Rebecca
@jeybecques.bsky.social
Current librarian, former classicist, perpetual nerd. Expect special collections, book history, yarn.
“Is there anything you aren’t interested in??”
“Is there anything you aren’t interested in??”
Pinned
small children make me understand the noise muffling virtues of fully carpeted homes
November 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
small children make me understand the noise muffling virtues of fully carpeted homes
Reposted by Rebecca
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
Reposted by Rebecca
"I must tell you that a horoscope which has been cast for my younger son shows that he will be pope, but I'm very much afraid he's more likely to be the antichrist."
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
Reading letters from the Princess Liselotte of Palantine, the German sister-in-law of Louis XIV, and it's wild because she had this super informal writing style that almost sounds like modern texts
Like at one point she goes "wish to god my son didn't love holding chunks of bread like a peasant"
Like at one point she goes "wish to god my son didn't love holding chunks of bread like a peasant"
November 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"I must tell you that a horoscope which has been cast for my younger son shows that he will be pope, but I'm very much afraid he's more likely to be the antichrist."
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
That's it.
That's the *entire* letter.
Reposted by Rebecca
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A Provincial Market in Second-Hand Books: Book Sales in Devon, 1688–1725
Abstract. Comparatively little is known about England’s early book-auction trade outside of London and the university towns, with few catalogues surviving
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
Reposted by Rebecca
I know there’s that thing of “every day a combination of words is uttered that has never been said before” but something I love even more is “these words have absolutely been said before but never in this context, wtf”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I know there’s that thing of “every day a combination of words is uttered that has never been said before” but something I love even more is “these words have absolutely been said before but never in this context, wtf”
other duties as assigned
#librarylife
#librarylife
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
other duties as assigned
#librarylife
#librarylife
Reposted by Rebecca
AI 👏 is 👏 fundamentally 👏 and 👏 inescapably 👏 dehumanizing
"Next time you render your free AI-image in a couple of seconds, will you think of all the work, knowledge and skill that we HUMANS created over hundreds of years that made it possible?"
A medical illustrator had her work stolen by a famous surgeon dudebro ->
www.linkedin.com/posts/amanda...
A medical illustrator had her work stolen by a famous surgeon dudebro ->
www.linkedin.com/posts/amanda...
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
AI 👏 is 👏 fundamentally 👏 and 👏 inescapably 👏 dehumanizing
Reposted by Rebecca
It's axiomatic! You have to hold them by the head!
In pre-modern England, the expression, "Holding an eel by the tail" meant that you were doing something the wrong way. Like...did you just buy a cyber truck so that you could look cool and pick up women? You, sir, are holding an eel by the tail.
In pre-modern England, the expression, "Holding an eel by the tail" meant that you were doing something the wrong way. Like...did you just buy a cyber truck so that you could look cool and pick up women? You, sir, are holding an eel by the tail.
If you ever wonder why people say "slippery as an eel" I can confirm that one time we had to hold an eel for a vet to do a blood draw and that eel ended up on the floor 47 times out of 48 attempts
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 AM
It's axiomatic! You have to hold them by the head!
In pre-modern England, the expression, "Holding an eel by the tail" meant that you were doing something the wrong way. Like...did you just buy a cyber truck so that you could look cool and pick up women? You, sir, are holding an eel by the tail.
In pre-modern England, the expression, "Holding an eel by the tail" meant that you were doing something the wrong way. Like...did you just buy a cyber truck so that you could look cool and pick up women? You, sir, are holding an eel by the tail.
reshelving books should definitely count as gym time
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
reshelving books should definitely count as gym time
I’ll probably rearrange when I finish the blue one or if I bring in the set of three, but I’m pleased for now
November 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I’ll probably rearrange when I finish the blue one or if I bring in the set of three, but I’m pleased for now
Reposted by Rebecca
Do not steal books, I beg. Borrow from a library. Libraries lend e-books!
November 24, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Do not steal books, I beg. Borrow from a library. Libraries lend e-books!
it is possible that my mug of tea at 11 this morning was too much, too late
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 AM
it is possible that my mug of tea at 11 this morning was too much, too late
Reposted by Rebecca
Anyone in Würzburg? The St Andreas church in Sanderau is empty at the moment as it was used as a movie set last week.
Without the benches, the stunning brutalist architecture is even more striking. You can really appreciate the light and shadow effects from the huge skylights. #brutalist
Without the benches, the stunning brutalist architecture is even more striking. You can really appreciate the light and shadow effects from the huge skylights. #brutalist
November 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Anyone in Würzburg? The St Andreas church in Sanderau is empty at the moment as it was used as a movie set last week.
