Carolyn Ownbey, PhD
@carolynownbey.bsky.social
scholar of citizenship, human rights, & anticolonial literature & culture 🍉
queer, disabled, neurodivergent she/her with many cats & a lifelong special interest in viral plagues… what a time to be alive
queer, disabled, neurodivergent she/her with many cats & a lifelong special interest in viral plagues… what a time to be alive
Bay Area friends: SF Bay Area Mutual Aid is looking for donations for their holiday gift market!
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Bay Area friends: SF Bay Area Mutual Aid is looking for donations for their holiday gift market!
As we head into peak flu season, look at this graph. 2 takeaways:
1. 2020-22: people wore masks.
2. 2022+: folks stopped masking & COVID-damaged immune systems mean an increase in flu cases & severity.
Y’all need to stop getting this virus, it is ruining your life whether you realize it or not.
1. 2020-22: people wore masks.
2. 2022+: folks stopped masking & COVID-damaged immune systems mean an increase in flu cases & severity.
Y’all need to stop getting this virus, it is ruining your life whether you realize it or not.
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
As we head into peak flu season, look at this graph. 2 takeaways:
1. 2020-22: people wore masks.
2. 2022+: folks stopped masking & COVID-damaged immune systems mean an increase in flu cases & severity.
Y’all need to stop getting this virus, it is ruining your life whether you realize it or not.
1. 2020-22: people wore masks.
2. 2022+: folks stopped masking & COVID-damaged immune systems mean an increase in flu cases & severity.
Y’all need to stop getting this virus, it is ruining your life whether you realize it or not.
Feel the need to remind folks about the 2014 study showing that 83% of radiologists did not see the gorilla in this image, even tho a majority of that 83% looked directly at it. It’s 48 times bigger than the average nodule they’d be looking for.
This is the actual image from the study. Literally.
This is the actual image from the study. Literally.
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Feel the need to remind folks about the 2014 study showing that 83% of radiologists did not see the gorilla in this image, even tho a majority of that 83% looked directly at it. It’s 48 times bigger than the average nodule they’d be looking for.
This is the actual image from the study. Literally.
This is the actual image from the study. Literally.
There is a reason they want photos of the demolition suppressed, particularly this photo (rather than the closer up ones that could really be of any building).
Hard to miss the symbolism, here. This is one of those photos that has the ring of History to it.
Hard to miss the symbolism, here. This is one of those photos that has the ring of History to it.
October 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
There is a reason they want photos of the demolition suppressed, particularly this photo (rather than the closer up ones that could really be of any building).
Hard to miss the symbolism, here. This is one of those photos that has the ring of History to it.
Hard to miss the symbolism, here. This is one of those photos that has the ring of History to it.
Also in case anyone thinks “no, it wouldn’t look like this if Biden or Harris were president,” may I present to you photos from 4 different news outlets from DECEMBER 2023.
Who, exactly, was president (and vice president) in December 2023? WHO???
Who, exactly, was president (and vice president) in December 2023? WHO???
October 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Also in case anyone thinks “no, it wouldn’t look like this if Biden or Harris were president,” may I present to you photos from 4 different news outlets from DECEMBER 2023.
Who, exactly, was president (and vice president) in December 2023? WHO???
Who, exactly, was president (and vice president) in December 2023? WHO???
If you haven’t seen it, this footage from @apnews.com is incredibly important.
The intent here seems unmistakable, in two ways: (1) just read the genocide convention, here it **absolutely** is, and (2) this level of infrastructural destruction is, no question, meant as pre-development demolition.
The intent here seems unmistakable, in two ways: (1) just read the genocide convention, here it **absolutely** is, and (2) this level of infrastructural destruction is, no question, meant as pre-development demolition.
October 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
If you haven’t seen it, this footage from @apnews.com is incredibly important.
The intent here seems unmistakable, in two ways: (1) just read the genocide convention, here it **absolutely** is, and (2) this level of infrastructural destruction is, no question, meant as pre-development demolition.
The intent here seems unmistakable, in two ways: (1) just read the genocide convention, here it **absolutely** is, and (2) this level of infrastructural destruction is, no question, meant as pre-development demolition.
From this year. Not the first time I’ve seen this question on a tenure track faculty application.
September 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
From this year. Not the first time I’ve seen this question on a tenure track faculty application.
(Here he is sans carrier… my sweet boy 🥹)
June 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
(Here he is sans carrier… my sweet boy 🥹)
I don’t use insta anymore, but since my partner told me that this was maybe the best selfie she’s ever seen, I felt the internet needed it.
For those who haven’t met him, this is (me and) Kitty, my nearly 18-year-old tailless Siamese mix Manx cat. He saw the cardiologist today, & is doing great. 🥰
For those who haven’t met him, this is (me and) Kitty, my nearly 18-year-old tailless Siamese mix Manx cat. He saw the cardiologist today, & is doing great. 🥰
June 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I don’t use insta anymore, but since my partner told me that this was maybe the best selfie she’s ever seen, I felt the internet needed it.
For those who haven’t met him, this is (me and) Kitty, my nearly 18-year-old tailless Siamese mix Manx cat. He saw the cardiologist today, & is doing great. 🥰
For those who haven’t met him, this is (me and) Kitty, my nearly 18-year-old tailless Siamese mix Manx cat. He saw the cardiologist today, & is doing great. 🥰
ChatGPT & other LLMs are the way the ruling class is effectively enacting 21st-century anti-literacy laws.
For anyone who needs a quick gloss on what anti-literacy laws were, from Wikipedia:
For anyone who needs a quick gloss on what anti-literacy laws were, from Wikipedia:
May 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
ChatGPT & other LLMs are the way the ruling class is effectively enacting 21st-century anti-literacy laws.
For anyone who needs a quick gloss on what anti-literacy laws were, from Wikipedia:
For anyone who needs a quick gloss on what anti-literacy laws were, from Wikipedia:
Or how about this (ASC here meaning “autism spectrum conditions”):
April 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Or how about this (ASC here meaning “autism spectrum conditions”):
Also if anyone wants to check themself, since it may be that Google has blocked searching that location… here’s how to find it:
April 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Also if anyone wants to check themself, since it may be that Google has blocked searching that location… here’s how to find it:
A closer in version of the Google maps image, which I screenshot yesterday:
April 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A closer in version of the Google maps image, which I screenshot yesterday:
In awful news, I had really hoped the satellite images of CECOT were fake. But unless Google Maps has been hacked, it looks like they’re real.
If you haven’t seen them, here’s a comparison of Apple Maps (left) vs. Google Maps (right)—the latter I know is 2025, the former I don’t know the date.
If you haven’t seen them, here’s a comparison of Apple Maps (left) vs. Google Maps (right)—the latter I know is 2025, the former I don’t know the date.
April 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
In awful news, I had really hoped the satellite images of CECOT were fake. But unless Google Maps has been hacked, it looks like they’re real.
If you haven’t seen them, here’s a comparison of Apple Maps (left) vs. Google Maps (right)—the latter I know is 2025, the former I don’t know the date.
If you haven’t seen them, here’s a comparison of Apple Maps (left) vs. Google Maps (right)—the latter I know is 2025, the former I don’t know the date.
Perhaps the most important thing, though, is this:
We are NOT helpless in all of this unless we choose to be. It will only be with our passive consent that this gets to be the worst it can be.
Here are some things—a non-exhaustive list— that you can do:
We are NOT helpless in all of this unless we choose to be. It will only be with our passive consent that this gets to be the worst it can be.
Here are some things—a non-exhaustive list— that you can do:
March 23, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Perhaps the most important thing, though, is this:
We are NOT helpless in all of this unless we choose to be. It will only be with our passive consent that this gets to be the worst it can be.
Here are some things—a non-exhaustive list— that you can do:
We are NOT helpless in all of this unless we choose to be. It will only be with our passive consent that this gets to be the worst it can be.
Here are some things—a non-exhaustive list— that you can do:
Historical comparison: in 1940 there were a number of mass deportations in Poland and Southern Germany. Looking back at that moment from 20 years later, here is Hannah Arendt’s assessment:
March 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Historical comparison: in 1940 there were a number of mass deportations in Poland and Southern Germany. Looking back at that moment from 20 years later, here is Hannah Arendt’s assessment:
Get yourself a friend who will run with the incredibly niche Derrida joke (his joke… the joke he made… or the joke you made? is it really a little cat??) from The Animal That Therefore I Am.
The number of times @catherinequirk.bsky.social & I have reason to discuss the (?) little (??) cat (???)…
The number of times @catherinequirk.bsky.social & I have reason to discuss the (?) little (??) cat (???)…
January 26, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Get yourself a friend who will run with the incredibly niche Derrida joke (his joke… the joke he made… or the joke you made? is it really a little cat??) from The Animal That Therefore I Am.
The number of times @catherinequirk.bsky.social & I have reason to discuss the (?) little (??) cat (???)…
The number of times @catherinequirk.bsky.social & I have reason to discuss the (?) little (??) cat (???)…
And if you’re looking for app alternatives… here’s what I’ve got so far.
Note: I am keeping an eye on TikTok, because I just saw something that might suggest they’re using Meta tech of some kind since the shut down and reboot. For the time being, I got the Little Red Book as a backup to that.
Note: I am keeping an eye on TikTok, because I just saw something that might suggest they’re using Meta tech of some kind since the shut down and reboot. For the time being, I got the Little Red Book as a backup to that.
January 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
And if you’re looking for app alternatives… here’s what I’ve got so far.
Note: I am keeping an eye on TikTok, because I just saw something that might suggest they’re using Meta tech of some kind since the shut down and reboot. For the time being, I got the Little Red Book as a backup to that.
Note: I am keeping an eye on TikTok, because I just saw something that might suggest they’re using Meta tech of some kind since the shut down and reboot. For the time being, I got the Little Red Book as a backup to that.
As to how to remove yourself from the people search sites:
January 22, 2025 at 3:59 PM
As to how to remove yourself from the people search sites:
If anyone wants any more data privacy things that I’ve cobbled together over the last couple of months, I’m happy to share… here’s my current list, which will I’m sure expand:
January 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
If anyone wants any more data privacy things that I’ve cobbled together over the last couple of months, I’m happy to share… here’s my current list, which will I’m sure expand:
Also make sure you’re not letting your phone “learn from” your activity, or be able to access app content via search. Another video here on how to do that… unfortunately for now you have to do this for every app individually:
January 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Also make sure you’re not letting your phone “learn from” your activity, or be able to access app content via search. Another video here on how to do that… unfortunately for now you have to do this for every app individually:
For iPhone folks, here’s a little video on how to turn off that app tracking… like unless you WANT Zuckerberg to have your bank info and your medical appointments & whatnot…
January 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
For iPhone folks, here’s a little video on how to turn off that app tracking… like unless you WANT Zuckerberg to have your bank info and your medical appointments & whatnot…
Childless women have always been incredibly important, but perhaps never moreso than now.
Aunties: make sure you’re checking on your people, making sure they’re doing what they need to do, data-security wise & all else.
And everyone: turn off app tracking on your dang phone!
Aunties: make sure you’re checking on your people, making sure they’re doing what they need to do, data-security wise & all else.
And everyone: turn off app tracking on your dang phone!
January 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Childless women have always been incredibly important, but perhaps never moreso than now.
Aunties: make sure you’re checking on your people, making sure they’re doing what they need to do, data-security wise & all else.
And everyone: turn off app tracking on your dang phone!
Aunties: make sure you’re checking on your people, making sure they’re doing what they need to do, data-security wise & all else.
And everyone: turn off app tracking on your dang phone!
And for the record, @pbsnews.bsky.social is the only news org I’ve seen brave enough to share the clip of him doing it twice and to call it what it is on TikTok. Thank y’all.
January 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
And for the record, @pbsnews.bsky.social is the only news org I’ve seen brave enough to share the clip of him doing it twice and to call it what it is on TikTok. Thank y’all.