iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Not everyone uses it! Some of us think it's damaging in every regard and choose not to!

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Yes some people say they use it to check English. But I'm talking to colleagues who also just don't know about e.g. African Labour in data labelling, or other forms of appalling exploitation of labour in its training, or even seem to note the environmental costs, they just say "oh everyone uses it"

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So depressed today by the number of academics I know who don't even know the issues with GenAI yet are cheerfully proposing adopting them for their and everyone else's teaching and research. What happened to critically assessing our work approaches...?

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Feel like we should talk next week about KCL and genAI too.... So you can do some screaming in other enjoyable contexts.

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Lucas Haasis @lhaasis.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I really thought like it looked like a retirement - glad it's not! Her performances this year suggest she's plenty more to give.

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

History inspires game development. This Thursday, John Beiner and I will share how the Prize Papers Project and the German Maritime Museum are helping Capstan Games bring maritime history to life in the game "Ahoy". Join our international workshop online! Link below. #earlymodern #maritimehistory

John Beiner and me standing in front of the main entrance of The National Archives, UK / First slide of our presentation, with a screenshot from the game in the background.

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Which they justify by saying 'oh but since no one's doing a degree in the subject any more, we can't afford the resources on maintaining these activities just for fun...'

Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Also it never lasts. I've been on campuses where they maintained orchestras for maybe a couple of years after the degree closed, and then they realised they're paying for e.g. a music director to run that orchestra, or the space for them to rehearse, or funding music hire, and it all shuts down.

The Middle Ages in Modern Games @midagesmodgames.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

That's our last paper for today, but the floor is still absolutely open for comments and questions to all our speakers, so do head over to middleagesinmoderngames.net and ask any questions you might have to our scholars and experts! We'll be back tomorrow with the last day of #MAMG26 papers!

middleagesinmoderngames.net

The Middle Ages in Modern Games – Exploring medievalisms in modern gaming contexts

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Isabella Lewis @irvlewis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

On Saturday, 7 November, I will be running a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon around the theme of Byzantine women & genderqueer saints. I hope that this workshop will help to improve the coverage of women and LGBTQ+ history on Wikipedia. To attend, follow this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wiki-edit-...

eventbrite.co.uk

Wiki Edit-a-Thon: Byzantine Women & Genderqueer Saints

An in-person edit-a-thon that aims to improve the coverage of Byzantine women & genderqueer saints on Wikipedia. No prior experience needed.

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I knew she couldn't actually stay forever, but I'm sad about it.

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Exilian @exilianofficial.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It's the @midagesmodgames.bsky.social annual virtual conference! Happy to be helping host this event once again :) It's all available online and for anyone interested in #GameDev or #Medieval history to head over and ask questions of the experts! Do take a look at their feed & links below:

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It has to be said that the annoyance of spending my evening marking is not much improved by Turnitin constantly refreshing itself so I can't progress through reading the work...

Martin L. Johnson @martinlj.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

This looks like a good mix to me!!

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Job alert! My department is hiring an assistant professor of Critical Game Studies. This is a rare opportunity to join a thriving program, with a games-focused classroom, passionate students, and a range of courses in this emerging field. Applications due Nov. 30 unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/326...

unc.peopleadmin.com

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It compounds the issue of the two track situation, where people who take teaching only temp contracts (for example) get stuck there, while the people who already have research funding get more.

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Edwige Lelievre @edwigelel.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Right we've done today's cricket inequality, let's do academia. It's the season for training on grant writing: but nearly all of this assumes you are already a researcher. There are no alternative timeslots or recordings for many events. So if you've got a clashing teaching load, forget it.

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Our little historical gardening game is currently on sale! store.steampowered.com/app/3411970/... Come spend time in the 17th century✨ You'll get to explore a deeper connection to plants through gardening while helping people around you with a spy plot 🌿💖🕵️‍♀️ #nogenai #cozygame

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on The Abbess Garden on Steam

Cozy third-person gardening in 1643 France. As Agnès, restore a forbidden abbey garden, grow and identify real plants through the seasons, uncover a spy plot, help the community, and find queer romanc...

