John Ball
@john-m-ball.bsky.social
Computational vision neuroscientist and VGM enthusiast. Completely normal human person. Opinions expressed here are my own.
Reposted by John Ball
Over the weekend ICE abducted an NIH contractor when he showed up to a courthouse for his green card hearing. He is documented. His wife is a citizen.
He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.
He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.
October 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Over the weekend ICE abducted an NIH contractor when he showed up to a courthouse for his green card hearing. He is documented. His wife is a citizen.
He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.
He is also member of the skeleton crew of animal care staff that works through a shutdown, to ensure the health and wellbeing of research animals.
Fingers crossed...
September 4, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Fingers crossed...
Reposted by John Ball
If you’ve wondered why it feels so hard to afford life right now, here’s your answer:
The Republican agenda is designed to protect the rich – even if it means cutting your health care, your benefits, and your children’s education.
The Republican agenda is designed to protect the rich – even if it means cutting your health care, your benefits, and your children’s education.
July 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
If you’ve wondered why it feels so hard to afford life right now, here’s your answer:
The Republican agenda is designed to protect the rich – even if it means cutting your health care, your benefits, and your children’s education.
The Republican agenda is designed to protect the rich – even if it means cutting your health care, your benefits, and your children’s education.
Just once I want one of those ads to roll that start with "This advice shouldn't be legal to know" and I come away with my heart racing and a fear that I've acquired knowledge that I don't dare share with others
July 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Just once I want one of those ads to roll that start with "This advice shouldn't be legal to know" and I come away with my heart racing and a fear that I've acquired knowledge that I don't dare share with others
Reposted by John Ball
Thanks to Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill":
Why 22 million people may see 'sharp' increase in health premiums in 2026
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/a...
Why 22 million people may see 'sharp' increase in health premiums in 2026
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/a...
Why 22 million people may see 'sharp' increase in health insurance premiums in 2026
The GOP's so-called "big beautiful bill" cut taxes in many ways, but didn't extend a tax break that lowered health insurance premiums for millions of people.
www.cnbc.com
July 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Thanks to Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill":
Why 22 million people may see 'sharp' increase in health premiums in 2026
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/a...
Why 22 million people may see 'sharp' increase in health premiums in 2026
www.cnbc.com/2025/07/11/a...
Reposted by John Ball
Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.
July 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.
Reposted by John Ball
And then there's this nonsense. WE CANNOT SUBSTITUTE ANIMAL TRIALS WITH AI. We don't even know some of the basics of the immune system bc it's so fricking complicated. AI is based on what we know. Man, I was happier on the plane without wifi. Utter nonsense.
"At FDA we're accelerating drug approvals so that you don't need to use primates or even animal models. You can do the drug approvals very, very quickly with AI."
July 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
And then there's this nonsense. WE CANNOT SUBSTITUTE ANIMAL TRIALS WITH AI. We don't even know some of the basics of the immune system bc it's so fricking complicated. AI is based on what we know. Man, I was happier on the plane without wifi. Utter nonsense.
Reposted by John Ball
My statement on Donald Trump's threat to deport me and his praise for Eric Adams, who the President "helped out" of legal accountability.
July 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
My statement on Donald Trump's threat to deport me and his praise for Eric Adams, who the President "helped out" of legal accountability.
I *adore* this mug. Gorgeous and holds a triple espresso latte. Yum. And such welcome cool weather this morning.
June 28, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I *adore* this mug. Gorgeous and holds a triple espresso latte. Yum. And such welcome cool weather this morning.
Reposted by John Ball
Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, has sent a letter to Pam Bondi calling for Zohran Mamdani to be stripped of his citizenship and deported.
June 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, has sent a letter to Pam Bondi calling for Zohran Mamdani to be stripped of his citizenship and deported.
Reposted by John Ball
“I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was,” Sahil Lavingia told NPR's Juana Summers.
Former DOGE engineer says federal waste and fraud were 'relatively nonexistent'
NPR's Juana Summers talks with Sahil Lavingia, who worked for the Department of Government Efficiency as a software engineer assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about his experience.
www.npr.org
June 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
“I personally was pretty surprised, actually, at how efficient the government was,” Sahil Lavingia told NPR's Juana Summers.
I don't have a beautiful photo today, but let me share this perfectly* fit microscope stage adapter I designed and had printed at the NIH Library. It's recessed a little so the objective can reach these odd 6 well plates.
*OK fine, not perfect, I lowered them too much, take 2 is printing now...
*OK fine, not perfect, I lowered them too much, take 2 is printing now...
June 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I don't have a beautiful photo today, but let me share this perfectly* fit microscope stage adapter I designed and had printed at the NIH Library. It's recessed a little so the objective can reach these odd 6 well plates.
