chasingmicrobes
@chasingmicrobes.bsky.social
All posting done on personal time, using personal device, and only reflect my personal opinions.
Wife (texting): Get ice cream too!
Me (thinking): But I have a good 20 minute walk, it will melt
Me (thinking twice): Oh, yeah, it's 20F, it'll be fine
Me (thinking): But I have a good 20 minute walk, it will melt
Me (thinking twice): Oh, yeah, it's 20F, it'll be fine
The one good thing about Chicago winter: zero worries about buying groceries then leaving them in the trunk of the car for like hours while running other errands, since it's well into food-safe temperatures in there anyway
February 8, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Wife (texting): Get ice cream too!
Me (thinking): But I have a good 20 minute walk, it will melt
Me (thinking twice): Oh, yeah, it's 20F, it'll be fine
Me (thinking): But I have a good 20 minute walk, it will melt
Me (thinking twice): Oh, yeah, it's 20F, it'll be fine
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Credit to congress and research lobbyists for rebuffing the administration, but real researchers and real patients were so negatively impacted in 2025! I would be truly dismayed if any in the scientific community forget or sideline these failures because funding for basic biology research isn't cut.
February 8, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Credit to congress and research lobbyists for rebuffing the administration, but real researchers and real patients were so negatively impacted in 2025! I would be truly dismayed if any in the scientific community forget or sideline these failures because funding for basic biology research isn't cut.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
What *about* that 5-year-old US citizen? Finish the sentence, Congressman. What does that hypothetical child have to do with Liam Ramos? Spell it out. Don’t just say “but what about our kids” and stop there. Explain your logic.
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM
What *about* that 5-year-old US citizen? Finish the sentence, Congressman. What does that hypothetical child have to do with Liam Ramos? Spell it out. Don’t just say “but what about our kids” and stop there. Explain your logic.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Wow, NBC edited out the audience booing JD Vance at the Olympics. And this is one of the few remaining news outlets NOT owned by right-wing billionaire Trump sycophants
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
NBC appears to cut crowd’s booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast
The US vice-president, JD Vance, was greeted by a chorus of boos during when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Wow, NBC edited out the audience booing JD Vance at the Olympics. And this is one of the few remaining news outlets NOT owned by right-wing billionaire Trump sycophants
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
It’s insane that the Trump admin wants to double the already massive US military budget in just 2 years when we are not at war. Trump’s DOD budgets are a cesspool of corruption and grift for the military industrial complex, scammers and grifters, including Donald Trump, Jr.
February 8, 2026 at 2:52 PM
It’s insane that the Trump admin wants to double the already massive US military budget in just 2 years when we are not at war. Trump’s DOD budgets are a cesspool of corruption and grift for the military industrial complex, scammers and grifters, including Donald Trump, Jr.
Spent 12 hours drying extracts. Was constantly moving, constantly tending. Let the robots have this bit...
a child is laying on the floor in front of a carousel .
ALT: a child is laying on the floor in front of a carousel .
media.tenor.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Spent 12 hours drying extracts. Was constantly moving, constantly tending. Let the robots have this bit...
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
By the way, for those of you not in MN: Homan’s strategy was to withdraw some agents, so it felt like we were in the denouement of the crisis, and then escalate hard against observers. They’re being incredibly aggressive with observers now. National media may not want to check out just yet
February 7, 2026 at 3:38 AM
By the way, for those of you not in MN: Homan’s strategy was to withdraw some agents, so it felt like we were in the denouement of the crisis, and then escalate hard against observers. They’re being incredibly aggressive with observers now. National media may not want to check out just yet
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
So you’re telling me the AI boom is driving up the cost of smartphones and new construction, and it’s stifling other innovation? AI can be very useful, but we need to be sensible. wapo.st/4qqatnA
The AI boom is so huge it’s causing shortages everywhere else
The hundreds of billions of dollars being spent by tech companies on AI projects are diverting resources from other parts of the economy.
wapo.st
February 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM
So you’re telling me the AI boom is driving up the cost of smartphones and new construction, and it’s stifling other innovation? AI can be very useful, but we need to be sensible. wapo.st/4qqatnA
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Things have not improved. The government won't comply with court orders. Agents are behaving more aggressively. Schools are offering remote learning into April. The tapering of national media coverage has emboldened DHS.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
February 7, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Things have not improved. The government won't comply with court orders. Agents are behaving more aggressively. Schools are offering remote learning into April. The tapering of national media coverage has emboldened DHS.
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
BREAKING: The Nebraska Legislature has approved a bill lowering Nebraska’s minimum wage from $15 an hour to $13.50 for young workers, and slowing down minimum wage increases for others.
February 7, 2026 at 3:14 AM
BREAKING: The Nebraska Legislature has approved a bill lowering Nebraska’s minimum wage from $15 an hour to $13.50 for young workers, and slowing down minimum wage increases for others.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
It is a low bar, but a future administration should strive for better in a White House counsel.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
When the FBI Arrested Epstein, He Called Kathryn Ruemmler
Documents show Ruemmler, now Goldman’s top lawyer, consulted Jeffrey Epstein on a relationship and potential new jobs while delivering legal and media advice.
www.wsj.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:48 AM
It is a low bar, but a future administration should strive for better in a White House counsel.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
This decision puts even more pressure on plaintiffs and district courts outside the 5th Circuit. Unless the habeas is filed before a person is transferred to the 5th Circuit, a person may remain locked in appalling conditions, never even allowed to ask for bond.
February 7, 2026 at 3:33 AM
This decision puts even more pressure on plaintiffs and district courts outside the 5th Circuit. Unless the habeas is filed before a person is transferred to the 5th Circuit, a person may remain locked in appalling conditions, never even allowed to ask for bond.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are already black holes for detention. Now obtaining release will be more difficult than ever. As more and more people are locked up, ICE will increase the pressure on those who are detained to give up.
The goal is an assembly line of coercion with no day in court.
The goal is an assembly line of coercion with no day in court.
February 7, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are already black holes for detention. Now obtaining release will be more difficult than ever. As more and more people are locked up, ICE will increase the pressure on those who are detained to give up.
The goal is an assembly line of coercion with no day in court.
The goal is an assembly line of coercion with no day in court.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
AWFUL news tonight. This blesses the “mandatory” detention in the 5th Circuit without bond (and little chance at habeas) of every undocumented immigrant who originally entered across the border, no matter how many decades in the past.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
BREAKING: A 5th Circuit panel has backed ICE's mass detention policy, a decision that clears the way for the administration to lock up people who are in immigration proceedings
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 7, 2026 at 3:20 AM
AWFUL news tonight. This blesses the “mandatory” detention in the 5th Circuit without bond (and little chance at habeas) of every undocumented immigrant who originally entered across the border, no matter how many decades in the past.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Maintaining the laser focus on the most important war: Culture War.
The Pentagon said Friday it is cutting ties with "woke" Harvard University, ending all military training, fellowships and certificate programs with the Ivy League institution.
Pentagon says it’s cutting ties with ‘woke’ Harvard, discontinuing military training, fellowships
www.stripes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Maintaining the laser focus on the most important war: Culture War.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Not enough people seem to be concerned about the cost of owning computers right now.
The price of the RAM in Evoquant's workstation computer:
The price of the RAM in Evoquant's workstation computer:
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Not enough people seem to be concerned about the cost of owning computers right now.
The price of the RAM in Evoquant's workstation computer:
The price of the RAM in Evoquant's workstation computer:
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
The United States is not a trashy dictatorship.
Our tax dollars, which we give both by force and sense of duty, are exclusively for wise stewardship of the public good. They are not the playthings of old men’s pathetic cravings.
Our tax dollars, which we give both by force and sense of duty, are exclusively for wise stewardship of the public good. They are not the playthings of old men’s pathetic cravings.
BREAKING 🚨 🚨 🚨
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him
The startling offer, which was described by two people familiar with the conversation, was swiftly rejected by Schumer.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him
The startling offer, which was described by two people familiar with the conversation, was swiftly rejected by Schumer.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project — if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month that he was finally prepared to drop his freeze on billions of dollars in funding for a major New York infrastructure projec...
www.cnn.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:28 AM
The United States is not a trashy dictatorship.
Our tax dollars, which we give both by force and sense of duty, are exclusively for wise stewardship of the public good. They are not the playthings of old men’s pathetic cravings.
Our tax dollars, which we give both by force and sense of duty, are exclusively for wise stewardship of the public good. They are not the playthings of old men’s pathetic cravings.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Just like with Kilmer Abrego Garcia, the biggest sin any targeted immigrant can commit is winning battles — legal or PR battles — against the government, and they just won’t let those losses go
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Just like with Kilmer Abrego Garcia, the biggest sin any targeted immigrant can commit is winning battles — legal or PR battles — against the government, and they just won’t let those losses go
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
More on NSF funding data
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
ALT: a picture of a person in the water with the words call of the deep below it
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
More on NSF funding data
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
A deeper dive into the numbers of awards by Directorate.
1/9
Anecdote
House in rural GA had a crazy, large, sun-tracking solar panel installed years and years ago when it had to have been truly, incredibly expensive.
Driving by before the elections, they had yard signs saying to vote for Trump otherwise the country would "become socialist"
House in rural GA had a crazy, large, sun-tracking solar panel installed years and years ago when it had to have been truly, incredibly expensive.
Driving by before the elections, they had yard signs saying to vote for Trump otherwise the country would "become socialist"
Exclusive: Majority of Trump voters back solar power, poll finds www.axios.com/2026/02/04/t...
Exclusive: Majority of Trump voters back solar power, poll finds
Trump officials are moving against renewables on several fronts.
www.axios.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Anecdote
House in rural GA had a crazy, large, sun-tracking solar panel installed years and years ago when it had to have been truly, incredibly expensive.
Driving by before the elections, they had yard signs saying to vote for Trump otherwise the country would "become socialist"
House in rural GA had a crazy, large, sun-tracking solar panel installed years and years ago when it had to have been truly, incredibly expensive.
Driving by before the elections, they had yard signs saying to vote for Trump otherwise the country would "become socialist"
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
I would be very glad to see examples of this, if anyone knows of some.
At the same time - I wonder if there's a flip side, of solid science that authors are now able to communicate more clearly because of (more measured!) assistance from AI...
Welcome, piles of slop filling up the journals with clouds of useless wordy garbage. Case in point:
February 5, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I would be very glad to see examples of this, if anyone knows of some.
The same thing as Bezos gutting WAPO, Elon buying Twitter, Ellison being handed TikTok.
"Nothing is true and everything is possible"
"Nothing is true and everything is possible"
February 5, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The same thing as Bezos gutting WAPO, Elon buying Twitter, Ellison being handed TikTok.
"Nothing is true and everything is possible"
"Nothing is true and everything is possible"
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Killing the CIA World Factbook might seem like small potatoes, but it was a touchstone of curated facts in a sea of disinformation.
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Killing the CIA World Factbook might seem like small potatoes, but it was a touchstone of curated facts in a sea of disinformation.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Seconded
I am doing THE BEST science of my entire life….just in time for the entire US research enterprise to fall apart.
February 5, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Seconded