David Mittelman
@dmittelman.bsky.social
Afro-Luso-Brazilian literary/cultural studies (still, somehow).
Pinned
David Mittelman
@dmittelman.bsky.social
· Jan 30
This week I finally took down my Portuguese-language CDC wear-a-mask poster from my office door and replaced it with this:
Watched Frankenstein (1931) in preparation for watching Frankenstein (2025).
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Watched Frankenstein (1931) in preparation for watching Frankenstein (2025).
“Discharge petition” is a pretty gross phrase.
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 AM
“Discharge petition” is a pretty gross phrase.
OK, what else is going on today?
November 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
OK, what else is going on today?
Curious why elected Democrats think anyone should vote for Democrats.
Caaaause…
Caaaause…
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Curious why elected Democrats think anyone should vote for Democrats.
Caaaause…
Caaaause…
Got to see "The Secret Agent" ("O Agente Secreto") yesterday and I *really* liked it. Highly recommend viewing and thinking about.
And this is saying something because I have not always been Kleber Mendonça Filho's biggest fan and in fact I was very, very critical of Bacurau.
And this is saying something because I have not always been Kleber Mendonça Filho's biggest fan and in fact I was very, very critical of Bacurau.
November 10, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Got to see "The Secret Agent" ("O Agente Secreto") yesterday and I *really* liked it. Highly recommend viewing and thinking about.
And this is saying something because I have not always been Kleber Mendonça Filho's biggest fan and in fact I was very, very critical of Bacurau.
And this is saying something because I have not always been Kleber Mendonça Filho's biggest fan and in fact I was very, very critical of Bacurau.
Been gone from here for a while, considering being back for a bit.
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Been gone from here for a while, considering being back for a bit.
So, am I allowed say that freedom of speech, the constitution, and the rule of law are dying before our eyes in the United States of America or would that get me cancelled, fired, and worse?
September 18, 2025 at 12:44 AM
So, am I allowed say that freedom of speech, the constitution, and the rule of law are dying before our eyes in the United States of America or would that get me cancelled, fired, and worse?
oh man
🇧🇷 Deputada Bia Kicis (PL/DF) chama a deputada Sâmia Bomfim de “imunda” durante sessão da Câmara que vota a PEC da Blindagem.
Parlamentar do PSOL pediu a palavra em seguida para rebater a bolsonarista.
Parlamentar do PSOL pediu a palavra em seguida para rebater a bolsonarista.
September 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
oh man
Bad recent choice: reading a book from 2018 about the far-right. 🤦
Good recent choice: teaching, last week and this week, Machado de Assis’s “O alienista” (The Alienist). 🧐
Good recent choice: teaching, last week and this week, Machado de Assis’s “O alienista” (The Alienist). 🧐
September 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Bad recent choice: reading a book from 2018 about the far-right. 🤦
Good recent choice: teaching, last week and this week, Machado de Assis’s “O alienista” (The Alienist). 🧐
Good recent choice: teaching, last week and this week, Machado de Assis’s “O alienista” (The Alienist). 🧐
Reposted by David Mittelman
“As he always taught us, let us not be ruled by sadness: listen to the wind, the birds, a glass of water, a waterfall — universal music keeps breathing.”
Pascoal said he had composed thousands of pieces. "I am 100 percent intuitive," he once told NPR. Miles Davis called him one of the most important musicians in the world.
Hermeto Pascoal, whimsical Brazilian composer nicknamed 'The Sorcerer,' dies at 89
Pascoal said he had composed thousands of pieces. "I am 100 percent intuitive," he once told NPR. Miles Davis called him one of the most important musicians in the world.
n.pr
September 16, 2025 at 3:23 AM
“As he always taught us, let us not be ruled by sadness: listen to the wind, the birds, a glass of water, a waterfall — universal music keeps breathing.”
Reposted by David Mittelman
Tem um conto BR que li no colégio, do qual nunca esqueci, mas tb nunca mais consegui achar. Era sobre uma família que entra em parafuso planejando como reagir à coluna Prestes, que supostamente estava chegando à cidade. Quase rompem relações entre si, baseados numa realidade que não se confirma.
September 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Tem um conto BR que li no colégio, do qual nunca esqueci, mas tb nunca mais consegui achar. Era sobre uma família que entra em parafuso planejando como reagir à coluna Prestes, que supostamente estava chegando à cidade. Quase rompem relações entre si, baseados numa realidade que não se confirma.
Lula in NYT today:
Lula: Brazilian Democracy and Sovereignty Are Non-Negotiable www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/o...
Lula: Brazilian Democracy and Sovereignty Are Non-Negotiable www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/o...
Opinion | Lula: Brazilian Democracy and Sovereignty Are Non-Negotiable
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Lula in NYT today:
Lula: Brazilian Democracy and Sovereignty Are Non-Negotiable www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/o...
Lula: Brazilian Democracy and Sovereignty Are Non-Negotiable www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/o...
Two things. First, did a chatbot write this terrible article? Second, in my courses, for instance, it is not possible to use GenAI “without cheating.”
