Dr. Blair Stein
@blairstein.bsky.social
Historian of technologies, environments, and modernities. Book: “North Stars in Modern Skies” under contract with MQUP. Canadian living in western MI. Cool dog aunt to Slugger.
I also made Shrek hats for my sister, BIL, and niece. I hope they wear them in the family Christmas card.
The world is pretty grim right now. Wear the Shrek hat, eat the waffles, etc.
The world is pretty grim right now. Wear the Shrek hat, eat the waffles, etc.
October 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I also made Shrek hats for my sister, BIL, and niece. I hope they wear them in the family Christmas card.
The world is pretty grim right now. Wear the Shrek hat, eat the waffles, etc.
The world is pretty grim right now. Wear the Shrek hat, eat the waffles, etc.
We did two activities—decorating gingerbread men (“not my gumdrop buttons!”) and Pass the Parcel. We didn’t know Pass the Parcel was a British Commonwealth game and all my sister’s friends only knew it from a Bluey episode.
October 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
We did two activities—decorating gingerbread men (“not my gumdrop buttons!”) and Pass the Parcel. We didn’t know Pass the Parcel was a British Commonwealth game and all my sister’s friends only knew it from a Bluey episode.
Here’s some of the food I made, or at least the signs for the food. Also, I decorated half the cake. The nice people at Costco did the lettering and flowers.
October 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Here’s some of the food I made, or at least the signs for the food. Also, I decorated half the cake. The nice people at Costco did the lettering and flowers.
There were also intangibles—I made the playlist, put together the e-vites, etc.
I made some signs, which I mailed to my sister in advance.
I made some signs, which I mailed to my sister in advance.
October 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
There were also intangibles—I made the playlist, put together the e-vites, etc.
I made some signs, which I mailed to my sister in advance.
I made some signs, which I mailed to my sister in advance.
My niece turned 2 this weekend. Her favorite thing in the world is Shrek, and so I threw her a Shrek-themed party (mostly for all the millennial parents).
I love making things for people. Here’s what I made. First, this banner for them to hang on the front door. It’s tapestry crochet!
I love making things for people. Here’s what I made. First, this banner for them to hang on the front door. It’s tapestry crochet!
October 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
My niece turned 2 this weekend. Her favorite thing in the world is Shrek, and so I threw her a Shrek-themed party (mostly for all the millennial parents).
I love making things for people. Here’s what I made. First, this banner for them to hang on the front door. It’s tapestry crochet!
I love making things for people. Here’s what I made. First, this banner for them to hang on the front door. It’s tapestry crochet!
My parents got their windows replaced yesterday and my mom kept sending me pictures of Slugger desperately trying to take his usual midmorning sunbeam naps while it was happening.
September 18, 2025 at 5:28 AM
My parents got their windows replaced yesterday and my mom kept sending me pictures of Slugger desperately trying to take his usual midmorning sunbeam naps while it was happening.
I’ve fallen way back in to silly little crafts for similar reasons. My niece’s second birthday is in a few weeks and I decided to hand-make as many decorations as I can, even though it would be “easier” to order them or whatever.
(Her name is Brooke. Can you guess what kind of party she asked for?)
(Her name is Brooke. Can you guess what kind of party she asked for?)
September 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I’ve fallen way back in to silly little crafts for similar reasons. My niece’s second birthday is in a few weeks and I decided to hand-make as many decorations as I can, even though it would be “easier” to order them or whatever.
(Her name is Brooke. Can you guess what kind of party she asked for?)
(Her name is Brooke. Can you guess what kind of party she asked for?)
I spoke at an event today for first-year undeclared students and the office gave out these little 3-D printed fidget toys.
Did I explain to everyone what an armillary sphere is? Yes. Did I win over any new history majors? Probably not. Do I have six of these in a basket in my office now? Also yes.
Did I explain to everyone what an armillary sphere is? Yes. Did I win over any new history majors? Probably not. Do I have six of these in a basket in my office now? Also yes.
August 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I spoke at an event today for first-year undeclared students and the office gave out these little 3-D printed fidget toys.
Did I explain to everyone what an armillary sphere is? Yes. Did I win over any new history majors? Probably not. Do I have six of these in a basket in my office now? Also yes.
Did I explain to everyone what an armillary sphere is? Yes. Did I win over any new history majors? Probably not. Do I have six of these in a basket in my office now? Also yes.
Also, I read somewhere that he preferred to be called “Aleck” until Mabel put a stop to that nonsense. It was “Alec” from then on.
He also really had a bee in his bonnet about the word “airplane” and wrote to the dictionary about it.
He also really had a bee in his bonnet about the word “airplane” and wrote to the dictionary about it.
August 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Also, I read somewhere that he preferred to be called “Aleck” until Mabel put a stop to that nonsense. It was “Alec” from then on.
He also really had a bee in his bonnet about the word “airplane” and wrote to the dictionary about it.
He also really had a bee in his bonnet about the word “airplane” and wrote to the dictionary about it.
It’s not *my* cat but a couple winters ago a stray gave birth outside my sister’s apartment and she took them in when mom disappeared and it got too cold. They lived in her bathroom until they could get to the vet and then the local rescue. Ringo is orange and John is multi. (There were four.)
August 8, 2025 at 7:46 PM
It’s not *my* cat but a couple winters ago a stray gave birth outside my sister’s apartment and she took them in when mom disappeared and it got too cold. They lived in her bathroom until they could get to the vet and then the local rescue. Ringo is orange and John is multi. (There were four.)
I literally made the “guiding principles” slide for my new history of science survey for the fall the other day. Still need some tweaking, but I like the bones of it
July 30, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I literally made the “guiding principles” slide for my new history of science survey for the fall the other day. Still need some tweaking, but I like the bones of it
And S03E03, about the murder of an undercover cop, has a mini-Godspell reunion because Victor Garber (as an accountant or something idk I’m 10 minutes in) and Lynne Thigpen (as the judge, I assume) are both in this one.
July 23, 2025 at 2:03 AM
And S03E03, about the murder of an undercover cop, has a mini-Godspell reunion because Victor Garber (as an accountant or something idk I’m 10 minutes in) and Lynne Thigpen (as the judge, I assume) are both in this one.
Slugger has, once again, been given a Roseanne Roseannadanna haircut
last time he came home like this I referred to him as “hey Arnold” and my mom didn’t know who that was and asked “is that the British baby from that cartoon?”
so there are many football-head-shaped references
last time he came home like this I referred to him as “hey Arnold” and my mom didn’t know who that was and asked “is that the British baby from that cartoon?”
so there are many football-head-shaped references
July 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Slugger has, once again, been given a Roseanne Roseannadanna haircut
last time he came home like this I referred to him as “hey Arnold” and my mom didn’t know who that was and asked “is that the British baby from that cartoon?”
so there are many football-head-shaped references
last time he came home like this I referred to him as “hey Arnold” and my mom didn’t know who that was and asked “is that the British baby from that cartoon?”
so there are many football-head-shaped references
feels like the internet needs to see this anxious elephant I picked up from a local gallery last week
July 14, 2025 at 1:26 AM
feels like the internet needs to see this anxious elephant I picked up from a local gallery last week
The ten best words a crafty auntie who learned recently that her niece is obsessed with Shrek can hear in the background of a video call:
“No, you can’t take your Shrek hat in the bath.”
(She’s had it for two days and won’t let it go)
(Don’t worry, I WILL make matching ones for my sister and BIL)
“No, you can’t take your Shrek hat in the bath.”
(She’s had it for two days and won’t let it go)
(Don’t worry, I WILL make matching ones for my sister and BIL)
July 9, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The ten best words a crafty auntie who learned recently that her niece is obsessed with Shrek can hear in the background of a video call:
“No, you can’t take your Shrek hat in the bath.”
(She’s had it for two days and won’t let it go)
(Don’t worry, I WILL make matching ones for my sister and BIL)
“No, you can’t take your Shrek hat in the bath.”
(She’s had it for two days and won’t let it go)
(Don’t worry, I WILL make matching ones for my sister and BIL)
Excuse me ma’am but you seem to have stopped petting me for a moment.
June 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Excuse me ma’am but you seem to have stopped petting me for a moment.
S4E21
They’re doing Tonya Harding, except it’s promising young woman tennis players breaking wrists.
“Ripped from the headlines” has always been L&O’s deal, and so when I recognize the 30-year-old headlines I do one of these
They’re doing Tonya Harding, except it’s promising young woman tennis players breaking wrists.
