Mike Westphal
@mfwestphal.bsky.social
Biologist, writer, father of three, anti-fascist. he/him
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Westphal/publications
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Westphal/publications
Reposted by Mike Westphal
HAPPY THERIZGIVNG DAY!!!
November 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
HAPPY THERIZGIVNG DAY!!!
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I can't believe we've completed 7 years of this glorious pod. It's been amazing to share our opinions with all of you!! @charliejane.bsky.social and I are slowly dreaming up our next project, which we will share with you sometime in 2026!!! For now, farewell and thanks for all the fish.
It's our last episode! We're so grateful to everyone who's listened to us for the past 7 years.
We're using this occasion to talk about the state of science fiction and fantasy in the 21st century — and what has shaped the stories we've loved.
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes/20...
We're using this occasion to talk about the state of science fiction and fantasy in the 21st century — and what has shaped the stories we've loved.
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes/20...
November 27, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I can't believe we've completed 7 years of this glorious pod. It's been amazing to share our opinions with all of you!! @charliejane.bsky.social and I are slowly dreaming up our next project, which we will share with you sometime in 2026!!! For now, farewell and thanks for all the fish.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Nice!
Today's menu: Salmon, potatoes au gratin, macaroni & cheese, cranberry sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, scalloped oysters, spoon bread. A nice Vacherin to conclude.
November 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Nice!
It’s just the best. And, the 1953 centennial edition is an amazing example of early Edward Gorey when he was just coming into his own at Doubleday, before he went full whimsical. Good luck finding a copy with a decent dust jacket.
One of my favorite books! With Alt Text added. Broken into in two parts.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
It’s just the best. And, the 1953 centennial edition is an amazing example of early Edward Gorey when he was just coming into his own at Doubleday, before he went full whimsical. Good luck finding a copy with a decent dust jacket.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Darwin’s dry humor, Exhibit B:
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Darwin’s dry humor, Exhibit B:
And, Darwin’s humor was dry as hell. Exhibit A:
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 AM
And, Darwin’s humor was dry as hell. Exhibit A:
Great poster, Lange is great (so was Turner), but I hate that the filmmakers made those actors be blonde. When kid me read the book, Frank & Cora‘s conversation about whether she looks like a Mexican shocked me. I instantly understood that they were flawed characters who were going to do bad things.
Oh my goodness, what a poster
Share the last movie you watched!
The Postman Aways Rings Twice (1981)
The Postman Aways Rings Twice (1981)
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Great poster, Lange is great (so was Turner), but I hate that the filmmakers made those actors be blonde. When kid me read the book, Frank & Cora‘s conversation about whether she looks like a Mexican shocked me. I instantly understood that they were flawed characters who were going to do bad things.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
While at the Tulsa Horror Con, I bought some art for my black cat, Aces.
November 26, 2025 at 12:45 AM
While at the Tulsa Horror Con, I bought some art for my black cat, Aces.
Great article! I subscribed!
I wrote about "Quiet, Piggy," natalist movements, the denigration of women in authoritarian societies, the ways that women were treated not so long ago in the workplace (including me), and how you can push back against all that.
Quiet, Piggy
Trump's relentless campaign against women has shifted U.S. culture.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Great article! I subscribed!
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I wrote about "Quiet, Piggy," natalist movements, the denigration of women in authoritarian societies, the ways that women were treated not so long ago in the workplace (including me), and how you can push back against all that.
Quiet, Piggy
Trump's relentless campaign against women has shifted U.S. culture.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I wrote about "Quiet, Piggy," natalist movements, the denigration of women in authoritarian societies, the ways that women were treated not so long ago in the workplace (including me), and how you can push back against all that.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
“It’s going to be a reverent sacred site. ... We hope to include as many voices in that process on how to take something where something so awful took place and turn it into a place with high reverence," says Emmett Till Interpretive Center Executive Director Patrick Weems.
Barn Where White Men Murdered Emmett Till to Be Preserved as a ‘Reverent, Sacred Site’
The barn in Drew, Miss., where two white men murdered 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 will be preserved as a “sacred site.”
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:07 PM
“It’s going to be a reverent sacred site. ... We hope to include as many voices in that process on how to take something where something so awful took place and turn it into a place with high reverence," says Emmett Till Interpretive Center Executive Director Patrick Weems.
