Miri Castor
@miricastor.bsky.social
YA fantasy author of Opal Charm series. Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Activist. Nerd. Occasional baker. She/her.
https://miricastor.com/
https://miricastor.com/
Reposted by Miri Castor
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
I have a weird question for the #bird people on here. Do you think someone could tell that a book was pooped on specifically by a sparrowhawk (or perhaps hawks generally) just from the feces? I'm looking at a 16th c. case where witnesses claim books were pooped on specifically by sparrowhawks!
December 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
Reposted by Miri Castor
still think usaid is the biggest story of the year
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
still think usaid is the biggest story of the year
Reposted by Miri Castor
Call your reps. Yes, even your Republican reps. Tell them to vote to extend ACA subsidies.
Breaking news: Moderate House Republicans join Democrats to force a vote on ACA subsidies, which are likely to expire.
Speaker Mike Johnson had refused to allow a vote, provoking the strongest rebellion among Republicans from swing districts to date.
Speaker Mike Johnson had refused to allow a vote, provoking the strongest rebellion among Republicans from swing districts to date.
Moderate House Republicans join Democrats to force vote on ACA subsidies
The Senate has already rejected the plan, so the subsidies are still virtually certain to expire at the end of this year.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Call your reps. Yes, even your Republican reps. Tell them to vote to extend ACA subsidies.
Reposted by Miri Castor
Very much reads like they are significantly reducing the influence of peer review on scientific funding, which under the current regime opens the way for more politicized funding instead.
NSF now planning to let POs largely decide what gets funded, and to send PIs reviews that are only 3-5 sentences long. They don't have to use outside reviewers (except maybe 1) and don't have to convene panels. (1/5)
NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
www.science.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Very much reads like they are significantly reducing the influence of peer review on scientific funding, which under the current regime opens the way for more politicized funding instead.
My goal for the end of the year is to finish the 2nd draft of my new novel so that I can spend the last week of the year catching up on all my games ✊🏾
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
My goal for the end of the year is to finish the 2nd draft of my new novel so that I can spend the last week of the year catching up on all my games ✊🏾
The book I'm reading on libby is so good I want to buy it but it's a day after bookshop's cyber monday sales so I played myself this week 😭
December 4, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The book I'm reading on libby is so good I want to buy it but it's a day after bookshop's cyber monday sales so I played myself this week 😭
Reposted by Miri Castor
1/2 I find myself having to make this point more often.
The muddying of distinction between the bullshit engine and genuinely life-saving applications of ML / AI is intentional. It allows the people trying to sell you genAI to claim noble intent and dismiss legitimate concerns.
The muddying of distinction between the bullshit engine and genuinely life-saving applications of ML / AI is intentional. It allows the people trying to sell you genAI to claim noble intent and dismiss legitimate concerns.
Having AI crammed down our throats is bullshit, but machine learning has some real uses in science. This awesome page shows experimental cyclone track forecasts from Google DeepMind and Google Research's AI weather models, along with forecasts from ECMWF. 😍
deepmind.google.com/science/weat...
deepmind.google.com/science/weat...
November 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
1/2 I find myself having to make this point more often.
The muddying of distinction between the bullshit engine and genuinely life-saving applications of ML / AI is intentional. It allows the people trying to sell you genAI to claim noble intent and dismiss legitimate concerns.
The muddying of distinction between the bullshit engine and genuinely life-saving applications of ML / AI is intentional. It allows the people trying to sell you genAI to claim noble intent and dismiss legitimate concerns.
Reposted by Miri Castor
Hey! We're a part of a big Creator's Day bundle put together by @aimeecozza.com! Come get TFB and a metric ton of other awesome goodies for only $50, and support indies!
itch.io/b/3410/creat...
#BookSky #ReadSky #Indie #WritingCommunity
itch.io/b/3410/creat...
#BookSky #ReadSky #Indie #WritingCommunity
![A graphic with autumn leaves that says:
Creator Day Bundle
A massive bundle of various creator offerings including ebooks, audiobooks, short stories, games, and more for only $50!
From midnight to midnight Pacific time on November 28th
For 24 hours, creators will receive 100% of their profits through purchases on itch.io
[link included in post]
bundle organized by Aimee Cozza.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ssfoeughm3mkycp72a4nljxl/bafkreihobtaja2whjy3hwj7yscnn522mc6noako6vqvacnhfycsumj2nve@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Hey! We're a part of a big Creator's Day bundle put together by @aimeecozza.com! Come get TFB and a metric ton of other awesome goodies for only $50, and support indies!
itch.io/b/3410/creat...
#BookSky #ReadSky #Indie #WritingCommunity
itch.io/b/3410/creat...
#BookSky #ReadSky #Indie #WritingCommunity
I've got a whole SFF series up on itch! Start with the first book ✨ #indieauthors #booksky
miricastor.itch.io/the-path-to-...
miricastor.itch.io/the-path-to-...
The Path to Dawn (Opal Charm Series #1) by Miri Castor
The story about finding the magic in the hardest times.
miricastor.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I've got a whole SFF series up on itch! Start with the first book ✨ #indieauthors #booksky
miricastor.itch.io/the-path-to-...
miricastor.itch.io/the-path-to-...
Reposted by Miri Castor
New: Professor Detained En Route To Middle East Studies Conference
Vahid Abedini was on his way to a Middle East Studies Association meeting when he was detained. He’s now in ICE custody.
www.huffpost.com/entry/vahid-...
Vahid Abedini was on his way to a Middle East Studies Association meeting when he was detained. He’s now in ICE custody.
www.huffpost.com/entry/vahid-...
Iranian Studies Professor Taken In ICE Custody While Traveling To Academic Conference
Vahid Abedini was on his way to a Middle Eastern Studies Association meeting when he was detained. He’s now in ICE custody, one law enforcement official said.
www.huffpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
New: Professor Detained En Route To Middle East Studies Conference
Vahid Abedini was on his way to a Middle East Studies Association meeting when he was detained. He’s now in ICE custody.
www.huffpost.com/entry/vahid-...
Vahid Abedini was on his way to a Middle East Studies Association meeting when he was detained. He’s now in ICE custody.
www.huffpost.com/entry/vahid-...
Reposted by Miri Castor
The CDC, now led by RFK Jr., has updated its website to promote a debunked theory on vaccines and autism.
“DO NOT TRUST THIS AGENCY. This is a national embarrassment,” says ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-up...
“DO NOT TRUST THIS AGENCY. This is a national embarrassment,” says ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-up...
CDC Updates Website To Promote Debunked Theory On Vaccines And Autism
“DO NOT TRUST THIS AGENCY. This is a national embarrassment,” said ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.
www.huffpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The CDC, now led by RFK Jr., has updated its website to promote a debunked theory on vaccines and autism.
“DO NOT TRUST THIS AGENCY. This is a national embarrassment,” says ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-up...
“DO NOT TRUST THIS AGENCY. This is a national embarrassment,” says ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-up...
Should go without saying but indie authors should check for their work and file too.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Should go without saying but indie authors should check for their work and file too.
Reposted by Miri Castor
every author in the class action, please file the claim.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
every author in the class action, please file the claim.
Reposted by Miri Castor
I'm at the Target boycott, I'm at the Starbucks boycott, I'm at the combination Target boycott and Starbucks boycott
Beginning Monday, a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink will be available exclusively at Starbucks cafés inside Target stores.
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
November 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I'm at the Target boycott, I'm at the Starbucks boycott, I'm at the combination Target boycott and Starbucks boycott
Reposted by Miri Castor
A mutation in the flu virus means this year’s flu season is expected to be a bad one, potentially even worse than last year’s record-breaking season. www.huffpost.com/entry/severe...
Experts Are Sounding The Alarm On This Winter Virus — Here’s What You Should Know
It's currently starting to hit the United Kingdom and is also popping up in Canada and Japan.
www.huffpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
A mutation in the flu virus means this year’s flu season is expected to be a bad one, potentially even worse than last year’s record-breaking season. www.huffpost.com/entry/severe...
Reposted by Miri Castor
You GOTTA stop being so desperately afraid of the audience. Look at me. Look in my eyeballs. Stop being so desperate for approval. Stop writing for the whiny babies in your audience and start writing for the freaks who like cool fucked up shit
November 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
You GOTTA stop being so desperately afraid of the audience. Look at me. Look in my eyeballs. Stop being so desperate for approval. Stop writing for the whiny babies in your audience and start writing for the freaks who like cool fucked up shit
Reposted by Miri Castor
Hey so “underage girls” are…children. The word you’re looking for is children. They’re not like, women-in-waiting or women-lite or whatever. They’re children. I think some of you are very uncomfortable with what that means for you but it is still true.
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Hey so “underage girls” are…children. The word you’re looking for is children. They’re not like, women-in-waiting or women-lite or whatever. They’re children. I think some of you are very uncomfortable with what that means for you but it is still true.
Reposted by Miri Castor
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
Reposted by Miri Castor
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Miri Castor
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
20 days to wrap up this 2nd draft 💪🏾
November 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
20 days to wrap up this 2nd draft 💪🏾
Reposted by Miri Castor
Grateful for this Delta flight attendant for providing some clarity on the upcoming changes to flights during the holidays.
Listen in ⬇️
Listen in ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Grateful for this Delta flight attendant for providing some clarity on the upcoming changes to flights during the holidays.
Listen in ⬇️
Listen in ⬇️
Reposted by Miri Castor
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
if you are food insecure for both the humans and pets in your household there is a tool called Pet Help Finder that can help locate pet food banks nearby and other free or reduced price assistance and supplies for pets.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.
no one, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, should have to give up their pet bc of this.