Robin Marwick
@electricland.bsky.social
Freelance medical editor, alto, digital packrat, occasional traveller, trying to make things better. The pup is Bunty, an Airedale terrier (🎂2023-05-29). 🇨🇦 She/her. Yay for alt text. https://linktr.ee/rmarwick
Pinned
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I think people feel more optimistic than when I made this but I know someone out there had a real rough one and could use the message:
At a time where it feels like we're losing, we need to remember our victories that not only have happened in the past, but continue to exist today.
Thus I give you, California Condor 926 of the SoCal flock.
Great grandchild of Condor # 1.
We as humanity can still do good things.
#birds
Thus I give you, California Condor 926 of the SoCal flock.
Great grandchild of Condor # 1.
We as humanity can still do good things.
#birds
February 20, 2026 at 4:46 AM
I think people feel more optimistic than when I made this but I know someone out there had a real rough one and could use the message:
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I've interviewed moms like this—moms who won't vaccinate, reassuring themselves that if their child dies, it's God's will.
It's almost impossible to change their minds, because they believe God won't let them into heaven if they vaccinate their kids, since vaccinating means not trusting God's plan.
It's almost impossible to change their minds, because they believe God won't let them into heaven if they vaccinate their kids, since vaccinating means not trusting God's plan.
February 20, 2026 at 4:27 AM
I've interviewed moms like this—moms who won't vaccinate, reassuring themselves that if their child dies, it's God's will.
It's almost impossible to change their minds, because they believe God won't let them into heaven if they vaccinate their kids, since vaccinating means not trusting God's plan.
It's almost impossible to change their minds, because they believe God won't let them into heaven if they vaccinate their kids, since vaccinating means not trusting God's plan.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Fact check: true.
I’m reading (listening?) to the LoTR audiobook with Andy Serkis, who is marvelous. However! I underestimated or forgot the amount of singing this man would have to do. The Tom Bombadil section is nearly unbearable. Andy is WONDERFUL but there’s SO MUCH singing. It goes on and on 🫠
February 19, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Fact check: true.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
THIS IS NOT A DRILL
YOU CAN GET EVERY DISCWORLD TOME ON EBOOK FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A SUBWAY FOOTLONG COMBO.
USUALLY GETTING EVERY SINGLE BOOK LEGALLY IS LIKE 400+
NOT.
A.
DRILL.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
YOU CAN GET EVERY DISCWORLD TOME ON EBOOK FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A SUBWAY FOOTLONG COMBO.
USUALLY GETTING EVERY SINGLE BOOK LEGALLY IS LIKE 400+
NOT.
A.
DRILL.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
February 17, 2026 at 8:43 PM
THIS IS NOT A DRILL
YOU CAN GET EVERY DISCWORLD TOME ON EBOOK FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A SUBWAY FOOTLONG COMBO.
USUALLY GETTING EVERY SINGLE BOOK LEGALLY IS LIKE 400+
NOT.
A.
DRILL.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
YOU CAN GET EVERY DISCWORLD TOME ON EBOOK FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A SUBWAY FOOTLONG COMBO.
USUALLY GETTING EVERY SINGLE BOOK LEGALLY IS LIKE 400+
NOT.
A.
DRILL.
www.humblebundle.com/books/terry-...
Closing tomorrow! Get yer vintage typewriters, Canadian art, coins, stamps, hi-fi equipment, antique silver and gently used Ikea bed frames here! Something for everyone! (Terms and conditions apply, buyer must pick up in Cabbagetown.)
Toronto friends and strangers! Remember the auction we ran last month? Well, that wasn’t even close to all the stuff in my mum’s house, so we’re doing it again. Spread the word!
Bid Gallery | Toronto (Ontario, Canada) SELLER MANAGED Estate Sale Online Auction -Wellesley Street East | Maxsold
Shop online estate sales and auctions at Maxsold!
maxsold.com
February 19, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Closing tomorrow! Get yer vintage typewriters, Canadian art, coins, stamps, hi-fi equipment, antique silver and gently used Ikea bed frames here! Something for everyone! (Terms and conditions apply, buyer must pick up in Cabbagetown.)
Reposted by Robin Marwick
he should be convicted just for this
"The judge upbraided the Meta team and said if you guys have recorded anything, you have to dispose of it or I will hold you in contempt," Jacob Ward, a technology journalist and the host of the Rip Current Podcast, told CBS News, calling the incident "an extraordinary misstep" by Meta.
Judge scolds Mark Zuckerberg's team for wearing Meta glasses to social media trial
A Los Angeles judge ordered Meta officials to remove their AI glasses at a trial over the impact of social media on users.
www.cbsnews.com
February 19, 2026 at 11:17 PM
he should be convicted just for this
Reposted by Robin Marwick
if your sport is on regular ground: please. let our sport into the Summer Olympics. it is played across the world by millions. it is beloved by the youth. please. please.
The Olympics: no
if your sport is on snow: we think we invented an 11th way to ski?