Vacuous, generic and scattershot advice for incoming 1st years on the use of AI at university. Especially liking 'Chin recommends giving it class notes and asking it to generate practice exam questions.' Surely we can't be the only programme that supplies students with past & practice exams?
How to use ChatGPT at university without cheating: ‘Now it’s more like a study partner’
The ubiquitous AI tool has a divisive effect on educators with some seeing it a boon and others a menace. So what should you know about where to draw the line between check and cheat?
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Two things. First, did a chatbot write this terrible article? Second, in my courses, for instance, it is not possible to use GenAI “without cheating.”
Reposted by David Mittelman
Hermeto era uma orquestra viva, um carrilhão. Tive o privilégio de ver duas vezes ao vivo ele criando com outros músicos, a alegria de fazer e ser música. Que descanse em ritmo, harmonia, ruído.
September 14, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Hermeto era uma orquestra viva, um carrilhão. Tive o privilégio de ver duas vezes ao vivo ele criando com outros músicos, a alegria de fazer e ser música. Que descanse em ritmo, harmonia, ruído.
Eu me considero um gênio. E daí?
Painel: Braga Netto se considera preso político, diz advogado
Painel: General Braga Netto se considera preso político, diz advogado
Militar que foi ministro de Bolsonaro e candidato a vice em 2022 foi condenado a 26 anos de prisão
www1.folha.uol.com.br
September 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Eu me considero um gênio. E daí?
As the High Holidays approach, now is as good a time as any to remember that notions of forgiveness and accountability in, for example, Judaism are quite different from what is often encoded in Christian culture.
It’s always striking how many right-wing Christians weaponize the concept of forgiveness to avoid accountability.
September 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM
As the High Holidays approach, now is as good a time as any to remember that notions of forgiveness and accountability in, for example, Judaism are quite different from what is often encoded in Christian culture.
For a language teacher like me, this is a good example to keep in my, uh, hip pocket.
‘Booty’ and ‘butt’ are synonyms.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
September 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
For a language teacher like me, this is a good example to keep in my, uh, hip pocket.
My heart breaks.
A society cannot go on like this.
A society cannot go on like this.
‘I tell my children they are safe. And I feel like a liar.’ Evergreen school shooting lays bare parents’ worst fears www.cpr.org/2025/09/12/c... via @jennybrundincpr.bsky.social
‘I tell my children they are safe. And I feel like a liar.’ Evergreen school shooting lays bare parents’ worst fears
Colorado parents share their thoughts about what it’s like sending their kids to school every day.
www.cpr.org
September 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My heart breaks.
A society cannot go on like this.
A society cannot go on like this.
I really pity all the serious scholars out there who study the semiotics of far-right internet trolldom.
This kid was extremely online, and like so many of these shooters recently it appears that his brain was an unreconstructed stew of blackpilled memes. I am not taking the Bella Ciao / antifa references at face value given the obvious trolling here, but MAGA sure will
Press conference announces that the shooter's bullets said:
Fired bullet:
"Notices bulges owo whats this?"
Other unfired cases:
"hey fascist! Catch! Uparrow, right arrow, three downarrow"
"O bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao"
"If you read this you are gay lmao"
Fired bullet:
"Notices bulges owo whats this?"
Other unfired cases:
"hey fascist! Catch! Uparrow, right arrow, three downarrow"
"O bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao"
"If you read this you are gay lmao"
September 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I really pity all the serious scholars out there who study the semiotics of far-right internet trolldom.
It’s not the most important thing, but bracing for epic levels of US-centric Brazil discourse.
September 11, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It’s not the most important thing, but bracing for epic levels of US-centric Brazil discourse.
A big deal, if it sticks…
Com generais condenados por golpe, STF decreta fim da imunidade militar… - Veja mais em noticias.uol.com.br/colunas/leon...
September 11, 2025 at 9:27 PM
A big deal, if it sticks…
Oh great, more news!
September 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Oh great, more news!
Reposted by David Mittelman
“This radiates with joy.” Perhaps you too are desperate for some friggin’ joy. Publishers Weekly has given Prieta Is Dreaming — a posthumous collection of stories by Gloria Anzaldúa forthcoming from SUNY P — a starred review. 💫
www.publishersweekly.com/9798855804553
www.publishersweekly.com/9798855804553
Prieta Is Dreaming by Gloria Anzaldã°a
This extraordinary posthumous collection from Chicana poet and theorist Anzaldúa (Borderlands) offers a window into a woman’s ma...
www.publishersweekly.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:47 AM
“This radiates with joy.” Perhaps you too are desperate for some friggin’ joy. Publishers Weekly has given Prieta Is Dreaming — a posthumous collection of stories by Gloria Anzaldúa forthcoming from SUNY P — a starred review. 💫
www.publishersweekly.com/9798855804553
www.publishersweekly.com/9798855804553
I have 777 followers and I follow 999 people. Is this some kind of sign
September 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I have 777 followers and I follow 999 people. Is this some kind of sign