Lois Scheidt
@loiss.bsky.social
University Instructor/PhD digital technology, social media, and ethics; writer; thinker; and believer in democracy. Kind and cranky old lady who is proud of her cats.
I'm dyslexic so expect wrong words here and there. Wish Bluesky allowed editing.
I'm dyslexic so expect wrong words here and there. Wish Bluesky allowed editing.
Truth
I think a lot of the anger this morning stems from a feeling that we did our part, but they did not do theirs. This is an oversimplification, but my dudes, no wonder people are like, “OK, let’s try the democratic socialist, then.”
November 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Truth
Well worth a read for the legal discussion, and the food puns.
Here's my piece for @lawfaremedia.org on my experience covering the Sandwich Guy trial. Warning: longer than 280 characters!
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
Sandwich Guy, Thrower of Hoagie–Or Hero?
The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Well worth a read for the legal discussion, and the food puns.
Sounds like a good gig for my data and viz colleagues.
The Guardian is hiring for a graphics reporter and data reporter to cover how the US government is deleting and altering important datasets.
If you like the work we do, come join us!
Data: workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
Graphics: workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
If you like the work we do, come join us!
Data: workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
Graphics: workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
October 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Sounds like a good gig for my data and viz colleagues.
This may be the best meme ever.
October 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
This may be the best meme ever.
My sound track today. youtu.be/pLo5BgzXWtc?...
Call Me Antifa – A Patriotic Protest Anthem for Freedom, Justice, and Love
YouTube video by The Resistance
youtu.be
October 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
My sound track today. youtu.be/pLo5BgzXWtc?...
Of interest for Indiana University academic. #academicsky #indianauniversity
If you've been following my six-month quest to unseal the search warrants for XiaoFeng Wang's homes, huge news:
I won.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
I won.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Of interest for Indiana University academic. #academicsky #indianauniversity
This is who is running our country. I'd like to say he's outgrown this, but it's pretty clear he has not.
The year is 2003.
17-year-old Stephen Miller is sitting in the back of a school bus talking about torture, as in “Torture is a celebration of human life and dignity."
Miller looks directly into the camera and describes the torturing Iraqis in gruesome detail, as his peers laugh uncomfortably.
17-year-old Stephen Miller is sitting in the back of a school bus talking about torture, as in “Torture is a celebration of human life and dignity."
Miller looks directly into the camera and describes the torturing Iraqis in gruesome detail, as his peers laugh uncomfortably.
October 2, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This is who is running our country. I'd like to say he's outgrown this, but it's pretty clear he has not.
If you can, set a device to the Democrats Livestream and let it run. Let's get viewership up.
Stop the Republican Shutdown PT.2
YouTube video by Rep. Jeffries
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:05 PM
If you can, set a device to the Democrats Livestream and let it run. Let's get viewership up.
This is so exciting. Congrats Mychal!
EVERYONE STOP EVERYTHING Mychal the Librarian is hosting the Reading Rainbow revival!!!
reactormag.com/reading-rain...
reactormag.com/reading-rain...
Reading Rainbow Is Back, With Mychal the Librarian Hosting! - Reactor
The butterfly is back in the sky; can’t wait to fly twice as high.
reactormag.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This is so exciting. Congrats Mychal!
After a depressing news weekend this remix brings a welcome Monday morning smile.
BTW The tune is from the Benny Hill Show (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_H...) which I can't recommend because of its rampant misogyny. But the tune is memorable and fits this video very well.
BTW The tune is from the Benny Hill Show (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_H...) which I can't recommend because of its rampant misogyny. But the tune is memorable and fits this video very well.
September 29, 2025 at 12:33 PM
After a depressing news weekend this remix brings a welcome Monday morning smile.
BTW The tune is from the Benny Hill Show (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_H...) which I can't recommend because of its rampant misogyny. But the tune is memorable and fits this video very well.
BTW The tune is from the Benny Hill Show (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_H...) which I can't recommend because of its rampant misogyny. But the tune is memorable and fits this video very well.
⬆️ So far has not been raptured.
September 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
⬆️ So far has not been raptured.
Heros!
September 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Heros!
Reposted by Lois Scheidt
Trump gets booed at the US Open today.
September 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Trump gets booed at the US Open today.
This is patently insane. Look at the faces of the folks hearing this. At best there's a lot more context needed here. At worst it's an outright defamatory lie.
Dem lawmakers GRILL RFK Jr. on CDC director's firing
YouTube video by MSNBC
youtube.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:33 PM
This is patently insane. Look at the faces of the folks hearing this. At best there's a lot more context needed here. At worst it's an outright defamatory lie.
The true causes = "suicidality + rage + isolation + easy access to guns." Don't be distracted by the less relevant talking points.
Brief 🧵, as someone who has studied mass shootings for 13 years:
-gender does not cause them
-SSRIs, no
-mental illness, no
-internet/gaming, no
Above can be compounding factors—but motive is complex, often very. The most fundamental combo:
suicidality + rage + isolation + easy access to guns
-gender does not cause them
-SSRIs, no
-mental illness, no
-internet/gaming, no
Above can be compounding factors—but motive is complex, often very. The most fundamental combo:
suicidality + rage + isolation + easy access to guns
August 27, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The true causes = "suicidality + rage + isolation + easy access to guns." Don't be distracted by the less relevant talking points.
Pushing back on tRump's "honest voting" rant against mail-in votes. There's a map on the Wikipedia page that shows that most democratic governments allow at least some mail-in voting. You know which countries don't allow it, 1) authoritarian ones, and 2) those without great postal systems.
Postal voting - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
August 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Pushing back on tRump's "honest voting" rant against mail-in votes. There's a map on the Wikipedia page that shows that most democratic governments allow at least some mail-in voting. You know which countries don't allow it, 1) authoritarian ones, and 2) those without great postal systems.
Dear lord, what a mess.
BREAKING: Gov. Mike Braun confirms Vice President JD Vance is coming to Indiana Thursday to discuss possibly redistricting in the state.
We will have a story up soon on the issue, including the possible legal constraints of such a move.
We will have a story up soon on the issue, including the possible legal constraints of such a move.
August 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Dear lord, what a mess.
I'm betting AI created the list. Note that LIS folks are the last entry...since critical thinking and information search will no longer be required.
August 4, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I'm betting AI created the list. Note that LIS folks are the last entry...since critical thinking and information search will no longer be required.
This is likely very foreboding for science in the US in general.
A university scientist who discovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals in a lake in southeastern Louisiana was abruptly removed from her research position this week without explanation
University sidelines scientist who exposed toxic metals in Lake Maurepas
The SELU scientist who discovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals in Lake Maurepas was abruptly removed from her research position without explanation.
lailluminator.com
August 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This is likely very foreboding for science in the US in general.
The world is a duller place.
Tom Lehrer, song satirist and mathematician, dies at 97
Tom Lehrer, a song satirist who gained a popular following in the 1950s and ’60s lampooning marriage, politics, racism and the Cold War, has died at 97.
apnews.com
July 28, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The world is a duller place.
The news often makes it rough to be upbeat. But the Broadway show "Come From Away" lives rent-free in my head reminding me there really are good people in the world. Here's the opening number for your reminder.
"Welcome to the Rock" — Come From Away, Tonys 2017 performance
YouTube video by Katie Lee
youtu.be
July 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The news often makes it rough to be upbeat. But the Broadway show "Come From Away" lives rent-free in my head reminding me there really are good people in the world. Here's the opening number for your reminder.
My hometown, an unabashedly Trump supporting community with deep racist roots. Oh to be a fly on the wall...
July 23, 2025 at 2:16 PM
My hometown, an unabashedly Trump supporting community with deep racist roots. Oh to be a fly on the wall...
I really wish I was shocked by this. "Supporters of Trump were less likely to feel concern for others’ suffering.. and more likely to enjoy or be indifferent to others’ distress... Trump supporters were just as able as others to recognize emotions in others—they simply appeared to care less."
July 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I really wish I was shocked by this. "Supporters of Trump were less likely to feel concern for others’ suffering.. and more likely to enjoy or be indifferent to others’ distress... Trump supporters were just as able as others to recognize emotions in others—they simply appeared to care less."
"We cannot claim to care about democracy only when it costs nothing."
Former US ambassador to Hungary: "After years watching Hungary suffocate under the weight of its democratic collapse, I came to understand that the real danger of a strongman isn’t his tactics; it’s how others, especially those with power, justify their acquiescence." (h/t @bnovak.bsky.social)
Opinion | I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It’s Happening Here.
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"We cannot claim to care about democracy only when it costs nothing."
Reposted by Lois Scheidt
And so the state of the union is this 👇🏼💙💙💙👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸😢
July 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
And so the state of the union is this 👇🏼💙💙💙👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸😢