Kat Steiner🔸
@kastrel.bsky.social
Oxford-based medical librarian, butler to a cat named Abby, amateur actor, folk singer, cross-stitcher. Chronically helpful; annoying people for good. She/her, opinions absolutely my own.
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
If you want to see a government ACTUALLY “losing control” of something, helpless in the face of organised crime, look at this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kidlington fly-tipping: Criminals dump mountain of waste in field
The enormous pile of rubbish is called an
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
If you want to see a government ACTUALLY “losing control” of something, helpless in the face of organised crime, look at this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
For complicated reasons I recently reread a poem I had to study in English GCSE, "On my first son" by Ben Jonson. I'm certain no one explained that the line "Here doth lie / Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry" was an example of how English didn't have the possessive apostrophe yet.
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
For complicated reasons I recently reread a poem I had to study in English GCSE, "On my first son" by Ben Jonson. I'm certain no one explained that the line "Here doth lie / Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry" was an example of how English didn't have the possessive apostrophe yet.
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
Seems like there's some diminishing returns kicking in here lads.
November 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Seems like there's some diminishing returns kicking in here lads.
Oxford is so lucky to have the @coveredmarketox.bsky.social - I popped in to get some Christmas presents and top up our tea supplies. Lovely to be able to buy from local independent business owners, have a cup of tea, maybe grab lunch or a pint, all in the same place.
November 14, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Oxford is so lucky to have the @coveredmarketox.bsky.social - I popped in to get some Christmas presents and top up our tea supplies. Lovely to be able to buy from local independent business owners, have a cup of tea, maybe grab lunch or a pint, all in the same place.
BlueSky public transport nerds (@garius.bsky.social, perhaps?) I recently visited NY and was really struck by how much more unsafe I felt on the subway than I do on the tube. Not sure how much was just my tourist bias of being less familiar, but also a lot more aggressive/scary/unwell people.
November 13, 2025 at 12:57 PM
BlueSky public transport nerds (@garius.bsky.social, perhaps?) I recently visited NY and was really struck by how much more unsafe I felt on the subway than I do on the tube. Not sure how much was just my tourist bias of being less familiar, but also a lot more aggressive/scary/unwell people.
Done some Christmas shopping, and the combination of looseleaf tea, fancy soap, and L'Occitane gift bag (they spray perfume in it) is turning my rucksack into a biological weapon...
November 13, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Done some Christmas shopping, and the combination of looseleaf tea, fancy soap, and L'Occitane gift bag (they spray perfume in it) is turning my rucksack into a biological weapon...
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
There's a card game based on this! It's called Brother, Why? And you play monks in the manuscriptorium who have to justify all the weird marginalia you added to the Bible while drunk. boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/44...
Brother, Why?
Medieval monks try to justify their absurd margin illustrations.
boardgamegeek.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
There's a card game based on this! It's called Brother, Why? And you play monks in the manuscriptorium who have to justify all the weird marginalia you added to the Bible while drunk. boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/44...
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
nobody does more brutal fashion reviews than the irish
November 22, 2024 at 1:57 PM
nobody does more brutal fashion reviews than the irish
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
I don't know much about the Gen Z stare, but my cat has certainly mastered it.
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I don't know much about the Gen Z stare, but my cat has certainly mastered it.
I wonder if there is any technical way to distinguish between VPNs within the UK (which I expect many work ones are) vs ones that spoof being in another country (eg to watch TV). But even then, I'm sure there are loads of legit reasons for them too (for example if you travel for work).
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 12:02 PM
I wonder if there is any technical way to distinguish between VPNs within the UK (which I expect many work ones are) vs ones that spoof being in another country (eg to watch TV). But even then, I'm sure there are loads of legit reasons for them too (for example if you travel for work).
Really sad to hear stories from friends working in HE at the moment. An awful lot of fantastic, talented, enthusiastic people being overworked to the point of burnout, ill health, and having to quit to get their lives back. It's ridiculous, employers should be cherishing their amazing employees.
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Really sad to hear stories from friends working in HE at the moment. An awful lot of fantastic, talented, enthusiastic people being overworked to the point of burnout, ill health, and having to quit to get their lives back. It's ridiculous, employers should be cherishing their amazing employees.
Reposted by Kat Steiner🔸
At a wider level 90% of the BBC's "stuff" is not the shit domestic newscasting, and it'll be that stuff - the Proms, coverage of regional music and events, BBC Africa, the World Service, choirs and orchestras - that will go first
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
At a wider level 90% of the BBC's "stuff" is not the shit domestic newscasting, and it'll be that stuff - the Proms, coverage of regional music and events, BBC Africa, the World Service, choirs and orchestras - that will go first
It's Play Week! And I have potentially my most ludicrous costume yet (not pictured: eagle wings).
