Peter Wagner (a Real Dr., not a surgeon-barber/body-tech/golfer)
@peterjwagner3.bsky.social
Computational Paleobiologist, Lord of Chaos & Entropy, Cubs Fan, Estranged Lover of 🐌 & self-proclaimed Bilbo Baggins of Paleontology. Opinions & sarcasm mine & mine alone, but model-based. I block apologists for the South, MAGA, etc. He/Him.
Pinned
Peter Wagner (a Real Dr., not a surgeon-barber/body-tech/golfer)
@peterjwagner3.bsky.social
· Nov 10
From Darwins' Day 2019:
(((🦈((🐟,(🐡,🐠)),(🐸,(((((((👩🎓🦍),🙉),🐒),(🐰,(🐿️🐀))),(🦔,(🦇,(((((🐅🐈),(🐻🦊)),🦡),(🦏🦓)),((🦙🐫),((🐖🐗),((🦛,(🐋🐬)),(🦒,(🦌,(🐮🐐))))))))),🐘),(🐨🦘)),(🐢((🦎🐍),(🐊,(🦕,(((🦆,(🐓🦃)),(🕊,(🐧,(🐦,(🦉🦅)))),🦖))))))),⭐️),((🕷️🦂),(((🦀🦞),🦐),(🦗,(🐞🦋),(🐜🐝))))),(🐙🐌)))
(((🦈((🐟,(🐡,🐠)),(🐸,(((((((👩🎓🦍),🙉),🐒),(🐰,(🐿️🐀))),(🦔,(🦇,(((((🐅🐈),(🐻🦊)),🦡),(🦏🦓)),((🦙🐫),((🐖🐗),((🦛,(🐋🐬)),(🦒,(🦌,(🐮🐐))))))))),🐘),(🐨🦘)),(🐢((🦎🐍),(🐊,(🦕,(((🦆,(🐓🦃)),(🕊,(🐧,(🐦,(🦉🦅)))),🦖))))))),⭐️),((🕷️🦂),(((🦀🦞),🦐),(🦗,(🐞🦋),(🐜🐝))))),(🐙🐌)))
This will piss off a faction of Tolkien fans…
![Comic: Typical Geologic core sample. [Cylindrical core sample with labels for difference sections from top to bottom] Topsoil, till, granite bedrock, bottomsoil, roof of subway car, floor of subway car, more granite, municipal water main [gouge in core sample], slightly different granite, piece of screaming spelunker’s forearm, cool crystals with no resale value, mangled fragments of drillbit from previous attempt, some boring intrusive rock that’s basically granite but has a name like “diorite” or “Andalite” that you always have to look up, netherrack, Balrog wing. [break between next chunk of core sample] Granite, topsoil, cement, floorboards, carpet, possessions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicffnydtpbb2x24cfbblv2qtcwbr37zyw44vtqx47ocj2a26b2j2u@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 AM
This will piss off a faction of Tolkien fans…
Which button zaps this idea back 40 years to college me?
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Which button zaps this idea back 40 years to college me?
In the mid-80s, George Carlin had a very funny and very insightful routine about how the “Sixties” (which supposedly defined a generation) not only started at very different times in different parts of America, it didn’t (or barely) happen(ed) at all in some parts. Societal Chixculubs are rare.
Not only are generations fake, they’re also something we basically invented a few decades ago. Compare when generations occurred (shaded areas) with when we settled on their names.
From this week’s newsletter: www.howtoreadthisch.art/ample-exampl...
From this week’s newsletter: www.howtoreadthisch.art/ample-exampl...
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
In the mid-80s, George Carlin had a very funny and very insightful routine about how the “Sixties” (which supposedly defined a generation) not only started at very different times in different parts of America, it didn’t (or barely) happen(ed) at all in some parts. Societal Chixculubs are rare.
I do *not* have rustic pottery.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I do *not* have rustic pottery.
A huge chunk of Nebraskans will blame the the Clintons, Obama, AOC, Bernie, Newsom, etc. (and, unlike BlueSky, they recognize zero differences among those people!) *loooong* before they blame Trump or the GOP.
Tyson Foods announces that they’ll be closing a major beef-processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska with 3,200 employees.
Lexington has a population of 11,205.
Nebraska overwhelmingly voted for the orange felon over VP Kamala Harris.
I hope they’re enjoying their vote.
Lexington has a population of 11,205.
Nebraska overwhelmingly voted for the orange felon over VP Kamala Harris.
I hope they’re enjoying their vote.
November 23, 2025 at 11:24 PM
A huge chunk of Nebraskans will blame the the Clintons, Obama, AOC, Bernie, Newsom, etc. (and, unlike BlueSky, they recognize zero differences among those people!) *loooong* before they blame Trump or the GOP.
🎶”That’s me in the corner… that’s me in the Spot. Light…”
November 23, 2025 at 3:13 AM
🎶”That’s me in the corner… that’s me in the Spot. Light…”
In all seriousness, is this what happens when sentience starts? Conspiracy theory relies heavily ob cognitive dissonance, which in turn reflects lack of self-awareness. A conspiracy theorist somehow gaining some sentience would start to realize that X and not-X cannot both be true.
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
In her surprise resignation, she cast doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted.
Marjorie Taylor Greene no longer trusts the plan
After feuding with Trump, the congresswoman resigns and casts doubt on the QAnon conspiracy theory she once promoted on her way out the door.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In all seriousness, is this what happens when sentience starts? Conspiracy theory relies heavily ob cognitive dissonance, which in turn reflects lack of self-awareness. A conspiracy theorist somehow gaining some sentience would start to realize that X and not-X cannot both be true.
One of nature’s crueler jokes is to have had this group of snails be one of the first to develop almost entirely calcitic shells (which preserve much better than do aragonitic ones) but also lose all of the external shell features that are useful for phylogenetics or even regular growth patterns!
Welcome back to #fossilfriday
Here is the crinoid Arthroacantha carpenteri with a Platycerid snail attached. These snails are Coprophagous which means they ate fecal matter. The snail would attached to the anal chimney of the crinoid and would feed on the waste.
Arkona Shale
Mid Devonian
Ontario
Here is the crinoid Arthroacantha carpenteri with a Platycerid snail attached. These snails are Coprophagous which means they ate fecal matter. The snail would attached to the anal chimney of the crinoid and would feed on the waste.
Arkona Shale
Mid Devonian
Ontario
November 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
One of nature’s crueler jokes is to have had this group of snails be one of the first to develop almost entirely calcitic shells (which preserve much better than do aragonitic ones) but also lose all of the external shell features that are useful for phylogenetics or even regular growth patterns!
November 22, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Babylon 5 had a LOT of great lines. This is a strong candidate for “greatest.”
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Babylon 5 had a LOT of great lines. This is a strong candidate for “greatest.”
I mean, it would be great to never hear from her again. But her district will just elect another mindless Christofascist because that’s what the majority of voters n her district are.
Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she is resigning from Congress
"I will be resigning from office with my last day being January 5, 2026”
"I will be resigning from office with my last day being January 5, 2026”
November 22, 2025 at 6:02 AM
I mean, it would be great to never hear from her again. But her district will just elect another mindless Christofascist because that’s what the majority of voters n her district are.
Sometimes I think that 90% of what motivates Trump is a desperate desire to get his hometown to love (or at least like) him.
Spoiler: that never happens.
Spoiler: that never happens.
I ❤ NY: Queens recognises Queens as Trump gives Mamdani warm reception
I ❤ NY: Queens recognises Queens as Trump gives Mamdani warm reception
No fists, no fire – the president and the mayor-elect met in Washington, and things went bewilderingly, bizarrely well
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Sometimes I think that 90% of what motivates Trump is a desperate desire to get his hometown to love (or at least like) him.
Spoiler: that never happens.
Spoiler: that never happens.
Hey R People! How do you adjust the axis commands in R so that the numbers are closer to or further from the X or Y axis? (I am NOT referring to the label telling you what the X &/or Y axis represents: something that I cannot communicate to Google!)
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Hey R People! How do you adjust the axis commands in R so that the numbers are closer to or further from the X or Y axis? (I am NOT referring to the label telling you what the X &/or Y axis represents: something that I cannot communicate to Google!)
Stuff like this makes me wonder: what sort of stuff do we do now that will just horrify the hell out of people in 40 years?
In honor of Larry Summers, I asked the female members of my college class (1987) to say if they had any experiences with sexual harassment by teachers/professors, back when this was tolerated as, I dunno, the cost of attending college, and OH MY GOD.
November 21, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Stuff like this makes me wonder: what sort of stuff do we do now that will just horrify the hell out of people in 40 years?
Uncle Duke did it wrong. I told the squirrel that I'd do it for $10.
squirrel: *points gun*
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Uncle Duke did it wrong. I told the squirrel that I'd do it for $10.
