Tara C. Smith
@aetiology.bsky.social
Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
I read The Double Helix as an undergraduate. I was a science major at a women’s college taking molecular biology. Our professor taught us that Watson & Crick screwed Rosalind Franklin over.
So I read the book to learn more. I’ll never forget how reading this passage made me feel.
So I read the book to learn more. I’ll never forget how reading this passage made me feel.
![“By choice [Rosalind Franklin] did not emphasize her feminine qualities.. There was never lipstick to contrast with her straight black her, while at the age of thirty-one her dresses showed all the imagination of English blue-stocking adolescents. So it was quite easy to imagine her the product of an unsatisfied mother who unduly stressed the desirability of professional careers that could save bright girls from marriages to dull men.. Clearly Rosy had to go or be put in her place. The former was obviously preferable because given her belligerent moods, it would be very difficult for Maurice [Wilkins] to maintain a dominant position that would allow him to think unhindered about DNA.. The thought could not be avoided that the best home for a feminist was another person’s lab”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:opitzjj6oapo6y3cr5ipwfdu/bafkreibj5i6hdhoinpdbtx5ij7e56lz5v6zg6d6aompkuvrxrdnmkfvj2m@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I read The Double Helix as an undergraduate. I was a science major at a women’s college taking molecular biology. Our professor taught us that Watson & Crick screwed Rosalind Franklin over.
So I read the book to learn more. I’ll never forget how reading this passage made me feel.
So I read the book to learn more. I’ll never forget how reading this passage made me feel.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
It is readily apparent that most lawmakers in the United States have never been poor; do not know any poor people; have never actually had a conversation with a poor person; and have no clear understanding of how poverty actually affects people’s health and opportunities.
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It is readily apparent that most lawmakers in the United States have never been poor; do not know any poor people; have never actually had a conversation with a poor person; and have no clear understanding of how poverty actually affects people’s health and opportunities.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
AUTHORS!!
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Homepage | Bartz v Anthropic Settlement Site
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
AUTHORS!!
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?
Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.
More here:
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Here is my latest for @msnbc.com, on Trump's ill-advised concept of a plan for health care, which entails repealing the ACA, and redistributing private insurers' tax breaks to the people for what would essentially amount to an HSA, which is unhelpful if not wealthy. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump’s new plan for Obamacare leaves Americans to fend for themselves
We finally know what “concepts of a plan” looks like – and it’s not good.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Here is my latest for @msnbc.com, on Trump's ill-advised concept of a plan for health care, which entails repealing the ACA, and redistributing private insurers' tax breaks to the people for what would essentially amount to an HSA, which is unhelpful if not wealthy. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
From @zeblarson.bsky.social.
From Liberal Currents: "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health--The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case."
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
From Liberal Currents: "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health--The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case."
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
From @zeblarson.bsky.social.
From Liberal Currents: "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health--The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case."
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
From Liberal Currents: "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health--The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case."
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
I was a doctor in pre-ACA North Philadelphia.
Let me be clear: administrative violence like undoing the ACA *kills people.*
Illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer & heart disease linger untreated for years.
Then people get super sick and die preventable deaths. It’s devastating.
Let me be clear: administrative violence like undoing the ACA *kills people.*
Illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer & heart disease linger untreated for years.
Then people get super sick and die preventable deaths. It’s devastating.
Called my congressional rep to tell them to fix the ACA subsidies before approving any deals.
Called my NY state senators and left an earful on their voicemails.
Sent in money to our local food bank.
Now going to make some cookies and shake off this political hellscape.
Called my NY state senators and left an earful on their voicemails.
Sent in money to our local food bank.
Now going to make some cookies and shake off this political hellscape.
November 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I was a doctor in pre-ACA North Philadelphia.
Let me be clear: administrative violence like undoing the ACA *kills people.*
Illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer & heart disease linger untreated for years.
Then people get super sick and die preventable deaths. It’s devastating.
Let me be clear: administrative violence like undoing the ACA *kills people.*
Illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer & heart disease linger untreated for years.
Then people get super sick and die preventable deaths. It’s devastating.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
The sneering about "socially distanced" is the real tell here. As NYC was suffering through the worst of the pandemic, Silver was whining that he couldn't go out to bars and restaurants. People rightly called out his ghoulish self centered views at the time and he'll never let that go.
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The sneering about "socially distanced" is the real tell here. As NYC was suffering through the worst of the pandemic, Silver was whining that he couldn't go out to bars and restaurants. People rightly called out his ghoulish self centered views at the time and he'll never let that go.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
It’s a fucking joke
Watching RFK Jr. press conference about menopause hormone therapy (MHT). He doesn't even get the name of the therapy right. Uses old misogynist label HRT.
