The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
@shiftercat.bsky.social
Another cis feminist for trans rights. She/her. Not quite a crone. Bad-faith arguments get you muted, slurs get you blocked. I repost a lot of geekery, some of it NSFW.
https://linktr.ee/shiftercat
https://linktr.ee/shiftercat
Pinned
Beginning a master thread of reference threads. Expect more additions in the future.
Until Bluesky has a Pin function, I may have to bookmark this manually.
Until Bluesky has a Pin function, I may have to bookmark this manually.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Yeah, I see it. There’s a lot of ways that western stupidity and ignorance walks elites into a war but this is a “in your face moron pedophile.“ Just day to day, a grotesque pest who clearly slithers, party to party, his way into elite circles while barely literate and articulate in his deviance.
I don’t mean to be glib but this is probably a more damning indictment of American elite culture than the Iraq Invasion.
Every single time! Epstein will write:
"porsecters h4arrsed me w/ sbuopenas al bcuase tr4ificing myners .due porcess much???no"
and then there's, like, the former president of a university or white house counsel or something replying:
"You're totally right, and also I love you with all my heart."
"porsecters h4arrsed me w/ sbuopenas al bcuase tr4ificing myners .due porcess much???no"
and then there's, like, the former president of a university or white house counsel or something replying:
"You're totally right, and also I love you with all my heart."
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Yeah, I see it. There’s a lot of ways that western stupidity and ignorance walks elites into a war but this is a “in your face moron pedophile.“ Just day to day, a grotesque pest who clearly slithers, party to party, his way into elite circles while barely literate and articulate in his deviance.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Today @TheNewYorker released our short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” online.
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Today @TheNewYorker released our short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” online.
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Me Too gets talked about as a reaction to Trump’s first election in quasi-psychoanalytic terms, like it was a repressed confrontation with an unreachable, displaced enemy. But you could also see it as a very straightforward and conscious retort to Trumpism’s professed values!
November 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Me Too gets talked about as a reaction to Trump’s first election in quasi-psychoanalytic terms, like it was a repressed confrontation with an unreachable, displaced enemy. But you could also see it as a very straightforward and conscious retort to Trumpism’s professed values!
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
WATCH — @repstevenhorsford.bsky.social : “My amendment would redirect that $40 BILLION from Argentina to fund the ACA subsidies for two years… a far better use of taxpayer dollars.”
Why do we have money for Argentina while our own people lose their health care? How does this make us great?
Why do we have money for Argentina while our own people lose their health care? How does this make us great?
November 12, 2025 at 5:17 AM
WATCH — @repstevenhorsford.bsky.social : “My amendment would redirect that $40 BILLION from Argentina to fund the ACA subsidies for two years… a far better use of taxpayer dollars.”
Why do we have money for Argentina while our own people lose their health care? How does this make us great?
Why do we have money for Argentina while our own people lose their health care? How does this make us great?
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Zadie Smith.
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Zadie Smith.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
A gentleman skeleton at a ball asks a lady skeleton to dance; representing the effect of arsenical dyes and pigments in clothing and accessories. Wood engraving, 1862.
Image: Wellcome Collection, London.
Image: Wellcome Collection, London.
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
A gentleman skeleton at a ball asks a lady skeleton to dance; representing the effect of arsenical dyes and pigments in clothing and accessories. Wood engraving, 1862.
Image: Wellcome Collection, London.
Image: Wellcome Collection, London.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
I am *very* glad that we covered WA voters’ complete rejection of anti-trans attacks by conservative candidates.
In fact, standing against anti-trans attacks is correlated with Dem over-performance in swing districts!
In fact, standing against anti-trans attacks is correlated with Dem over-performance in swing districts!
Going live now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_e...
November 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I am *very* glad that we covered WA voters’ complete rejection of anti-trans attacks by conservative candidates.
In fact, standing against anti-trans attacks is correlated with Dem over-performance in swing districts!
In fact, standing against anti-trans attacks is correlated with Dem over-performance in swing districts!
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
I feel like devs and CEOs need to accept that a consequence of using gen AI is that a lot of people won’t like it. That’s just the case as it is and the risks you take
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
I feel like devs and CEOs need to accept that a consequence of using gen AI is that a lot of people won’t like it. That’s just the case as it is and the risks you take
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Happy Werewolf Wednesday all
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Happy Werewolf Wednesday all
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
I have already had several lawyers (former and present) reach out to thank me for my bravery in writing this piece. It's astonishing that stating such an obvious truth (that the judiciary cannot avoid the prejudices of the society it operates within) requires courage at all.
"As someone working in law, it’s heresy to say this, and it might even kill my chances of a career... But as a trans person, and someone fighting for the rights of my community, I refuse to remain silent. To me it just seems obvious: a heavily prejudiced society produces prejudiced institutions."
It’s no surprise that only 31% of trans people trust a legal system built to enforce prejudice, says Jess O’Thomson.
It’s no surprise that only 31% of trans people trust a legal system built to enforce prejudice, says Jess O’Thomson.
goodlawproject.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I have already had several lawyers (former and present) reach out to thank me for my bravery in writing this piece. It's astonishing that stating such an obvious truth (that the judiciary cannot avoid the prejudices of the society it operates within) requires courage at all.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
If anyone wants art like this, please donate to my kofi so I can get medical help. It’s ’pay what you want’ and a complete surprise on what you get. All I need is proof of payment by dm and what character you want.
ko-fi.com/missalppy
ko-fi.com/missalppy
November 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
If anyone wants art like this, please donate to my kofi so I can get medical help. It’s ’pay what you want’ and a complete surprise on what you get. All I need is proof of payment by dm and what character you want.
ko-fi.com/missalppy
ko-fi.com/missalppy
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
@bsky.app last week my DMs were cut off. Moderation said I could not be trusted.
Hours later, you said it was a mistake.
Then you cut off them off again—but said it was my fault, tho wouldn't explain (before turning them back on.)
Maybe @sarahkendzior.bsky.social's ban is a mistake, too?
Hours later, you said it was a mistake.
Then you cut off them off again—but said it was my fault, tho wouldn't explain (before turning them back on.)
Maybe @sarahkendzior.bsky.social's ban is a mistake, too?
November 12, 2025 at 7:02 AM
@bsky.app last week my DMs were cut off. Moderation said I could not be trusted.
Hours later, you said it was a mistake.
Then you cut off them off again—but said it was my fault, tho wouldn't explain (before turning them back on.)
Maybe @sarahkendzior.bsky.social's ban is a mistake, too?
Hours later, you said it was a mistake.
Then you cut off them off again—but said it was my fault, tho wouldn't explain (before turning them back on.)
Maybe @sarahkendzior.bsky.social's ban is a mistake, too?
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
We’re seeing increased and aggressive ICE activity across the Portland metro region — including around sensitive locations like schools.
Save the PIRC hotline on your phone and call/text if you witness ICE activity: 888-622-1510
Save the PIRC hotline on your phone and call/text if you witness ICE activity: 888-622-1510
Cesar Chavez School and George Middle School have implemented the PPS's “secure the perimeter” protocol amid reports of ICE activity in the neighborhood.
PPS Secures North Portland Schools Amid Reports of ICE Activity
Joanna Hou
www.wweek.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
We’re seeing increased and aggressive ICE activity across the Portland metro region — including around sensitive locations like schools.
Save the PIRC hotline on your phone and call/text if you witness ICE activity: 888-622-1510
Save the PIRC hotline on your phone and call/text if you witness ICE activity: 888-622-1510
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
This is also how MAGA listen to Trump speeches, I feel.
The original thread about poor literacy teaching is worth reading too.
The original thread about poor literacy teaching is worth reading too.
People are looking at a paragraph and, in their heads, creating a kind of "word cloud" based on word recognition and emotional response, and then reacting to the general idea of that (invented, insular, subjective) word cloud.
November 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This is also how MAGA listen to Trump speeches, I feel.
The original thread about poor literacy teaching is worth reading too.
The original thread about poor literacy teaching is worth reading too.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
seeing LLMs as "ideology that can pretend to be a person" helps make it clear what "talking to chatbots" accomplishes: Althusserian "interpellation"
I do, of course, have a paragraph from "Why We Fear AI" for this
November 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
seeing LLMs as "ideology that can pretend to be a person" helps make it clear what "talking to chatbots" accomplishes: Althusserian "interpellation"
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
The majority of cis people don’t care about the actual lives of trans people.
Mainstream media frames our existence as a debate and uplifts junk science, most especially the NYT.
Follow and support independent trans journalists instead:
Erin Reed
Evan Urquhart
Mady Castigan
Kaetlyn Burns
Mainstream media frames our existence as a debate and uplifts junk science, most especially the NYT.
Follow and support independent trans journalists instead:
Erin Reed
Evan Urquhart
Mady Castigan
Kaetlyn Burns
Every Trans Suicide Is A Murder By Those In Power
News came this week that transgender athlete and student Lia Smith took her life at just 21 years of age.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The majority of cis people don’t care about the actual lives of trans people.
Mainstream media frames our existence as a debate and uplifts junk science, most especially the NYT.
Follow and support independent trans journalists instead:
Erin Reed
Evan Urquhart
Mady Castigan
Kaetlyn Burns
Mainstream media frames our existence as a debate and uplifts junk science, most especially the NYT.
Follow and support independent trans journalists instead:
Erin Reed
Evan Urquhart
Mady Castigan
Kaetlyn Burns
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
heads up that even if you didn't ever actively intend to do so, a lot of people are accidentally heavily invested in AI right now and didn't notice that it happened, just from the mechanics of how these index funds work. if you'd rather bet on people it may be worth looking into moving things around
friend shared this, TLDR if you're fortunate enough to have any retirement invested and it's in a previously not crazy index fund, a lot of your investment is now in the AI tech bubble. I just reallocated to options less tied up in it
p.s. this is not investment advice, I'm not a certified anything
p.s. this is not investment advice, I'm not a certified anything
How The S&P 500 Quietly Became An AI Fund
YouTube video by CNBC
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
heads up that even if you didn't ever actively intend to do so, a lot of people are accidentally heavily invested in AI right now and didn't notice that it happened, just from the mechanics of how these index funds work. if you'd rather bet on people it may be worth looking into moving things around
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
people love to tell ADHD people "get a visual timer" and it's like oh if you think i won't set that timer for 30 min for one task, then immediately forget it's there + start working intensely on some other thing entirely, only for the timer to go off and be like "ohh" ur mistaken
November 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
people love to tell ADHD people "get a visual timer" and it's like oh if you think i won't set that timer for 30 min for one task, then immediately forget it's there + start working intensely on some other thing entirely, only for the timer to go off and be like "ohh" ur mistaken
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
I literally gasped when I got to the part about "miscues" where children are "reading" by coming up with a sentence that makes sense but is not necessarily what was actually written.
claiming that "guessing" is a way to develop good reading skills should have been laughed out of the room!
claiming that "guessing" is a way to develop good reading skills should have been laughed out of the room!
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I literally gasped when I got to the part about "miscues" where children are "reading" by coming up with a sentence that makes sense but is not necessarily what was actually written.
claiming that "guessing" is a way to develop good reading skills should have been laughed out of the room!
claiming that "guessing" is a way to develop good reading skills should have been laughed out of the room!
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Fifth-grader: Why is Frankenstein the bad guy?
Me: He created a human being but he didn't love him or teach him anything. It's like he had a baby and abandoned it.
FG: Oh. Like Elon Musk does.
Me: He created a human being but he didn't love him or teach him anything. It's like he had a baby and abandoned it.
FG: Oh. Like Elon Musk does.
a woman is drinking a cup of coffee while wearing a blue tank top .
ALT: a woman is drinking a cup of coffee while wearing a blue tank top .
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Fifth-grader: Why is Frankenstein the bad guy?
Me: He created a human being but he didn't love him or teach him anything. It's like he had a baby and abandoned it.
FG: Oh. Like Elon Musk does.
Me: He created a human being but he didn't love him or teach him anything. It's like he had a baby and abandoned it.
FG: Oh. Like Elon Musk does.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
This is my Chinese cave gecko. It caves less than the Democrats.
November 11, 2025 at 3:41 AM
This is my Chinese cave gecko. It caves less than the Democrats.
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
This is a great piece
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This is a great piece
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
Reposted by The Bookwench 🇨🇦🐱🏳️🌈
Lucian Young, vampire, medium and walking disaster (and a bit of magpie at heart). Today is his 73th birthday (but we still don't talk about numbers, okay?) 🩸🐍
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Lucian Young, vampire, medium and walking disaster (and a bit of magpie at heart). Today is his 73th birthday (but we still don't talk about numbers, okay?) 🩸🐍