Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
Medieval historian interested in other stuff
Pinned
Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
· Sep 14
So who am I and what am I doing? I am a historian of medieval Europe and am writing a book on the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187). It is under contract with Basic Books. The goal is to write a narrative history the incorporates cultural, religious, apocalyptic, and romantic (!) material
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Cal State University’s deal with OpenAI — providing ChatGPT to all faculty, students, and staff — will expire in June 2026. Amid the prospect of layoffs in the CSU, we’re asking the chancellor not to renew this costly and demoralizing contract.
Link below and anyone can sign:
Link below and anyone can sign:
January 21, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Cal State University’s deal with OpenAI — providing ChatGPT to all faculty, students, and staff — will expire in June 2026. Amid the prospect of layoffs in the CSU, we’re asking the chancellor not to renew this costly and demoralizing contract.
Link below and anyone can sign:
Link below and anyone can sign:
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
What kind of business establishment would you guess has this in its front window? Take your best shot.
January 22, 2026 at 8:41 AM
What kind of business establishment would you guess has this in its front window? Take your best shot.
What kind of business establishment would you guess has this in its front window? Take your best shot.
January 22, 2026 at 8:41 AM
What kind of business establishment would you guess has this in its front window? Take your best shot.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Devastating news of the passing of an absolutely brilliant historian.
It is with deep sadness that the Master and Fellows of St Peter’s College share news of the death of Professor Stephen Baxter, Fellow and Tutor in Medieval History. Our full tribute will be shared soon. https://ow.ly/cy8J50Y0yrB
January 21, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Devastating news of the passing of an absolutely brilliant historian.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
London this morning, looking more and more to me like Mordor. Probably speaks to the evolution of my relationship with the city.
January 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM
London this morning, looking more and more to me like Mordor. Probably speaks to the evolution of my relationship with the city.
London this morning, looking more and more to me like Mordor. Probably speaks to the evolution of my relationship with the city.
January 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM
London this morning, looking more and more to me like Mordor. Probably speaks to the evolution of my relationship with the city.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
I’ve taken the paywall off this piece I wrote, triggered by AI deciding that my cat was an actual human celebrity (it decided briefly to give her a human face, too). It’s also a bit of a love letter to good old-fashioned human thinking using our messy creative brains. www.tom-cox.com/thinking-abo...
Thinking About Thinking
In some of the bigger news of the past week, this silly piece I wrote means Google's AI search engine is now telling people that my cat Roscoe is a real human woman who came to media prominence during...
www.tom-cox.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:40 AM
I’ve taken the paywall off this piece I wrote, triggered by AI deciding that my cat was an actual human celebrity (it decided briefly to give her a human face, too). It’s also a bit of a love letter to good old-fashioned human thinking using our messy creative brains. www.tom-cox.com/thinking-abo...
Such an insanely beautiful place
White Sands National Park, New Mexico (© Francesco Carucci/Getty Images)
th (1920×1080)
www.bing.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Such an insanely beautiful place
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
January 16, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
In the latest issue of Perspectives, I have an appreciation piece for my dear departed friend Peggy Brown. It was both rewarding and damn difficult to write, so do feel encouraged to read it. On p. 46. I'm not sure if you have to be a member to use this link: www.historians.org/wp-content/u...
www.historians.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:46 AM
In the latest issue of Perspectives, I have an appreciation piece for my dear departed friend Peggy Brown. It was both rewarding and damn difficult to write, so do feel encouraged to read it. On p. 46. I'm not sure if you have to be a member to use this link: www.historians.org/wp-content/u...
In the latest issue of Perspectives, I have an appreciation piece for my dear departed friend Peggy Brown. It was both rewarding and damn difficult to write, so do feel encouraged to read it. On p. 46. I'm not sure if you have to be a member to use this link: www.historians.org/wp-content/u...
www.historians.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:46 AM
In the latest issue of Perspectives, I have an appreciation piece for my dear departed friend Peggy Brown. It was both rewarding and damn difficult to write, so do feel encouraged to read it. On p. 46. I'm not sure if you have to be a member to use this link: www.historians.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
No new pictures, where are you mentally?
January 13, 2026 at 8:03 AM
No new pictures, where are you mentally?
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
‘Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
January 11, 2026 at 9:03 AM
‘Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Love this manuscript!
The baptism of Jesus, and the three temptations of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness
München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, BSB Clm 4453; 'Gospels of Otto III'; c.1000 CE; Reichenau; p.30
München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, BSB Clm 4453; 'Gospels of Otto III'; c.1000 CE; Reichenau; p.30
January 11, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Love this manuscript!
‘Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
January 11, 2026 at 9:03 AM
‘Tis a magic place
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
what an image
January 10, 2026 at 3:31 AM
what an image
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
A great line-up of medieval seminars for @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social in Edinburgh, including @medievaljay.bsky.social, "Raiders of the Lost Patriarchs: Hebron and Crusader Jerusalem"...
hca.ed.ac.uk/centre-medie...
hca.ed.ac.uk/centre-medie...
Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies Seminars | Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies | History Classics and Archaeology
The Centre hosts a seminar series which takes place throughout the academic year and is open to staff, students and the general public
hca.ed.ac.uk
January 8, 2026 at 4:38 PM
A great line-up of medieval seminars for @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social in Edinburgh, including @medievaljay.bsky.social, "Raiders of the Lost Patriarchs: Hebron and Crusader Jerusalem"...
hca.ed.ac.uk/centre-medie...
hca.ed.ac.uk/centre-medie...
I think our world will be a lot better if we try to use the word “narrative” less often in our everyday lives.
January 8, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I think our world will be a lot better if we try to use the word “narrative” less often in our everyday lives.
I want to go to a beanfeast
January 6, 2026 at 9:03 AM
I want to go to a beanfeast
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Publishers Break Down Door As George R.R. Martin Escapes Through Bathroom Window https://theonion.com/publishers-break-down-door-as-george-r-r-martin-escapes-through-bathroom-window/
January 5, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Publishers Break Down Door As George R.R. Martin Escapes Through Bathroom Window https://theonion.com/publishers-break-down-door-as-george-r-r-martin-escapes-through-bathroom-window/
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Two poor coots on a frozen pond trying to figure out why they can’t swim
January 5, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Two poor coots on a frozen pond trying to figure out why they can’t swim
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
JOB ALERT!
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
January 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
JOB ALERT!
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
3-year postdoc at @girtoncollege.bsky.social - research anything you like in History, Archaeology or Anthropology in a wonderful, welcoming scholarly community.
PLEASE SHARE! Closes 12 January
www.girton.cam.ac.uk/job-vacancie...
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
There should be a special Oscar named for Burt Young--Best Slob in a Motion Picture. No one in all of cinema history was better at it.
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 AM
There should be a special Oscar named for Burt Young--Best Slob in a Motion Picture. No one in all of cinema history was better at it.