Dr. SkySkull
@drskyskull.bsky.social
Professor of optics, blogger of physics, history, & pulp fiction. Generally tries to keep things light-hearted, in spite of *waves hands at everything* (he/him) Blocking doomerism on sight.
blog: https://skullsinthestars.com/
blog: https://skullsinthestars.com/
Pinned
Dr. SkySkull
@drskyskull.bsky.social
· Nov 15
It seems like my last introductory pinned post disappeared, so: I’m a full professor of physics, specifically theoretical optics, who also like horror fiction, guitar, RPGs, videogames, and cats. Written a couple pf popular science books. Spends more time than is healthy worrying about politics.
Managed to finish a very topical yet forever relevant #FakeBookTitleFriday!
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Wild to see Whelan say this, but to be clear the OLC's immunity powers are fake anyway. The "golden shield" idea was made up to justify rampant criminality in the GWBush years, then adopted by Holder to excuse Obama's inaction. It's not in the Constitution, statute, or precedent. It's not the law.
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
November 28, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Wild to see Whelan say this, but to be clear the OLC's immunity powers are fake anyway. The "golden shield" idea was made up to justify rampant criminality in the GWBush years, then adopted by Holder to excuse Obama's inaction. It's not in the Constitution, statute, or precedent. It's not the law.
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Donald shut up long enough to let us have a pleasant holiday weekend challenge: impossible
It should go without saying, but the president has no authority to do this, and anyone reporting the story needs to say as such.
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Donald shut up long enough to let us have a pleasant holiday weekend challenge: impossible
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Hagueseth
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hagueseth
Another lurch towards total dictatorship, or an attempt to do so
November 28, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Another lurch towards total dictatorship, or an attempt to do so
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
And reminding everyone that he tried to shut up Democrats who talked about following the law.
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
And reminding everyone that he tried to shut up Democrats who talked about following the law.
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Heard many grumbles about the start of Stranger Things S5 but I’m loving it so far.
November 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Heard many grumbles about the start of Stranger Things S5 but I’m loving it so far.
Wrote my first small new section for the second edition of my Singular Optics textbook! It's a small but fun and insightful section.
November 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Wrote my first small new section for the second edition of my Singular Optics textbook! It's a small but fun and insightful section.
Well, time to not do any shopping
November 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Well, time to not do any shopping
We tend to throw around the word "treason" a lot rhetorically, but Witkoff's actions seem about as close to the legal meaning of the term than anyone else I've seen.
Not that I'm suggesting it, but there are some fairly recent eras in Western history where this would get Witkoff marched to the guillotine
Btw guys the transcript of the Witkoff phone call really is much worse than you think and I do think you should share it with literally everyone you know
November 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
We tend to throw around the word "treason" a lot rhetorically, but Witkoff's actions seem about as close to the legal meaning of the term than anyone else I've seen.
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Not that I'm suggesting it, but there are some fairly recent eras in Western history where this would get Witkoff marched to the guillotine
Btw guys the transcript of the Witkoff phone call really is much worse than you think and I do think you should share it with literally everyone you know
November 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Not that I'm suggesting it, but there are some fairly recent eras in Western history where this would get Witkoff marched to the guillotine
Now that I'm thinking of TikTok, it's time to share one of the funniest things I've ever seen again. I never get tired of this. www.tiktok.com/@tschalk10/v...
The ORIGINAL Skull Boy Sketch! check more on my Twitter @ TomStheVoice #skeleton #frontpage
TikTok video by Tom Schalk
www.tiktok.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Now that I'm thinking of TikTok, it's time to share one of the funniest things I've ever seen again. I never get tired of this. www.tiktok.com/@tschalk10/v...
Always seems worth noting that the worst of his economic policies haven't even hit yet, and people are currently in the process of learning how much he's screwed them on health insurance
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Always seems worth noting that the worst of his economic policies haven't even hit yet, and people are currently in the process of learning how much he's screwed them on health insurance
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
You can tell the GOP is getting really nervous about the #TN7 vote.
They're running TV ads at every break, using the word "radical" five times in 30 seconds to describe Democrat @aftynbehn.bsky.social
Between a Trump/MAGA rubber stamp and a radical servant of the people, I'll take the radical.
They're running TV ads at every break, using the word "radical" five times in 30 seconds to describe Democrat @aftynbehn.bsky.social
Between a Trump/MAGA rubber stamp and a radical servant of the people, I'll take the radical.
November 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You can tell the GOP is getting really nervous about the #TN7 vote.
They're running TV ads at every break, using the word "radical" five times in 30 seconds to describe Democrat @aftynbehn.bsky.social
Between a Trump/MAGA rubber stamp and a radical servant of the people, I'll take the radical.
They're running TV ads at every break, using the word "radical" five times in 30 seconds to describe Democrat @aftynbehn.bsky.social
Between a Trump/MAGA rubber stamp and a radical servant of the people, I'll take the radical.
As someone who is half Polish and grew up in an era of entire books of "Dumb Polish Jokes," I certainly can't forget!
Don't forget "dumb Polish"
November 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
As someone who is half Polish and grew up in an era of entire books of "Dumb Polish Jokes," I certainly can't forget!
I actually have friends I know in real life who are on here and don't follow me, and that's okay! My social media presence is not synonymous with me!
I'm always a bit mystified by people who head to Clearsky to see who has blocked them and get like, huffy about it. I know people who've gotten EMAILS asking why they are blocked!
My question is: Why?
Oh! Someone has decided they don't want to see what I post? Ok! That's fine!
My question is: Why?
Oh! Someone has decided they don't want to see what I post? Ok! That's fine!
November 28, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I actually have friends I know in real life who are on here and don't follow me, and that's okay! My social media presence is not synonymous with me!
Stephen Miller about to bring back the "drunken Irish" and "violent Italians" tropes
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Stephen Miller about to bring back the "drunken Irish" and "violent Italians" tropes
I am willing to believe that Stephen Miller kills his own dinner, though I suspect it isn't poultry
If this were true, Stephen Miller would be a tailor in a shtetl in Pennsylvania, stuck in an arranged marriage, and killing his own chickens for dinner.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I am willing to believe that Stephen Miller kills his own dinner, though I suspect it isn't poultry
Users fleeing Twitter for TikTok because Twitter was bought and ruined by a right-wing billionaire... I have some news for you
November 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Users fleeing Twitter for TikTok because Twitter was bought and ruined by a right-wing billionaire... I have some news for you
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
And Trump just decided…. Connect the dots.
November 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
And Trump just decided…. Connect the dots.
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
Kabul has officially proposed that Moscow replace Central Asian migrants with Afghan workers. Afghan authorities said they are ready to send their citizens to work in Russian agriculture — and later as couriers, taxi drivers, and laborers in other sectors.
November 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Kabul has officially proposed that Moscow replace Central Asian migrants with Afghan workers. Afghan authorities said they are ready to send their citizens to work in Russian agriculture — and later as couriers, taxi drivers, and laborers in other sectors.
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
i actually was briefly made insane by this atlantic article (and the attached NYT piece linked in it) about how there was no plan to deal with the fact that businesses still need pennies despite the fact that we don't make them anymore
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
i actually was briefly made insane by this atlantic article (and the attached NYT piece linked in it) about how there was no plan to deal with the fact that businesses still need pennies despite the fact that we don't make them anymore
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Dr. SkySkull
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.