Wes Cosand
@wescosand.bsky.social
Biochemist retired from academia, biotech, and pharma. Interested in history, archeology, photography, and good books. Was a Quaker, now a Mennonite
Pinned
Wes Cosand
@wescosand.bsky.social
· Apr 19
Making Grandpa a sign for today's protest in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Ok, this has to be shared and shared and shared and shared! Thank you @preciouspetal.bsky.social !
November 30, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Ok, this has to be shared and shared and shared and shared! Thank you @preciouspetal.bsky.social !
Reposted by Wes Cosand
There’s a reason Caesar was forbidden to cross the Rubicon and return to Rome with his army. It’s what separates a relatively free society from a fascist one.
Pirro: "These Guardsmen and all who are here to protect the District are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one."
November 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
There’s a reason Caesar was forbidden to cross the Rubicon and return to Rome with his army. It’s what separates a relatively free society from a fascist one.
Reposted by Wes Cosand
The Christian right for decades has fear-mongered that federal agents (under Dem presidents) would "criminalize" Christianity and literally prevent them from worshipping.
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Here’s a story for every national news outlet:
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
In N.C., churchgoers are literally running into the woods as federal agents descend on the property.
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.”
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 16, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The Christian right for decades has fear-mongered that federal agents (under Dem presidents) would "criminalize" Christianity and literally prevent them from worshipping.
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Now that Trump's stormtroopers are doing it ... crickets
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Wes Cosand
By a fun coincidence, the estimated total number of observable stars in the Universe is about a mole (1E23)
But 1 mole of water molecules is about 1 tablespoon, 18 mL.
So, there are more molecules in a tablespoon of water than all the (observable) stars in the Universe!
Happy Mole Day 2025!
But 1 mole of water molecules is about 1 tablespoon, 18 mL.
So, there are more molecules in a tablespoon of water than all the (observable) stars in the Universe!
Happy Mole Day 2025!
Happy Mole Day, 10/23.
Your science history fact for the day: Avogadro's constant was coined by physicist Jean Perrin (shown) who defined it as the number of molecules in 16 grams of oxygen & proposed it be named after Amedeo Avogadro, who had died 4 years previously.
Your science history fact for the day: Avogadro's constant was coined by physicist Jean Perrin (shown) who defined it as the number of molecules in 16 grams of oxygen & proposed it be named after Amedeo Avogadro, who had died 4 years previously.
October 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
By a fun coincidence, the estimated total number of observable stars in the Universe is about a mole (1E23)
But 1 mole of water molecules is about 1 tablespoon, 18 mL.
So, there are more molecules in a tablespoon of water than all the (observable) stars in the Universe!
Happy Mole Day 2025!
But 1 mole of water molecules is about 1 tablespoon, 18 mL.
So, there are more molecules in a tablespoon of water than all the (observable) stars in the Universe!
Happy Mole Day 2025!
Exactly
"Viewpoint diversity" about whether human activity is warming the planet, or whether vaccines work, is like "viewpoint diversity" about whether the sky is blue or whether the Earth is round. It falls outside the range of good faith scientific and academic discourse.
#ScienceUnderSiege
#ScienceUnderSiege
October 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Exactly
Reposted by Wes Cosand
"Incredibly, Trump’s recent announcements have made the situation even worse. By declaring that U.S. economic support will only continue if Milei wins at the polls, he has galvanized the Argentine opposition to Milei, thus leading to more capital flight and skyrocketing interest rates."
America First? No, Billionaire Buddies First
Argentina: A very Trumpy debacle
paulkrugman.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
"Incredibly, Trump’s recent announcements have made the situation even worse. By declaring that U.S. economic support will only continue if Milei wins at the polls, he has galvanized the Argentine opposition to Milei, thus leading to more capital flight and skyrocketing interest rates."
"But if there is a lesson to be gleaned from the deadly fate of those men and women, it might just be that the best safeguard against tyranny is a legion of people who believe in an authority higher than any political program, prince — or president."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
Opinion | A Lesson From the German Resistance That Applies Today
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
"But if there is a lesson to be gleaned from the deadly fate of those men and women, it might just be that the best safeguard against tyranny is a legion of people who believe in an authority higher than any political program, prince — or president."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
Reposted by Wes Cosand
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Sunday's naked bike ride in protest of the Portland ICE facility and and Trump troop deployment "the most threatening thing I’ve seen yet"
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
October 14, 2025 at 11:41 PM
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Sunday's naked bike ride in protest of the Portland ICE facility and and Trump troop deployment "the most threatening thing I’ve seen yet"
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Journalist Edward R. Murrow used his platform on CBS to criticize the witch hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.
