Becky D
@bexrousse.bsky.social
Birds & cats & life in Maine. Public health nerd, they/them. Down by the water.
Banner: Closeup of ruddy red galaxies drifting in a cat's olive green eye w/narrowed pupil. PFP: Blonde me w/undercut, big glasses, floppy bangs & a certain kind of smile.
Banner: Closeup of ruddy red galaxies drifting in a cat's olive green eye w/narrowed pupil. PFP: Blonde me w/undercut, big glasses, floppy bangs & a certain kind of smile.
Pinned
Becky D
@bexrousse.bsky.social
· Jun 17
🚨I IMPLORE YOU to use alt-text when you post any image, screen cap, or post of a screed/tidbit from this or a different site. Otherwise people using screen readers are seeing a steady flow of
"OMG"
"This seems bad"
"👀"
"Well that's not good"
with no context
& that is INCREDIBLY ANXIETY-INDUCING
"OMG"
"This seems bad"
"👀"
"Well that's not good"
with no context
& that is INCREDIBLY ANXIETY-INDUCING
Reposted by Becky D
I put a crash course on alt text for people new to it bsky.app/profile/numb...
A brief thread on alt-text.
Alt text is descriptive text that conveys the meaning of an image. It's designed to make visual content accessible to people with vision disabilities. When a person uses assistive technology such as a screen reader, the screen reader will read the onscreen text aloud 1/7
Alt text is descriptive text that conveys the meaning of an image. It's designed to make visual content accessible to people with vision disabilities. When a person uses assistive technology such as a screen reader, the screen reader will read the onscreen text aloud 1/7
February 7, 2026 at 12:07 PM
I put a crash course on alt text for people new to it bsky.app/profile/numb...
Reposted by Becky D
please use alt text
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM
please use alt text
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget
please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
Reposted by Becky D
February 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Becky D
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
February 7, 2026 at 5:01 AM
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Reposted by Becky D
Just because good news is worth celebrating:
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
February 7, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Just because good news is worth celebrating:
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
Reposted by Becky D
Concentration camps are the defining issue in public health right now. Measles and TB outbreaks, healthcare being withheld as punishment for your race. It is not enough simply to turn the grants tap back on. To do so would make us the same as the Nazi scientists who discovered smoking causes cancer
February 7, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Concentration camps are the defining issue in public health right now. Measles and TB outbreaks, healthcare being withheld as punishment for your race. It is not enough simply to turn the grants tap back on. To do so would make us the same as the Nazi scientists who discovered smoking causes cancer
Reposted by Becky D
Encouraging to see some members of the US Olympic team wearing masks to protect their health ahead of competition.
February 6, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Encouraging to see some members of the US Olympic team wearing masks to protect their health ahead of competition.
Reposted by Becky D
Something we lose by using machine translators over human translators is context. I have a Filipino character and I was writing a scene of him talking to his mom. I ran it through Google translate, but I also decided to talk to my boss, who is from the Philippines. WAY better results!
February 7, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Something we lose by using machine translators over human translators is context. I have a Filipino character and I was writing a scene of him talking to his mom. I ran it through Google translate, but I also decided to talk to my boss, who is from the Philippines. WAY better results!
Reposted by Becky D
me. re sunday night
February 6, 2026 at 11:49 PM
me. re sunday night
Reposted by Becky D
This is just part of patrol. ICE threatens you, points guns at you, brutalizes or kills someone in front of you. Every day it's somebody new in our circle. We gather around them while they work through the stress and fear and then, to the person, they go back out.
My friends are so insanely brave.
My friends are so insanely brave.
Friend who's part of a neighborhood watch group says their car was just surrounded by ICE. Is fine but obviously rattled.
February 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
This is just part of patrol. ICE threatens you, points guns at you, brutalizes or kills someone in front of you. Every day it's somebody new in our circle. We gather around them while they work through the stress and fear and then, to the person, they go back out.
My friends are so insanely brave.
My friends are so insanely brave.
Reposted by Becky D
“going to be late for piano” kind of crushed me
I hate it here
(Kid is fine, already been released but I didn't need that white hot surge of panic)
(Kid is fine, already been released but I didn't need that white hot surge of panic)
February 6, 2026 at 11:24 PM
“going to be late for piano” kind of crushed me
Reposted by Becky D
The high school in our neighborhood is currently doing a walkout to protest ICE and I’m so glad their teachers clearly arranged for security in advance, because there’s an SDPD (shocked by this) escort with lights between the sidewalk and the road to make sure no one drives into the kids
1/2
1/2
February 6, 2026 at 10:51 PM
The high school in our neighborhood is currently doing a walkout to protest ICE and I’m so glad their teachers clearly arranged for security in advance, because there’s an SDPD (shocked by this) escort with lights between the sidewalk and the road to make sure no one drives into the kids
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Becky D
well well well variety.com/2026/music/n...
Kid Rock’s MAGA Country Music Festival Loses Shinedown and More Artists: ‘We Don’t Want to Participate in Something We Believe Will Create Division’
Shinedown became the fourth artist to pull out of Kid Rock's MAGA-leaning music festival, joining Ludacris, Morgan Wade and Carter Faith.
variety.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:11 PM
well well well variety.com/2026/music/n...
Reposted by Becky D
Well, this is a bummer. #Maine 💉🧪
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
Maine CDC Confirms Case of Measles in Maine | Department of Health and Human Services
AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is reporting the first case of measles in Maine since 2019. The Maine CDC confirmed th...
www.maine.gov
February 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Well, this is a bummer. #Maine 💉🧪
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
Well, this is a bummer. #Maine 💉🧪
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
Maine CDC Confirms Case of Measles in Maine | Department of Health and Human Services
AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is reporting the first case of measles in Maine since 2019. The Maine CDC confirmed th...
www.maine.gov
February 6, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Well, this is a bummer. #Maine 💉🧪
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
"The individual is an adult from Penobscot Co. who recently traveled to a state with measles cases. This individual was infectious from 1/28 through 2/5/2026."
- St Joe Hosp ED, 2/3, 830-11am
- Hill View Mini Barns, Etna, 1/28 & 1/29, all day
Reposted by Becky D
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 PM
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
Reposted by Becky D
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Becky D
I am now That Person in the local whistle chat who's asked for other people's misprint disasters for Art Purposes, and I'm inordinately excited at this glorious mess of my first misprint. #DHmakes
February 6, 2026 at 4:39 AM
I am now That Person in the local whistle chat who's asked for other people's misprint disasters for Art Purposes, and I'm inordinately excited at this glorious mess of my first misprint. #DHmakes
Reposted by Becky D
Come on people. I have been busting my ass taking care of very sick people with flu, some of which end up in ICU on the ventilator. FFS
already, go get vaccinated.
already, go get vaccinated.
100% of today's primary care patients skipped the flu shot this year. 100% of them deferred it again when asked if they wanted it today. "Are you sure? The flu season has been nasty this year." "No I never get that one."
February 6, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Come on people. I have been busting my ass taking care of very sick people with flu, some of which end up in ICU on the ventilator. FFS
already, go get vaccinated.
already, go get vaccinated.
This will bring you joy.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 AM
This will bring you joy.
Reposted by Becky D
A beaver swimming through the reflections of marsh plants in a channel at the Addington-Pitt Marsh. It is carrying some building material in its mouth.
#mammals 🌿
#mammals 🌿
February 6, 2026 at 1:28 AM
A beaver swimming through the reflections of marsh plants in a channel at the Addington-Pitt Marsh. It is carrying some building material in its mouth.
#mammals 🌿
#mammals 🌿
Reposted by Becky D
Happening now in Silicon Valley: marchers have surrounded the Palantir building and are holding a prayer vigil for victims of ICE, while video of ICE and Palantir crimes is projected on the building. #abolishice #iceout #palantir #paloalto
February 6, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Happening now in Silicon Valley: marchers have surrounded the Palantir building and are holding a prayer vigil for victims of ICE, while video of ICE and Palantir crimes is projected on the building. #abolishice #iceout #palantir #paloalto
Reposted by Becky D
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
Reposted by Becky D
This is the Abrego Garcia case all over again. As soon as anyone becomes visible and gains significant public sympathy due to the government’s mistreatment of them, the Trump admin goes out of its way to attack that person and prosecute or deport them.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:55 AM
This is the Abrego Garcia case all over again. As soon as anyone becomes visible and gains significant public sympathy due to the government’s mistreatment of them, the Trump admin goes out of its way to attack that person and prosecute or deport them.