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
It's Play Week! And I have potentially my most ludicrous costume yet (not pictured: eagle wings).
Interesting fact I learned recently: chronic stuttering/stammering (two words for the same thing) isn't actually caused by anxiety or nervousness, but by a brain wiring issue closer to Tourette's or Parkinson's. You can see it on an MRI. Anxiety may make it worse but removing anxiety won't fix it.
November 8, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Interesting fact I learned recently: chronic stuttering/stammering (two words for the same thing) isn't actually caused by anxiety or nervousness, but by a brain wiring issue closer to Tourette's or Parkinson's. You can see it on an MRI. Anxiety may make it worse but removing anxiety won't fix it.
Every time I use Freecycle or similar, I'm reminded how people are just the worst. Guy says he can collect "Friday evening" and then I discover he somehow means "before 5.30". Wth.
November 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Every time I use Freecycle or similar, I'm reminded how people are just the worst. Guy says he can collect "Friday evening" and then I discover he somehow means "before 5.30". Wth.
I'm doing a project to reflect on some of my one-to-one teaching this term, and this means writing a little document after each session with my thoughts on it. I'm accidentally writing it like medical notes "Thomas is a pleasant 5th-year medical student who presented with a literature search on..."
November 6, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I'm doing a project to reflect on some of my one-to-one teaching this term, and this means writing a little document after each session with my thoughts on it. I'm accidentally writing it like medical notes "Thomas is a pleasant 5th-year medical student who presented with a literature search on..."
In a new example of how medical librarianship is a bit weird, yesterday I got to attend a Schwartz Round, which is an opportunity for NHS staff to share personal stories about the emotional aspects of their job. It was extremely moving. www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programm...
Schwartz Rounds - Point of Care Foundation
Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where all staff come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare.
www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
In a new example of how medical librarianship is a bit weird, yesterday I got to attend a Schwartz Round, which is an opportunity for NHS staff to share personal stories about the emotional aspects of their job. It was extremely moving. www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programm...
A movie you've seen more than seven times with a gif.
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
A movie you've seen more than seven times with a gif.
I frequently wonder to myself why car hazard lights were designed to be indistinguishable from right indicators when you can only see the RHS of the car...this seems really bad UX. Is this car a stationary hazard or is it pulling out? Who knows?! Why aren't they a different colour or configuration?
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I frequently wonder to myself why car hazard lights were designed to be indistinguishable from right indicators when you can only see the RHS of the car...this seems really bad UX. Is this car a stationary hazard or is it pulling out? Who knows?! Why aren't they a different colour or configuration?
I love this so much! I do read a lot (audiobooks definitely help) but I also scroll SO MUCH. And there are lovely ideas for taking your book on little outings. I remember going to a cafe between things and seeing a couple just sitting in silence with their books for an hour - bliss.
I am trying something in November. National novel-reading month, basically. It is the PERFECT month for reading (at least in the Western hemisphere).
naomialderman.substack.com/p/november-i...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/november-i...
November is for reading
or: a month of sheer luxurious intellectual pleasure
naomialderman.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:28 AM
I love this so much! I do read a lot (audiobooks definitely help) but I also scroll SO MUCH. And there are lovely ideas for taking your book on little outings. I remember going to a cafe between things and seeing a couple just sitting in silence with their books for an hour - bliss.
Meeting with boss entitled "quick chat".
What terrifying thing are you dressing as this Halloween I'm dressing up as acid reflux
October 31, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Meeting with boss entitled "quick chat".
Duolingo has restructured its French tree, and I hate it. I finished the whole tree a while ago and have been gently trundling through turning everything gold. I calculated I had about 9mths left. Now they've more than doubled the number of lessons, but also each one is much more boring!
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Duolingo has restructured its French tree, and I hate it. I finished the whole tree a while ago and have been gently trundling through turning everything gold. I calculated I had about 9mths left. Now they've more than doubled the number of lessons, but also each one is much more boring!
I have accidentally stumbled into a corner of Instagram that is basically Formula 1 Fangirls Rehomed From Tumblr. I'm...not complaining, but it's quite a trip! I blame Drive to Survive.
October 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I have accidentally stumbled into a corner of Instagram that is basically Formula 1 Fangirls Rehomed From Tumblr. I'm...not complaining, but it's quite a trip! I blame Drive to Survive.