Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 5h

No!

Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 5h

I went to a talk at our local art gallery about how the Met is researching and talking put item provenance. Which isn't my thing, but a friend wanted to go. One thing did stick with me, when the speaker said that some museums use ethnography like people are in a zoo.

And now I need to sit with it

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 9h

I should have eaten a mint before putting on my mask, the garlic in dinner is definitely still hanging around

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 9h

I'm at our local art gallery for a talk and I just saw a landscape that looks how Eric Copeland sounds. Which, I don't think I've ever experienced that before.

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Reposted by Chelsea

Django Wexler @djangowexler.bsky.social · 12h

My boss: so how's our fourth quarter looking?

Me, the sales manager at the company that makes inflatable frog suits: well, you're never going to believe this, but

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Seth Kahn (he/him) @badpacifist.bsky.social · 10h

Jeebus, I didn't even think about this. Not only is that lawless thug trying to destroy their lives, but they can't even find out directly that it's happening. And Vought probably thinks that's hilarious.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 10h

Vought promised to put federal employees “in trauma” - consider this, HHS employees are reading in the news about layoffs but most are not allowed to check their emails to see if they are affected because of the shutdown.

Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 13h

Unknown layoffs are happening at HHS. Unknown in terms of who and which agencies.

www.statnews.com/2025/10/10/h...

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CZEdwards @czedwards.bsky.social · 10h

Dear men:

If you know someone doing this? First, stuff him in a locker, give him a swirlie, and pants him, then take him to the closest Gambler’s Anonymous meeting. Because this is peurile, needs to be shamed, and indicates a severe problem with gambling.

Men Found Another Disgusting Way to Bet on WNBA Games

Over the summer, men bet on whether someone would throw a dildo onto a WNBA court. Wired has since found they're gambling on something much worse.

www.jezebel.com

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 10h

My purple is fading to blue which, at first, was annoying but now I tell like a pastel fairy princess. Your blue and purple are amazing!

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 10h

My FB feed is, for whatever reason, full of one-page book excerpts and over the past few weeks they've switched mostly to romance-based erotica but with crossed-out words. It's... Certainly something to see that just in a feed

I should say: my FB feed is mostly useless and yet I occasionally scroll

Reposted by Chelsea

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 11h

HELLO—I'll have a newsletter out in a sec, with some info from inside agencies as the RIFs start rolling.

I am starting to accept paid subscriptions—today's post will be free but some will be paid-only soon, and if you have enjoyed my writing I would HUGELY appreciate if if you would subscribe.

Gravity Is Gone

Independent reporting and commentary on science, politics, and policy

www.gravityisgone.com

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K. Chen @tznkai.bsky.social · 14h

It's a huge part of your total compensation. Just enormous.

Charles Ghoul-ba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 14h

The reason people THINK employer coverage is significantly less expensive than ACA coverage is because around 75% of the premium cost is typically PAID BY THE EMPLOYER.

ACA tax credits effectively take the place of the employer's share of ESI premiums.

KFF.org: Avg. annual worker & employer premium contributions

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NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · May 15

that thing where your parents blame you for something that functionally cannot be your fault

Dinosaur (seeing a comet): Terry! Quick!
Make a wish.

Second dinosaur: I wish for a thousand wishes.
(Lots of comets rain down)

First dinosaur: TERRY WHAT
THE HELL?!

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Reposted by Chelsea

Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 17h

A master class from MIT in responding to authoritarian overreach:

Your “premise … is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
… America’s leadership in science & innovation depends on independent thinking & open competition for excellence.

Dear Madam Secretary,
I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters.
I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education.
As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges.
We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples:
• MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions.
• MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%.

source:
https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/regarding-compact

• We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree.
These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law.
The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.
As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation.
Sincerely,
Sally Kornbluth

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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 2d

Friends, please join me in welcoming the Manta Trust to Bluesky! They’ve left Twitter and are setting up shop here.

🧪🌎🦑🦈 #SciComm

Manta Trust @mantatrust.bsky.social · 2d

Some of our ocean’s most iconic species are vanishing — whale sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, manta and devil rays.

Join us in calling for action. Sign the petition today: only.one/act/cites-2025

#CITESCoP20 #SaveTheMantas

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 18h

And my blood pressure has dropped significantly. I might ask for it to be re-done because it hasn't ever been that low...

Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 18h

that's the plan for tomorrow!

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 19h

also, today I have my follow-up appointment about being on metformin. The bloodwork looks good, I haven't had GI issues with it, so here's to hoping I can stay on it (or increase the dosage).

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 19h

I got feedback on my dissertation proposal draft, yaaaay

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Chelsea @chelseamdo.bsky.social · 20h

Monday we had the AC running, Wednesday we turned on the heat, last night I got out the quilt to go over my regular comforter.

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Ghostly Bree @mostlybree.kitrocha.com · 1d

the quotes proving once again that bluesky dot com is where the neurodivergents with procrastination issues hang out

Dane 🔜 NYCC AA L-34 @monkeyminion.com · 2d

I wrote a 15 page report on heraldic symbolism in medieval armor and weapon design for my art history class the night before it was due (8am class). Made up 90% of it (only found one book for reference) and got an A. GenAI could fucking never.