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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

blaine @jblainefoster.bsky.social · 13h

yeah, healthcare costs resources! those resources have an environmental impact! the solution is to STOP FUCKING UP THE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUPID REASONS so it has the resiliency to support everyone! not to shame disabled and chronically ill people for accessing care.

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Sara Luterman @slooterman.bsky.social · 16h

I think more people should be aware of how much cool stuff Link does in real life. He’s not just a poster.

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 1d

“As a neurodiversity advocate and as an autistic person, I’m really grateful for so much of the work that’s been done that allows me to be myself and to be successful being myself.” Link, who has been *banned*!?!? from this platform?

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/06/spac... #AutisticWhileBlack

Space Law, Race, and Neurodiversity: Autistic Advocate AJ Link

We live in a country & society that is built on racism. The neurodivergent community isn't free of that racism—per Autistic advocate AJ Link.

thinkingautismguide.com

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 17h

No, nope, I refuse to believe this. Despite not having a mystical bone in my body there is a part of me that is sure Dolly is a lamed-vavnik, and that means THE WORLD NEEDS HER.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 19h

Yes.
I’m skilled at a certain kind of academic thinking and writing because I spent over a decade training to do it.
I’m talented at making up limericks.
One of these I’m at least trying to make a difference with. The other is a party trick.

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 1d

So since I'm annoyed let me say a few things today.Some folks have been writing about Christian Nationalism and apocalyptic right wing movements for YEARS here in the US. YEARS. Do we get to have a platform in major mags and newspapers... rarely.

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Vandy AAUP on the Compact. Share widely!

"We join the @aaup.org National Leadership in urging the Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, & the Vanderbilt leadership to completely reject this Trump loyalty oath & any other that seeks to commandeer Vanderbilt’s institutional autonomy."

Statement by the Vanderbilt AAUP Executive Committee on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

October 6, 2025 On October 2nd, Vanderbilt was among nine universities “invited” to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” with the federal government. The Compact, however, i…

vanderbiltaaup.org

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Team washed rind all the way. Have you tried the Grayson from Meadowcreek Dairy?
Also amazing is the Rush Creek Reserve from Uplands. Warm the whole thing up in the oven, serve with a robust honey or roasted grapes. Slice off the top and spoon it onto baguette.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

I enjoy a glass of cold buttermilk, and I have been known to eat NYF (that's nutritional yeast flakes, for those who weren't in a co-op at Oberlin) by the spoonful. I also like crunching on raw bucatini.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Some people really need to learn the difference between "so-and-so will save us" and "when your enemies fight each other, let them."

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

The people behind this contract are vindictive, unserious clowns. Any administration that chooses to take them seriously should be mortified.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Vandy AAUP on the Compact. Share widely!

"We join the @aaup.org National Leadership in urging the Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, & the Vanderbilt leadership to completely reject this Trump loyalty oath & any other that seeks to commandeer Vanderbilt’s institutional autonomy."

Statement by the Vanderbilt AAUP Executive Committee on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

October 6, 2025 On October 2nd, Vanderbilt was among nine universities “invited” to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” with the federal government. The Compact, however, i…

vanderbiltaaup.org

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Today is a deeply embarrassing day for Jewish lesbians.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

The people behind this contract are vindictive, unserious clowns. Any administration that chooses to take them seriously should be mortified.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Vandy AAUP on the Compact. Share widely!

"We join the @aaup.org National Leadership in urging the Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, & the Vanderbilt leadership to completely reject this Trump loyalty oath & any other that seeks to commandeer Vanderbilt’s institutional autonomy."

Statement by the Vanderbilt AAUP Executive Committee on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

October 6, 2025 On October 2nd, Vanderbilt was among nine universities “invited” to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” with the federal government. The Compact, however, i…

vanderbiltaaup.org

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 1d

"The compact is a threat." That's all that needs to be said.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Vandy AAUP on the Compact. Share widely!