This is what real journalism should do — hold power to account, not capitulate to it.
This is what real journalism should do — hold power to account, not capitulate to it.
October 6, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Journalist Edward R. Murrow used his platform on CBS to criticize the witch hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.
This is what real journalism should do — hold power to account, not capitulate to it.
This is what real journalism should do — hold power to account, not capitulate to it.
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Fascism marches on in the United States with the full support of the Republican Party (and insufficient opposition).
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
Trump Fired a U.S. Attorney Who Insisted on Following a Court Order
www.nytimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Fascism marches on in the United States with the full support of the Republican Party (and insufficient opposition).
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Apropos of absolutely nothing, the United States didn't go to all of the trouble to propose, debate, enact, and ratify the 25th Amendment just for when presidents undergo anesthesia.
September 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Apropos of absolutely nothing, the United States didn't go to all of the trouble to propose, debate, enact, and ratify the 25th Amendment just for when presidents undergo anesthesia.
Good article
Israel is a small country of 10m people in a dangerous and hostile neighbourhood. A sudden loss of popular American support would be a catastrophe
How Israel is losing America
Public opinion is souring even in Israel’s strongest ally. Israelis should worry
econ.st
September 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Good article
Pause a moment and listen to this story
September 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Pause a moment and listen to this story
Hey! Jamelle @jamellebouie.net did an excellent job with David Brooks on PBS Newshour. Thoughtful commentary.
youtu.be/7Fw4korSOsA?...
youtu.be/7Fw4korSOsA?...
Brooks and Bouie on economic warning signs
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
September 6, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Hey! Jamelle @jamellebouie.net did an excellent job with David Brooks on PBS Newshour. Thoughtful commentary.
youtu.be/7Fw4korSOsA?...
youtu.be/7Fw4korSOsA?...
Reposted by Wes Cosand
Pour one out for Judge Sparkle Sooknanan’s clerks this Labor Day weekend
Can we stop to talk about how remarkable the timing was? Compliant at 1am, Judge engaged at 2am, ex parte call to the Government at 2:30am (they did not answer), TRO at 4am?
On a Sunday of a holiday weekend?!
On a Sunday of a holiday weekend?!
August 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Pour one out for Judge Sparkle Sooknanan’s clerks this Labor Day weekend
This is a great thread. Amusing. Worth your time.
Wait, wait, hang on ... the Cracker Barrel controversy is *just* about the logo? That's the only change? I thought surely there was more to it.
August 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This is a great thread. Amusing. Worth your time.
Worthwhile read
New Orleans is a project that begets more projects. To preserve it will be costly. How long can this carry on?
Does it make sense for America to keep subsidising a sinking city?
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans faces a different kind of risk
econ.st
August 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Worthwhile read
Marie, I have to say, this is an acquired taste ... Chuckle
Mennonite Shoofly Pie is a classic dessert from the Pennsylvania Dutch that uses simple pantry ingredients to create a rich and gooey molasses pie with a crumbly topping. 🍯🍽️ 🍜 #food #WhatsCooking #JustPlainCooking
Mennonite Shoofly Pie for Breakfast or Dessert
Mennonite Shoofly Pie is a classic dessert from the Pennsylvania Dutch that uses simple pantry ingredients to create a rich and gooey molasses pie with a crumbly topping. It's perfect for a cozy winter treat.
justplaincooking.ca
August 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Marie, I have to say, this is an acquired taste ... Chuckle
Yes
You can't teach U.S. history without "divisive" narratives. Slavery wasn't "unifying." The Japanese incarceration wasn't "unifying." The anti-immigrant Operation Wetback (real name) wasn't "unifying."
It's history's job to tell the truth, not cover up past racism to pave the way for future racism.
It's history's job to tell the truth, not cover up past racism to pave the way for future racism.
White House Announces Comprehensive Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions
www.nytimes.com
August 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Yes