Randy Watkins
@bluetortoise3.bsky.social
Lead Field Biologist on large water and power projects in the Eastern Mojave, from 1999-2010 for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Link: https://www.snwa.com/infrastructure-improvements/intake3-pumping-station/index.html
Pinned
The Endangered Species Act has protected species and their habitats for over 50 years. A single word change could significantly alter the way the law is implemented. The only beneficiaries of this plan are extractive industries. 🌎 by @morgansjogren.bsky.social
This One Word Change Could Gut Our Strongest Conservation Law
The bipartisan Endangered Species Act is on the line as the federal government proposes a new change
www.sierraclub.org
The ESA protects wildlife and its habitat by preventing illegal “Take“, a legal word meaning “harass, harm, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct“ except by federal permit. Removing HARM protection will increase their greatest threat: habitat loss.
Wildfire, powerlines, drought and lead pollution are causes, and many eagles have starved to death b/c a virus killed the preferred prey. The drought in S. Nevada, in the E. Mojave, which includes Dry Lake Valley, is in a 25 yr "megadrought" that dropped the Lake Mead water levels to historic lows.🌎
Golden eagles in Nevada are dying at an alarming rate, and no one can pinpoint the cause.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/golden-eagles-desert-death
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/golden-eagles-desert-death
How tracking golden eagles in Nevada revealed a desert ‘death vortex’
Something is stopping Dry Lake Valley’s golden eagles from reproducing and killing raptors that fly in to fill the void.
www.sciencenews.org
February 18, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Wildfire, powerlines, drought and lead pollution are causes, and many eagles have starved to death b/c a virus killed the preferred prey. The drought in S. Nevada, in the E. Mojave, which includes Dry Lake Valley, is in a 25 yr "megadrought" that dropped the Lake Mead water levels to historic lows.🌎
Reposted by Randy Watkins
We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair — the cavalry is coming! Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be taking the stage this spring from Minneapolis to California to Texas to Washington, D.C. for the Land of Hope And Dreams American Tour.
February 17, 2026 at 5:11 PM
We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair — the cavalry is coming! Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be taking the stage this spring from Minneapolis to California to Texas to Washington, D.C. for the Land of Hope And Dreams American Tour.
Reposted by Randy Watkins
"For the sake of Nevada’s landscapes, wildlife, and future generations, Cortez Masto and Rosen should not only vote no, but also join their Senate colleagues from Colorado in forcefully opposing Steve Pearce’s nomination" to head the Bureau of Land Management.
Commentary:
Commentary:
A line in the sand: Why Nevada’s public lands, and our senators’ votes, matter now • Nevada Current
The desert teaches you humility. Out on Bureau of Land Management land in southern Nevada, there is no hum of electricity, no running water, no cell service to pull you back into the noise of modern l...
nevadacurrent.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:56 PM
"For the sake of Nevada’s landscapes, wildlife, and future generations, Cortez Masto and Rosen should not only vote no, but also join their Senate colleagues from Colorado in forcefully opposing Steve Pearce’s nomination" to head the Bureau of Land Management.
Commentary:
Commentary:
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Somewhere, in the vast depths of the abyss, there's a worm that lives on the corpse of a dead blue whale, consuming the oil that leaches from its bones.
It's name is Osedax mucofloris, the bone-eating zombie snot flower worm. It will never see this video.
Envy it.
It's name is Osedax mucofloris, the bone-eating zombie snot flower worm. It will never see this video.
Envy it.
Who's up for an official U.S. government video showing RFK Jr. working out with Kid Rock and doing a cold water plunge in jeans
February 18, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Somewhere, in the vast depths of the abyss, there's a worm that lives on the corpse of a dead blue whale, consuming the oil that leaches from its bones.
It's name is Osedax mucofloris, the bone-eating zombie snot flower worm. It will never see this video.
Envy it.
It's name is Osedax mucofloris, the bone-eating zombie snot flower worm. It will never see this video.
Envy it.
