Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
@michaelhendricks.bsky.social
Biologist, McGill University
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
The question in the second box re: prof cert or licensure reveals one of the pernicious aspects of all this nonsense. Education as job training matters more than education as engagement with the world and its possibilities. It also locates determination of learning & expertise beyond the faculty.
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The question in the second box re: prof cert or licensure reveals one of the pernicious aspects of all this nonsense. Education as job training matters more than education as engagement with the world and its possibilities. It also locates determination of learning & expertise beyond the faculty.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
CNRS cancels Web of Science in order to focus on qualitative evaluation and promoting the development of open databases.
www.cnrs.fr/en/update/cn...
www.cnrs.fr/en/update/cn...
The CNRS is breaking free from the Web of Science
From January 1st 2026, the CNRS will cut access to one of the largest commercial bibliometric databases, Clarivate Analytics'
www.cnrs.fr
December 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
CNRS cancels Web of Science in order to focus on qualitative evaluation and promoting the development of open databases.
www.cnrs.fr/en/update/cn...
www.cnrs.fr/en/update/cn...
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
This is a strategy for assaulting education, science, & other institutions:
1) Make a legitimate-sounding complaint (anti-semitism, anti-religious freedom);
2) Use complaint as cover to attack a broad category (academic freedom, vaccines, intellectual standards, trans people);
3) broaden the attack.
1) Make a legitimate-sounding complaint (anti-semitism, anti-religious freedom);
2) Use complaint as cover to attack a broad category (academic freedom, vaccines, intellectual standards, trans people);
3) broaden the attack.
a lot of people debating the merits of that dogshit essay meanwhile the girl’s mom is retweeting demands to ban all trans people from teaching at any level. it’s forest for the trees shit
December 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
This is a strategy for assaulting education, science, & other institutions:
1) Make a legitimate-sounding complaint (anti-semitism, anti-religious freedom);
2) Use complaint as cover to attack a broad category (academic freedom, vaccines, intellectual standards, trans people);
3) broaden the attack.
1) Make a legitimate-sounding complaint (anti-semitism, anti-religious freedom);
2) Use complaint as cover to attack a broad category (academic freedom, vaccines, intellectual standards, trans people);
3) broaden the attack.
This, too, is part of Watson's legacy. The online swamp where race pseudoscience, techno-libertarianism, eugenics nostalgia, and Musk/Thiel-adjacent pseudointellectualism drew substantial moral support and legitimacy from him. This is hte ideology that pursued and cheered the gutting of USAID.
We need to make a bigger issue of what Elon and Trump did when they destroyed USAID.
The latest for my newsletter:
The latest for my newsletter:
Crimes against humanity
We need to make a bigger issue of what happened to the world when Elon Musk decimated USAID.
madness.ghost.io
December 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This, too, is part of Watson's legacy. The online swamp where race pseudoscience, techno-libertarianism, eugenics nostalgia, and Musk/Thiel-adjacent pseudointellectualism drew substantial moral support and legitimacy from him. This is hte ideology that pursued and cheered the gutting of USAID.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
Meaningful demand sucks because it's not "AI", it's increasingly complex search-and-summarize-algorithms that spit out garbage, based on scanning and plagiarizing the fucking Internet, which is filled with garbage.
So glad our governments and universities are leaning into this stupid bubble.
So glad our governments and universities are leaning into this stupid bubble.
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
December 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Meaningful demand sucks because it's not "AI", it's increasingly complex search-and-summarize-algorithms that spit out garbage, based on scanning and plagiarizing the fucking Internet, which is filled with garbage.
So glad our governments and universities are leaning into this stupid bubble.
So glad our governments and universities are leaning into this stupid bubble.
"to determine"
Tomorrow Grimes will DJ a livestream of immortality influencer Bryan Johnson tripping on shrooms to determine its effect on longevity. Mr. Beast and the CEO of Salesforce will be there too.