The Olympics: YOU'RE IN YOU CRAZY BASTARD
The Olympics: no
if your sport is on snow: we think we invented an 11th way to ski?
The Olympics: YOU'RE IN YOU CRAZY BASTARD
It’s impressive they managed to invent a new thing to do in the snow
February 19, 2026 at 9:17 AM
if your sport is on regular ground: please. let our sport into the Summer Olympics. it is played across the world by millions. it is beloved by the youth. please. please.
The Olympics: no
if your sport is on snow: we think we invented an 11th way to ski?
The Olympics: YOU'RE IN YOU CRAZY BASTARD
The Olympics: no
if your sport is on snow: we think we invented an 11th way to ski?
The Olympics: YOU'RE IN YOU CRAZY BASTARD
Reposted by Robin Marwick
"free/cheap/non-toxic youth sports" feels like one of those skeleton keys that would have knock-on effects accidentally fix 100 unrelated things about America
or, you know, even if it didn't, at least a bunch of kids would be able to have fun playing sports
or, you know, even if it didn't, at least a bunch of kids would be able to have fun playing sports
February 19, 2026 at 3:24 PM
"free/cheap/non-toxic youth sports" feels like one of those skeleton keys that would have knock-on effects accidentally fix 100 unrelated things about America
or, you know, even if it didn't, at least a bunch of kids would be able to have fun playing sports
or, you know, even if it didn't, at least a bunch of kids would be able to have fun playing sports
Reposted by Robin Marwick
NBC ran a piece where Mary Carrillo went to Norway to find out why they're so good at the Winter Olympics and i was yelling BECAUSE IT'S COLD THERE
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
February 19, 2026 at 3:09 PM
NBC ran a piece where Mary Carrillo went to Norway to find out why they're so good at the Winter Olympics and i was yelling BECAUSE IT'S COLD THERE
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Short thread. Essential reading.
This reminds me of a coupla decades ago when the argument du jour was “What if Van Gogh had been medicated for his depression?!” with the implication that he wouldn’t have created art if he wasn’t miserable.
A) fuck that noise
B) Van Gogh didn’t own anybody his art OR his misery
A) fuck that noise
B) Van Gogh didn’t own anybody his art OR his misery
this is why the whole “oh, suffering creates great art” thing is bullshit
you know what’s conducive to art? a roof over your head and food on the table
you know what isn’t? stressing out over where the fuck the rent money is going to come from
you know what’s conducive to art? a roof over your head and food on the table
you know what isn’t? stressing out over where the fuck the rent money is going to come from
February 19, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Short thread. Essential reading.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Ok obviously this is very bad but everyone who has ever been to an academic conference is currently doing the arrested development "but maybe it would work for us" meme in their head
in america, if you go over your 3 minute allotment to speak, men with guns come to take you away.
February 19, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Ok obviously this is very bad but everyone who has ever been to an academic conference is currently doing the arrested development "but maybe it would work for us" meme in their head
Reposted by Robin Marwick
« One or two guys spoke in favor of it, they let one of those guys go over several seconds, probably 20, 30 seconds [.] but when Darren Blanchard did it, they brought the police in and said get him out [.] he said ok, he [.] put down the mic, went up front and said I'm done and they arrested him. »
February 19, 2026 at 5:06 PM
« One or two guys spoke in favor of it, they let one of those guys go over several seconds, probably 20, 30 seconds [.] but when Darren Blanchard did it, they brought the police in and said get him out [.] he said ok, he [.] put down the mic, went up front and said I'm done and they arrested him. »
Reposted by Robin Marwick
This CT-scan discovery of an ancient prosthetic in a Pazyryk woman's jaw is super interesting -- I hope the researchers fully publish it soon. But in the meantime, read my story about it! 🧪🏺
2,500-year-old 'primitive prosthetic' found on jaw of mummified Scythian woman who survived complex jaw surgery
Researchers used CT scans to peer inside a partially mummified skull and discovered the woman survived jaw surgery 2,500 years ago.
www.livescience.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:10 PM
This CT-scan discovery of an ancient prosthetic in a Pazyryk woman's jaw is super interesting -- I hope the researchers fully publish it soon. But in the meantime, read my story about it! 🧪🏺
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Buddy, I already do this and if you saw how little I make a year, you’d rend your garments.
February 18, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Buddy, I already do this and if you saw how little I make a year, you’d rend your garments.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
People trying to persuade you or sell something or scam you will appeal to fears, doubts, desires, loneliness, and - above all - your socially programmed tendency toward "good manners" and desire to be helpful.
You can be a kind person and still reject nefarious, creepy, duplicitous approaches.
You can be a kind person and still reject nefarious, creepy, duplicitous approaches.
February 19, 2026 at 3:11 PM
People trying to persuade you or sell something or scam you will appeal to fears, doubts, desires, loneliness, and - above all - your socially programmed tendency toward "good manners" and desire to be helpful.
You can be a kind person and still reject nefarious, creepy, duplicitous approaches.
