M. Brett
@mebrett.bsky.social
Historian (public, digital, Early United States), now in Libraries/Archives. You might have known me as magpie on the birdsite. All views expressed/re-posted here are solely mine & do not reflect any employer past, present, or future.
Conversation with my roommate this morning about older internet memes, and I remembered I used to have a whole folder of LOL & ORLY images (for LiveJournal). Wonder if I can find those again…
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Conversation with my roommate this morning about older internet memes, and I remembered I used to have a whole folder of LOL & ORLY images (for LiveJournal). Wonder if I can find those again…
I work with amazing, brilliant, articulate people.
(That’s it. That’s the post)
(That’s it. That’s the post)
November 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I work with amazing, brilliant, articulate people.
(That’s it. That’s the post)
(That’s it. That’s the post)
Reposted by M. Brett
God bless librarians
Specifically with higher pay, but I hope they know how grateful many of us are for their good work
Specifically with higher pay, but I hope they know how grateful many of us are for their good work
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
God bless librarians
Specifically with higher pay, but I hope they know how grateful many of us are for their good work
Specifically with higher pay, but I hope they know how grateful many of us are for their good work
At some point in my theatre kids days, I learned about a show called “Stop the world, I want to get off.”
That phrase has stuck with me, and sometimes it comes to mind. Could we please have a boring 24-72 hours to catch our breath?
That phrase has stuck with me, and sometimes it comes to mind. Could we please have a boring 24-72 hours to catch our breath?
November 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
At some point in my theatre kids days, I learned about a show called “Stop the world, I want to get off.”
That phrase has stuck with me, and sometimes it comes to mind. Could we please have a boring 24-72 hours to catch our breath?
That phrase has stuck with me, and sometimes it comes to mind. Could we please have a boring 24-72 hours to catch our breath?
CloudFlare is down which means our catalog is down.
But OpenRefine runs locally, so off to do some data cleaning and sorting go I!
But OpenRefine runs locally, so off to do some data cleaning and sorting go I!
November 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
CloudFlare is down which means our catalog is down.
But OpenRefine runs locally, so off to do some data cleaning and sorting go I!
But OpenRefine runs locally, so off to do some data cleaning and sorting go I!
Reposted by M. Brett
A book just on the grievances you mean? Out 6/9/26!
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
A book just on the grievances you mean? Out 6/9/26!
One of my little joys is to buy a smaller calendar (6in square or so) with silly designs and hang it in my office at work. This year is various wild animals, next year is Edward Gorey cats.
November 13, 2025 at 6:06 PM
One of my little joys is to buy a smaller calendar (6in square or so) with silly designs and hang it in my office at work. This year is various wild animals, next year is Edward Gorey cats.
Reposted by M. Brett
AASLH-NCPH 2026 update! We have pushed back the final proposals deadline to Friday, December 5. Submit final proposals through @aaslh.org’s Submittable platform at: https://aaslh.submittable.com/submit/333312/2026-aaslh-ncph-call-for-proposals #WorkOfRevolution
November 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
AASLH-NCPH 2026 update! We have pushed back the final proposals deadline to Friday, December 5. Submit final proposals through @aaslh.org’s Submittable platform at: https://aaslh.submittable.com/submit/333312/2026-aaslh-ncph-call-for-proposals #WorkOfRevolution
Reposted by M. Brett
Thinking of doing the same, even though I am not important!
The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft Office, saying it’s too dependent on US tech, in favor of Open Desk, a German open source alternative.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
International Criminal Court to ditch Microsoft Office for European open source alternative | Euractiv
The court will move its internal work environment to Open Desk, a German-developed open source software
www.euractiv.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Thinking of doing the same, even though I am not important!
Reposted by M. Brett
Kind of amazed (though happy!) that my History of the Database grad class for next quarter is overenrolled. Now I *really* have to come up with a syllabus.
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Kind of amazed (though happy!) that my History of the Database grad class for next quarter is overenrolled. Now I *really* have to come up with a syllabus.
Reposted by M. Brett
NCPH and @aaslh.org have set the registration rates for our September 2026 joint conference. The rates are a compromise between NCPH’s and AASLH’s usual rates. Find them at: https://ncph.org/conference/2026-annual-meeting/registration/ #WorkOfRevolution
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
NCPH and @aaslh.org have set the registration rates for our September 2026 joint conference. The rates are a compromise between NCPH’s and AASLH’s usual rates. Find them at: https://ncph.org/conference/2026-annual-meeting/registration/ #WorkOfRevolution
It’s a beautiful day to talk about digital archives!
