Katherine Firth
@katherinefirth.bsky.social
Writes about writing, especially for PhDs and researchers: poetry, music, food. Blogs at Research Degree Insider
So Rahaeli is not at all the first to say this. Can I recommend you all read WH Auden and Christopher Isherwood’s 1936 play, The Ascent of F6? Original music by Benjamin Britten. (Auden’s brother, a mapmaker, knew the Karakoram range well, and F6=K2 [because we do not speak the name])
I'm not the first to say it, but I think we should absolutely start a campaign to convince all the worst people that K2 is a *much* more impressive mountain to climb than Everest and we would all be much more impressed by that achievement
People should stop climbing mt everest
November 27, 2025 at 11:32 AM
So Rahaeli is not at all the first to say this. Can I recommend you all read WH Auden and Christopher Isherwood’s 1936 play, The Ascent of F6? Original music by Benjamin Britten. (Auden’s brother, a mapmaker, knew the Karakoram range well, and F6=K2 [because we do not speak the name])
Don’t ask for an edit button, understand your
*correction
reply ….
is an errata slip.
*correction
reply ….
is an errata slip.
Bring back errata slips in nowadays books! I love reading these lists of corrections in #earlymodern printed books, and I want them back, #booksky folks.
For your entertainment see this German "Verzeichnuß etlicher vbersehenen Jrrthumben" from 1616, literally a register of many overlooked errors:
For your entertainment see this German "Verzeichnuß etlicher vbersehenen Jrrthumben" from 1616, literally a register of many overlooked errors:
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Don’t ask for an edit button, understand your
*correction
reply ….
is an errata slip.
*correction
reply ….
is an errata slip.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Corrected something in this post (ta, eagle-eyed librarian!) and counted all the zeroes properly this time. Elsevier's profit is not in the millions, it's billions. 😵💫
New at @therealrw.bsky.social this week: "Librarians versus the world"!
researchwhisperer.org/2025/11/25/l... #academicsky #acwri
New at @therealrw.bsky.social this week: "Librarians versus the world"!
researchwhisperer.org/2025/11/25/l... #academicsky #acwri
Librarians versus the world
Photo of London’s National Art Library by Sebastien LE DEROUT on Unsplash Here at the Research Whisperer, we love librarians. They are smart, dedicated people who want to help you with your researc…
researchwhisperer.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Corrected something in this post (ta, eagle-eyed librarian!) and counted all the zeroes properly this time. Elsevier's profit is not in the millions, it's billions. 😵💫
New at @therealrw.bsky.social this week: "Librarians versus the world"!
researchwhisperer.org/2025/11/25/l... #academicsky #acwri
New at @therealrw.bsky.social this week: "Librarians versus the world"!
researchwhisperer.org/2025/11/25/l... #academicsky #acwri
Reposted by Katherine Firth
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Oh you’d like me to undertake a gendered analysis of excavation tasks in the 10 excavation shots I have from four 1930s excavations? I hear you.
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Oh you’d like me to undertake a gendered analysis of excavation tasks in the 10 excavation shots I have from four 1930s excavations? I hear you.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
DECRA success rate is the lowest in 14 years, since 2012 (1st year the scheme ran).
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
🚨 #DECRA #DE26 announcement:
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/285
/bot
❗️Outcomes announced publicly for Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2026❗️
See ARC's RMS for list ➡️ https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/a3f6be6e-33f7-4fb5-98a6-7526aaa184cf/285
/bot
November 25, 2025 at 12:34 AM
DECRA success rate is the lowest in 14 years, since 2012 (1st year the scheme ran).
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
What a pathetic system we have for supporting new ideas, new people…
DE26: 13.1%
25: 17.9
24: 19.6
23: 15.0
22: 19.7
21: 17.1
20: 16.0
19: 17.2
18: 16.3
17: 16.7
16: 16.4
15: 14.3
14: 13.6
13: 15.6
12: 12.8
25 years ago, @melbournedean.bsky.social and I (and others!) ran a thing called Laser Vespers in The Selwyn College Cambridge chapel (it was my job to run the strobe lights from the organ loft!)
Anyway, turns out we are still cool (ish!)
@selwyn1882.bsky.social
Anyway, turns out we are still cool (ish!)
@selwyn1882.bsky.social
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 22, 2025 at 12:49 AM
25 years ago, @melbournedean.bsky.social and I (and others!) ran a thing called Laser Vespers in The Selwyn College Cambridge chapel (it was my job to run the strobe lights from the organ loft!)
Anyway, turns out we are still cool (ish!)
@selwyn1882.bsky.social
Anyway, turns out we are still cool (ish!)
@selwyn1882.bsky.social
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Just did my first look at applications for a postdoc position I advertised. I am BEGGING you- if you're applying for a postdoc, please actually say what you're interested in that my group does! Sooooo many submit an app that never says how they want to connect to what we do! 🔭🧪
November 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Just did my first look at applications for a postdoc position I advertised. I am BEGGING you- if you're applying for a postdoc, please actually say what you're interested in that my group does! Sooooo many submit an app that never says how they want to connect to what we do! 🔭🧪
Reposted by Katherine Firth
I think one of the more important, lasting lessons that I've learned from Audrey Watters is to know your (ed)tech history.
In this recent talk, she asks, "[W]hat might it mean that our depictions of the future of education now are the same as depictions of the future from the 1950s?"
In this recent talk, she asks, "[W]hat might it mean that our depictions of the future of education now are the same as depictions of the future from the 1950s?"
Sputnik Deja Vu
I gave this presentation on Monday afternoon at Yale University. The talk was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science, DOWN Magazine, the Education Studies Program, and The Politic. A huge...
