Mike Westphal
@mfwestphal.bsky.social
Biologist, writer, father of three, anti-fascist. he/him
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Westphal/publications
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Westphal/publications
Reposted by Mike Westphal
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 Mike Westphal
So ebook editions of my recent novels are STILL presently just £2.99/$2.99. The Secret of Life, Something Coming Through, Into Everywhere, Austral, and more.
Various links here:
www.unlikelyworlds.co.uk/print.html
Various links here:
www.unlikelyworlds.co.uk/print.html
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
So ebook editions of my recent novels are STILL presently just £2.99/$2.99. The Secret of Life, Something Coming Through, Into Everywhere, Austral, and more.
Various links here:
www.unlikelyworlds.co.uk/print.html
Various links here:
www.unlikelyworlds.co.uk/print.html
Reposted by Mike Westphal
New in PN: Cue the rebellion
"The unfortunate conclusion to the shutdown is going to fuel a rebellion within the Democratic Party, one that has already begun but will only get stronger. And despite all the justified disgust now being expressed at Dems, in the long run it will be good for the party"
"The unfortunate conclusion to the shutdown is going to fuel a rebellion within the Democratic Party, one that has already begun but will only get stronger. And despite all the justified disgust now being expressed at Dems, in the long run it will be good for the party"
Cue the rebellion
The Democratic base is enraged at their party's capitulation — and that's a good thing.
www.publicnotice.co
November 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
New in PN: Cue the rebellion
"The unfortunate conclusion to the shutdown is going to fuel a rebellion within the Democratic Party, one that has already begun but will only get stronger. And despite all the justified disgust now being expressed at Dems, in the long run it will be good for the party"
"The unfortunate conclusion to the shutdown is going to fuel a rebellion within the Democratic Party, one that has already begun but will only get stronger. And despite all the justified disgust now being expressed at Dems, in the long run it will be good for the party"
A burlesque show called “Hard Men of Gondor” would sell out every night, forever
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A burlesque show called “Hard Men of Gondor” would sell out every night, forever
Reposted by Mike Westphal
It's the government, ffs. He can literally print money. Doesn't he know that?
So he’s saying all the tariff money we took in is gone and we won’t be able to pay it back. There was always a possibility he could lose this lawsuit and have to refund the tariff money. We didn’t prepare for that possibility? He’s running the govt like he ran his casinos.
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It's the government, ffs. He can literally print money. Doesn't he know that?
Reposted by Mike Westphal
We’re watching Joyce Carol Oates slowly torture a Boer to death in real-time
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 AM
We’re watching Joyce Carol Oates slowly torture a Boer to death in real-time
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Took this about six years ago at a local garage. Seeing it now, I wonder just how much this tattered piece of VW history might be worth? Bet it’s a fascinating browse.
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Took this about six years ago at a local garage. Seeing it now, I wonder just how much this tattered piece of VW history might be worth? Bet it’s a fascinating browse.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I gotta say, even I am tired of the amount of politics were are forced to consume, and I do this for a living.
November 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I gotta say, even I am tired of the amount of politics were are forced to consume, and I do this for a living.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
We are have a SPIN-ART sunrise.
Not even kidding.
Unfiltered.
Not even kidding.
Unfiltered.
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
We are have a SPIN-ART sunrise.
Not even kidding.
Unfiltered.
Not even kidding.
Unfiltered.
I wish everybody would just relax and recognize that Dr. Who and James Bond are the same person
👇
Absolutely. I also think that'd be great. Would love a retro reboot.
But at the same time, nobody I know really believes that was really the end of 007. The whole idea is the films are ridiculous, and audiences buy into that, so everyone's onboard for some kind of incredibly lame ruse he had
But at the same time, nobody I know really believes that was really the end of 007. The whole idea is the films are ridiculous, and audiences buy into that, so everyone's onboard for some kind of incredibly lame ruse he had
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I wish everybody would just relax and recognize that Dr. Who and James Bond are the same person
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Ok this is fucking charming, and I want more politicians to shop in charity shops. So long as they don't raid all the good stuff :p
A lot of people have been calling me the
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social of Seattle. But where Zohran is charismatic, telegenic and stylish, I've spent my whole adult life looking pretty dumpy. To look more mayoral, I enlisted my friend Andrew Ashiofu, who took me to one of Seattle's premier boutiques.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social of Seattle. But where Zohran is charismatic, telegenic and stylish, I've spent my whole adult life looking pretty dumpy. To look more mayoral, I enlisted my friend Andrew Ashiofu, who took me to one of Seattle's premier boutiques.
November 11, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Ok this is fucking charming, and I want more politicians to shop in charity shops. So long as they don't raid all the good stuff :p
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Everyone who can should visit these cemeteries. I went to those in Northern France twice, ended up in tears each time from reading the tombs engravings with the ages of these teenagers sent to fight the ilk we see reappear today. Never forget them! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
Opinion | If Only More Americans Could See This Place
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Everyone who can should visit these cemeteries. I went to those in Northern France twice, ended up in tears each time from reading the tombs engravings with the ages of these teenagers sent to fight the ilk we see reappear today. Never forget them! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
Reposted by Mike Westphal
So a week ago, Zooey and I started a family Minecraft server now that our kiddo is old enough to actually enjoy playing.
And yall, Zooey makes the most incredible and pretty Minecraft houses and I can’t wait to show y’all some pictures when she’s done :)
And yall, Zooey makes the most incredible and pretty Minecraft houses and I can’t wait to show y’all some pictures when she’s done :)
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
So a week ago, Zooey and I started a family Minecraft server now that our kiddo is old enough to actually enjoy playing.
And yall, Zooey makes the most incredible and pretty Minecraft houses and I can’t wait to show y’all some pictures when she’s done :)
And yall, Zooey makes the most incredible and pretty Minecraft houses and I can’t wait to show y’all some pictures when she’s done :)
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Catherine my good bitch you guys are the only ones who do not know where the Republicans stand
Steve Inskeep: You think the Republicans voting with you here will not only agree to these measures, but actually try to do something if the administration ignores them?
Sen Cortez Masto: If they go back on their word, then the American public will know where the Republicans stand.
Sen Cortez Masto: If they go back on their word, then the American public will know where the Republicans stand.
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Catherine my good bitch you guys are the only ones who do not know where the Republicans stand
Reposted by Mike Westphal
We all knew that. It’s you and your colleagues that seem to think otherwise, because CRs are the only way to force them to agree to funding. Instead, you’ve conceded the point after weeks of suffering which you rendered worthless.
We're debating on the government funding package right now and every single Republican voted against a Democratic amendment to pass a clean, one-year extension of the ACA tax credits.
Republicans just don't care about your health care.
Republicans just don't care about your health care.
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
We all knew that. It’s you and your colleagues that seem to think otherwise, because CRs are the only way to force them to agree to funding. Instead, you’ve conceded the point after weeks of suffering which you rendered worthless.
This furloughed federal worker could carve a better man out of a banana than Senator Kaine. I would *love* to tell him this to face, in a loud voice. In church.
Tim Kaine on backlash he's getting: "I got the first good night's sleep last night that I've gotten since Oct 1, b/c I wasn't worried about being able to look Capitol Police in the eye when I walked in, or what a furloughed fed worker would say to me at church, or what somebody would say about SNAP"
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 AM
This furloughed federal worker could carve a better man out of a banana than Senator Kaine. I would *love* to tell him this to face, in a loud voice. In church.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Ask trans people why they are generally using Bluesky, and they all tell you its because people haven't got freedom to abuse you here.
These threats are grim, disgusting and unacceptable.
They’re really common among anti-trans obsessives.
Which is why they were banned so often from social networks. It wasn’t censorship, it was standards.
Removing those rules has only emboldened hate:
metro.co.uk/2025/11/08/d...
They’re really common among anti-trans obsessives.
Which is why they were banned so often from social networks. It wasn’t censorship, it was standards.
Removing those rules has only emboldened hate:
metro.co.uk/2025/11/08/d...
David Tennant’s wife Georgia issues plea to police after receiving death threats
The actress has been targeted by trolls several times before.
metro.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Ask trans people why they are generally using Bluesky, and they all tell you its because people haven't got freedom to abuse you here.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
(1 of 3) I used to negotiate for a living, and I'm trying to determine how many basic rules of negotiation these eight schmucks who somehow stumbled into becoming United States Senators violated. The list seems endless. For instance, if your negotiating partner is fucking crazy sociopathic ghoul...
November 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
(1 of 3) I used to negotiate for a living, and I'm trying to determine how many basic rules of negotiation these eight schmucks who somehow stumbled into becoming United States Senators violated. The list seems endless. For instance, if your negotiating partner is fucking crazy sociopathic ghoul...
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Good news for once
www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
Supreme Court declines to revisit landmark same-sex marriage precedent | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court on Monday declined an opportunity to overturn its landmark precedent recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, tossing aside an appeal that had roiled LGBTQ advocates ...
www.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Good news for once
www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...
I stand ready.
I'm concentrating as hard as I can, are your molecules vibrating yet
November 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I stand ready.
Can someone teleport me to Cork please
Tomorrow night I will be sitting on a stage in Cork after a screening of John Boorman's nutty, wonderful, silly, amazing movie Zardoz, talking about it with some really interesting and lovely people.
If you're in the area, come along (and see Boorman & The Devil beforehand too, it is GREAT).
If you're in the area, come along (and see Boorman & The Devil beforehand too, it is GREAT).
I will be at the Cork Film Festival next month talking about my love of John Boorman's extraordinary ZARDOZ with festival director Aurélie Godet & Excalibur star Cherie Lunghi as part of their Boorman celebration, can not wait!
corkfilmfest.org/events/zardo...
corkfilmfest.org/events/zardo...
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Can someone teleport me to Cork please
Reposted by Mike Westphal
This deal to reopen the government is fucking disgraceful.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This deal to reopen the government is fucking disgraceful.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
Tens of millions will lose their healthcare. Trump will be emboldened.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Democratic Party leadership and why we need more people in Congress who will actually hold the line.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
To relax between big projects, I play around a lot in Photoshop and sometimes make imaginary products. If you've read Sandman Slim you'll recognize the band. I took the sheep skeleton shot in the desert somewhere east (?) of LA.
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
To relax between big projects, I play around a lot in Photoshop and sometimes make imaginary products. If you've read Sandman Slim you'll recognize the band. I took the sheep skeleton shot in the desert somewhere east (?) of LA.