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Curiosity Lab: The Weight of Water
Feb 18 | 6:30pm | DRI Las Vegas
Explore how water shapes cities, communities & personal stories—through science, reflection & lived experience.
✨ Curiosity Lab attendees receive free access to the Atomic Museum from 5–6:30pm.
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/clweightofwater
Feb 18 | 6:30pm | DRI Las Vegas
Explore how water shapes cities, communities & personal stories—through science, reflection & lived experience.
✨ Curiosity Lab attendees receive free access to the Atomic Museum from 5–6:30pm.
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/clweightofwater
February 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Curiosity Lab: The Weight of Water
Feb 18 | 6:30pm | DRI Las Vegas
Explore how water shapes cities, communities & personal stories—through science, reflection & lived experience.
✨ Curiosity Lab attendees receive free access to the Atomic Museum from 5–6:30pm.
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/clweightofwater
Feb 18 | 6:30pm | DRI Las Vegas
Explore how water shapes cities, communities & personal stories—through science, reflection & lived experience.
✨ Curiosity Lab attendees receive free access to the Atomic Museum from 5–6:30pm.
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/clweightofwater
Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, Steve Pearce (R), is a climate change denier, believes the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, co-sponsored bills undermining the Antiquities Act and opening national forests to industry while in Congress. NO! nevadacurrent.com/2026/02/17/a...
A line in the sand: Why Nevada’s public lands, and our senators’ votes, matter now • Nevada Current
The desert teaches you humility. Out on Bureau of Land Management land in southern Nevada, there is no hum of electricity, no running water, no cell service to pull you back into the noise of modern l...
nevadacurrent.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, Steve Pearce (R), is a climate change denier, believes the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, co-sponsored bills undermining the Antiquities Act and opening national forests to industry while in Congress. NO! nevadacurrent.com/2026/02/17/a...
Reposted by Randy Watkins
one of those things you need to watch if for no other reason than the trump administration doesn't want you to:
February 17, 2026 at 3:19 PM
one of those things you need to watch if for no other reason than the trump administration doesn't want you to:
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Heatmap’s AM Top 5:
1. New York has canceled its 5th offshore wind farm
2. US natural gas production to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027
3. X-energy and Valar Automics reach milestones
4. Colorado River negotiations disband w/o deal
5. Macron says EU’s H2 rules “crazy”
read more on @heatmap.news:
1. New York has canceled its 5th offshore wind farm
2. US natural gas production to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027
3. X-energy and Valar Automics reach milestones
4. Colorado River negotiations disband w/o deal
5. Macron says EU’s H2 rules “crazy”
read more on @heatmap.news:
New York Abandons Its Fifth Offshore Wind Solicitation
On microreactor milestones, the Colorado River, and ‘crazy’ Europe
heatmap.news
February 17, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Heatmap’s AM Top 5:
1. New York has canceled its 5th offshore wind farm
2. US natural gas production to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027
3. X-energy and Valar Automics reach milestones
4. Colorado River negotiations disband w/o deal
5. Macron says EU’s H2 rules “crazy”
read more on @heatmap.news:
1. New York has canceled its 5th offshore wind farm
2. US natural gas production to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027
3. X-energy and Valar Automics reach milestones
4. Colorado River negotiations disband w/o deal
5. Macron says EU’s H2 rules “crazy”
read more on @heatmap.news:
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Water shapes #LasVegas — our history, neighborhoods & personal stories.
#CuriosityLab: The Weight of Water
📍 Feb. 18 | DRI Las Vegas | 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ bit.ly/clweightofwater
With:
• @geoffschumacher.bsky.social
• @dickensheets.bsky.social
• Guo Yu
Free Atomic Museum access for attendees 5–6:30 p.m.
#CuriosityLab: The Weight of Water
📍 Feb. 18 | DRI Las Vegas | 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ bit.ly/clweightofwater
With:
• @geoffschumacher.bsky.social
• @dickensheets.bsky.social
• Guo Yu
Free Atomic Museum access for attendees 5–6:30 p.m.
