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spea53.bsky.social
@spea53.bsky.social
240 followers 33 following 19 posts
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punkrockscience.bsky.social
Today’s xkcd made me cry.

In a good way.

xkcd.com/3172/
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
spea53.bsky.social
Oh my gosh… I started crying I laughed so hard at the replies
clairewillett.bsky.social Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 17d
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore

I feel like we need this
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 AM
spea53.bsky.social
🤣
neorsd.org NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd.org · Aug 29
if i had a nickel for every call for merch i get, our Legal department would ask me hey where did you get all these nickels and it would be a whole thing.
roykesey.bsky.social Roy Kesey @roykesey.bsky.social · Aug 29
Just went to your actual webpage and somehow there is no merch tab, please advise
August 31, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted
alyssaharad.bsky.social
This is a hell of a letter. “The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines…will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer….Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated…”
donmoyn.bsky.social Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 28
Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."
My resignation letter from CDC. Dear Dr. Houry, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested. This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough. While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people. It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC. Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information. The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed. For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision. Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically. Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.
August 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reposted
scalzi.com
I do not know when or how this became a KPop Demon Hunters stan account, yet here we are

www.billboard.com/lists/huntr-...
Led by HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden’ at No. 1, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes First Soundtrack With Four Simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s
Led by HUNTR/X’s “Golden” at No. 1, “KPop Demon Hunters” becomes the first soundtrack ever with four simultaneous Billboard Hot 100 top 10s.
www.billboard.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted
scalzi.com
This is amazing
sarahlynngrey.bsky.social Sarah Grey @sarahlynngrey.bsky.social · Aug 15
@scalzi.com some friends came to town for Worldcon so I wanted to bring them a cheese plate. There was really only one option. (Can I interest you in a custom cookie cutter containing your name and book title?)
A slate cheese board is sitting on a table. It is a loving recreation of the book cover for "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" by John Scalzi, made entirely of cheese. The surface of the moon is swiss, obviously. The author's name is carved out of cheddar. The title is carved out of swiss. The astronaut is sculpted mozzarella. The stars in the background are drawn on in chalk. At the top, "Worldcon 2025 Bestseller" is written in chalk.
August 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
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neorsd.org
sturgeon mentions on my timeline require me to repost Like A Sturgeon. i will not apologize.
August 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
spea53.bsky.social
Doooooown the rabbit hole I go…
Three. Hours. Later.
The movie was cute, the music… wooow
scalzi.com John Scalzi @scalzi.com · Jul 28
My Roman Empire is queueing up YouTube "vocal coach reacts" videos of "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters and watching the tops of their heads pop off when EJAE/Rumi hits that A5 for the first time
A vocal coach named Tim Welch is having his eyes pop out of his head on that A5
August 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
spea53.bsky.social
They just do NOT disappoint
August 6, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Reposted
scalzi.com
You know what, these Selena Gomez-branded Oreos (with a "horchata-inspired" filling) are pretty damn good
The Selena Gomez Oreos have musical notes on one side of the cookie.
July 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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weratedogs.com
This is Mako. He has no regard for law and order, and more importantly, no regrets. 13/10
July 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted
xkcd.com
Fix This Sign

xkcd.com/3113/
Comic. [Person with ponytail using handheld device in front of a large sign with crooked, off-center header, with crooked QR code (with illegible URL) and crooked list beneath] Header: DOANATE TO FIX THIS SIGN! List: $10 Fix kerning [kerning around “rni” of kerning is difficult to read]; $20 Align Columns [out of alignment] $20 Fix text size [much smaller text size]; $50 Fix typo; $50 Fix centering; $100 fix rotation. PERSON: Grrr… [caption] My new company’s business model is based on extorting graphic designers.
July 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted
marisaelana.bsky.social
I'm not sure who turned my words into a meme, and included U.S. citizens (most of whom do not want a new war!), but I appreciate how many people are connecting with it.

May all of us, in all of our different situations, somehow help bring the justice this world so desperately needs. 💔
June 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted
hankgreen.bsky.social
200+ scientists are in the middle of a marathon livestream to show why weather and climate science is so important and needs all our help to continue.

It is here: wclivestream.com/watch
Redirecting to: https://www.youtube.com/@wclivestream/live
wclivestream.com
May 28, 2025 at 11:03 PM
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neorsd.org
thankfully you can enjoy the ambiance of infrastructure anywhere with our 12 uninterrupted hours of treated flowing effluent whenever you need them. soundcloud.com/neorsd/water...
12 hours of clean water flowing after being treated at a NEORSD sewage plant
12 hours of uninterrupted water flow after the sewage treatment process at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.
soundcloud.com
May 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted
pronounced-ing.bsky.social
If you think COVID vaccines should continue to be available to all: take 5 min and add your comments at the link below. (Advice for what to say in the linked thread.)
nikkitnyc.bsky.social Nikki T in NYC @nikkitnyc.bsky.social · May 20
You do NOT have to accept this! Post on the public comments to pressure them to NOT do this! www.regulations.gov/commenton/FD...
Regulations.gov
www.regulations.gov
May 20, 2025 at 10:36 PM
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neorsd.org
respect to all the moms who were dealing with your crap long before we were.
May 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
spea53.bsky.social
Legit fantastic graduation speech
neorsd.org NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd.org · May 10
it might not be the commencement speech you expected. but maybe it’s the commencement speech you needed. 🎓
May 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
spea53.bsky.social
Y’all - the comments… I mean the original post was genius but… I can’t stop laughing and the people on my bus are giving me LOOKS
May 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
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hankgreen.bsky.social
Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are the hottest Lizzy and Darcy - Fight Me.
April 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
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weratedogs.com
This puppy decided he wanted breakfast in bed. And also bed in breakfast. 12/10
April 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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scalzi.com
The author's mom was in my high school class, and is one of the most deeply kind and principled people I've known. This story of a journey in faith is so rewarding to read, and exemplifies what (I think) Jesus would want us to do. The last paragraph made me cry.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | My Father Was a Conservative Evangelical Pastor. Then I Came Out. (Gift Article)
How did my dad go from hating homosexuality to imploding his church by embracing me? His journal entries show how he changed his mind.
www.nytimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
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altnps.bsky.social
Approximately 20 members of Elon Musk’s staff have begun working within the Education Department. They have gained access to multiple sensitive internal systems, including a financial aid dataset containing the personal information of millions of students enrolled in the federal student aid program.
February 4, 2025 at 2:17 AM
spea53.bsky.social
January 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted
scalzi.com
I understand that ChatGPT is down and fortunately this is not a problem for me as I have spent considerable time developing a local language model that I am able to run autonomously, fueled by Coke Zero and snacks
January 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM