affirmative sense of right-wing aesthetics and in the punitive sense of managing the bodies of others to display power and contempt.” www.liberalcurrents.com/pervert-poli...

I don’t want to indulge in conspiracy brian, but Hegseth sounds like a domineering and abusive father or romantic partner when he’s talking about the US military use of force. It’s no wonder the same political movement wants to close gender studies programs and censor sociologist.

“You made us bomb you!” is the logic of male rapists and domestic abusers. It’s who they are.

Meanwhile, in the US a Republican senator broke the arm of a retired Marine, who was exercising his constitutional right to protest. Protest is not something the far right appreciate, not even from ppl who >actually< served their country. Protest is central to a free society.

I’m reminded of that tweet that says that men were able to successfully cast themselves as the less emotional gender by redefining anger as not an emotion

Uh, they’re straight men?

Also self education and self development even if it’s not passed on. Writing orders the mind, research expands the researcher’s own knowledge.

*bing bing bing*

okay, Ill bite.
What do you think the point of reading for and writing a literature review is? The process of reading and writing is crucial for THINKING. Your ideas are shaped by all of this, offloading it to gAI, no matter how "good" you think gAI is at it defeats the purpose entirely.

Tell UIS to Bargain a Fair Contract with its Professors! Since July 2025, tenure-track UIS professors represented by UIS United Faculty (UPI Local 4100) have been negotiating a new labor contract with the university administration. Due to administrative foo...

If it's easier, you can use this direct link. Enter your info, it sends a letter FREE: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

Faculty at our uni have been in contract negotiations since July 2025 with little progress (and no raises this year). Lots of admin foot-dragging. Would you use this QR code to email to our chancellor demanding admin come to the table and negotiate a fair contract? TIA! #AcademicSky

The problem with “AI can already produce publishable papers!” arguments is that they consider the *paper* to be the product when increased knowledge and skill of researchers and authors are the *actual* products. A publishable paper is merely a byproduct of scholarly work.

Funny thing: I'm NOT a Luddite. But increasingly I understand the difference between my work as a teacher and scholar and the cheap reproduction of the trace/footprint/shadow of that work by an LLM. An LLM might be able to crank out a "paper" but it can't crank out human skill and learning.

Did a WTC Leaseholder Buy Terrorism Insurance Just Before 9/11? A longstanding urban legend holds that WTC leaseholder Larry Silverstein "fortuitously" took out terrorism insurance just months before the 9/11 attacks.

www.snopes.com/fact-check/w...

This is not just cursed, its monstrous. The digital resurrection of a historian who died in January of this year, all so Grammarly can get some more clicks and engagement from students and/or scholars and/or others.

It feels so wrong on so many levels, these ghosts enslaved to AI forever

This is the part where I point out that the original Nazis also blamed transness and gayness on Jews, specifically because one Jew in particular was ahead of his time on the matter, whom Hitler referred to as "the most dangerous Jew in Germany." This is not new, but it's still dangerous.

"Iran forced us to bomb them!" is the logic of rapists and domestic abusers. It blames victims for the abuser's choice to be violent. Unsurprising, coming from an administration filled with accused rapists and sexual abusers...

All those "crusades" tattoos, memes, and AI slop the U.S. regime dumps on social media make a lot more sense now...

These cybersecurity boot camps are not run by the same “micro-university” contractor I wrote about last year, but they seem to be using a similar “powered by” model. And the following applies:

jfc

Image of New Yorkers crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot while NYC skyline with burning twin trade towers in background.

I was so happy to learn there has never been any "blowback" to the U.S. military killing "bad people" in the Middle East. No examples. None.

Unmasking Academe’s Gilded Boys’ Club The Epstein files reveal an elite, chummy, and venal scholarly network.

"The distribution of power and privilege was not random, so the notion of the meritocracy is completely revealed to be gendered bullshit." www.chronicle.com/article/unma...

How Kansas Republicans weaponized the law to target 300 trans driver's license holders SB 244 was put into effect virtually overnight, causing chaos, panic and fear in the trans community.

New — I spoke to eight trans people in Kansas about the new state law that invalidated their driver’s licenses overnight, what’s it’s like to live there right now, plus details of two DMV emails exclusively obtained by The Handbasket that shed light on the law’s chaotic and cruel rollout:

Director and Curator, Special Collections and Archives - Middlebury College Reporting to the Dean of the Library, the Director and Curator of Special Collections provides leadership, vision, and budget oversight for Middlebury’s special collections, including its rare book an...

JOB ALERT! 📜📚

Who wants to be director & curator of special collections & archives at Middlebury College (Vermont!) — & work for a wonderful boss (& one of my favorite people), Rebekah Irwin?

apply.workable.com/middleburyco...

Operation Metro Love Thy Neighbor Hello Friends of Operation Metro Love Thy Neighbor! Many of our neighbors in Minneapolis are being targeted based on the color of their skin, their accent, or their country of origin. From a healthcare standpoint, this is leading to very scary outcomes, as patients are terrified to leave home and are foregoing necessary care in an effort to stay safe. For moms and babies, medical professionals scramble to meet these needs and to ensure patient safety. As neighbors and community members, we want to ensure these moms and babies have their needs met in terms of supplies, personal care items, and infant and toddler items. While it's a far cry from a baby shower, we are doing our best to ensure that our neighboring mamas have what they need in times of massive distress. All items purchased on this list will be delivered to me and then immediately sent out into the community for maximum impact. On behalf of all the mama and baby teams, we so appreciate your love and generosity.

Black image with white text and white line drawing of a parent holding a baby. Text reads: "Mama + Baby donations needed. All items with an asterisk must be unused. Other items may be gently used. These items will go to immediate homes and be appreciated. [heart emoji] Thank you! ITEMS NEEDED: diapers (size 0-6)*, baby wipes*, pacifiers*, teething items*, free and clear detergent, baby shampoo, baby-safe lotion, infant clothing (all sizes), infant hats, baby blankets, burp cloths, swaddlers, hands-free baby carriers, breastfeeding guards*, feeding pillows, maternity pillows, belly bands, nipple cream*, pimps, infant safe toys, pack + play, epsom salt."

We're seeing a drop off in newborn donations in Minneapolis. Birth workers are seeing small/early babies due to stress/food insecurity—ICE has not stopped—families still in desperate need of support. If you're able, here is a wishlist compiled by folks doing mutual aid
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

So, VSU faculty could have unionized. They’d be stupid to not do so now.