Boston Tom Levenson
@tomlevenson.bsky.social
Writer. (A Pox on Fools, a polemical history of vaccine rejection, out May 2026) Quondam documentarian (credits at PBS, BBC, etc.) Professing science writing at MIT. Lucky spouse & father. Servant to two feline overlords.. He/him. ALL OPINIONS MINE ALONE.
May you find someone who looks at you the way Champ eyes me when there’s the possibility of scraps of steak.
November 12, 2025 at 2:15 AM
May you find someone who looks at you the way Champ eyes me when there’s the possibility of scraps of steak.
I don't usually dunk on random 'net text, but this, by an analyst covering Tesla is some of the worst writing I've encountered over a life of reading, scribbling & teaching the craft.
Writing reflects the quality of the thinking behind it; I don't think I'd trust this analyst's contributions.
Writing reflects the quality of the thinking behind it; I don't think I'd trust this analyst's contributions.
November 11, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I don't usually dunk on random 'net text, but this, by an analyst covering Tesla is some of the worst writing I've encountered over a life of reading, scribbling & teaching the craft.
Writing reflects the quality of the thinking behind it; I don't think I'd trust this analyst's contributions.
Writing reflects the quality of the thinking behind it; I don't think I'd trust this analyst's contributions.
“Because it’s there…”
November 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
“Because it’s there…”
It’s all fun and games until Mo bites an ear.
November 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
It’s all fun and games until Mo bites an ear.
N.B.: I did not acknowledge one key figure. This spring I lost the unparalleled Tikka, my beloved companion for 17 years. I miss him still, and I hope his ferocity found its way into the text.
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
N.B.: I did not acknowledge one key figure. This spring I lost the unparalleled Tikka, my beloved companion for 17 years. I miss him still, and I hope his ferocity found its way into the text.
In my neighborhood we call that the MIT moon.
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 AM
In my neighborhood we call that the MIT moon.
Not gonna lie: The New York Post’s subhed today, “On your Marx, get set, Zo!”is pretty damn funny.
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Not gonna lie: The New York Post’s subhed today, “On your Marx, get set, Zo!”is pretty damn funny.
Mo is your tortie’s sibling by another mother. He loves chomping noses and earlobes.
November 5, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Mo is your tortie’s sibling by another mother. He loves chomping noses and earlobes.
Progress report:
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Progress report:
My usually sweet, occasionally diabolical little guy, Mo, has been more than usually in need of affection this morning.
I do love this binary kitten (binary=unpredictably and instantaneously flipping between two states: perfect angel and hellcat from Tartarus). And here he is at his sweetest:
I do love this binary kitten (binary=unpredictably and instantaneously flipping between two states: perfect angel and hellcat from Tartarus). And here he is at his sweetest:
November 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
My usually sweet, occasionally diabolical little guy, Mo, has been more than usually in need of affection this morning.
I do love this binary kitten (binary=unpredictably and instantaneously flipping between two states: perfect angel and hellcat from Tartarus). And here he is at his sweetest:
I do love this binary kitten (binary=unpredictably and instantaneously flipping between two states: perfect angel and hellcat from Tartarus). And here he is at his sweetest:
So, @nytimes.com doesn't seem to want to post my comment on the piece below. The TL:DR of it was that this was a classic piece of thumb-on-the-scale journalism. It leads with what Mamdani "could" or "may" do, going on from there to strategically vague claims about his power and intentions.... 1/
October 31, 2025 at 6:13 PM
So, @nytimes.com doesn't seem to want to post my comment on the piece below. The TL:DR of it was that this was a classic piece of thumb-on-the-scale journalism. It leads with what Mamdani "could" or "may" do, going on from there to strategically vague claims about his power and intentions.... 1/
If you’ve ever encountered a kitten fascinated by all the possibilities a single ball bearing holds, you have heard the soundtrack to my morning.
;-)
The kitten/young cat in question (the bearing doesn’t photograph that well):
;-)
The kitten/young cat in question (the bearing doesn’t photograph that well):
October 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
If you’ve ever encountered a kitten fascinated by all the possibilities a single ball bearing holds, you have heard the soundtrack to my morning.
;-)
The kitten/young cat in question (the bearing doesn’t photograph that well):
;-)
The kitten/young cat in question (the bearing doesn’t photograph that well):
J. W. M. Turner could have done something with this scene:
October 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
J. W. M. Turner could have done something with this scene:
Water, sunset, seagulls.
October 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Water, sunset, seagulls.
Dinner by the shore:
October 26, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Dinner by the shore:
Happiness on a bun:
October 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Happiness on a bun:
They also serve who stand and wait.
October 25, 2025 at 10:33 PM
They also serve who stand and wait.
Found wanting.
Again.
Again.
October 24, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Found wanting.
Again.
Again.
Cocktail hour:
October 22, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Cocktail hour:
I beg to differ:
October 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I beg to differ:
We were all so young, once...
That's me screen right with the really influential ecologist George Woodwell on screen left in 1985--right at the end of his MBL period. (I have no memory who the fellow in the middle is.)
That's me screen right with the really influential ecologist George Woodwell on screen left in 1985--right at the end of his MBL period. (I have no memory who the fellow in the middle is.)
October 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
We were all so young, once...
That's me screen right with the really influential ecologist George Woodwell on screen left in 1985--right at the end of his MBL period. (I have no memory who the fellow in the middle is.)
That's me screen right with the really influential ecologist George Woodwell on screen left in 1985--right at the end of his MBL period. (I have no memory who the fellow in the middle is.)
Your child and my kitten should form a cabal.
Our Mo is determined to measure the rate of acceleration at sea level in the earth's gravitational field with unprecedented precision. Hence the endless repetition of the experiment.
Our Mo is determined to measure the rate of acceleration at sea level in the earth's gravitational field with unprecedented precision. Hence the endless repetition of the experiment.
October 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Your child and my kitten should form a cabal.
Our Mo is determined to measure the rate of acceleration at sea level in the earth's gravitational field with unprecedented precision. Hence the endless repetition of the experiment.
Our Mo is determined to measure the rate of acceleration at sea level in the earth's gravitational field with unprecedented precision. Hence the endless repetition of the experiment.
October 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Our (as in, my brilliant spouse’s) sign for today’s No Kings rally on Boston Common:
October 19, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Our (as in, my brilliant spouse’s) sign for today’s No Kings rally on Boston Common:
Book news!
Today I got the copy-edited MS for A Pox on Fools back from my UK publisher. It's fun seeing the text conform to British spelling, but this is a milestone. The book (a polemic history of anti-vaccine arguments) is getting real.
And there's now a UK cover:
Today I got the copy-edited MS for A Pox on Fools back from my UK publisher. It's fun seeing the text conform to British spelling, but this is a milestone. The book (a polemic history of anti-vaccine arguments) is getting real.
And there's now a UK cover:
October 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Book news!
Today I got the copy-edited MS for A Pox on Fools back from my UK publisher. It's fun seeing the text conform to British spelling, but this is a milestone. The book (a polemic history of anti-vaccine arguments) is getting real.
And there's now a UK cover:
Today I got the copy-edited MS for A Pox on Fools back from my UK publisher. It's fun seeing the text conform to British spelling, but this is a milestone. The book (a polemic history of anti-vaccine arguments) is getting real.
And there's now a UK cover: