Alex Francis

I’m often frustrated by technical terms with no intrinsic meaning (e.g., Type I vs Type II error) but now that increasing public awareness of the “Big 5” personality traits means more interpretations of “high extraversion” as “is an extrovert” etc., I kinda wish they were just called Traits 1-5.

Over those thirty years, topmost university leaders - once preeminent scientists and scholars - have gradually been replaced by political appointees and corporate fanboys.

Inconceivable! There must be some trick to it! Some GenZ lingo or social media strategy that we just haven’t figured out yet!

“It’s not about ideology, it’s about looking like you have an ideology.” If only the Dems realized it’s easier to look sincere if in fact you are sincere.

I’m for it! I already have a bunch of people in my phone as “[first name] Neighbor” and also some as “[first name] Business” (“Cody Plumber”, “Tracy HVAC”, etc.)

A good thread on the spaciousness of arguments against transwomen competing against ciswomen in sport.

Luke O‘Neil is one of my favorite writers - as much poet as storyteller, and somehow rich in bleakness. He gets more humanity into characters in a single page than many authors do in an entire novel. I loved his collection „A Creature Wanting Form“ and I’m looking forward to this one.

Back in the day, Twitter used to be really good if I set up a thread to connect freelancers with clients. Let's see if Bluesky can do it.

Clients: if you're looking for freelancers/contractors, get in the comments

Freelancers/contractors: get in comments

Everyone else: boosts appreciated

Decided it was go big or go home so starting at 7pm tonight all my original hand painted art will be 60% off the listed price!!
You read that right SIXTY PERCENT! This is my biggest discount ever! Don't miss out!! KateAveryArt.com to shop!!

This is getting … recursive? Inceptive?

Oops. The antecedent of “them” is not supposed to be “entomologists” here. I’m not trying to photograph entomologists, but rather insects (and flowers, and other little things). In case clarification was needed.

Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetraophthalmus) perched on the tip of a milkweed leaf. There is a leaf in the foreground that has a crescent bitten out of it. The beetle does not look ashamed of its gluttony.

Blue dragonfly or damsel fly, possibly an Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum) just perching on large blade of grass. Blurry yellow flowers are in the background.

There was a time when I thought I might grow up to be an entomologist. Now I’m just trying to learn how to photograph them.

I’d like to see something like this done will some cost/benefit to the respondents. Maybe there’d still be a bunch of marks in Africa and east Asia but I’d bet there’d be none in the oceans.

Take my course at the LSA summer institute this summer! (I actually have no idea how many people are going to register.)

That's not what we should be hearing. There is virtually no low-quality research that gets discussed at funding panels, or gets anywhere near being funded. The problem is that not enough high-quality research is funded.

I thought exactly the same thing. Maybe it blew up because they can’t keep their units straight.

This is cool but learning that there is an entire ant wiki to peruse is even cooler!

Not an original point but worth saying again - there is not a single element in this picture that identifies any of these folks as law enforcement agents. No badges, no uniforms, no vests. Out of context it just looks like a bunch of random guys are kidnapping a mayoral candidate.

USA: RSF condemns wave of violence against journalists covering Los Angeles protests At least 27 attacks on journalists covering protests in Los Angeles took place between June 6 and June 8. The assaults have been carried out by both law enforcement and protesters. Violence against jo...

#USA: RSF condemns the wave of violence – at least 27 separate attacks – that swept across journalists covering protests in Los Angeles this weekend. Violence against journalists trying to do their jobs is unacceptable. #JournalismIsNotACrime rsf.org/en/usa-rsf-c...

How are they then pre-loved?

I am old enough that my list starts with “nuclear armageddon” … there was a brief moment in the 1990s when I thought it might actually fall off the back of the list but no such luck…

And how will this affect those who wouldn’t buy “used” but are ok with “secondhand”?

What a day! We've entered a bizarre new chapter in politics & power, where billionaires, turned digital oligarchs, now trade threats on social media platforms they own. It’s not backroom deals anymore, it’s power games played out in the public feed for the masses. #OligarchWars
#BillionaireBeef

An orange cat snoozing on a fuzzy gray mat

I’m never understand people who claim humans are the pinnacle of evolution when I have to sign in to Microsoft Team while he spends his morning like this.

😄 I suspect this is likely true for many papers.

Our government is short-sightedly destroying our ability to train future scientists.

I love this story but I was legitimately worried that it would end with the kid gobbling all the nerds before they could be measured let alone counted.

Maybe they only asked clinicians?

The Two Santas Strategy: How the GOP has used an economic scam to manipulate Americans for 40 years | Milwaukee Independent

This is a great explainer on the historical development of the scam that has fooled people for 45 years.

www.milwaukeeindependent.com/thom-hartman...