Michael Merschel
@mmerschel.bsky.social
Formerly books guy at the Dallas newspaper. Now writing mostly about ways to stay healthy and happy. Did I mention my book? I will. (Opinions are my own, not my employer's, and correct.) More words at www.merschel.net.
I would express my heartfelt sympathy for them, but my phone is an older model and likely to shatter under the pressure of that much sarcasm.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
I would express my heartfelt sympathy for them, but my phone is an older model and likely to shatter under the pressure of that much sarcasm.
Reposted by Michael Merschel
Speaking at #ona25, @bencollins.bsky.social notes that The Onion now has almost 56,000 subscribers. "We are the 13th largest newspaper in the United States, which is really stupid--an indictment on all of us."
September 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Speaking at #ona25, @bencollins.bsky.social notes that The Onion now has almost 56,000 subscribers. "We are the 13th largest newspaper in the United States, which is really stupid--an indictment on all of us."
The moment Bluesky emerged from its awkward teenage years and revealed its full, magnificent potential.
Well, the cell block of accused murderers in a women’s prison receives a new inmate whose luck turns when she’s represented by a lawyer who understands the system and . . . oh.
September 7, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The moment Bluesky emerged from its awkward teenage years and revealed its full, magnificent potential.
Reposted by Michael Merschel
My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.
July 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.
Sons of Lepidopterology
If you formed a tough scary biker gang based on your wimpiest hobby or field of interest, what would your tough scary biker gang be called?
May 29, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Sons of Lepidopterology
Reposted by Michael Merschel
Oh no, not the AI industry, an eleventybillion-dollar sector that employs fives of people
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
May 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Oh no, not the AI industry, an eleventybillion-dollar sector that employs fives of people
If jokes that people in power don't understand are indeed ammunition against dictators, someone needs to tell Lin-Manuel Miranda to start working on a musical about me. Because I am just like my country -- neither young, scrappy nor very funny.
“The question I get most often is: What can we do to take our country back?” our columnist @nickkristof.bsky.social writes. “So let me try to answer, drawing on lessons from other countries that have faced authoritarian challenges.”
Opinion | ‘Dictators Are Never as Strong as They Tell You They Are’
Dissidents around the world have plenty of experience challenging authoritarian regimes. Here are their secrets.
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 4:27 AM
If jokes that people in power don't understand are indeed ammunition against dictators, someone needs to tell Lin-Manuel Miranda to start working on a musical about me. Because I am just like my country -- neither young, scrappy nor very funny.
I've always been grateful for and fascinated by the work of climatologists and forecasters.
So in honor of those who from their jobs have been untimely ripped, come I to praise the author of this post. Thank you for your service to both science and literature.
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
So in honor of those who from their jobs have been untimely ripped, come I to praise the author of this post. Thank you for your service to both science and literature.
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
May 2025 ENSO update: eye of neutral
The tropical Pacific is ENSO-neutral. Our blogger covers what that means and what forecasters expect for the rest of the year.
www.climate.gov
May 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I've always been grateful for and fascinated by the work of climatologists and forecasters.
So in honor of those who from their jobs have been untimely ripped, come I to praise the author of this post. Thank you for your service to both science and literature.
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
So in honor of those who from their jobs have been untimely ripped, come I to praise the author of this post. Thank you for your service to both science and literature.
www.climate.gov/news-feature...
Reposted by Michael Merschel
There's a trend to adapt #emergencydepartments to better meet the unique needs of our growing population of older adults.
Grateful to @ahascience.bsky.social and Mike Merschel for spotlighting this important shift!
#EMSky #GeriSky @acepnation.bsky.social
www.heart.org/en/news/2025...
Grateful to @ahascience.bsky.social and Mike Merschel for spotlighting this important shift!
#EMSky #GeriSky @acepnation.bsky.social
www.heart.org/en/news/2025...
These emergency rooms adapt to the needs of older adults
Nobody wants to have to visit the emergency department, but "age-friendly" care seeks to make the experience safer for older people.
www.heart.org
May 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
There's a trend to adapt #emergencydepartments to better meet the unique needs of our growing population of older adults.
Grateful to @ahascience.bsky.social and Mike Merschel for spotlighting this important shift!
#EMSky #GeriSky @acepnation.bsky.social
www.heart.org/en/news/2025...
Grateful to @ahascience.bsky.social and Mike Merschel for spotlighting this important shift!
#EMSky #GeriSky @acepnation.bsky.social
www.heart.org/en/news/2025...
Reposted by Michael Merschel
How scientists are fighting back after Trump gutted two landmark environmental reports. 🧪
Words by me, photo selection by Nature's ace photo team: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Words by me, photo selection by Nature's ace photo team: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Trump gutted two landmark environmental reports — can researchers save them?
Scientists working on disrupted national climate and nature assessments aren’t giving up.
www.nature.com
May 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
How scientists are fighting back after Trump gutted two landmark environmental reports. 🧪
Words by me, photo selection by Nature's ace photo team: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Words by me, photo selection by Nature's ace photo team: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Michael Merschel
Abrego Garcia's isolation is the death-in-life at the heart of concentration camp regimes. They want to present what they're doing as reasonable and therefore somehow legal while terrorizing targeted groups, claiming the power to exile anyone from society, even when it's clearly outside the law.
NEW: A US State Department official tells Judge Xinis that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is alive and being held in the CECOT prison, "detained pursuant to the sovereign, domestic authority of El Salvador" storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Abrego Garcia's isolation is the death-in-life at the heart of concentration camp regimes. They want to present what they're doing as reasonable and therefore somehow legal while terrorizing targeted groups, claiming the power to exile anyone from society, even when it's clearly outside the law.
