Karen James
@kejames.bsky.social
Environmental geneticist & outdoorswoman into eDNA, botany, evolution, space, sci-comm, skiing, Outlander & kindness • auntie • cat mom • she/her
“I would teach my feet to fly”
Banner art by @[email protected]
📍Unceded Wabanaki land (aka Maine)
“I would teach my feet to fly”
Banner art by @[email protected]
📍Unceded Wabanaki land (aka Maine)
Pinned
Karen James
@kejames.bsky.social
· Jan 8
Here’s me ice skating into the sunset on New Years Day, in hopes it might help someone out there relax or get to sleep. Hang in there, friends.
How is “Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat,” even remotely controversial? I smell a rat.
⚡️'Remembrance is not a violation' — third Ukrainian athlete barred from wearing helmet at Olympics.
Short track speed skater Oleh Handei said his helmet bore a line from Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko: "Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat."
Short track speed skater Oleh Handei said his helmet bore a line from Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko: "Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat."
'Remembrance is not a violation' — third Ukrainian athlete barred from wearing helmet at Olympics
Short track speed skater Oleh Handei said his helmet bore a line from Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko: "Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat." It was banned from the Olympics on the grounds o...
kyivindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:04 AM
How is “Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat,” even remotely controversial? I smell a rat.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… unless the Dow is doing well. Then whatevs.
Bondi crashes out over Epstein: "The Dow is over 50,000 dollars! I don't know why you're laughing. You're a great stock trader as I hear, Raskin. The Dow is over 50,000 right now. The S&P at almost 7,000, and the Nasdaq smashing records. That's what we should be talking about."
February 11, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… unless the Dow is doing well. Then whatevs.
Reposted by Karen James
Unsurprisingly, Trump's immigration crackdown is still not delivering labor market improvements for the US-born
Over the last year, native-born unemployment is up from 4.3% to 4.7% while native-born employment has decreased
Over the last year, native-born unemployment is up from 4.3% to 4.7% while native-born employment has decreased
February 11, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Unsurprisingly, Trump's immigration crackdown is still not delivering labor market improvements for the US-born
Over the last year, native-born unemployment is up from 4.3% to 4.7% while native-born employment has decreased
Over the last year, native-born unemployment is up from 4.3% to 4.7% while native-born employment has decreased
Reposted by Karen James
🚨 H.R. 261 would remove oversight and risk harm to our National Marine Sanctuaries. Don't let Big Tech undermine our marine protected areas. Call your Rep today: Say NO to H.R. 261! 🐚🐋
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov
February 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
🚨 H.R. 261 would remove oversight and risk harm to our National Marine Sanctuaries. Don't let Big Tech undermine our marine protected areas. Call your Rep today: Say NO to H.R. 261! 🐚🐋
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Reposted by Karen James
Reposted by Karen James
The Taken
Inside the ICE Detention Pipeline for US Citizens and Residents from Minnesota to Texas
By @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and Sophia Khoroushi
www.justsecurity.org/131101/ice-m...
Inside the ICE Detention Pipeline for US Citizens and Residents from Minnesota to Texas
By @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and Sophia Khoroushi
www.justsecurity.org/131101/ice-m...
The Taken: Inside the ICE Detention Pipeline for US Citizens and Residents From Minnesota to Texas
We document these patterns through the use of sworn declarations and court filings.
www.justsecurity.org
February 11, 2026 at 1:44 PM
The Taken
Inside the ICE Detention Pipeline for US Citizens and Residents from Minnesota to Texas
By @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and Sophia Khoroushi
www.justsecurity.org/131101/ice-m...
Inside the ICE Detention Pipeline for US Citizens and Residents from Minnesota to Texas
By @rgoodlaw.bsky.social and Sophia Khoroushi
www.justsecurity.org/131101/ice-m...
Reposted by Karen James
we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad
Shout-out to the Olympic athletes speaking out for our constitutional rights & multicultural society. Hunter Hess, yes, but also Rich Ruohonen (curler), Chris Lillis (freeskier), Amber Glenn (figure skater), Chloe Kim (snowboarder), Jessie Diggins (XC skier).
