iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Gillian Polack

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

My favourite typo this morning is "Jewish asp." "Jewish past" is so much less interesting.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Dear Spellcheck Would you please give me a reason for your insistence that 'Lebkuchen' should be replaced by 'Lecherous. This is not the first odd suggestion you've made about food. Do you find German food history difficult?

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

I have submitted my thesis. If anyone wants to ask if I plan to do another PhD, please tell them "I do not need another one." Really, truly. I now have to finish a rather silly vampire novel, essays, and a book on how we explain history and how this tells us who we think we are.

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Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*

A news story: "Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise"

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

I've just done the plagiarism check for my thesis. I am a failure. Anyone expecting otherwise needs coffee. Or tea. Or maybe a good night's sleep. You see, I'm not just a failure, I'm a total failure.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I am almost finished my degree. This means I am in a very particular mood and best avoided. Until Thursday is over, I will adjust your punctuation, clear up three sentences, and fill in two forms as part of any conversation. My mood shows: when two things were delivered today, no-one stopped to chat

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Pavel @spavel.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Who can forget the Swiss-Austrian Union, or its famous capital - Istanbul.

AI generated ad by a company called Travello showing the 10 most visited cities in Europe, except the cities are hilariously poorly placed. London is in Wales, Paris is in Ireland, Rome is in France, Rom (yes like Rome but without an E) is in Spain, Barcelona is in Morocco, Prague is in Germany, Vienna is in Italy, Istanbul is in Austria, Milan is in Libya, and Antalya is correctly shown as in Turkey but is in the wrong place. Also a few of the borders like Switzerland and Austria or Hungary and Slovenia are missing.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

@princejvstin.com I have a present for you. In the middle of Canberra, an anticline, giving the suburbs some texture. The splash of red is proof that we have autumn leaves... in some suburbs.

The Deakin Anticline, Canberra. Picture: Gillian Polack

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

I voted today at Old Parliament House. I have a pencil to prove it.

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Reposted by Gillian Polack

Ben Yehuda Press, Jewish books here & everywhere @benyehudapress.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

OTHER COVENANTS: ALTERNATE HISTORIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE is exactly what it says on the tin; a collection of alternate world Jewish histories, edited by Andrea D. Lobel & Mark Shainblum. www.benyehudapress.c... 1/4

Other Covenants cover; cover image is a star of david with lines radiating off of it, connected to various weird planet like figures. The background is black with blue lights, suggesting interdimensional spaces.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

I could be quiet about cleaning my fridge, but antisemites are out in force right now. I'm certain their lives would be improved to know that I have only got breakfast and lunch and then I'm into Pesachtic food. I don't keep very kosher, but right now I want to give a detailed report on all my prep.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Passover is incoming! Less than a day away where I am. My gift to myself this Pesach is to avoid all the wonderful people who believe that hating Jews is more important than festivities.

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BookishlyJewish @bookishlyjewish.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

BookishlyJewish is preparing to count the Omer! What is the Omer? How can you participate? Check out our list and get ready for 49 days of books recs! bookishlyjewish.com/?p=2200

White background. Hold border with a top header of hanging leaves. A pair of golden tablets sits next to a green banner that says “counting the Omer with BookishlyJewish”. Below that is a table/chart with 49 boxes in seven rows of seven labeled 1-49

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Heard Island Government @heardislandgov.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Our open letter response to the #USCommerceDept and #POTUS

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Heard Island Government @heardislandgov.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

We take tariffs on our beautiful Heard Island very seriously. We will be consulting all mammals and flightless birds and will make an announcement in the near future detailing our response. #heardisland #tariff #mcdonaldisland #trumptariff

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Australian Society of Authors @asauthors.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

❗️Authors and illustrators: have your books been used to train AI? Today the Atlantic published a search tool allowing authors to search for their books in the LibGen dataset, which has been used to train Meta's AI system. Search here: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

theatlantic.com

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI

Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

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Reposted by Gillian Polack

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 12/03/2025

NEW summary of Khalil case from Judge Furman: —Khalil's attorneys get to talk to him on the phone today and tomorrow; will file amended habeas petition tomorrow —gov't files its motion on improper venue today before midnight; won't remove Khalil from US storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

JESSE M. FURMAN, United States District Judge:
As stated on the record during the conference held earlier today:
• With the consent of both parties, the Court orders that the limitations on remote access to electronic files otherwise applicable in this case, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(c), are lifted. Accordingly, the Clerk of Court is directed to lift all viewing restrictions on the docket — i.e., to make all prior filings electronically available to the public - and to update the docket to conform with the caption of this Order. All future filings shall be publicly available unless the Court grants leave to file something under seal or in redacted form. Any application to file a document in such a manner shall be made in accordance with the Court's Individual Rules and Practices for Civil Cases, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-jesse-m-furman.
• The Government shall file its Motion to Transfer or Dismiss for Improper Venue by 11:59 p.m. tonight. Briefing on that motion and Petitioner's Motion to Compel Respondents to Return Petitioner to this District, see ECF No. 11, shall then proceed as follows: The parties shall file their oppositions by March 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.; and the parties shall file their replies by March 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
• Petitioner shall file an Amended Petition no later than March 13, 2025, at 9:00 p.m.
After the Amended Petition is filed, the parties shall confer and then file a joint letter, no later than March 14, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., proposing next steps, including an expedited schedule for any additional motion practice.
• With the consent of the Government, Petitioner shall be granted at least one privileged attorney-client call (of at least one hour) today and at least one such call (also of at least one hour) tomorrow.
• The Government raised no objection to the temporary relief that the Court granted in

its Notice of Conference entered on March 10, 2025. See ECF No. 9, at 1 ("To preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise." (citing cases)). Accordingly, that order remains in effect.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: March 12, 2025
New York, New York

