Greg
@spkr4thedead51.bsky.social
Bike rider. Climber. Lindy hopper. Caretaker of a mustache. Collector of books. Progressive politics and getting progressiver as I get older. Purveyor of digital stuff for Physics Today. Huge fuckin' nerd. Based in DC.
Pinned
Greg
@spkr4thedead51.bsky.social
· Feb 24
English is fun and it's amazing how quickly the meaning of words can change!
In the 1930s a crypto-fascist was someone who hid that they were a fascist. In less than 100 years a crypto-fascist became someone who was not only openly fascist, but tried to convince you to buy into financial schemes.
In the 1930s a crypto-fascist was someone who hid that they were a fascist. In less than 100 years a crypto-fascist became someone who was not only openly fascist, but tried to convince you to buy into financial schemes.
There's a new Troll 2 that's actually good (and no relation to the original) and I don't like that I now have to disambiguate them
December 8, 2025 at 1:36 AM
There's a new Troll 2 that's actually good (and no relation to the original) and I don't like that I now have to disambiguate them
Reposted by Greg
don't worry, john roberts says this is a legitimate exercise of presidential power and if we did anything to curb it, we would be robbing the executive of the energy he needs to do his job
Trump rages that Henry Cuellar didn’t pay him back for a pardon by switching parties, blasting Cuellar for a “lack of LOYALTY.”
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
December 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
don't worry, john roberts says this is a legitimate exercise of presidential power and if we did anything to curb it, we would be robbing the executive of the energy he needs to do his job
Reposted by Greg
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
Reposted by Greg
"Part of Lucasfilm’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, a newly restored version of the classic Star Wars (1977) theatrical release — later renamed Star Wars: A New Hope — will play in theaters for a limited time." www.starwars.com/news/star-wa...
I AM SAT
I AM SAT
December 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
"Part of Lucasfilm’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, a newly restored version of the classic Star Wars (1977) theatrical release — later renamed Star Wars: A New Hope — will play in theaters for a limited time." www.starwars.com/news/star-wa...
I AM SAT
I AM SAT
Reposted by Greg
Thread on the huge shift in US policy towards Russia visible in the new National Security Strategy - the biggest change since the collapse of the USSR. 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Thread on the huge shift in US policy towards Russia visible in the new National Security Strategy - the biggest change since the collapse of the USSR. 🧵
Jesus fucking christ
This Pluribus ad on a fridge caused a schizophrenic woman named Carol to be hospitalized.
December 5, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Jesus fucking christ
Reposted by Greg
Story coming on this...
Why is Donald Trump’s name now on the @usip.org building? Who put there? And when?
December 3, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Story coming on this...
Reposted by Greg
The U.S. Department of Energy announced late Monday that Golden’s storied, half-century-old National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL, is no longer to be referred to as such. The new name: National Laboratory of the Rockies, with a complete “energy” outage.
Trump administration changes name of Golden-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The words “renewable” and “energy” are dropped from the name of the applied-research lab that's been in Colorado for more than 50 years.
coloradosun.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The U.S. Department of Energy announced late Monday that Golden’s storied, half-century-old National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL, is no longer to be referred to as such. The new name: National Laboratory of the Rockies, with a complete “energy” outage.
Reposted by Greg
Rand Paul just posted this letter from the Coast Guard confirming that 1/4 of the boats they stop carry no contraband. The likelihood that Hegseth & Bradley ordered the murder of innocent civilians is very high.
December 2, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Rand Paul just posted this letter from the Coast Guard confirming that 1/4 of the boats they stop carry no contraband. The likelihood that Hegseth & Bradley ordered the murder of innocent civilians is very high.
Reposted by Greg
In 1969, @physicstoday.bsky.social asked readers to help identify a 1932 APS banquet photo. The replies—annotated copies, letters, stories—became part of AIP’s archives. I wrote about what this early “crowdsourcing” effort tells us about collective memory in science. www.aip.org/library/ex-l...
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
In 1969, @physicstoday.bsky.social asked readers to help identify a 1932 APS banquet photo. The replies—annotated copies, letters, stories—became part of AIP’s archives. I wrote about what this early “crowdsourcing” effort tells us about collective memory in science. www.aip.org/library/ex-l...