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

The Middle Ages in Modern Games @midagesmodgames.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Truly starting #MAMG26 is our Keynote Address from Leandro Wallace: ‘Why we play the Middle Ages? A proposition for engaged thinking’, so join us now and bring your questions for a thought-provoking discussion about medievalisms, colonialism, and more: middleagesinmoderngames.net?p=1310

middleagesinmoderngames.net

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I should stop getting so irritated by things, it is not good for my blood pressure. But how can major podcasts be releasing episodes with nearly 50 minutes talking to the head of Cricket Victoria about privatisation, and no one mentions the WBBL or women's cricket at all once.

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Currently, I'm being shown a lot of ads for a "jealous boyfriend texting game" which seems to *start* with a scenario which frankly I think should lead to the girlfriend immediately leaving him and possibly calling the police. Seriously depressing to see this as a marketing approach.

WispRoy @wisproy.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Herald is 50% off now om Steam. Get it now! store.steampowered.com/app/2199510/... Also, if you like the idea of Red Kiss, you can support the #development of that #game directly by buying our older games. :)

store.steampowered.com

Save 50% on Herald: The Interactive Period Drama – Complete Edition on Steam

Herald is a choice-driven adventure set on the high seas. Board the HLV Herald and uncover its dark secrets in an intriguing tale about tyranny and servitude.

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Rumour earlier in the season was that Glamorgan weren't even sure they could afford to pay a squad of domestic players, so it seems unlikely unless something has dramatically changed that they suddenly can afford an excellent overseas...

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Lucas Haasis @lhaasis.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Join us 8–9 October for "The Prize Papers of the American War of Independence" at The National Archives, UK, and online. Explore newly catalogued documents from captured ships that reveal wartime lives and a global conflict. Register: www.eventbrite.de/e/the-prize-... #Rev250 #earlymodern #history

eventbrite.de

The Prize Papers of the American War of Independence (Online)

An International Workshop on the UK Prize Papers and the American War of Independence: Wartime Lives, Capture, and Transnational Exchange

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Shaun Aitcheson @shaunaitcheson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a staggering all-time high 65% off on Steam! 💀⛏️🩸 It's the perfect time to check out our folk horror adventure set on the moors of Northern England. The answers lie in the soil...

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Okay great! I'm just in the process of becoming a blue outline (I.e. moving from the office to finish my workday from home!) but I'll send it over later once I'm back at a computer!

Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Although quite a few of them are players with strong domestic (including international domestic) experience who could (at least perhaps until this match) have reasonably seemed like the T2 of Australian players - it's not a squad of total novices or similar.

Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thanks for getting in touch! Yes I did actually manage to contact someone and get the image rights, which was great, although I owe you all a copy of the resulting chapter if you'd be interested in reading it...? At the time I mentioned I'd send it over and then I think entirely forgot to do so!

Raf Nicholson @rafnicholson.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

Shame on you Ollie Pope, Luke Wood, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley, James Vince, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Laurie Evans for caring more about the money in your own pockets than the human rights of women and girls. This was a personal choice by you, and you chose wrong.

bbc.co.uk

England players told to think of 'daughters, sisters or mothers' before committing to Afghanistan Premier League T20 tournament

English cricketers aiming to play in a men's T20 franchise tournament organised by the Afghanistan Cricket Board have been urged to think about their "daughters, sisters or mothers".

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Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My drama class became much more about how you look for and critique ideological messaging in media, and how you judge eg good leadership and social behaviours and what media tells us about these things just because of when it's taking place. Especially necessary ideas lately.

Dr Kate Cook @katexe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

First classes on both modules done, which means I've spent the week doing Foucault and then some Marxist work on ideology. Apparently I don't like to start things off easy.

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I don't really like them - they are so sweet.

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I was so happy to hear that, I immediately messaged a friend. Also the fact that she knows she can just say to Paul "no that's wrong" is such a refreshing corrective on the show.

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Dr Thomas R.P. Coward @tomcoward.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The worst thing about proofs is when they come back - you feel like you've had this great achievement - finished proofing over 700 pages! And then here they are again.

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Reposted by Dr Kate Cook

An interesting experiment which may help in unwrapping further Herculaneum scrolls. (Also it's nice to be quoted!)

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Conversely the other week I had to pay £10 to park for a walk - if you're doing that every weekend it's suddenly become a very expensive activity!

I've really noticed an increase in costs for hiking since I moved down here in general, as well. Up north and especially in Scotland there was so much better access to free or very cheap parking, or good access to public toilets (mostly free - especially good access in Scotland).