Ellen Muehlberger
@emuehlbe.bsky.social
Michigander with ideas about ancient history, writing, cats, bikes
I'm probably gonna ask you what you're writing
New book! Things Unseen, available open access from University of California Press: https://luminosoa.org/books/m/10.1525/luminos.253
I'm probably gonna ask you what you're writing
New book! Things Unseen, available open access from University of California Press: https://luminosoa.org/books/m/10.1525/luminos.253
Pinned
I say this enough that I should just make a permanent pinned post, but people: if you're feeling down, just go get yourself a hit of other people's good news---it's the richest espresso, the driest prosecco, the warmest sunshine, the gooey-ist brownie
All this for an energy source that is literally killing us off as we use it
January 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM
All this for an energy source that is literally killing us off as we use it
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
January 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
In 2026 I want all of the decent people to remember one thing.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
You aren’t meant to be this disciplined, this self-sacrificing to survive. The environment is supposed to support good living. We can have that. You are not a failure. That is politics.
That is all.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
We haven't seen an Indiana squad turn back an Alabama offense this decisively since Antietam
January 1, 2026 at 10:23 PM
We haven't seen an Indiana squad turn back an Alabama offense this decisively since Antietam
Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl is already weird enough, but Hoosiers *blanking* someone at halftime at the Rose Bowl?? Anything can happen if you just believe
January 1, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl is already weird enough, but Hoosiers *blanking* someone at halftime at the Rose Bowl?? Anything can happen if you just believe
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Current* conditions near Gary, IN:
January 1, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Current* conditions near Gary, IN:
me, reading an intro that apologizes for the book maybe depending a little too much on Augustine: how much Augustine could there really be in this book?
me, couple chapters in, having just waded through a three-page paragraph of, you guessed it: oh
me, couple chapters in, having just waded through a three-page paragraph of, you guessed it: oh
January 1, 2026 at 8:54 PM
me, reading an intro that apologizes for the book maybe depending a little too much on Augustine: how much Augustine could there really be in this book?
me, couple chapters in, having just waded through a three-page paragraph of, you guessed it: oh
me, couple chapters in, having just waded through a three-page paragraph of, you guessed it: oh
Biggest influence on the internet, after doomscrolling, is just this month getting this baby sent around the earth and back and ingathering every Ann Arborite past and present
January 1, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Biggest influence on the internet, after doomscrolling, is just this month getting this baby sent around the earth and back and ingathering every Ann Arborite past and present
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
A nice read heading into a new year. open.substack.com/pub/lakauffm... - and maybe a reminder for some about the reality that people are in motion, everywhere.
What the F Was That?
Reflections on a harrowing year, and hopes for 2026
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A nice read heading into a new year. open.substack.com/pub/lakauffm... - and maybe a reminder for some about the reality that people are in motion, everywhere.
You should definitely read this thread, but I've bit my tongue almost to bleeding about that "...no one has anymore"
December 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
You should definitely read this thread, but I've bit my tongue almost to bleeding about that "...no one has anymore"
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
much of fitness culture in the US was developed by people who literally entered sports and physical education instead of going to therapy and the attitudes around intensity and effort kinda reflect that. the smiling Jazzercise folks were right and your football coach / PE teacher was wrong
December 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
much of fitness culture in the US was developed by people who literally entered sports and physical education instead of going to therapy and the attitudes around intensity and effort kinda reflect that. the smiling Jazzercise folks were right and your football coach / PE teacher was wrong
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
I have started wearing pants and a sweater and my adidas
December 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I have started wearing pants and a sweater and my adidas
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
At my last Kalamazoo conf, I had to give one of THOSE papers where you find out last minute your sources don't tell you what you hoped they would. I wore jeans and comfy shoes and donned the attitude of the many men I've seen give that paper---& it worked! Good enough for them is good enough for me!
December 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
At my last Kalamazoo conf, I had to give one of THOSE papers where you find out last minute your sources don't tell you what you hoped they would. I wore jeans and comfy shoes and donned the attitude of the many men I've seen give that paper---& it worked! Good enough for them is good enough for me!
I've long wondered what would happen if all the women at the next big academic conference fancy-matched the dress code of the average male in attendance---like, if jeans, a sport coat, sneakers, and hair I rolled out of bed with work for you, they work for me
will also add - yes, this is my personal crusade - that turning podcasts into videos implicitly asks women to once again make more effort than men, as the bar for "camera-ready" for one gender is obviously higher than for the other
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
December 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I've long wondered what would happen if all the women at the next big academic conference fancy-matched the dress code of the average male in attendance---like, if jeans, a sport coat, sneakers, and hair I rolled out of bed with work for you, they work for me
new house panther Clovis checking out the yard
December 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
new house panther Clovis checking out the yard
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
We talked about running these numbers at UM soc when it became so obvious that women TAs got more complaints for the same classes. Glad someone tested it formally.
Experimental evidence that students are more likely to contest grades when they are delivered by an evaluator with a female-sounding name.
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
December 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
We talked about running these numbers at UM soc when it became so obvious that women TAs got more complaints for the same classes. Glad someone tested it formally.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
People are harshing on some “diverse reading challenge” thing that’s going around, and I get it, but looking at what you read and asking yourself “what isn’t represented here?” is imo a good and healthy practice
December 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
People are harshing on some “diverse reading challenge” thing that’s going around, and I get it, but looking at what you read and asking yourself “what isn’t represented here?” is imo a good and healthy practice
"this could have been slop, but it's not" is rapidly becoming a surefire signifier of premium-ness
Porsche reportedly created their new ad without using any AI.
December 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
"this could have been slop, but it's not" is rapidly becoming a surefire signifier of premium-ness
Porsche reportedly created their new ad without using any AI.
December 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"this could have been slop, but it's not" is rapidly becoming a surefire signifier of premium-ness
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
December 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
Let me share some obscure Michigander knowledge with you, and get ready, I don't think this is known in other parts of the US:
Canadians? They drink.
Canadians? They drink.
December 22, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Let me share some obscure Michigander knowledge with you, and get ready, I don't think this is known in other parts of the US:
Canadians? They drink.
Canadians? They drink.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
I don’t design my coursework with different ethics and principles than those I expect from myself. Deep reading, sincere effort, meticulous citations, a willingness to acknowledge mistakes, honesty and humility are all things I want from students AND myself. And that shapes how I see gAI.
December 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I don’t design my coursework with different ethics and principles than those I expect from myself. Deep reading, sincere effort, meticulous citations, a willingness to acknowledge mistakes, honesty and humility are all things I want from students AND myself. And that shapes how I see gAI.
We made it to the bottom, friends---new light and a new year ahead!
December 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We made it to the bottom, friends---new light and a new year ahead!