Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
@medrenliza.bsky.social
U of Toronto Associate Prof. | early modern lit-sci-phil | women writers, esp. Margaret Cavendish | editing, esp. M. Cavendish | (premodern) asexuality and aromanticism | She/her. Views my own.
Pinned
Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
@medrenliza.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Hello new followers! I work on early modern lit/sci, women writers, and book history and textual editing.
This year I'm on a fellowship letting me focus on asexuality and aromanticism studies; I'm writing abt ace/aro history; ace/aro reading; and also collate ace/aro research here: acearobiblio.com
This year I'm on a fellowship letting me focus on asexuality and aromanticism studies; I'm writing abt ace/aro history; ace/aro reading; and also collate ace/aro research here: acearobiblio.com
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
I just bookmarked the Cheetah Cub Cam, this is the fucking cutest
Cheetah Cub Cam
The Cheetah Cub Cam streams live from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.
nationalzoo.si.edu
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I just bookmarked the Cheetah Cub Cam, this is the fucking cutest
Seriously this C17 poem is (accidentally?) incredibly affirming. He is embarrassed he guessed "wrongly" his aunt would have a baby boy, so the whole poem is like, you don't know that you didn't have a boy just because of what kind of body the baby was born with. People change sexes all the time! 🏳️⚧️
"All thing[s] are subject unto change we know,
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Seriously this C17 poem is (accidentally?) incredibly affirming. He is embarrassed he guessed "wrongly" his aunt would have a baby boy, so the whole poem is like, you don't know that you didn't have a boy just because of what kind of body the baby was born with. People change sexes all the time! 🏳️⚧️
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Authors beware: ClaimsHero is urging authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement in order to file their own separate lawsuit. Except this outfit has no federal or state court experience with class-action suits. And the judge has called them a fraud.
Predatory Opt-Out Scheme ClaimsHero Targets Anthropic Settlement Participants: What Authors Need to Know - The Authors Guild
In recent weeks, a third-party law firm, ClaimsHero, has launched an aggressive online campaign urging authors to opt out of the Bartz v. Anthropic copyright settlement. ClaimsHero—which has no litiga...
authorsguild.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Authors beware: ClaimsHero is urging authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement in order to file their own separate lawsuit. Except this outfit has no federal or state court experience with class-action suits. And the judge has called them a fraud.
"All thing[s] are subject unto change we know,
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
November 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"All thing[s] are subject unto change we know,
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
And if all things, then why not sexes too?"
--Thomas Randolph, trans ally, 1638
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Briefly returning to Bluesky for a quick rant about how the concept of "dying alone" is stupid and unhelpful.
November 20, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Briefly returning to Bluesky for a quick rant about how the concept of "dying alone" is stupid and unhelpful.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
We will just have to agree to disagree on whether I’m obligated to be civil with eugenicists
Graeme Hart, 57, believes autism is a horrific scourge on humanity – but that there’s no reason for you, an autistic person, to be so uncivil about it.
“We can disagree and stay friends” says man who thinks you should be eugenicsed out of existence
A man who believes you can disagree on politics and “still love each other” also believes scientists should find out what caused you so someone like you never happens again, and you, personally,…
thedailytism.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
We will just have to agree to disagree on whether I’m obligated to be civil with eugenicists
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Job Opportunity!
JOB POSTING!
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints at the @folger.edu
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FSL_Em...
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints at the @folger.edu
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FSL_Em...
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints
The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and valu...
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Job Opportunity!
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
As ICE Street Raids Ramp Up, New Yorkers Stock Up On Whistles
Taking a cue from Chicago, community groups have distributed thousands of whistles in recent weeks — a grassroots system people in other cities have adopted to help neighbors sound the alarm.
www.thecity.nyc
November 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
The drink is called Stop Yelling At Us
Beginning Monday, a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink will be available exclusively at Starbucks cafés inside Target stores.
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
November 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The drink is called Stop Yelling At Us
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
So saddened by the news that we have lost Alice Wong. It was an honor to know her and learn from her. May the lessons she shared continue to guide us for years to come.
November 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
So saddened by the news that we have lost Alice Wong. It was an honor to know her and learn from her. May the lessons she shared continue to guide us for years to come.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Want to honor Alice Wong and her work? Wear a damn mask!
