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Jon Nichols

@jon276.bsky.social
338 followers 255 following 1.9K posts

Author of “Requiem for a College.” Substack: Loving the Alien. Husband, dog dad, English and rhetoric professor, writer, advocate. University of Berwyn.

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Reposted by Jon Nichols
karin @karinswriting.bsky.social · 12h
#TeamRhetoric Vy is one of our own. Please boost this message. Any ideas on how to pressure Aetna?
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Huang: “in order to save you, they’ve got to hurt you first — that’s the nature of surgery. They’ve got to cut you open to save you. They’ve got to inflict an enormous amount of pain and suffering on you so that they can save you. And so I think A.I.’s kind of like that.” Insane.
nytimes.com
Opinion | Jensen Huang Thinks A.I. Alarmism Has Gone Too Far (Gift Article)
Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, does not want you to be afraid of A.I.
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Closing colleges are not isolated incidents. They are part of a trend. To find out why we’re in a financial and enrollment crisis, please read “Requiem for a College” link in the reply. #academicsky
entrepreneur.com
Many Colleges Are Closing — A Deeper Enrollment Crisis May Be Ahead
College closures are no longer isolated failures but signs of a deeper enrollment and financial crisis. As student numbers decline, rising costs, debt, and unsustainable operating models are putting m...
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Reposted by Jon Nichols
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 26/09/2026
Lisette Lojo spends her nights trying to make sure homeless New Yorkers in Penn Station have a place to eat, sleep, and shower. But only if they want those resources. www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...
newyorker.com
A Night Living in Penn Station
For the outreach workers trying to place homeless New Yorkers in shelters, each evening presents familiar faces and fresh challenges.
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Getting sleepy. Wish this marathon could’ve been during the day. #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Give a little heart and soul, everybody. Only Gen X is likely to get that. #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
So, I’ve got tough news for you, Nurse Chapel. #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Happy 60th, everyone! #metvstartrek
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DaveyGandthe @daveygandthe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
No past, no future. Kinda like Gen x. #Metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
And the marathon begins! #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Soak it up. It’s the last Batman for a month. #metvbatman
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DaveyGandthe @daveygandthe.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Well... Just crossed over with my 3,000th follower. Welcome. Thank you for finding me. It's all naps and coffee and music and politics and dumb jokes and #Orioles baseball, #Svengoolie over here. And my zine. daveygandthe.neocities.org
daveygandthe.neocities.org
The web site of daveygandthe
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
All that trauma. And the poor guy is a Steelers fan, too. Man… #Svengoolie #houseofsvengoolie
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Svengoolie Rich Koz @svengoolieofficial.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Join the Sven Squad Saturday night on MeTV for a special sequel directed by the great Tom Savini starring our dear late friend Tony Todd- the remake of “Night of the Living Dead”! The dead walk again at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time!
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Never seen this one. But I know Tony Todd was amazing. #houseofsvengoolie #svengoolie
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
While I like guitar rock (just saw Iron Maiden), I’ve also always been a big fan of synth music. At my Substack, I tussle with whether or not that means I should be more accepting of AI in art.
jonathannichols2.substack.com
A synth fan confronts AI
Can I oppose AI art and still like synth music?
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Joel Tillman @jtillman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I think this is the way for my PhD app SOPs.
Reflecting on my graduate school journey, I am constantly encouraged by peers and supervisors to keep going and find the right path. In my contemplation on past experiences, I come back to the Ghanaian idea of sankofa. Two variants of the symbol present themselves, one as a curled bird, a second as a stylized heart. The symbol translates as “return and get it” and teaches us that we learn and become wiser from our past experiences. In fact, the philosophy claims the converse is taboo, that we must grow in understanding. 
Working as a Community College adjunct has illustrated the concept of Sankofa in my life as a particularly reflective and meaningful experience. My mother went back to school as a single mom when I was in junior high for her nursing degree. So I understand the impact a college degree can have on your career and what it means to the student. This experience is what makes me passionate as an educator and why I believe I can make a difference. As a researcher, I also believe humans reconsider and craft meaning over time and through social interactions. So I’ve learned we need to be true to our unique perspectives to produce authentic and credible research.
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Signed a book deal today. Got to say I’m pretty chuffed.
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John Shirley @johnshirley2024.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
William Shatner's performance (he's 92) with a metal band at Riot Fest is about what you'd think but...what can I say, I admire him for it...
youtube.com
William Shatner and The *uckers- helpmenamethissong05 - Riot Fest 2026 - Chicago, IL - 09-20-2026
YouTube video by sharmony64
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Caddie Alford @caddiealford.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Rob Asen, Jon Carter, + I will be leading a @rhetsoc.bsky.social workshop: "Rhetorical Democracy and Digitality in a Reactionary Era." We'd love to assist w/works-in-progress--please share w/anyone who might be interested! Let us know if want to see the full proposal. #TeamRhetoric #AcademicSky
Image of fractured smiling emoji from Alan Warburton, Better Images of AI project.
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Doc Impossible @impossiblephd.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Hey, #teamrhetoric, theres an active vote of no confidence vote against NCTE's utter failure of leadership and its blatant lies on shutting down C's. Please sign it. theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
theorganizationformerlyknownascccc.com
(no title)
Visit the post for more.
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Jeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Probably the scariest and also most intellectually rigorous uncanny novel I have ever read. My review for the NYT. Free link. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/b...
nytimes.com
Book Review: ‘The Rouse,’ by China Miéville (Gift Article)
“The Rouse,” by China Miéville, is a decade-spanning epic about a secret military unit trying to raise and weaponize the dead.
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Jeff VanderMeer @jeffvandermeer.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
