Tim McKay
@timmckay.bsky.social
Bird & nature lover; book addict; educator, astronomer, physicist; happiest outdoors. Born at 320 ppm.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Yep. The market problem writ large is exceptionally true in highered. But it won’t matter — and doesn’t matter — to those in charge right now because the point is to strip the institution.
Faculty have a role to play, but I'm convinced the most recent drive to automate education will fail, just as it has in every decade since the 1950s, because tuition-paying students hate it.
That said, each new iteration of this drive chips away at budgets, at public trust, at institutions, etc.
That said, each new iteration of this drive chips away at budgets, at public trust, at institutions, etc.
February 13, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Yep. The market problem writ large is exceptionally true in highered. But it won’t matter — and doesn’t matter — to those in charge right now because the point is to strip the institution.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Nearly a year ago, Zohran Mamdani confronted Trump “border czar” Tom Homan after ICE took Mahmoud Khalil.
Republicans targeted pro-Palestine students. Then, with no firm pushback, expanded their operations to what we see today.
Mamdani was among the few Democrats who immediately stood against it.
Republicans targeted pro-Palestine students. Then, with no firm pushback, expanded their operations to what we see today.
Mamdani was among the few Democrats who immediately stood against it.
Wow. Watch this from Zohran Mamdani. It looks like the exact "fight" and "conviction" people are hopelessly asking for from the people in charge of the Democratic party:
February 12, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Nearly a year ago, Zohran Mamdani confronted Trump “border czar” Tom Homan after ICE took Mahmoud Khalil.
Republicans targeted pro-Palestine students. Then, with no firm pushback, expanded their operations to what we see today.
Mamdani was among the few Democrats who immediately stood against it.
Republicans targeted pro-Palestine students. Then, with no firm pushback, expanded their operations to what we see today.
Mamdani was among the few Democrats who immediately stood against it.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
February 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
Reposted by Tim McKay
It is so important to keep hammering in this point. People always ask me why I would have to go visit archives - why not just look at a scan? Because they haven’t been scanned! And they are never going to be! There are millions & millions of pieces of paper in every archive.
Right, another key thing that historians do is working with important records that have not been digitized.
And the vast majority of the world’s records *have not been digitized* and thus do not exist in any format that LLMs/AI can work with.
And the vast majority of the world’s records *have not been digitized* and thus do not exist in any format that LLMs/AI can work with.
it's literally impossible for an LLM to do a historian's job
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
February 12, 2026 at 5:27 PM
It is so important to keep hammering in this point. People always ask me why I would have to go visit archives - why not just look at a scan? Because they haven’t been scanned! And they are never going to be! There are millions & millions of pieces of paper in every archive.
Happy Darwin Day! Born OTD in 1809.
February 12, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Happy Darwin Day! Born OTD in 1809.
Sunrise on Isle Royale this morning. Still frozen, but you can feel spring coming in the light.
February 12, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Sunrise on Isle Royale this morning. Still frozen, but you can feel spring coming in the light.
Reposted by Tim McKay
My statement on why I voted no on the Republican bill that will disenfranchise voters.
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 AM
My statement on why I voted no on the Republican bill that will disenfranchise voters.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Conservationist, marine biologist, and science writer Rachel Carson was born #OTD in 1907.
Carson challenged the widespread use of pesticides in her book “Silent Spring,” and testified before Congress on environmental policy and human health. 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE/Getty
Carson challenged the widespread use of pesticides in her book “Silent Spring,” and testified before Congress on environmental policy and human health. 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE/Getty
May 27, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Conservationist, marine biologist, and science writer Rachel Carson was born #OTD in 1907.
Carson challenged the widespread use of pesticides in her book “Silent Spring,” and testified before Congress on environmental policy and human health. 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE/Getty
Carson challenged the widespread use of pesticides in her book “Silent Spring,” and testified before Congress on environmental policy and human health. 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE/Getty
This is a great book, the definitive biography of a remarkable leader.
Barbara Ransby, ELLA BAKER AND THE BLACK FREEDOM MOVEMENT
Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement, Second Edition
One of the most important African American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement, Ella Baker (...
uncpress.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is a great book, the definitive biography of a remarkable leader.
Reposted by Tim McKay
The headline's great, but the article is beyond impressive for how much ground they cover with such fidelity in just a few words.
February 9, 2026 at 4:05 AM
The headline's great, but the article is beyond impressive for how much ground they cover with such fidelity in just a few words.
Reposted by Tim McKay
I know today is Bad Bunny Bowl, yet I'm also looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be in conversation about When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy with @louiseseamster.bsky.social at @prairielights.com in IowA City.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
February 8, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I know today is Bad Bunny Bowl, yet I'm also looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be in conversation about When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy with @louiseseamster.bsky.social at @prairielights.com in IowA City.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Reposted by Tim McKay
More Americans need to learn about the benefits of libraries, so help spread the word.
👉 Like
👉 Follow
👉 Share
#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarylove #author #publiclibrary #literature #lit
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👉 Follow
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#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarylove #author #publiclibrary #literature #lit
February 8, 2026 at 9:01 PM
More Americans need to learn about the benefits of libraries, so help spread the word.
👉 Like
👉 Follow
👉 Share
#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarylove #author #publiclibrary #literature #lit
👉 Like
👉 Follow
👉 Share
#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarylove #author #publiclibrary #literature #lit
Reposted by Tim McKay
One day it will be sunny again. In the meantime....
Birdsong in Woodland in May in Beautiful Shropshire
YouTube video by Radio Lento
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 8:08 AM
One day it will be sunny again. In the meantime....
