Adam Schiffer
@adamschiffer.bsky.social
Political science professor at TCU. Birder and bird photographer, Boston Terrier dad, '80s pop music encyclopedia.
Fox with an uncanny ability to capture the news hook.
October 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Fox with an uncanny ability to capture the news hook.
Looking for some good news from Washington DC?
The parks between the Capitol and Union Station are teeming with warblers right now. In a brief period this morning, I saw Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Magnolia, and only my second Palm ever.
The parks between the Capitol and Union Station are teeming with warblers right now. In a brief period this morning, I saw Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Magnolia, and only my second Palm ever.
October 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Looking for some good news from Washington DC?
The parks between the Capitol and Union Station are teeming with warblers right now. In a brief period this morning, I saw Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Magnolia, and only my second Palm ever.
The parks between the Capitol and Union Station are teeming with warblers right now. In a brief period this morning, I saw Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Magnolia, and only my second Palm ever.
Hello. The president pulled me away from my family so I could watch people go up and down escalators.
October 6, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Hello. The president pulled me away from my family so I could watch people go up and down escalators.
Dua Lipa, on a school night. . .because I’m a good husband.
October 2, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Dua Lipa, on a school night. . .because I’m a good husband.
Wanna feel old? The remake that replaced "Deadhead" with "Black Flag" is 22 years old.
September 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Wanna feel old? The remake that replaced "Deadhead" with "Black Flag" is 22 years old.
Are you freakin' kidding me?
September 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Are you freakin' kidding me?
When hate and innumeracy work together. . .
Nearly every RW influencer posted this graphic yesterday as evidence of a transgender violence epidemic.
No idea if the # are real - but, using the haters’ *own data*, fewer than 1 in a million trans folks are mass shooters.
Nearly every RW influencer posted this graphic yesterday as evidence of a transgender violence epidemic.
No idea if the # are real - but, using the haters’ *own data*, fewer than 1 in a million trans folks are mass shooters.
August 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
When hate and innumeracy work together. . .
Nearly every RW influencer posted this graphic yesterday as evidence of a transgender violence epidemic.
No idea if the # are real - but, using the haters’ *own data*, fewer than 1 in a million trans folks are mass shooters.
Nearly every RW influencer posted this graphic yesterday as evidence of a transgender violence epidemic.
No idea if the # are real - but, using the haters’ *own data*, fewer than 1 in a million trans folks are mass shooters.
Happy International Dog Day from our psychotic but snuggly Boston twins, Captain and Gizmo.
August 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Happy International Dog Day from our psychotic but snuggly Boston twins, Captain and Gizmo.
Suffering from fatigue and depression during a tough surgery recovery, I've caught myself sliding into political doomerism. Sadly, it has dramatically improved the accuracy of my predictions 😂😢
Anyhow, here are some European birds from the happy part of my summer. (ID in alt text)
Anyhow, here are some European birds from the happy part of my summer. (ID in alt text)
July 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Suffering from fatigue and depression during a tough surgery recovery, I've caught myself sliding into political doomerism. Sadly, it has dramatically improved the accuracy of my predictions 😂😢
Anyhow, here are some European birds from the happy part of my summer. (ID in alt text)
Anyhow, here are some European birds from the happy part of my summer. (ID in alt text)
I see the influencers here are enjoying a manic moment. Don't make me tap the sign.
July 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I see the influencers here are enjoying a manic moment. Don't make me tap the sign.
1st trip was north (Monteverde, Arenal, Samara, and Tarcoles). 2nd was south so we'd see different birds: Uvita, San Gerardo de Dota, Orosi, and the mid-elevation Caribbean slope (Rancho Naturalista area).
July 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
1st trip was north (Monteverde, Arenal, Samara, and Tarcoles). 2nd was south so we'd see different birds: Uvita, San Gerardo de Dota, Orosi, and the mid-elevation Caribbean slope (Rancho Naturalista area).
Costa Rica is probably my favorite place in the world. And Ecuador is tops on our list for our next big birding trip.
Yellow-throated Toucan, from our 2nd CR trip.
Yellow-throated Toucan, from our 2nd CR trip.
July 19, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Costa Rica is probably my favorite place in the world. And Ecuador is tops on our list for our next big birding trip.
Yellow-throated Toucan, from our 2nd CR trip.
Yellow-throated Toucan, from our 2nd CR trip.
