Jaken Thorn
@jakenthorn.bsky.social
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
RFK Jr.‘s extreme anti-vax views — and his related conflicts of interest — were a huge problem during his confirmation process.
So he promised not to change the vaccine advisory panel.
Today, he fired every single expert on that panel. It's a public health disaster.
So he promised not to change the vaccine advisory panel.
Today, he fired every single expert on that panel. It's a public health disaster.
RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines.
apnews.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
RFK Jr.‘s extreme anti-vax views — and his related conflicts of interest — were a huge problem during his confirmation process.
So he promised not to change the vaccine advisory panel.
Today, he fired every single expert on that panel. It's a public health disaster.
So he promised not to change the vaccine advisory panel.
Today, he fired every single expert on that panel. It's a public health disaster.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
June 3, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺
Why is it delicious to put a hard boiled egg on a salad, but unthinkable to toss some scrambled eggs on top?
May 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Why is it delicious to put a hard boiled egg on a salad, but unthinkable to toss some scrambled eggs on top?
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Find the public library in your area, get a library card but also get to know your librarians and the space. Look at any community boards for events and resources. Find out if they have museum passes or tools you can check out. Check their digital options on Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby.
Live free.
Live free.
If you’re over 30, quote this with some life advice 🤌🏼
May 10, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Find the public library in your area, get a library card but also get to know your librarians and the space. Look at any community boards for events and resources. Find out if they have museum passes or tools you can check out. Check their digital options on Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby.
Live free.
Live free.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
please be safe and get tested. if hiv, mpox or antibiotic resistant stis spread, the government is not going to do anything and we will be on our own like the 1980s.
April 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
please be safe and get tested. if hiv, mpox or antibiotic resistant stis spread, the government is not going to do anything and we will be on our own like the 1980s.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
I love paying TurboTax a few hundred bucks every year to figure out how much money I owe the government, which the government already knows, but won't tell me because TurboTax pays legislators to keep the government from telling me. 😻
April 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I love paying TurboTax a few hundred bucks every year to figure out how much money I owe the government, which the government already knows, but won't tell me because TurboTax pays legislators to keep the government from telling me. 😻
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Please be careful about the conditions of life in the former empire of the United States. Water will not be fluoridated anymore & this nation is not meeting many other global standards for quality of life in an advanced nation.
April 8, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Please be careful about the conditions of life in the former empire of the United States. Water will not be fluoridated anymore & this nation is not meeting many other global standards for quality of life in an advanced nation.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
The CDC team that helped states improve infant hearing screening is gone.
Families of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies have lost vital public health support.
www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss...
Families of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies have lost vital public health support.
www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss...
Information About Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Programs
cdc funding, state ehdi programs, hearing loss surveillance and tracking
www.cdc.gov
April 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The CDC team that helped states improve infant hearing screening is gone.
Families of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies have lost vital public health support.
www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss...
Families of deaf and hard-of-hearing babies have lost vital public health support.
www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss...
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
"There's more to life than being able to buy cheap garbage," sagely intones the man who had a complete mental breakdown from which he has never recovered because he couldn't go to big box stores and chain restaurants for 3 weeks in 2020.
April 4, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"There's more to life than being able to buy cheap garbage," sagely intones the man who had a complete mental breakdown from which he has never recovered because he couldn't go to big box stores and chain restaurants for 3 weeks in 2020.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
- George Orwell, 1984
- George Orwell, 1984
April 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
- George Orwell, 1984
- George Orwell, 1984
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Please ignore tired pieces in publications like the Atlantic that are still trying to stigmatize mask wearing.
Wearing a mask to prevent sickness from airborne viruses is a science-informed position, and it has been that way for over 100 years.
Wearing a mask to prevent sickness from airborne viruses is a science-informed position, and it has been that way for over 100 years.
April 3, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Please ignore tired pieces in publications like the Atlantic that are still trying to stigmatize mask wearing.
Wearing a mask to prevent sickness from airborne viruses is a science-informed position, and it has been that way for over 100 years.
