The Monarch Diaries
@monarchdiaries.bsky.social
Map to the corners; all of them. Life in the science mines.
Pinned
my first test of a social science hypothesis:
If you leave a sizable bucket near a public path people will fill it with small bags of shit.
If you leave a sizable bucket near a public path people will fill it with small bags of shit.
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recently learned about “dek bass”, a sound system culture in rural West Bengal, using cassette decks and homemade systems, and it’s remarkable because 1) the music and equipment are sick and 2) the DJ always looks like he’s being briefed on a national security issue
January 26, 2026 at 3:56 AM
recently learned about “dek bass”, a sound system culture in rural West Bengal, using cassette decks and homemade systems, and it’s remarkable because 1) the music and equipment are sick and 2) the DJ always looks like he’s being briefed on a national security issue
Reposted by The Monarch Diaries
will communism restore all that was destroyed by captalism and transcend its false glories? no, it will simply put you in the camps until it destroys whatever part of you mourned the loss.
January 28, 2026 at 4:27 AM
will communism restore all that was destroyed by captalism and transcend its false glories? no, it will simply put you in the camps until it destroys whatever part of you mourned the loss.
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I've been noting that Stephen Miller is significantly (entirely?) responsible for the rules of engagement that keeps leading to experienced goons murdering bystanders.
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/07/t...
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/07/t...
Time to Ask if Stephen Miller Has Authorized Assault and Murder of Peaceful ICE Observers - emptywheel
Given how consistently Greg Bovino is at the scene of unjustified violence against ICE observers, including today's shooting, and given Bovino's refusal to answer whether Stephen Miller has given him ...
www.emptywheel.net
January 27, 2026 at 9:10 PM
I've been noting that Stephen Miller is significantly (entirely?) responsible for the rules of engagement that keeps leading to experienced goons murdering bystanders.
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/07/t...
www.emptywheel.net/2026/01/07/t...
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Only took a few days to go from invincible fascist dictatorship to "I was just following orders"
"Noem has complained to others that she feels she's being hung out to dry over the episode and has made sure to emphasize she took direction from Miller and the president"
www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
Scoop: Stephen Miller behind misleading claim that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" agents
The episode illustrates the sheer power of Miller, Trump's close and longest-serving political adviser
www.axios.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Only took a few days to go from invincible fascist dictatorship to "I was just following orders"
Special occasional commentary by zombie Reagan
New CBS News contributors: Aaron Rodgers, Roseanne Barr, Anton Chigurh, Stephen Miller, Stephen Miller (the other one), Stephen Miller (found a third one), a smokin' hot babe with huge bazongas, Walter White, Tom (not Jerry), big bucket of gravy, Budd Dwyer (deceased), Thomas Chatterton Williams.
January 28, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Special occasional commentary by zombie Reagan
Spiders in a jar.
"Everything I've done, I've done at the direction of the president and Stephen," Noem told a person who relayed her remarks to Axios.""
Anyone paying attentions - it's been President Miler calling the shots.
Now the vipers are going after each other. 🐍🐍🐍
Anyone paying attentions - it's been President Miler calling the shots.
Now the vipers are going after each other. 🐍🐍🐍
January 27, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Spiders in a jar.
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it reveals pretty plainly that "merit-based hiring" means "you belong to the correct class and hold the right set of identities"
Odd how when people like Bari Weiss go on about 'merit-based hiring', what they mean is hiring nice-looking white boys from elite schools regardless of their experience.
Here's CBS's new Ukraine correspondent. Graduated college less than a year ago. Yale Rugby. Only job: 7 months freelancing. 1/
Here's CBS's new Ukraine correspondent. Graduated college less than a year ago. Yale Rugby. Only job: 7 months freelancing. 1/
January 27, 2026 at 9:43 PM
it reveals pretty plainly that "merit-based hiring" means "you belong to the correct class and hold the right set of identities"
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I am. But there are three things at play here regarding ICE collecting private data. Quick rundown on the issue, why you should be paying attention, and what I'm doing about it:
So which politician is calling for the dismantling of the probably illegal database that ice & this government is collecting biometric data of protesters?
January 27, 2026 at 9:28 PM
I am. But there are three things at play here regarding ICE collecting private data. Quick rundown on the issue, why you should be paying attention, and what I'm doing about it:
Reposted by The Monarch Diaries
I don’t think we should make concessions to the Masked Murderers Guild of America. I don’t think we should compromise so the Masked Murderers Guild of America stops using kidnapped kids from schools as bait. I thought this was already illegal. The Masked Murderers Guild of America should not exist.
January 27, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I don’t think we should make concessions to the Masked Murderers Guild of America. I don’t think we should compromise so the Masked Murderers Guild of America stops using kidnapped kids from schools as bait. I thought this was already illegal. The Masked Murderers Guild of America should not exist.