“Ripped from the headlines” has always been L&O’s deal, and so when I recognize the 30-year-old headlines I do one of these
May 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
S4E21
They’re doing Tonya Harding, except it’s promising young woman tennis players breaking wrists.
“Ripped from the headlines” has always been L&O’s deal, and so when I recognize the 30-year-old headlines I do one of these
They’re doing Tonya Harding, except it’s promising young woman tennis players breaking wrists.
“Ripped from the headlines” has always been L&O’s deal, and so when I recognize the 30-year-old headlines I do one of these
Now we’re on to S4, in which they decide to Add Some Ladies
April 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Now we’re on to S4, in which they decide to Add Some Ladies
COMPUTERS
(there have been computers basically the whole time, but in this episode someone hacks a virus into a hospital’s computer system that overdoses people, so there’s lots of 1990s computer nonsense)
bonus Harold Perrineau as a hacker who clickety-clacks his way into someone’s email
S3E19
(there have been computers basically the whole time, but in this episode someone hacks a virus into a hospital’s computer system that overdoses people, so there’s lots of 1990s computer nonsense)
bonus Harold Perrineau as a hacker who clickety-clacks his way into someone’s email
S3E19
April 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM
COMPUTERS
(there have been computers basically the whole time, but in this episode someone hacks a virus into a hospital’s computer system that overdoses people, so there’s lots of 1990s computer nonsense)
bonus Harold Perrineau as a hacker who clickety-clacks his way into someone’s email
S3E19
(there have been computers basically the whole time, but in this episode someone hacks a virus into a hospital’s computer system that overdoses people, so there’s lots of 1990s computer nonsense)
bonus Harold Perrineau as a hacker who clickety-clacks his way into someone’s email
S3E19
S3E08 has the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
and S3E09 has the first JERRY ORBACH SIGHTING, except for that time he played an unrelated lawyer briefly. Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) gets shot in the line of duty in the cellphone episode and so we’ve entered the Briscoe Era.
and S3E09 has the first JERRY ORBACH SIGHTING, except for that time he played an unrelated lawyer briefly. Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) gets shot in the line of duty in the cellphone episode and so we’ve entered the Briscoe Era.
April 18, 2025 at 12:31 AM
S3E08 has the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
and S3E09 has the first JERRY ORBACH SIGHTING, except for that time he played an unrelated lawyer briefly. Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) gets shot in the line of duty in the cellphone episode and so we’ve entered the Briscoe Era.
and S3E09 has the first JERRY ORBACH SIGHTING, except for that time he played an unrelated lawyer briefly. Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) gets shot in the line of duty in the cellphone episode and so we’ve entered the Briscoe Era.
Last student podcast of the semester! 17 episodes over 4 days (on top of regular coursework).
As usual, by day 4 I’ve got the “Using A Microphone 101” spiel down to a tight five and I can confidently set the mics up without second-guessing myself…just in time to not do it for 6 months.
As usual, by day 4 I’ve got the “Using A Microphone 101” spiel down to a tight five and I can confidently set the mics up without second-guessing myself…just in time to not do it for 6 months.
April 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Last student podcast of the semester! 17 episodes over 4 days (on top of regular coursework).
As usual, by day 4 I’ve got the “Using A Microphone 101” spiel down to a tight five and I can confidently set the mics up without second-guessing myself…just in time to not do it for 6 months.
As usual, by day 4 I’ve got the “Using A Microphone 101” spiel down to a tight five and I can confidently set the mics up without second-guessing myself…just in time to not do it for 6 months.
lol about two weeks ago. I noticed it was on Hulu (either they just got the rights OR my algorithm surfaced it). I’m aware of all the problematic copaganda aspects but it’s just a 1990s relic.
The episode I just watched before tidying up for bed had the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
The episode I just watched before tidying up for bed had the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
April 17, 2025 at 2:23 AM
lol about two weeks ago. I noticed it was on Hulu (either they just got the rights OR my algorithm surfaced it). I’m aware of all the problematic copaganda aspects but it’s just a 1990s relic.
The episode I just watched before tidying up for bed had the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
The episode I just watched before tidying up for bed had the first CELLPHONE SIGHTING
