Brian Fairley
@brianfairley.bsky.social
Postdoctoral fellow in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at Pitt. (Ethno)musicologist, media historian, former dramaturg.
Reposted by Brian Fairley
It's been really lovely reading all the tributes to Dan. Many people have asked if they can contribute to support his wife and son. You can do so here: everloved.com/life-of/dan-...
February 2, 2026 at 9:32 PM
It's been really lovely reading all the tributes to Dan. Many people have asked if they can contribute to support his wife and son. You can do so here: everloved.com/life-of/dan-...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
Here's a thread of some Dan McQuade blogs that we really loved 🦅
The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is playing fast and loose with famous quotes: defector.com/the-garden-s...
The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is playing fast and loose with famous quotes: defector.com/the-garden-s...
The Garden State Parkway's Jon Bon Jovi Rest Stop Is Playing Fast And Loose With Famous Quotes | Defector
CHEESEQUAKE, N.J. — Have you ever scored a touchdown? I never played real football, so my own experiences have been pretty low-key, but man, did they feel great. I think I remember almost all of them—...
defector.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Here's a thread of some Dan McQuade blogs that we really loved 🦅
The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is playing fast and loose with famous quotes: defector.com/the-garden-s...
The Garden State Parkway’s Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is playing fast and loose with famous quotes: defector.com/the-garden-s...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
I love Dan McQuade dearly and will miss him terribly. No one else like him. defector.com/dan-mcquade-...
Dan McQuade, 1983–2026 | Defector
Dan McQuade, our friend and colleague, died this week at the age of 43. He is survived by his wife and young son. At the end of 2024, Dan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. The news of his diag...
defector.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:53 AM
I love Dan McQuade dearly and will miss him terribly. No one else like him. defector.com/dan-mcquade-...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
this is about taking violent illegal immigrant criminals off the streets but also if you give us the voter rolls we'll go away and leave the criminals in place
January 25, 2026 at 8:58 PM
this is about taking violent illegal immigrant criminals off the streets but also if you give us the voter rolls we'll go away and leave the criminals in place
Reposted by Brian Fairley
Federal agents kill again; gunmen still at large: defector.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Kill Again; Gunmen Still At Large | Defector
On Saturday in Minneapolis, federal agents surrounded 37-year-old Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who’d been filming them in the street with his phone camera as they conduct...
defector.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Federal agents kill again; gunmen still at large: defector.com/federal-agen...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
This piece begs the question about AI in classrooms, presuming it to be inevitable and on that basis examining how professors are using it.
In fact this is the angle that nearly all journalism about AI uses, which happens to dovetail with the tech's own marketing.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/n...
In fact this is the angle that nearly all journalism about AI uses, which happens to dovetail with the tech's own marketing.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/n...
A.I. Is Coming to Class. These Professors Want to Ease Your Worries.
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:28 PM
This piece begs the question about AI in classrooms, presuming it to be inevitable and on that basis examining how professors are using it.
In fact this is the angle that nearly all journalism about AI uses, which happens to dovetail with the tech's own marketing.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/n...
In fact this is the angle that nearly all journalism about AI uses, which happens to dovetail with the tech's own marketing.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/n...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
GOOD:
"Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up:
The Working Families Party launched a website where, among other efforts, voters can request refunds from Fetterman’s campaign."
"Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up:
The Working Families Party launched a website where, among other efforts, voters can request refunds from Fetterman’s campaign."
Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up
The Working Families Party launched a website where, among other efforts, voters can request refunds from Fetterman’s campaign.
www.nbcnews.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:40 PM
GOOD:
"Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up:
The Working Families Party launched a website where, among other efforts, voters can request refunds from Fetterman’s campaign."
"Progressive effort to primary Sen. John Fetterman ramps up:
The Working Families Party launched a website where, among other efforts, voters can request refunds from Fetterman’s campaign."
Reposted by Brian Fairley
Bandcamp has banned AI music.
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
Bandcamp Bans AI Music
AI music has become a big problem on streaming services. Remember the AI-generated psych-rock band the Velvet Sundown and the AI-generated metalcore band Broken Avenue racking up streams on Spotify? R...
stereogum.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Bandcamp has banned AI music.
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
The company has released a statement which includes the following: "Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp."
stereogum.com/2485199/band...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
The newspaper of record of my entire childhood would literally rather die than pay its unionized workers the wages and benefits that the actual Supreme Court of the United States of America decided were owed to them.
NEW: Publishers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announce they are shutting down the newspaper on May 3, 2026.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
January 7, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The newspaper of record of my entire childhood would literally rather die than pay its unionized workers the wages and benefits that the actual Supreme Court of the United States of America decided were owed to them.
Reposted by Brian Fairley
Randi has a storied history of being on the wrong side of key political issues when big money is involved (see also: healthcare). Almost makes you wonder why this person has been president of one of the biggest labor unions in the U.S. for *seventeen* years now.
December 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Randi has a storied history of being on the wrong side of key political issues when big money is involved (see also: healthcare). Almost makes you wonder why this person has been president of one of the biggest labor unions in the U.S. for *seventeen* years now.
Sitting in the university library freshman year and absorbing Arcadia in one sitting remains one of the most pleasurable reading experiences of my life
November 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Sitting in the university library freshman year and absorbing Arcadia in one sitting remains one of the most pleasurable reading experiences of my life
Reposted by Brian Fairley
The New School is now a place where students cannot major in History, Anthropology, Sociology, Global Policy & International Affairs, Global Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Studies. And more pauses, closures, and mergers coming down the pike this week. The future is uncertain.
