Rafe Meager (they/them)
@economeager.bsky.social
Aspiring wastrel, applied econometrician. At http://rachaelmeager.com for bayes, dev econ and meta science. Also at http://rottenandgood.substack.com for writing, art, death and emotions. Gay academic nonbinary weirdo, cursed to be serious in life.
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
Ok my EG Whitlam yarn. Early 90's Gough is speaker at a national Young Labor dinner. I'm a new SVP and get to sit next to him. He's being introduced by another delegate - at inappropriate length. Gough leans in a bit to me and asks *do the voice*
"Comrade, what faction is this fuckwit in?"
"Comrade, what faction is this fuckwit in?"
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Ok my EG Whitlam yarn. Early 90's Gough is speaker at a national Young Labor dinner. I'm a new SVP and get to sit next to him. He's being introduced by another delegate - at inappropriate length. Gough leans in a bit to me and asks *do the voice*
"Comrade, what faction is this fuckwit in?"
"Comrade, what faction is this fuckwit in?"
OMG HOW DID I MISS THIS
This year Demis Hassabis predicted AI could cure all disease in a decade.
But other scientists like Claus Wilke & Derek Lowe say biology is far more complex, or progress will be limited by clinical trials & economics.
In a new 4hr podcast episode of *Hard Drugs*, we answer: Will AI solve medicine?
But other scientists like Claus Wilke & Derek Lowe say biology is far more complex, or progress will be limited by clinical trials & economics.
In a new 4hr podcast episode of *Hard Drugs*, we answer: Will AI solve medicine?
Will AI solve medicine?
spotify.link
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
OMG HOW DID I MISS THIS
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Reading Rosalind Franklin's Wikipedia page when suddenly
![Franklin was 11 when she went to St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, west London, one of the few girls' schools in London that taught physics and chemistry.[29][31][32] At St Paul's, she excelled in science, Latin,[33] and sports.[34] Franklin also learned German, and became fluent in French, a language she would later find useful. Franklin topped her classes, and won annual awards. Her only educational weakness was in music, for which the school music director, the composer Gustav Holst, once called upon her mother to enquire whether she might have suffered from hearing problems or tonsillitis.[35]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73aicoale2mqwrap63rdzwep/bafkreia5jxtahk5tju7266k47lbdf53f5ojdwkchicsd2fcpq434arjkbm@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reading Rosalind Franklin's Wikipedia page when suddenly
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
An appalling waste of talent and vandalism of an important institution
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 AM
An appalling waste of talent and vandalism of an important institution
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the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
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i feel like headlien stuff is usually just ragebait but about the great feminization thing the nyt changing it from "did women ruin the workplace" to "did liberal feminism ruin the workplace" is extremely cowardly and completely dishonest about the content of the conversation
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
i feel like headlien stuff is usually just ragebait but about the great feminization thing the nyt changing it from "did women ruin the workplace" to "did liberal feminism ruin the workplace" is extremely cowardly and completely dishonest about the content of the conversation
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Elon Musk is repulsive for several reasons, but chief among them is that he DESPERATELY wants you to love him when he very clearly hates himself. Avoiding him is the most human thing in the world.
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Elon Musk is repulsive for several reasons, but chief among them is that he DESPERATELY wants you to love him when he very clearly hates himself. Avoiding him is the most human thing in the world.
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
there is so much Beta in (econometrics) books
November 11, 2025 at 2:15 AM
there is so much Beta in (econometrics) books
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
“Any pronouns are okay!” No. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be.
November 11, 2025 at 1:38 AM
“Any pronouns are okay!” No. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be.
“Think of mafiosos covered for by cops on the take, except that here the glue is not overt patronage (though that may be there too) and instead a mutual dependency on some dishonesty.”
It’s psychopath discussion hour this week evidently. This time more aimed at academia and politics —>
It’s psychopath discussion hour this week evidently. This time more aimed at academia and politics —>
Whenever I get a little bit of time off I always tell myself to use it napping and I always end up blogging instead:
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
open.substack.com/pub/profmark...?
