chasingmicrobes
@chasingmicrobes.bsky.social
All posting done on personal time, using personal device, and only reflect my personal opinions.
Was shocked Sunday to see a single potato cost $1
Inflation held steady in December with consumer prices rising 2.7% on the year.
Pace of Inflation Held Steady in December; CPI Up 2.7% on Year
Consumer prices rose 2.7% in December from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, unchanged from November.
on.wsj.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Was shocked Sunday to see a single potato cost $1
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
January 12, 2026 at 8:04 PM
semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
🧵
Multiyear funding q. Volkow confirms 50% time. Very concerned. Especially for younger investigators. Nothing about how NIDA Blew it off last year. Koob- dramatic cut to success rate. Mentions 36% hit but unclear on what he meant.
January 12, 2026 at 10:36 PM
🧵
Request for payment still sitting on DOGE's desk since last Thursday morning
1/2
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
January 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Request for payment still sitting on DOGE's desk since last Thursday morning
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
My quote of the day
I would like to be able to say that I was sorry, that I deeply regret my actions, and that I recognize the harm that I have caused. But I cannot do that. I cannot ask for forgiveness, because I do not believe that what I did was wrong.
Adolf Eichmann
I would like to be able to say that I was sorry, that I deeply regret my actions, and that I recognize the harm that I have caused. But I cannot do that. I cannot ask for forgiveness, because I do not believe that what I did was wrong.
Adolf Eichmann
January 12, 2026 at 11:02 AM
My quote of the day
I would like to be able to say that I was sorry, that I deeply regret my actions, and that I recognize the harm that I have caused. But I cannot do that. I cannot ask for forgiveness, because I do not believe that what I did was wrong.
Adolf Eichmann
I would like to be able to say that I was sorry, that I deeply regret my actions, and that I recognize the harm that I have caused. But I cannot do that. I cannot ask for forgiveness, because I do not believe that what I did was wrong.
Adolf Eichmann
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Every time someone gives in, it makes it that much easier for Trump & his goons to move on to the next target. It also normalizes the extortion. So good for Powell, and boo to those who have "made deals" in a misguided effort to move on (as though giving in will stop the bully). 2/2
January 12, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Every time someone gives in, it makes it that much easier for Trump & his goons to move on to the next target. It also normalizes the extortion. So good for Powell, and boo to those who have "made deals" in a misguided effort to move on (as though giving in will stop the bully). 2/2
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Good for Powell for using his voice to tell the American people what is going on, rather than cowering in the face of Trump's threats. THIS is why I have said from day one that no one -- and certainly no big institution -- should be caving in to Trump extortion. (Hi, universities & law firms!) 1/x
POWELL: “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Good for Powell for using his voice to tell the American people what is going on, rather than cowering in the face of Trump's threats. THIS is why I have said from day one that no one -- and certainly no big institution -- should be caving in to Trump extortion. (Hi, universities & law firms!) 1/x
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Here is the video message of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the Justice Department’s criminal investigation related to the Fed’s building renovations.
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Here is the video message of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding the Justice Department’s criminal investigation related to the Fed’s building renovations.
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
Watch it.
youtu.be/KckGHaBLSn4
1/2
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
January 10, 2026 at 12:33 PM
1/2
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
If you aren't dealing directly with the fed government you might not realize DOGE still exists.
And it's still making life unnecessarily difficult for small SBIR awardees like me.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Breaking News: The Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center after President Trump’s intervention upset artists and donors. The opera has performed there since 1971.
Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
The opera, which has performed at the arts center since 1971, was concerned by declines in attendance and donations during President Trump’s second term.
nyti.ms
January 9, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Breaking News: The Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center after President Trump’s intervention upset artists and donors. The opera has performed there since 1971.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Being shot in the face by the paramilitary secret police after dropping your kid off at school apparently is not a kitchen table issue.
Jeffries dodged when multiple reporter, myself included, ask about using appropriations to rein in ICE
January 9, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Being shot in the face by the paramilitary secret police after dropping your kid off at school apparently is not a kitchen table issue.
January 9, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Surely this isn't why HHS removed the alcohol consumption guidelines...
Alcohol Industry Panics as Healthier Habits Cut Sales | Think Global Health
Industry reps cite a "war on alcohol," but consumer attitudes suggest a cultural shift toward less drinking
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Surely this isn't why HHS removed the alcohol consumption guidelines...
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
I'll just let him talk:
"Asked... if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: 'Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me'"
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything”
"Asked... if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: 'Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me'"
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything”
January 8, 2026 at 10:43 PM
I'll just let him talk:
"Asked... if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: 'Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me'"
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything”
"Asked... if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: 'Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me'"
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything”
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Make America Gout Again.
My very limited take away from the new food "guidelines" is that we don't talk about gout enough.
January 8, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Make America Gout Again.
No words 😶
Gift article:
Gift article:
Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:20 PM
No words 😶
Gift article:
Gift article:
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Next up, ban oversight of medical schools in Texas?
Texas is now the first state in the U.S. to eliminate American Bar Association oversight of its law schools, ending the state's 42-year-long reliance on the national organization.
Texas becomes first state to end American Bar Association oversight of law schools
The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday finalized a tentative opinion issued in September that no longer requires soon-to-be lawyers to attend a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. The power to approve those law schools now rests with the state's highest civil court.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
January 8, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Next up, ban oversight of medical schools in Texas?
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Just a reminder
Every person on Bluesky should know:
* Every post on Bluesky is PUBLIC forever
* Every post on Bluesky is archived by ICE, NSA, and many other agencies
* Even if you delete a post, it’s already been captured
* Judges don’t care if you were “kidding” or being ironic
www.404media.co/the-200-site...
* Every post on Bluesky is PUBLIC forever
* Every post on Bluesky is archived by ICE, NSA, and many other agencies
* Even if you delete a post, it’s already been captured
* Judges don’t care if you were “kidding” or being ironic
www.404media.co/the-200-site...
January 7, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Just a reminder
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Working on scheduling a future scientific meeting and recommended that we not hold the meeting inside the United States of America because of potential risks to attendees from 1) detainment/immigration 2) depending upon the state, healthcare access 3) privacy concerns.
I never thought we'd be here.
I never thought we'd be here.
January 7, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Working on scheduling a future scientific meeting and recommended that we not hold the meeting inside the United States of America because of potential risks to attendees from 1) detainment/immigration 2) depending upon the state, healthcare access 3) privacy concerns.
I never thought we'd be here.
I never thought we'd be here.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
One of the obvious concerns about the administration's killing spree at sea was that if the US government would lawlessly kill people on the high seas just because the administration spuriously labeled them as "terrorists", it might do so elsewhere—including in the United States.
January 7, 2026 at 7:40 PM
One of the obvious concerns about the administration's killing spree at sea was that if the US government would lawlessly kill people on the high seas just because the administration spuriously labeled them as "terrorists", it might do so elsewhere—including in the United States.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Trump wants to withdraw America from:
- International Law Commission, and
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
... among many other entities.
- International Law Commission, and
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
... among many other entities.
January 8, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Trump wants to withdraw America from:
- International Law Commission, and
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
... among many other entities.
- International Law Commission, and
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
... among many other entities.
Reposted by chasingmicrobes
Oh look, the administration pulled out of the International Law Commission.
What you do when you are definitely a law respecting superpower.
What you do when you are definitely a law respecting superpower.
January 8, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Oh look, the administration pulled out of the International Law Commission.
What you do when you are definitely a law respecting superpower.
What you do when you are definitely a law respecting superpower.