Brenna Clarke Gray
@brennacgray.bsky.social
She/her. Li'l EdTech; big mouth. Settler. Feminist. Reader, writer, teacher, scholar, doozer.
Podcasts too much: creator of Community of Praxis; co-host of @hkhspod.bsky.social.
Opinions yours.
https://sabbaticast.brennaclarkegray.ca
Podcasts too much: creator of Community of Praxis; co-host of @hkhspod.bsky.social.
Opinions yours.
https://sabbaticast.brennaclarkegray.ca
Pinned
That’s a wrap for 2025: 84 books. I didn’t make my 100—and I think 84 is my lowest count ever. But that doesn’t matter.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
My overall best book of the year is probably still WOODWORKING by Emily St. James. A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE by Miriam Toews my best non-fiction. CANNON by Lee Lai my best comic.
Ok so over on Instagram I used to track my reading and always had nice chats with people about books so I’m going to move that over here now that I’ve deleted my Insta. (I’m also on StoryGraph as mittenstrings.)
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
I try to read 100 books a year. I fail as often as I succeed.
Here starts the thread for 2026. For a second time. Because the first one I said was for 2025. Because the idea of 2026 feels fictional.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
Anyway. The goal is 100 books. I likely won’t hit that goal and that doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to listen to audiobooks a bit more this year.
It’s the new ChatGPT prompt screen
February 18, 2026 at 3:29 AM
It’s the new ChatGPT prompt screen
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
im not falling for ‘you can’t just scold gen AI hobbyists’ like ive fallen for so many ‘be diplomatic and patient with idiots’es before. no. if they can’t live without this machine that’s trying to put me out of a job theyre dumb as a box of hair. like they’re clearly not worried about offending ME!
February 18, 2026 at 2:36 AM
im not falling for ‘you can’t just scold gen AI hobbyists’ like ive fallen for so many ‘be diplomatic and patient with idiots’es before. no. if they can’t live without this machine that’s trying to put me out of a job theyre dumb as a box of hair. like they’re clearly not worried about offending ME!
My university is tired of the people who work full-time in underheated portables in a Canadian winter whining so we got an intranet post about how the sustainability office will lend you an electric blanket if you would just shut the fuck up already.
February 18, 2026 at 12:50 AM
My university is tired of the people who work full-time in underheated portables in a Canadian winter whining so we got an intranet post about how the sustainability office will lend you an electric blanket if you would just shut the fuck up already.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Just like the narratives around trans rights and racial justice, this framing constructs "activists" as unreasonable, radical and holding all the power.
"Do you know how mean fat activists are if you lose weight?"
Do you know how mean everyone else is if you don't?!
"Do you know how mean fat activists are if you lose weight?"
Do you know how mean everyone else is if you don't?!
February 17, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Just like the narratives around trans rights and racial justice, this framing constructs "activists" as unreasonable, radical and holding all the power.
"Do you know how mean fat activists are if you lose weight?"
Do you know how mean everyone else is if you don't?!
"Do you know how mean fat activists are if you lose weight?"
Do you know how mean everyone else is if you don't?!
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolat...
arxiv.org
October 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Please don’t Milkshake Duck the Brown Hoodie Kid. We all need this.
February 14, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Please don’t Milkshake Duck the Brown Hoodie Kid. We all need this.
Happy hearts day to all who celebrate. I have this nice coffee and the best mini eggs. And if you need something good today, the Globe and Mail has another giant crossword on offer.
February 14, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Happy hearts day to all who celebrate. I have this nice coffee and the best mini eggs. And if you need something good today, the Globe and Mail has another giant crossword on offer.
Pretty much the only person I still talk to from high school is the one I married.
watching John Green talk about his buddy from high school who is still his friend and I’m curious, is that common for people on here?
February 14, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Pretty much the only person I still talk to from high school is the one I married.
Trans folks are more likely to be victims than perpetrators and the horror of Tumbler Ridge does not change that fact. Don’t spread misinformation and don’t demonize people. thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
As Tumbler Ridge Mourns, Anti-Trans Misinfo Spreads | The Tyee
No good will come from the conservative rush to weaponize the shooter’s identity in this story.
thetyee.ca
February 11, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Trans folks are more likely to be victims than perpetrators and the horror of Tumbler Ridge does not change that fact. Don’t spread misinformation and don’t demonize people. thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
what makes something "vulnerable to AI" is not the capacity of machines but the credulity of management.
Of course, it is also true that historians jobs may in practice be vulnerable to AI, because a lot of people who control the money for historian jobs probably haven’t thought much about where history comes from, either.
February 11, 2026 at 8:39 PM
what makes something "vulnerable to AI" is not the capacity of machines but the credulity of management.
Hey. Real talk. If you're old enough to be sad about losing James Van Der Beek and you haven't had your first colonoscopy yet, it's time to get serious. I know it sucks to think about and talk about but colorectal cancer is way worse than the terrible prep. Call your doctor. Get a referral.