Get your info from experts like
@drjengunter.bsky.social.
chatelaine.com/health/hormo...
Get your info from experts like
@drjengunter.bsky.social.
chatelaine.com/health/hormo...
What You Need to Know About Menopause Hormone Therapy - Chatelaine
Dr. Jen Gunter debunks five common myths.
chatelaine.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
It’s a fucking joke
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Canada has just lost measles elimination status. The U.S. will undoubtedly follow shortly.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Canada loses measles elimination status after three decades, health agency says
Canada has lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak, the country's public health agency said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Canada has just lost measles elimination status. The U.S. will undoubtedly follow shortly.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
The least most politically engaged people I know are texting me before 8am to say, “we won’t forget.”
So I don’t know man.
So I don’t know man.
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The least most politically engaged people I know are texting me before 8am to say, “we won’t forget.”
So I don’t know man.
So I don’t know man.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
“The goal had been to vaccinate about 90% of around 13 million eligible girls. Khurram Akram, technical director at Pakistan Federal Directorate of Immunization's, estimates that the actual percentage of girls vaccinated was around 70%.
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
A first-time HPV vaccination campaign sees some success -- and strong resistance
The goal: inoculate 90% of girls in parts of Pakistan to immunize them against the infection that causes cervical cancer. "Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation," says a spokesman.
www.npr.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
“The goal had been to vaccinate about 90% of around 13 million eligible girls. Khurram Akram, technical director at Pakistan Federal Directorate of Immunization's, estimates that the actual percentage of girls vaccinated was around 70%.
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
They panic about fertility rates, say families need to be having more children, then they starve the kids and ensure health insurance is impossible to afford. Plus all the other things that would dissuade people from having kids: houses impossible to buy, diminishing middle class, ICE everywhere.
Breaking News: The Trump administration told states to undo any steps to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, threatening financial penalties if the states do not comply. It was unclear how that would affect the program.
Trump Live Updates: Airport and SNAP Benefit Disruptions Amid Shutdown
nyti.ms
November 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
They panic about fertility rates, say families need to be having more children, then they starve the kids and ensure health insurance is impossible to afford. Plus all the other things that would dissuade people from having kids: houses impossible to buy, diminishing middle class, ICE everywhere.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Aged like roadkill in RFK’s trunk.
November 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Aged like roadkill in RFK’s trunk.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
Are you a healthcare professional interested in Continuing Education and Maintenance of Certifications? We offer free credit-earning webinars and MOC projects. Visit our website to learn more. vaccinateindiana.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Are you a healthcare professional interested in Continuing Education and Maintenance of Certifications? We offer free credit-earning webinars and MOC projects. Visit our website to learn more. vaccinateindiana.org
But why is my dog a cat.
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
But why is my dog a cat.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'How do Ich werke thys?'
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'Wher ys that large destrier?'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my beautiful castle!'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my swift goshawk!'
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'Wher ys that large destrier?'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my beautiful castle!'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my swift goshawk!'
November 8, 2025 at 2:36 AM
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'How do Ich werke thys?'
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'Wher ys that large destrier?'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my beautiful castle!'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my swift goshawk!'
And thou mayest aske thyself, 'Wher ys that large destrier?'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my beautiful castle!'
And thou mayest telle thyself, 'Thys nys not my swift goshawk!'
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
For those asking for background - I was in Sudan twice this year and wrote about it
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
November 2, 2025 at 12:07 PM
For those asking for background - I was in Sudan twice this year and wrote about it
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
St. Louis, 1918. Red Cross photo during the great influenza. (Library of Congress)
November 6, 2025 at 6:38 PM
St. Louis, 1918. Red Cross photo during the great influenza. (Library of Congress)
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
July 18, 2025 at 4:12 AM
"i asked grok" "i asked chatgpt" yeah well i asked carl sagan and he said the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge 🧪
Every public health and healthcare worker's worst nightmare.
The group’s CEO “said CHD plans to parlay that influence into permanent policy changes —upending the childhood vaccination schedule, reformulating the shots, & abolishing mandates to get them, among a host of goals — that will outlast Kennedy’s tenure at the Department of Health and Human Services”
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Every public health and healthcare worker's worst nightmare.
Reposted by Tara C. Smith
I can't even.
Just a few months ago I saw my first unvaccinated baby with pertussis, and it was horrible.
Just a few months ago I saw my first unvaccinated baby with pertussis, and it was horrible.
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I can't even.
Just a few months ago I saw my first unvaccinated baby with pertussis, and it was horrible.
Just a few months ago I saw my first unvaccinated baby with pertussis, and it was horrible.