An unapologetically angry post about what’s being done to US science:

This article—I kid you not—goes from saying "the entire NSF board was dissolved and the agency has no director" in one sentence to "it's the fault of the ivory tower for having promoted novelty over rigor" in the next.

This is just the latest example of how Democrats are always expected to be the adults in the room, while Republicans are treated like babies with no agency over their own actions.

There are going to be solutions to the challenges brought by these so-called A.I. systems, but they will likely need to be institutional in scale and involve real changes that require deep introspection by higher ed, not just the normal "mostly ignore it until a new problem arises" solutions.

A.I. issues in academic integrity seem to be much of an extension or the next evolution of these systems, which many colleges and universities did not address in a systematic way, leaving up to individual faculty to deal with on a case by case basis.

There's a lot of chatter today about "A.I. cheating" by students suddenly springing up in higher ed as if it is an unprecedented challenge and I wonder where these people were during the chegg/coursehero times.

Erdogan ordered Turkey’s police to raid the opposition party’s HQ days after a kangaroo court ousted the opposition leader.

We cannot keep ignoring Turkey’s descent into authoritarianism. We must stand for the people's right to democracy for allies & adversaries alike.

Wet solvents? Still issue

The dead troops were not "defending America," like the propaganda tells us again & again. They died in the name of the violent fantasies of an elite cabal that has never, ever faced any accountability for its endlessly disastrous decisions. Thats' what I'm thinking about this Memorial Day.

This what neither US leaders nor the US people are really prepared to grapple with: the use of the US military in the post-WWII era has largely been pointless or counterproductive, producing vast suffering to no benefit. We would all be better off if we'd done literally none of it.

The real action now is in the various video-based platforms. But if you have a community in your area of professional or recreational interest that gathers on Bluesky or Reddit or a group chat, then go at it.

There is no way to do anything interesting in any sustained way in any field without immersion in that field. That's just a fundamental fact of being human, and there's no getting around it.

Farmers are coded "working class" as rural white people, even though they own their means of production. Meanwhile, I have a PhD and teach at a liberal arts college, so no one will ever call me working class, even though I earn a lot less and depend on wages. It's gendered vibes, all the way down.

Hi! I'm a farmer! This NYT article is sweet, saccharine bullshit. Farmers knew Trump was going to hurt our business. Because he already did a trade war in his 1st term. I even did a video on why so many farmers support Trump, WHILE knowing he'd hurt our farms.

Vending machine: Thank you for your purchase. Dawkins: Wow, you are sentient and conscious, but only in this fleeting moment, for the next time I buy fig newtons, I will meet a new unique being! Vending machine: Have a nice day. Dawkins: I’ll see you in Xanadu, my sweet innocent Vendra!

Mango Hemorrhoids

More details on the firing of the National Science Board. The NSF now has no director, deputy director, or board. They have issued almost no new awards in 2026. The plan appears to be to completely destroyed the agency. The details are horrifying and have Russ Vought written all over them.

I think we should all start blogs again. Or online journals, even. That was a nice time. Just writing a few paragraphs about your day (don't forget to list the sad song you're listening to!) and maybe your friends will leave a comment. Then you go and read theirs and comment. It was fun.

As the husband of an Iranian woman, as an American, and as a human being, I’m honestly not sure how much more of this I can stand.

This is how I deal with stress sometimes #chemsky

1. Cubs 2. Mets 3. Cubs

‘what to know about boy kibble the viral meal slop trend,’ i say loudly. it is the year 2071—a beautiful spring day. i do not know where i am. “mr. warzel let’s get you back to your room,” the nice nurse says grabbing my arm

Feel like it might benefit the U.S. in some ways if our current position weren't that science is for woke losers.

I’ve always said that critical thinking starts with acknowledging what you do not know. This is a major point of failure, in my opinion.

shocked that this wasn't the next big thing

National Science Foundation: $9 billion total in FY2026

Not one of these ghouls knows a trans kid, understands anything about the actual circumstances or humanity of trans kids, or gives a shit. To them, trans kids play a purely symbolic role: they are a Weak Other that can be abused as form of collective self-soothing. So fucking gross.

I understand why chatbot cheating happens but every time I read about it I want to gently remind everyone that the point of schoolwork is not for the submission to exist. Teachers are not just greedy for more essays or solved equations. The point is to do the work WITH YOUR OWN BRAIN, FOR LEARNING.

was listening to SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR this morning and it is totally wild how much that record is a no skips, banger after banger, stone cold classic. you’re telling me at least four of the best pop hits of the 80s are on one album?!?

As someone who respected Klion—despite his frequent missteps—for a long time, I have to say that his longform writing has always been mediocre and forgettable. In a way, he is right that his posting and the clique he formed on Twitter is his biggest professional asset. He deserves to be there.

crazy what happens when you do journalism based on how people actually are instead of writing “reported fiction” about how you imagine them to be

Even this is a massive understatement of the actual costs, since all of those things require advance planning, paperwork, and (in some cases) scheduling document retrievals (often only possible during work hours). The cost doesn't have to be high in dollars to be a prohibitive tax on voters.

Good to see Sharon Van Etten on this list. Admittedly, I am not familiar with every artist on this list, but I am surprised to not see Neko Case on the heel of her fantastic album Neon Grey Midnight Green.

Really bad - not just b/c the FDA refused even to review the application after previously indicating they would, but b/c this biotech is very important: the article doesn't mention it, but an mRNA vax could be produced much faster than a std. flu vax, & so, offer a superior fit w/ circulating virus.

The corporate media DESPERATELY wants to believe in a Trump “pivot” so they don’t have to feel “uncomfortable” about propping up fascism & the murder of American citizens with their soft coverage of these tyrants.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti. "Please get the truth out about our son."

The federal government is murdering our neighbors in broad daylight and carrying out a mission of terror against the Twin Cities. Schools and businesses are closed and people are staying home because they’re afraid of ICE. This is America in 2026: at war against its own people.

Do you honestly think people in the civil rights movement and other nonviolent movements faced no violence themselves? They practiced nonviolence because it works, because the oppressor wants a shooting war, which is the war it will win

I'm 38, this is my generation. We got fucked over by this country over and over again, and all we want is to leave our kids a country they can happily call home. They want to kill that vision of the country, along with the people who dream of it.

A decade of trans advocacy has taught me people believe lies because they want to, not because they don't know they are lies. They believe trans people will regret our transition because they want us to regret our transition. They believe we are a "social contagion" because that is how they see us

Amazing time capsule, especially happy with the inclusion of Midlake. Their concert in a dingy small bar in Ithaca back in 2012 is probably my favorite concert of all time. Their latest album is also great.

We will rebuild.

Cc: @tomtomorrow.bsky.social

Cartoon by @badiucao.bsky.social.

a few thoughts youtu.be/lERS4kJIQR8

I guess we know why they cover their faces now