November 19, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Well, I clearly need to enter this into the Paleobiology Database @paleodb.bsky.social : but who is the author?
The winner of Clash of the Clades: a new taxon, Finnegan-ada! Fear not, mollusk lovers, your clade raised the most money! Thank you all who participated in this wild and wacky fundraiser. We appreciate all who donated and cast their vote! 👑
#paleontology #geology #geosciences
#paleontology #geology #geosciences
November 19, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Well, I clearly need to enter this into the Paleobiology Database @paleodb.bsky.social : but who is the author?
Wow, that's tough: 1980 had a lot of great music, both from "our" New Wave & Punk Bands, and "their" old guard '60s musicians. At the very top, I'd probably put Zenyattà Mondatta. It's probably the Police's worst album, but it's still great. Don't Stand So Close to Me is one of the all-time great…
November 17, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Wow, that's tough: 1980 had a lot of great music, both from "our" New Wave & Punk Bands, and "their" old guard '60s musicians. At the very top, I'd probably put Zenyattà Mondatta. It's probably the Police's worst album, but it's still great. Don't Stand So Close to Me is one of the all-time great…
It always impresses me just how much different the earliest Triassic is from the latest Permian. We very suddenly go from late Paleozoic faunas & ecosystems to Mesozoic ones. I have often wondered if Late Permian - Early Triassic geography facilitated this, as it was relatively easy for marine taxa…
A massive Arctic fossil haul from Spitsbergen is unveiling a 249-million-year-old marine world filled with ancient reptiles, amphibians, fish, and sharks.
interestingengineering.com/science/3000...
#fossils #paleontology
interestingengineering.com/science/3000...
#fossils #paleontology
November 17, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It always impresses me just how much different the earliest Triassic is from the latest Permian. We very suddenly go from late Paleozoic faunas & ecosystems to Mesozoic ones. I have often wondered if Late Permian - Early Triassic geography facilitated this, as it was relatively easy for marine taxa…
If I had a nickel for every time I heard or read that, I'd have a... well, lot of nickels.
(And I'd be expecting to quite a few more in the future.)
(And I'd be expecting to quite a few more in the future.)
November 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If I had a nickel for every time I heard or read that, I'd have a... well, lot of nickels.
(And I'd be expecting to quite a few more in the future.)
(And I'd be expecting to quite a few more in the future.)
If nothing else, then why doesn’t someone (anyone) with the GOP work on getting Trump’s people to *look* less insane? I mean, if SNL did a skit involving crazy conspiracy theorists, they would rehearse looking/acting like Patel!
Kash Patel: "Russiagate -- I lived it. I was weaponized as a victim against a weaponization, politicization of law enforcement, including at the FBI by former senior leadership there. I was the one that ran and uncovered the Russiagate hoax and conspiracy."
November 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
If nothing else, then why doesn’t someone (anyone) with the GOP work on getting Trump’s people to *look* less insane? I mean, if SNL did a skit involving crazy conspiracy theorists, they would rehearse looking/acting like Patel!
“Current,” not “modern”: this SCOTUS wants to undo the Renaissance.
Joan Biskupic on the Roberts court and Brown v Board.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/p...
Examining Brown v. Board, race and ‘equal protection’ through the eyes of the modern Supreme Court | CNN Politics
As the Supreme Court heard arguments in a racially charged Louisiana voting rights case last month, down on its ground floor a special exhibit was running a continual loop of commentary from Chief Jus...
www.cnn.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
“Current,” not “modern”: this SCOTUS wants to undo the Renaissance.
Oddly, I like his priorities… 😎
Jeremy Clarkson has suddenly discovered the inherent issues in capitalism...
November 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Oddly, I like his priorities… 😎
In some ways, this does make more sense than ctenophores as the outgroup to all other animals because it allows for the developmental programming for *some* sort of symmetry to be a synapomorphy of non-sponge animals.
November 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
In some ways, this does make more sense than ctenophores as the outgroup to all other animals because it allows for the developmental programming for *some* sort of symmetry to be a synapomorphy of non-sponge animals.
Spoiler: 5 years from now, the majority of Americans will still think that the media has a strong liberal bias…
The question everyone is asking right now is this: NYT had deep access into all of this in real time and reported none of it. Why? In consequence, no NYT reporting on this subject is trustworthy.
After Trump Split, Epstein Said He Could ‘Take Him Down’
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Spoiler: 5 years from now, the majority of Americans will still think that the media has a strong liberal bias…