Without the benches, the stunning brutalist architecture is even more striking. You can really appreciate the light and shadow effects from the huge skylights. #brutalist
Without the benches, the stunning brutalist architecture is even more striking. You can really appreciate the light and shadow effects from the huge skylights. #brutalist
Reposted by Rebecca
Q+D, graphic design is my passion, etc etc
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Q+D, graphic design is my passion, etc etc
going through to set up a sewing box by my chair and found a few pieces from many years ago
I think I’ll tack down the back of this one and hang it at my desk
I think I’ll tack down the back of this one and hang it at my desk
November 23, 2025 at 11:41 PM
going through to set up a sewing box by my chair and found a few pieces from many years ago
I think I’ll tack down the back of this one and hang it at my desk
I think I’ll tack down the back of this one and hang it at my desk
Reposted by Rebecca
Also out today: part 4 of 5 of @garius.bsky.social's remarkable history of the California Clipper, the feat of commercial aviation that brought a Pan Am flying boat the wrong way around the world from Auckland to LaGuardia.
This time: it's Christmas in Sri Lanka.
theupfront.media/christmas-in...
This time: it's Christmas in Sri Lanka.
theupfront.media/christmas-in...
Christmas in Sri Lanka: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 4
The crew of the California Clipper are forced to spend Christmas in Sri Lanka. While there, their thoughts turn naturally to home.
theupfront.media
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Also out today: part 4 of 5 of @garius.bsky.social's remarkable history of the California Clipper, the feat of commercial aviation that brought a Pan Am flying boat the wrong way around the world from Auckland to LaGuardia.
This time: it's Christmas in Sri Lanka.
theupfront.media/christmas-in...
This time: it's Christmas in Sri Lanka.
theupfront.media/christmas-in...
Reposted by Rebecca
Rummaging around for something (as one does), and stumbled on this 2012 story about a 1977 April Fools joke still infamous among the typesetting crowd. Interesting to think how long the half-lives of jokes are. I'll bet more people know font names now than in '77. www.theguardian.com/gnmeducation...
April fool - San Serriffe: teaching resource of the month from the GNM Archive, April 2012
Each month we provide resource material that can be used in the classroom. This month we are looking at the Guardian’s most successful April Fool’s joke, San Serriffe
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Rummaging around for something (as one does), and stumbled on this 2012 story about a 1977 April Fools joke still infamous among the typesetting crowd. Interesting to think how long the half-lives of jokes are. I'll bet more people know font names now than in '77. www.theguardian.com/gnmeducation...
just want to log a complaint with hardware designers:
whomst among you thought it was a good idea to make drawer pulls with hook ends.
whomst among you thought it was a good idea to make drawer pulls with hook ends.
November 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
just want to log a complaint with hardware designers:
whomst among you thought it was a good idea to make drawer pulls with hook ends.
whomst among you thought it was a good idea to make drawer pulls with hook ends.
Reposted by Rebecca
So, I'm really kind of fucking annoyed and disappointed with Mozilla enabling AI in Firefox by default and not giving users a simple opt out switch.
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
How to Disable AI Features in Firefox Browser
Are you looking for clean user experience in your Firefox browser? Here's how you can disable AI features in Firefox for a simple, no-nonsense usage.
gadgetstouse.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
So, I'm really kind of fucking annoyed and disappointed with Mozilla enabling AI in Firefox by default and not giving users a simple opt out switch.
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
I have disabled it in my firefox via 'about:config' , if you want to too, here's how to disable it completely or enable certain bits you find useful
oh no this is the one that made me howl with laughter irl
November 22, 2025 at 3:35 AM
oh no this is the one that made me howl with laughter irl
Reposted by Rebecca
what i would give to be a fly on the wall listening to zohran tell his aloof wife alllllllll about his day
November 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
what i would give to be a fly on the wall listening to zohran tell his aloof wife alllllllll about his day
it has been such a weird day
November 22, 2025 at 3:30 AM
it has been such a weird day
Reposted by Rebecca
Reposted by Rebecca
I reckon you can learn a lot about the atmosphere in various Oxford colleges by looking at what they choose to name their cats (courtesy of @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ). We should all aspire to the energy of a Teabag, Isambard Kitten Brunel, or an Admiral Flapjack
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I reckon you can learn a lot about the atmosphere in various Oxford colleges by looking at what they choose to name their cats (courtesy of @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ). We should all aspire to the energy of a Teabag, Isambard Kitten Brunel, or an Admiral Flapjack
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
Reposted by Rebecca
This is absolutely the type of hard hitting reporting I want to see in my local news. Dive deep. Tell us everything.
Walter de Staplecat, Simpkin IV, Teabag, Balthasar and Benny D Cat take the stage as we meet the college cats of Oxford. And, of course, Magdalen’s Ozymandias. Read on for our photo special. (Includes a cat map.) oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This is absolutely the type of hard hitting reporting I want to see in my local news. Dive deep. Tell us everything.