"We join the @aaup.org National Leadership in urging the Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, & the Vanderbilt leadership to completely reject this Trump loyalty oath & any other that seeks to commandeer Vanderbilt’s institutional autonomy."

Statement by the Vanderbilt AAUP Executive Committee on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

October 6, 2025 On October 2nd, Vanderbilt was among nine universities “invited” to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” with the federal government. The Compact, however, i…

vanderbiltaaup.org

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Vandy AAUP on the Compact. Share widely!

"We join the @aaup.org National Leadership in urging the Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, Provost Raver, & the Vanderbilt leadership to completely reject this Trump loyalty oath & any other that seeks to commandeer Vanderbilt’s institutional autonomy."

Statement by the Vanderbilt AAUP Executive Committee on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

October 6, 2025 On October 2nd, Vanderbilt was among nine universities “invited” to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” with the federal government. The Compact, however, i…

vanderbiltaaup.org

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

Relatedly, here is an email I just had to send out:

Screenshot of an email to one of my classes, that reads:

Dear all, two things:

First: take an extension on your peer review deadline through Monday, 10/13.

Second: Some of you may have noticed that the syllabus has a class scheduled during fall break, and fall break scheduled two weeks from now. This is, obviously, completely wrong. We will not, in fact, be having class this Thursday, during fall break, and we WILL be having class on Thursday, 10/23. I have absolutely no idea where I got those dates from.

-RJEL

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 1d

I have a little over a week to have some version of my very rough mss draft ready to send out to be workshopped. My students have rough drafts due on which they will be expecting feedback during this time period. Oh, and my university is one of those included in the "Compact."
In conclusion, FML.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 3d

My wife made a beautiful and delicious cocktail!

(Alt text: an opaque, softly orange cocktail in a nick and Nora glass).

Sarah EL @sarahel1771.bsky.social · 3d

An early fall cocktail: Wild persimmon puree, lemon, bourbon, brandy, Angostura bitters, and hickory syrup

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Reposted by Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

I did another #KnifeSky thread, I see.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

Okay, an important wrinkle here is discerning when price actually corresponds to quality, and when you are paying for glitz. (It's fine to appreciate glitz, you should just understand what you're buying).

Knives are actually a great example.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

I did another #KnifeSky thread, I see.

Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

Okay, an important wrinkle here is discerning when price actually corresponds to quality, and when you are paying for glitz. (It's fine to appreciate glitz, you should just understand what you're buying).

Knives are actually a great example.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

NEITHER knife was a compromise or a bad purchase. They each do what they need to do superbly.

Enfin.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

I also own a 210mm gyuto made by Yu Kurosaki before he was cool. I think I paid $250 for it in 2016. He doesn't make that model anymore, but a comparable knife by him runs closer to $300 now. It is an absolute fucking joy to use, and still my favorite in my collection.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

For what it's worth, I own the Tojiro Basic, the cheapest knife in this thread. It's what I take on vacation with me, and it is leagues better than just about anything you would find in a vacation rental kitchen, without my needing to baby it.

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

But you should understand that that $40-$50 is NOT buying performance. Spending $101 instead of $139 is not, in that sense, a compromise.

*(Actually I have some quibbles with the Shun's combination of a thin, hard blade with a deep, upswept belly & would probably choose the Tojiro out of the two).

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

I think Shun Classics ($140-$150) and Tojiro Classics ($101, recall) are both very good knives. I do NOT, however, think the Shun is $40-$50 better than the Tojiro.* I think it is beautiful, and if you think its beauty is worth that extra $40 there is no shame in that!

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Dr. Rebecca J. Epstein-Levi @rjelevi.bsky.social · 5d

This level of fit and finish and aesthetic detail is also a big part of what you are paying for with the high-end knife brands you can find at Sur La Table and the like. Shuns, Miyabis, Zwilling Kramers are all excellent knives, AND a big part of their expense is the shine & name recognition.

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