Grimes DJing Immortality Influencer's Shroom Trip With Special Guest Mr. Beast
Grimes is a fan of Bryan Johnson, the multimillionaire and immortality influencer who spends his time trying to fight death. He is perhaps best known for undergoing plasma transfusions with donations ...
stereogum.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:05 AM
"to determine"
If you're a biology student at OU, just write "god did it" on your final. Your professor will get fired if they flunk you.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
If you're a biology student at OU, just write "god did it" on your final. Your professor will get fired if they flunk you.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
HPV vaccine linked to huge reduction in cervical cancer risk
Recent meta-analyses confirm that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces cervical cancer risk and is exceptionally safe. Women vaccinated have an 80% lower cervical cancer risk, with evidence showing reduced rates of pre-cancerous…
Recent meta-analyses confirm that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces cervical cancer risk and is exceptionally safe. Women vaccinated have an 80% lower cervical cancer risk, with evidence showing reduced rates of pre-cancerous…
HPV vaccine linked to huge reduction in cervical cancer risk
Recent meta-analyses confirm that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces cervical cancer risk and is exceptionally safe. Women vaccinated have an 80% lower cervical cancer risk, with evidence showing reduced rates of pre-cancerous conditions. The studies emphasize the importance of vaccination for preventing HPV-related cancers, urging prompt action from parents and young adults.
www.skepticalraptor.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:56 PM
HPV vaccine linked to huge reduction in cervical cancer risk
Recent meta-analyses confirm that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces cervical cancer risk and is exceptionally safe. Women vaccinated have an 80% lower cervical cancer risk, with evidence showing reduced rates of pre-cancerous…
Recent meta-analyses confirm that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces cervical cancer risk and is exceptionally safe. Women vaccinated have an 80% lower cervical cancer risk, with evidence showing reduced rates of pre-cancerous…
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
Zillow removes climate risk score from its home listings because that way climate change won't be a factor in real estate at all, right? I'm sure #Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous suggested this. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c... h/t @mikegrunwald.bsky.social
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Zillow removes climate risk score from its home listings because that way climate change won't be a factor in real estate at all, right? I'm sure #Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous suggested this. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c... h/t @mikegrunwald.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
2/2 link:
Statement of the “Former JAGs Working Group” on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/u...
Statement of the “Former JAGs Working Group” on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/u...
November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
2/2 link:
Statement of the “Former JAGs Working Group” on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/u...
Statement of the “Former JAGs Working Group” on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
The right demonizes the recipients, yet this is basically corporate welfare and a market inefficiency that could be resolved by requiring companies to pay employees a living wage.
November 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The right demonizes the recipients, yet this is basically corporate welfare and a market inefficiency that could be resolved by requiring companies to pay employees a living wage.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
The Boston Globe identified the companies in Massachusetts that employ the most SNAP recipients. A key stat: "In Massachusetts, 74% of working-age recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are employed, half of them full-time."
Full article: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
Full article: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
November 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Boston Globe identified the companies in Massachusetts that employ the most SNAP recipients. A key stat: "In Massachusetts, 74% of working-age recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are employed, half of them full-time."
Full article: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
Full article: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
You know who benefits from #Carney’s walking back of environmental regulations?
#Canada’s American-owned oil & gas sector. The profits flow south
We’re on the hook for the clean up, insurance, the destruction of our land & public health. We pay the price. We subsidize American profits
#cdnpoli
#Canada’s American-owned oil & gas sector. The profits flow south
We’re on the hook for the clean up, insurance, the destruction of our land & public health. We pay the price. We subsidize American profits
#cdnpoli
November 27, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
And one more other thing I’m seeing now, that Northwestern unsurprisingly didn’t mention in its statement, effectively banning gender affirming care at NU school of medicine
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
And one more other thing I’m seeing now, that Northwestern unsurprisingly didn’t mention in its statement, effectively banning gender affirming care at NU school of medicine
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
Critics have claimed the recipe requires half a dozen eggs, while others have noted that only six eggs are required
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Critics have claimed the recipe requires half a dozen eggs, while others have noted that only six eggs are required
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
This is an extremely interesting article about the collapse of early farming societies across Europe around ~5000 BC.