February 11, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Hey. Real talk. If you're old enough to be sad about losing James Van Der Beek and you haven't had your first colonoscopy yet, it's time to get serious. I know it sucks to think about and talk about but colorectal cancer is way worse than the terrible prep. Call your doctor. Get a referral.
I have a brand.
"Do we think that my sabbatical is a more complicated project than running a Formula1 team?" Great line from @brennacgray.bsky.social on her new sabbatical podcast.
February 11, 2026 at 6:44 PM
I have a brand.
It’s just nice to hear the F1 cars running again, to be honest. Like a faithful old toxic friend you can’t quit.
February 11, 2026 at 4:13 PM
It’s just nice to hear the F1 cars running again, to be honest. Like a faithful old toxic friend you can’t quit.
I hope this message makes it to more pregnant people. Your placenta is a big ol’ vascular organ and if you looked at images of Covid-impacted placentas you would mask up *at least* in pregnancy.
February 2026 - the BMJ publishes a piece called "Why covid-19 is “a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one”
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Some of us have been screaming this for years
www.bmj.com/content/392/...
Why covid-19 is “a vascular disease masquerading as a respiratory one”
Covid-19 is not just a respiratory infection. Cardiovascular symptoms are seen in both acute and long covid. Katharine Lang reports on what we’ve learnt since the onset of the pandemic
Cardiovascular...
www.bmj.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:33 PM
I hope this message makes it to more pregnant people. Your placenta is a big ol’ vascular organ and if you looked at images of Covid-impacted placentas you would mask up *at least* in pregnancy.
A 51st state joke in a review of a Canadian film in the Hollywood Reporter is why “most of us aren’t like that!” falls on unbelieving ears, America. Centrists finding annexation jokes funny is how it gets normalized. I am not sure how many times you have to learn this lesson at the world’s expense.
February 10, 2026 at 3:52 PM
A 51st state joke in a review of a Canadian film in the Hollywood Reporter is why “most of us aren’t like that!” falls on unbelieving ears, America. Centrists finding annexation jokes funny is how it gets normalized. I am not sure how many times you have to learn this lesson at the world’s expense.
We’re gonna screech you all in (look it up), it’s gonna be great.
FYI Americans: if you had Canadian grandparents/parents: you may be Canadian
February 10, 2026 at 3:27 AM
We’re gonna screech you all in (look it up), it’s gonna be great.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Next time somebody tries to get me to justify the existence of the humanities, I’ll just point out how for the past two Super Bowls we’ve all jumped online and engaged in collective semiotics and hermeneutics of the half-time show as text.
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Next time somebody tries to get me to justify the existence of the humanities, I’ll just point out how for the past two Super Bowls we’ve all jumped online and engaged in collective semiotics and hermeneutics of the half-time show as text.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
Beloveds. I know you mean well. I know we live in an age of stunt and spectacle. I know our hearts are looking for comfort and meaning through the fire and chaos.
So let me hold your hand when I say this:
All Latine children do not look the same. That was not Liam.
So let me hold your hand when I say this:
All Latine children do not look the same. That was not Liam.
February 9, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Beloveds. I know you mean well. I know we live in an age of stunt and spectacle. I know our hearts are looking for comfort and meaning through the fire and chaos.
So let me hold your hand when I say this:
All Latine children do not look the same. That was not Liam.
So let me hold your hand when I say this:
All Latine children do not look the same. That was not Liam.
“By credulous useful idiots” is the important part of who is asking these questions.
A new message board for artificial intelligence agents has prompted some strange conversations, and existential questions about the inner lives of bots.
Moltbook is the newest social media platform — but it's just for AI bots
A new message board for artificial intelligence agents has prompted some strange conversations, and existential questions about the inner lives of bots.
n.pr
February 8, 2026 at 7:47 PM
“By credulous useful idiots” is the important part of who is asking these questions.
Caring about American sports? In this economy?
February 8, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Caring about American sports? In this economy?
I know we’re not supposed to touch the dropper to our faces but y’all I am dropping so much expensive product on my boobs.
February 7, 2026 at 5:23 PM
I know we’re not supposed to touch the dropper to our faces but y’all I am dropping so much expensive product on my boobs.
Go Fernando Alonso
But also George Russell on a championship run is genuinely offensive to me.
But also George Russell on a championship run is genuinely offensive to me.
Odds have chnaged since last month.
#formula1 #f12026
VIA: [gpfans]
#formula1 #f12026
VIA: [gpfans]
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Go Fernando Alonso
But also George Russell on a championship run is genuinely offensive to me.
But also George Russell on a championship run is genuinely offensive to me.
Impossible to argue with the facts here.
The last time Italy hosted the Olympic Games, Fernando Alonso won the drivers' championship.
Who's ready for a repeat?
Who's ready for a repeat?
February 6, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Impossible to argue with the facts here.
Reposted by Brenna Clarke Gray
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.
Hey, my talk on open education and authoritarianism from #OpenEd25 is up on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ta4...
Open Education in the Age of Authoritarianism: A New 5Rs to Meet the Moment
YouTube video by Open Education Conference
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Hey, my talk on open education and authoritarianism from #OpenEd25 is up on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ta4...