Reposted by Michael Merschel
Reposted by Michael Merschel
As far as I can tell from this presser, Intuitive Machines' Athena lander is lying on its side on the Moon, whimpering and clinging to what energy it can muster. Relatable.
March 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
As far as I can tell from this presser, Intuitive Machines' Athena lander is lying on its side on the Moon, whimpering and clinging to what energy it can muster. Relatable.
Andrea Pitzer has a must-read newsletter. She also does this:
If you want to help Ukraine directly, DM me. I'm on year 3 of getting supplies & cash to my Ukrainian whale scientist friend Olga Shpak, who's been covered by everyone from CNN to Mother Jones for delivering supplies to the frontline with no overhead. In her spare time, she helps save beluga whales.
March 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Andrea Pitzer has a must-read newsletter. She also does this:
Lots of information here on how to help (and how not to help).
The literary landscape and response to the LA wildfires, including what has and hasn't survived, active fundraisers, mutual aid calls, and more. That, plus this week's book censorship news roundup: bookriot.com/los-angeles-...
The Literary Landscape and Response to the Los Angeles Wildfires: Book Censorship News, January 24, 2025
Must-read work about the L.A. wildfires, what cultural institutions have survived and been lost to the fires, and where you can make donations. That, plus this week's book censorship news.
bookriot.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Lots of information here on how to help (and how not to help).
My wife just asked me to check the expiration date on the carton of eggs that got pushed to the side of our fridge.
I'm not saying they were old. But I'm now expecting a dozen AARP cards to arrive in tomorrow's mail.
I'm not saying they were old. But I'm now expecting a dozen AARP cards to arrive in tomorrow's mail.
November 20, 2024 at 9:53 PM
My wife just asked me to check the expiration date on the carton of eggs that got pushed to the side of our fridge.
I'm not saying they were old. But I'm now expecting a dozen AARP cards to arrive in tomorrow's mail.
I'm not saying they were old. But I'm now expecting a dozen AARP cards to arrive in tomorrow's mail.
Well, now that I have more than twoscore followers, it seems downright mandatory for me to post one of my own stories. Luckily, I have one handy. Enjoy, my BlueSkeeps!
(BlueSkeople? BlueBuds?)
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
(BlueSkeople? BlueBuds?)
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
The chaotic beginnings of the tool that made heart surgery possible
Heart-lung bypass enables many of today's lifesaving procedures. Here's the story of the struggle to make it a reality.
www.heart.org
November 14, 2024 at 12:57 AM
Well, now that I have more than twoscore followers, it seems downright mandatory for me to post one of my own stories. Luckily, I have one handy. Enjoy, my BlueSkeeps!
(BlueSkeople? BlueBuds?)
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
(BlueSkeople? BlueBuds?)
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
Reposted by Michael Merschel
I was going to weite something like this but Catherine Rampell did it better.
You will vote today certain in your choice because you know things about the candidates. Chances are much of what you know came from journalists doing their difficult, underpaid jobs.
wapo.st/3Uzoh27
You will vote today certain in your choice because you know things about the candidates. Chances are much of what you know came from journalists doing their difficult, underpaid jobs.
wapo.st/3Uzoh27
November 5, 2024 at 1:06 PM
I was going to weite something like this but Catherine Rampell did it better.
You will vote today certain in your choice because you know things about the candidates. Chances are much of what you know came from journalists doing their difficult, underpaid jobs.
wapo.st/3Uzoh27
You will vote today certain in your choice because you know things about the candidates. Chances are much of what you know came from journalists doing their difficult, underpaid jobs.
wapo.st/3Uzoh27
Last-minute costume idea: Sit on your couch without voting and go as the death of American democracy.
October 31, 2024 at 11:23 PM
Last-minute costume idea: Sit on your couch without voting and go as the death of American democracy.
It's always fun -- and I hope helpful -- when my professional interest in writing seriously about health for @HeartNews and my personal interests in things such as playing music on football fields overlap. #ThisOneTime? @BandCamp?
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
Keeping marching band in step with good mental health
Marching band, color guard and dance at any level can put a lot of pressure on participants. Here's what researchers know about making sure everyone is in tune with their mental health.
www.heart.org
October 2, 2024 at 5:36 PM
It's always fun -- and I hope helpful -- when my professional interest in writing seriously about health for @HeartNews and my personal interests in things such as playing music on football fields overlap. #ThisOneTime? @BandCamp?
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
www.heart.org/en/news/2024...
I enjoyed getting to talk to Sisters in Crime of North Dallas at the Frisco Public Library, where I ran into “Rexy,” with whom I reminisced about listening to music on AM radio, driving with a stick shift, and the glories of working at thriving print newspapers.
September 22, 2024 at 10:33 PM
I enjoyed getting to talk to Sisters in Crime of North Dallas at the Frisco Public Library, where I ran into “Rexy,” with whom I reminisced about listening to music on AM radio, driving with a stick shift, and the glories of working at thriving print newspapers.
For sale: Eclipse glasses. Slightly worn. Also, baby shoes.
April 8, 2024 at 11:04 PM
For sale: Eclipse glasses. Slightly worn. Also, baby shoes.
Reposted by Michael Merschel
“What’s up with Facebook and Instagram?”
March 5, 2024 at 4:24 PM
“What’s up with Facebook and Instagram?”
“BlueSky: Like a backup generator and stash of dehydrated food, but for Facebook outages.” — suggested motto
March 5, 2024 at 3:57 PM
“BlueSky: Like a backup generator and stash of dehydrated food, but for Facebook outages.” — suggested motto
Background music outside cardiac rehab is usually upbeat classic jazz but today was “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and I’m slightly offended. I’m getting around just fine, thanks.
January 31, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Background music outside cardiac rehab is usually upbeat classic jazz but today was “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and I’m slightly offended. I’m getting around just fine, thanks.