Mary A. Spiro
@maryspiro.bsky.social
Science Writer. Music Maven. Cat mom of adult children with cats. Wife of heavy metal drummer. Shadow Woods Metal Fest founder. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our Shadow Woods community continues to mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Ann Everton of Darsombra. She died Friday, October 3, 2025, as a result of a vehicle crash in upstate New York while she and her partner and bandmate Brian Daniloski were traveling to their first fall tour date.
Hail Ann!
Brian Daniloski and Ann Everton, Sept 20, 2025, at the Shadow Woods Campout Reunion. Photo by Sam Levin @goopcat on Instagram Our Shadow Woods community continues to mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Ann Everton of Darsombra. She died Friday, October 3, 2025, as a result of a vehicle crash in upstate New York while she and her partner and bandmate Brian Daniloski were traveling to their first fall tour date.
shadowwoodsproductions.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Our Shadow Woods community continues to mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Ann Everton of Darsombra. She died Friday, October 3, 2025, as a result of a vehicle crash in upstate New York while she and her partner and bandmate Brian Daniloski were traveling to their first fall tour date.
Science journalists DO NOT NEED PHDS, but I think they need some broad scientific knowledge and ravenous curiosity.The author gets to the heart of journalism: thorough fact-checking!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Should Science Journalists Know Science? | Canadian Journal of Philosophy | Cambridge Core
Should Science Journalists Know Science?
www.cambridge.org
August 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Science journalists DO NOT NEED PHDS, but I think they need some broad scientific knowledge and ravenous curiosity.The author gets to the heart of journalism: thorough fact-checking!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Is Maryland in the south?
The first full day of #ASA2025 drew attendees from all across the country: 962 from the Midwest, 791 from the Northeast, 720 from the South, and 629 from the West. We also had 400 international attendees, representing 42 countries.
August 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Is Maryland in the south?
We enjoyed a great session today!
Happening in 20 minutes inside the book exhibit area #ASA2025
Presenting at #ASA2025 about why scholars should engage in public and media discussions. Because meaning-making around US politics & policies is a multilingual & transnational process, & because misinformation spreads through different channels, it has to be corrected in many arenas simultaneously.
August 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
We enjoyed a great session today!
We did the numbers in case you were wondering #ASA2025
This snapshot of the ASA 2025 Annual Meeting shows the numerous presenters who will be sharing sociological knowledge during the meeting. That’s 1,055 presenters on Saturday; 880 on Sunday; 948 on Monday; and 679 on Tuesday.
August 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
We did the numbers in case you were wondering #ASA2025
Don’t forget to bring your Labubus to #asa2025 !! They need intellectual stimulation too! @asanews.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Don’t forget to bring your Labubus to #asa2025 !! They need intellectual stimulation too! @asanews.bsky.social
We are onsite in Chicago and ready for #ASA2025! Swing by the Hyatt Regency and meet the amazing ASA membership team and register to attend! @asanews.bsky.social #sociology
August 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
We are onsite in Chicago and ready for #ASA2025! Swing by the Hyatt Regency and meet the amazing ASA membership team and register to attend! @asanews.bsky.social #sociology
“Sometimes when the game is fixed, you have to overturn the tables.”
March 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Planning international travel? Maybe not so fast. bbc.com/news/article...
Dad of detained US tourist urges care on visa requirements
Becky Burke, 28, has spent 10 days in a facility in Washington State and is desperate to come home.
bbc.com
March 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Planning international travel? Maybe not so fast. bbc.com/news/article...
Still true. The math ain’t mathing. I sometimes think selling my house and renting when I did was the smartest thing I’ve done financially. www.bankrate.com/real-estate/...
Study Shows Renting Is More Affordable In The 50 Largest Metros | Bankrate
Rent prices have softened over the last year, and the housing market creates a strong headwind for aspiring homeowners.
www.bankrate.com
March 11, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Still true. The math ain’t mathing. I sometimes think selling my house and renting when I did was the smartest thing I’ve done financially. www.bankrate.com/real-estate/...
Funding!
As federal funding for research is uncertain, we need to diversify funding sources for our PhD students.
