Jennifer Yule Hoffman 🌲🌟

Ooh, a new vocabulary word! Thanks!

I love these! Learned from a botanist friend that they don’t photosynthesis, but feed off tree roots. That’s why they’re purple instead of green.

I think we have to interpret this through the lens of
1. The tanking poll numbers
2. The freak out about war crimes

They are hoping some extra racism will cheer up the base and spread opposition to their political program/pogroms thinner. It’s a distraction and also the point. Simultaneous.

Necessary context:

But have you rehabilitated yourself?

Well, that’s terrifying

Here’s the thing about settling to keep the government grant $ flowing: this administration is actively trying to destroy state capacity to fund research at anything close to its current scale. If they’re successful, the entire model of the research university is dead.

Northwestern’s leaders will likely try to justify their choice to appease fascist extortion with some BS about needing to help researchers get federal funds that were illegally withheld, so it’s important to note that virtually all of the researchers said not to.

It's easy to see shoddy research as a bad actor problem. But if AI slop like this can make it through editors and peer reviewers, it means there are systemic problems at work. And I'd argue that at least part of the problem is the overwork culture in academia-- pressure to do more while caring less.

Even if you know the story of Clever Hans, this is a very worthwhile thread:

Kid…

Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.

Thank you for this. So happy for you both! It’s 10 years for me, so here’s to sticking around to get old. 🥂

Wow, looks stunning! Enjoy!

National Parks to raise fees by $100 for international tourists to popular U.S. parks The National Park Service says it is going to start charging international tourists an extra $100 to enter popular parks. They will be left out of fee-free days, reserved for American residents.

This fucking sucks and is hostile af (yes, I get that this is the point). Our national parks are a treasure and I love sharing them with people. People visit the US specifically to see them. Nature should be open to everyone.

one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.

Today’s xkcd made me cry.

In a good way.

xkcd.com/3172/

This is the kind of thing someone in tights and a cape is supposed to prevent

Nice feature highlighting #astronomy research at @uofdenver.bsky.social! Always a treat to show off our beautiful observatory as well. 🔭🧪 @chamberlin-obs.bsky.social

Can you spread the word about weaintbuyingit.com? This is one of the easiest and safest ways possible to fight back against the current administration. If you've been saying there's nothing you can do - you're wrong! All you have to do is not buy from Amazon, Home Depot, or Target for five days.

The shoe pouches! *swoon*

Mathematicians, on the other hand, stick to the cardinal numbers.

Still, if you needed a towhee’d be the first to volunteer.