Reposted by Tim McKay
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
Reposted by Tim McKay
dof.princeton.edu/news/2026/ka...
Feb 18, looks like!
Feb 18, looks like!
Kate Manne and Tressie McMillan Cottom in conversation at Princeton Public Lectures
Kate Manne, professor in the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell University, and Tressie McMillan Cottom, professor in the School of Information and Library Science at University of North Carolina at...
dof.princeton.edu
February 5, 2026 at 1:47 AM
dof.princeton.edu/news/2026/ka...
Feb 18, looks like!
Feb 18, looks like!
Reposted by Tim McKay
This is another effort that has taken a HUGE amount of local activism, led by community folks who care.
It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
New Mexico Senate approves bill to ban ICE detention centers
The New Mexico Legislature approved the Immigration Safety Act. House bill 9 bars the state from allowing ICE detention centers.
www.elpasotimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
This is another effort that has taken a HUGE amount of local activism, led by community folks who care.
It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
Reposted by Tim McKay
Most people are worried about climate change - but most don't hear or talk about regularly.
That's why I started my free newsletter Talking Climate. Every week I share good news, not so good news, and what people can do.
If you aren't a reader yet, see below. I have 6 different ways to subscribe!
That's why I started my free newsletter Talking Climate. Every week I share good news, not so good news, and what people can do.
If you aren't a reader yet, see below. I have 6 different ways to subscribe!
February 4, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Most people are worried about climate change - but most don't hear or talk about regularly.
That's why I started my free newsletter Talking Climate. Every week I share good news, not so good news, and what people can do.
If you aren't a reader yet, see below. I have 6 different ways to subscribe!
That's why I started my free newsletter Talking Climate. Every week I share good news, not so good news, and what people can do.
If you aren't a reader yet, see below. I have 6 different ways to subscribe!
Reposted by Tim McKay
Axios had a story today about how hard Minnesota’s economy is being hit and how slow the recovery could be. So, I’m going to take this opportunity to say that if you want to support the Twin Cities, you should plan a visit for this summer, spend some money here, & see how amazing it is for yourself.
February 4, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Axios had a story today about how hard Minnesota’s economy is being hit and how slow the recovery could be. So, I’m going to take this opportunity to say that if you want to support the Twin Cities, you should plan a visit for this summer, spend some money here, & see how amazing it is for yourself.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Posted without comments - absolutely zero, not a single even minuscule one.
Lack of student interest, scheduling issues delays UI Center for Intellectual Freedom
The Center for Intellectual Freedom, newly housed at the University of Iowa, postponed classes set to begin in January to March following issues with staff scheduling and a lack of student participati...
dailyiowan.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Posted without comments - absolutely zero, not a single even minuscule one.
Reposted by Tim McKay
February 3, 2026 at 1:32 PM
A bright moment - the University of Michigan Museum of Art has created a wonderful new art loan program. Students curators help to select art, often from Michigan, for the museum to collect. This is then loaned to students to hand in their dorm rooms. The first 75 works were loaned out last week.
February 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
A bright moment - the University of Michigan Museum of Art has created a wonderful new art loan program. Students curators help to select art, often from Michigan, for the museum to collect. This is then loaned to students to hand in their dorm rooms. The first 75 works were loaned out last week.
Reposted by Tim McKay
"Teaching with AI is not without value; it is a case study in how even well-meaning educators operating in good faith can become inadvertent agents of a pedagogical de-skilling and institutional dehumanization."
This scathing book review really is worth reading.
This scathing book review really is worth reading.
One of the best AI critiques I’ve seen read.dukeupress.edu/critical-ai/...
A Pedagogy of the Inevitable
Over the last couple of years, two altogether incompatible discourses of “AI literacy” have emerged. One seeks just enough literacy to support a smooth, perhaps even joyful, integration with new techn...
read.dukeupress.edu
February 2, 2026 at 9:28 AM
"Teaching with AI is not without value; it is a case study in how even well-meaning educators operating in good faith can become inadvertent agents of a pedagogical de-skilling and institutional dehumanization."
This scathing book review really is worth reading.
This scathing book review really is worth reading.
Reposted by Tim McKay
trundle, trundle, trundle 😍
🌿
🌿
February 1, 2026 at 11:09 PM
trundle, trundle, trundle 😍
🌿
🌿
For the 100th Black History remembrance. Michelle Adams "The Containment" is a moving and in depth exploration of how the Supreme Court used the Milliken-Bradley case to abandon desegregation. Brown banned separate-but-equal in '54, but two decades later the Supremes said 'never mind'.
February 2, 2026 at 2:31 AM
For the 100th Black History remembrance. Michelle Adams "The Containment" is a moving and in depth exploration of how the Supreme Court used the Milliken-Bradley case to abandon desegregation. Brown banned separate-but-equal in '54, but two decades later the Supremes said 'never mind'.
Reposted by Tim McKay
Here's to all the intellectuals not in the Epstein files. They're the ones the Epstein class feared. They're the ones who could spell.
virginiaheffernan.substack.com/p/toni-morri...
virginiaheffernan.substack.com/p/toni-morri...
Toni Morrison Is Not in the Epstein Files
Let's talk about the serious intellectuals, the ones not on the Lolita Express, the ones who could spell.
virginiaheffernan.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Here's to all the intellectuals not in the Epstein files. They're the ones the Epstein class feared. They're the ones who could spell.
virginiaheffernan.substack.com/p/toni-morri...
virginiaheffernan.substack.com/p/toni-morri...