Dr. Catherine Wilka
@cawilka.bsky.social
Climate change, collective action, crafts, and cats. Trying to be on this app more these days. she/her
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The ACA isn't just "health care for people who don't have a conventional employer." It also disallows something that was incredibly common 20 years ago, which I fear is getting lost to generational memory: insurance companies could deny you health care for essentially any previous health problem.
I'm dubious about Amazon's commitment to keeping pre-existing conditions a thing of the past.
December 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The ACA isn't just "health care for people who don't have a conventional employer." It also disallows something that was incredibly common 20 years ago, which I fear is getting lost to generational memory: insurance companies could deny you health care for essentially any previous health problem.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Yet another example of what happens if we allow LLMs to become a form of epistemic grounding for society.
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
December 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Yet another example of what happens if we allow LLMs to become a form of epistemic grounding for society.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
"ICE and CBP must be abolished" is the only reasonable position. We can debate the specifics of new agencies for immigration functions, but these agencies are simply too infected with a culture of impunity, racism, and fascism to continue. They're gangs with badges.
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"ICE and CBP must be abolished" is the only reasonable position. We can debate the specifics of new agencies for immigration functions, but these agencies are simply too infected with a culture of impunity, racism, and fascism to continue. They're gangs with badges.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The thing you need to understand about the Right is that they are absolutely fine just plain burning down higher education if taking it over ideologically doesn’t work. They’re perfectly happy reducing it to ashes.
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 14, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The thing you need to understand about the Right is that they are absolutely fine just plain burning down higher education if taking it over ideologically doesn’t work. They’re perfectly happy reducing it to ashes.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
AS A PROFESSOR, I AM ASKING
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
Longer statement from Brown University:
"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
"We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals."
December 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
AS A PROFESSOR, I AM ASKING
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
HOW ARE OUR STUDENTS SUPPOSED TO LEARN IN THESE CONDITIONS?
HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE EXAMS KNOWING SOMEONE MIGHT JUST SHOW UP WITH AN EASY TO ACQUIRE AUTOMATIC WEAPON?
HOW??????????
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Brits are dying in a hunger strike for Palestine
Tomorrow's front page 📰
'The UK is letting these people die'
'The UK is letting these people die'
December 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Brits are dying in a hunger strike for Palestine
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Keeping the servers cool in space is enough to make this a bad idea, and that's not even the hardest part.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
December 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Keeping the servers cool in space is enough to make this a bad idea, and that's not even the hardest part.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
War profiteers still profiteering. Corrupt congress is in on the scam.
The idea was that no service member would ever be left waiting on a contractor to fly in from Norway to repair a simple part — which once happened.
Congress Quietly Kills Military “Right to Repair,” Allowing Corporations to Cash In on Fixing Broken Products
Both chambers included Pentagon budget provisions for a right to repair, but they died after defense industry meetings on Capitol Hill.
theintercept.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
War profiteers still profiteering. Corrupt congress is in on the scam.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I've seen this idea floated around and it's so fundamentally wrong that any professional suggesting it can be dismissed out of hand on anything they say.
Just because it's being passed around a lot: NO, data centers in space do NOT benefit from space being cold. Space is cold in the formal sense we use to define temperature. But it is very bad at cooling. What would you rather have to cool hot metal: a lukewarm water tub or a giant cold atmosphere?
December 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I've seen this idea floated around and it's so fundamentally wrong that any professional suggesting it can be dismissed out of hand on anything they say.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The right’s preferred gender ideology—one of male supremacy, women’s exclusion from dignity, citizenship, and vast spheres of public life, and an enforced heterosexuality of eroticized domination—is much more prescriptive, aggressive, and ubiquitously pushed than anything coming from trans people.
Conservatives have their own "gender ideology" they are pushing constantly, and it's one that's built on coercion and treating women like property.
