Michael S. Pollard
@sociologian.bsky.social
Sociologist and Demographer at RAND. Research mostly on social connection, substance use (alcohol and cannabis), and migration, but with many tangents. Opinions = my own, RTs ≠ endorsements.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iRep51wAAAAJ&hl=en
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iRep51wAAAAJ&hl=en
It has been almost four months since I last posted my cat. Here she is inspecting a puzzle with 299 cat-shaped pieces, and one dog-shaped piece. Happy Friday!
November 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
It has been almost four months since I last posted my cat. Here she is inspecting a puzzle with 299 cat-shaped pieces, and one dog-shaped piece. Happy Friday!
We show that a propensity score weighting procedure, using demographics, techno/psychographics, and political ideology reconciles differences between the samples for 25 of the 27 attitudes assessed. 2/3
September 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
We show that a propensity score weighting procedure, using demographics, techno/psychographics, and political ideology reconciles differences between the samples for 25 of the 27 attitudes assessed. 2/3
@genebaxter.bsky.social @alliemackay.bsky.social Dawson's Creek chat: when I was writing my comprehensive exams at Duke, the cast was shooting these S5 promo pics right outside the sociology building. We grad students all flocked to the window despite the timed exam. Michelle had to stand on a box.
September 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM
@genebaxter.bsky.social @alliemackay.bsky.social Dawson's Creek chat: when I was writing my comprehensive exams at Duke, the cast was shooting these S5 promo pics right outside the sociology building. We grad students all flocked to the window despite the timed exam. Michelle had to stand on a box.
I used to watch this guy's TV show (also called "Microwaves Are For Cooking") with a mixture of revulsion and amazement. He also demonstrated how to dry nylons in the microwave.
August 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I used to watch this guy's TV show (also called "Microwaves Are For Cooking") with a mixture of revulsion and amazement. He also demonstrated how to dry nylons in the microwave.
From @theguardian.com : Robots perform in a band at the Robot Mall, said to be the world’s first humanoid intelligent robot store.
August 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
From @theguardian.com : Robots perform in a band at the Robot Mall, said to be the world’s first humanoid intelligent robot store.
@genebaxter.bsky.social Loved @alliemackay.bsky.social's Great News about loneliness on episode 682. One of my favorite career highlights was appearing on "Thanks For That Podcast, Bean" in 2017 to talk with you about all the ways loneliness can kill you. Now I study how it's linked to alcohol use.
July 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
@genebaxter.bsky.social Loved @alliemackay.bsky.social's Great News about loneliness on episode 682. One of my favorite career highlights was appearing on "Thanks For That Podcast, Bean" in 2017 to talk with you about all the ways loneliness can kill you. Now I study how it's linked to alcohol use.
Luckily my cat sleeps on top of the wardrobe, so there isn't a problem with space or moving around. She also judges people while up there.
July 14, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Luckily my cat sleeps on top of the wardrobe, so there isn't a problem with space or moving around. She also judges people while up there.
I just skimmed the article, but does this mean Canada already had social media and more entertaining television programs than the US all the way back to the 1970s?
June 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I just skimmed the article, but does this mean Canada already had social media and more entertaining television programs than the US all the way back to the 1970s?
I do enjoy some of the population panic pop culture detritus though. I've got this movie poster up in my office. Written by Paul Ehrlich's (author of the Population Bomb) brother.
May 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I do enjoy some of the population panic pop culture detritus though. I've got this movie poster up in my office. Written by Paul Ehrlich's (author of the Population Bomb) brother.
Now they’re saying it might be Western Australia
May 10, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Now they’re saying it might be Western Australia
The United States is one of only 8 countries in the world without paid federal maternity leave. The others are Suriname, Papua New Guinea, and five South Pacific island nations.
May 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The United States is one of only 8 countries in the world without paid federal maternity leave. The others are Suriname, Papua New Guinea, and five South Pacific island nations.
See a mlem, leave a mlem.
April 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
See a mlem, leave a mlem.
Taking the opportunity to shamelessly share my Roger O. Thornhill Halloween costume contest entry from 2014, complete with crop duster. I did not win, but one person at a club later that night loved it.
December 31, 2024 at 7:54 PM
Taking the opportunity to shamelessly share my Roger O. Thornhill Halloween costume contest entry from 2014, complete with crop duster. I did not win, but one person at a club later that night loved it.
Happy to report I've only been hit by a car once (so far).
December 18, 2024 at 8:09 PM
Happy to report I've only been hit by a car once (so far).
I hope to have good work-related news to report soon, but in the meantime here's some other good news: the US Army Corps of Engineers (Portland District) have released their Giant Cat and Giant Dog 2025 calendars! www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-R...
December 2, 2024 at 11:38 PM
I hope to have good work-related news to report soon, but in the meantime here's some other good news: the US Army Corps of Engineers (Portland District) have released their Giant Cat and Giant Dog 2025 calendars! www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/News-R...
13 months ago I refused to promise "no cats" on this account. Here, finally, is a shameless appeal to new followers: my cat in a box.
November 11, 2024 at 10:44 PM
13 months ago I refused to promise "no cats" on this account. Here, finally, is a shameless appeal to new followers: my cat in a box.
Interested in a Master's or Ph.D. in Policy Analysis? Explore Pardee RAND at our admissions event in the L.A. area! Visit our campus on 10/17 for an in-person info session. View the full schedule & sign up!
www.pardeerand.edu/admissions/e...
www.pardeerand.edu/admissions/e...
October 11, 2023 at 8:30 PM
Interested in a Master's or Ph.D. in Policy Analysis? Explore Pardee RAND at our admissions event in the L.A. area! Visit our campus on 10/17 for an in-person info session. View the full schedule & sign up!
www.pardeerand.edu/admissions/e...
www.pardeerand.edu/admissions/e...