Here is a comprehensive list of >160 PhD fellowships and funding opportunities, mostly from private foundations and scientific societies.
Download it here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Here is a comprehensive list of >160 PhD fellowships and funding opportunities, mostly from private foundations and scientific societies.
Download it here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
March 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Funding!
Yogi on patrol.
Since Trump fired most of the National Park Service, the bears have to pick up the slack.
“Alaskan bear corrects a fallen roadside cone”
Credit @gunsnrosesgirl X
@altnps.bsky.social
“Alaskan bear corrects a fallen roadside cone”
Credit @gunsnrosesgirl X
@altnps.bsky.social
March 10, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Yogi on patrol.
Cat lady for America.
March 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Cat lady for America.
Where do you draw the line with pro fascist (or pro-monarchy?) rhetoric before cutting someone off/blocking them? Will an anti-trans or racist statement do it for you? What is your tipping point? Or maybe I need to stop looking at Failbook?
March 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Where do you draw the line with pro fascist (or pro-monarchy?) rhetoric before cutting someone off/blocking them? Will an anti-trans or racist statement do it for you? What is your tipping point? Or maybe I need to stop looking at Failbook?
I’ll be in DC Friday!
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
March 4, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I’ll be in DC Friday!
I can’t stop listening to this song. youtu.be/PuWVgVkMiHE?...
Hostile Government Takeover (EDM Remix)
YouTube video by AGiftFromTodd - Topic
youtu.be
March 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I can’t stop listening to this song. youtu.be/PuWVgVkMiHE?...
One hard lesson I have to keep learning over and over -- is that to get more done efficiently and without mistakes I actually need to SLOW DOWN -- that old meta motto of "move fast and break things" really is true. Nothing needs to be broken.
March 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
One hard lesson I have to keep learning over and over -- is that to get more done efficiently and without mistakes I actually need to SLOW DOWN -- that old meta motto of "move fast and break things" really is true. Nothing needs to be broken.
Today my baby son Sam is #35. Hard to believe! I hope we get to go on more adventures like this in the future. @goopcat
March 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Today my baby son Sam is #35. Hard to believe! I hope we get to go on more adventures like this in the future. @goopcat
Happy Friday! I hope you resisted the oligarchy today!
February 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Happy Friday! I hope you resisted the oligarchy today!
Update on the 2024/2025 End of Term Web Archive | Internet Archive Blogs
blog.archive.org
February 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I feel pretty proud to work for this organization most days, but especially today.
The ASA, American Federation of Teachers @AFT, and AFT-Maryland, facilitated by @DemocracyForward, have filed a complaint today in federal court in Maryland challenging the “Dear Colleague Letter” published by the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Educators Sue to Challenge Trump Administration's Efforts to Weaponize Civil Rights Laws, Attack Educational Programs and Student Opportunities - Democracy Forward
bit.ly
February 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I feel pretty proud to work for this organization most days, but especially today.
Sure wish I had purchased this house when it came on the market a few years back.
www.homes.com/property/210...
www.homes.com/property/210...
February 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Sure wish I had purchased this house when it came on the market a few years back.
www.homes.com/property/210...
www.homes.com/property/210...
I am really glad I started out as a journalist. I feel like it gave me a different set of eyes to view the world. But, actually, now that I type that sentence out, I think I was BORN with that kind of skepticism and discernment (an innate bullshit detector), and journalism just helped me refine it.
February 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I am really glad I started out as a journalist. I feel like it gave me a different set of eyes to view the world. But, actually, now that I type that sentence out, I think I was BORN with that kind of skepticism and discernment (an innate bullshit detector), and journalism just helped me refine it.
My spouse and I’ve been semi seriously house hunting since last fall. We’ve found a few really good candidates but they go under contract so quickly. I’m close to just bagging the idea. Do I need to own a house again? No. Feels like a good time to save as much as possible. Maybe continue renting?
February 18, 2025 at 6:43 AM
My spouse and I’ve been semi seriously house hunting since last fall. We’ve found a few really good candidates but they go under contract so quickly. I’m close to just bagging the idea. Do I need to own a house again? No. Feels like a good time to save as much as possible. Maybe continue renting?