December 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The right’s preferred gender ideology—one of male supremacy, women’s exclusion from dignity, citizenship, and vast spheres of public life, and an enforced heterosexuality of eroticized domination—is much more prescriptive, aggressive, and ubiquitously pushed than anything coming from trans people.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
This flood event will also extend into NW Oregon and SW British Columbia, though WA will likely be worst-hit. Major impacts and significant inundation/damage is possible, as are significant landslides. Additional warm rain on horizon through late Dec. #WAwx #BCstorm #ORwx [3/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
On Wednesday, widespread heavy rain & very high snow levels (7,000-9,000 feet) will cause enormous runoff into already swollen rivers. Widespread moderate to major flood is likely, with some rivers expected to experience *record* flooding (esp. Skagit & Snohomish). #WAwx [2/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
On Wednesday, widespread heavy rain & very high snow levels (7,000-9,000 feet) will cause enormous runoff into already swollen rivers. Widespread moderate to major flood is likely, with some rivers expected to experience *record* flooding (esp. Skagit & Snohomish). #WAwx [2/3]
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Widespread significant river flooding has already developed across western Washington as a series of extremely warm & moist #AtmosphericRivers move slowly across the region. This flooding will further worsen tomorrow as strongest part of AR moves ashore. #WAwx [1/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Widespread significant river flooding has already developed across western Washington as a series of extremely warm & moist #AtmosphericRivers move slowly across the region. This flooding will further worsen tomorrow as strongest part of AR moves ashore. #WAwx [1/3]
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Exactly.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
December 8, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Exactly.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I think it’s ok to admit that the Nazis borrowed from US white supremacy and current US white supremacy is borrowing from their innovations and previous US white supremacy
Both can be true at once
Both can be true at once
December 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I think it’s ok to admit that the Nazis borrowed from US white supremacy and current US white supremacy is borrowing from their innovations and previous US white supremacy
Both can be true at once
Both can be true at once
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I think one of the reasons the Nazi takeover of Germany is a helpful parallel for what’s happening in academia specifically is that unlike the Jim Crow US where integration hadn’t happened (not even during reconstruction), Jews were integrated into the German academy and had to be forced out
Also
Also
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I think one of the reasons the Nazi takeover of Germany is a helpful parallel for what’s happening in academia specifically is that unlike the Jim Crow US where integration hadn’t happened (not even during reconstruction), Jews were integrated into the German academy and had to be forced out
Also
Also
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Utility company Southern California Gas is using ratepayer funds to incentivize Los Angeles wildfire survivors to rebuild their homes with gas appliances. And the California Public Utilities Commissions is letting it happen. insideclimatenews.org/news/0312202... via @hilarybeaumont.bsky.social
LA Wildfire Survivors Want to Rebuild All-Electric, but a Utility Is Using Customer Funds to Incentivize Gas Appliances - Inside Climate News
California’s utility regulator said it would eliminate ratepayer-funded incentives for gas appliances in new construction, but created an exception that allows rebates for them in wildfire rebuilds.
insideclimatenews.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Utility company Southern California Gas is using ratepayer funds to incentivize Los Angeles wildfire survivors to rebuild their homes with gas appliances. And the California Public Utilities Commissions is letting it happen. insideclimatenews.org/news/0312202... via @hilarybeaumont.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
It proposes the idea that a person's only value is their ability to contribute to a society, and that everyone else is disposable. It's a fascist idea at its very core.
Eugenics isn't bad because it's a bad word. It's bad because it leads to the mass death of the socially undesirable.
December 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
It proposes the idea that a person's only value is their ability to contribute to a society, and that everyone else is disposable. It's a fascist idea at its very core.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The end of coal in California ⬇️
Something to be thankful for!
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
December 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The end of coal in California ⬇️
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
In the running for "Overreaction of the Year Award," CEO Brian Niccol has barricaded his office to avoid striking baristas getting anywhere near him.
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
In the running for "Overreaction of the Year Award," CEO Brian Niccol has barricaded his office to avoid striking baristas getting anywhere near him.
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Agribusiness responsible for criminal deforestation in Brazil got badges, a space in the Blue Zone, in partnership with a Brazilian govt agency. They even did a barbecue there.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
November 22, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Agribusiness responsible for criminal deforestation in Brazil got badges, a space in the Blue Zone, in partnership with a Brazilian govt agency. They even did a barbecue there.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.