Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
@merz.bsky.social
"There are no answers; only choices."
– S. Lem
I choose one [o] or two-cell [8] organisms and dissonant music.
Professor of Biochemistry @ UW-Seattle. Any coincidence of my opinions with my employer's is coincidental.
– S. Lem
I choose one [o] or two-cell [8] organisms and dissonant music.
Professor of Biochemistry @ UW-Seattle. Any coincidence of my opinions with my employer's is coincidental.
Pinned
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
Joyce Carol Oates should say he can't do backflips off the roof next
November 11, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Joyce Carol Oates should say he can't do backflips off the roof next
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
We’re watching Joyce Carol Oates slowly torture a Boer to death in real-time
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 AM
We’re watching Joyce Carol Oates slowly torture a Boer to death in real-time
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
mucosally delivered adenovirus-vectored H5N1 HA vaccine in macaques. 100% of vaccinated macaques survived + controlled virus replication to undetectable titers in both upper + lower resp tracts = can protect against lethal H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b
👉 www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
👉 www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
mucosally delivered adenovirus-vectored H5N1 HA vaccine in macaques. 100% of vaccinated macaques survived + controlled virus replication to undetectable titers in both upper + lower resp tracts = can protect against lethal H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b
👉 www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
👉 www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
if vacancy factor hits 30% then broken windows theory turns into a real boy
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 AM
if vacancy factor hits 30% then broken windows theory turns into a real boy
Awesome thread.
When I was in graduate school my life and carreer were completely transformed by a seminar I attended at Stanford by Dr. Hamilton Smith. In the talk he discussed how TIGR was sequencing whole genomes of organisms. Here is a scan of P1 of my notes. 1/n
November 11, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Awesome thread.
awe inspiring
Yeah, we saw a pod like this once from super far away on a ridge in Big Sur and there were a bunch of orcas in the mix hunting them. I sent the photos and video to the killer whale project and they even suggested what family of killer whales it probably was given location.
November 11, 2025 at 5:33 AM
awe inspiring
It doesn't bother me so much that Harrell is a centrist. What bothers me is that he's a corrupt, sexist asshole with an inordinate fondness for cops.
Seattle's Mayoral race (between a progressive and a centrist) may come down to a few dozen votes and is expected to be among the closest in Seattle's history
According to ex-mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle's mayoral election could be decided by 65 votes
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell went to bed Thursday night with a comfortable lead. By Friday afternoon, that all changed. Katie Wilson has surged to within 4,300 votes.
mynorthwest.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:17 AM
It doesn't bother me so much that Harrell is a centrist. What bothers me is that he's a corrupt, sexist asshole with an inordinate fondness for cops.
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
If you live in seattle you NEED to do this.
There are 1,700 ballots that need signature confirmation. That is enough to change the election.
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
Go. Check. Your. Ballot.
komonews.com/news/local/s...
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
If you live in seattle you NEED to do this.
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
OMG, people! Get it the F*** together!!! YOU HAVE TO VOTE IN E-V-E-R-Y DAMN ELECTION!!!What is WRONG with you? 😤
When I talk about how voting is what matters.....here's a prime example.
Nothing has changed. Voting patterns are exactly the same as before.
If you don't show up to the polls, then WTF are you doing?🤦🏽♀️
Nothing has changed. Voting patterns are exactly the same as before.
If you don't show up to the polls, then WTF are you doing?🤦🏽♀️
November 11, 2025 at 4:25 AM
OMG, people! Get it the F*** together!!! YOU HAVE TO VOTE IN E-V-E-R-Y DAMN ELECTION!!!What is WRONG with you? 😤
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
"But we're making people miserable!" Yes that's the fucking idea you stupid motherfuckers. The people should be miserable, they elected the Make Everyone Miserable Party.
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
"But we're making people miserable!" Yes that's the fucking idea you stupid motherfuckers. The people should be miserable, they elected the Make Everyone Miserable Party.
More great work from my UW colleagues:
DOXYVAC substudy demonstrates increased gonorrhea tetracycline resistance in doxyPEP users… #IDSky
Great summary by @cidrap.bsky.social
www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobia...
Original article 👉 academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...
Great summary by @cidrap.bsky.social
www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobia...
Original article 👉 academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...
Post-trial data highlight doxyPEP resistance concerns
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
More great work from my UW colleagues:
Interesting thread, though it has the appearance of a long and complicated just-so-story. I remain deeply skeptical of anyone who claims to know how or why this all happened, or what the potential consequences are (without evidence, and none is adduced in the linked thread).
Dan knows more about how Congress works than anyone I know, so this is an interesting thread.