Who am I missing? Let’s make a thread!
Who am I missing? Let’s make a thread!
February 11, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Shout-out to the Olympic athletes speaking out for our constitutional rights & multicultural society. Hunter Hess, yes, but also Rich Ruohonen (curler), Chris Lillis (freeskier), Amber Glenn (figure skater), Chloe Kim (snowboarder), Jessie Diggins (XC skier).
Who am I missing? Let’s make a thread!
Who am I missing? Let’s make a thread!
Shout-out to all the retirees out there attending daily/weekly protests along roadsides, on bridges, etc., often in the bitter cold. We have several groups on our small island, population <10,000.
elvis presley is dancing in a black and white photo with a group of men playing drums and guitars .
Alt: elvis presley is dancing in a black and white photo with a group of men playing drums and guitars, with the words “thank you” at the bottom
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Shout-out to all the retirees out there attending daily/weekly protests along roadsides, on bridges, etc., often in the bitter cold. We have several groups on our small island, population <10,000.
Reposted by Karen James
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
February 8, 2026 at 5:07 PM
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
Good work by the BDN, and a good reminder to support your local newspapers if you can:
February 9, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Good work by the BDN, and a good reminder to support your local newspapers if you can:
Good work by the BDN. Reminder: support your local papers if you can!
The BDN obtained and reviewed more than a thousand pages of federal court documents filed throughout New England, conducted interviews, attended court hearings and more. www.bangordailynews.com/2026/02/09/m...
ICE said it was arresting ‘the worst of the worst’ in Maine. We only found a few criminals.
The BDN used court records and other sources to identify 67 of roughly 200 people arrested in Maine during last month's surge.
www.bangordailynews.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Good work by the BDN. Reminder: support your local papers if you can!
Reposted by Karen James
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here’s one more Women’s Downhill take for good measure. It’s similar to the other two I posted just now but emphasizes a key point those didn’t.
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Our opinion page published a guest piece on Lindsey Vonn that was misogynistic trash. I had thoughts.
Your Lindsey Vonn advice is misogynistic trash. Keep it to yourself
A recent opinion piece about Lindsey Vonn was ill-informed, condescending and misogynistic. Here's why.
www.usatoday.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:44 PM
And here’s one more Women’s Downhill take for good measure. It’s similar to the other two I posted just now but emphasizes a key point those didn’t.
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This is THE thread about Lindsey Vonn, for me.
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(pile of ellipses in case some folks are still hoping to watch the race on replay and have somehow managed to avoid spoilers)
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(pile of ellipses in case some folks are still hoping to watch the race on replay and have somehow managed to avoid spoilers)
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Lindsey Vonn did not crash because of her ACL.
I got up early this morning to watch the women's downhill event at the Olympics. I watched the whole event, from the pre-show to Team USA's Breezy Johnson posting the gold-winning time to Lindsey Vonn being medevaced off the mountain.
(thread)
I got up early this morning to watch the women's downhill event at the Olympics. I watched the whole event, from the pre-show to Team USA's Breezy Johnson posting the gold-winning time to Lindsey Vonn being medevaced off the mountain.
(thread)
February 9, 2026 at 12:31 PM
This is THE thread about Lindsey Vonn, for me.
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(pile of ellipses in case some folks are still hoping to watch the race on replay and have somehow managed to avoid spoilers)
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(pile of ellipses in case some folks are still hoping to watch the race on replay and have somehow managed to avoid spoilers)
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Hoping 24 hours is an appropriate amount of time to give folks to watch the replay of the women’s Downhill before posting about it on here, but I’ll still do the stack-of–ellipses thing just in case.
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If you can't understand why Lindsey Vonn opted into the danger, you'll never understand what makes Lindsey Vonn great to begin with.
