A note on a computer that says “it’s from JSTOR (Zoe’s favorite)”

My students had to made research logs to justify how they knew their sources were reliable, and one kid wrote this… enough said tbh #teachingresearchisfun

I've... never seen anything quite like this before

Grey stone cloisters framing a stone hall with turret and green grass

A great stone great hall with arched windows against a blue sky

A grey stone building with clock tower is framed by pink cherry blossoms

A selfie taken in the cloisters with the great hall in the background

home home home home home home home home home home home homeeeeeee

(translation: back at Bryn Mawr to present at the grad student conference this weekend!)

I am presenting at the conference! In the first panel before colloquium though, but see you there!

Truly a momentous day! Happy birthday, Ozzy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unclear how many arms he will end with, given the ominous response

@weirdmedieval.bsky.social I introduced my 9th graders to your very important work today, and they were enthralled. They spent the whole class drawing their own medieval guys. My favorite moment was when I asked my student about this one, “does he have four arms??” and he replied “currently, yes”

there is no limit to his talents... a true renaissance cat

A screenshot of a spam email trying to convince me to hire this bot to promote “Franny the Undercover Nanny”, a book I definitely have not written

Got this spam in my academic email inbox… Apparently, according to this bot, I am not writing a PhD dissertation on Augustan and Fascist demolition of working-class neighborhoods in Rome, but rather, a “delightful” book entitled “Franny the Undercover Granny” 👀

A gorgeous orange and black mixed cat sits with yellow and red ancient Roman frescoes behind her

A fluffy and majestic grey cat sits with ancient columns and walls behind her

A lovely orange cat walks on a sidewalk with Roman ruins behind him

A cozy black cat loafs on several ancient blocks. There are ropes around him to make sure he is respected as the owner of the domus

Very important update from Pompeii: cats

to be face-to-face with the artworks I’ve poured over, analyzed, presented about, and (soon!) published about, and to see some small ripple effects of my research make their way into the exhibit. What a way to cap off my foray into Maria Barosso and Fascist demolition art… and bravo to all involved!

A woman holding an umbrella stands in front of a sign for an exhibit titled “Maria Barosso”, with a watercolor of the Vittoriano in Rome

A woman smiling and pointing to a museum sign titled “Via dell’Impero”, alongside an archaeological drawing

A red exhibition hallway with the title “Maria Barosso, artista e archeologa nella Roma in trasformazione”

A woman smiles next to a watercolor depicting demolition activity in central Rome. She’s extra excited because her article that analyzes this painting is being published soon!

After two in-depth visits, I can finally control my emotions enough to say that I got to see the exhibit on my research subject of the past two years after 18+ months of waiting/postponements (#Italy). It was amazing to see room after room dedicated to the works that have occupied my mind for years,

(Also, they have made me into a monster in that I am ravenous and refuse to stop going to the archives even when my advisors tell me that I have more than enough material 😅… it’s addictive and I keep finding new stuff, it’s not my fault!)

So incredibly apt as I wrap up another round of visits to Archivio Storico Capitolino, whose contents unexpectedly turned into the backbone of my PhD. I’m proud of the monstrosity of my project, which at this point is a chimera of archaeology, art history, Italian Studies, urban geography, and more

archaeologist’s day out at the stazione-museo

A photo of ancient bronze buckets in an underground space. In the background are escalators going down to the metro platforms

A large black stone wall incised with a map of Via dei Fori Imperiali and the archaeological remains

A display with a circular case showing pottery sherds in a well. A reconstructed well stands in the background

Multiple tufa wells are built into a wall in an underground space. In the background is a bank of escalators

A few more photos because I’m so jazzed about this station! Also, the spotlight that it shines on the demolition of Quartiere Alessandrino and Fascist era Via dell’Impero was a pleasant surprise and one that will certainly get a shout-out in my dissertation. (Not pictured because I only took video)

A big crowd clustered around a display of ancient columns

A display of pottery sherds in stratigraphic order, next to an explanation entitled “Down the Well”

Families looking into circular displays of finds from wells. A glowing map and lights imitating the wells are part of the display

Ruins of an ancient structure inside an underground space, with people looking into it. The display is titled “A Window on History”

The new Colosseo Metro C station is a true feat of public archaeology. I’ve never seen so many people clamoring to see archaeological remains, and everything is so engagingly and beautifully presented. I spent over an hour just exploring the station, and the whole place was buzzing!

A woman standing looking distraught in front of a construction sign that says in English, “the archaeological excavation of Via Alessandrina is underway to increase the knowledge and enhancement of the Imperial Fora”. A cobblestone street and large monument are in the background.

The Roman ruins of the Forum of Augustus at sunset. In front of the columns are the remains of a road with construction vehicles and fencing.

When you discover that the last trace of the subject of your dissertation on fascist demolition has suddenly been demolished in 2025 and history is repeating itself and you also missed out on the excavation and now the street is gone and you’re distraught #merrychristmastome

Buon Natale, Roma ✨🎄

Does he let you huff the fluff? Our little grey guy allows approximately one (1) huff of the tummy fluff per day

l'altra pompei in uno dei siti più frequentati al mondo, ma anche meglio conservati dell’antichità, si tende a raccontare una storia parziale, minoritaria, dimenticando sistematicamente e per ragioni diverse (per ...

Does anyone have access to either the English or Italian versions of the catalog from L’Altra Pompei? I went to the exhibit and somehow didn’t buy the catalog, and I need it for a lesson on Wednesday 😭

artem.org/editoria/lal...

@pompei79.bsky.social do you happen to know if there’s a digital version of the catalog available for purchase anywhere?

l'altra pompei in uno dei siti più frequentati al mondo, ma anche meglio conservati dell’antichità, si tende a raccontare una storia parziale, minoritaria, dimenticando sistematicamente e per ragioni diverse (per ...

Does anyone have access to either the English or Italian versions of the catalog from L’Altra Pompei? I went to the exhibit and somehow didn’t buy the catalog, and I need it for a lesson on Wednesday 😭

artem.org/editoria/lal...

even if he doesn't acquiesce to an Ozvent calendar (but I hope he does), I do think it's time for Ozzy merch-- I'd pay good money for a 2026 Ozzy wall calendar 👀

Ahhh let me know! Because I desperately want one!

Wait, how are you seeing that? Cause I have one in my cart and it’s saying $54 plus $12 shipping to CA…?

Of course! I’ve been meaning to reach out to you about it, I’d love to chat!

Frankenstein is my very favorite book, and idk if I’ve ever been as disappointed as I was while watching del Toro’s version tonight 😩 the only good adaptation continues to be the Nick Dear play

We didn’t even get a chance to finish decorating the tree first 😒