Marius Loots
@mariusloots.bsky.social
eat:sleep:exercise| live learn http://chaos.co.za he/him
university of pretoria
Histology, 3D printing, photography, anthropology
For what it's worth - my data is not allowed to train AI.
university of pretoria
Histology, 3D printing, photography, anthropology
For what it's worth - my data is not allowed to train AI.
Pinned
Marius Loots
@mariusloots.bsky.social
· Aug 21
It seems I've earned myself the title of the Afrikaner reply guy, receiving multiple block awards. Some random thoughts on the matter.
A thread. For footnotes, see end of same.
A thread. For footnotes, see end of same.
BlueSky starting the slide?
Presumably a mistaken suspension of a journalist who is a very anodyne poster over here, @aaron.bsky.team and co. What's the best way to reach the team who can look into it?
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 5:14 AM
BlueSky starting the slide?
Watch till the end.
Then read the comments.
Then contemplate how many engineers are going to end up in the front lines.
Then read the comments.
Then contemplate how many engineers are going to end up in the front lines.
Joke of the day from Moscow: Russia tried to unveil its first humanoid AI robot, Aidol. Key word: tried. The robot collapsed during its debut, forcing organizers to cut the presentation short. Their rushed attempt to lift the prop only made things worse.
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Watch till the end.
Then read the comments.
Then contemplate how many engineers are going to end up in the front lines.
Then read the comments.
Then contemplate how many engineers are going to end up in the front lines.
Reposted by Marius Loots
I’m looking for a medical artist. I was awarded a grant to write a new lab manual and will need anatomical images created. Open to someone starting out!
#science #anatomy #medicalillustrations #medicalsky #academicsky #medicalart #jobalert
#science #anatomy #medicalillustrations #medicalsky #academicsky #medicalart #jobalert
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I’m looking for a medical artist. I was awarded a grant to write a new lab manual and will need anatomical images created. Open to someone starting out!
#science #anatomy #medicalillustrations #medicalsky #academicsky #medicalart #jobalert
#science #anatomy #medicalillustrations #medicalsky #academicsky #medicalart #jobalert
Reposted by Marius Loots
Testing Whether Fast Charging Kills Smartphone Batteries, And Other Myths
See gadgeteer.co.za/testing-whet...
#batteries #technology
See gadgeteer.co.za/testing-whet...
#batteries #technology
Testing Whether Fast Charging Kills Smartphone Batteries, And Other Myths
It will be a lot clearer if you watch the video in the linked article, as the article text does not really clearly summarise all the conclusions.
gadgeteer.co.za
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Testing Whether Fast Charging Kills Smartphone Batteries, And Other Myths
See gadgeteer.co.za/testing-whet...
#batteries #technology
See gadgeteer.co.za/testing-whet...
#batteries #technology
Reposted by Marius Loots
5️⃣ JD Vance's half-brother, Cory Bowman, was crushed in his challenge Cincinnati's Democratic mayor Aftab Pureval.
His loss was unsurprising in this blue-leaning city.
But he lost 78% to 22%: That's the biggest margin in a mayoral race in Cincy since it started electing mayors directly in 2001.
His loss was unsurprising in this blue-leaning city.
But he lost 78% to 22%: That's the biggest margin in a mayoral race in Cincy since it started electing mayors directly in 2001.
November 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
5️⃣ JD Vance's half-brother, Cory Bowman, was crushed in his challenge Cincinnati's Democratic mayor Aftab Pureval.
His loss was unsurprising in this blue-leaning city.
But he lost 78% to 22%: That's the biggest margin in a mayoral race in Cincy since it started electing mayors directly in 2001.
His loss was unsurprising in this blue-leaning city.
But he lost 78% to 22%: That's the biggest margin in a mayoral race in Cincy since it started electing mayors directly in 2001.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Reposted by Marius Loots
The rapid build out of clean energy will be far cheaper for South Africa in the long-term. But it requires electricity to be considered a national resource like water - with changes to law to coordinate a fractured system of regulation and provision.
Chris Yelland | Green industrialisation is SA’s cheapest path to net zero | News24
The conclusion of a new landmark study shows that economic efficiency and climate ambition are not in conflict but mutually reinforcing, writes Chris Yelland.
www.news24.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:41 AM
The rapid build out of clean energy will be far cheaper for South Africa in the long-term. But it requires electricity to be considered a national resource like water - with changes to law to coordinate a fractured system of regulation and provision.
Reposted by Marius Loots
A lot of the NYC post-election analysis is bad. Cuomo is god awful and voters did not want a sex pest mayor; Silwa is a cat guy who talks about how many times he's been shot; and Adams dropped out because he wanted to go on more Turkish Airlines flights. It's not complicated.
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
A lot of the NYC post-election analysis is bad. Cuomo is god awful and voters did not want a sex pest mayor; Silwa is a cat guy who talks about how many times he's been shot; and Adams dropped out because he wanted to go on more Turkish Airlines flights. It's not complicated.
Reposted by Marius Loots
📣 We just released a new free resource at @climatecentral.org - a 72-slide deck introducing key facts about climate change, including its causes, impacts, and solutions. It also comes with speaker notes and links for local storytelling.
➡️ www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt... (English & Spanish)
➡️ www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt... (English & Spanish)
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
📣 We just released a new free resource at @climatecentral.org - a 72-slide deck introducing key facts about climate change, including its causes, impacts, and solutions. It also comes with speaker notes and links for local storytelling.
➡️ www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt... (English & Spanish)
➡️ www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt... (English & Spanish)
Reposted by Marius Loots
No no I'll happily read The Diaphanous Tungsten. Just miss me with A CHANT OF BLOOD AND BISMUTH
June 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
No no I'll happily read The Diaphanous Tungsten. Just miss me with A CHANT OF BLOOD AND BISMUTH
Reposted by Marius Loots
So, you won’t read my The Diaphanous Tungsten.
June 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
So, you won’t read my The Diaphanous Tungsten.
Reposted by Marius Loots
How about we shut down the government for this very popular and specific goal and then, hear me out, we hold out for like a month and a half and then, ok this part is important, after a watershed election where we ran the table, ONLY THEN, fold and don't get the one thing we said we wanted.
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM
How about we shut down the government for this very popular and specific goal and then, hear me out, we hold out for like a month and a half and then, ok this part is important, after a watershed election where we ran the table, ONLY THEN, fold and don't get the one thing we said we wanted.
Where the rubber hits the tar. Ordinary people resisting. NOT those who is capitulating. From what I have seen, most of those ordinary people are willing to take it to the end. If you are watching the US situation from afar, think it does not affect you, think again.
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Where the rubber hits the tar. Ordinary people resisting. NOT those who is capitulating. From what I have seen, most of those ordinary people are willing to take it to the end. If you are watching the US situation from afar, think it does not affect you, think again.
With the Covid vaccine trials, real people died to prove that the vaccine works. RFK Jr is a ghoul.
OK, you asked for it:
Answering the antivax fantasy directly.
A dystopian thought experiment — “The Great Immunization Trial.”
What if RFK Jr.’s dream RCT actually happened?
Let’s explore the consequences. 🧵
Answering the antivax fantasy directly.
A dystopian thought experiment — “The Great Immunization Trial.”
What if RFK Jr.’s dream RCT actually happened?
Let’s explore the consequences. 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 AM
With the Covid vaccine trials, real people died to prove that the vaccine works. RFK Jr is a ghoul.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by Marius Loots
The “best deal” you can make with the devil, is still a deal you make with the devil. Goodnight. 👺
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 AM
The “best deal” you can make with the devil, is still a deal you make with the devil. Goodnight. 👺
Reposted by Marius Loots
9/ In summary, RFK Jr.'s proposal is:
· UNETHICAL (it harms kids)
· IMPRACTICAL (it's impossible to do well)
· UNNECESSARY (we already have the answers)
It's a dangerous narrative that undermines public health and places children at risk.
· UNETHICAL (it harms kids)
· IMPRACTICAL (it's impossible to do well)
· UNNECESSARY (we already have the answers)
It's a dangerous narrative that undermines public health and places children at risk.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
9/ In summary, RFK Jr.'s proposal is:
· UNETHICAL (it harms kids)
· IMPRACTICAL (it's impossible to do well)
· UNNECESSARY (we already have the answers)
It's a dangerous narrative that undermines public health and places children at risk.
· UNETHICAL (it harms kids)
· IMPRACTICAL (it's impossible to do well)
· UNNECESSARY (we already have the answers)
It's a dangerous narrative that undermines public health and places children at risk.
Reposted by Marius Loots
SO The US has an unemployment rate of 4.3% meaning less than 1 in 20 people is unemployed. BUt 1 in 8 rely on Sanp.
The math aint mathing when you have people on the other end of the scale racing to be the world's first trillionaire.
The math aint mathing when you have people on the other end of the scale racing to be the world's first trillionaire.
November 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
SO The US has an unemployment rate of 4.3% meaning less than 1 in 20 people is unemployed. BUt 1 in 8 rely on Sanp.
The math aint mathing when you have people on the other end of the scale racing to be the world's first trillionaire.
The math aint mathing when you have people on the other end of the scale racing to be the world's first trillionaire.
November 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"those who can afford to buy into it"
I grew up in the Dominican Republic, learning tech on old computers that barely worked. It felt like freedom.
Now I see how that same world turned into infrastructure controlled by a few.
I wrote about Peter Thiel, ACTS 17 & power in tech. open.substack.com/pub/gissellr...
🔗 #Pink #Momsky
Now I see how that same world turned into infrastructure controlled by a few.
I wrote about Peter Thiel, ACTS 17 & power in tech. open.substack.com/pub/gissellr...
🔗 #Pink #Momsky
Peter Thiel, the “Antichrist,” and the Decisions Shaping Our Everyday Lives
Reflections from someone who grew up believing in tech — and now watches who it serves.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:44 AM
"those who can afford to buy into it"
Reposted by Marius Loots
Don't forget coal. Nevermind that the mining industry is built off slavery too.
November 9, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Don't forget coal. Nevermind that the mining industry is built off slavery too.
He looks like my father at his old age home... And all the others with him.
Except my father is 92.
Except my father is 92.
When the president closed his eyes for just a moment, the world saw more than fatigue—it saw the unraveling of a myth. 💤👇
“Dozy Don” Caught Napping: Chaos, Cameras, and Questions About Trump’s Health
The cameras were rolling. The nation’s press corps leaned forward, pens ready, as President Donald Trump began another Oval Office event meant to project strength and stamina. Instead, what unfolde…
allchronology.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 AM
He looks like my father at his old age home... And all the others with him.
Except my father is 92.
Except my father is 92.
Reposted by Marius Loots
China is upgrading a #SouthAfrican #military base, Die Brug, with its own workers & paying for most of the costs. Being done with secrecy, up until now: www.news24.com/citypress/ne...
China’s ‘top secret’ gift to SA - A R500m revamp to one of the country’s key military bases | News24
The upgrade will entail the complete redesign and modernisation of certain facilities at the centre and will cost about R500 million, which will apparently be borne largely by China.
www.news24.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:59 AM
China is upgrading a #SouthAfrican #military base, Die Brug, with its own workers & paying for most of the costs. Being done with secrecy, up until now: www.news24.com/citypress/ne...