Larissa Werhnyak
@larisimilitude.bsky.social
"You must feel like a boiled owl. So do I. Would you like a drink?"
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
SAY IT LOUDER THAT FIRE IS A RIGHT-WING ORGANIZATION
NEW: FIRE positions itself as an alternative voice for free expression, but an analysis by @billiejsweeney.bsky.social found deference to religious-based viewpoints in free speech debates — and in some cases, the elevation of those views over all others.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Can a Group Allied With the Right Defend the 1st Amendment for All? — Assigned
FIRE, a product of the “academic freedom” campaign, wants to protect free speech for everyone. Yet its stances show deference to religious views and a persistent anti-queer strain.
www.assignedmedia.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
SAY IT LOUDER THAT FIRE IS A RIGHT-WING ORGANIZATION
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Consider the following before adopting a Manticore for your family
December 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Consider the following before adopting a Manticore for your family
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Every day I get angrier abt that wretched Harper’s Letter, and the broader feckless, bothsider-poisoned media environment that treated it as legit.
I’m profoundly disappointed in the left-leaning types who gave reputational cover to a nakedly bad-faith doc.
And furious at the on-going silence.
I’m profoundly disappointed in the left-leaning types who gave reputational cover to a nakedly bad-faith doc.
And furious at the on-going silence.
If anyone is curious about the current list of search terms being used by right wing activist organizations to harass university professors, here's a public records request I received today from Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation. Not intimidating or meant to curtail by my speech at all, right?
December 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Every day I get angrier abt that wretched Harper’s Letter, and the broader feckless, bothsider-poisoned media environment that treated it as legit.
I’m profoundly disappointed in the left-leaning types who gave reputational cover to a nakedly bad-faith doc.
And furious at the on-going silence.
I’m profoundly disappointed in the left-leaning types who gave reputational cover to a nakedly bad-faith doc.
And furious at the on-going silence.
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
A dangerous new policy requires a campus President's approval for profs to teach race & gender topics in Texas.
"It strikes at the heart of what education means...which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation.”
— Rana Jaleel, AAUP Chair of Committee on Academic Freedom
"It strikes at the heart of what education means...which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation.”
— Rana Jaleel, AAUP Chair of Committee on Academic Freedom
Texas A&M University professors now need approval for some race and gender topics
Texas A&M University System regents on Thursday adopted a new policy requiring professors to first get approval to discuss some race and gender topics.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A dangerous new policy requires a campus President's approval for profs to teach race & gender topics in Texas.
"It strikes at the heart of what education means...which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation.”
— Rana Jaleel, AAUP Chair of Committee on Academic Freedom
"It strikes at the heart of what education means...which is circulate the exchange of knowledge without fear of retaliation.”
— Rana Jaleel, AAUP Chair of Committee on Academic Freedom
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
November 12, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
the centrism will continue until morale decreases
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
the centrism will continue until morale decreases
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
I understand that this is controversial but I think that women are oppressed as women and should organize on behalf of their gendered self-interest.
November 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I understand that this is controversial but I think that women are oppressed as women and should organize on behalf of their gendered self-interest.
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
right-wingers: "It is the natural state of affairs for a hierarchical society that matches my preferences."
actual ancient history: societal structures have tremendous variety but there's always somebody making an adorable chonky boi
actual ancient history: societal structures have tremendous variety but there's always somebody making an adorable chonky boi
Happy Sunday! 🦛 💙
Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
right-wingers: "It is the natural state of affairs for a hierarchical society that matches my preferences."
actual ancient history: societal structures have tremendous variety but there's always somebody making an adorable chonky boi
actual ancient history: societal structures have tremendous variety but there's always somebody making an adorable chonky boi
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
Uggghhhhhh
BREAKING: The full Fifth Circuit decided that it will be rehearing the case over West Texas A&M's effort to ban a charity drag show from campus. The panel, on a 2-1 vote, sided with the student group.
The Fifth Circuit decided to go en banc even after the school didn't seek en banc review.
The Fifth Circuit decided to go en banc even after the school didn't seek en banc review.
October 27, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Uggghhhhhh
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
For a fourth year in a row Michigan’s leader in yards from scrimmage in a winning effort is Michigan State Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties
October 26, 2025 at 3:10 AM
For a fourth year in a row Michigan’s leader in yards from scrimmage in a winning effort is Michigan State Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Rules of evidence, ranked by whether I would date them, if I were single, and they weren’t an abstraction:
Rule 402
3/10 A bit basic. The same everywhere. A bit useful, all the time, but non-specialized, The rules equivalent of Chili’s; a guy named Greg that played soccer in high school.
