Reposted by foxfirefey
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge's 16-yr-old son played tennis on the White House grounds w/o wearing socks. He got a blister and was dead from infection a week later.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
For a yr, I've been working on a series for The New Atlantis about the vast systems that underlie our lives. Our ancestors built them up over decades to fend off hunger, thirst, darkness and disease. But too few of us know about them—and they're all at risk. The conclusion is now available online:
Why We Are Better Off Than a Century Ago
Our ancestors built grand public systems to conquer hunger, thirst, darkness, and squalor. That progress can be lost if we forget it.
www.thenewatlantis.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge's 16-yr-old son played tennis on the White House grounds w/o wearing socks. He got a blister and was dead from infection a week later.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
This is unthinkable today—which is why I wrote this series. Cuz the systems that save us from this kind of fate are in urgent need of care.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Reposted by foxfirefey
You're like "oh I want to get into knitting"
But it's 2027. You know you're gonna have to hunt the wasteland for 6 months before you find the tiny enclave of knitters surrounded by the smoking ruins of their previous communities.
But it's 2027. You know you're gonna have to hunt the wasteland for 6 months before you find the tiny enclave of knitters surrounded by the smoking ruins of their previous communities.
January 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
You're like "oh I want to get into knitting"
But it's 2027. You know you're gonna have to hunt the wasteland for 6 months before you find the tiny enclave of knitters surrounded by the smoking ruins of their previous communities.
But it's 2027. You know you're gonna have to hunt the wasteland for 6 months before you find the tiny enclave of knitters surrounded by the smoking ruins of their previous communities.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Pretty soon, *every* community is going to need to start adopting a weird cultish "inner levels" kind of thing, honeypots within honeypots, in order to filter out the zombie horde of genAI fuckwits.
January 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Pretty soon, *every* community is going to need to start adopting a weird cultish "inner levels" kind of thing, honeypots within honeypots, in order to filter out the zombie horde of genAI fuckwits.
Reposted by foxfirefey
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Reposted by foxfirefey
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by foxfirefey
Do you live in South King County? Do you have a passion for conservation and a drive for public service? King Conservation District has a Board of Supervisors vacancy in Position 2, and is accepting applications until December 3. For more information and to apply: kingcd.org/kcd-board-po...
KCD Board Position No. 2 Vacancy : King Conservation District
KCD Board Supervisor Position No. 2 is currently vacant. This vacancy will be filled by the KCD Board of Supervisors … Continued
kingcd.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Do you live in South King County? Do you have a passion for conservation and a drive for public service? King Conservation District has a Board of Supervisors vacancy in Position 2, and is accepting applications until December 3. For more information and to apply: kingcd.org/kcd-board-po...
Reposted by foxfirefey
Hello gays and theys, the end of the year approach-eth, so you know what that means:
The second half of 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
Organized by month again, because that seemed to work pretty well last time!
The second half of 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
Organized by month again, because that seemed to work pretty well last time!
Hello queers and fears, it's almost Pride Month and I've got a gift for you:
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
the first six months of the 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
I'm organizing this by month so click on through!
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Hello gays and theys, the end of the year approach-eth, so you know what that means:
The second half of 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
Organized by month again, because that seemed to work pretty well last time!
The second half of 🏳️🌈2025 Queer Adult SFF List! 🏳️🌈
Organized by month again, because that seemed to work pretty well last time!
Reposted by foxfirefey
This is the end of a longish but very interesting thread and pairs a bit with what I wrote about today re: uncertainty that we will actually never be able to conquer. I think that predictability is what people are after. That and COMMUNITY [yes, there's that word again but I am right, lol].
Anyway, this turned into a ramble, but the whole point is that I think a lot of the discontent currently expressed in economic terms is only expressed that way because those are the only terms available. Taking it too literally & responding technocratically is a mistake. Deeper shit is afoot. </fin>
November 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This is the end of a longish but very interesting thread and pairs a bit with what I wrote about today re: uncertainty that we will actually never be able to conquer. I think that predictability is what people are after. That and COMMUNITY [yes, there's that word again but I am right, lol].
Reposted by foxfirefey
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
Reposted by foxfirefey
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Some outlets are reporting that DOGE "doesn't exist" anymore. But the fine print on that overturns the whole story: DOGE is just dropping its tarnished brand, not the chainsaw. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Some outlets are reporting that DOGE "doesn't exist" anymore. But the fine print on that overturns the whole story: DOGE is just dropping its tarnished brand, not the chainsaw. 🧵
Reposted by foxfirefey
Thinking of the Helmand Culture woman from Shahr-e Sukhteh in Iran with the sick ass golden artificial eye again.
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Thinking of the Helmand Culture woman from Shahr-e Sukhteh in Iran with the sick ass golden artificial eye again.