February 16, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Water shapes #LasVegas — our history, neighborhoods & personal stories.
#CuriosityLab: The Weight of Water
📍 Feb. 18 | DRI Las Vegas | 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ bit.ly/clweightofwater
With:
• @geoffschumacher.bsky.social
• @dickensheets.bsky.social
• Guo Yu
Free Atomic Museum access for attendees 5–6:30 p.m.
#CuriosityLab: The Weight of Water
📍 Feb. 18 | DRI Las Vegas | 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ bit.ly/clweightofwater
With:
• @geoffschumacher.bsky.social
• @dickensheets.bsky.social
• Guo Yu
Free Atomic Museum access for attendees 5–6:30 p.m.
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Breaking: The Colorado River states will miss the Trump administration's Saturday deadline for a seven state deal to share the river over the next 20 years. We're following this story all day today @reviewjournal.com: www.reviewjournal.com/news/environ...
No deal: Colorado River states waive white flag ahead of Trump admin deadline
Low snowpack and projections for Lake Mead and Lake Powell underpin the discussions.
www.reviewjournal.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Breaking: The Colorado River states will miss the Trump administration's Saturday deadline for a seven state deal to share the river over the next 20 years. We're following this story all day today @reviewjournal.com: www.reviewjournal.com/news/environ...
🌎 It doesn’t matter if Trump believes climate change is a hoax, the reality is the amount of water in the Colorado River is dropping. One of the biggest disagreements between Lower Basin states — NV, AZ, and CA — and Upper Basin states — CO, NM, UT, and WY— is over who gets less and by how much.
Talked about the Colorado River on @kjzz.org: www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...
Conversation inspired by my recent @nytimes.com op-ed: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Conversation inspired by my recent @nytimes.com op-ed: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Colorado River states are staring down a Feb. 14 deadline. Here's what might happen next
Arizona’s water future depends on negotiations over Colorado River water that are coming to a head right now.
www.kjzz.org
February 13, 2026 at 1:37 AM
🌎 It doesn’t matter if Trump believes climate change is a hoax, the reality is the amount of water in the Colorado River is dropping. One of the biggest disagreements between Lower Basin states — NV, AZ, and CA — and Upper Basin states — CO, NM, UT, and WY— is over who gets less and by how much.
Reposted by Randy Watkins
February 12, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Reposted by Randy Watkins
EPA scraps the ‘endangerment finding’ that climate change harms human health
One major rule anchored U.S. climate policy. The EPA just threw it out
The Trump administration rescinded the 2009 “endangerment finding,” ending regulation of greenhouse gases from cars and trucks
www.scientificamerican.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:03 PM
EPA scraps the ‘endangerment finding’ that climate change harms human health
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Please enjoy our research paper on how Bluesky is the preferred home of academics of all stripes, including professors of rare moths. (Yes, we actually have lots of entomologists here).
academic.oup.com/icb/article-... 🧪
academic.oup.com/icb/article-... 🧪
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Please enjoy our research paper on how Bluesky is the preferred home of academics of all stripes, including professors of rare moths. (Yes, we actually have lots of entomologists here).
academic.oup.com/icb/article-... 🧪
academic.oup.com/icb/article-... 🧪
Reposted by Randy Watkins
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
February 11, 2026 at 9:56 PM
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
Reposted by Randy Watkins
I'm going to do a thread of all the references and context behind Bad Bunny's performance and what it means for Puerto Ricans to see this on the biggest stage.
The opening title screen is a street mural in Puerto Rico that comes to life with footballs as coconuts.
Follow along!
The opening title screen is a street mural in Puerto Rico that comes to life with footballs as coconuts.
Follow along!
February 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I'm going to do a thread of all the references and context behind Bad Bunny's performance and what it means for Puerto Ricans to see this on the biggest stage.
The opening title screen is a street mural in Puerto Rico that comes to life with footballs as coconuts.
Follow along!
The opening title screen is a street mural in Puerto Rico that comes to life with footballs as coconuts.
Follow along!