JESSE M. FURMAN
United States District Judge

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

I've been away for a bit because of computer changes. However, I'm back and felt I should share an entirely inconsequential blog post with you: treehousewriters.com/wp53/2025/02...

treehousewriters.com

Intermission – Treehouse Writers

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Canberrans & Canberra visitors, I will be at the CSFG stall at CanCon late Sat. afternoon & possibly on Monday afternoon. CSFG has heaps of books for sale. I'm a writer, but also a Medieval historian and am happy to chat. I will have potsherds, for those who want to touch the Middle Ages.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

I reached 1000 followers! Since most of you don't know me so well, let me share an oldie but a goodie. It's a reading of the story "Impractical Magic" which is a sequel to the novel The Wizardry of Jewish Women. gillianpolack.com/the-wizardry... The print story is here booko.com.au/w/9932998/Mo...

gillianpolack.com

The Wizardry of Jewish Women – sequel – Gillian Polack

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Today is going to be such a long day. A good day to play along. 1 like = 1 thing I love.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

I have put out a Patreon poll: it's that time of month: www.patreon.com/posts/poll-1...

patreon.com

Poll! | Gillian Polack

Get more from Gillian Polack on Patreon

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

I have tussled quietly with Spellcheck recently, but today I regret to inform you that Spellcheck wanted to change 'notable to 'negotiable.' All the notable people who read these words, know that you are not who you thought you were.

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Dash Moore @dashmoore.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Hello! If you or anyone you know wants to pursue a PhD in world literature and/or Australian literature, esp. on islands and incarceration do get in touch! My DECRA project supports a scholarship in this area at the University of Sydney. For more info or to apply: www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships...

sydney.edu.au

Postgraduate Research Scholarship in World Literature and/or Australian Literature

A scholarship to support Masters by Research or PhD student who is undertaking research in world literature and/or Australian literature

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Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Just noting that every single person who told me to fuck off today for venting my trauma as a Jewish person facing antisemitism was on the left.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

I am in battle mode. What is battle mode chez Gillian? I'm so glad you asked. treehousewriters.com/wp53/2025/01...

treehousewriters.com

Quiet moments – Treehouse Writers

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

When I reach 1000 followers I should throw a party. I'm too tired for parties, but I'll do something interesting. Maybe a random e-present...

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Matthew Hahn @matthewhahn.com · 15/01/2025

I am a former incarcerated firefighter. I served in a California fire camp from 2009 to 2012. Misinformation is afire on the internet, so here are facts about the prison firefighter program, all in one place. A thread.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

This week, I answer two questions in a blogpost. I'll answer more questions next week and the week after. Question time will be open until the end of January. Check the blogpost (and my first answers) for details: treehousewriters.com/wp53/2025/01...

treehousewriters.com

Your Questions Answered: candles and music – Treehouse Writers

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

I was offline until after lunch. My computer misbehaved, sequentially. This means my annual reminder that this is my personal bad joke day is late. It would be my father's hundred-and-first birthday if he were still alive. I miss him so much. Bring out your worst jokes in his honour!

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

A wonderful holiday season to all those who celebrate. For Christmassy folk, have a very merry Christmas and enjoy every minute of it. May Chanukah be suitably historical and silly. May 2025 be far, far better for all of us than 2024. And to Australians in particular, may the season not be too hot!

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I was wildly insomniac the other night and that turned into a blog-rant. A very, very Gillianish rant. treehousewriters.com/wp53/2024/12...

treehousewriters.com

Stories of stories of stories are embedded in Jewish history – Treehouse Writers

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

I am already inundated with Christmas stories, especially by one C Dickens. Pity my Patreon folks, because my reaction to this is to write a Jewish Arthurian story, and the narrator is drunk.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

My day is suddenly more joyous. A little cartoon zine in the mail that updates me on the lives of friends. It's annual and it makes me happy every single year.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This last week I have discovered that the number of bigoted bullies willing to expose their inner selves in public has grown exponentially this year. Also, while there are Jewish bigoted bullies, they are, proportionally, less common and will even apologise (sometimes) when confronted politely.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I have new followers - welcome all. I should introduce myself, but I'd rather make bad jokes. I shall write book instead. That way I can keep believing I'm a fiction writer. Wait, tonight's writing is NF. Let me rephrase: I can keep believing I'm an historian. (I may have identity problems.)

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I'm back from Melbourne where I did many useful things and saw family and friends. The bus broke down on the way home and was delayed for fully ten minutes. it was one of those weeks that was far more fun to experience than to report.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I'm going offline for a few days. If you want to contact me, my email and mobile phone will both be entirely functional. Everything else is going to take a break. I should have done this weeks ago.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Today, Spellcheck does not give me 'Chitosan' for 'Christian'... it gives me 'Anarchistic.' I want to apologise for Spellcheck. I also want to ask is Spellcheck referring to the nature of preparation for Christmas.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

For everyone who truly, truly needs this, Chad Gadya has been translated into Ugaritic: opensiddur.org/prayers/luni...

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I'm not good at chatting with neighbours, because they move in and out and I'm a bit of a fixture. My upstairs neighbour of 20+ years left a little while ago. We survived the Canberra bushfires together, with candles and much chocolate. Her replacement is just as nice. May there be no bushfires!

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I was not expecting 30 likes for my meme post. I'm all up to date and (thankfully) didn't exhaust my writing. Nothing daft can appear at this stage, which is probably a good thing. None of the lost stories have appeared, nor the one that won me enough money to start saving for the flat I now own.

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Gillian Polack @gillianpolack.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

There is a meme about getting to know writing. Today I am encountering problems and thus grouchy, so I'm going to do it my way. For every like on this post, I shall introduce a published book of mine. If the likes outnumber my books,then you get collections with stories or chapters.

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