Pretty interesting, esp knowing that *any* of the cryptids is a million times more likely than aliens
No surprise in general but the Yeti/Bigfoot split is unexpected @colindickey.com
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Pretty interesting, esp knowing that *any* of the cryptids is a million times more likely than aliens
That’s not a rebuke for MAGA, that’s a challenge
How sleezy can a politician get?
Missouri AG, seeing petition signature gatherers having success in challenging the latest Gop gerrymandering of the state, baselessly tells ICE the petition workers are illegal immigrants, so they'll go jump them and interrupt their work.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
That’s not a rebuke for MAGA, that’s a challenge
Impeach, convict, remove! You’re singing my song! Let’s go!
Impeach, convict, remove.
And if our current leaders won’t do it, they need to step aside for people who will.
And if our current leaders won’t do it, they need to step aside for people who will.
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Impeach, convict, remove! You’re singing my song! Let’s go!
Reposted by Mike Westphal
hey, portland, your moment of calm... hundreds of cedar waxwings on the trees, sound up. - love, jeff
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
hey, portland, your moment of calm... hundreds of cedar waxwings on the trees, sound up. - love, jeff
Reposted by Mike Westphal
every single thing hegseth says in public reveals a bottomless pit of insecurity
When you draw a platoon leader like Hegseth, it’s your worst nightmare. You just ride it out until he’s gone and gets replaced by someone who isn’t a complete jackass. Only a fool like Trump would put one of them in charge of the entire defense department.
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
every single thing hegseth says in public reveals a bottomless pit of insecurity
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I remember dropping a pizza and pipes ref in conversation with Jennie and she stopped short: 'pizza and...what?'
'Pizza and pipe organs. What you didn't have those in New York?'
Nothing is a wonder or a miracle if it's just part of your life. Vegetable lamb or pizza pipe, all can become mundane.
'Pizza and pipe organs. What you didn't have those in New York?'
Nothing is a wonder or a miracle if it's just part of your life. Vegetable lamb or pizza pipe, all can become mundane.
omg I have the most intense memories of the pizza and pipes in San Jose that we went to a few times, it was just mind blowing for a young kid. A joy to be reminded of it.
* Pizza and organ music have a long and glorious relationship in the USA, and the combination helped inspire Chuck E. Cheese's empire
tastecooking.com/life-death-p...
tastecooking.com/life-death-p...
November 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I remember dropping a pizza and pipes ref in conversation with Jennie and she stopped short: 'pizza and...what?'
'Pizza and pipe organs. What you didn't have those in New York?'
Nothing is a wonder or a miracle if it's just part of your life. Vegetable lamb or pizza pipe, all can become mundane.
'Pizza and pipe organs. What you didn't have those in New York?'
Nothing is a wonder or a miracle if it's just part of your life. Vegetable lamb or pizza pipe, all can become mundane.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
Reposted by Mike Westphal
My favorite editor is @datlow.bsky.social, who always knows what line should go where and what words will give away the game too early.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My favorite editor is @datlow.bsky.social, who always knows what line should go where and what words will give away the game too early.
Deserved! Congrats!
Wow, honored to have The Buffalo Hunter Hunter on NYT’s 100 Notable Books of 2025:
100 Notable Books of 2025
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Deserved! Congrats!
Reposted by Mike Westphal
I missed a discourse that obviously got out of hand and I had good stuff to say about genre says the grrl whose genres include Sherlock Holmes & Vanpires go together on the shelf, and “people I know”.Except if they’re on the Grateful Dead shelf.
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I missed a discourse that obviously got out of hand and I had good stuff to say about genre says the grrl whose genres include Sherlock Holmes & Vanpires go together on the shelf, and “people I know”.Except if they’re on the Grateful Dead shelf.
Reposted by Mike Westphal
when trying on pants, do this in the store. then tell the sales associate "the menswear guy told me to do this."
IG mr.funkys0ul
IG mr.funkys0ul
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
when trying on pants, do this in the store. then tell the sales associate "the menswear guy told me to do this."
IG mr.funkys0ul
IG mr.funkys0ul
Reposted by Mike Westphal
(Cont.) Something that makes @datlow.bsky.social a great short story editor is her razor-sharp eye on structure (hardly my strong suit). When I submitted the 1st draft of "Charged", she noted that the story's 1st line should be the bold statement I'd originally hidden halfway down the 1st page:
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 AM
(Cont.) Something that makes @datlow.bsky.social a great short story editor is her razor-sharp eye on structure (hardly my strong suit). When I submitted the 1st draft of "Charged", she noted that the story's 1st line should be the bold statement I'd originally hidden halfway down the 1st page: