Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
@kleonardphd.bsky.social
Librettist, lyricist, poet, scholar, teacher. Writing operas abt the Jane Collective, ending rape culture, & climate change. Runs the Silent Film Sound & Music Archive (sfsma.org). Autistic. Disabled. kendraprestonleonard.hcommons.org
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
The cartoon that appeared this week on the front page of France’s most influential national newspaper, Le Monde
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
February 6, 2026 at 10:43 PM
The cartoon that appeared this week on the front page of France’s most influential national newspaper, Le Monde
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
Brilliant work by the cartoonist, Guffo.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
This is a Super Bowl. My favorite of many Superb Owls this year is Baubo, who I got to see in person at a local exhibit this summer!
February 8, 2026 at 3:46 PM
This is a Super Bowl. My favorite of many Superb Owls this year is Baubo, who I got to see in person at a local exhibit this summer!
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
this new & final(?) album by late pedal steel hero susan alcorn playing with an improvising metal band is just so cool & startling & bittersweet, like she was just getting started. nomadwarmachineandsusanalcorn.bandcamp.com/album/contra...
Contra Madre, by Nomad War Machine and Susan Alcorn
7 track album
nomadwarmachineandsusanalcorn.bandcamp.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:24 AM
this new & final(?) album by late pedal steel hero susan alcorn playing with an improvising metal band is just so cool & startling & bittersweet, like she was just getting started. nomadwarmachineandsusanalcorn.bandcamp.com/album/contra...
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
February 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
Good news’
Victory! An Arizona judge has struck down several abortion laws as unconstitutional. Patients no longer have to wait 24 hours for care and make 2 separate trips to the clinic. Also gone are the bans on abortion via telemedicine and abortion for reasons of fetal anomaly.
Judge: Arizona abortion laws are unconstitutional after 2024 amendment
Arizona judge permanently blocks abortion restrictions violating constitutional amendment voters adopted in 2024
azmirror.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Good news’
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
It was clever of the dressmaker responsible for this early #1850s ensemble to choose green silk fringe as a trim. The shot silk, a warp and weft of different colours, shimmers between green and purple with some hazy shape shifting, @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
February 7, 2026 at 8:46 AM
It was clever of the dressmaker responsible for this early #1850s ensemble to choose green silk fringe as a trim. The shot silk, a warp and weft of different colours, shimmers between green and purple with some hazy shape shifting, @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
A dress for a diva with a gorgeously pearl encrusted costume made in the #1880s for the Spanish Italian opera singer Adelina Patti. It was created by Parisian firm Morin Blossier, a team of sisters designing costume and couture for many famous clients #V_and_A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
February 2, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A dress for a diva with a gorgeously pearl encrusted costume made in the #1880s for the Spanish Italian opera singer Adelina Patti. It was created by Parisian firm Morin Blossier, a team of sisters designing costume and couture for many famous clients #V_and_A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
I am reading this right now and it is a delight!
Less than a year in print and this bad girl already has 1000 ratings on Goodreads! #books #janeausten
"After procuring several fervent assurances that his wife would apologize sincerely and deeply for his absence from Rosings that evening, Mr Collins reluctantly died."
"After procuring several fervent assurances that his wife would apologize sincerely and deeply for his absence from Rosings that evening, Mr Collins reluctantly died."
February 7, 2026 at 6:47 PM
I am reading this right now and it is a delight!
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
Update we have run out of Haitian Creole translators! Everyone available here is at capacity!
We still need Spanish, French and ASL translators but our in-town Haitian Creole liaisons (many volunteers from the community) are tired and we wanna prevent burn out!
We still need Spanish, French and ASL translators but our in-town Haitian Creole liaisons (many volunteers from the community) are tired and we wanna prevent burn out!
We're looking for translators in French, Spanish and ASL
Springfield, Ohio is bracing to protect our neighbors and keep Haitian children from being swept up in our foster care or youth incarceration systems
www.haitiancss.org
Springfield, Ohio is bracing to protect our neighbors and keep Haitian children from being swept up in our foster care or youth incarceration systems
www.haitiancss.org
Haitian Community Solidarity and Support - Springfield, OH Charity
Founded in 2024, this non-profit organization stands in solidarity with Haitian immigrants located in Springfield, Ohio and throughout Clark County. Our goal is assisting immigrants, especially nation...
www.haitiancss.org
January 31, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Update we have run out of Haitian Creole translators! Everyone available here is at capacity!
We still need Spanish, French and ASL translators but our in-town Haitian Creole liaisons (many volunteers from the community) are tired and we wanna prevent burn out!
We still need Spanish, French and ASL translators but our in-town Haitian Creole liaisons (many volunteers from the community) are tired and we wanna prevent burn out!