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Interesting thread, though it has the appearance of a long and complicated just-so-story. I remain deeply skeptical of anyone who claims to know how or why this all happened, or what the potential consequences are (without evidence, and none is adduced in the linked thread).
Oh, the same piece of shit who took the 5th SEVENTY-FIVE (75, sev-en-tee-fyve) times in a Medicare fraud case?
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Oh, the same piece of shit who took the 5th SEVENTY-FIVE (75, sev-en-tee-fyve) times in a Medicare fraud case?
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
It’s officially potluck season withoffice parties galore. 🦃🥘 If, like me, you harbor an irrational fear of food poisoning, I’ve got you covered. Here’s your ID doctor–approved guide to surviving the season’s buffets w/out ending up in the ER.
🧤🍽️💀
open.substack.com/pub/bktitanj...
🧤🍽️💀
open.substack.com/pub/bktitanj...
An ID Doctor’s Guide to Surviving Holiday Potlucks Food Poisoning Free
Because nothing says “festive” like avoiding an impromptu Norovirus outbreak.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It’s officially potluck season withoffice parties galore. 🦃🥘 If, like me, you harbor an irrational fear of food poisoning, I’ve got you covered. Here’s your ID doctor–approved guide to surviving the season’s buffets w/out ending up in the ER.
🧤🍽️💀
open.substack.com/pub/bktitanj...
🧤🍽️💀
open.substack.com/pub/bktitanj...
Stupid people still posting here. Parties change. You can change them. It is a LOT easier than making a viable new party.
Furor among Democrats about members caving on the shutdown make me wonder if there's momentum for a new political party.
Also ... didn't Elon Musk say he'd formed a new political party this summer? World's richest person couldn't pull it off?
What's it gonna' take to break this duopoly?
Also ... didn't Elon Musk say he'd formed a new political party this summer? World's richest person couldn't pull it off?
What's it gonna' take to break this duopoly?
November 11, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Stupid people still posting here. Parties change. You can change them. It is a LOT easier than making a viable new party.
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
Ever wondered if analyzing your images by using intensity Z-projections impacts your data?
Happy to announce my guest article in Microscopy & Analysis on that topic. It's a very short read but worth for everyone dealing with image analysis!
buff.ly/KJ147tI
#Microscopy #ZProjection #ImageAnalysis
Happy to announce my guest article in Microscopy & Analysis on that topic. It's a very short read but worth for everyone dealing with image analysis!
buff.ly/KJ147tI
#Microscopy #ZProjection #ImageAnalysis
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Ever wondered if analyzing your images by using intensity Z-projections impacts your data?
Happy to announce my guest article in Microscopy & Analysis on that topic. It's a very short read but worth for everyone dealing with image analysis!
buff.ly/KJ147tI
#Microscopy #ZProjection #ImageAnalysis
Happy to announce my guest article in Microscopy & Analysis on that topic. It's a very short read but worth for everyone dealing with image analysis!
buff.ly/KJ147tI
#Microscopy #ZProjection #ImageAnalysis
At the local Kroger supermarket and they are playing Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat… I can’t even… that’s some heavy shit and thanks for not playing it safe I guess?
November 11, 2025 at 2:57 AM
At the local Kroger supermarket and they are playing Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat… I can’t even… that’s some heavy shit and thanks for not playing it safe I guess?
I do enjoy the prospect of discovery here.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I do enjoy the prospect of discovery here.
🏳️⚧️
BREAKING: A group of transgender servicemembers, who served up to 18 years in the Air Force, are suing the military for depriving them of their retirement benefits after the Trump administration booted all transgender troops from the military's ranks. bit.ly/4qXX1ci
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
🏳️⚧️
fact
It never used to be dark by 5pm. They're doing this to demoralize you
November 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
fact
Reposted by Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦
The U.S. military is being used inside the United States. There's a lot we don't know about how, why, and under what authorities.
Today, Lawfare is launching a new project–which includes a tracker and a map–to follow where and how the military is being domestically deployed.
Today, Lawfare is launching a new project–which includes a tracker and a map–to follow where and how the military is being domestically deployed.
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The U.S. military is being used inside the United States. There's a lot we don't know about how, why, and under what authorities.
Today, Lawfare is launching a new project–which includes a tracker and a map–to follow where and how the military is being domestically deployed.
Today, Lawfare is launching a new project–which includes a tracker and a map–to follow where and how the military is being domestically deployed.
can’t lie looking forward to seeing how they define that and the (presumably vast) scope for malicious compliance
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
can’t lie looking forward to seeing how they define that and the (presumably vast) scope for malicious compliance