Wearing a mask to prevent sickness from airborne viruses is a science-informed position, and it has been that way for over 100 years.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
The IRS unit that audits ultrawealthy earners has lost 38% of its employees this year.
This will starve the government of revenue by making it easier for the rich to evade taxes — which the top 1% already do to the tune of $163B a year.
See what DOGE is really about?
This will starve the government of revenue by making it easier for the rich to evade taxes — which the top 1% already do to the tune of $163B a year.
See what DOGE is really about?
April 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The IRS unit that audits ultrawealthy earners has lost 38% of its employees this year.
This will starve the government of revenue by making it easier for the rich to evade taxes — which the top 1% already do to the tune of $163B a year.
See what DOGE is really about?
This will starve the government of revenue by making it easier for the rich to evade taxes — which the top 1% already do to the tune of $163B a year.
See what DOGE is really about?
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Should I convert my retirement account into Beanie Babies before the market opens tomorrow?
April 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Should I convert my retirement account into Beanie Babies before the market opens tomorrow?
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
None of the classic dystopias predicted how much freaking CSPAN I'd have to watch.
April 2, 2025 at 11:22 PM
None of the classic dystopias predicted how much freaking CSPAN I'd have to watch.
StoryGraph March 2025.
I read a lot of romance this month. I just canceled my Kindke Unlimited subscription, so that will change soon. But anyone have any last minute KU recs for me before my subscription ends in a few weeks?
My fave genres are sci fi, fantasy, nonfiction, romance.
I read a lot of romance this month. I just canceled my Kindke Unlimited subscription, so that will change soon. But anyone have any last minute KU recs for me before my subscription ends in a few weeks?
My fave genres are sci fi, fantasy, nonfiction, romance.
April 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
StoryGraph March 2025.
I read a lot of romance this month. I just canceled my Kindke Unlimited subscription, so that will change soon. But anyone have any last minute KU recs for me before my subscription ends in a few weeks?
My fave genres are sci fi, fantasy, nonfiction, romance.
I read a lot of romance this month. I just canceled my Kindke Unlimited subscription, so that will change soon. But anyone have any last minute KU recs for me before my subscription ends in a few weeks?
My fave genres are sci fi, fantasy, nonfiction, romance.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Hi folks: Facebook appears to be taking down my posts. Please remember they are available for free here (no paywall), and can be received by email (also free-- just don't put in your credit card information). I guess if I'm being banned I'm doing something right?
The government ignored his protective legal status & deported Abrego Garcia. “Now they claim that the court is powerless to order any relief. If that’s true, the immigration laws are meaningless because the government can deport ANYONE & no court can do anything about it once it’s done.”
March 31, 2025
On April 1, 1861, Secretary of State William Henry Seward wrote an astonishing letter to President Abraham Lincoln.
open.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Hi folks: Facebook appears to be taking down my posts. Please remember they are available for free here (no paywall), and can be received by email (also free-- just don't put in your credit card information). I guess if I'm being banned I'm doing something right?
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Stephanie Nolen reporting that 1,200,000 children will die because of this decision. Unconscionable.
State Dept gave Congress its full list of 5,300+ USAID program terminations. The sweeping cuts for health alone - from global childhood vaccines to surveillance for deadly diseases to malaria work - entail massive loss of life & national security risk. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/h...
U.S. to End Vaccine Funds for Poor Countries but Continue Some H.I.V. and TB Aid (Gift Article)
A 281-page spreadsheet obtained by The Times lists the Trump administration’s plans for thousands of foreign aid programs.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Stephanie Nolen reporting that 1,200,000 children will die because of this decision. Unconscionable.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
An incredibly generous piece from @slate.com that centers Henry Reider. Grateful to Tony Ho Tran for interviewing Henry and capturing so much of his passion. slate.com/technology/2...
What’s Happening With Tuberculosis Is a Terrible Tragedy. The Person Who Can Make Sense of It Isn’t Who You’d Expect.
John Green’s latest book might seem like a departure—at first.
slate.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
An incredibly generous piece from @slate.com that centers Henry Reider. Grateful to Tony Ho Tran for interviewing Henry and capturing so much of his passion. slate.com/technology/2...
