Rebecca Shapiro
@rebeccashapiro.bsky.social
Mieskeit; Historical Lexicography & the Emoluments Clause (CUP '25); lexicographer; linguist; Edgeworth; #18thc; #CUNY; #NJ; down the shore; serial commas
Pinned
Coming together, a book abstract with my cat, Isidore!
So important to know about
You got it: deflation is the process of nominal prices of goods and services going down over time. Intuitively it might seem good: things get cheaper for consumers, hooray! In actuality this is one of the worst possible things that can happen to an economy. It's "people will starve to death" bad 1/x
Would love an explainer!
January 22, 2026 at 6:32 PM
So important to know about
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Check out the latest episode of The Vocal Fries! Listen to the full podcast here https://play.headliner.app/episode/31192806 (video made with https://www.headliner.app)
January 22, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Check out the latest episode of The Vocal Fries! Listen to the full podcast here https://play.headliner.app/episode/31192806 (video made with https://www.headliner.app)
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
At WFMU's Monty Hall, this Friday, January 23: EARTH TO YOU: Celebrating the Guitar with Performances and Stories. With Author Sara Jaffe and guitarists Emily Robb, Ava Mendoza, and Bill Nace. Details/tickets at the link.
EARTH TO YOU: Celebrating the Guitar with Performances and Stories
Author Sara Jaffe with guitarists Emily Robb, Ava Mendoza, and Bill Nace
www.eventbrite.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM
At WFMU's Monty Hall, this Friday, January 23: EARTH TO YOU: Celebrating the Guitar with Performances and Stories. With Author Sara Jaffe and guitarists Emily Robb, Ava Mendoza, and Bill Nace. Details/tickets at the link.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Those of you who have followed my work for a few tears might recall how I say: Borders also keep you in.
It’s also worth noting that in Nazi Germany, closing down scientists and other intellectuals’ ability to travel for work was an early move to keep people from escaping.
Scientific conferences are where the exchange of important ideas happen. It’s where new collaborations come forth and innovation dreamed up. It’s really disheartening that NIH scientists and representatives are being banned from attending. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Those of you who have followed my work for a few tears might recall how I say: Borders also keep you in.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Come work with us! 🌟 3 Postdoc & 5 PhD positions – deadline for applications: 20 February.
www.curlew.info/jobs
www.curlew.info/jobs
January 18, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Come work with us! 🌟 3 Postdoc & 5 PhD positions – deadline for applications: 20 February.
www.curlew.info/jobs
www.curlew.info/jobs
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
This morning, locked arms and escorting a young man from 26 Federal Plaza after he was given a May 6 check-in. He was overjoyed because he was free for another 5 mos, but then 7 ICE agents swarmed, demanded his paperwork, found it legal, said they had a warrant for his arrest. They ripped him away.
January 16, 2026 at 9:33 PM
This morning, locked arms and escorting a young man from 26 Federal Plaza after he was given a May 6 check-in. He was overjoyed because he was free for another 5 mos, but then 7 ICE agents swarmed, demanded his paperwork, found it legal, said they had a warrant for his arrest. They ripped him away.
You people, listen:
This morning, locked arms and escorting a young man from 26 Federal Plaza after he was given a May 6 check-in. He was overjoyed because he was free for another 5 mos, but then 7 ICE agents swarmed, demanded his paperwork, found it legal, said they had a warrant for his arrest. They ripped him away.
January 16, 2026 at 9:35 PM
You people, listen:
This morning, locked arms and escorting a young man from 26 Federal Plaza after he was given a May 6 check-in. He was overjoyed because he was free for another 5 mos, but then 7 ICE agents swarmed, demanded his paperwork, found it legal, said they had a warrant for his arrest. They ripped him away.
January 16, 2026 at 9:33 PM
This morning, locked arms and escorting a young man from 26 Federal Plaza after he was given a May 6 check-in. He was overjoyed because he was free for another 5 mos, but then 7 ICE agents swarmed, demanded his paperwork, found it legal, said they had a warrant for his arrest. They ripped him away.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Hey folks,
@mxscottkernest.bsky.social and some other colleagues are trying to help someone in need get out of a bad situation. I can’t really share the details of this person’s situation for safety and privacy reasons but if you’re interested in antifascist causes, this is a very good one.
@mxscottkernest.bsky.social and some other colleagues are trying to help someone in need get out of a bad situation. I can’t really share the details of this person’s situation for safety and privacy reasons but if you’re interested in antifascist causes, this is a very good one.
Donate to Support a Family's Safe New Beginning, organized by Scott Ernest
Our organization, Center for Extremism Prevention and Intervention x Hands of Eir, … Scott Ernest needs your support for Support a Family's Safe New Beginning
www.gofundme.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Hey folks,
@mxscottkernest.bsky.social and some other colleagues are trying to help someone in need get out of a bad situation. I can’t really share the details of this person’s situation for safety and privacy reasons but if you’re interested in antifascist causes, this is a very good one.
@mxscottkernest.bsky.social and some other colleagues are trying to help someone in need get out of a bad situation. I can’t really share the details of this person’s situation for safety and privacy reasons but if you’re interested in antifascist causes, this is a very good one.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Also unionized staff jobs in CUNY libraries, all CUNY employees are eligible for tuition remission, library-interested folks could get an MLS while in these jobs: Public Services Specialist cuny.jobs/queens-ny/pu... and Extended Day/ILL Coordinator cuny.jobs/queens-ny/ex... at LaGuardia CC
Jobs | City University of New York
cuny.jobs
January 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Also unionized staff jobs in CUNY libraries, all CUNY employees are eligible for tuition remission, library-interested folks could get an MLS while in these jobs: Public Services Specialist cuny.jobs/queens-ny/pu... and Extended Day/ILL Coordinator cuny.jobs/queens-ny/ex... at LaGuardia CC
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
At least eight colleges and universities across the United States received bomb threats targeting their libraries yesterday.
This is the second such rash of library-specific bomb threats at higher educational institutions this academic year: bookriot.com/university-l...
This is the second such rash of library-specific bomb threats at higher educational institutions this academic year: bookriot.com/university-l...
University Library Bomb Threats Once Again Rattle Schools Nationwide
At least eight college and university libraries received bomb threats this week, mirroring the swatting other similar institutions faced in October.
bookriot.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:09 PM
At least eight colleges and universities across the United States received bomb threats targeting their libraries yesterday.
This is the second such rash of library-specific bomb threats at higher educational institutions this academic year: bookriot.com/university-l...
This is the second such rash of library-specific bomb threats at higher educational institutions this academic year: bookriot.com/university-l...
Set lasers to "market control" now.
"Eric Adams announced a crypto coin to fight antisemitism and immediately did a rug pull" I can't believe we thought this man would stop blessing us after he left office.
January 13, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Set lasers to "market control" now.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
If you're among the dwindling demographic who get the print edition of the Washington Post, you may have seen one death notice in what's left of the Metro section that ran longer than usual. (I didn't, but my wife did.) It is some remarkable testimony about mental illness and well worth reading.
Carol Sauer Obituary (2026) - Arlington, VA - The Washington Post
View Carol Ann Sauer's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
www.legacy.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:55 AM
If you're among the dwindling demographic who get the print edition of the Washington Post, you may have seen one death notice in what's left of the Metro section that ran longer than usual. (I didn't, but my wife did.) It is some remarkable testimony about mental illness and well worth reading.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Ladies you “Zumba-ed” too hard!
January 11, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Ladies you “Zumba-ed” too hard!
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
This thread is a delight. (Don’t miss the alt text.)
THREAD.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
January 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM
This thread is a delight. (Don’t miss the alt text.)
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
This is an improvement over "The Band." It's like if Samuel Beckett were in a band.
A Band
January 11, 2026 at 3:42 AM
This is an improvement over "The Band." It's like if Samuel Beckett were in a band.
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
2025 Word of the Year Is “Slop”
New Orleans Marriott–Jan. 9—The American Dialect Society, in its 36th annual words-of-the-year vote, selected slop as the Word of the Year for 2025. More than three hundred attendees took part in the…
americandialect.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:18 AM
The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
i can't make it to toronto for #mla2026 but my book got there. go say hi to THE NOVEL AND THE BLANK at the johns hopkins up exhibit table. #mla26 #bookhistory #18c #c18 #vastearlyamerica
January 10, 2026 at 4:46 PM
i can't make it to toronto for #mla2026 but my book got there. go say hi to THE NOVEL AND THE BLANK at the johns hopkins up exhibit table. #mla26 #bookhistory #18c #c18 #vastearlyamerica
@dlspratt.bsky.social and David Alff, I saw your beautiful book 📖🔬💙 with Angie Hogan from @uvapress.bsky.social at #mla2026!
January 9, 2026 at 8:42 PM
@dlspratt.bsky.social and David Alff, I saw your beautiful book 📖🔬💙 with Angie Hogan from @uvapress.bsky.social at #mla2026!
@stefanfatsis.bsky.social hey your book is taken at MLA!
January 9, 2026 at 7:29 PM
@stefanfatsis.bsky.social hey your book is taken at MLA!
Always listen to Steve and Kory
And for a whimsical look at defining “hard” words, Kory and I did an episode about that:
My Blue God: Hard Words | Fiat Lex: A Dictionary Podcast
Lexicographers have a tweaked view of the language, and that includes hard words. No, not those hard words, like “koinonia” and “marocain” (Spelling Bee shoutout!). It's the small words are the ones t...
fiatlex.podbean.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Always listen to Steve and Kory
I want to submit an abstract to a historical #lexicography conference and would like to DM or email with a #lexicographer or linguist regarding a topic relating to the term "antisemitism" -- looking for a very clear and narrow approach. Help please, and share widely!
January 9, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I want to submit an abstract to a historical #lexicography conference and would like to DM or email with a #lexicographer or linguist regarding a topic relating to the term "antisemitism" -- looking for a very clear and narrow approach. Help please, and share widely!
Reposted by Rebecca Shapiro
Such an honour to present this keynote to an audience of brilliant #18thcentury scholars.
The Pichette Auditorium is packed for @chloewigstonsmith.bsky.social's key note address 'Thinking With and Again Small Things' at #BSECS2026
#skystorians #18thC 🗃️
#skystorians #18thC 🗃️
January 8, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Such an honour to present this keynote to an audience of brilliant #18thcentury scholars.