Catherine Shaffer
@cathshaffer.bsky.social
Freelance Science Journalist | SFF Writer
MSU/UM grad | Ann Arbor 🏠 | Clarion '97 | AnLab 🏅 | Obligate herbivore | Cat lover | Allergic to cats | Achoo!
MSU/UM grad | Ann Arbor 🏠 | Clarion '97 | AnLab 🏅 | Obligate herbivore | Cat lover | Allergic to cats | Achoo!
Pinned
I’m a science writer and a science fiction writer. I frequently write about AI in precision medicine, but I don’t use AI in my published work. Not a single word. I like pets, nature, books, and good TV. Pro-democracy.
You would have such an awful night sitting for hours and hours in the waiting room. ERs everywhere are jammed. I hope you can feel better with self help until Monday.
January 11, 2026 at 3:41 AM
You would have such an awful night sitting for hours and hours in the waiting room. ERs everywhere are jammed. I hope you can feel better with self help until Monday.
I stopped arguing on the internet years ago when I learned that trolling is linked to dark tetrad traits aka personality disorder. Every time you engage with them, you are fueling their behavior.
Yup, this is me, too. I was the original "someone is wrong on the Internet" guy. Now I just have other things I want to do with my life.
When people say shitty things to or about me, I used to kind of enjoy responding with something vastly more clever or cutting in response.
Now I mostly feel like I don't want to stoop to that level. It's just not fun or rewarding for me.
Let blowhards be blowhards, let jerks be jerks.
I'm happy.
Now I mostly feel like I don't want to stoop to that level. It's just not fun or rewarding for me.
Let blowhards be blowhards, let jerks be jerks.
I'm happy.
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 PM
I stopped arguing on the internet years ago when I learned that trolling is linked to dark tetrad traits aka personality disorder. Every time you engage with them, you are fueling their behavior.
I fell going down two garage steps and sprained both of my ankles simultaneously
What's the most ridiculous way you ever hurt yourself? I got out of the tub, skidded in water and tripped over the toilet. Ankle sprain.
😅
😅
January 6, 2026 at 2:10 AM
I fell going down two garage steps and sprained both of my ankles simultaneously
I knew my husband was awake this morning when I heard a WTF shout from the bedroom
January 3, 2026 at 5:22 PM
I knew my husband was awake this morning when I heard a WTF shout from the bedroom
You can use this exact same protocol with an instant pot and have your ribs in under an hour.
January 3, 2026 at 11:08 AM
You can use this exact same protocol with an instant pot and have your ribs in under an hour.
That time someone went full danger dingo on me because someone else blocked a third party in his comments
What’s the funniest reason someone got mad at you on Bluesky this year?
December 31, 2025 at 3:10 AM
That time someone went full danger dingo on me because someone else blocked a third party in his comments
That sucks! Also, you can turn off Apple Intelligence in iOS and MacOS.
December 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
That sucks! Also, you can turn off Apple Intelligence in iOS and MacOS.
The miscreant has gone back to her humans. She helped us really improve the security of our fencing and made sure to serenade the neighbors before sunrise every morning. Miss her already!
December 28, 2025 at 3:32 AM
The miscreant has gone back to her humans. She helped us really improve the security of our fencing and made sure to serenade the neighbors before sunrise every morning. Miss her already!
The Three Laws of Robotics, updated for a dumber future than we originally expected
New lab rules:
1) mo-cap performer must be in a different room than the robot.
2) Everybody else must ALSO be in a different room than the robot.
3) Please do not teach the robots karate.
1) mo-cap performer must be in a different room than the robot.
2) Everybody else must ALSO be in a different room than the robot.
3) Please do not teach the robots karate.
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The Three Laws of Robotics, updated for a dumber future than we originally expected
I thought it did a better job with those same beats than 1 and 2, so practice mashes perfect I guess?
December 27, 2025 at 5:53 AM
I thought it did a better job with those same beats than 1 and 2, so practice mashes perfect I guess?
Reposted by Catherine Shaffer
“That gives me an idea” is such a great phrase because it acknowledges that ideas are, in fact, gifts. Not things we churn up or generate but actual gifts.
December 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
“That gives me an idea” is such a great phrase because it acknowledges that ideas are, in fact, gifts. Not things we churn up or generate but actual gifts.
Let's start calling it a "paywall" every time you have to pay for goods or services. "I can't believe this burrito is paywalled. How will I eat???"
[preparing to get screamed at] I think I officially don’t need to know if you’re mad that an article is paywalled. Perhaps that can be an Inside Thought
December 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Let's start calling it a "paywall" every time you have to pay for goods or services. "I can't believe this burrito is paywalled. How will I eat???"
Their comment is no comment
I have never, once in my career, heard of a news org responding to a decline-to-comment with, “Well, we’ll hold it until you do.”
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
December 22, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Their comment is no comment
Sleeper
Okay, I don't usually share this kind of thing, but this made me LOL.
December 22, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Sleeper
This took me a minute…
December 22, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This took me a minute…
Awwwww…can’t stay mad
December 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Awwwww…can’t stay mad
Brent was at that game!
December 22, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Brent was at that game!
We are dog sitting this miscreant for a week. She has escaped twice already in two days. I bought her a tracking collar at my own expense and I’m very glad. She’s becoming notorious.
December 21, 2025 at 9:33 PM
We are dog sitting this miscreant for a week. She has escaped twice already in two days. I bought her a tracking collar at my own expense and I’m very glad. She’s becoming notorious.
This is a good reminder that hardened opposition to good ideas can dissipate like … smoke
I lived thru the end of public smoking. Early in my career I presented to city councils who were smoking, in front of audiences who were smoking.
Smoking in restaurants, airplanes, hospitals…
All of that seems insane now, but it was very controversial when we DID change it.
We CAN change things.
Smoking in restaurants, airplanes, hospitals…
All of that seems insane now, but it was very controversial when we DID change it.
We CAN change things.
It’s crazy that people used to be able to just smoke cigarettes wherever they wanted
December 21, 2025 at 3:54 AM
This is a good reminder that hardened opposition to good ideas can dissipate like … smoke
How do they sleep with the decor turned up so loud???
December 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
How do they sleep with the decor turned up so loud???
Our society has long devalued writers. Maybe a deluge of AI slop is exactly what we need to start putting a fair price on skilled creative work. 7/7
December 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Our society has long devalued writers. Maybe a deluge of AI slop is exactly what we need to start putting a fair price on skilled creative work. 7/7
I believe its gifts are illusory, and that as more and more writers turn to AI as a shortcut or "inspiration," my work will stand out more and more for its quality and authenticity. That's also why I'm not that worried about being replaced by AI. 6/7
December 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I believe its gifts are illusory, and that as more and more writers turn to AI as a shortcut or "inspiration," my work will stand out more and more for its quality and authenticity. That's also why I'm not that worried about being replaced by AI. 6/7
We may have to accept that we can't control or even detect the presence of AI in published works if the author is sufficiently skilled to hide it. Personally, I believe the studies showing loss of skill and mental health harms that come from using AI. I've committed not to use it because... 5/7
December 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We may have to accept that we can't control or even detect the presence of AI in published works if the author is sufficiently skilled to hide it. Personally, I believe the studies showing loss of skill and mental health harms that come from using AI. I've committed not to use it because... 5/7
If the author uses AI to develop the idea for a story, but never uses a word of AI-generated text, is that disallowed use? And even if these examples are disallowed, many authors will never disclose it, even if "required." 4/7
December 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If the author uses AI to develop the idea for a story, but never uses a word of AI-generated text, is that disallowed use? And even if these examples are disallowed, many authors will never disclose it, even if "required." 4/7