Somebody yelled at me for posting about Ganymede instead of /the state of things/ last night. I know we’re (almost) all on the same page here, but a Bluesky without cute cats, science facts, and dumb jokes would be bad for everyone.
Dems would get much more traction finding and promoting people saying what they know and experience. What has more impact, This man speaking his mind or the Dems speaking “in unison “ ?
You guys need to see this and take it in… Wise words from someone who is a target. And he’s been listening.
The most unlikely friendship 🐅🐶
All I’m saying is, if Pluto were orbiting Jupiter it would be the fifth most interesting moon of Jupiter.
Mitch McConnell joins Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins in voting against Pete Hegseth
As a fan of literature there’s no worse feeling than finding out a novel has an unreliable narrator and realising you wasted your money
It would hardly be a new thought to say "we need to work on our critical thinking skills" but I do think it might be worth clarifying that the *point* of critical thinking skills is to be able to create your own meaning out of the things going on in the world.
I’m at a science fiction convention this weekend and it’s the first time in months I’m not meant to be doing anything in particular and my plan for the day is to lounge in bed for a long time and then hand out in the bar for a long time and then go back and lounge in bed again
The community just hit the $100,000 charity goal for the Humane Society on Twitch. Absolutely incredible and 7 days left in the month. Best damn community I could ask for. 💜💛
Every time I visit the Washington Post they ask me to re-subscribe. I don't think I've ever seen a subscription offer where the annual rate is *more* expensive than the monthly one. How dumb are they? (Also: fuck 'em, I wouldn't resubscribe for $1/year until Bezos sells.)
Screenshot of subscription offer with two choices, $1 every 4 weeks, or $29 for a year.
ALT
"stop hitting yourself" but unironically
I can’t think of a worse place to get deloused than in a comatorium
I am well enough known that if I sit in the convention bar with seats around me, they will get filled. I don’t do it to hold court - I don’t think anyone thinks of me that way - but to be accessible. I wouldn’t do that in my hotel room, though. The room’s for depressurizing after being accessible.
I met Isaac Asimov at a con in D.C. way back when. It was...an experience. Back then (early 80s), notable only in degree. Lounging in his room, door open, dozens of people who just happened along inside. Him holding court, chatting with one and all amid drinks and music. Not your agenda, methinks:p
I need a stronger disappointed emoji
slow horses is better than i thought it would be. it’s something between The Americans and Misfits
"Whether or not we supported Alaric in his campaign to sack Rome, it is now our patriotic duty to rally behind him. Alaric is now the ruler of all Romans, not just those who smear their faces with blood and smell strongly of dung." (Published on the occasion of GWB's 2001 inauguration)
From The New Republic, January 22, 2001. Partial transcript below. Follow pastebin link in next post for complete alt text.

BIPARTISANSHIP, CIRCA 410 A.D.
Finally, the divisive battle that has gripped our nation for months has come to an end. There can no longer be any doubt of the ultimate result: Alaric and his Visigoth horde have won, and the emperor, Flavius Honorius, has lost.
Whether or not we supported Alaric in his campaign to sack Rome, it is now our patriotic duty to rally behind him. Alaric is now the ruler of all Romans, not just those who smear their faces with blood and smell strongly of dung. We must all show the graciousness, good humor, and dignity that Honorius demonstrated as he fled on horseback with his servants in the dark of night.
If one thing has been proved by this long battle, it is that our system works. The Visigoths worked hard for this outcome: They pillaged our temples, burned our crops, and carried off our women. As a result, they now deserve our support, as well as our respect. Yes, some may continue to question aspects of Alaric's campaign. We have previously noted our concern about the Visigoths' strategy of stripping naked and running into battle making high-pitched screaming sounds, as well as their controversial decision to slay our elders and eat their entrails in the Forum. The Visigoths' scorched-earth strategy—and, again, we would have preferred for them to have scorched only some of our earth-struck many of us as overly aggressive. But, in the end, Alaric and his barbarian horde were simply using every method available to them in a flawed and often confusing process. No battle is perfect, and inevitably some children are going to be impaled on stakes and their lifeless bodies paraded through the streets. Those tactics don't make the result of this contest any less legitimate.
ALT
The Trump administration has canceled meetings and frozen hiring at the NIH. In today’s episode, @casey_crownhart joins us to discuss this and other other big science stories of the week. Plus, what is a meme coin? Listen here 🎧: buff.ly/3Mut28J
The Trump administration has imposed a range of restrictions on the National Institutes of Health, affecting meetings, travel, hiring, funding, and communications.
ALT
this thread warmed my heart. just online people, living in the moment.
I need a stronger disappointed emoji
It's Hard Fork Friday! This week on the show: • TikTok is both dead and alive, Schrödinger's app • How tech CEOs are trying to do business with Trump • Memecoins are back, are you rich yet? • And joins to talk about his new book on attention www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/p...