Dr. Mystery
@damemystery.bsky.social
Teacher, scholar, book lover. House full of cats. She/her.
RIP Tom Stoppard. I read and saw Arcadia in college and it influenced my research interests in ways I'm still discovering.
“He combined more than 30 plays for the theatre with a steady stream of works for television and radio, and with screenplays including an adaptation of John le Carré’s The Russia House, Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and a joint credit for the Oscar-winning screenplay of Shakespeare in Love.”
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
RIP Tom Stoppard. I read and saw Arcadia in college and it influenced my research interests in ways I'm still discovering.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
icymi: I am making a mew album! my first in five years! Patreon is how it will happen, mostly, so if you're game to support, that's the easiest way.
A post there this week with new song previews and studio photos:
A post there this week with new song previews and studio photos:
maybe i have the worst imaginable timing, but I felt ready to post on Patreon last night: www.patreon.com/posts/record...
halfway thru a new album, and sharing early drafts of two new songs (plus a recipe!) with my paid backers, whom I cannot live without.
halfway thru a new album, and sharing early drafts of two new songs (plus a recipe!) with my paid backers, whom I cannot live without.
Recording report: a flock of songs leave the nest | Marian Call
Get more from Marian Call on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
icymi: I am making a mew album! my first in five years! Patreon is how it will happen, mostly, so if you're game to support, that's the easiest way.
A post there this week with new song previews and studio photos:
A post there this week with new song previews and studio photos:
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth,” [the Pope] told the students. “Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.” 💯
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth,” [the Pope] told the students. “Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.” 💯
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
This reminds me of The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, by @oliviawaite.com
Ellen Harding Baker (1847-1886) was a US astronomer and teacher, known for her Solar System Quilt, used as a teaching aid in her lectures on astronomy.
She likely began creating the Solar System Quilt in 1876, and it apparently took her until 1883 to complete the project.
#WomenInSTEM #WomensArt
She likely began creating the Solar System Quilt in 1876, and it apparently took her until 1883 to complete the project.
#WomenInSTEM #WomensArt
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This reminds me of The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, by @oliviawaite.com
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A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
🚨 Just one week left to send in abstracts for the Special Issue "Romancing the Posthuman". Don't miss the chance!
📣 Important update regarding this CfP: the submission deadline for our Special Issue "Romancing the Posthuman" has been extended until 30 November 2025!
🔗 Find all the relevant information through the JPRS website: www.jprstudies.org/submissions/...
#RomanceResearch
🔗 Find all the relevant information through the JPRS website: www.jprstudies.org/submissions/...
#RomanceResearch
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
🚨 Just one week left to send in abstracts for the Special Issue "Romancing the Posthuman". Don't miss the chance!
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
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.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
#StayReadyCrew
I’m starting my annual reminders of turkey thaw times.
Some of y’all might be surprised that you should be starting TODAY 😂
I say this because you’ll want to give yourself time to season the turkey for a day or 2. Nobody wants an unseasoned or dry turkey.
I’m starting my annual reminders of turkey thaw times.
Some of y’all might be surprised that you should be starting TODAY 😂
I say this because you’ll want to give yourself time to season the turkey for a day or 2. Nobody wants an unseasoned or dry turkey.
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
#StayReadyCrew
I’m starting my annual reminders of turkey thaw times.
Some of y’all might be surprised that you should be starting TODAY 😂
I say this because you’ll want to give yourself time to season the turkey for a day or 2. Nobody wants an unseasoned or dry turkey.
I’m starting my annual reminders of turkey thaw times.
Some of y’all might be surprised that you should be starting TODAY 😂
I say this because you’ll want to give yourself time to season the turkey for a day or 2. Nobody wants an unseasoned or dry turkey.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
PSA for any Apub authors whose books are in the Anthropic settlement list: Amazon is not participating in the settlement, since they have an investment in Anthropic. When you submit your claim form, you DO NOT have to list Amazon as an add'l rightsholder, & can claim 100% of settlement money.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Remember to call and urge others to call these hotlines if they see something they suspect to be related to immigration enforcement actions. In Charlotte, Carolina Migrant Network at (704) 740-7737.
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Remember to call and urge others to call these hotlines if they see something they suspect to be related to immigration enforcement actions. In Charlotte, Carolina Migrant Network at (704) 740-7737.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Remember: they used thousands of academic books too! If you’re a scholar, check for your books too. This isn’t just novelists and pop writers, it’s academic books too!
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Remember: they used thousands of academic books too! If you’re a scholar, check for your books too. This isn’t just novelists and pop writers, it’s academic books too!
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Tonight I learned that the voice behind the Robin Hood Fox was ONE OF US
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Tonight I learned that the voice behind the Robin Hood Fox was ONE OF US
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Right beloveds we had so little uptake of this that I’ve extended the deadline indefinitely — if you’re someone who loves sales and marketing and wants to work for my small but mighty disabled-majority social enterprise, please apply!
🚨 Closing today!
Are you passionate about intersectional disability justice, inclusion, and accessibility? Do you love having conversations driven by curiosity and care that build rapport with potential clients? If that’s you, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now!
Are you passionate about intersectional disability justice, inclusion, and accessibility? Do you love having conversations driven by curiosity and care that build rapport with potential clients? If that’s you, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now!
Job Description: Sales & Marketing Assistant (Freelance, PT)
Apply by Friday 7th November.
academicaudiotranscription.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Right beloveds we had so little uptake of this that I’ve extended the deadline indefinitely — if you’re someone who loves sales and marketing and wants to work for my small but mighty disabled-majority social enterprise, please apply!
I've been getting these science facts advent calendars for my niece and nephew every year for the past few years, and I highly recommend it! This year we're all going to learn about eels, and I can't wait.
This year we have sold 31% of the advent calendars that we sold last year 😓
The art is so pretty and colorful 🥺
The facts are so good 🥺
Eels are so cool 🥺
Get an eel facts advent calendar at EelFacts.net
The art is so pretty and colorful 🥺
The facts are so good 🥺
Eels are so cool 🥺
Get an eel facts advent calendar at EelFacts.net
November 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I've been getting these science facts advent calendars for my niece and nephew every year for the past few years, and I highly recommend it! This year we're all going to learn about eels, and I can't wait.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
One more thing and then I’m going to shut up: I am deeply suspicious of any industry analysis that falls into the regrettable pattern you might call “covering the party.”
A good place to get useful input about the value of a business’s work is … anywhere except the business’s own PR event.
A good place to get useful input about the value of a business’s work is … anywhere except the business’s own PR event.
I’ll say this much: This reads exactly like what it is: people who discovered romance five years ago and decided they had all kinds of amazing new ideas to “fix” it. Connections between books? That feel kind of cozy to the reader? How did no one ever think of that?? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/b...
November 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
One more thing and then I’m going to shut up: I am deeply suspicious of any industry analysis that falls into the regrettable pattern you might call “covering the party.”
A good place to get useful input about the value of a business’s work is … anywhere except the business’s own PR event.
A good place to get useful input about the value of a business’s work is … anywhere except the business’s own PR event.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Any #MonsterRomance readers in the audience? There's an interesting study on rhetoric happening:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reader Perceptions of Shame, Empowerment, and Genre in Monster Romance Fiction
Informed Consent Page
IRB Number- IRB-FY26-184
Title of Research Study: Reader Perceptions of Shame, Empowerment, and Genre in Monster Romance Fiction
Researcher's Contact Information:
Princple Inv...
docs.google.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Any #MonsterRomance readers in the audience? There's an interesting study on rhetoric happening:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Kickstarter update! I’ve made my entire selfpubbed backlist (23 ebooks, both from early in my career to my 3 final books in my TDD SEAL Team10 series, the final one, BlameItOnRio from 2023) ebook “add-ons” at $3 each, & backers are grabbing them along w #JulesCassidyPI. Win/win! #Romancelandia
Hey Bluesky #Romancelandia. My Kickstarter for Jules Cassidy, P.I. (Troubleshooters #20) is live. www.kickstarter.com/projects/suz...
Jules Cassidy, PI
A Troubleshooters Bromance Novel featuring Jules Cassidy and Sam Starrett
www.kickstarter.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Kickstarter update! I’ve made my entire selfpubbed backlist (23 ebooks, both from early in my career to my 3 final books in my TDD SEAL Team10 series, the final one, BlameItOnRio from 2023) ebook “add-ons” at $3 each, & backers are grabbing them along w #JulesCassidyPI. Win/win! #Romancelandia
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Okay, Ezra is confirming that he's hearing D senators are actually plotting to cave to Trump and end the shutdown WITHOUT any extension of the ACA, just a promise of a vote later down the line.
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
yep
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Okay, Ezra is confirming that he's hearing D senators are actually plotting to cave to Trump and end the shutdown WITHOUT any extension of the ACA, just a promise of a vote later down the line.
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Call your senators, friends, NOW, and tell them NO DEAL without ACA funding!
Find them here: reps.fyi
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
Families on SNAP worry about not just feeding themselves but also their pets
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
@jodimca.bsky.social Look what pre-order arrived at my bookstore! Can't wait to read it after seeing so many great reviews.
November 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
@jodimca.bsky.social Look what pre-order arrived at my bookstore! Can't wait to read it after seeing so many great reviews.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Amazon has launched a new AI-driven translation service, Kindle Translate, for Kindle Direct Publishing authors 👇 #BookSky
Amazon launches AI translation service for indie authors
ebx.sh
November 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Good literary translation requires understanding (language, culture, genre--on both sides of the translation) and an ability to write well. "AI" can't do that. There are no shortcuts. Treat your work and foreign language readers with the respect they deserve. You won't fool anyone with this.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
I'm gonna need folks to understand that just because the worst people in America are obsessed with GLP-1s exclusively because of weight loss does not mean they are not LIFE SAVING for a lot of people.
There's a reason they're studying their impact on Long Covid right now.
There's a reason they're studying their impact on Long Covid right now.
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I'm gonna need folks to understand that just because the worst people in America are obsessed with GLP-1s exclusively because of weight loss does not mean they are not LIFE SAVING for a lot of people.
There's a reason they're studying their impact on Long Covid right now.
There's a reason they're studying their impact on Long Covid right now.
Reposted by Dr. Mystery
Delighted to see international coverage of the project in @arlingtonva.us to memorialize enslaved people. We're the 1st county in the U.S. south to do this & had huge support from the community & local govt. See if you can spot me in the crowd pic!
Learn more about the project at enslavedarl.org
Learn more about the project at enslavedarl.org
The Southern US county honouring its dark past
While other places in the US are increasingly censoring how they tell their multicultural histories to travellers, one community is highlighting them.
www.bbc.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Delighted to see international coverage of the project in @arlingtonva.us to memorialize enslaved people. We're the 1st county in the U.S. south to do this & had huge support from the community & local govt. See if you can spot me in the crowd pic!
Learn more about the project at enslavedarl.org
Learn more about the project at enslavedarl.org