Ah yes - that one’s on Side B of “Summer ‘86”
July 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Ah yes - that one’s on Side B of “Summer ‘86”
This was the only way to hear a specific song at will if you couldn’t afford records.
July 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This was the only way to hear a specific song at will if you couldn’t afford records.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings - the jewels of the Texas summer.
July 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings - the jewels of the Texas summer.
Huh I wonder what virus it gives you
June 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Huh I wonder what virus it gives you
Useful new feature on YouTube TV (at least if you’re a masochist or scholar of cable news).
June 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Useful new feature on YouTube TV (at least if you’re a masochist or scholar of cable news).
I do appreciate that these guys are marketing liberal arts degrees more effectively than I ever could.
(From today's WSJ)
(From today's WSJ)
June 15, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I do appreciate that these guys are marketing liberal arts degrees more effectively than I ever could.
(From today's WSJ)
(From today's WSJ)
Who the heck is still buying my first book?
Sales have actually accelerated, and at this pace, I’m only 32 years away from earning my first penny on it.
Sales have actually accelerated, and at this pace, I’m only 32 years away from earning my first penny on it.
May 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Who the heck is still buying my first book?
Sales have actually accelerated, and at this pace, I’m only 32 years away from earning my first penny on it.
Sales have actually accelerated, and at this pace, I’m only 32 years away from earning my first penny on it.
I just came across this bit of advice from my last book.
I stand by it more than ever. But damn, it's been heeded to the same degree that my Boston Terriers heed my "don't eat that!" command. In fact, the need to define "bias" has all but disappeared if your N is big and your math is fancy 🤷♂️
I stand by it more than ever. But damn, it's been heeded to the same degree that my Boston Terriers heed my "don't eat that!" command. In fact, the need to define "bias" has all but disappeared if your N is big and your math is fancy 🤷♂️
May 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I just came across this bit of advice from my last book.
I stand by it more than ever. But damn, it's been heeded to the same degree that my Boston Terriers heed my "don't eat that!" command. In fact, the need to define "bias" has all but disappeared if your N is big and your math is fancy 🤷♂️
I stand by it more than ever. But damn, it's been heeded to the same degree that my Boston Terriers heed my "don't eat that!" command. In fact, the need to define "bias" has all but disappeared if your N is big and your math is fancy 🤷♂️
Yes, this post deserves the scorn it's getting for its garbled, wimpy euphemisms.
However, every right-of-center commenter/activist would label it "liberal media bias." You have to at least grapple with the complexity this adds to NYT's calculus.
However, every right-of-center commenter/activist would label it "liberal media bias." You have to at least grapple with the complexity this adds to NYT's calculus.
February 5, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Yes, this post deserves the scorn it's getting for its garbled, wimpy euphemisms.
However, every right-of-center commenter/activist would label it "liberal media bias." You have to at least grapple with the complexity this adds to NYT's calculus.
However, every right-of-center commenter/activist would label it "liberal media bias." You have to at least grapple with the complexity this adds to NYT's calculus.
The bird that DJT Jr. illegally shot was a ruddy shelduck. Here's one I shot (with a camera) near Ulm, Germany, in 2022. (Seen with some black-headed gulls.)
February 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The bird that DJT Jr. illegally shot was a ruddy shelduck. Here's one I shot (with a camera) near Ulm, Germany, in 2022. (Seen with some black-headed gulls.)
Nope. All I have left are retirement and death. Anyone wanna buy this from me?
February 1, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Nope. All I have left are retirement and death. Anyone wanna buy this from me?
The anti-trans EO is utterly batshit. It not only erases trans people, it erases the entire concept of "gender."
Also, it sounds like it was written by a virgin who failed both biology and English.
Also, it sounds like it was written by a virgin who failed both biology and English.
January 21, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The anti-trans EO is utterly batshit. It not only erases trans people, it erases the entire concept of "gender."
Also, it sounds like it was written by a virgin who failed both biology and English.
Also, it sounds like it was written by a virgin who failed both biology and English.
I got my 750th lifer last week in Puerto Rico - a Smooth-Billed Ani.
I ended the trip with 10 lifers, for a total of 757.
I ended the trip with 10 lifers, for a total of 757.
January 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I got my 750th lifer last week in Puerto Rico - a Smooth-Billed Ani.
I ended the trip with 10 lifers, for a total of 757.
I ended the trip with 10 lifers, for a total of 757.