Dr. Katharine Dickson
@metaomicsnerd.bsky.social
Microbiome engineer and biomethane scientist by training; climate, agriculture, science, and biotech policy and politics wonk by calling. I 分かる some 日本語.
Bluesky’s first Anaerobic Fungi Guru.
Opinions my own. She/her. ☸️ (Jōdo Shinshū)
Bluesky’s first Anaerobic Fungi Guru.
Opinions my own. She/her. ☸️ (Jōdo Shinshū)
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
I sentence Sean Duffy to sit on a 15-hour flight in a full suit and dress shoes. He may not occupy any position in his seat other than upright, with his feet on the floor or legs crossed. He may not bend forward onto the tray table.
Sean Duffy: "Dressing with respect -- whether it's a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let's try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport."
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I sentence Sean Duffy to sit on a 15-hour flight in a full suit and dress shoes. He may not occupy any position in his seat other than upright, with his feet on the floor or legs crossed. He may not bend forward onto the tray table.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Then: How did {wildly silly and incompetent person} ever get appointed to {position of power}?
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
November 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Then: How did {wildly silly and incompetent person} ever get appointed to {position of power}?
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
Now, as I reach the age typical of people in {position of power}: Oh.
easiest strike support possible IMO, there are so many coffee shops. so many
Remember that striking Starbucks workers are asking you not to buy Starbucks right now
November 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
easiest strike support possible IMO, there are so many coffee shops. so many
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
in theory, this is what the "human terrain" project was. In practice, it sent people *without experience or knowledge of Afghan kinship structures* into Afghanistan.
My infantry Bn had a really hard time parsing the gender and sexuality issues of Southern Helmand.
When people say, "you wouldn't want a 'purple haired gender studies major' in the Marines" I reply "YES we desperately needed them!" We had teams of anthropologists who published studies for us.
When people say, "you wouldn't want a 'purple haired gender studies major' in the Marines" I reply "YES we desperately needed them!" We had teams of anthropologists who published studies for us.
November 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
in theory, this is what the "human terrain" project was. In practice, it sent people *without experience or knowledge of Afghan kinship structures* into Afghanistan.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
International tribunals have even held that a soldier must disobey an unlawful order even under threat of summary execution
bsky.app/profile/saba...
bsky.app/profile/saba...
Bosnian Croat commander of the Bosnian Serb Army Dražen Ersemović participated in the Srebenica Massacre after being told that he’d be summarily executed if he did not participate in the killings, and the Int’l Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia found duress mitigating but not exculpating
November 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
International tribunals have even held that a soldier must disobey an unlawful order even under threat of summary execution
bsky.app/profile/saba...
bsky.app/profile/saba...
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
For over 300 years now, it is a bedrock principle in Anglo-American constitutionalism that obedience is owed according only to law. Refusal to follow an illegal command is not only a moral choice but an absolute duty.
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
For over 300 years now, it is a bedrock principle in Anglo-American constitutionalism that obedience is owed according only to law. Refusal to follow an illegal command is not only a moral choice but an absolute duty.
Buddhistposting time:
IMO there’s a lot of space for a trauma-informed reading of Shinran’s development of Shin Buddhism.
The way he talks about jiriki, shinjin, akunin, and the Primal Vow seems to carry a subtext shaped by his own formative traumas, including being effectively orphaned by age 12
IMO there’s a lot of space for a trauma-informed reading of Shinran’s development of Shin Buddhism.
The way he talks about jiriki, shinjin, akunin, and the Primal Vow seems to carry a subtext shaped by his own formative traumas, including being effectively orphaned by age 12
November 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Buddhistposting time:
IMO there’s a lot of space for a trauma-informed reading of Shinran’s development of Shin Buddhism.
The way he talks about jiriki, shinjin, akunin, and the Primal Vow seems to carry a subtext shaped by his own formative traumas, including being effectively orphaned by age 12
IMO there’s a lot of space for a trauma-informed reading of Shinran’s development of Shin Buddhism.
The way he talks about jiriki, shinjin, akunin, and the Primal Vow seems to carry a subtext shaped by his own formative traumas, including being effectively orphaned by age 12
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Bearistotle ass reasoning
November 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Bearistotle ass reasoning
IMO we should make fun of men who are this insecure about their ability to control themselves a lot more often
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
IMO we should make fun of men who are this insecure about their ability to control themselves a lot more often
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
A lesson from history:
China was the most advanced nation on earth for millennia. Most advanced in sciences and medicine, metallurgy, agriculture, textiles, government, ceramics, printing, paper, magnetic compasses, gunpowder, etc. Then bad isolationist governance put it behind for centuries.
China was the most advanced nation on earth for millennia. Most advanced in sciences and medicine, metallurgy, agriculture, textiles, government, ceramics, printing, paper, magnetic compasses, gunpowder, etc. Then bad isolationist governance put it behind for centuries.
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A lesson from history:
China was the most advanced nation on earth for millennia. Most advanced in sciences and medicine, metallurgy, agriculture, textiles, government, ceramics, printing, paper, magnetic compasses, gunpowder, etc. Then bad isolationist governance put it behind for centuries.
