Isabel
@isabelott.bsky.social
Evolutionary & population biology of vector-borne viral disease systems. 🦟 genetics PhD student in NC.
Arbovirologist, orthobunyavirus wonk, feral reference librarian, & public health advocate. 80s mosquito. Coaster-sized earrings. (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Arbovirologist, orthobunyavirus wonk, feral reference librarian, & public health advocate. 80s mosquito. Coaster-sized earrings. (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Isabel
@isabelott.bsky.social
· Jun 11
The Athens (GA) Immigrants Rights Coalition, which I volunteered with for several years, is currently fundraising for their Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis fund. 98.5% of donations go straight to families in need. Please boost & contribute if you can!
www.athensimmigrantrights.org/donate
www.athensimmigrantrights.org/donate
Reposted by Isabel
There's this story about how CS Lewis was out with a friend and stopped to give a vagrant some money. Lewis's friend chided him, saying "you know he's just to buy liquor with it, right?"
Lewis responded, "Well, so was I."
Lewis responded, "Well, so was I."
The right's obsession with SNAP recipients buying popsicles is a modern version of a centuries-old tradition of scolding the poor for what they eat. It mimics verbatim Victorian complaints about the poor indulging in tea and sugar, mistaking consumption as a cause of poverty instead of a symptom.
POP(SICLE) PSYCHOLOGY | Gin and Tacos
Get more from Gin and Tacos on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
There's this story about how CS Lewis was out with a friend and stopped to give a vagrant some money. Lewis's friend chided him, saying "you know he's just to buy liquor with it, right?"
Lewis responded, "Well, so was I."
Lewis responded, "Well, so was I."
Troubling, and transparently coercive: current federal policy doesn’t even prioritize using proven interventions against known pandemic pathogens (vax for COVID, measles, etc). Early access to sequences won’t speed up dev/deployment of interventions that we’ve systematically defunded, like mRNA vax!
I don't like the sound of this: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
US to demand countries share data on ‘pathogens with epidemic potential’ in return for health aid
Draft template seen by the Guardian has no reference to countries receiving benefits for sharing information, such as guaranteed access to medicines developed as a result
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Troubling, and transparently coercive: current federal policy doesn’t even prioritize using proven interventions against known pandemic pathogens (vax for COVID, measles, etc). Early access to sequences won’t speed up dev/deployment of interventions that we’ve systematically defunded, like mRNA vax!
Reposted by Isabel
the entirety of the british press talked themselves into believing this woman is trans based almost entirely on JK Rowling's judgement of the athlete's appearance.
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
November 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
the entirety of the british press talked themselves into believing this woman is trans based almost entirely on JK Rowling's judgement of the athlete's appearance.
Reposted by Isabel
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
Reposted by Isabel
Everything those cops did was illegal–all the raids and seizures.
The worst was the raid on the home of the 98-y.o. former editor. They even took her Alexa. Her son told NYT, “She said over and over again, ‘Where are all the good people to put a stop to this?" The next day she died in midsentence.
The worst was the raid on the home of the 98-y.o. former editor. They even took her Alexa. Her son told NYT, “She said over and over again, ‘Where are all the good people to put a stop to this?" The next day she died in midsentence.
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret. Editor says court cases against city continue #ksleg
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret • Kansas Reflector
A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.
kansasreflector.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Everything those cops did was illegal–all the raids and seizures.
The worst was the raid on the home of the 98-y.o. former editor. They even took her Alexa. Her son told NYT, “She said over and over again, ‘Where are all the good people to put a stop to this?" The next day she died in midsentence.
The worst was the raid on the home of the 98-y.o. former editor. They even took her Alexa. Her son told NYT, “She said over and over again, ‘Where are all the good people to put a stop to this?" The next day she died in midsentence.
Reposted by Isabel
"here’s what makes this moment particularly maddening: this is an elite failure, not a popular one. The Democratic base understands what’s at stake. Grassroots activists, organizers, and voters have shown they’re willing to fight."
What’s the difference between compromise and capitulation? Compromise trades concessions. Capitulation pays ransom to stop deliberate suffering, and teaches your opponent that coercion works. There are effective responses to coercive bargaining. What we saw was not one of them.
