Matt Shipman (he/him)
@shiplives.bsky.social
Writer. Comms person.
Mostly sci/tech/health.
Sometimes music/food/culture.
Lifelong Eagles fan from the South. (We exist!)
Let’s make the South better, y’all.
Stuff I write for fun here: https://medium.com/@shiplives
Mostly sci/tech/health.
Sometimes music/food/culture.
Lifelong Eagles fan from the South. (We exist!)
Let’s make the South better, y’all.
Stuff I write for fun here: https://medium.com/@shiplives
Pinned
Was recently thinking about a sort of hierarchy of needs that speaks to this moment.
1) Survive. Nothing happens without this.
2) Hope. Believe in a better future.
3) Plan. What can I do to help make that future a reality (even a small thing)?
4) Act. Put your plan in motion.
1) Survive. Nothing happens without this.
2) Hope. Believe in a better future.
3) Plan. What can I do to help make that future a reality (even a small thing)?
4) Act. Put your plan in motion.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
This is a tremendous read from @mattgurney.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 4:07 AM
This is a tremendous read from @mattgurney.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
This mother in the bookstore just told her daughter to pick one book to relax your brain and is fun and one to challenge your lifestyle.
Explaining a guilty pleasure to her child she said, we don’t always have to be thinking. This is all great advice.
Explaining a guilty pleasure to her child she said, we don’t always have to be thinking. This is all great advice.
December 7, 2025 at 11:27 PM
This mother in the bookstore just told her daughter to pick one book to relax your brain and is fun and one to challenge your lifestyle.
Explaining a guilty pleasure to her child she said, we don’t always have to be thinking. This is all great advice.
Explaining a guilty pleasure to her child she said, we don’t always have to be thinking. This is all great advice.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Trump's farmer bailout will primarily go to massive row-crop farmers. Big Ag as they say. Smaller and diversified farms are getting something else - it rhymes with shackjit.
Trump is going to dump tens of $ billions in payments for huge commodity farmers to compensate for huge losses they will suffer from his idiotic trade war. Meanwhile, small farmers growing for local markets will get nothing. Just canceled grants and "thoughts and prayers". wapo.st/3YXdAbU
A Kansas family farm, barely getting by, grapples with Trump’s cuts
Like many of his rural neighbors in northeast Kansas, Jacob Thomas is trying to compensate for deep losses in federal funding. There’s worry and anger.
wapo.st
December 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Trump's farmer bailout will primarily go to massive row-crop farmers. Big Ag as they say. Smaller and diversified farms are getting something else - it rhymes with shackjit.
The play of the Eagles defense is really highlighting how crappy the Eagles offense is. Through three quarters they’ve got 5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. And the offense has finally scored one (1) touchdown. Oof.
December 9, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The play of the Eagles defense is really highlighting how crappy the Eagles offense is. Through three quarters they’ve got 5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. And the offense has finally scored one (1) touchdown. Oof.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Holy CRAP.
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Springer Nature retracts, removes nearly 40 publications
The dataset contains images of children’s faces downloaded from websites about autism, which sparked concerns at Springer Nature about consent and reliability.
www.thetransmitter.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Holy CRAP.
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
Retired engineer takes random pics of *kids*, without consent or attribution, bins them into “autistic” or “not autistic”, and uploads that “data” for free on Kaggle.
Well over a HUNDRED papers are published, 38 in Springer Nature, 25 in IEEE, using it.
And no reviewers objected? WTF.🧪
My grandpa was born in the US to German parents. He had younger cousins who were in Hitler youth in Germany. Decades later I talked with some of them about it (with the ruthless candor of youth). Why did you do that? What were you thinking? What they described was a lot like this.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 9, 2025 at 2:26 AM
My grandpa was born in the US to German parents. He had younger cousins who were in Hitler youth in Germany. Decades later I talked with some of them about it (with the ruthless candor of youth). Why did you do that? What were you thinking? What they described was a lot like this.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
"The party is the state" coming from the people who somehow think they're anti-communists.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 9, 2025 at 12:27 AM
"The party is the state" coming from the people who somehow think they're anti-communists.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
We pitched this one year. We invite media to a press conference and then bring out a ladder in a Santa hat and have someone behind a curtain do the ladder voice.
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We pitched this one year. We invite media to a press conference and then bring out a ladder in a Santa hat and have someone behind a curtain do the ladder voice.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Ladder press conference.
December 5, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Ladder press conference.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
December 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Using a rotary phone.
Using one of those carbon-paper slide-rack things for credit card transactions.
Using a speed-rewind machine, when I worked at a video store.
Using one of those carbon-paper slide-rack things for credit card transactions.
Using a speed-rewind machine, when I worked at a video store.
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
December 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Using a rotary phone.
Using one of those carbon-paper slide-rack things for credit card transactions.
Using a speed-rewind machine, when I worked at a video store.
Using one of those carbon-paper slide-rack things for credit card transactions.
Using a speed-rewind machine, when I worked at a video store.
The only reason a writer should change the way they write is in an attempt to be a better writer.
I've always loved em dashes and ellipses—and I won't apologize. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That?
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The only reason a writer should change the way they write is in an attempt to be a better writer.
Diving from a lifeguard stand into 3 feet of water.
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
Archival research feels like it’s full of these, but then there’s always one throwback archive with a microfiche machine or a paper catalogue (or, indeed: NARA)
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
Summer of '95 I had a job assembling single-use film cameras, which I did enough that I can still perform the actions. I don't think they even sell them anymore, but even if they do I'm certainly never going to be making them again!
