Catherine Shaffer
@cathshaffer.bsky.social
Freelance Science Journalist | SFF Writer
MSU/UM grad | Ann Arbor 🏠 | Clarion '97 | AnLab 🏅 | Obligate herbivore | Cat lover | Allergic to cats | Achoo!
MSU/UM grad | Ann Arbor 🏠 | Clarion '97 | AnLab 🏅 | Obligate herbivore | Cat lover | Allergic to cats | Achoo!
In The Psychopath Inside, James Fallon accidentally diagnoses his own psychopathy and floats a theory that his highly nurturing childhood is the difference between him being a manipulative jerk and a serial killer, given the underlying physiologic empathy defect.
November 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
In The Psychopath Inside, James Fallon accidentally diagnoses his own psychopathy and floats a theory that his highly nurturing childhood is the difference between him being a manipulative jerk and a serial killer, given the underlying physiologic empathy defect.
Much of our current timeline would be dinged for being unrealistic
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Much of our current timeline would be dinged for being unrealistic
It is much much more common that authors land a novel contract that doesn’t earn out and struggle or drop out entirely. Sustained success requires talent, hard work, AND luck.
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It is much much more common that authors land a novel contract that doesn’t earn out and struggle or drop out entirely. Sustained success requires talent, hard work, AND luck.
I have definitely gained some interesting generational perspectives from my son
November 26, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I have definitely gained some interesting generational perspectives from my son
Things have been pretty well arranged that there's no longer such a thing as work-life balance in any job.
November 26, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Things have been pretty well arranged that there's no longer such a thing as work-life balance in any job.
At home, I have a spouse with food allergies, which curtails restaurant and prepared/convenience foods. Baked goods are home made, usually with high fiber barley flour. I would have ordered a lot more pizza over the years if I could, but I think we've both benefited from the restriction. 3/3
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
At home, I have a spouse with food allergies, which curtails restaurant and prepared/convenience foods. Baked goods are home made, usually with high fiber barley flour. I would have ordered a lot more pizza over the years if I could, but I think we've both benefited from the restriction. 3/3
dry overnight oats, nuts, and raisins in my carryon and load up on berries and fruits at my destination. I try to keep my restaurant lunches and dinners on the healthier side, include a vegetable if I can, but still indulge. And voila! Positive energy for my fun- or work-filled days. 2/3
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
dry overnight oats, nuts, and raisins in my carryon and load up on berries and fruits at my destination. I try to keep my restaurant lunches and dinners on the healthier side, include a vegetable if I can, but still indulge. And voila! Positive energy for my fun- or work-filled days. 2/3
We called it the weasel wardance
November 26, 2025 at 2:17 AM
We called it the weasel wardance
Horny swinger nudist has got to be the demographic with the greatest disconnect between what they think people want to know/see/share and what people actually want to know/see/share.
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Horny swinger nudist has got to be the demographic with the greatest disconnect between what they think people want to know/see/share and what people actually want to know/see/share.
Wellness culture is particularly judgy about sleep. Get rid of your hard mattress, your pets, your cell phone. Sleep on your back like a corpse. Etc. Phooey.
November 25, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Wellness culture is particularly judgy about sleep. Get rid of your hard mattress, your pets, your cell phone. Sleep on your back like a corpse. Etc. Phooey.
It seems like only yesterday they were blaming us for sending too much ewaste to landfills…
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
It seems like only yesterday they were blaming us for sending too much ewaste to landfills…
Toxic black mold, the kind that requires expensive home remediation, is Stachybotrys chartarum. However, many people-like me-have allergies to common aspergillus mold species which are found in soil. Thank you for sharing. I don’t know how you begin to avoid this stuff.
November 23, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Toxic black mold, the kind that requires expensive home remediation, is Stachybotrys chartarum. However, many people-like me-have allergies to common aspergillus mold species which are found in soil. Thank you for sharing. I don’t know how you begin to avoid this stuff.
Flow of information to the reader. For example, you may want to hold off on revealing some of character B's info until you get to a certain point in character A's arc. Also, a good time to fill in character B's backstory might be after a cliffhanger for character A and vice versa.
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Flow of information to the reader. For example, you may want to hold off on revealing some of character B's info until you get to a certain point in character A's arc. Also, a good time to fill in character B's backstory might be after a cliffhanger for character A and vice versa.
I think we all know the reason
November 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I think we all know the reason
Why my son is pivoting to cybersecurity…
November 20, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Why my son is pivoting to cybersecurity…
I am very skeptical of the apps. I do think you can spot it by the lack of structure, vagueness, and repetitive statements.
November 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I am very skeptical of the apps. I do think you can spot it by the lack of structure, vagueness, and repetitive statements.
Those AI detectors are a scam
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Those AI detectors are a scam
Are they seriously getting hit with so many baseless lawsuits as to be an existential threat? Have they even been sued once?
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Are they seriously getting hit with so many baseless lawsuits as to be an existential threat? Have they even been sued once?
How do you stream TV via DSL?
November 19, 2025 at 2:12 AM
How do you stream TV via DSL?