Joumana Medlej
@majnouna.com
Artist-scholar, specialised in early Arabic (Kufi) scripts & historical/natural materials. Interest in material culture & things real. Beirut émigré in Oxford. Earth lover, plastic-free. Contemplative. Whovian/Gallifrey…
Links: https://linktr.ee/Majnouna
Links: https://linktr.ee/Majnouna
Seriously? THIS is the post that makes me go viral on bsky?!?
So many geeks, who'd have thought!
So many geeks, who'd have thought!
January 26, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Seriously? THIS is the post that makes me go viral on bsky?!?
So many geeks, who'd have thought!
So many geeks, who'd have thought!
He was bound to drop that scarf in some time zone or other.
January 26, 2026 at 2:53 PM
He was bound to drop that scarf in some time zone or other.
Took out a bunch of fragments from Kufi-script Qurans from the @bodleian.ox.ac.uk to illustrate my talk. LOOKIT THE SIZE OF THIS. My little finger for scale. And with abjad numerals for the verse markers.
#arabiccalligraphy
#arabiccalligraphy
January 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Took out a bunch of fragments from Kufi-script Qurans from the @bodleian.ox.ac.uk to illustrate my talk. LOOKIT THE SIZE OF THIS. My little finger for scale. And with abjad numerals for the verse markers.
#arabiccalligraphy
#arabiccalligraphy
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
It is excellent. Minnesota is a case study on how to turn people who don’t see the point of protesting into determined protestors.
I am blown away by their courage in the face of a rogue, murderous state. The other America.
Try this link
archive.is/2026.01.26-0...
I am blown away by their courage in the face of a rogue, murderous state. The other America.
Try this link
archive.is/2026.01.26-0...
January 26, 2026 at 9:50 AM
It is excellent. Minnesota is a case study on how to turn people who don’t see the point of protesting into determined protestors.
I am blown away by their courage in the face of a rogue, murderous state. The other America.
Try this link
archive.is/2026.01.26-0...
I am blown away by their courage in the face of a rogue, murderous state. The other America.
Try this link
archive.is/2026.01.26-0...
I'm giving this talk about uncovering aspects of Kufi through practice, and in gathering materials for it I dug up this short video on preparing and using shell gold (overwhelmingly used in Islamic manuscripts, while gold leaf is more common in Western MS). Enjoy!
January 26, 2026 at 10:44 AM
I'm giving this talk about uncovering aspects of Kufi through practice, and in gathering materials for it I dug up this short video on preparing and using shell gold (overwhelmingly used in Islamic manuscripts, while gold leaf is more common in Western MS). Enjoy!
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Once again, delete your TikTok.
Man, remember when the big concern was it being used by the Chinese government? That was pretty much a tonne of US politicians going "That's totes what we'd do with it", and here we are.
Man, remember when the big concern was it being used by the Chinese government? That was pretty much a tonne of US politicians going "That's totes what we'd do with it", and here we are.
I just got multiplr strikes for saying his back was turned.
January 26, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Once again, delete your TikTok.
Man, remember when the big concern was it being used by the Chinese government? That was pretty much a tonne of US politicians going "That's totes what we'd do with it", and here we are.
Man, remember when the big concern was it being used by the Chinese government? That was pretty much a tonne of US politicians going "That's totes what we'd do with it", and here we are.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
I don't generally tell people who they should or shouldn't be following, but dear god please block the altnps account. It's a scummy grift.
The altnps account is the 13th most followed account on Bluesky and has more followers than every single news outlet other than the NYT, NPR and Meidas Touch on here. They actively spread misinformation and exploit gullible old people for cash. Accounts this unethical do not deserve to exist.
Completely insane. AltNPS claimed to know the name of Alex Pretti's killer, refused to say it because "the truth always comes out," and then just deleted the post.
A man was executed on the street in my hometown, and AltNPS is using that as an excuse to vaguepost for attention.
A man was executed on the street in my hometown, and AltNPS is using that as an excuse to vaguepost for attention.
January 25, 2026 at 9:47 PM
I don't generally tell people who they should or shouldn't be following, but dear god please block the altnps account. It's a scummy grift.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
I’m nearing the end of my PhD and looking for postdoc opportunities in the UK, preferably in or near London. If you come across any opportunities in Islamic/religious studies, South Asian history, intellectual history—please direct them my way. RT for visibility and don’t hesitate to get in touch.
December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m nearing the end of my PhD and looking for postdoc opportunities in the UK, preferably in or near London. If you come across any opportunities in Islamic/religious studies, South Asian history, intellectual history—please direct them my way. RT for visibility and don’t hesitate to get in touch.
What do we need to do to get this kind of leadership??*
*Rhetorical question.
*Rhetorical question.
We're getting a snowstorm tomorrow. But New York City is prepared.
January 25, 2026 at 5:23 PM
What do we need to do to get this kind of leadership??*
*Rhetorical question.
*Rhetorical question.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Excellent essay by @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social on how a faith-based focus on non-existent creatures detracts from our awareness & appreciation of the real (& marvelous) animals living around us. 🧪🐻🐾
From our Winter issue CRYPTIDS, @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social's takedown of Bigfoot and love letter to bears, birds, and other (real) wonders of the natural world.
orionmagazine.org/article/bigf...
orionmagazine.org/article/bigf...
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Excellent essay by @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social on how a faith-based focus on non-existent creatures detracts from our awareness & appreciation of the real (& marvelous) animals living around us. 🧪🐻🐾
I don't speak Dutch but I spat my tea!
commiserations to non-Dutch speakers, who will never know what this is about
January 25, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I don't speak Dutch but I spat my tea!