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
handy dandy labeler that shows when someone’s newsletter is hosted by Substack: bsky.app/profile/labe...
bsky.app
February 7, 2026 at 5:28 PM
handy dandy labeler that shows when someone’s newsletter is hosted by Substack: bsky.app/profile/labe...
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
anyway, it’s true and bears repeating. leave substack.
February 7, 2026 at 5:22 PM
anyway, it’s true and bears repeating. leave substack.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
how do you write this story without noting there was a campaign literally called SUBSTACKERS AGAINST NAZIS in…2023
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:14 PM
how do you write this story without noting there was a campaign literally called SUBSTACKERS AGAINST NAZIS in…2023
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
In the greater story of Minneapolis’ resistance to ICE, one chapter absolutely belongs to the punks organizing at every level. They’re observing, fundraising, running supplies, opening their spaces, coordinating, etc.
A story for @rollingstone.com. Thanks to everyone who spoke on the record.
A story for @rollingstone.com. Thanks to everyone who spoke on the record.
Meet the Minneapolis Punks Fighting ICE
People in the DIY music scene are using the community organizing tactics they learned by putting on shows to battle ICE.
www.rollingstone.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
In the greater story of Minneapolis’ resistance to ICE, one chapter absolutely belongs to the punks organizing at every level. They’re observing, fundraising, running supplies, opening their spaces, coordinating, etc.
A story for @rollingstone.com. Thanks to everyone who spoke on the record.
A story for @rollingstone.com. Thanks to everyone who spoke on the record.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
Set up a page of fundraisers for victims of ICE in NYC. Please do check it out! comixaction.com/nyc-fundrais...
NYC fundraisers for ICE victims - Comix Action
To donate to a group that’s providing a range of direct aid and services to immigrants targeted by ICE, check out Mi Tlalli. And here are some GoFundMes for families with members abducted by ICE, most...
comixaction.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Set up a page of fundraisers for victims of ICE in NYC. Please do check it out! comixaction.com/nyc-fundrais...
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
application for this phd closes on 10 Feb
are you displeased with today’s AI safety evaluation landscape and curious about what greater conceptual clarity, methodological soundness, and rigour in AI evaluation could look like? if so, consider coming to Dublin to pursue a PhD with me
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
February 7, 2026 at 11:21 AM
application for this phd closes on 10 Feb
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
please use alt text
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM
please use alt text
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
the miniature therapy horses that do hospital visits have little sneakers that they wear inside so they don't scuff up the floors
February 7, 2026 at 4:18 AM
the miniature therapy horses that do hospital visits have little sneakers that they wear inside so they don't scuff up the floors
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
Democratizing the arts looks like universal income, low-barrier grants for both emerging and working artists, well-funded municipal arts & recreation programs, vibrant third spaces, and a well-funded public school system with progressive curriculum.
Not a free pass for corporate-owned slop engines.
Not a free pass for corporate-owned slop engines.
Every instance of "AI democratizes the arts, you're classist and ableist and a gatekeeper for trying to stop it" is a slap in the face to the literally centuries of poor, disabled people making art on the margins and a crass lie in service of a machine that strips down and regurgitates dreams
February 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Democratizing the arts looks like universal income, low-barrier grants for both emerging and working artists, well-funded municipal arts & recreation programs, vibrant third spaces, and a well-funded public school system with progressive curriculum.
Not a free pass for corporate-owned slop engines.
Not a free pass for corporate-owned slop engines.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
Trust me, the woman of academia are not at all surprised by the number of academic men orbiting Epstein.
February 7, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Trust me, the woman of academia are not at all surprised by the number of academic men orbiting Epstein.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
some people were asking what this meant. i actually said it on tumblr but here it is
February 6, 2026 at 9:58 PM
some people were asking what this meant. i actually said it on tumblr but here it is
Percussionists, is there a standard (yes, I know) or commonly used drum that sounds similar to a bodhrán? Could substitute for a bodhrán if a performing group didn't have one? Cheers!
February 6, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Percussionists, is there a standard (yes, I know) or commonly used drum that sounds similar to a bodhrán? Could substitute for a bodhrán if a performing group didn't have one? Cheers!
Someone local please take these folks some hot food and gloves.
Happening Now: Six people have chained themselves together outside Morrill Hall at the University of Minnesota, saying they won’t leave until President Rebecca Cunningham meets with them and declares the campus a sanctuary and ends all cooperation with ICE.
February 6, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Someone local please take these folks some hot food and gloves.
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
“I could not do interviews and not talk about it, but then the story doesn’t get out there. Maybe a little girl doesn’t see me, who looks like her. That’s what’s really important," Edwards said. https://bit.ly/4qoIAMS
February 6, 2026 at 6:20 PM
“I could not do interviews and not talk about it, but then the story doesn’t get out there. Maybe a little girl doesn’t see me, who looks like her. That’s what’s really important," Edwards said. https://bit.ly/4qoIAMS
Reposted by Kendra Preston Leonard (she/her)
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.