@fred-decker.bsky.social
Freelance writer, interested in almost everything (but I repeat myself). Was the kid who read encyclopedias for fun, now am the grownup who reads academic papers and follows smart people online.
I like his attitude (screw the ol' cease-and-desist, just go straight to occult retribution).
December 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I like his attitude (screw the ol' cease-and-desist, just go straight to occult retribution).
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Written by the father of a trans girl…
“When society tries to police and exclude trans girls, it ends up policing all girls.
Because transmisogyny does not just say, “Trans girls aren’t real girls.” It also says, “There is only one correct way to be a girl.””
“When society tries to police and exclude trans girls, it ends up policing all girls.
Because transmisogyny does not just say, “Trans girls aren’t real girls.” It also says, “There is only one correct way to be a girl.””
Why the War on Trans Girls Is a War on Girlhood
Excluding trans girls is controlling who can be girls, and who can't, further dividing children and causing harm
medium.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Written by the father of a trans girl…
“When society tries to police and exclude trans girls, it ends up policing all girls.
Because transmisogyny does not just say, “Trans girls aren’t real girls.” It also says, “There is only one correct way to be a girl.””
“When society tries to police and exclude trans girls, it ends up policing all girls.
Because transmisogyny does not just say, “Trans girls aren’t real girls.” It also says, “There is only one correct way to be a girl.””
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USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
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I love it when Reddit comes together to bellow “HOSPITAL NOW” at an internet stranger
December 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
I love it when Reddit comes together to bellow “HOSPITAL NOW” at an internet stranger
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One of the most successful propaganda campaigns of our time is the right-wing claim that liberals dominate the media. The right has pushed this myth for decades on Fox and other outlets. You know about it because RIGHT-WING MEDIA HAVE A HUGE MEGAPHONE. My thread. 1/10 🧵
December 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
One of the most successful propaganda campaigns of our time is the right-wing claim that liberals dominate the media. The right has pushed this myth for decades on Fox and other outlets. You know about it because RIGHT-WING MEDIA HAVE A HUGE MEGAPHONE. My thread. 1/10 🧵
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On this day in 1919, William Osler died.
Born in Bond Head, Canada West (Ontario) in 1849, he was a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also created the first residency program for training physicians. He has been called the Father of Modern Medicine.
Born in Bond Head, Canada West (Ontario) in 1849, he was a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also created the first residency program for training physicians. He has been called the Father of Modern Medicine.
December 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
On this day in 1919, William Osler died.
Born in Bond Head, Canada West (Ontario) in 1849, he was a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also created the first residency program for training physicians. He has been called the Father of Modern Medicine.
Born in Bond Head, Canada West (Ontario) in 1849, he was a founding professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also created the first residency program for training physicians. He has been called the Father of Modern Medicine.
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Hans Bethe, the scientist who worked in both the Manhattan Project & USA H-bomb programs, wrote in 1983 a 40 page history called "The Story of Los Alamos."
It seems not to be publicly available online except where I have made it so, free for all: osf.io/thjpk
#NukeSKY
1/n
It seems not to be publicly available online except where I have made it so, free for all: osf.io/thjpk
#NukeSKY
1/n
December 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Hans Bethe, the scientist who worked in both the Manhattan Project & USA H-bomb programs, wrote in 1983 a 40 page history called "The Story of Los Alamos."
It seems not to be publicly available online except where I have made it so, free for all: osf.io/thjpk
#NukeSKY
1/n
It seems not to be publicly available online except where I have made it so, free for all: osf.io/thjpk
#NukeSKY
1/n
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Context you rarely hear: global stocks are up about 30% over the past year. U.S. stocks? Around 18%. That means American investors underperformed the world by about 12 percentage points, even while headlines called it a “fantastic year.”
December 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Context you rarely hear: global stocks are up about 30% over the past year. U.S. stocks? Around 18%. That means American investors underperformed the world by about 12 percentage points, even while headlines called it a “fantastic year.”
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Pay close attention to who is saying that 14 year-olds *can* consent to sex with trump and other damp billionaires but *can’t* consent to gender affirming care provided in close and collaborative partnership with their doctor.
December 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Pay close attention to who is saying that 14 year-olds *can* consent to sex with trump and other damp billionaires but *can’t* consent to gender affirming care provided in close and collaborative partnership with their doctor.
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This message hits hard.
December 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This message hits hard.
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"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
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I don't believe Donald Trump was involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring... I believe Epstein was involved in Donald Trumps sex trafficking ring. Trump plays second fiddle to no one. Epstein didn't buy the Miss Teen USA pageant, Trump did. Do you actually think it was for the investment?
December 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I don't believe Donald Trump was involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring... I believe Epstein was involved in Donald Trumps sex trafficking ring. Trump plays second fiddle to no one. Epstein didn't buy the Miss Teen USA pageant, Trump did. Do you actually think it was for the investment?
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An industry is 100% white: nothing to see here
An industry becomes 99% white: grab the rocket launchers, file the lawsuits, make up the imaginary white men who are being discriminated against otherwise we will all die
An industry becomes 99% white: grab the rocket launchers, file the lawsuits, make up the imaginary white men who are being discriminated against otherwise we will all die
@startribune.com finally stands up for the truly forgotten! White men! Can't make this shit up
www.startribune.com/2026-reading...
www.startribune.com/2026-reading...
Opinion | You can’t be diverse if you exclude white men
Those year-end book lists that claim to be all about diversity often seem to miss this one major demographic, Annie Holmquist writes.
www.startribune.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
An industry is 100% white: nothing to see here
An industry becomes 99% white: grab the rocket launchers, file the lawsuits, make up the imaginary white men who are being discriminated against otherwise we will all die
An industry becomes 99% white: grab the rocket launchers, file the lawsuits, make up the imaginary white men who are being discriminated against otherwise we will all die
Current vehicle has the tank on the passenger side rather than the driver side (every other vehicle I've ever owned, and I'm in my 60s).
I knew vaguely that *somebody* came up with that arrow, and I'm happy to belatedly know his name.
I knew vaguely that *somebody* came up with that arrow, and I'm happy to belatedly know his name.
December 27, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Current vehicle has the tank on the passenger side rather than the driver side (every other vehicle I've ever owned, and I'm in my 60s).
I knew vaguely that *somebody* came up with that arrow, and I'm happy to belatedly know his name.
I knew vaguely that *somebody* came up with that arrow, and I'm happy to belatedly know his name.
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“the president seems to be using the doj to hide his years of involvement with the most notorious child sex trafficking ring in world history” feels like a story worth reporting on
December 27, 2025 at 4:22 AM
“the president seems to be using the doj to hide his years of involvement with the most notorious child sex trafficking ring in world history” feels like a story worth reporting on
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As I noted last week, I just submitted my manuscript on Doar and the Civil Rights Division to my publisher.
Well, after eight years of research, writing and revision, I just sent the full manuscript for THE DIVISION: JOHN DOAR, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT to my publisher.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
This is happening, people. Whether you want it or not.
a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
ALT: a man with a mustache wearing a blue jacket and scarf
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
As I noted last week, I just submitted my manuscript on Doar and the Civil Rights Division to my publisher.
I seldom have to deal with this crap, because I use Ubuntu at home and Windows only on my travel laptop, but still.
December 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I seldom have to deal with this crap, because I use Ubuntu at home and Windows only on my travel laptop, but still.
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Everyone should read the first chapter of Tony Judt’s Postwar. The toll of WW2 is laid out in stark numbers, country by country, group by group.
One gutting datapoint: 4 out of 10 Jews liberated from the camps died within a few weeks anyway.
One gutting datapoint: 4 out of 10 Jews liberated from the camps died within a few weeks anyway.
December 26, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Everyone should read the first chapter of Tony Judt’s Postwar. The toll of WW2 is laid out in stark numbers, country by country, group by group.
One gutting datapoint: 4 out of 10 Jews liberated from the camps died within a few weeks anyway.
One gutting datapoint: 4 out of 10 Jews liberated from the camps died within a few weeks anyway.
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RFK: “Where did all this autism come from? It never existed when I was a kid!”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
December 26, 2025 at 2:43 AM
RFK: “Where did all this autism come from? It never existed when I was a kid!”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
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Merry Christmas one and all, from the Vaders 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Merry Christmas one and all, from the Vaders 🎄
Shocker...
(but confirming the obvious is an important and underrated activity in any scientific field...)
(but confirming the obvious is an important and underrated activity in any scientific field...)
We talked about running these numbers at UM soc when it became so obvious that women TAs got more complaints for the same classes. Glad someone tested it formally.
Experimental evidence that students are more likely to contest grades when they are delivered by an evaluator with a female-sounding name.
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
December 26, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Shocker...
(but confirming the obvious is an important and underrated activity in any scientific field...)
(but confirming the obvious is an important and underrated activity in any scientific field...)
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Read this. Merry Christmas indeed
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Read this. Merry Christmas indeed
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Ha! Here's something useful from the New Yorker: a German word Backpfeifengesicht, which is defined as “a face that deserves to be slapped or punched.” It's even hard to hard aloud without a dismissive, back-of-my-hand-to-your-'fact' wave. I will be using this one. A lot.
Is the Dictionary Done For?
The print edition of Merriam-Webster was once a touchstone of authority and stability. Then the internet brought about a revolution.
www.newyorker.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Ha! Here's something useful from the New Yorker: a German word Backpfeifengesicht, which is defined as “a face that deserves to be slapped or punched.” It's even hard to hard aloud without a dismissive, back-of-my-hand-to-your-'fact' wave. I will be using this one. A lot.
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New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has show cancelled over Google AI-generated misinformation
Cape Breton musician was set to perform in Nova Scotia before a search summary incorrectly described him as a sex offender
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...