2ndbreakfast.audreywatters.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I think one of the more important, lasting lessons that I've learned from Audrey Watters is to know your (ed)tech history.
In this recent talk, she asks, "[W]hat might it mean that our depictions of the future of education now are the same as depictions of the future from the 1950s?"
In this recent talk, she asks, "[W]hat might it mean that our depictions of the future of education now are the same as depictions of the future from the 1950s?"
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Mentioned this pic to our writing retreat folks, yesterday. A good option for trying to write in shared office spaces, too! 😅(alternatively, put a post-it on your own forehead if you are - like me - your own biggest distraction) #AcWriMo #highered #academicsky #academicchatter #PhDchat
November 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Mentioned this pic to our writing retreat folks, yesterday. A good option for trying to write in shared office spaces, too! 😅(alternatively, put a post-it on your own forehead if you are - like me - your own biggest distraction) #AcWriMo #highered #academicsky #academicchatter #PhDchat
Reposted by Katherine Firth
The wizard reads a book about fermentation.
November 19, 2025 at 7:18 AM
The wizard reads a book about fermentation.
Reposted by Katherine Firth
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
My favourite year for oppressed literary masculinity was 2023 when the number of women on the Booker shortlist was smaller than the number of men named Paul
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Post about your book! And if you're feeling extra generous, you can even post about your friends' books! 👇
Academic authors: self-promote! 💫
This is not a particularly popular account but:
🚨 If you have published a book in the last 5 years (since the hype wears off after a while), especially in the humanities, feel free to reply here and repost! 👇
This is not a particularly popular account but:
🚨 If you have published a book in the last 5 years (since the hype wears off after a while), especially in the humanities, feel free to reply here and repost! 👇
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Post about your book! And if you're feeling extra generous, you can even post about your friends' books! 👇
I love Kaylene Whiskey
Dolly Parton has never stepped foot on the dry red dirt of Indulkana in remote South Australia, but she is a frequent visitor in the art of Kaylene Whisky, which celebrates sisterhood and strong women.
'No one like her in the universe': Meet rising art star Kaylene Whiskey
Dolly Parton has never stepped foot on the dry red dirt of Indulkana in remote South Australia, but she is a frequent visitor in the art of Kaylene Whisky, which celebrates sisterhood and strong women.
www.abc.net.au
November 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I love Kaylene Whiskey
Reposted by Katherine Firth
> “Australian creatives are not only world class, but they are also the lifeblood of Australian culture, and we must ensure the right legal protections are in place,” Hon Rowland MP said.
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
Australia Rejects AI Text and Data Mining Copyright Exception
The Albanese Government has rejected a proposal to amend Australia’s copyright laws to allow artificial intelligence (AI) systems to freely train on copyright works, according to an official statement...
natlawreview.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
> “Australian creatives are not only world class, but they are also the lifeblood of Australian culture, and we must ensure the right legal protections are in place,” Hon Rowland MP said.
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
natlawreview.com/article/copy...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Do you remember the good old Twitter days of a 🧵 100 tweets deep on something niche yet widely relevant from an expert who didn’t know it all (and gave credit where credit was due)? yeah. Buckle in for a long, deep, nuanced, historical, Wuthering Heights ride 👇👇👇
When people say that Wuthering Heights doesn't have anything to do with race or that no film has engaged with race, what they mean is that for them Romani people do not count and they also haven't been paying attention. I'm going to share a little material from a recent talk. Content note: racism 1/
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Do you remember the good old Twitter days of a 🧵 100 tweets deep on something niche yet widely relevant from an expert who didn’t know it all (and gave credit where credit was due)? yeah. Buckle in for a long, deep, nuanced, historical, Wuthering Heights ride 👇👇👇
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Behavior bio people, check out this guy's experience training an octopus!
I taught an octopus piano (It took 6 months)
YouTube video by Mattias Krantz
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Behavior bio people, check out this guy's experience training an octopus!
Dammit, went into the theory mines knowing exactly what I wanted to say… came out blearily and empty handed. I’ve ordered a whole load of Averroes and Bourdieu to the library as if that will help.
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Dammit, went into the theory mines knowing exactly what I wanted to say… came out blearily and empty handed. I’ve ordered a whole load of Averroes and Bourdieu to the library as if that will help.
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Anyway, happy #AcWriMo to all who celebrate!
Reposted by Katherine Firth
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Mid- #AcWriMo mood. The academia / writing / research meme stash always has the goods! 🙌 #highered #academicsky #resdev #academicchatter #PhDchat
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Mid- #AcWriMo mood. The academia / writing / research meme stash always has the goods! 🙌 #highered #academicsky #resdev #academicchatter #PhDchat
Reposted by Katherine Firth
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM
The wonderful people at @uncpress.bsky.social sent me an advance copy of my book and I think I’ll have a little cry now. You can order it from here and it will arrive soon (use code 01UNCP30) for a discount uncpress.org/978146968920...
Reposted by Katherine Firth
"Professors' inboxes are like kids' lunchboxes - they require constant viligance and lots of things fester when they inevitably go unattended. In other words, when professors don't respond, it's rarely personal. They probably forgot or got too busy. Email again"
My lab site is very much still under construction, but we are in #grad application season and I thought I'd blog about stuff I discuss often with prospective applicants to our program in #anthropology. Check it out. Let me know hits and misses.
www.evolvedlab.net/blog
www.evolvedlab.net/blog
Blog | Evolve D Lab
www.evolvedlab.net
November 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
"Professors' inboxes are like kids' lunchboxes - they require constant viligance and lots of things fester when they inevitably go unattended. In other words, when professors don't respond, it's rarely personal. They probably forgot or got too busy. Email again"
Reposted by Katherine Firth
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.