The Compassion Trap: How the Shutdown Weaponized Democratic Values Against Democracy Itself
When Opposition Parties Stop Fighting Because the Cruelty Becomes Unbearable. And Why They Shouldn't.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"here’s what makes this moment particularly maddening: this is an elite failure, not a popular one. The Democratic base understands what’s at stake. Grassroots activists, organizers, and voters have shown they’re willing to fight."
Reposted by Isabel
New preprint on the drain that for-profit publishers place on the scientific ecosystem. We also point out that, though it's often presented as a global problem, it's actually a Global North problem: there are parts of the world with strong diamond #OA non-profit alternatives arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
November 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
New preprint on the drain that for-profit publishers place on the scientific ecosystem. We also point out that, though it's often presented as a global problem, it's actually a Global North problem: there are parts of the world with strong diamond #OA non-profit alternatives arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Reposted by Isabel
This means that some 70,000 American tenants' rent money is being funneled, in part, into a company linked to the displacement and genocide of Palestinians 6,000 miles away, while facing rent hikes and eviction filings themselves. (10/10)
Read it all here: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Read it all here: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Eviction Kings
One of Israel’s biggest companies is taking over huge swaths of US real estate—and tenants are paying the price.
www.thenation.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This means that some 70,000 American tenants' rent money is being funneled, in part, into a company linked to the displacement and genocide of Palestinians 6,000 miles away, while facing rent hikes and eviction filings themselves. (10/10)
Read it all here: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Read it all here: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Isabel
Today's must-read by @thomasbirm.bsky.social: a major corporate landlord is fueling homelessness across the U.S. *and* the mass displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli company owns tens of thousands of apartments in the South, filing evictions at nine times the national average.
The Israeli company owns tens of thousands of apartments in the South, filing evictions at nine times the national average.
The Eviction Kings
One of Israel’s biggest companies is taking over huge swaths of US real estate—and tenants are paying the price.
www.thenation.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Today's must-read by @thomasbirm.bsky.social: a major corporate landlord is fueling homelessness across the U.S. *and* the mass displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli company owns tens of thousands of apartments in the South, filing evictions at nine times the national average.
The Israeli company owns tens of thousands of apartments in the South, filing evictions at nine times the national average.
Reposted by Isabel
It's fine if the financialized side of the economy wants to choose to chase this bubble. I'm sure some options traders will have a great time. But I don't see why local electricity consumers should have to pay the price in the lead-up to the crash
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
It's fine if the financialized side of the economy wants to choose to chase this bubble. I'm sure some options traders will have a great time. But I don't see why local electricity consumers should have to pay the price in the lead-up to the crash
Reposted by Isabel
it's not that i ever doubted that being a barista was a skilled position, but my year-long effort to try to produce a half-decent latte at home has convinced me that a good barista is easily more skilled than virtually every c-suite executive on the planet
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
it's not that i ever doubted that being a barista was a skilled position, but my year-long effort to try to produce a half-decent latte at home has convinced me that a good barista is easily more skilled than virtually every c-suite executive on the planet
Reposted by Isabel
A couple years ago I worked on 12 grants in my role as a task force director at the Library of Congress. This year, zero. We are going to lose a lot of our public memory. Which is at the crux of fascistic mobilization.
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 AM
A couple years ago I worked on 12 grants in my role as a task force director at the Library of Congress. This year, zero. We are going to lose a lot of our public memory. Which is at the crux of fascistic mobilization.
Reposted by Isabel
In September, federal agents swarmed a Hyundai manufacturing site, detaining more than 500 workers, including more than 300 from South Korea.
Now, nearly 200 detainees are preparing to sue ICE, alleging human rights violations and unlawful arrest.
Now, nearly 200 detainees are preparing to sue ICE, alleging human rights violations and unlawful arrest.
These South Korean workers came to the US to build an EV battery plant. They left in shackles. They still want to know why
ICE agents raided, arrested workers at a Georgia battery factory in September.
abcnews.link
November 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
In September, federal agents swarmed a Hyundai manufacturing site, detaining more than 500 workers, including more than 300 from South Korea.
Now, nearly 200 detainees are preparing to sue ICE, alleging human rights violations and unlawful arrest.
Now, nearly 200 detainees are preparing to sue ICE, alleging human rights violations and unlawful arrest.
Reposted by Isabel
The Thrifty Food Plan, which is what SNAP benefits are based on, emphasizes the "thrifty" part. As a result, Mediterranean or DASH eating patterns are unaffordable.
SNAP benefits fail to fund healthy diets for many Americans, study shows
A new study reveals that while the Harvard Healthy Eating Pattern aligns with SNAP benefits, the Mediterranean and DASH diets often exceed allowable costs, particularly for individuals with higher cal...
www.news-medical.net
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The Thrifty Food Plan, which is what SNAP benefits are based on, emphasizes the "thrifty" part. As a result, Mediterranean or DASH eating patterns are unaffordable.
Reposted by Isabel
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
Reposted by Isabel
Listen… be cool my friends work down yonder
November 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Listen… be cool my friends work down yonder
Reposted by Isabel
This point absolutely correct and I will add that Mamdani demonstrates that an insurgency, even one with real moral clarity and anger at the status quo, can still be cheerful and inviting.
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This point absolutely correct and I will add that Mamdani demonstrates that an insurgency, even one with real moral clarity and anger at the status quo, can still be cheerful and inviting.
Reposted by Isabel
Read the accompanying News & Views commentary from Jennifer Brisson 👇🧪🦋 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free to read link: rdcu.be/ePnq4
Free to read link: rdcu.be/ePnq4
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Read the accompanying News & Views commentary from Jennifer Brisson 👇🧪🦋 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free to read link: rdcu.be/ePnq4
Free to read link: rdcu.be/ePnq4
Reposted by Isabel
I like how this NY Times coverage of the BBC insurrection "scandal" doesn't mention that it was created by a right wing UK tabloid, or the fact that there really WAS a violent insurrection very clearly supported by the President
Trump Threatens to Sue the BBC for $1 Billion After Jan. 6 Documentary
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I like how this NY Times coverage of the BBC insurrection "scandal" doesn't mention that it was created by a right wing UK tabloid, or the fact that there really WAS a violent insurrection very clearly supported by the President
Reposted by Isabel
The BBC engaged in the criminal offense of making it clear that an American President encouraged a violent insurrection resulting in $2.7 million in damages to the Capital and the injury of 174 police officers (four of which would later die by suicide).
BBC Chair Says Editing of Trump Speech ‘Did Give the Impression of a Direct Call for Violent Action’: We ‘Apologize for That Error of Judgement’
BBC chair Samir Shah apologized to the U.K. culture, media and sport committee following a scandal around the editing of a Trump speech in "Panorama."
variety.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The BBC engaged in the criminal offense of making it clear that an American President encouraged a violent insurrection resulting in $2.7 million in damages to the Capital and the injury of 174 police officers (four of which would later die by suicide).
Reposted by Isabel
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
Reposted by Isabel
Any cuts to public education are devastating, but the loss of the department where I got my start really hits home.
Geoscience expertise empowers communities to effectively use resources and mitigate hazards. Nebraskans need and deserve that expertise, but it's being cruelly taken away.
Geoscience expertise empowers communities to effectively use resources and mitigate hazards. Nebraskans need and deserve that expertise, but it's being cruelly taken away.
They are really planning to go through with these cuts at Nebraska, despite recommendations not to. Unbelievable.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
If you want to hire highly qualified, very successful earth and atmospheric sciences faculty in teaching and research, quite a few are probably looking for jobs for next year.
Final Budget Reduction Plan | Budget Process | Nebraska
budgetprocess.unl.edu
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Any cuts to public education are devastating, but the loss of the department where I got my start really hits home.
Geoscience expertise empowers communities to effectively use resources and mitigate hazards. Nebraskans need and deserve that expertise, but it's being cruelly taken away.
Geoscience expertise empowers communities to effectively use resources and mitigate hazards. Nebraskans need and deserve that expertise, but it's being cruelly taken away.
Reposted by Isabel
Specifically, it was the National Weather Service Modernization and Associated Restructuring, begun in the 70s, which completely overhauled how we predict and respond to rapid weather events.
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
The NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 1) - National Weather Service Heritage - Virtual Lab
Planned in the 1980s and implemented in the 1990s, the NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring modernized the agency’s organization and technology to ensure more rapid detection of storms and d...
vlab.noaa.gov
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Specifically, it was the National Weather Service Modernization and Associated Restructuring, begun in the 70s, which completely overhauled how we predict and respond to rapid weather events.
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heri...
Reposted by Isabel
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.