Reposted by Randy Watkins
Bad Bunny “together we are America”
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Bad Bunny “together we are America”
Reposted by Randy Watkins
The only thing more powerful than hate is LOVE
February 9, 2026 at 1:39 AM
The only thing more powerful than hate is LOVE
I WANNA DANCE!!!
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
I WANNA DANCE!!!
Reposted by Randy Watkins
You’ve seen my real-time video last night from Beaver.. well here is what Maia saw on her tour! Beautiful from Fairbanks as well.
Maia just got a Sony FX3 to capture real-time video during her tours. Here’s one of the first videos!
Maia just got a Sony FX3 to capture real-time video during her tours. Here’s one of the first videos!
February 8, 2026 at 3:22 AM
You’ve seen my real-time video last night from Beaver.. well here is what Maia saw on her tour! Beautiful from Fairbanks as well.
Maia just got a Sony FX3 to capture real-time video during her tours. Here’s one of the first videos!
Maia just got a Sony FX3 to capture real-time video during her tours. Here’s one of the first videos!
I’ve lived in Alaska; my dad was stationed there at Elemendorf AFB outside of Anchorage in 1968, and, no there is nothing like the Aurora. There is no way to accurately describe it to people in the “Lower 48”. You just have to see it for yourself.
The aurora last night in Beaver, Alaska was just incredible. This is a real-time video (not sped up) of the crazy motion I saw. Also, look how BRIGHT it is, wow!
February 8, 2026 at 3:31 AM
I’ve lived in Alaska; my dad was stationed there at Elemendorf AFB outside of Anchorage in 1968, and, no there is nothing like the Aurora. There is no way to accurately describe it to people in the “Lower 48”. You just have to see it for yourself.
Reposted by Randy Watkins
2 minutes of Terry Kath absolutely kickin' bottom. Dig it.
#terrykath #chicago #guitar #guitarsolo #classicrock #rocknroll #radio
#terrykath #chicago #guitar #guitarsolo #classicrock #rocknroll #radio
February 7, 2026 at 5:16 PM
2 minutes of Terry Kath absolutely kickin' bottom. Dig it.
#terrykath #chicago #guitar #guitarsolo #classicrock #rocknroll #radio
#terrykath #chicago #guitar #guitarsolo #classicrock #rocknroll #radio
Reposted by Randy Watkins
In person sold out, but can stream:
Live from the heart of ICE-occupied Minneapolis, alt-country band The Gated Community presents a free streaming concert of protest songs and original material on Saturday, February 7 from 4-6 pm CST. All donations will go to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Live from the heart of ICE-occupied Minneapolis, alt-country band The Gated Community presents a free streaming concert of protest songs and original material on Saturday, February 7 from 4-6 pm CST. All donations will go to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 AM
In person sold out, but can stream:
Live from the heart of ICE-occupied Minneapolis, alt-country band The Gated Community presents a free streaming concert of protest songs and original material on Saturday, February 7 from 4-6 pm CST. All donations will go to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Live from the heart of ICE-occupied Minneapolis, alt-country band The Gated Community presents a free streaming concert of protest songs and original material on Saturday, February 7 from 4-6 pm CST. All donations will go to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Reposted by Randy Watkins
fucking swine
BREAKING: A 5th Circuit panel has backed ICE's mass detention policy, a decision that clears the way for the administration to lock up people who are in immigration proceedings
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 7, 2026 at 2:36 AM
fucking swine
“Americans enraged over Trump’s first year back in office deserve a formidable opposition party. Instead, they’ve been stuck with a feckless group of establishment politicians, walking around with their flies down as the president tears the country apart.”
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Dems Channel Kramer in Softening ICE Demands
Democrats in Congress have released a new list of demands for ICE restrictions, but Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries already seem to be sofening.
www.rollingstone.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:47 AM
“Americans enraged over Trump’s first year back in office deserve a formidable opposition party. Instead, they’ve been stuck with a feckless group of establishment politicians, walking around with their flies down as the president tears the country apart.”
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...