One moment at the Marlon James Powell's event I wanted to highlight, because it made me happy: We both love The Church's Under the Milky Way w/ fond memories of hearing it the first time. There's a great paragraph about the song in his new novel The Disappearers that captures the essence of the song
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Bookshelfie ⭐️ @bookshelfie.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
#booksky
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
“The debate over A.I. safety tends to focus on the precise probability that A.I.s will kill us all. I don’t find that helpful. What I think we should focus on is something more straightforward, something nearer at hand: loss of human control over A.I.”
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Who the hell is that at navigation? 😂 #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I didn’t know this is Shat’s favorite episode. Thought he’d choose one from “the Kirk arc.” #metvstartrek
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Wow, the pilot. I think it’s the only time we get a mention of Bruce’s parents. #metvbatman
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Let’s try that again with the right hashtag. #academicsky
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Owen Dennis: Infinity Train/Among Us Show creator @owendennis.com · 20/09/2026
A third. The first time I saw these slanted, lean-benches, was in Anaheim all around Disneyland. Can’t have “those people” being too comfortable next to the most magical place on earth!
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The Psychical Phenomenon Golden Girls needed their own sequel. #Svengoolie
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Yes! The channel’s back! Clear the air lanes! #svengoolie
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Well, looks like I don’t have @MeTV right now. It might be a Dish Network thing. I hope I can join you all soon. #Svengoolie
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
If you’d rather not shop Amazon, the book is also available at Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. #academicskt
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Feeling extra grateful lately. Going through something terrible really shows you what you value. Here’s what happened to me and many other college faculty and students across the country. #academicsky #selfpromotionsaturday #selfpromosaturday
amazon.com
Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States: Nichols, Jonathan, Colbert, Kate: 9781948238519: Amazon.com: Books
Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States [Nichols, Jonathan, Colbert, Kate] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Requiem for a College: The T...
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Christopher Helton @dorkland.itch.io · 18/09/2026
Just a reminder that my books are all currently on sale at @drivethrurpg.com as part of the September Superhero sale.
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Svengoolie Rich Koz @svengoolieofficial.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Don’t be afraid to post comments live during “Ghost and Mr.Chicken”tonight on MeTV! Please use the hashtag #svengoolie - and stay clear of the garden shears!
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I’ve worked my way through the catalog and it’s official: I’m addicted to Muse.
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“Why is Dolly Parton dead but [REDACTED] is still alive?” A friend of mine asked that this week. At my Substack, I sit down with “the boys” and try to figure out why.
jonathannichols2.substack.com
“Why do the wicked prosper?”
I sit down with the boys and try to hash it out.
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Horizon to horizon, nothing but mistakes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ @pewtergod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"I heard telephones, opera house, favorite melodies I saw boys, toys, electric irons and TVs My brain hurt like a warehouse, it had no room to spare I had to cram so many things to store everything in there Call us optimists!" Meta using Bowie's song about planetary extinction, say they are
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Not entirely unexpected, but still not on my bingo card.
reuters.com
US admission of orbital weapons seen as landmark moment in race with China, Russia
The U.S. acknowledgment this week that the Pentagon is operating weapons in Earth's orbit marks a landmark moment in space militarization aimed at ​deterring what U.S. officials describe as aggressive...
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
If you’d rather not shop Amazon, the book is also available at Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. #academicsky
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
So many say “higher ed has to change.” I don’t pretend to know how exactly without selling our souls, but this is the story of myself and others hit hard by “the upheaval.” #academicsky
amazon.com
Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States
Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States [Nichols, Jonathan, Colbert, Kate] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Requiem for a College: The Troubling Trend of College Closures in the United States
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Peter Greene @palan57.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"The College is actively demonstrating that it would rather cut what’s hard to measure than defend what’s hard to replace."
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David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Warsh Set for Showdown With Trump as Fed Faces Pressure to Raise Rates The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates on Wednesday, putting Kevin M. Warsh, the chairman, at odds with the administration just before the midterms.
nytimes.com
Warsh Set for Showdown With Trump as Fed Faces Pressure to Raise Rates (Gift Article)
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates on Wednesday, putting Kevin M. Warsh, the chairman, at odds with the administration just before the midterms.
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This morning’s Times put into words what I’ve been feeling for years: “Professors and students are often in a bind about what they should do: Use more A.I. to stay relevant, or dial back to preserve learning and thinking?”
nytimes.com
Universities Sound Warnings About A.I. Even as They Embrace It (Gift Article)
As A.I. upends education, university leaders have been all over the map about how to respond. It can be very confusing for students.
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WIRED @wired.com · 13/09/2026
A landmark announcement by the frontier AI lab has been overshadowed by accusations of impropriety.
wired.com
OpenAI Just Claimed a Huge Math Discovery. Some Academics Are Crying Foul
A landmark announcement by the frontier AI lab has been overshadowed by accusations of impropriety.
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William Gibson @greatdismal.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I’ve now lived so much longer than I would ever have expected to that I feel I’m living in the future. This is when I imagined Neuromancer happening. And now the creators of today’s AI warn us that it threatens humanity.
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Dr. SkySkull @drskyskull.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This is just a spectacular unintentional self-own
Dude on Threads: If you hate on ai, you better be pretty damn good at whatever you're doing
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Jon Nichols @jon276.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Riker is pulling a Kirk from the previous episode. #metvstartrek #metvstng
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