Nicole Guenther Discenza
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ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Nicole Guenther Discenza
@ndiscenza1.bsky.social
1.6K followers 380 following 2.8K posts
Medievalist who loves reading, especially science fiction & fantasy. I don't speak for my employer or anyone else.
she/hers
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ndiscenza1.bsky.social
An email about this book popped into my mailbox last week. The cover caught my eye, and then the translator's name. Normally, I'd have thought: New College faculty! How great!

But because I had just heard that Reid was denied emeritus status, I thought instead

floridapolitics.com/archives/762...
Book cover says Marie-Célie Agnat, Rosa the Alligator, translated by Amy B. Reid with a foreword by Joëlle Vitiello Cover is read with an image in the center of art with people among trees at the side of a river and alligators in the river About the translator: Amy B. Reid is an award-winning translator of francophone fiction. Formerly professor of French and Gender Studies at New College of Florida, she now advocates for higher education with PEN America.
November 3, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
And I managed to share this with no text except alt text.
These are from Tampa No Kings today. And one more:
Protester in inflated unicorn skeleton costume; in foreground, a sign is being held upside down saying "Of, by, and for the people, not kings"
October 19, 2025 at 12:07 AM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Protester in inflated pink axolotl costume, photo taken from behind; by a sign that says Jimi Hendrix 1942-1970; people around hold various signs Protester in inflated dinosaur costume holding sign that says Rejecting Kings Since 1776 (ok, it actually says "sine 1776," but they're a large dinosaur with short arms and small hands, so I'll give it to them) Two frogs among protesters: one in inflated constume, one ewaring a more traditional costume covering their head. Sign partially legible saying "defend . . . democracy" Shrimp and shark hold deep discussion while waiting for the light to cross the street. I wish I could tell you what it was about.
October 19, 2025 at 12:05 AM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
My neighbors put up their usual Halloween decoration, which makes me absurdly happy. Then it went down on a windy day, and when they didn't put it back up for days, I was afraid it was gone forever.

Yesterday, it was back! What you can't see from the photo is that the eyes flash red.
Inflated figure, larger than a human, with a jack-o-lantern head curved into a cruel smile; a purple tunic with different jack-o-lantern face on it, eyes, nose, and mouth green inside; and giant orange hands.
October 13, 2025 at 11:36 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Not quite Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel! One of my faves!
Book cover for Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, story and pictures by Virginia Lee Burton: shows a steam shovel with a smiling face breaking through the red cover with bits of white strewn about and a man below him The cover feels more like mayhem than the book, which is deeply charming
October 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
crowsneststpete.com/2025/08/31/s...
Mural in an intersection that shows shapes in pastel colors being painted over by workmen in white trucks
September 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
"O hai! Can we be frens?"
Young alligator stretched out on concrete ramp into a small pond, the tip of their tail just in the water, grass in the foreground and background Photo is taken from left side, behind the gator, as they gaze up to the grass Same alligator, different angle: long grasses or reeds beside or behind, taken from gator's left, grass in foreground
August 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Blanca thinks the breakfast service leaves something to be desired. Come on, staff: that yogurt isn't going to pour itself on the granola, and cats don't have opposable thumbs.
White cat sits in a chair at a table sniffing a bowl of granola. Around the bowl are a spoon, a tub of yogurt, a knife, a little pink vitamin, a glass of orange juice, a napkin, and a plate
August 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
I just saw this update from WaPo with the ad below; I don't know what the ad is for but the image says it all.
News item: "27 min ago (headshot) Michael Birnbaum Reporting from Anchorage It appears, based on the video footage, there’s no interpreter in the American presidential limousine that Russian President Vladimir Putin entered with President Donald Trump." Below, ad image: person lying in bed, hangs folded on chest above blanket, both eyes wide open and the mouth slightly open, staring at ceiling with a look that clearly says "I will never sleep again"
August 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Thanks! That's a wonderful article.

By far my best ever acquisition from a Renaissance festival:
Tapestry in imitation of a portion of the Bayeux Tapestry, showing "hic Willelm dux in magno navigio (Here's Duke William of Normandy in a big boat) Men on horses at center left, men in boat with sail center right; top and bottom have various animal figures, and interlace at the very edges Tapestry hung from a rod against a yellow wall
August 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Tampa International Airport has plenty of space. People lined up for a flight don't block all the neighboring gates.
Also: Phoebe
Giant flamingo sculpture inside airport, with feet on floor and beak touching floor
August 14, 2025 at 1:06 AM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
From UF Politics on some other social media site:
Image of Kent Fuchs with bloody scratches above left eye and patch over left eye, smiling a little, in a suit and wearing an orange tie. Text: Kent Fuchs in 2035 still acting as UF's interim president because sole finalist Matt Gaetz was too woke for the BOG
July 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Blanca suddenly interested in Ælfric
White cat on bookshelf behind several editions of Ælfric, sniffing Homilies vol 1 Closer view of Blanca, a white cat, with Homilies col 1 now pushed slightly out of place Closest view of Blanca; white cat with one eye, eat, and most of a nose visible behind three books
July 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
To celebrate Jill Fitzgerald's article winning the ISSEME best article award, JEGP and @illinoispress.bsky.social are making her "Terror and History on the Lid of the Franks Casket" free online through 9/30!

Congratulations again, Jill!

scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/jegp/art...
Image: cover of JEGP 123.3 on ochre and rose background. Text: BEST ARTICLE AWARD From the International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY Terror and History on the Lid of the Franks Casket BY JILL FITZGERALD FREE until 9/30/25 University of Illinois Press
July 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
I think of strawberry first because I ate it all the time as a kid, but then I remember that my brother preferred grape (why? I mean, why?).

My mother occasionally got this, which seems to indicate the default is grape. They later added a strawberry variety.
Glass jar with thick vertical stripes of peanut butter interspersed with what one presumes is grape jelly, but it looks suspicious to me. The jar says Smucker's Gooper Grape and shows a grape snuggling up to a peanut. I do not remember them from the label of my childhood, but they may have been there all along.
July 22, 2025 at 9:18 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
this is where I post from
Fourteenth & Fifteenth Doctors' TARDIS console room Airy space with mostly white, hexagonal console at the center, on a pedestal with a column rising to meet a vaulted ceiling. Walls are pale gray squares with white circles/lights in centers. A ramp leads up the foreground to the console, and another one curves behind the console, both with metal railings matching the walls.
July 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
As soon as today's Connections came up, I thought of @greenleejw.bsky.social!
New York Times Connections puzzle with words in grid: SEE SPOT RUN CATCH COBRA SLIDE GUITAR STRING BLANKET BRIDGE EEL COW STREAK NOTE WHEEL SERIES
July 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
I clicked the link to read the paper, and this immediately popped up:
icon of text box with star next to "Save time with a document summary"
June 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Wellness Day in Wimauma! Saturday 31 May 9 am–1 pm, pre-registration required.
Día de Bienestar ¡En Wimauma! Sábado 31 de mayode 9 am a 1 pm. Registro previo obligatorio.

Call 813 699 5811 to register!
Día de Bienestar ¡En Wimauma! ¡Acompáñanos en este día para cuidar de tu salud y la de tus niños! Disfruta de: Sábado 31 de mayo de 9 am a 1 pm. Registro previo obligatorio. ¡Aparta tu cupo! Exámenes de visión y lentes gratuitos para padres y niños menores de 18 años gracias a Preserve Vision Libros gratis y momentos divertidos para niños en el Bus de Lectura de Early Learning Literacy Diagnóstico gratuito de cáncer de piel, boca y garganta por Moffitt Cancer Center Llama hoy y regístrate. Registro previo obligatorio. 813.699.5811 5128 State Road 674 Wimauma, FL 33598 Un proyecto de En asocio con Con el apoyo de www.enterprisinglatinas.org Wellness Day in Wimauma! Join us on this day to take care of your health and your children’s health! Come and enjoy Saturday May 31 from 9 am to 1 pm. Pre-registration required. Sign up today! Free vision exams and glasses for parents and children under 18, thanks to Preserve Vision Enjoy fun activities on the Reading Bus and free books for children, courtesy of Early Learning Literacy Free throat, mouth and skin cancer screenings provided by Moffitt Cancer Center Call today and sign up. Pre-registration required. 813.699.5811 OPPORTUNITY CENTER 5128 State Road 674 Wimauma, FL 33598 A project of In partnership with With the support of www.enterprisinglatinas.org & other orgs
May 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
In the rush of Kalamazoo and end-of-term grading, I forgot to note the arrival of JEGP 124.2 in print!
@nicolai1505.bsky.social
@illinoispress.bsky.social
Contents on cover of JEGP 124.2: Articles: "Humor, Horror, and Violence in Ælfric of Eynsham's Passion of St Vincent," Niamh Kehoe; "Becoming Melwas: Performance, Embodiment, and the Supernatural in Late Medieval Britain," Sam Lasman; "West Norse Palatal R in Irish Sources," Nicolai Egjar Engesland; "Psychological Interiority and Supernatural Agency in Örvar-Odds saga and Hamlet," Daniel J. Frim Cover has greyscale heavy foliate ornament on the left, letters JEGP in black on creme in center, MS image of John the Baptist in square near upper right, and vol info and titles in white on red
May 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
"I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me." Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Health and Human Services secretary, shown seated before a microphone
May 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Remember Ann Telnaes?
Remember why she WAS an editorial cartoonist for @washingtonpost.com but IS NO LONGER one?
They refused to run this cartoon, so she quit:
Huge statue of a man, presumably Trump, with three people holding money bags up to the statue; one looks like Jeff Bezos. Another one kneels before the statue, and Mickey Mouse is prostrate on the ground.
May 5, 2025 at 9:37 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
A few years ago on this date, a social media account for the Pittsburgh hockey team shared a May the Fourth post with the team name: the Pittsburgh Porguins.
Never forget!
(image from www.reddit.com/r/penguins/c...)
Black and gold jerseys that show a skating porguin with a hockey stick; one says C, one says P
May 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
Downtown Tampa right now
April 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ndiscenza1.bsky.social
@greenleejw.bsky.social, I'm three weeks behind on comics, but I had to share this with you as soon as I saw it.
Sherman's Lagoon by Jim Toomey: an eel says to Sherman: Hey, Shark. I challenge you to a fight. Sherman: I don't wanna fight. Eel: Scared? Sherman: I just don't feel like it. Eel: Chicken. Come on! Sherman: Stop it! Eel: Let's go, Shark. Sherman: ENOUGH! eel wraps around Sherman's head and neck. Sherman: Get off me, Eel! Sherman grits teeth and eel is suddenly twisting in a circle. Eel: AAARRGH! Sherman: Whoops! That was totally an accident. Eel, now in shape of a balloon dog: We'll call Round One a draw.
April 2, 2025 at 1:40 AM