JulieBWriter
@juliebwriter.bsky.social
Professor and journalist: Reading, writing, traveling, swimming, walking. Aspiring polyglot. RP/USH She/her
Images of a ceramic fox and a neon “Magikist” sign.
Images of a ceramic fox and a neon “Magikist” sign.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Each year, I declare December to be Unsubscribe Month. All those annoying emails that show up in my inbox for reasons I cannot understand? I finally bother to click unsubscribe on every single one of them. JOIN ME.
December 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Each year, I declare December to be Unsubscribe Month. All those annoying emails that show up in my inbox for reasons I cannot understand? I finally bother to click unsubscribe on every single one of them. JOIN ME.
A small bit of good news for Monday morning after a brutal weekend.
“…it's not making much money from its AI products. That's because no one is buying them, and that is because very few people actually find them useful…
AI agents failed to complete tasks up to 70% of the time, making them almost entirely redundant as a workforce replacement tool.”
AI agents failed to complete tasks up to 70% of the time, making them almost entirely redundant as a workforce replacement tool.”
December 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A small bit of good news for Monday morning after a brutal weekend.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Rather than giving nonsense a sober, reasonable hearing, we should treat it as nonsense. The higher ed "reform" proposal from a troika of right wing groups is nonsense and @isaackamola.bsky.social's annotations of the proposal itself show us why. academicfreedomontheline.substack.com/p/isaacs-ann...
Isaac's Annotations: "American Higher Education Restoration Act"
A new series getting underneath the nonsense of the right wing noise machine.
academicfreedomontheline.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Rather than giving nonsense a sober, reasonable hearing, we should treat it as nonsense. The higher ed "reform" proposal from a troika of right wing groups is nonsense and @isaackamola.bsky.social's annotations of the proposal itself show us why. academicfreedomontheline.substack.com/p/isaacs-ann...
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Statement from the Lear Family on the death of Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner.
Rob Reiner described Norman Lear as his second father.
Rob Reiner described Norman Lear as his second father.
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Statement from the Lear Family on the death of Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner.
Rob Reiner described Norman Lear as his second father.
Rob Reiner described Norman Lear as his second father.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
There’s a specific mechanism in authoritarian movements that we’re seeing play out in real-time across American media and tech. It’s a simple rule: "If we cannot co-opt it, we must destroy it."
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
December 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
There’s a specific mechanism in authoritarian movements that we’re seeing play out in real-time across American media and tech. It’s a simple rule: "If we cannot co-opt it, we must destroy it."
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
It is the logic of "scorched earth." It's the logic of the Nero Decree and it's happening right now. 🧵
TMZ is reporting injuries consistent with knife wounds.
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 AM
TMZ is reporting injuries consistent with knife wounds.
Ugh! The news of two deaths at Rob Reiner’s house is awful. I’m still hoping it’s not them, and I’m literally seeing Wikipedia go back and forth on is/was/is. 🫤
December 15, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Ugh! The news of two deaths at Rob Reiner’s house is awful. I’m still hoping it’s not them, and I’m literally seeing Wikipedia go back and forth on is/was/is. 🫤
Reposted by JulieBWriter
These 14 states have 3 close Senate races (ME, MI, NH) and about 25 close Congressional races - close to half of the competitive federal races in the 2026 election.
Great care by citizens, election administrators, and advocates will be needed to ensure fair and orderly contests.
Great care by citizens, election administrators, and advocates will be needed to ensure fair and orderly contests.
DOJ has sued Maine, Oregon, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Washington, Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont for access to its most sensitive voter data.
My firm has moved to intervene in 10 of those cases. We are working on the last 4.
My firm has moved to intervene in 10 of those cases. We are working on the last 4.
December 13, 2025 at 12:26 AM
These 14 states have 3 close Senate races (ME, MI, NH) and about 25 close Congressional races - close to half of the competitive federal races in the 2026 election.
Great care by citizens, election administrators, and advocates will be needed to ensure fair and orderly contests.
Great care by citizens, election administrators, and advocates will be needed to ensure fair and orderly contests.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Reposted by JulieBWriter
And right on cue in my timeline:
“Findings indicate an association between acute COVID-19 rates and increased car crashes…car crashes associated with COVID-19 was comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol at legal limits or driving with a seizure disorder.” Didn’t matter if vaxxed.
“Findings indicate an association between acute COVID-19 rates and increased car crashes…car crashes associated with COVID-19 was comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol at legal limits or driving with a seizure disorder.” Didn’t matter if vaxxed.
Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety | Neurology
ObjectiveThis study evaluated the association between acute COVID-19 cases and the number of
car crashes with varying COVID-19 vaccination rates, Long COVID rates, and COVID-19
mitigation strategies.B...
www.neurology.org
December 13, 2025 at 3:38 AM
And right on cue in my timeline:
“Findings indicate an association between acute COVID-19 rates and increased car crashes…car crashes associated with COVID-19 was comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol at legal limits or driving with a seizure disorder.” Didn’t matter if vaxxed.
“Findings indicate an association between acute COVID-19 rates and increased car crashes…car crashes associated with COVID-19 was comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol at legal limits or driving with a seizure disorder.” Didn’t matter if vaxxed.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
I am assuming you are all familiar with this masterpiece from Drunk History on the Combahee raid?
youtu.be/VpTf1GFjCd8?...
youtu.be/VpTf1GFjCd8?...
Drunk History - Harriet Tubman Leads an Army of Bad Bitches (ft. Octavia Spencer)
YouTube video by Comedy Central
youtu.be
December 13, 2025 at 3:55 AM
I am assuming you are all familiar with this masterpiece from Drunk History on the Combahee raid?
youtu.be/VpTf1GFjCd8?...
youtu.be/VpTf1GFjCd8?...
It’s actually May because no one opens their pool in April, but otherwise, I completely agree with this.
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/12/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/12/t...
The December Comfort Watches 2025, Day Twelve: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
About a decade ago there was some noise made about trying to figure out what day on the calendar Ferris Bueller’s Day Off took place. The day that was decided on by the nerds who think too mu…
whatever.scalzi.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM
It’s actually May because no one opens their pool in April, but otherwise, I completely agree with this.
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/12/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/12/t...
He’s eating another bowl of those Cheerios.
Trump is now running an astounding (even for him) 90 minutes late for his scheduled 3pm bill signing event
December 12, 2025 at 9:35 PM
He’s eating another bowl of those Cheerios.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Featured in my class last week. So important for the graduate seminar of sustainable engineering candidates to learn how things fail, despite getting many elements of an investable business proposition right.
Acknowledging persons familiar with the matter disagree on parts of story.
Acknowledging persons familiar with the matter disagree on parts of story.
December 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Featured in my class last week. So important for the graduate seminar of sustainable engineering candidates to learn how things fail, despite getting many elements of an investable business proposition right.
Acknowledging persons familiar with the matter disagree on parts of story.
Acknowledging persons familiar with the matter disagree on parts of story.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Also this comparison shopping idea is ridiculous. A ridiculous part of my husband’s job is convincing someone at his hospital or another one that they should admit his patient into their service and then arguing with three people and forcing them to talk to each other so one of them finally agrees.
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Also this comparison shopping idea is ridiculous. A ridiculous part of my husband’s job is convincing someone at his hospital or another one that they should admit his patient into their service and then arguing with three people and forcing them to talk to each other so one of them finally agrees.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Haw -- and let me be very clear about this -- haw!
Candace Owens has ignited a civil war over Charlie Kirk's murder. Now, everyone from Nick Fuentes to Kirk's own widow is trying to stop her.
Here's a look at the factions and personalities uniting against Owens—and whether they have any hope of success: www.thebulwark.com/p/candace-ow...
Here's a look at the factions and personalities uniting against Owens—and whether they have any hope of success: www.thebulwark.com/p/candace-ow...
Everybody Hates Candace
Right-wing media figures join together to counter her conspiracy theories about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
www.thebulwark.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Haw -- and let me be very clear about this -- haw!
Extremely important point
The fundamental difference between many countries and the GOP in the United States is the concept of healthcare as a right vs you as a consumer of healthcare.
As a consumer, if you don’t have money to spend on healthcare, then you are excluded from access to healthcare.
As a consumer, if you don’t have money to spend on healthcare, then you are excluded from access to healthcare.
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Extremely important point
Reposted by JulieBWriter
It is important to stay up-to-date on vaccinations from both a “now” and a “later” perspective as we learn more and more about the viral triggers for chronic issues we associate with aging. For instance, multiple new studies on how the shingles vax can slow or prevent dementia.
Shingles vaccine may slow, prevent dementia progression, study finds
A new study shows the shingles vaccine may offer a defense against dementia. Here are the details.
www.usatoday.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
It is important to stay up-to-date on vaccinations from both a “now” and a “later” perspective as we learn more and more about the viral triggers for chronic issues we associate with aging. For instance, multiple new studies on how the shingles vax can slow or prevent dementia.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
In the City with Santa
December 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
In the City with Santa
This one goes to the fans on the north end of the lake. 🫤
December 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This one goes to the fans on the north end of the lake. 🫤
Exactly. I walked away from Spotify and didn’t sign on to the family replacement because honestly, I own a lot of music in various media and don’t mind paying $.99 for an occasional new song.
I dunno man the concept of actually owning something you pay for must be like a drug if you're under 30
Why do Gen Z have a growing appetite for retro tech?
December 8, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Exactly. I walked away from Spotify and didn’t sign on to the family replacement because honestly, I own a lot of music in various media and don’t mind paying $.99 for an occasional new song.
Captain Ron.
What’s your favourite movie that YOU KNOW is fantastic, and you couldn’t care less if movie snobs would say it “isn’t real cinema?”
December 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Captain Ron.
Reposted by JulieBWriter
Chicago Snowfall
December 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Chicago Snowfall
Reposted by JulieBWriter
I would like to argue about the computer skills. I spend a lot of time teaching kids how to turn things in on canvas
December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I would like to argue about the computer skills. I spend a lot of time teaching kids how to turn things in on canvas