*OK fine, not perfect, I lowered them too much, take 2 is printing now...
*OK fine, not perfect, I lowered them too much, take 2 is printing now...
Reposted by John Ball
AOC during Zohran for Mayor rally: "There are people out there who say, 'If you go out and make this endorsement, your political career will be over.' And to that I say: I don't care. We will never get to a better place if everyone is just worried about themselves. If it's over, so be it."
June 15, 2025 at 4:05 AM
AOC during Zohran for Mayor rally: "There are people out there who say, 'If you go out and make this endorsement, your political career will be over.' And to that I say: I don't care. We will never get to a better place if everyone is just worried about themselves. If it's over, so be it."
I assume I'm not that far into Sea of Stars, but I just defeated the Dweller of Torment using the Vespertine skill, and holy moly my inner 12 year old is losing his mind that was so cool
June 15, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I assume I'm not that far into Sea of Stars, but I just defeated the Dweller of Torment using the Vespertine skill, and holy moly my inner 12 year old is losing his mind that was so cool
Reposted by John Ball
@standupforscience.bsky.social represented in #Oakland,CA. incredible turnout including @danfeldman.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
@standupforscience.bsky.social represented in #Oakland,CA. incredible turnout including @danfeldman.bsky.social
Reposted by John Ball
Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
June 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
Reposted by John Ball
Reading all these takes about how Bluesky people are judgy hall monitors
June 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reading all these takes about how Bluesky people are judgy hall monitors
Reposted by John Ball
There is no excuse for this. None. And this is why we talk about abolishing the police. These people are not serving the public in any way. THEY TOOK HIS FUCKING WALKER AWAY.
US Veterans peacefully protesting Trump’s military birthday parade arrested at Capitol Hill. This is the moment a 80+ year old US veteran is taken away in handcuffs for practicing his 1st Amendment right. #3E #NoKings #NoKingsProtests (🎥 @gregjstoker.bsky.social )
June 14, 2025 at 1:05 AM
There is no excuse for this. None. And this is why we talk about abolishing the police. These people are not serving the public in any way. THEY TOOK HIS FUCKING WALKER AWAY.
Reposted by John Ball
Reposted by John Ball
When Senator Bill Cassidy announced he would vote to confirm RFK Jr, he included this in his statement:
“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.”
WITHOUT CHANGES.
“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.”
WITHOUT CHANGES.
BREAKING via AP
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.
June 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
When Senator Bill Cassidy announced he would vote to confirm RFK Jr, he included this in his statement:
“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.”
WITHOUT CHANGES.
“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes.”
WITHOUT CHANGES.
Reposted by John Ball
Get the sense that attack in Colorado was the work of a single individual and thus hard to prevent. But worth recalling how how many FBI have already been pulled off counterterrorism and other forms of crimes for immigrant round up duty.
June 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Get the sense that attack in Colorado was the work of a single individual and thus hard to prevent. But worth recalling how how many FBI have already been pulled off counterterrorism and other forms of crimes for immigrant round up duty.
Reposted by John Ball
You’re telling me this guy was on drugs? I’m not buying it.
May 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
You’re telling me this guy was on drugs? I’m not buying it.
Reposted by John Ball
The White House proposed budget for 2026 does not include the National Eye Institute…
The institute that has funded almost the entirety of my career.
The proposal is to merge it in with neuroscience, despite a whole half of the eye (the front part) which has little to do with neuroscience per se.
The institute that has funded almost the entirety of my career.
The proposal is to merge it in with neuroscience, despite a whole half of the eye (the front part) which has little to do with neuroscience per se.
May 31, 2025 at 3:09 AM
The White House proposed budget for 2026 does not include the National Eye Institute…
The institute that has funded almost the entirety of my career.
The proposal is to merge it in with neuroscience, despite a whole half of the eye (the front part) which has little to do with neuroscience per se.
The institute that has funded almost the entirety of my career.
The proposal is to merge it in with neuroscience, despite a whole half of the eye (the front part) which has little to do with neuroscience per se.
Reposted by John Ball
The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra and Chorus has grown to almost 150 musicians on stage for our full ensemble concerts, and we’re so proud of the fabulous performances we offer of video game music! 🎶
Here’s to many more years of growth and music sharing! 🥰🖤🤍
Here’s to many more years of growth and music sharing! 🥰🖤🤍
May 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra and Chorus has grown to almost 150 musicians on stage for our full ensemble concerts, and we’re so proud of the fabulous performances we offer of video game music! 🎶
Here’s to many more years of growth and music sharing! 🥰🖤🤍
Here’s to many more years of growth and music sharing! 🥰🖤🤍