China was the most advanced nation on earth for millennia. Most advanced in sciences and medicine, metallurgy, agriculture, textiles, government, ceramics, printing, paper, magnetic compasses, gunpowder, etc. Then bad isolationist governance put it behind for centuries.
my anxiety-ridden job search brain needs to turn off and stick to 40 hours a week, it is a Saturday night
November 23, 2025 at 4:32 AM
my anxiety-ridden job search brain needs to turn off and stick to 40 hours a week, it is a Saturday night
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
I think it is very unlikely that most of these are Russian influence agents, and considerably more likely that they are people from developing economies who have cottoned on to ways to make relatively large amounts of money for them by being paid-per-view by X.
This week we learned that many of the most active Twitter accounts are foreigners, most likely Russian influence agents, operating in the guise of Red State Americans.
November 23, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I think it is very unlikely that most of these are Russian influence agents, and considerably more likely that they are people from developing economies who have cottoned on to ways to make relatively large amounts of money for them by being paid-per-view by X.
science was an antidote to chaos
November 23, 2025 at 12:55 AM
science was an antidote to chaos
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
COP30 overpromised, underdelivered, empowered distractions, backtracked on issues and once again gave big oil and big ag a free pass.
Unfortunately, the suspicions of climate scientists (here in Brazil and abroad) were confirmed again.
Unfortunately, the suspicions of climate scientists (here in Brazil and abroad) were confirmed again.
November 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
COP30 overpromised, underdelivered, empowered distractions, backtracked on issues and once again gave big oil and big ag a free pass.
Unfortunately, the suspicions of climate scientists (here in Brazil and abroad) were confirmed again.
Unfortunately, the suspicions of climate scientists (here in Brazil and abroad) were confirmed again.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Welp - playing South Park Munchkin and this is the curse card I drew! 😂 cc @statsepi.bsky.social @deevybee.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Welp - playing South Park Munchkin and this is the curse card I drew! 😂 cc @statsepi.bsky.social @deevybee.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
I know this is rhetorical but my stab at a real answer: because they are trying to get funding from VC people who are ideologues like Peter Thiel and Thiel doesn’t want us to have libraries
Why is startup culture always “I am inventing a coffeeproof phone you can put in your coffee cup to keep it warm with cell radiation” and never “I’m inventing a new library wholesaler to replace the single company that is shutting down and sending libraries into crisis”
November 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I know this is rhetorical but my stab at a real answer: because they are trying to get funding from VC people who are ideologues like Peter Thiel and Thiel doesn’t want us to have libraries
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
A strange mishmash of influencers, anti-ageing entrepreneurs, Big Business leaders (Walmart, Google) and top govt officials gathered at the ritzy Waldorf Astoria in DC.
Notably absent were any academic researchers or clinicians. Instead, panelists criticized the medical establishment all day long.
Notably absent were any academic researchers or clinicians. Instead, panelists criticized the medical establishment all day long.
There's an exclusive, closed-to-media MAHA summit tomorrow. Here's the full agenda I was leaked
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A strange mishmash of influencers, anti-ageing entrepreneurs, Big Business leaders (Walmart, Google) and top govt officials gathered at the ritzy Waldorf Astoria in DC.
Notably absent were any academic researchers or clinicians. Instead, panelists criticized the medical establishment all day long.
Notably absent were any academic researchers or clinicians. Instead, panelists criticized the medical establishment all day long.
Siddhartha Gautama was probably one of history's most brilliant pedagogical experts, almost certainly the most brilliant *recorded* one, and I will die on this hill
November 22, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Siddhartha Gautama was probably one of history's most brilliant pedagogical experts, almost certainly the most brilliant *recorded* one, and I will die on this hill
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
This young man has it exactly right.
November 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
This young man has it exactly right.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“Embarrassing” and “horrifying”: CDC workers describe the new vaccines and autism page
"The best way I can put it is it feels like we're on a hijacked airplane."
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
evergreen: people with poor empathy for folks in outgroups being reeeeeeeally bad at reading their motives
OMG!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
November 21, 2025 at 11:06 PM
evergreen: people with poor empathy for folks in outgroups being reeeeeeeally bad at reading their motives
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Personnel is policy. There's a reason most civil servants sit for some sort of exam. Yes, examination and credentialing cause delays in hiring. But civil servants serve in a position of public trust and you want to make sure they are qualified. Otherwise you end up in *waves wildly at DHS*.
ESQUIRE: “ICE is hiring literally anybody, and it’s terrifying… people who flunk the exam, criminal records… yet they’re allowed to tear children from their beds at night.”
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
www.esquire.com/news-politic...
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Personnel is policy. There's a reason most civil servants sit for some sort of exam. Yes, examination and credentialing cause delays in hiring. But civil servants serve in a position of public trust and you want to make sure they are qualified. Otherwise you end up in *waves wildly at DHS*.
possibly one of the funniest right wing self-owns I have seen all morning
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
possibly one of the funniest right wing self-owns I have seen all morning