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
imagine if all that money had gone to teachers instead
January 25, 2026 at 2:37 PM
imagine if all that money had gone to teachers instead
I 100% agree with this. Life's too damn short to waste a single damn minute on tech companies' whims. People who want to see the images will click on them. If your work life hangs by that thread, you should be spending that time on building more solid foundations for it.
This is very useful I’m sure and I am 100% guilty of this but counterpoint we really, really, really need to stop adapting ourselves, our art, our music, our lives to fit what tech companies have arbitrarily decided this month
Every single artist that posts on BlueSky should have this saved to their computer because so many of you are posting character torsos all day.
(created by @/whey.party)
(created by @/whey.party)
January 25, 2026 at 3:12 PM
I 100% agree with this. Life's too damn short to waste a single damn minute on tech companies' whims. People who want to see the images will click on them. If your work life hangs by that thread, you should be spending that time on building more solid foundations for it.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
I was asked to look at this post!
And while the story obviously has important context that’s missing from the headline - which I’ll cover obvs 😜 - what’s more important is to question why this is being posted!
And what to ask yourself when you see something like this…
1/12
🧵
And while the story obviously has important context that’s missing from the headline - which I’ll cover obvs 😜 - what’s more important is to question why this is being posted!
And what to ask yourself when you see something like this…
1/12
🧵
January 14, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I was asked to look at this post!
And while the story obviously has important context that’s missing from the headline - which I’ll cover obvs 😜 - what’s more important is to question why this is being posted!
And what to ask yourself when you see something like this…
1/12
🧵
And while the story obviously has important context that’s missing from the headline - which I’ll cover obvs 😜 - what’s more important is to question why this is being posted!
And what to ask yourself when you see something like this…
1/12
🧵
"HOW MANY ROBINS HAVE YOU SEEN TODAY?"
Three robins, there are three now 😭
Three robins, there are three now 😭
a woman in a red jacket says how many nimmons
ALT: a woman in a red jacket says how many nimmons
media.tenor.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:38 PM
"HOW MANY ROBINS HAVE YOU SEEN TODAY?"
Three robins, there are three now 😭
Three robins, there are three now 😭
Mood 😑
January 25, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Mood 😑
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
If only the BBC reported what's happening in America the same way they reported what's happening in Iran.
share.google/ujl4hcAZ6Rp8...
share.google/ujl4hcAZ6Rp8...
Leaked photos show hundreds killed in Iran's brutal crackdown
The images from one mortuary in Tehran were shown to families who went to identify their loved ones.
share.google
January 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM
If only the BBC reported what's happening in America the same way they reported what's happening in Iran.
share.google/ujl4hcAZ6Rp8...
share.google/ujl4hcAZ6Rp8...
A superb essay: emergencemagazine.org/essay/theia/
Theia – Brian Isett
Pondering the age-old question his young daughter will inevitably ask—Where did the Moon come from?—biologist Brian Isett uncovers the story of how the Earth got Her seasonal song.
emergencemagazine.org
January 25, 2026 at 12:07 PM
A superb essay: emergencemagazine.org/essay/theia/
It’s actually quite a pleasant morning in #Oxford today. Red kites flying overhead and we did the big garden #birdwatch this morning. Big Bob and the Tits were present and accounted for, as were what I’m sure now is a nesting pair of robins.
January 25, 2026 at 11:18 AM
It’s actually quite a pleasant morning in #Oxford today. Red kites flying overhead and we did the big garden #birdwatch this morning. Big Bob and the Tits were present and accounted for, as were what I’m sure now is a nesting pair of robins.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
The Nazi SA - Sturmabteilung, or Storm Troopers - were often recruited from the dregs of society: barely literate failures incapable of holding down a job and only fit for murder and terror. The scum of Germany. Hitler gave them free rein to vent their rage on their betters. Sound familiar, America?
January 24, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The Nazi SA - Sturmabteilung, or Storm Troopers - were often recruited from the dregs of society: barely literate failures incapable of holding down a job and only fit for murder and terror. The scum of Germany. Hitler gave them free rein to vent their rage on their betters. Sound familiar, America?
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
How To Help if You are Outside Minnesota
Last edited January 22, 2026 I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, you more or less understand the situation in Minnesota and I don’t have to explain it to you! That sa…
naomikritzer.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
I miss Ask Jeeves.
Those who have been on the internet since the 90s certainly remember this website well. No Googling it, no AI, just Ask Jeeves :-)
Ask Jeeves website in 1999
#InternetHistory
Ask Jeeves website in 1999
#InternetHistory
January 24, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I miss Ask Jeeves.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
to turn off autoplaying video on the bluesky mobile app
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
April 18, 2025 at 11:35 PM
to turn off autoplaying video on the bluesky mobile app
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
select the icon in the top left corner
go to settings
go to content and media
make sure "autoplay videos and gifs" is toggled off
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
If you’re struggling, I’m copy pasting what a trauma therapist friend suggested here:
“Highly recommend dunking your face in a bowl of cold water, drinking some water to help your body flush the adrenaline and finding something to smell or touch for grounding and avoiding dissociation”
“Highly recommend dunking your face in a bowl of cold water, drinking some water to help your body flush the adrenaline and finding something to smell or touch for grounding and avoiding dissociation”
January 24, 2026 at 4:42 PM
If you’re struggling, I’m copy pasting what a trauma therapist friend suggested here:
“Highly recommend dunking your face in a bowl of cold water, drinking some water to help your body flush the adrenaline and finding something to smell or touch for grounding and avoiding dissociation”
“Highly recommend dunking your face in a bowl of cold water, drinking some water to help your body flush the adrenaline and finding something to smell or touch for grounding and avoiding dissociation”
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Nice new account to block, gang
January 24, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Nice new account to block, gang