Matthew Murray 🦇
@midnitelibrary.bsky.social
Data Librarian. Co-Host of Book Club for Masochists: A Readers' Advisory Podcast. Editor of Two-Fisted Library Stories. Spooky Librarian. Goth. Comics. Manga. Zines. Games. ScholComm. OA. RDM. Social Justice. He/They.
"A known human friend" - Graham Stark
"A known human friend" - Graham Stark
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
I wrote to Alan, to ask if he minded if I use an element from one of these in Aphra and he called me up and said he has no memory of writing this, but sure.
197. In case you didn’t know, Alan Moore wrote some Star Wars comics in the 80s for a UK Star Wars magazine. It is clear from the content that he was not entirely sure what Star Wars is supposed to be. They’re awesome.
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I wrote to Alan, to ask if he minded if I use an element from one of these in Aphra and he called me up and said he has no memory of writing this, but sure.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Every company sued for wrongful death:
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Every company sued for wrongful death:
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
I assume that getting steak and lobster dinners with 20,000 calories of appetizers for your whole family delivered by personal chauffeur is inexpensive again now that Uncle Joe Brandon is out of the White House at least
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 AM
I assume that getting steak and lobster dinners with 20,000 calories of appetizers for your whole family delivered by personal chauffeur is inexpensive again now that Uncle Joe Brandon is out of the White House at least
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Let's play a checking-in-new-comics-day game! Guess what comic this is?! If you said Venom #3, YOU ARE 150% WRONG. It's Battleworld #3! For the love of Kirby, I am begging comic companies to STOP. DOING. THIS. SHIT.
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Let's play a checking-in-new-comics-day game! Guess what comic this is?! If you said Venom #3, YOU ARE 150% WRONG. It's Battleworld #3! For the love of Kirby, I am begging comic companies to STOP. DOING. THIS. SHIT.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
"Contingent" magazine in the USA is collecting a list of (academic?) publications by non-tenure-track historians with release dates in 2025 https://contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-lists/ #histodons #antiquidons #glam
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, _Contingent_ has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by **non-tenure-track historians** released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion on this year’s lists, fill out the form below. Books, journal articles, and chapters are all welcome. Check out all of our previous lists here.
Please give _complete_ citation info and a link to the publisher’s webpage for the book or the stable URL for the article. If you wish to submit multiple publications, each one should be its own submission. The due date for submissions is Saturday, November 29. **Anything with a clear 2025 publication date is acceptable, even if it hasn’t come out yet.**
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name *
First
Last
Citation *
URL stable list
Link to publisher's webpage or stable URL *
If you're submitting a journal article, is it open access?
* Yes
* No
* I'm not sure
Check this box if you're submitting for the philosophy list
* Philosophy
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Not required, but it can help interested readers contact you easily without making your email public. Make it clear what social media platform you're talking about so we can link to it.
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contingentmagazine.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:52 AM
"Contingent" magazine in the USA is collecting a list of (academic?) publications by non-tenure-track historians with release dates in 2025 https://contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-lists/ #histodons #antiquidons #glam
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
"Gaming Like It's 1930" is coming this January: itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Gaming Like It's 1930
A game jam from 2026-01-01 to 2026-02-01 hosted by Randy Lubin & Copia Gaming. A new year means new material entering the public domain! Starting January 1st 2026, works from 1930 are free to use and ...
itch.io
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
"Gaming Like It's 1930" is coming this January: itch.io/jam/gaming-l...
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Come join us for our annual public domain game jam, celebrating new works that are entering the commons
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
I tested a machine learning model designed to detect NSFW content. It marked this image as unsafe, because of Tim Allen's breasts (marked in blue) and my hand-penis (marked in green)
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I tested a machine learning model designed to detect NSFW content. It marked this image as unsafe, because of Tim Allen's breasts (marked in blue) and my hand-penis (marked in green)
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
give it up for Henry yall
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
give it up for Henry yall
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
There is always some anxiety from my LIS students about finding a job.
This semester though... I've had more questions about the job market than ANY OTHER TOPIC...
What advice would you give new librarians, trying to find their first post-MLS job, in 2025/2026?
This semester though... I've had more questions about the job market than ANY OTHER TOPIC...
What advice would you give new librarians, trying to find their first post-MLS job, in 2025/2026?
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 PM
There is always some anxiety from my LIS students about finding a job.
This semester though... I've had more questions about the job market than ANY OTHER TOPIC...
What advice would you give new librarians, trying to find their first post-MLS job, in 2025/2026?
This semester though... I've had more questions about the job market than ANY OTHER TOPIC...
What advice would you give new librarians, trying to find their first post-MLS job, in 2025/2026?
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Meet THE DOOMS! ALL CAPS!
Tribute art of the four coolest Dooms pop culture's gotta offer!
Tribute art of the four coolest Dooms pop culture's gotta offer!
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Meet THE DOOMS! ALL CAPS!