Column for CBS Sports:
Column for CBS Sports:
Lindsey Vonn crash at 2026 Winter Olympics exemplifies what makes her a legend
Lindsey Vonn's crash a the 2026 Winter Olympics likely marks the end of an iconic skiing career
www.cbssports.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Hoping 24 hours is an appropriate amount of time to give folks to watch the replay of the women’s Downhill before posting about it on here, but I’ll still do the stack-of–ellipses thing just in case.
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Super Bowl Sunday is always the very best day of the year to ski, especially if you’re in the fan zone of one of the two teams.
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Super Bowl Sunday is always the very best day of the year to ski, especially if you’re in the fan zone of one of the two teams.
Reposted by Karen James
You guys, I think we’ve reached peak pom pom.
February 8, 2026 at 2:17 AM
You guys, I think we’ve reached peak pom pom.
Watching the Olympic men’s downhill and it is creepy in the extreme that they put a heart rate monitor on the *WIFE* of one of the racers, I guess to show how nervous/terrified she is? WTF. Not sure if it’s a Milano Cortina thing or an @nbcolympics.bsky.social thing but jesus.
February 7, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Watching the Olympic men’s downhill and it is creepy in the extreme that they put a heart rate monitor on the *WIFE* of one of the racers, I guess to show how nervous/terrified she is? WTF. Not sure if it’s a Milano Cortina thing or an @nbcolympics.bsky.social thing but jesus.
Reposted by Karen James
Thanks so much to the folks at University of Maine for a fantastic visit! And special shout-out to @jacquelyngill.bsky.social and @kejames.bsky.social, who were some of the very first people I followed on SciTwitter back in the day and I finally got to meet in person!
February 7, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Thanks so much to the folks at University of Maine for a fantastic visit! And special shout-out to @jacquelyngill.bsky.social and @kejames.bsky.social, who were some of the very first people I followed on SciTwitter back in the day and I finally got to meet in person!
This year more than ever I think I may have to VPN my Olympics coverage from another country. The breathless, unexamined American nationalism is just… 🤢
All love to the athletes and the Olympic ideals of peace and togetherness, though. That’s what I’m here for.
All love to the athletes and the Olympic ideals of peace and togetherness, though. That’s what I’m here for.
February 7, 2026 at 12:19 PM
This year more than ever I think I may have to VPN my Olympics coverage from another country. The breathless, unexamined American nationalism is just… 🤢
All love to the athletes and the Olympic ideals of peace and togetherness, though. That’s what I’m here for.
All love to the athletes and the Olympic ideals of peace and togetherness, though. That’s what I’m here for.
When astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti appeared in the Opening Ceremony
a woman is crying with her eyes closed and her mouth wide open .
Alt: a woman is crying with her eyes closed and her mouth wide open .
media.tenor.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:53 AM
When astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti appeared in the Opening Ceremony
Reposted by Karen James
We have to re-embrace (?), talk about again, whatever, the concept of no one's ideas are truly so brilliant that they can't be left behind. There will always be someone there to replace it. We need to stop teaching / supporting these men's research, ideas, etc and find replacements. It CAN be done.
Back in 2013, on ye olde bird site, I curated a hashtag, #ripplesofdoubt. It was about *exactly* the kind of self-doubt @karenho.bsky.social is talking about in the post quoted below.
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...
February 6, 2026 at 3:22 AM
We have to re-embrace (?), talk about again, whatever, the concept of no one's ideas are truly so brilliant that they can't be left behind. There will always be someone there to replace it. We need to stop teaching / supporting these men's research, ideas, etc and find replacements. It CAN be done.
Back in 2013, on ye olde bird site, I curated a hashtag, #ripplesofdoubt. It was about *exactly* the kind of self-doubt @karenho.bsky.social is talking about in the post quoted below.
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...
February 6, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Back in 2013, on ye olde bird site, I curated a hashtag, #ripplesofdoubt. It was about *exactly* the kind of self-doubt @karenho.bsky.social is talking about in the post quoted below.
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...
Here's the wayback machine archive of the @chronicle.com article I wrote about it: web.archive.org/web/20150905...