We like to think of prehistoric times as being largely peaceful, but it seems early civilisations weren't immune to ritualistic violence & cultural collapse.
We like to think of prehistoric times as being largely peaceful, but it seems early civilisations weren't immune to ritualistic violence & cultural collapse.
Headless bodies hint at why Europe’s first farmers vanished
Wave of mass brutality accompanied the collapse of the first pan-European culture
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
This is an extremely interesting article about the collapse of early farming societies across Europe around ~5000 BC.
We like to think of prehistoric times as being largely peaceful, but it seems early civilisations weren't immune to ritualistic violence & cultural collapse.
We like to think of prehistoric times as being largely peaceful, but it seems early civilisations weren't immune to ritualistic violence & cultural collapse.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
Some of us have been saying for a while that thinking you can control the politics of resentment is a mugs game. You reap what you sow, you don’t get to control it.
Danielle Smith: "I hope people today feel a lot more confident that Canada works than they did a couple of days ago."
UCP convention crowd: LOUD BOOS
UCP convention crowd: LOUD BOOS
Danielle Smith tried to sell her federal-Alberta energy deal to the UCP convention crowd: tepid applause.
She told them that this proved Canada can work well for Alberta’s interests: loud boos.
This ain’t a base that wants Smith to work with a Liberal PM on a better industrial carbon tax.
She told them that this proved Canada can work well for Alberta’s interests: loud boos.
This ain’t a base that wants Smith to work with a Liberal PM on a better industrial carbon tax.
November 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Some of us have been saying for a while that thinking you can control the politics of resentment is a mugs game. You reap what you sow, you don’t get to control it.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
in the midst of our supposed campaign against Venezuelan drug traffickers the President of the United States has chosen to pardon the Former President of Honduras, freeing him from his long prison sentence earned for trafficking more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States
November 28, 2025 at 10:12 PM
in the midst of our supposed campaign against Venezuelan drug traffickers the President of the United States has chosen to pardon the Former President of Honduras, freeing him from his long prison sentence earned for trafficking more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
A fitting moment to bring back this old transit meme. However they’re powered—gas, hydrogen, electricity, or driverless—leaning on cars instead of investing in quality public transit is still a poor long-term strategy.
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A fitting moment to bring back this old transit meme. However they’re powered—gas, hydrogen, electricity, or driverless—leaning on cars instead of investing in quality public transit is still a poor long-term strategy.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
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.
They're not Nazis, they just have the same ideology as Nazis.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 7:14 PM
They're not Nazis, they just have the same ideology as Nazis.
Reposted by Michael Hendricks 🇨🇦
What does adding 100,000 fixed term jobs but only 500 permanent ones do to an academic system, you ask?
Forging misery, stress and hopelessness for all involved. This was free social investment for foreign countries back when they still offered jobs, but now it’s just a highway headed into a wall.
Forging misery, stress and hopelessness for all involved. This was free social investment for foreign countries back when they still offered jobs, but now it’s just a highway headed into a wall.
German academia: great place to work? You should think twice before giving it a try: Permanent positions are very rare, most scholars have to drop out after some precarious years. @dianakwon.bsky.social has written a great piece about this for @nature.com and also talked to yours truly. #IchBinHanna
How to stop the revolving door of German academia
Germany is one of the most popular destinations for students and scholars worldwide, but those pursuing academic careers face significant hurdles to success.
www.nature.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
What does adding 100,000 fixed term jobs but only 500 permanent ones do to an academic system, you ask?
Forging misery, stress and hopelessness for all involved. This was free social investment for foreign countries back when they still offered jobs, but now it’s just a highway headed into a wall.
Forging misery, stress and hopelessness for all involved. This was free social investment for foreign countries back when they still offered jobs, but now it’s just a highway headed into a wall.