Katie Gagnon
@jubjub-bird.bsky.social
Taphophile, New England vampire hunter, medical history, death history and folklore nerd, natural burial advocate, oddities collector, disability awareness promoter, all around weirdo living with hounds.
As seen on TV
As seen on TV
Pinned
Katie Gagnon
@jubjub-bird.bsky.social
· Feb 3
DNA Testing Reveals the Putative Identity of JB55, a 19th Century Vampire Buried in Griswold, Connecticut
In 1990 in Griswold, Connecticut, archaeologists excavated a burial found in a “skull and crossbones” orientation. The lid of the 19th century coffin had brass tacks that spelled “JB55”, the initials ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Posting this here while access to the article is still available.
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-...
It's that time of year when this article pops up again
It's that time of year when this article pops up again
The Great New England Vampire Panic
Two hundred years after the Salem witch trials, farmers became convinced that their relatives were returning from the grave to feed on the living
www.smithsonianmag.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-...
It's that time of year when this article pops up again
It's that time of year when this article pops up again
New book.
Have been looking forward to this.
Disassociating now. Will only be reachable by spirit board or crystal ball going forward.
Have been looking forward to this.
Disassociating now. Will only be reachable by spirit board or crystal ball going forward.
September 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM
New book.
Have been looking forward to this.
Disassociating now. Will only be reachable by spirit board or crystal ball going forward.
Have been looking forward to this.
Disassociating now. Will only be reachable by spirit board or crystal ball going forward.
When writing part of the Declaration of Independence Jefferson smudged out the word "subjects" and replaced that with "citizens."
This seems really relevant now, today.
This seems really relevant now, today.
The change emphasizes the weight of words & Jefferson’s keen ability to choose them. "Subjects" evoked the monarchy the Founding Fathers were rejecting, while "citizens" indicated the forging of a fresh path. Read more about how the discovery was made: blogs.loc.gov/preservation...
Eighteenth Century Track Changes: Uncovering Revisions in Founding Fathers’ Documents | Guardians of Memory
Amidst the festivities as we celebrate Independence Day, this blog takes a moment to consider the significance and responsibility that went into outlining, drafting, and shaping our nation as the Foun...
blogs.loc.gov
July 5, 2025 at 2:51 AM
When writing part of the Declaration of Independence Jefferson smudged out the word "subjects" and replaced that with "citizens."
This seems really relevant now, today.
This seems really relevant now, today.
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
RFK Jr. is removing independent scientists from the CDC’s vaccine policy panel and putting his own people in charge.
This shift means that the CDC’s vaccine guidance is no longer coming from independent experts it’s now under his direct control.
This shift means that the CDC’s vaccine guidance is no longer coming from independent experts it’s now under his direct control.
June 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
RFK Jr. is removing independent scientists from the CDC’s vaccine policy panel and putting his own people in charge.
This shift means that the CDC’s vaccine guidance is no longer coming from independent experts it’s now under his direct control.
This shift means that the CDC’s vaccine guidance is no longer coming from independent experts it’s now under his direct control.
One of the people on the team I work with to identify JB55 ("The Griswold Vampire") through DNA and genetic genealogy made a Pokémon card of him
March 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
One of the people on the team I work with to identify JB55 ("The Griswold Vampire") through DNA and genetic genealogy made a Pokémon card of him
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
I mean very obviously Hegseth should resign, and if it were a Democratic administration this would be quickly be a consensus position.
March 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I mean very obviously Hegseth should resign, and if it were a Democratic administration this would be quickly be a consensus position.
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
Hillary Clinton enters the chat…
March 24, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Hillary Clinton enters the chat…
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
@drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
"Never previously documented for human or animal tissue."
www.sciencealert.com/vesuvius-eru...
"Never previously documented for human or animal tissue."
www.sciencealert.com/vesuvius-eru...
Vesuvius Eruption Turned a Victim's Brain to Glass. Here's How.
A man who died in the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago seems to have found a unique way to shuffle off this mortal coil.
www.sciencealert.com
February 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
@drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
"Never previously documented for human or animal tissue."
www.sciencealert.com/vesuvius-eru...
"Never previously documented for human or animal tissue."
www.sciencealert.com/vesuvius-eru...
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
'Did you even say thank you?'
March 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
'Did you even say thank you?'
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
Per usual, I blame Ronald Reagan
www.huffpost.com/entry/house-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/house-...
House Republicans Eye Big Cuts To Medicaid And Food Assistance
New budget plan envisions $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, offset partly with spending cuts and the rest adding to the federal deficit
www.huffpost.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Per usual, I blame Ronald Reagan
www.huffpost.com/entry/house-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/house-...
Posting this here while access to the article is still available.
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
DNA Testing Reveals the Putative Identity of JB55, a 19th Century Vampire Buried in Griswold, Connecticut
In 1990 in Griswold, Connecticut, archaeologists excavated a burial found in a “skull and crossbones” orientation. The lid of the 19th century coffin had brass tacks that spelled “JB55”, the initials ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
February 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Posting this here while access to the article is still available.
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Anyway, I found a vampire one time.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Katie Gagnon
Photo of two boys - one vaccinated against smallpox, the other not - published in 1901 by Dr. Allan Warner.
Smallpox killed over half a billion people in the 20th century alone. On 8 May 1980, the WHO announced its eradication, which was achieved through #vaccines, surveillance, and containment.
Smallpox killed over half a billion people in the 20th century alone. On 8 May 1980, the WHO announced its eradication, which was achieved through #vaccines, surveillance, and containment.
February 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Photo of two boys - one vaccinated against smallpox, the other not - published in 1901 by Dr. Allan Warner.
Smallpox killed over half a billion people in the 20th century alone. On 8 May 1980, the WHO announced its eradication, which was achieved through #vaccines, surveillance, and containment.
Smallpox killed over half a billion people in the 20th century alone. On 8 May 1980, the WHO announced its eradication, which was achieved through #vaccines, surveillance, and containment.
"No cause is left but the most ancient of all, the one, in fact, that from the beginning of our history has determined the very existence of politics, the cause of freedom versus tyranny."
-Hannah Arendt
-Hannah Arendt
January 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
"No cause is left but the most ancient of all, the one, in fact, that from the beginning of our history has determined the very existence of politics, the cause of freedom versus tyranny."
-Hannah Arendt
-Hannah Arendt