Jen Howard
@jenhoward.bsky.social
Writer, editor, journalist. Book and nature lover. Author, CLUTTER: AN UNTIDY HISTORY. Words in WaPo, TLS, NYT, LARB, CHE, EdSurge, etc. She/her.
Signal: jenhoward.16
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Signal: jenhoward.16
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Reposted by Jen Howard
Reminder: A lot of great books published this year during absolutely bonkers news & world event times. That squashes people talking about them. Keep buying books please, keep borrowing them from libraries, and for the love of all that's good, talk about them. Post about them. 📚
November 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reminder: A lot of great books published this year during absolutely bonkers news & world event times. That squashes people talking about them. Keep buying books please, keep borrowing them from libraries, and for the love of all that's good, talk about them. Post about them. 📚
Reposted by Jen Howard
we need a department of kerning
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 AM
we need a department of kerning
Reposted by Jen Howard
After the Brandon Reporter printed its last newspaper on Oct. 1, a small group of residents from Brandon and Pittsford are trying to ensure the communities continue to have local news.
Residents work to bring the shuttered Brandon Reporter back online
After the Brandon Reporter printed its last newspaper on Oct. 1, a small group of residents from Brandon and Pittsford are trying to ensure the communities continue to have local news.
www.vermontpublic.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
After the Brandon Reporter printed its last newspaper on Oct. 1, a small group of residents from Brandon and Pittsford are trying to ensure the communities continue to have local news.
Zadie Smith is on 🔥 in this: "One of the things this government doesn’t want to hear is that what defines a nation – in its own eyes and in the eyes of others – is, in the end, not the size and scope of its military hardware, or even the wealth it amasses, but the culture it creates."
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
The dispute over pay at this great national institution gets to the heart of our misplaced priorities, says novelist Zadie Smith
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Zadie Smith is on 🔥 in this: "One of the things this government doesn’t want to hear is that what defines a nation – in its own eyes and in the eyes of others – is, in the end, not the size and scope of its military hardware, or even the wealth it amasses, but the culture it creates."
I'll miss them! "Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday will appear at the Philadelphia Mint to strike the final circulating one-cent coin, marking the end of the penny first authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792." www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
US Mint to strike last penny as Trump’s phaseout rattles retailers
The Treasury Department is considering issuing guidance to help businesses navigate the transition, including how to round cash transactions.
www.politico.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I'll miss them! "Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday will appear at the Philadelphia Mint to strike the final circulating one-cent coin, marking the end of the penny first authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792." www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Jen Howard
oh god, of course every academic in this country has to use a VPN for their work because every university department in this country somehow runs itself off a shared drive folder called admin/ADMIN/humanities/CURRENT_humanities/history/HISTORY_ALL/admin
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
oh god, of course every academic in this country has to use a VPN for their work because every university department in this country somehow runs itself off a shared drive folder called admin/ADMIN/humanities/CURRENT_humanities/history/HISTORY_ALL/admin
Reposted by Jen Howard
I am on my way home to Toronto and the aurorae are absolutely phenomenal.
If you are anywhere in the northern half of the continent, get outside and look up! Or better still, put your camera on a 10 second exposure and point it up.
If you are anywhere in the northern half of the continent, get outside and look up! Or better still, put your camera on a 10 second exposure and point it up.
November 12, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I am on my way home to Toronto and the aurorae are absolutely phenomenal.
If you are anywhere in the northern half of the continent, get outside and look up! Or better still, put your camera on a 10 second exposure and point it up.
If you are anywhere in the northern half of the continent, get outside and look up! Or better still, put your camera on a 10 second exposure and point it up.
About effing time. (Long past time, TBH.)
November 12, 2025 at 3:06 AM
About effing time. (Long past time, TBH.)
Reposted by Jen Howard
Specifically, it was the National Weather Service Modernization and Associated Restructuring, begun in the 70s, which completely overhauled how we predict and respond to rapid weather events.
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
The NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 1) - National Weather Service Heritage - Virtual Lab
Planned in the 1980s and implemented in the 1990s, the NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring modernized the agency’s organization and technology to ensure more rapid detection of storms and d...
vlab.noaa.gov
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Specifically, it was the National Weather Service Modernization and Associated Restructuring, begun in the 70s, which completely overhauled how we predict and respond to rapid weather events.
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
Reposted by Jen Howard
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Money quote from Gov-Elect Spanberger (now please just do it).
November 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Money quote from Gov-Elect Spanberger (now please just do it).
Reposted by Jen Howard
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
KBJ threaded the needle thanks to CA1’s unfinished business.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
HBD to the Bodleian!
Happy 423 years of us! 🎉 📚
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
November 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
HBD to the Bodleian!
Reposted by Jen Howard
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
November 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
Reposted by Jen Howard
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Jen Howard
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
you ever think about the works progress administration? I sure do. I wish that was a thing now. I would be so glad to contribute my labor to like. A random ass local bridge
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Our gyro
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Our gyro
Reposted by Jen Howard
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Reposted by Jen Howard
It's World Digital Preservation Day down under and soon everywhere else in the world!
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
World Digital Preservation Day 2025 Launches Global Conversation: Why Preserve?
YouTube video by Digital Preservation Coalition
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
It's World Digital Preservation Day down under and soon everywhere else in the world!
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
What a moon tonight!
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 AM
What a moon tonight!
!!!
BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories).
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 AM
!!!
Reposted by Jen Howard
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Defense says that the officer's testimony was "very questionable" because he said the sandwich both exploded in spray of mustard and onions and also landed in its wrapper on the ground.
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
I'm loving this so much.
Defense comes out blazing in closing argument, attacks agent Lairmore's credibility.
"This case is about a sandwich. A sandwich that, according to agent Lairmore, somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of onions and mustard, but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapping."
"This case is about a sandwich. A sandwich that, according to agent Lairmore, somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of onions and mustard, but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapping."
November 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm loving this so much.
Reposted by Jen Howard
We go to sleep in a better country than we woke up in. Thank you to everyone who worked for these coast-to-coast victories, for this utter repudiation of Trumpism, for economic justice and a country for all of us, not for white supremacy.
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 AM
We go to sleep in a better country than we woke up in. Thank you to everyone who worked for these coast-to-coast victories, for this utter repudiation of Trumpism, for economic justice and a country for all of us, not for white supremacy.
Reposted by Jen Howard
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI