Photo above a "doctor's testimonial" on an ecommerce site. Gee, Doc, feel free to name yourself whatever you want, but Helen Tran doesn't seem to fit. Of course, that's just my opinion.

Just rewatched “Children of Men” for the first time in years —fascist/racist governments, anti-immigrant propaganda, troops on the streets, erosion of basic rights, non-citizens held in cages like animals. If humanity suddenly becomes infertile then reality is a lazy plagiarist. See ALT text caption

Next time a student tells you that your in-class phone ban is unreasonable, show them this. And assess a $75K fine. #academicchatter #teaching

For your Sunday mind-cleansing, a story about #bookstores and #animals... www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/b... #BookSky #cats #books

@haggistamer.bsky.social We were saying... (This just appeared in my Instagram feed for no known reason.)

Every time I finish watching a superhero movie, no matter how ballyhooed, I feel like I just ate an entire Costco-sized box of factory-produced ultra-processed artificially-flavored snack cakes by myself. Ugh, never again.

Although I'm a professional communicator, I think there are enough words out there about the evil that is happening in the US. So I decided to make another donation to @democracyforward.org — at least lawsuits seem to be having some effect. #RESIST

My latest capsule book reviews, from vampires to Irish satire to a National Book Award winner, compiled for your consumption convenience. Happy reading! atomictango.com/media/overdu... #books #BookSky

As a hopelessly addicted apple pie junkie, I have to share that Trader Joe's is now selling jars of apple pie spread. I don't have any crusts handy, so I'm just looking for substitutes to spread it on. Hmm, a pile of papers to grade. They're crust-like...

I guess I'll be sent to Guantanamo for sharing this...

How should marketers segment the marketplace? Hint from me: if they're using the word "Gen," they're doing it wrong. Read for the full scoop: "Divide And Conquer: How To Segment Your Market Without Pissing Anyone Off" atomictango.com/marketing/se... #marketing

Sad juxtaposition on LinkedIn... cc @haggistamer.bsky.social

What's wrong with this #marketing chart? Oh, let me count the ways... atomictango.com/marketing/ge... #business #businesssky #marketingsky

Even if you don't like Barnes & Noble (I'm neutral), if you love physical books, then this story is full of good news. (P.S. I buy most of my books from second-hand stores, @powells.bsky.social or @bookshop.org.) www.modernretail.co/operations/w... #BookSky #books

Good: "21 unions and faculty associations representing more than 100,000 University of California employees sued President Trump Tuesday, alleging he is illegally forcing “ideological dominance” over a UC education" www.latimes.com/california/s... #HigherEd #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #resist

Fellow professor just told me that a student emailed him, stating that she's out with "alcohol intoxication." I give her credit for honesty. Back in my day, it was always "food poisoning." #teaching #academicchatter

The beauty of social media: no matter how warped your perspective, you'll find someone who shares it. (Glad to see other Steelers fans detesting our own QB.)

I prefer big forests, but living in the asphalt-bound sprawl of Los Angeles, I would welcome these tiny forests. A lot of 'em. @crosstownla.bsky.social, know if L.A. has any, or how many empty city-owned lots could host them? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c... #nature #environmentalism #rewilding

A microscopic tardigrade going for a stroll through some algae. Credit: Sinclair Stammers

Subscription renewed!

OK, I agree that we'll be seeing, hearing, and dealing with #AI #influencers over the coming years. BUT this article is misleading in 2 major ways... www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/s...

So I wonder what happened to all the #influencers who confessed to fakery when #TikTok appeared to be going away... atomictango.com/marketing/ti...

As my new students are discovering, I love to cold call. But I'm not heartless (at least, not completely). Here are some tips on how to handle being cold-called at school and work, and how to disagree… atomictango.com/mischief/thi... #teaching #highered #academicchatter #academicsky

I confess that I enjoy watching videos of Orange Julius Caesar getting booed. It's the "easy listening" of 2025. #RESIST youtu.be/EtdTfD5cI5A

Charlie Kirk’s Professor Watchlist wasn’t about “free speech.” It was about fear. Professors were doxxed, harassed, even assaulted and now America is rewriting the story. www.virginmonkboy.com/p/the-watchl... #AcademicFreedom #ProfessorWatchlist #CharlieKirk #FreeSpeech #PoliticalViolence #HigherEd