Reposted by foxfirefey
I’m just thinking of this because I’m watching football while not paying anybody a penny: Do Americans know that you can (still!) watch HD digital broadcasts of all the major networks over the air, for free, complete with programming guide data, just by hooking up an antenna to your TV?
November 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I’m just thinking of this because I’m watching football while not paying anybody a penny: Do Americans know that you can (still!) watch HD digital broadcasts of all the major networks over the air, for free, complete with programming guide data, just by hooking up an antenna to your TV?
Reposted by foxfirefey
It's time for everyone's favorite chronologically unanchored holiday, The Story of the Lizard in the Leg.
Because people keep asking, the Story of The Lizard In That Dude's Leg. Some caveats:
1. This happened more than twenty years ago. There are no pictures. There was a small article in a local paper with, again, no pictures (I'm assuming that's what the producers of 9-1-1: LONE STAR found).
1. This happened more than twenty years ago. There are no pictures. There was a small article in a local paper with, again, no pictures (I'm assuming that's what the producers of 9-1-1: LONE STAR found).
November 23, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It's time for everyone's favorite chronologically unanchored holiday, The Story of the Lizard in the Leg.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Really don't give a flying fuck about Catholicism, but like any academic I kind of care about what really happened.
Women in European academia before 1800—religion, marriage, and human capital, by David de la Croix and Mara Vitale
doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
Women in European academia before 1800—religion, marriage, and human capital, by David de la Croix and Mara Vitale
doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
November 23, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Really don't give a flying fuck about Catholicism, but like any academic I kind of care about what really happened.
Women in European academia before 1800—religion, marriage, and human capital, by David de la Croix and Mara Vitale
doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
Women in European academia before 1800—religion, marriage, and human capital, by David de la Croix and Mara Vitale
doi.org/10.1093/ereh...
Reposted by foxfirefey
Remember last year when we said we would drop The Tribune's paywall if we raised enough money to support the transition to free? About that… 😁
The Salt Lake Tribune will drop its paywall next year, CEO tells donors at NewsMakers gala
After years of requiring people to pay for online news content, The Tribune announced an upcoming change during its 2025 annual NewsMakers Gala.
www.sltrib.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Remember last year when we said we would drop The Tribune's paywall if we raised enough money to support the transition to free? About that… 😁
Reposted by foxfirefey
Hello from a Frog Hopper and a spittle nest I found along the Napo River in Ecuador. All that foam is how the nymph frog hopper keeps itself safe from harm. I love this photo because if you look at the largest bubble you can see the nymph living in there(!!). Tiny little worlds everywhere
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Hello from a Frog Hopper and a spittle nest I found along the Napo River in Ecuador. All that foam is how the nymph frog hopper keeps itself safe from harm. I love this photo because if you look at the largest bubble you can see the nymph living in there(!!). Tiny little worlds everywhere
Reposted by foxfirefey
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Reposted by foxfirefey
this just shows how the Western family unit has completely broken down because in Asia we all have uncles to fulfill this function in our lives
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
this just shows how the Western family unit has completely broken down because in Asia we all have uncles to fulfill this function in our lives
Reposted by foxfirefey
The Socratic agony of reading something so offensively wrong you start reorganizing your day around arguing against it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Socratic agony of reading something so offensively wrong you start reorganizing your day around arguing against it.
Reposted by foxfirefey
we have fallen so far behind China in sick-ass water slides and I feel like nobody is talking about this
INSANE! 2-MILE GLASS Water Slide Ride Down the Mountain! | Longest Glass Water Slide in the World!
YouTube video by Attractions 360°
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 2:21 AM
we have fallen so far behind China in sick-ass water slides and I feel like nobody is talking about this
Reposted by foxfirefey
So it turns out submarine vs submarine combat is as science fiction as spacecraft vs spacecraft combat.
November 23, 2025 at 12:04 AM
So it turns out submarine vs submarine combat is as science fiction as spacecraft vs spacecraft combat.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Timeline cleanse: welcoming fall chum salmon home to Piper’s Creek in Seattle, WA.
November 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Timeline cleanse: welcoming fall chum salmon home to Piper’s Creek in Seattle, WA.
Reposted by foxfirefey
Thread but also just don't tell Paypal anything. No "what is this for" you both know what it's for. If you send a friend some money for dinner or something and you say "for friday night", even odds they get banned as a sex worker.
PayPal has rolled out a new "feature" that prompts you to leave feedback about an artist that you've commissioned via invoice.
Whatever you do, DO NOT fill this out! To quote Admiral Ackbar, "IT'S A TRAP!!!" It is meant to misguide you.
(continue...)
Whatever you do, DO NOT fill this out! To quote Admiral Ackbar, "IT'S A TRAP!!!" It is meant to misguide you.
(continue...)
November 22, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Thread but also just don't tell Paypal anything. No "what is this for" you both know what it's for. If you send a friend some money for dinner or something and you say "for friday night", even odds they get banned as a sex worker.