You can be a kind person and still reject nefarious, creepy, duplicitous approaches.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
So Bree hinted at this story a few days ago, but I want to circle back now that I have permission to share it.
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
and the lady in our inbox who caused us to go into a Whistles Out: a Benoit Blanc Mystery spiral for half the day because she had rallied so many people to request whistles to the same town that we thought it was a scam, but no she just convinced like 700 people to mobilize and we love her so much
February 19, 2026 at 2:37 AM
So Bree hinted at this story a few days ago, but I want to circle back now that I have permission to share it.
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
Reposted by Robin Marwick
all the doubters who thought substack couldn’t find a business model must be feeling PRETTY SILLY now that they’ve partnered with THE upscale predatory gambling application 😏
Substack, as expected, escalates toward hyper-disinfo.
Remember, folks: The tech bros tearing down our country are the major forces behind this monstrosity.
Choose your future wisely.
Remember, folks: The tech bros tearing down our country are the major forces behind this monstrosity.
Choose your future wisely.
February 19, 2026 at 5:48 AM
all the doubters who thought substack couldn’t find a business model must be feeling PRETTY SILLY now that they’ve partnered with THE upscale predatory gambling application 😏
Reposted by Robin Marwick
Federal judges are literally calling the Trump administration an affront to the laws of man and God
The admin thinks this is evidence of the judiciary's bias, but what it perceives as open hostility from judges is an objective response to open authoritarianism
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
The admin thinks this is evidence of the judiciary's bias, but what it perceives as open hostility from judges is an objective response to open authoritarianism
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Federal Judges Can Barely Conceal Their Disgust For the Trump Administration’s Lawlessness
When federal judges are appending Bible verses to their signature blocks, that is generally a sign that democracy is not in a good place.
ballsandstrikes.org
February 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Federal judges are literally calling the Trump administration an affront to the laws of man and God
The admin thinks this is evidence of the judiciary's bias, but what it perceives as open hostility from judges is an objective response to open authoritarianism
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
The admin thinks this is evidence of the judiciary's bias, but what it perceives as open hostility from judges is an objective response to open authoritarianism
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Reposted by Robin Marwick
I wrote about the Evelyn Normielib ass judges out here ruling that the Trump administration must be cleansed with constitutional fire
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Federal Judges Can Barely Conceal Their Disgust For the Trump Administration’s Lawlessness
When federal judges are appending Bible verses to their signature blocks, that is generally a sign that democracy is not in a good place.
ballsandstrikes.org
February 17, 2026 at 5:55 PM
I wrote about the Evelyn Normielib ass judges out here ruling that the Trump administration must be cleansed with constitutional fire
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
ballsandstrikes.org/ethics-accou...
Reposted by Robin Marwick
2026 basically
February 18, 2026 at 4:23 PM
2026 basically
Reposted by Robin Marwick
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal
February 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal
Reposted by Robin Marwick
"Is there technology the left is excited about?" is the kind of question you only ask if you're wildly naive about technology.
mRNA vaccines. Heat pumps. Offshore wind. Urban mining. Sodium batteries.
But god forbid we're not fawning over every new implementation of Making Computers Bad At Math.
mRNA vaccines. Heat pumps. Offshore wind. Urban mining. Sodium batteries.
But god forbid we're not fawning over every new implementation of Making Computers Bad At Math.
February 18, 2026 at 2:58 PM
"Is there technology the left is excited about?" is the kind of question you only ask if you're wildly naive about technology.
mRNA vaccines. Heat pumps. Offshore wind. Urban mining. Sodium batteries.
But god forbid we're not fawning over every new implementation of Making Computers Bad At Math.
mRNA vaccines. Heat pumps. Offshore wind. Urban mining. Sodium batteries.
But god forbid we're not fawning over every new implementation of Making Computers Bad At Math.
Reposted by Robin Marwick
it can’t be emphasized enough about Sparta that the secret ingredient* was slavery
*not actually secret at all but notoriously absent from the Molon Labe crowd
*not actually secret at all but notoriously absent from the Molon Labe crowd
The Center for Hellenic Studies has hundreds of open access books 📕 for use. I appreciate that the book I use to teach the Helots of Sparta in my ancient slavery class is openly available:
_Helots and The Masters in Laconia and Messenia: Histories, Ideologies, Structures_ by Luraghi & Alcock
_Helots and The Masters in Laconia and Messenia: Histories, Ideologies, Structures_ by Luraghi & Alcock
Helots and The Masters in Laconia and Messenia: Histories, Ideologies, Structures - The Center for Hellenic Studies
The name “Helots” evokes one of the most famous peculiarities of ancient Sparta, the system of dependent labor that guaranteed the livelihood of the free citizens. The Helots fulfilled all the functio...
chs.harvard.edu
February 18, 2026 at 12:58 PM
it can’t be emphasized enough about Sparta that the secret ingredient* was slavery
*not actually secret at all but notoriously absent from the Molon Labe crowd
*not actually secret at all but notoriously absent from the Molon Labe crowd