Yes! I will get mine next week, along with a flu shot and whatever other vaccine they have lying around that could benefit me. Vaccinations rock. P.S. F.U.R.F.K.jr. #resist

Overdue Book Review: A fantasy about #Japan, #books & talking #cats? What’s not to love? Alas, “The Cat Who Saved Books” is no “Alice In Wonderland.” The plain prose + videogame plot might suit mid-schoolers, but even they’d want more action, suspense & whimsy. bookshop.org/a/115667/978... #BookSky

How to drive (relatively) safely in L.A.: Assume the other driver is on drugs, has a gun, and is texting. (Odds are, at least 1 out 3 will be correct.) #LosAngeles

Future archaeologists will ponder the glyphs of 21st century tribes... #languages #linguistics

Funny how the market values #creators based on their number of followers, when "following" is one of the biggest lies about #socialmedia — and that's before we even factor in fake followers: atomictango.com/marketing/hy...

The Pecan Raisin Loaf from local L.A. business Cadoro Bakery (www.cadorobakery.com) is made of clean simple ingredients, with no need to toast or butter — amazing straight from the bag. I purchase mine from Gelson's in Century City. Note: NOT a paid endorsement. #food #LosAngeles

#Google is back tracking your phone's digital fingerprint. Solution: 1. Use an iPhone. 2. Use the Safari browser. 3. In Safari Settings, under #Privacy, switch "Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection" to "All Browsing." www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...

There are plenty of real photos of Trump and Epstein. Circulating the AI ones undermines confidence in those. Stick to the real photos, to he long record of Trump’s behavior, and to his current desperate attempt to without information about his complicity

Overdue Book Review: "The Employees" sounded cool: office politics in space! But the author is a poet, so the structure is confusing, the writing nebulous. Though the book is short, I skipped most of it. Read only if you love #poetry + #scifi. bookshop.org/a/115667/978... #books #BookSky

All ye #AI haters: I have a Samsung SmartTV (dumb purchase). I tried setting up an antenna. The manual: useless. The website: useless. YouTube charlatans: either parroting the manual or making shit up. #ChatGPT: walks me through my issues, provides the right info (unplug TV, plug it back in).

A comedic monologue I wrote: "On The Whinge Of An Angel" medium.com/@freddynager... #writing #humor #LosAngeles

Overdue Book Review: At first, Susan Choi's "Trust Exercise" appears as an elegiac teen sex, drugs + theatre story, but it's much more layered and symbolic, deviously so. I'm still rethinking every character and relationship in this gut-wrenching novel. bookshop.org/a/115667/978... #books #BookSky

Just dropped off some end-of-the-road worn-out clothes at Suay in downtown #LosAngeles. They employ local artisans to upcycle the fabric into pillows and other home goods. I paid $20 to recycle, and received $20 credit at their store. suayla.com #recycling #sustainability

Like watching two viruses fight. Where's my popcorn? www.latimes.com/entertainmen... #media #journalism

One of my #advertising faves of the past 10 years... atomictango.com/marketing/ch...

Go, California! (Before #MAHA kills us all...) www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Some satire to kick off your week? A piece of short #fiction by me... medium.com/@freddynager... #writing #LosAngeles

I'm amazed by how many 2025 professionals don't know when to hit "reply" or "reply" all in their emails. Sigh. atomictango.com/mischief/com...

Glad to see Nielsen and other institutions pushing interest-based segmentation... Except, uh Nielsen, "Hispanic" is a demographic. Ethnic stereotypes can also lead to bad #marketing.

Anticipated exchanges tomorrow at school: "Hey Freddy, what did you do for Labor Day?" "I'm a professor and administrator; I labored." #AcademicChatter

Epic. Poetic. Hilarious. F'ing spot on. 'When he dies, he dies You know. "It."'

Today we explore vibe cooking with my step-by-step recipe guide for spaghetti carbonara. All the results with none of the time, money, or effort! You'll love it. 👨‍🍳

In honor of Labor Day, I present one of my favorite awful job ads (with analysis by me). Behold: the 24/7 Renaissance Social Media Manager... atomictango.com/mischief/stu... #socialmedia #jobs #LaborDay #business #marketing

A sea turtle surfacing by a MASSIVE school of rays near Clearwater, Florida a couple days ago. Another post into the BluSky void. Maybe 2 or 3 people will see this one and my time won't have been wasted. I'll keep trying a little longer. #nature #animals #amazing #wildlife #awesome #ocean