Abigail Modaff
@abigailmodaff.bsky.social
American historian working on a book about women’s book clubs. All posts my own, not my employer’s.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Fellowship: Joseph R. Dunlap Memorial Fellowship (Application Deadline: 1/2/26) navsa.org/News/13567900
NAVSA - Fellowship: Joseph R. Dunlap Memorial Fellowship (Application Deadline: 1/2/26)
navsa.org
November 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Fellowship: Joseph R. Dunlap Memorial Fellowship (Application Deadline: 1/2/26) navsa.org/News/13567900
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
somehow never not thinking about Henry James—anyone else experience this
November 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
somehow never not thinking about Henry James—anyone else experience this
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
We’ll never understand the consequences of what we’ve unleashed. And when young Palestinians react as they get older, they’ll get blamed for what we’ve enabled.
I'm teaching about Gaza on Monday. I assigned this article. You should read it if you haven't, because the trauma it describes is unbearable and we all need to sit with it.
archive.ph/JlVfm#select...
archive.ph/JlVfm#select...
November 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
We’ll never understand the consequences of what we’ve unleashed. And when young Palestinians react as they get older, they’ll get blamed for what we’ve enabled.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Again, there is no plan for running our universities without federal funding, or foreign students, at scale. But the public has no idea about this because no. one. is. telling. them. this. They expect their kids are still going to be able to do all the things at college in the next 4 years, & well:
The entire business model of R1 public universities rests on 4 revenue sources:
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
November 27, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Again, there is no plan for running our universities without federal funding, or foreign students, at scale. But the public has no idea about this because no. one. is. telling. them. this. They expect their kids are still going to be able to do all the things at college in the next 4 years, & well:
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
This is a really sick story.
From everything I know, Boston’s Logan Airport is a legitimately dangerous place to travel through.
abcnews.go.com/US/19-year-c...
From everything I know, Boston’s Logan Airport is a legitimately dangerous place to travel through.
abcnews.go.com/US/19-year-c...
November 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This is a really sick story.
From everything I know, Boston’s Logan Airport is a legitimately dangerous place to travel through.
abcnews.go.com/US/19-year-c...
From everything I know, Boston’s Logan Airport is a legitimately dangerous place to travel through.
abcnews.go.com/US/19-year-c...
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Angela Lansbury's six highest-grossing movie roles:
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Angela Lansbury's six highest-grossing movie roles:
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Video (it’s in the replies but just in case): bsky.app/profile/whis...
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Video (it’s in the replies but just in case): bsky.app/profile/whis...
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
November 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Solidarity with @teamsters.bsky.social , who sanctioned our strike nationwide and won't be delivering food, picking up trash, or bringing packages across picket lines! ✊🔥
#NoContractNoCoffee
#NoContractNoCoffee
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Solidarity with @teamsters.bsky.social , who sanctioned our strike nationwide and won't be delivering food, picking up trash, or bringing packages across picket lines! ✊🔥
#NoContractNoCoffee
#NoContractNoCoffee
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Everyone knows data centers use a ton of water.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
AI’s water problem is worse than we thought
A new investigation reveals how Amazon is amplifying Oregon’s nitrate pollution crisis.
heated.world
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Everyone knows data centers use a ton of water.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
What hardly anyone knows: they can poison the water that remains.
And in eastern Oregon, Amazon is doing exactly that.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
So, despite facing heavier workloads due to hiring freezes, about 75% of teachers in the sector where AI has been most heavily marketed do not use it.
About 25 percent of faculty members have used AI to save time in creating more engaging in-class activities or generating quizzes and other assessments. Yet talking about AI use is taboo in some quarters. https://chroni.cl/4rjLxQp
Why Professors Are Using AI in Course Design
Some believe in the technology’s promises; others are simply desperate for help.
chroni.cl
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
So, despite facing heavier workloads due to hiring freezes, about 75% of teachers in the sector where AI has been most heavily marketed do not use it.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
This is terrible, that kind of information should only come from your refrigerator
Sales of AI-enabled teddy bear suspended after it gave advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives
Sales of AI-enabled teddy bear suspended after it gave advice on BDSM sex and where to find knives | CNN Business
Sales of an artificial intelligence-enabled plush toy have been suspended after it was found that it engaged in conversation around sexually explicit topics and offered potentially dangerous advice.
www.cnn.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:35 AM
This is terrible, that kind of information should only come from your refrigerator
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
i look at an opossum and i just feel like they relate
November 21, 2025 at 4:37 AM
i look at an opossum and i just feel like they relate
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the bright and courageous trans people whose lives were stolen by hatred. Their absence is felt across our city.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember the bright and courageous trans people whose lives were stolen by hatred. Their absence is felt across our city.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
We will honor them by building a New York where every trans person can live safely, fully and freely.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
I’m not sure I see the logic in continuing to teach but stepping back from, like, making public appearances? The issue is with behavior while teaching. Why would it do anything to, like, step off the lecture circuit or whatever? That’s emphatically not the problem.
Larry Summers steps back from public commitments, ‘deeply ashamed’ by Epstein revelations
Larry Summers steps back from public commitments, ‘deeply ashamed’ by Epstein revelations
Emails revealed that Summers sought advice from Epstein on romantically pursuing a woman he referred to as his mentee.
dlvr.it
November 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I’m not sure I see the logic in continuing to teach but stepping back from, like, making public appearances? The issue is with behavior while teaching. Why would it do anything to, like, step off the lecture circuit or whatever? That’s emphatically not the problem.
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
Online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been getting noticeably less attention and follow-up from authorities, per NYT, as the DHS is overwhelmingly used for Stephen Miller’s immigration crusade
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
November 17, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been getting noticeably less attention and follow-up from authorities, per NYT, as the DHS is overwhelmingly used for Stephen Miller’s immigration crusade
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
I am trying to cancel my Hulu account by clicking "cancel subscription" on my account page and it just keeps reloading my account page. Everything is expensive and broken and there are no consequences for it
November 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM
I am trying to cancel my Hulu account by clicking "cancel subscription" on my account page and it just keeps reloading my account page. Everything is expensive and broken and there are no consequences for it
Reposted by Abigail Modaff
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.