December 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Diving from a lifeguard stand into 3 feet of water.
‘Tis the season to remember one of the most wrongheaded (and expensive!) Christmas cards I’ve ever seen.
medium.com/@shiplives/a...
medium.com/@shiplives/a...
A Very Expensive Christmas Card; or, How Much Does an M60 Cost, Anyway?
Just how expensive are the guns that politicians pose with in publicity photos? It might be more than you earn in a year.
medium.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:15 AM
‘Tis the season to remember one of the most wrongheaded (and expensive!) Christmas cards I’ve ever seen.
medium.com/@shiplives/a...
medium.com/@shiplives/a...
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
I remember the magic of seeing Jurassic Park for the first time and not being able to stop thinking "I wish I were watching this alone on a smaller screen."
December 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I remember the magic of seeing Jurassic Park for the first time and not being able to stop thinking "I wish I were watching this alone on a smaller screen."
My male role models were my grandfathers and uncles. WW2 and Vietnam vets. Small business owners. Blue collar workers. A cop.
All of the “manosphere” stuff I hear is just so odd. Like, every man I grew up around — inarguably macho guys — would just call these people creeps, not “manly.”
All of the “manosphere” stuff I hear is just so odd. Like, every man I grew up around — inarguably macho guys — would just call these people creeps, not “manly.”
December 6, 2025 at 11:35 PM
My male role models were my grandfathers and uncles. WW2 and Vietnam vets. Small business owners. Blue collar workers. A cop.
All of the “manosphere” stuff I hear is just so odd. Like, every man I grew up around — inarguably macho guys — would just call these people creeps, not “manly.”
All of the “manosphere” stuff I hear is just so odd. Like, every man I grew up around — inarguably macho guys — would just call these people creeps, not “manly.”
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
" For two days in a row, the president has gone on racist tirades against the Somali community in Minnesota."
NPR, actually calling racism racism. www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
NPR, actually calling racism racism. www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
Trump launches fresh attacks from familiar playbook with tirade on Somali immigrants
President Trump made racist comments about Somali immigrants and Somalia multiple times this week. It's a common tactic used by the president to get attention from those who share his nativist views.
www.npr.org
December 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
" For two days in a row, the president has gone on racist tirades against the Somali community in Minnesota."
NPR, actually calling racism racism. www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
NPR, actually calling racism racism. www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
Time for one last holiday food safety post as we head in to the weekend. What's the third holiday staple? Tamales!
What could we have to say about them?
Among other things: avoid big containers.
What does that mean? Read the piece! 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2023/11/tama...
What could we have to say about them?
Among other things: avoid big containers.
What does that mean? Read the piece! 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2023/11/tama...
December 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Time for one last holiday food safety post as we head in to the weekend. What's the third holiday staple? Tamales!
What could we have to say about them?
Among other things: avoid big containers.
What does that mean? Read the piece! 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2023/11/tama...
What could we have to say about them?
Among other things: avoid big containers.
What does that mean? Read the piece! 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2023/11/tama...
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Another holiday mystery! If eating runny eggs is a food safety risk, and eggnog contains eggs, why is it safe to drink eggnog? Does adding booze make it safer?
There are a lot of urban myths out there about this. What's the science say? 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/eggn...
There are a lot of urban myths out there about this. What's the science say? 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/eggn...
December 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Another holiday mystery! If eating runny eggs is a food safety risk, and eggnog contains eggs, why is it safe to drink eggnog? Does adding booze make it safer?
There are a lot of urban myths out there about this. What's the science say? 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/eggn...
There are a lot of urban myths out there about this. What's the science say? 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/eggn...
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
There is no reason to be polite or decorous about this any more.
The current Supreme Court is corrupt.
US democracy cannot survive unless it is reformed.
The current Supreme Court is corrupt.
US democracy cannot survive unless it is reformed.
Democrats need to lay the groundwork for reform by attacking the villains on the Supreme Court - loudly, angrily, personally, relentlessly. And they should start now.
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats Need to Treat the Supreme Court Like the Villain It Is
The Court is out of control, and we'll never see reform unless we build the case for it. Starting now.
paulwaldman.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
There is no reason to be polite or decorous about this any more.
The current Supreme Court is corrupt.
US democracy cannot survive unless it is reformed.
The current Supreme Court is corrupt.
US democracy cannot survive unless it is reformed.
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
ICE raided a James Beard award winning restaurant & because the chef/owner was prepared, left emptyhanded:
December 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
ICE raided a James Beard award winning restaurant & because the chef/owner was prepared, left emptyhanded:
Reposted by Matt Shipman (he/him)
Now is the time to explore some of the timeless questions associated with the holiday season. Let's start with the most obvious one--
Does fruitcake actually last forever? And, if so, is it because of the booze? 🧪 (If you find this interesting, please share it!)
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/wms-...
Does fruitcake actually last forever? And, if so, is it because of the booze? 🧪 (If you find this interesting, please share it!)
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/wms-...
Fruitcake – Will it Last Forever?
The USDA says a fruitcake will last two to three months in the refrigerator without spoiling. But how long will it really last? We asked a scientist.
news.ncsu.edu
December 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Now is the time to explore some of the timeless questions associated with the holiday season. Let's start with the most obvious one--
Does fruitcake actually last forever? And, if so, is it because of the booze? 🧪 (If you find this interesting, please share it!)
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/wms-...
Does fruitcake actually last forever? And, if so, is it because of the booze? 🧪 (If you find this interesting, please share it!)
news.ncsu.edu/2014/12/wms-...