Does anyone else's life have eras that can be defined by why hobby or activity dominated the t-shirts that you owned? In order, starting in my teens, we've got:
Scouting
College/Alpha Phi Omega
Swing dance events
Cycling events
Band shirts have been 2nd or 3rd place as the others rotated through
Scouting
College/Alpha Phi Omega
Swing dance events
Cycling events
Band shirts have been 2nd or 3rd place as the others rotated through
December 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Does anyone else's life have eras that can be defined by why hobby or activity dominated the t-shirts that you owned? In order, starting in my teens, we've got:
Scouting
College/Alpha Phi Omega
Swing dance events
Cycling events
Band shirts have been 2nd or 3rd place as the others rotated through
Scouting
College/Alpha Phi Omega
Swing dance events
Cycling events
Band shirts have been 2nd or 3rd place as the others rotated through
Reposted by Greg
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
Reposted by Greg
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, has died. She was 111.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, has died. She was 111.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot," she told Congress in 2021.
Geoff Bennett has more.
One of my low key favorite things about going to metal shows is seeing that battle jackets are still alive and well
November 25, 2025 at 2:13 AM
One of my low key favorite things about going to metal shows is seeing that battle jackets are still alive and well
Reposted by Greg
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Tbf, Tillis isn't running for reelection so he's been less beholden to the party line but that doesn't excuse him for the shit he's pulled for the rest of his tenure
Dang - how bad was the Border Patrol invasion in North Carolina?
None other than Thom Tillis himself is blasting DHS for gross overreach, and demanding lists of those detained, property damage caused by CBP agents, and their plan for restitution.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
None other than Thom Tillis himself is blasting DHS for gross overreach, and demanding lists of those detained, property damage caused by CBP agents, and their plan for restitution.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Tbf, Tillis isn't running for reelection so he's been less beholden to the party line but that doesn't excuse him for the shit he's pulled for the rest of his tenure
Reposted by Greg
The Trump Admin will fire you for having a Pride flag on your desk but downplays & normalizes swastikas & nooses?
Over 400,000 Americans died fighting Nazism. Hundreds of thousands died fighting slavery & Jim Crow.
This is a slap in the face to every American who died to defeat bigoted ideologies.
Over 400,000 Americans died fighting Nazism. Hundreds of thousands died fighting slavery & Jim Crow.
This is a slap in the face to every American who died to defeat bigoted ideologies.
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The Trump Admin will fire you for having a Pride flag on your desk but downplays & normalizes swastikas & nooses?
Over 400,000 Americans died fighting Nazism. Hundreds of thousands died fighting slavery & Jim Crow.
This is a slap in the face to every American who died to defeat bigoted ideologies.
Over 400,000 Americans died fighting Nazism. Hundreds of thousands died fighting slavery & Jim Crow.
This is a slap in the face to every American who died to defeat bigoted ideologies.
Reposted by Greg
Reposted by Greg
Reposted by Greg
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Irish tourist jailed by Ice for months after overstaying US visit by three days: ‘Nobody is safe’
Exclusive: For roughly 100 days, Thomas says he faced harsh detention conditions, despite agreeing to deportation
www.theguardian.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Reposted by Greg
The only thing that's interesting about Nuzzi is the story of how an amoral careerist with no interest in policy and abysmal ethics became an acclaimed national political reporter. But rather than tell that story, the entire media seems desperate to play a part in it.
It rocks that all 20 people who genuinely think the Olivia Nuzzi stuff is interesting have editorial discretion at major media outlets. Just publish your group chats
November 15, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The only thing that's interesting about Nuzzi is the story of how an amoral careerist with no interest in policy and abysmal ethics became an acclaimed national political reporter. But rather than tell that story, the entire media seems desperate to play a part in it.
Reposted by Greg
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Greg
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Jim Ryan's letter is not just surreal and troubling; it provides a series of deeply sobering lessons—about the perils facing public universities today; about what it means to "work with" this Department of Justice; & about what leadership does (and doesn't) entail at this especially fraught moment.
Reposted by Greg
Merida’s curly red hair. Elio’s flowing cape. Explosions and stunts. At Pixar, physicist Henry Garcia uses motion to help tell a film’s story. #whatcanphysicistsdo #physics
Q&A: Henry Garcia built carbon nanotubes. Now he simulates big red curly hair
His work at Pixar on special effects and simulations blends physics and art.
physicstoday.aip.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Merida’s curly red hair. Elio’s flowing cape. Explosions and stunts. At Pixar, physicist Henry Garcia uses motion to help tell a film’s story. #whatcanphysicistsdo #physics