Lone Bacterium 🌻
@lonebacterium.bsky.social
Perennially burnt out internet goblin. Research-adjacent. Anti-hype.
she/her
she/her
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
Short of getting caught orchestrating a coup or assassination, this is absolutely the core case of what you expel an ambassador for.
Bessent pushes Albertan independence from Canada: "Albertans are very independent people. There's a rumor they may have a referendum on whether they want to stay in Canada or not. People are talking. People want sovereignty. They want what the US has got."
January 23, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Short of getting caught orchestrating a coup or assassination, this is absolutely the core case of what you expel an ambassador for.
Hootsuite provides services to U.S. Homeland Security share.google/HE9AcJMzd67N...
Vancouver tech firm Hootsuite provides services to U.S. Homeland Security
United States procurement records show that Vancouver tech firm Hootsuite is providing social media services to the Department of Homeland Security.
share.google
January 22, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Hootsuite provides services to U.S. Homeland Security share.google/HE9AcJMzd67N...
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.
Dr. Gladys West, Mathematician Whose Work Made GPS Possible, Dies at 95
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She passed away
thezebra.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
TIMELINE CLEANSE
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
January 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
TIMELINE CLEANSE
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
When's a time that a stranger helped you in an unexpected, maybe even small way?
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
people are makin cow tools jokes about this and why not, but as a longtime believer in the sentience of non-human animals and great lover of cows in particular, I hope people will check out the story in full
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in different ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:01 PM
people are makin cow tools jokes about this and why not, but as a longtime believer in the sentience of non-human animals and great lover of cows in particular, I hope people will check out the story in full
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
“'ICE might not break into my house and try to take one of my family members, because we’re all white,' Fee told me. 'But I’m not going to not care just because it’s not going to happen to me. That’s irresponsible, that’s disrespectful, and it’s sinful, honestly.'”
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:04 PM
“'ICE might not break into my house and try to take one of my family members, because we’re all white,' Fee told me. 'But I’m not going to not care just because it’s not going to happen to me. That’s irresponsible, that’s disrespectful, and it’s sinful, honestly.'”
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
It's not ok to watch an entire nation being bombed into freezing in brutal subzero t°.
It's not ok to pretend russia wants peace while it targets homes, hospitals, and energy grid, aiming to destroy Ukraine.
It's not ok to delay air defences while civilians sleep in cold shelters and darkness.
It's not ok to pretend russia wants peace while it targets homes, hospitals, and energy grid, aiming to destroy Ukraine.
It's not ok to delay air defences while civilians sleep in cold shelters and darkness.
January 19, 2026 at 6:21 PM
It's not ok to watch an entire nation being bombed into freezing in brutal subzero t°.
It's not ok to pretend russia wants peace while it targets homes, hospitals, and energy grid, aiming to destroy Ukraine.
It's not ok to delay air defences while civilians sleep in cold shelters and darkness.
It's not ok to pretend russia wants peace while it targets homes, hospitals, and energy grid, aiming to destroy Ukraine.
It's not ok to delay air defences while civilians sleep in cold shelters and darkness.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
one thing i wish i could impress on a lot of you is that trump et al are not the only people with agency
January 19, 2026 at 8:12 PM
one thing i wish i could impress on a lot of you is that trump et al are not the only people with agency
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in multiple ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:06 PM
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
"Importantly...the ads fail to mention that the Ring of Fire is located on the world’s second-largest peatland, which stores an estimated 35 billion tonnes of carbon, and that mining in the region is facing opposition from multiple First Nations"
New from me today for @nationalobserver.com. I submitted an FOI request, which revealed the province’s ad campaign budget for the Ring of Fire. One budget line lists nearly $60,000 for “additional costs as a result of eliminating shoe scene from TV spot.” WHAT IS A SHOE SCENE
Documents reveal Ontario's $7M Ring of Fire ad bill
These ads are pushing the controversial mega-project through a campaign it has dubbed “Protect Ontario,” which Canada’s National Observer has learned is earmarked with a budget of more than $7 million...
www.nationalobserver.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:01 PM
"Importantly...the ads fail to mention that the Ring of Fire is located on the world’s second-largest peatland, which stores an estimated 35 billion tonnes of carbon, and that mining in the region is facing opposition from multiple First Nations"
I sometimes wonder how I would succinctly explain the toll that gutting the US public service will take. These individual stories help provide examples when data comes up short.
This is an excellent piece on the purge of public servants from the federal government.
So many dedicated and talented people pushed out. We are worse off without their skills.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
So many dedicated and talented people pushed out. We are worse off without their skills.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
The Purged
Donald Trump’s destruction of the civil service is a tragedy not just for the roughly 300,000 workers who have been discarded, but for an entire nation.
www.theatlantic.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I sometimes wonder how I would succinctly explain the toll that gutting the US public service will take. These individual stories help provide examples when data comes up short.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
Serbian intelligence officers have tested sound cannons on dogs in collaboration with Russia’s notorious security service, according to government documents seen by POLITICO.
Serbia let Putin’s spies zap dogs with ‘sound cannons’
Documents show Belgrade brought in Russia’s FSB to conduct experiments on animals.
www.politico.eu
January 15, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Serbian intelligence officers have tested sound cannons on dogs in collaboration with Russia’s notorious security service, according to government documents seen by POLITICO.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
❗️ Russia's goal is to make Kyiv uninhabitable, the capital is running out of air defense missiles, — NYT
January 15, 2026 at 12:26 PM
❗️ Russia's goal is to make Kyiv uninhabitable, the capital is running out of air defense missiles, — NYT
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
I've mentioned this before, but one thing I've been closely watching for is when crypto people begin to distance themselves from Trump.
November 2024 vs. January 2026
November 2024 vs. January 2026
![ Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has also clearly been trying to woo Trump, claiming very shortly after the election that he was “going to be spending quite a bit of time working with lawmakers in Washington DC and quite a bit of time with members of the administration to help foster and facilitate with other key leaders in industry the crypto policy”.6 While he has continued to boast vaguely about meetings with various influential figures, winkingly describing a “VIP dinner” where “diet coke will certainly be on [the menu]”, there’s been little outside confirmation that he’s had much access to the Trump administration. ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:exrxvyu6bpoym6mbnctke5tn/bafkreibwu7nnfjdr7icvg2bzdh6ug5tbaza5hcut2q5lmerpqalj2cxiwy@jpeg)
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I've mentioned this before, but one thing I've been closely watching for is when crypto people begin to distance themselves from Trump.
November 2024 vs. January 2026
November 2024 vs. January 2026
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
"Colvin, who died on Jan. 13 at the age of 86, was for decades an unsung hero...she became one of the plaintiffs in Browder v Gayle, the landmark 1956 U.S. Supreme Court case that declared segregation on public transportation unconstitutional" @capitalb.bsky.social
capitalbnews.org/claudette-co...
capitalbnews.org/claudette-co...
Claudette Colvin, Whose Defiance Helped End Bus Segregation, Dies at 86
For decades, Colvin was an unsung hero despite refusing to surrender her seat nearly 10 months before Rosa Parks’s famous act of defiance
capitalbnews.org
January 14, 2026 at 1:28 AM
"Colvin, who died on Jan. 13 at the age of 86, was for decades an unsung hero...she became one of the plaintiffs in Browder v Gayle, the landmark 1956 U.S. Supreme Court case that declared segregation on public transportation unconstitutional" @capitalb.bsky.social
capitalbnews.org/claudette-co...
capitalbnews.org/claudette-co...
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
ICE detained Arlit Maria Martinez on her way to work. 2 days later, her 15 yo son died of cancer. They wouldn't let her out to say goodbye. The family had planned to move back to Mexico prior to the cancer diagnosis but stayed for his treatment. Now, Mr Martinez has lost his wife to ICE & his son.
Teen dies of cancer days after mother arrested by ICE: ‘She’s never gonna see him’
The mother's family pleaded with federal officers for her release from custody to say her final goodbyes to her son, but their requests went unanswered.
www.wsaz.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:29 PM
ICE detained Arlit Maria Martinez on her way to work. 2 days later, her 15 yo son died of cancer. They wouldn't let her out to say goodbye. The family had planned to move back to Mexico prior to the cancer diagnosis but stayed for his treatment. Now, Mr Martinez has lost his wife to ICE & his son.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
there's currently an extra space after the first word of the story, presumably because an editor was moving quickly to update the article from "Four" to "Six"
that's the speed at which things are spiraling here
that's the speed at which things are spiraling here
Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned over the Justice Department’s push to investigate the widow of Renee Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent, and the department’s reluctance to investigate the shooter, according those with knowledge of their decision. nyti.ms/4qUl36Z
January 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM
there's currently an extra space after the first word of the story, presumably because an editor was moving quickly to update the article from "Four" to "Six"
that's the speed at which things are spiraling here
that's the speed at which things are spiraling here
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
… outside the window, there is winter and war. At night, temperatures in many Ukrainian cities drop to -19°C approximately -2.2°F. Many homes remain without electricity or heating. People wear layers of warm clothing indoors and place fire bricks on gas stoves in an attempt to heat their apartments.
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 PM
… outside the window, there is winter and war. At night, temperatures in many Ukrainian cities drop to -19°C approximately -2.2°F. Many homes remain without electricity or heating. People wear layers of warm clothing indoors and place fire bricks on gas stoves in an attempt to heat their apartments.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
A viral video of a mob attacking a teenage girl in Basra lays bare the devastating decline of women's rights in Iraq over 30 turbulent years ⬇️
Basra mob attack exposes rapid decline of women’s rights in Iraq
A viral video of a mob attacking a teenage girl in Basra lays bare the devastating decline of women’s rights in Iraq over 30 turbulent years
www.newarab.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A viral video of a mob attacking a teenage girl in Basra lays bare the devastating decline of women's rights in Iraq over 30 turbulent years ⬇️
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
That someone carried out an arson attack against Mississippi's largest synagogue is both heartbreaking and outrageous. American Jews deserve what every American deserves: to not fear in or for our sacred spaces.
Predawn fire reduces parts of Mississippi's largest synagogue to charred ruins - Mississippi Today
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil rights...
mississippitoday.org
January 11, 2026 at 6:15 PM
That someone carried out an arson attack against Mississippi's largest synagogue is both heartbreaking and outrageous. American Jews deserve what every American deserves: to not fear in or for our sacred spaces.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
It fucked my cycles up for 7 months.
And it's an abortifacient.
And it's an abortifacient.
Minneapolis uterus havers: if you’re bleeding out of cycle and wondering why, it’s the tear gas. Really, it does that
January 11, 2026 at 7:19 PM
It fucked my cycles up for 7 months.
And it's an abortifacient.
And it's an abortifacient.
Reposted by Lone Bacterium 🌻
And despite it all, this is Tehran 🇮🇷
January 10, 2026 at 11:40 PM
And despite it all, this is Tehran 🇮🇷