Rule 402
3/10 A bit basic. The same everywhere. A bit useful, all the time, but non-specialized, The rules equivalent of Chili’s; a guy named Greg that played soccer in high school.
October 25, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Rules of evidence, ranked by whether I would date them, if I were single, and they weren’t an abstraction:
Rule 402
3/10 A bit basic. The same everywhere. A bit useful, all the time, but non-specialized, The rules equivalent of Chili’s; a guy named Greg that played soccer in high school.
Rule 402
3/10 A bit basic. The same everywhere. A bit useful, all the time, but non-specialized, The rules equivalent of Chili’s; a guy named Greg that played soccer in high school.
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
They aren't really targeting professors in Texas, are they?
Me:
Me:
October 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
They aren't really targeting professors in Texas, are they?
Me:
Me:
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
public:
libraries ✅
parks ✅
transportation✅
lands ✅
displays of affection ❌
libraries ✅
parks ✅
transportation✅
lands ✅
displays of affection ❌
October 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
public:
libraries ✅
parks ✅
transportation✅
lands ✅
displays of affection ❌
libraries ✅
parks ✅
transportation✅
lands ✅
displays of affection ❌
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
I am living for the sumo wrestlers having fun playing tourists while preparing for the sumo tournament in London
October 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I am living for the sumo wrestlers having fun playing tourists while preparing for the sumo tournament in London
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
In about three years the entire university pivot to AI curricula and schools and programs is going to be so deeply embarrassing. We will all pretend it never happened and I will be standing there, looking at people with a mirror in my eyes. This is all so embarrassing.
October 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In about three years the entire university pivot to AI curricula and schools and programs is going to be so deeply embarrassing. We will all pretend it never happened and I will be standing there, looking at people with a mirror in my eyes. This is all so embarrassing.
Endless respect for the kid in a shopping cart at Target who, after twice yelling "Mom, let me out, let me down" to no avail, repeated his request in Spanish.
October 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Endless respect for the kid in a shopping cart at Target who, after twice yelling "Mom, let me out, let me down" to no avail, repeated his request in Spanish.
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
I found it pretty charming to learn that after Roger Taney died, sitting lawmakers called his death a "victory for liberty and the Constitution," suggested that he was probably burning in hell, and joked (?) that they'd rather hang him in effigy than do literally anything to honor his memory
Roger Taney’s Contemporaries Hated Him As Much As You Probably Do
Ordinarily, members of Congress do not publicly suggest that recently deceased Supreme Court justices are burning in hell. But Roger Taney was no ordinary Supreme Court justice.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I found it pretty charming to learn that after Roger Taney died, sitting lawmakers called his death a "victory for liberty and the Constitution," suggested that he was probably burning in hell, and joked (?) that they'd rather hang him in effigy than do literally anything to honor his memory
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Genuinely amazing that Drake lost the Kendrick Lamar beef so badly that he filed a harebrained lawsuit that ended with a federal judge calling the song that destroyed his career "catchy" and a "cultural sensation."
Federal Judge Declares Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Too Awesome to Be Defamatory
Apparently, Drake decided that losing in the court of public opinion was not humiliating enough.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Genuinely amazing that Drake lost the Kendrick Lamar beef so badly that he filed a harebrained lawsuit that ended with a federal judge calling the song that destroyed his career "catchy" and a "cultural sensation."
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Courtesy of colleagues at Penn
October 12, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Courtesy of colleagues at Penn
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
FROG 🐸 SEMIOTICS 🐸 REDEMPTION 🐸 ARC
I don’t think we’re talking enough about the fact that we successfully took back the frog. Like it has been a meme for the alt right for years now, and thanks to these Portland inflatable costumes, we’re taking it back
October 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
FROG 🐸 SEMIOTICS 🐸 REDEMPTION 🐸 ARC
Reposted by Larissa Werhnyak
Reading request! If you could recommend one text that explored the history of an idea/concept in a riveting and surprising way what would it be? Please re-skeet if you can. I know this is a niche ask.
October 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reading request! If you could recommend one text that explored the history of an idea/concept in a riveting and surprising way what would it be? Please re-skeet if you can. I know this is a niche ask.