November 11, 2025 at 12:36 AM
“Think of mafiosos covered for by cops on the take, except that here the glue is not overt patronage (though that may be there too) and instead a mutual dependency on some dishonesty.”
It’s psychopath discussion hour this week evidently. This time more aimed at academia and politics —>
It’s psychopath discussion hour this week evidently. This time more aimed at academia and politics —>
i commend this essay to all of your attention
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
i commend this essay to all of your attention
plemons should win the oscar for bugonia.
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
plemons should win the oscar for bugonia.
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After the Rubygems drama, I felt frustrated that I can’t escape evil people trying to dominate my life.
I found myself mourning the future I thought we would have; but also hopeful that it’s not too late to start choosing kindness.
Join me in building a better future:
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
I found myself mourning the future I thought we would have; but also hopeful that it’s not too late to start choosing kindness.
Join me in building a better future:
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
In Praise of dhh
A reflection on Ruby's past, present, and future.
okayfail.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
After the Rubygems drama, I felt frustrated that I can’t escape evil people trying to dominate my life.
I found myself mourning the future I thought we would have; but also hopeful that it’s not too late to start choosing kindness.
Join me in building a better future:
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
I found myself mourning the future I thought we would have; but also hopeful that it’s not too late to start choosing kindness.
Join me in building a better future:
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
Say what you like but Lotho Sackville-Baggins has worked wonders for pipeweed exports. Maybe it's time to put a businessman in charge.
November 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Say what you like but Lotho Sackville-Baggins has worked wonders for pipeweed exports. Maybe it's time to put a businessman in charge.
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
And, just playing Necromancer's Advocate here, but has not the house of Eorl also made war and assailed those who stood against it, eh?
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM
And, just playing Necromancer's Advocate here, but has not the house of Eorl also made war and assailed those who stood against it, eh?
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Say what you like, but under Sauron those hobbit children wouldn't be taking my apples. Some of them come from as far as Bree!
November 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Say what you like, but under Sauron those hobbit children wouldn't be taking my apples. Some of them come from as far as Bree!
I always forget that henry the 8th had a gun. it's like giving pippin from lord of the rings a gun.
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I always forget that henry the 8th had a gun. it's like giving pippin from lord of the rings a gun.
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lmaoooooo "faramir can't win in the heartland"
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
lmaoooooo "faramir can't win in the heartland"
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
Paul Klee led an artistic life that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries, but he kept his aesthetic sensibility tuned to the future.
www.openculture.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
i like the part in PJ's return of the king where denethor accuses faramir of virtue signalling (I cant remember whether it's in the book)
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
i like the part in PJ's return of the king where denethor accuses faramir of virtue signalling (I cant remember whether it's in the book)
i am much more bullish on pre-reg and open data/code than richard is but nevertheless i think this is a depressingly valid set of points
I'm participating in an "Open Science Exploratory Roundtable" in the Max Planck Society later this week, so bumping my grumpy thoughts about open science again. I'm as curious as everyone else to see what a club of competitive narcissists who succeeded under the status quo (the MPG) can manage!
How can we reform science? I have some ideas. But I am not sure you’ll like them, because they don’t promise much. elevanth.org/blog/2025/07...
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
i am much more bullish on pre-reg and open data/code than richard is but nevertheless i think this is a depressingly valid set of points
til what cosmic noon is (aside from a great name for a band)
Has anyone done a simulation of what the night sky would look like at cosmic noon
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
til what cosmic noon is (aside from a great name for a band)
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The people yearn for graphs of the parameter space, for comparative statics
November 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The people yearn for graphs of the parameter space, for comparative statics
Reposted by Rafe Meager (they/them)
The relevant bit of grump from the quoted post (left). And age distribution of Max Planck directors (right)
November 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The relevant bit of grump from the quoted post (left). And age distribution of Max Planck directors (right)