Tom Morrell
tmorrell.bsky.social
Tom Morrell
@tmorrell.bsky.social
Research Data, Software, and Repositories.
Reposted by Tom Morrell
We’re supposed to believe this is a domestic terrorist attacking ICE with a gun
January 24, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
That is an ICE agent pepper spraying a restrained victim in the face at close quarters; it's an unquestionable and indefensibly abusive use of excessive force that should (but won't) be criminally prosecuted as assault
An observer arrested in Suth Minneapolis. Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 21, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
take a second to really wrap your head around this.
January 13, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
A few months ago, ICE hired me

I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable

And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"

My latest for Slate
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Its not that the media is not covering what is happening, but it does feel like the military occupation of an American city should be treated as a national crisis.
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis

The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway

They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Characteristically excellent from Robin. Some of these (like 2&5) are things FLOSS/open infra folks have been saying for a while; might be worthwhile considering reasons for slow progress.
Others (esp 4) are new to me & likely more controversial
I'd like to see some coordination in the open source community to respond to this. The outcome could shape significant funding and strategic moves.

Off the top of my head, there's a few things that I'd like to see in a new European open source strategy. 🧵
The @ec.europa.eu will soon present “a combination of funding and policy measures” to support European open source projects in becoming commercially viable alternatives to proprietary US tech.

Read my article at @euractiv.com:

www.euractiv.com/news/commiss...
January 7, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
The fact that nothing is being done about this — and that people keep blithely hanging out on that site as though its owner and a key part of its official architecture aren’t actively enabling disgusting criminal abuse at scale — is making me lose my mind
Every piece of reporting I've seen on this is drastically understating the scale. These are from Grok's replies within a single minute. Time-to-reply is degrading because it has such a backlog of NCII/CSAM requests to fulfill. Conservatively I estimate it is producing more than 5000 of these per day
January 6, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Zohran just went out and fixed the Williamsburg Bridge bike entrance. Just did it. No faffing, no nonsense. Bam. Fixed.
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
New from @pamherd.bsky.social & I: Key takeaways from Mamdani's inauguration speech.
"Mamdani will force a conversation among the left about how it should govern." 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/understand...
Understanding Mamdani's Vision
His inauguration speech challenges the left to govern
donmoynihan.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
This is the most anti-intellectual, anti-science administration the US has ever seen; if it were a novel, it would be satire. Or horror.

Tomorrow, Trump is closing NASA’s largest research library, "a facility that houses tens of thousands of books, documents...

1/2

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
4/ We are more sick from EVERYTHING.

These charts are stunning. No freakin' wonder healthcare is strained, workplace and school absences are up, etc.

Holy hell, this is all AIRBORNE. #MaskUp FFS. @doctorsofbc.bsky.social - are you trying to kill us?!

#bcpoli #bced @bcndp.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Did you remember to get your X-ray diffractometer a present this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Our‘s loves reading this new book with beautiful illustrations by undergrad Justine Wong.

Only $15 at meitneriumpress.com

#crystallography
December 12, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
We've spent a ton of time talking about teens getting injured on e-bikes (or illegal e-motos).

We've heard that crash rates are skyrocketing. Marin County Dept of Health even set up a dashboard to see how many e-bike/e-moto crashes are happening.

But how many kids are getting hurt *in cars*?
🧵
December 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Something I often talk about is the need for media outlets to put conversations about e-bike safety and regulations in the context of the larger danger on our streets: cars.

The Boston Globe published two letters to the editors that do this well. I'll thread them below.
December 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
New on the blog! Kristin Briney talks to us about The Data Management Workbook 📖

Read the full interview ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3p6mk445

#datamanagement #dataanalysis #statistics #researchdata
December 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Looking for a science-based holiday gift for kids? Check out "X-ray Crystallography Adventures! Cat & Elephant's Sugar Crystal Mystery" Filled with 21 pages of colorful hand-drawn illustrations, this book is perfect for kids 4-12 or anyone who loves crystals. Available at meitneriumpress.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Say it with me 3 times...

E-MOTOS ARE NOT BIKES
E-MOTOS ARE NOT BIKES
E-MOTOS ARE NOT BIKES

velo.outsideonline.com/ebike/ebike-...
E-Bike Injuries Are Up 1,800%, But It's Not Actually E-Bikes: It's Electric Motorcycles
The vehicles causing a recent spike in injuries and worse aren't e-bikes. Here’s why, our solution, and how to differentiate an e-bike from an e-moto.
velo.outsideonline.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
A picture is worth a 1000 words. The birth dose of hepatitis B vaccines in the USA eliminated perinatally acquired hepatitis B infection from over 20,000 cases a year before the vaccine was introduced to <20 cases a year. The gaslighting by the current members ACIP is obscene, unethical and cruel.
December 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Abject failure. wapo.st/49WM4BI
December 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
I'm sorry, I just have to pop off again on that NYT e-bike piece.

The fatality rate for e-bike injuries is 11%?? You're saying that one out of every 9 times someone hurts themselves on an e-bike, they die?

That is just so mind-blowingly incorrect, I don't know where to start.
December 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
🔔 Reminder: Covid-19 was a leading case of death among US children and young people during the pandemic with 821 deaths in the year from August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022 @jamanetworkopen.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 as the Underlying Cause of Death Among Individuals Aged 0 to 19 Years in the US
This cross-sectional study evaluates whether COVID-19 is among the top 10 causes of death in children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US.
jamanetwork.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Rad Power Bikes in trouble. Stock up on those bespoke 22” tires asap electrek.co/2025/11/10/r...
Rad Power Bikes says it may close down by January
Rad Power Bikes, one of the most well-known electric bicycle companies in North America, appears to be headed for collapse...
electrek.co
November 12, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
Wow this is bad.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 24, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Tom Morrell
🚨🔥🔋🚲👇⚠️

RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus, and RadExpand 5.

The battery model number (HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304) is printed on a label on the back or rear of the battery.
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM