Christine Sarmel
@christinesarmel.bsky.social
Reader. Writer. Librarian. House plant assassin.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
The Opioid Crisis Never Ended. It Was Inherited by the Children. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | The Opioid Crisis Never Ended. It Was Inherited by the Children. (Gift Article)
The pain of drug addiction continues to course through towns like Clarksburg, W.Va., where many babies are born withdrawing and have to be taken from their parents.
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The Opioid Crisis Never Ended. It Was Inherited by the Children. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Loose Ends in 60 Seconds 🩷
January 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Loose Ends in 60 Seconds 🩷
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Go buy some books today.
December 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Go buy some books today.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Character AI and an eleven-year-old. A disturbing story (gift link): share.inquirer.com/Z5UOwS
Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs.
She had always been an athletic and artistic girl, gregarious with her friends and close to her family, but now she was spending more and more time shut away in her room.
share.inquirer.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Character AI and an eleven-year-old. A disturbing story (gift link): share.inquirer.com/Z5UOwS
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Lotta folks talking resolutions, so a quick reminder to focus on goals you can control.
Instead of making it about agents or deals, focus on things like reading more to improve your craft, finding ways to support your peers, drafting something new…
You don’t need anyone else, to chase those goals.
Instead of making it about agents or deals, focus on things like reading more to improve your craft, finding ways to support your peers, drafting something new…
You don’t need anyone else, to chase those goals.
December 22, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Lotta folks talking resolutions, so a quick reminder to focus on goals you can control.
Instead of making it about agents or deals, focus on things like reading more to improve your craft, finding ways to support your peers, drafting something new…
You don’t need anyone else, to chase those goals.
Instead of making it about agents or deals, focus on things like reading more to improve your craft, finding ways to support your peers, drafting something new…
You don’t need anyone else, to chase those goals.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Highly amused by the stories of companies using agentic AI chatbots to run their internal company stores, only for their employees to immediately Bugs Bunny the chatbot into giving them free stuff www.aiweirdness.com/when-a-chatb...
When a chatbot runs your store
You may have heard of "agentic AI", which is basically the idea that you can hook up a large language model to controls that do real things. The controls might run internet searches, run commands to o...
www.aiweirdness.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Highly amused by the stories of companies using agentic AI chatbots to run their internal company stores, only for their employees to immediately Bugs Bunny the chatbot into giving them free stuff www.aiweirdness.com/when-a-chatb...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
THREAD.
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
December 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
THREAD.
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
My parents' cat Bridget vanished. As the weeks dragged on they became ever more worried, so to distract himself my dad began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up at some of art & music's most important moments.
I've collected his work here...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
About halfway sold out, whew! Giving this a little bump.
Gonna host another query letter webinar at the start of the New Year, to help fund various free in-person events.
Help me, help you! :-)
Three Zoom hangs, a critique on your query, notes on your first ten pages. It’ll be fun. www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2025/12...
Help me, help you! :-)
Three Zoom hangs, a critique on your query, notes on your first ten pages. It’ll be fun. www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2025/12...
New Year, New Query: A Workshop to Get You Ready — ERIC SMITH
With the New Year approaching and writers eager to get querying, I wanted to run another workshop to help polish up those pitch letters. I have a great time every time I do these, and honestly, these ...
www.ericsmithrocks.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
About halfway sold out, whew! Giving this a little bump.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
The best AI-detection/-avoidance software available is a well-compensated teacher who spends time getting to know their students and their work because they have small classes
December 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The best AI-detection/-avoidance software available is a well-compensated teacher who spends time getting to know their students and their work because they have small classes
I am sooo looking forward to the reading time coming up (after I survive the Is-Santa-Here-Yet week of teaching.)
Starting with this one:
Starting with this one:
December 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I am sooo looking forward to the reading time coming up (after I survive the Is-Santa-Here-Yet week of teaching.)
Starting with this one:
Starting with this one:
If you do live on a farm, the reaction is “[insert your favorite swear word] the cows are out again.”
Only sheep have a higher ability to walk through a hole in the fence and then be unable to find their way back.
1/
Only sheep have a higher ability to walk through a hole in the fence and then be unable to find their way back.
1/
Unless they actually live on a working farm, anyone capable of driving past a field of cows without saying “cows!” is a psychopath.
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If you do live on a farm, the reaction is “[insert your favorite swear word] the cows are out again.”
Only sheep have a higher ability to walk through a hole in the fence and then be unable to find their way back.
1/
Only sheep have a higher ability to walk through a hole in the fence and then be unable to find their way back.
1/
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
This is my friend's cat. Its name is Cookie Swirl, and it disappeared in the American section of Charlotte airport on 11/10. We're asking for your help. She doesn't have any other socials, so if you can post it widely to see if anyone knows where it is. It's a little thing, but matters a lot to her.
December 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is my friend's cat. Its name is Cookie Swirl, and it disappeared in the American section of Charlotte airport on 11/10. We're asking for your help. She doesn't have any other socials, so if you can post it widely to see if anyone knows where it is. It's a little thing, but matters a lot to her.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Day #10 of 31 Days, 31 Lists: Books to inspire a love of reading? Sure. That's a thing. But a little math along the way couldn't hurt either. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/10/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Math Books for Kids
Books to inspire a love of reading? Sure. That's a thing. But a little math along the way couldn't hurt either.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Day #10 of 31 Days, 31 Lists: Books to inspire a love of reading? Sure. That's a thing. But a little math along the way couldn't hurt either. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/10/3...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Day 8 of 31 Days, 31 Lists: Wordless Children's Books. A look at books that take a chance and tell their tales with quiet aplomb. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/08/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Wordless Children’s Books
A look at books that take a chance and tell their tales with quiet aplomb.
afuse8production.slj.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Day 8 of 31 Days, 31 Lists: Wordless Children's Books. A look at books that take a chance and tell their tales with quiet aplomb. #31days31lists #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/08/3...
Here it is, my favorite book list of the year!
Day #2 of 31 Days, 31 Lists: Picture Book Readalouds. Whether you want to pep up your average storytime session or you're new and in need of inspiration, here's a list of those picture books that just beg to be read out loud to large groups! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/02/3...
31 Days, 31 Lists: 2025 Picture Book Readalouds
Whether you want to pep up your average storytime session or you're just starting out and in need of inspiration, here's a list of those picture books that just beg to be read out loud to large groups...
afuse8production.slj.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Here it is, my favorite book list of the year!
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
So ESPN, in the year of our lord 2025, STILL doesn't understand what they have in NCAA women's volleyball and puts the *1st and 2nd rounds of the TOURNAMENT* on its app (while it airs what--4 year old 30 for 30s--on its main networks?)? People should lose their jobs for dumb decision like this.
Nebraska will play Long Island Friday at 7 p.m. at John Cook Arena.
San Diego (25-4) and Kansas State (17-9) will kick off the day at 4:30 p.m.
The winners will meet in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
All the matches will be steamed on ESPN+
San Diego (25-4) and Kansas State (17-9) will kick off the day at 4:30 p.m.
The winners will meet in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
All the matches will be steamed on ESPN+
December 1, 2025 at 12:06 AM
So ESPN, in the year of our lord 2025, STILL doesn't understand what they have in NCAA women's volleyball and puts the *1st and 2nd rounds of the TOURNAMENT* on its app (while it airs what--4 year old 30 for 30s--on its main networks?)? People should lose their jobs for dumb decision like this.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
❌ learn to code
✅ learn to read
✅ learn to read
November 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
❌ learn to code
✅ learn to read
✅ learn to read
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Are you ready to celebrate the books you know, and discover the ones you had no idea about? December's gonna be a WHOLE THING!! afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/30/i...
It’s Almost Heeeere….
Are you ready to celebrate the books you know and discover the ones you had no idea about? December's gonna be a WHOLE THING!!
afuse8production.slj.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Are you ready to celebrate the books you know, and discover the ones you had no idea about? December's gonna be a WHOLE THING!! afuse8production.slj.com/2025/11/30/i...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Literally buying one copy of a book at your local indie bookstore can mean the difference in whether they buy future books from that author.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
🎄 GIVE SIGNED BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS! Order by Dec. 8, and I'll sign and personalize anything you order from the Bookworm in Omaha. Including the Fangirl manga and Marvel collections!🎄https://www.bookwormomaha.com/rainbow-rowell
November 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
🎄 GIVE SIGNED BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS! Order by Dec. 8, and I'll sign and personalize anything you order from the Bookworm in Omaha. Including the Fangirl manga and Marvel collections!🎄https://www.bookwormomaha.com/rainbow-rowell
The two biggest dangers to school library books: puppies and backpack water bottles.
📚 a large group of first-graders watched me demonstrate the library’s book mending machine today. I asked them if they had ever had a book in their home get really messed up. their hands shot up. I would estimate that 60% of their stories involved dogs
November 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The two biggest dangers to school library books: puppies and backpack water bottles.
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
November 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
And don't keep offering, either.
"Are you sure?"
"It's open bar!"
"Just one."
"Keep me company."
"No one's keeping track."
"It's a party!"
"The bottle's already open."
"My treat!"
"Everyone else is..."
"Are you sure?"
"It's open bar!"
"Just one."
"Keep me company."
"No one's keeping track."
"It's a party!"
"The bottle's already open."
"My treat!"
"Everyone else is..."
Just a friendly reminder as we go into the holidays:
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
Folks don't have to explain to you why they don't drink.
If you offer them a drink and they decline, don't ask them why. It's not your business.
Just offer them something without alcohol to drink instead. And move on.
November 24, 2025 at 12:25 AM
And don't keep offering, either.
"Are you sure?"
"It's open bar!"
"Just one."
"Keep me company."
"No one's keeping track."
"It's a party!"
"The bottle's already open."
"My treat!"
"Everyone else is..."
"Are you sure?"
"It's open bar!"
"Just one."
"Keep me company."
"No one's keeping track."
"It's a party!"
"The bottle's already open."
"My treat!"
"Everyone else is..."
Reposted by Christine Sarmel
The trophies are out! It’s a special night at John Cook Arena as the Huskers are celebrating their 350th consecutive home sellout, a streak which dates back to 2001.
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
The trophies are out! It’s a special night at John Cook Arena as the Huskers are celebrating their 350th consecutive home sellout, a streak which dates back to 2001.