There’s always one.
Some kook at interior who doesn't believe in dinosaurs definitely flagged the displays at Big Bend
January 27, 2026 at 7:44 PM
There’s always one.
Honor roll
TOM HOMAN: “We’re going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding and assault, we’re going to make them famous. We’re going to put their face on TV. We’re going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are.”
Story: www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/u...
January 27, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Honor roll
Savvy! It's a wide-open market for opinion commentary right now. People really want opinions and there's nowhere to find them.
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss came in with a mandate to reshape coverage. She is set to announce plans for newsroom cuts and the hiring of many new commentators. n.pr/3NP3o2g
After rocky start, Bari Weiss to cut staff, add commentators at CBS News
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss came in with a mandate to reshape coverage. She is set to announce plans for newsroom cuts and the hiring of many new commentators.
n.pr
January 27, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Savvy! It's a wide-open market for opinion commentary right now. People really want opinions and there's nowhere to find them.
"with help from another community member"
these stupid chuds don't even know how to jump a battery
these stupid chuds don't even know how to jump a battery
ICE is so pathetically desperate for some good PR that they’re tweeting about helping someone jump a car in the cold weather
January 27, 2026 at 4:30 PM
"with help from another community member"
these stupid chuds don't even know how to jump a battery
these stupid chuds don't even know how to jump a battery
fuck this shit, man
"At Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, exhibit text that described the United States being “hungry for gold and land” and breaking promises to Native Americans was ordered changed or removed." #NationalParks 🗃️ www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Trump’s censors hit Grand Canyon and 16 other national parks
A new wave of takedown orders from Trump officials targets signs about climate and Native Americans at several national parks, including Grand Canyon, Big Bend and Glacier.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 PM
fuck this shit, man
“The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone.”
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 2:17 PM
“The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone.”
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Here is the child’s drawing.
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Here is the child’s drawing.
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Thinking Russia will easily overrun Ukraine's "they/them" army because a Russian soldier did shirtless pushups in a recruitment ad is basically the same as thinking ICE would easily dominate the "weak, woke libs" of Minnesota because MAGA posts about masculinity and hype videos with hard rock.
January 27, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Thinking Russia will easily overrun Ukraine's "they/them" army because a Russian soldier did shirtless pushups in a recruitment ad is basically the same as thinking ICE would easily dominate the "weak, woke libs" of Minnesota because MAGA posts about masculinity and hype videos with hard rock.
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"You know Bovino leaving won't st..." Yes I fucking know. I shipped 800 whistles across the country today. I'll ship another 500 tomorrow. I will not stop until they are stopped and also I will take the fucking W when one of their top fash fucks gets the boot.
January 27, 2026 at 3:37 AM
"You know Bovino leaving won't st..." Yes I fucking know. I shipped 800 whistles across the country today. I'll ship another 500 tomorrow. I will not stop until they are stopped and also I will take the fucking W when one of their top fash fucks gets the boot.
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greg bovino’s sleeping bag says “pop tarts”
January 27, 2026 at 4:06 AM
greg bovino’s sleeping bag says “pop tarts”
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Turns out that Bari Weiss's all hands at CBS today is to announce she's bringing on some anti-vax guys and Niall Ferguson. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/b...
January 27, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Turns out that Bari Weiss's all hands at CBS today is to announce she's bringing on some anti-vax guys and Niall Ferguson. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/b...
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She got interested in science while an undergrad at Antioch College through an internship with Alex Rich at MIT.
She was the first female grad student of Watson's at Harvard.
Many, many contributions since then.
She was the first female grad student of Watson's at Harvard.
Many, many contributions since then.
Biochemist/molecular biologist Joan Steitz was born #OTD in 1941.
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM
January 27, 2026 at 12:37 PM
She got interested in science while an undergrad at Antioch College through an internship with Alex Rich at MIT.
She was the first female grad student of Watson's at Harvard.
Many, many contributions since then.
She was the first female grad student of Watson's at Harvard.
Many, many contributions since then.
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so apparently there's this new film about melena, pretty horrible medical condition, smh
January 27, 2026 at 4:54 AM
so apparently there's this new film about melena, pretty horrible medical condition, smh
Reposted by The Monarch Diaries
just caught greg bovino snoring in an empty sardine can with the lid half rolled up. not today, herr thumb
January 27, 2026 at 4:46 AM
just caught greg bovino snoring in an empty sardine can with the lid half rolled up. not today, herr thumb
greg bovino shaving coconut for a tiki party nobody shows up to
greg bovino rescued after getting lost hiking through a model train diorama
greg bovino getting his hair cut with a sweater pill remover
January 27, 2026 at 4:50 AM
greg bovino shaving coconut for a tiki party nobody shows up to