November 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
It’s a beautiful day to talk about digital archives!
Very glad to have been able to catch up in person w friends in libraries, retail, and the public sector. The world is a mess (as it ever was) and I have a fantastic community.
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Very glad to have been able to catch up in person w friends in libraries, retail, and the public sector. The world is a mess (as it ever was) and I have a fantastic community.
Reposted by M. Brett
Part of me now has a new reason to pair Frankenstein (a novel about masculinity by a woman) with a novel by Richardson (a male novelist who was was good-against-his-will at voicing women, so much that his portrait of a “good man” was his only novel where the titular subject wasn’t the primary voice)
*whispers* It is a faithful adaptation of an early 1800s novel by a woman about an arrogant self centered man
Why are people
Why are people
November 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Part of me now has a new reason to pair Frankenstein (a novel about masculinity by a woman) with a novel by Richardson (a male novelist who was was good-against-his-will at voicing women, so much that his portrait of a “good man” was his only novel where the titular subject wasn’t the primary voice)
I used to be pretty good about journaling.
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
November 8, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I used to be pretty good about journaling.
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
I haven't picked up my journal in months, there has been a LOT going on (in my personal life), and I've only got a bit of my current journal left.
So I should go buy a new journal this weekend, right? That will spur me back into the habit? ;)
Reposted by M. Brett
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
Reposted by M. Brett
Too often people don't see or hear the difference they make. It's a small thing, but amplifying the impact can help it to blossom and grow.
November 7, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Too often people don't see or hear the difference they make. It's a small thing, but amplifying the impact can help it to blossom and grow.
Reposted by M. Brett
Quite a headline.
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Quite a headline.
@virginiabarksdale.bsky.social went to the Indian place near the Giant that you recommended years ago. Absolutely delicious! and we (well K) were so effusive in praise that they gave us rice pudding!
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
@virginiabarksdale.bsky.social went to the Indian place near the Giant that you recommended years ago. Absolutely delicious! and we (well K) were so effusive in praise that they gave us rice pudding!
Reposted by M. Brett
Next week's free+public events @ Scholars' Lab: workshops & speakers on making (sewing tote bags, using hand tools for carpentry/etc DIY, crochet), zinemaking for advocacy, minimal computing for professional portfolio websites, & understanding AI benchmarks (measures of what/how well a tool works) +
Our fall term events are, as always, free & open to the public! More events to come, including invited speakers; & our many coming makerspace workshops don't get announced right when term starts (to give students time to design them). Our upcoming events are always listed at scholarslab.org/event
Events
The Scholars’ Lab
scholarslab.lib.virginia.edu
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Next week's free+public events @ Scholars' Lab: workshops & speakers on making (sewing tote bags, using hand tools for carpentry/etc DIY, crochet), zinemaking for advocacy, minimal computing for professional portfolio websites, & understanding AI benchmarks (measures of what/how well a tool works) +
Reposted by M. Brett
This zine is by our VR/AR/immersive specialist @arinbb.bsky.social, who collaborated w/an English prof this past year teaching students writing concepts by having them build a MUD (text-based game/interactive fiction where you describe spaces etc you see in writing). Link to download zine +
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
November 7, 2025 at 10:29 AM
This zine is by our VR/AR/immersive specialist @arinbb.bsky.social, who collaborated w/an English prof this past year teaching students writing concepts by having them build a MUD (text-based game/interactive fiction where you describe spaces etc you see in writing). Link to download zine +
Reposted by M. Brett
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When I was at @scholarslab.bsky.social last week, I snagged a copy of this zine to give to my sister. We both played around on muxes and muds back in the day (aka the 90s).
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Anyone remember MicroMuse?
(Also, I need to get a copy of the file so I can print this for some of my friends from those days)
Hanging out in a hospital waiting room today while a loved one has (fairly routine) surgery.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Hanging out in a hospital waiting room today while a loved one has (fairly routine) surgery.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
I am amused that my autocorrect keeps trying to turn my typo-d “hospital” into historical.
Voted.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Voted.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.
I wonder if turnout will be average for a Virginia gubernatorial year or what.