Dr Natalie Jester

I loved her, she was so fun! The world needs a new series of this!

UCU elections 2026: recommended votes. All information is available at https://ucucommons.org/election26/

From tomorrow, Friday 30 January, ballot papers will start to arrive by post for VP (HE and FE), and several key positions on our NEC.

We're supporting our own @markpendleton.bsky.social for VP (HE) and independent @suzitoole.bsky.social for VP (FE) & lots of other great people. Please share! #UCU

A balm for my weary soul!

miss piggy from the muppet show is wearing a pearl necklace and pink gloves and is asking a question . Alt: miss piggy from the muppet show is wearing a pearl necklace and pink gloves, saying "moi?"

Watching The Muppet Show and eating garlic bread: the perfect evening.

📢📢We are very excited to announce our first virtual seminar as a BISA working group! 📢📢

Join us for this excellent talk with
Dr Shadi Mokhtari on her current book project examining the human rights politics surrounding Iran’s 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but she was so great, I thought people would want to know

Thanks Jo, I really appreciate that (I've really agonised about sharing). UoG staff are pretty gutted, it's been a shock. She was a gem

Vicky was active in UCU and I am 99% sure I've spoken with some of you on here or X about her in the past. She was a historian, and may have known some of you that way. I'm really sorry that some people might have to find out here, but I wasn't sure how else they might find out.

I've thought a lot about whether or not to post this, because I wasn't sure it was my place, but it occurred to me that people may never know otherwise: I'm very sorry to say that my wonderful colleague Vicky Randall passed away unexpectedly recently @vrandall.bsky.social

kermit the frog is typing on a typewriter . Alt: Kermit the frog is typing on a typewriter

I'm doing a writing retreat and have reached my writing goal a day early! My chapter now stands at 8,025 words. I guess tomorrow can be an editing day now!

a frog and a pig are standing next to each other and saying well hello looooong john Alt: Kermit and Miss Piggy are standing next to each other and saying "well hello looooong John"

Starting 2026 as I mean to go on: by watching Muppets Treasure Island

two cartoon dogs are sitting at a table with a plate of spaghetti Alt: two cartoon dogs are sitting at a table with a plate of spaghetti

Happy new year from the UK! My next new year's resolution is to eat pasta shapes I have never tried before (suggestions welcome...)

It is a fantastic addition to the journal and a valuable contribution to the literature in this area - congratulations!

Please enjoy this outstanding fact

Out now! This new article, by @veronicabarfucci.bsky.social is well worth a read, I highly recommend it:

Militarizing Femininity on Social Media: Female Empowerment and Heteronormative Logics in the Representation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces

doi.org/10.1093/ips/...

150 citations for me!

Google Scholar tells me that I've just reached my 150th citation 😃

It is!

a man in a knight 's helmet is covering his face with his hand and saying i am no man . Alt: Eowyn, a woman, removes a knight's helmet saying "I am no man"

OK, not quite a new film, but this week I've rewatched all three Lord of the Rings films. Thoughts: Elijah Wood's performance was absolutely beautiful, he should have won an Oscar. Sam Gamgee was the MVP, helping his bestie however he could. This is probably my favourite moment, if forced to pick:

I think this post nails the actual problem, for researchers at least—AI hallucinations would simply not be a problem in academic work if we’d not normalized citation-as-signaling rather than actual engagement—you can only cite a fake paper if you’re not in the habit of reading the papers you cite

an elderly woman is sitting at a table and saying i 'll have what she 's having Alt: an older woman is sitting at a table and saying "I'll have what she's having"

Today's film, as I'm now on annual leave, is When Harry Met Sally. Overall pretty good, though not all of it has aged well. I loved seeing the older fashion and hairstyles, and if I'd known Carrie Fisher was in it, I would have watched it sooner

Huge congratulations!

Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.

A xenomorph playing in the snow

Dani from Midsommar with a wreath in her hair instead of a flower crown

Hellraiser guy with a smile and Christmas present

Please enjoy the Christmas decorations on the @wshed.bsky.social tree

a black and white cat is typing on a laptop Alt: a black and white cat is typing on a laptop

One more day of writing retreat left and it needs to be a good one 😬 4,000 words written so far!

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And at least it wasn't AI! Good for them!

a dark tower with a glowing eye on top Alt: a dark tower with a glowing eye on top

It's Mordor?

I was saying to someone else yesterday that I wanted to meet you properly! Early sem 2 coffee?

Winner: Natalie Jester. Exceptional support beyond teaching

Didn't win the research award I was nominated for, but I did get something better: a Students' Union award for exceptional support beyond teaching, decided upon following nominations from students across the whole university! 🥹

This sounds very cool!