November 15, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Want to honor Alice Wong and her work? Wear a damn mask!
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
I think it means Dem politicians and their consultants are projecting their own racial resentment onto the rest of us. It's why they only chase rural conservative votes. It's why they're foisting Nazi tattoo guy on us as Mr. Anti-Establishment.
The goal of Centrism is two parties of Republicans.
The goal of Centrism is two parties of Republicans.
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I think it means Dem politicians and their consultants are projecting their own racial resentment onto the rest of us. It's why they only chase rural conservative votes. It's why they're foisting Nazi tattoo guy on us as Mr. Anti-Establishment.
The goal of Centrism is two parties of Republicans.
The goal of Centrism is two parties of Republicans.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
At the same time the NY Times was hyping Hillary Clinton's emails, it had a reporter with emails from Jeffrey Epstein that were highly damaging to Trump.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
At the same time the NY Times was hyping Hillary Clinton's emails, it had a reporter with emails from Jeffrey Epstein that were highly damaging to Trump.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
One way to stop sex trafficking rings on private islands is to make sure no one has enough money to buy a private island
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 AM
One way to stop sex trafficking rings on private islands is to make sure no one has enough money to buy a private island
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
November 13, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Hey all, here's a post at @ssrc.org about how anti-trans talking points are getting wrapped into Google's AI search results.
AI search not only cites anti-trans disinfo, but sanitizes it, making practices like conversion therapy sound legitimate and safe.
AI search not only cites anti-trans disinfo, but sanitizes it, making practices like conversion therapy sound legitimate and safe.
Anti-Transgender Disinformation in the Age of Algorithmic Search Summaries
Recently Google introduced a feature in its search engine that algorithmically creates summaries of one's search results. Though it could be viewed as a useful tool, researcher Anna Beers argues this ...
just-tech.ssrc.org
May 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Hey all, here's a post at @ssrc.org about how anti-trans talking points are getting wrapped into Google's AI search results.
AI search not only cites anti-trans disinfo, but sanitizes it, making practices like conversion therapy sound legitimate and safe.
AI search not only cites anti-trans disinfo, but sanitizes it, making practices like conversion therapy sound legitimate and safe.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
binghamton.interviewexchange.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
OpenAI is losing 12 billion dollars *a quarter*. Nearly 50 billion dollars *a fucking year*.
50 billion! GONE! FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! All to make racist fake videos, useless slop art, drive people to suicide, and drink entire lakes of water.
They don't *have* a business!
50 billion! GONE! FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! All to make racist fake videos, useless slop art, drive people to suicide, and drink entire lakes of water.
They don't *have* a business!
November 8, 2025 at 3:06 AM
OpenAI is losing 12 billion dollars *a quarter*. Nearly 50 billion dollars *a fucking year*.
50 billion! GONE! FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! All to make racist fake videos, useless slop art, drive people to suicide, and drink entire lakes of water.
They don't *have* a business!
50 billion! GONE! FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! All to make racist fake videos, useless slop art, drive people to suicide, and drink entire lakes of water.
They don't *have* a business!
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
The boyfriend of a friend of my son's has spent several weeks in a psych ward due to Chat GPT induced psychosis. He isn't suicidal but AI encouraged him down a toxic and paranoid wormhole until he became completely delusional. Evil stuff.
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
The coolest people, talking about the coolest thing?? Really what more could you want?! I am so lucky to be a part of this project and I cannot wait (!!) to hear everyone else's research and thinking! It's right before MLA...so please come join us to revel in the profound potentials of asexuality!
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Conference on "Early Modern Asexualities," in person at Victoria College at the University of Toronto (and streamed online), January 5-7, 2026.
Get previews of chapters in the collection edited by myself, @catherineclifford.bsky.social, and @omaraphd.bsky.social. 💜🤍🌪️🖤
1/
Get previews of chapters in the collection edited by myself, @catherineclifford.bsky.social, and @omaraphd.bsky.social. 💜🤍🌪️🖤
1/
November 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
The coolest people, talking about the coolest thing?? Really what more could you want?! I am so lucky to be a part of this project and I cannot wait (!!) to hear everyone else's research and thinking! It's right before MLA...so please come join us to revel in the profound potentials of asexuality!
Reposted by Liza Blake 🏹 ♠️
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.