Every once in a while we remind everyone – including ourselves – that oh right, there continually exists the thing called our NEWSLETTER! Yes, we agree that many things could be done to improve it; the layout is quite basic, and what is it with all the commercials that end up with our carefully selected content! But despite of its flaws, we feel that its existence serves certain purposes.
For one thing, in addition to summarising the content of our beloved website over the past week, it summarises all the social media content that Allegra’s collective eyes have encountered via our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Simultaneously, it functions as an archive of sorts for what the mood of each moment has been like.
This week has been a polarised one, to say the least: much darkness via the ongoing massacres of Gaza – with commentators emphasising that the current situation is far worse than ever before.
There was also ample talk of censorship, as Naomi Klein pointed out how she had been receiving warnings for her Facebook content from its administers. There was also the infamous case of Steven Salaita and the decision by the University of Illinois to reverse its job offer due to Salaita’s ‘uncivil’ Twitter content criticising Israel.
Yet there is much to rejoice too, including the vast protests the University of Illinois faced from an expansive community of colleagues – and then there was of course Lego Academics!
Are we witnessing the birth of new Dinovember – the fantastic whim (or so they claim) of two parents to ‘bring dinosaurs alive’ every night during the month of November which by now has over 250 000 Facebook fans? Or even #HAPPY, we wonder?! Whatever the case, this Twitter account was DEFINITELY ‘the’ social media thing of past week, accumulating a staggering 16 000 followers in ONE WEEK! And what does this turn us? That times remain dark in the academia, and that a bit of comic relief is always in order. We shall consider this lesson learned!
Next week Allegra returns to Tallinn & EASA2014 for some reflections – and then it is time to celebrate ALLIE TURNING 1!
Feature image: “The @LegoAcademics are miffed that they spent the whole day on admin and got no research done at all.” Allegra symphatises! Click here to follow @LegoAcademics