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The New School is now a place where students cannot major in History, Anthropology, Sociology, Global Policy & International Affairs, Global Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Studies. And more pauses, closures, and mergers coming down the pike this week. The future is uncertain.
Reposted by Brian Fairley
dawg not the steakhouse wedding font
November 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
dawg not the steakhouse wedding font
Because of federal funding cuts, the American Research Institute of the South Caucasus (ARISC) has lost two-thirds of its income. ARISC has supported me and dozens of scholars and is one of the only organizations funding research in this region. If you’re able, please consider donating to help them!
Help ARISC survive federal grant cuts!
By American Research Institute of the South Caucasus
givebutter.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Because of federal funding cuts, the American Research Institute of the South Caucasus (ARISC) has lost two-thirds of its income. ARISC has supported me and dozens of scholars and is one of the only organizations funding research in this region. If you’re able, please consider donating to help them!
Reposted by Brian Fairley
hey sorry for putting this on your feed but @jay.bsky.team won't explain why this is still up despite violating Bluesky TOS. I also havent gotten any email from the multiple reports I've filed on it. Could you guys report it also and tell me if you at least get an email? bsky.app/profile/nypo...
Charlie Kirk assassination latest shooting committed by trans people and advocates
Charlie Kirk assassination latest shooting committed by trans people and advocates
The assassination of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk marks the latest example of a growing wave of murders and other shootings committed by transgender people and others advocating for their rights.
nypost.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
hey sorry for putting this on your feed but @jay.bsky.team won't explain why this is still up despite violating Bluesky TOS. I also havent gotten any email from the multiple reports I've filed on it. Could you guys report it also and tell me if you at least get an email? bsky.app/profile/nypo...
Genuinely sad about this!
Melvyn Bragg has decided to stand down as host of In Our Time, the BBC says.
September 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Genuinely sad about this!
Reposted by Brian Fairley
For a limited time, you can try out three months of Defector blogs for less than the price of a happy hour pint. I hope you will do it, because I think the blogs are good and the more people that subscribe the more we can hire. defector.com/defector-is-...
Defector Is Celebrating Its Fifth Birthday By Giving You A Big Fat Discount | Defector
Defector turns five next month. At last week’s offsite meetings, we celebrated that accomplishment and talked seriously about the 10-year mark—how we’re going to get there, and what we want Defector t...
defector.com
August 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
For a limited time, you can try out three months of Defector blogs for less than the price of a happy hour pint. I hope you will do it, because I think the blogs are good and the more people that subscribe the more we can hire. defector.com/defector-is-...
Just saw this in Tbilisi and filing it away for NBA meme purposes (@netw3rk.bsky.social)
July 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Just saw this in Tbilisi and filing it away for NBA meme purposes (@netw3rk.bsky.social)
Reposted by Brian Fairley
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
New publication! Here’s my review of two books about sound recordings of POWs during WWI (Britta Lange’s Captured Voices for Kadmos Verlag and Anette Hoffmann’s Knowing by Ear for @dukepress.bsky.social). Surveying some great work on these complex sound archives and hoping to inspire some more!
Sounds of Captivity: Prisoner-of-War Recordings in the First World War | Journal of the Royal Musical Association | Cambridge Core
Sounds of Captivity: Prisoner-of-War Recordings in the First World War - Volume 150 Issue 1
www.cambridge.org
June 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
New publication! Here’s my review of two books about sound recordings of POWs during WWI (Britta Lange’s Captured Voices for Kadmos Verlag and Anette Hoffmann’s Knowing by Ear for @dukepress.bsky.social). Surveying some great work on these complex sound archives and hoping to inspire some more!
Wolves have left at least 10 points on the table, could have doubled up the Lakers by now
May 1, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Wolves have left at least 10 points on the table, could have doubled up the Lakers by now
New publication alert! I have an article in the just-released issue of the Journal of Sonic Studies, titled “Singing at Your Own Funeral: Overdubbed Intimacy and the Persistence of Tradition in Soviet Georgia.” Please check it out! www.researchcatalogue.net/view/3509747...
Singing at Your Own Funeral: Overdubbed Intimacy and the Persistence of Tradition in Soviet Georgia by Brian Fairley
www.researchcatalogue.net
April 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
New publication alert! I have an article in the just-released issue of the Journal of Sonic Studies, titled “Singing at Your Own Funeral: Overdubbed Intimacy and the Persistence of Tradition in Soviet Georgia.” Please check it out! www.researchcatalogue.net/view/3509747...
Reposted by Brian Fairley
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Jonathan Sterne, an extraordinary scholar whose groundbreaking work transformed the fields of sound studies, media theory, and the cultural study of technology.
March 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Jonathan Sterne, an extraordinary scholar whose groundbreaking work transformed the fields of sound studies, media theory, and the cultural study of technology.
(expression of stony resolve softening, warm smile spreading across my face) Ah what the hell. Pass me an endorsement brother.
My YES vote is *not* an endorsement of this deeply flawed CR.
My YES vote is 💯 about refusing to shut our government down.
I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos.
I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down.
My YES vote is 💯 about refusing to shut our government down.
I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos.
I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down.
March 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
(expression of stony resolve softening, warm smile spreading across my face) Ah what the hell. Pass me an endorsement brother.