Last time *I* got added to an unknown text group, it turned out to be a unpaid toll scam.
I'm not running in the right unknown text group circles.
I'm not running in the right unknown text group circles.
March 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Last time *I* got added to an unknown text group, it turned out to be a unpaid toll scam.
I'm not running in the right unknown text group circles.
I'm not running in the right unknown text group circles.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Apparently Gweneth Paltrow is back to touting raw milk.
Here are some common infectious diseases you can get from raw milk: Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and avian flu. Among others.
Here are some common infectious diseases you can get from raw milk: Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and avian flu. Among others.
March 21, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Apparently Gweneth Paltrow is back to touting raw milk.
Here are some common infectious diseases you can get from raw milk: Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and avian flu. Among others.
Here are some common infectious diseases you can get from raw milk: Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and avian flu. Among others.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
Just met with some lovely folks who until recently worked at USAID and their implementing partners. Moving, heartbreaking, and enraging to hear the long-term impacts and wasted potential of our sudden, chaotic abandonment of global health aid.
March 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Just met with some lovely folks who until recently worked at USAID and their implementing partners. Moving, heartbreaking, and enraging to hear the long-term impacts and wasted potential of our sudden, chaotic abandonment of global health aid.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
This is the middle of the story. We have to fight for a better end.
www.livescience.com/health/virus...
#Nerdfighteria @tbfighters.org @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social
#ReadThisBook
#Nerdfighteria @tbfighters.org @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social
#ReadThisBook
'We have to fight for a better end': Author John Green on how threats to USAID derail the worldwide effort to end tuberculosis
Live Science spoke with author John Green about his latest book, which explores both the history and current realities of tuberculosis.
www.livescience.com
March 20, 2025 at 2:29 AM
This is the middle of the story. We have to fight for a better end.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
And this is why I never bought one of those gadgets.
What sucks is that these devices have tremendous value for people with disabilities. Voice commands and touchless automation are so helpful for people with mobility issues. Restricting their ability to protect their privacy is unconscionable.
What sucks is that these devices have tremendous value for people with disabilities. Voice commands and touchless automation are so helpful for people with mobility issues. Restricting their ability to protect their privacy is unconscionable.
Amazon is killing its “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” privacy feature on March 28 as the company aims to bolster Alexa+, its new subscription assistant.
Everything You Say to Your Echo Will Soon Be Sent to Amazon, and You Can’t Opt Out
Amazon is killing its “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” privacy feature on March 28 as the company aims to bolster Alexa+, its new subscription assistant.
wrd.cm
March 17, 2025 at 9:59 PM
And this is why I never bought one of those gadgets.
What sucks is that these devices have tremendous value for people with disabilities. Voice commands and touchless automation are so helpful for people with mobility issues. Restricting their ability to protect their privacy is unconscionable.
What sucks is that these devices have tremendous value for people with disabilities. Voice commands and touchless automation are so helpful for people with mobility issues. Restricting their ability to protect their privacy is unconscionable.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
I think it's important to remember, with everything extremely fucked up and dumb right now, that at the root of it, fuck fuck fucking fucking fuck.
March 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I think it's important to remember, with everything extremely fucked up and dumb right now, that at the root of it, fuck fuck fucking fucking fuck.
Reposted by Jaken Thorn
🧑💼 Are you a lawyer or have legal expertise and want to assist federal workers?
Visit "We The Action". They are recruiting volunteers lawyers now and hope to soon open a webpage to link federal workers with legal assistance.
Visit "We The Action". They are recruiting volunteers lawyers now and hope to soon open a webpage to link federal workers with legal assistance.
Public Service Legal Response Center
Connecting lawyers with opportunities to support federal workers
wetheaction.org
March 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
🧑💼 Are you a lawyer or have legal expertise and want to assist federal workers?
Visit "We The Action". They are recruiting volunteers lawyers now and hope to soon open a webpage to link federal workers with legal assistance.
Visit "We The Action". They are recruiting volunteers lawyers now and hope to soon open a webpage to link federal workers with legal assistance.