Tribute art of the four coolest Dooms pop culture's gotta offer!
Tribute art of the four coolest Dooms pop culture's gotta offer!
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
One of the big tidal forces of the coming years is that the baseline reliability of things you see on a screen is going to decline.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
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 9:39 PM
One of the big tidal forces of the coming years is that the baseline reliability of things you see on a screen is going to decline.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
I think this has not been adequately metabolized.
This is one version, but there are a bunch of them.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
More from my conversation with
@kodansha.us CEO Alvin Lu, talking about #manga market trends, competition with webtoons, expanding the digital market, and dealing with piracy, today on
@icv2.com icv2.com/articles/col...
@kodansha.us CEO Alvin Lu, talking about #manga market trends, competition with webtoons, expanding the digital market, and dealing with piracy, today on
@icv2.com icv2.com/articles/col...
icv2.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM
More from my conversation with
@kodansha.us CEO Alvin Lu, talking about #manga market trends, competition with webtoons, expanding the digital market, and dealing with piracy, today on
@icv2.com icv2.com/articles/col...
@kodansha.us CEO Alvin Lu, talking about #manga market trends, competition with webtoons, expanding the digital market, and dealing with piracy, today on
@icv2.com icv2.com/articles/col...
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Is that a lot?
Only 1% of consumers said business conditions were good in the U.S., according to the Conference Board’s report.
Consumer Confidence Falls Sharply In November—Hitting Lowest Level Since April
Only 1% of consumers said business conditions were good in the U.S., according to the Conference Board’s report.
www.forbes.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Is that a lot?
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Do you think there are any folks who believe in 4 out of 5? You know, people for whom believing in all 5 is just a cryptid too far?
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Do you think there are any folks who believe in 4 out of 5? You know, people for whom believing in all 5 is just a cryptid too far?
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
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 Matthew Murray 🦇
Spouse always makes the point when explaining LLM's that even if it was only wrong 2% of the time, STEM would not use a calculation tool. They then seem to get it. (His machine learning models that are pattern recognition are above 98%)
November 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Spouse always makes the point when explaining LLM's that even if it was only wrong 2% of the time, STEM would not use a calculation tool. They then seem to get it. (His machine learning models that are pattern recognition are above 98%)
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Someone defending their ability to love Harry Potter without supporting JK Rowling saying “if Toriyama was on the Epstein list, people could still love Dragon Ball”
1) that’s a hell of a hypothetical to suggest
2) based on how people reacted to Neil Gaiman this last year, I don’t know if I agree.
1) that’s a hell of a hypothetical to suggest
2) based on how people reacted to Neil Gaiman this last year, I don’t know if I agree.
November 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Someone defending their ability to love Harry Potter without supporting JK Rowling saying “if Toriyama was on the Epstein list, people could still love Dragon Ball”
1) that’s a hell of a hypothetical to suggest
2) based on how people reacted to Neil Gaiman this last year, I don’t know if I agree.
1) that’s a hell of a hypothetical to suggest
2) based on how people reacted to Neil Gaiman this last year, I don’t know if I agree.
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby https://theonion.com/white-house-reclassifies-nursing-as-hobby/
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby https://theonion.com/white-house-reclassifies-nursing-as-hobby/
Sometimes I really wonder what percentage of the time calculators would have to be wrong before researchers stopped using them. Like, would they give up on calculators if they were only right 95% of the time? 90%? 80%?
November 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Sometimes I really wonder what percentage of the time calculators would have to be wrong before researchers stopped using them. Like, would they give up on calculators if they were only right 95% of the time? 90%? 80%?
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The more I think about this, the more it really, really, REALLY bothers me
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
We've reached a point where a text-based reference fabrication engine - comfortably the most effective machine liar we've ever invented - is being pushed by an ultra-polluting tech company and accepted by climate scientists
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Deeply absurd. This Google PDF published on a blog (arxiv, not peer reviewed) claims an LLM is "PhD level" but in most cases the MAJORITY of reference URLs were invalid or inaccessible.
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
A PhD sitting down and just fabricating >50% of sources = career ending
arxiv.org/abs/2511.11597
Reposted by Matthew Murray 🦇
Black organizers know how to run a boycott.
If you’re not already avoiding Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, please commit to avoiding these stores for JUST FIVE DAYS to help out.
If you’re not already avoiding Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, please commit to avoiding these stores for JUST FIVE DAYS to help out.
"We’re watching corporations bend over backwards to appease an administration and gain tax breaks, even when it hurts their own customers.”
https://bit.ly/3M5GDpT
https://bit.ly/3M5GDpT
A call to action
‘We Ain't Buying It'
contrarian.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Black organizers know how to run a boycott.
If you’re not already avoiding Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, please commit to avoiding these stores for JUST FIVE DAYS to help out.
If you’re not already avoiding Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, please commit to avoiding these stores for JUST FIVE DAYS to help out.