Dr. Catherine Wilka
@cawilka.bsky.social
Climate change, collective action, crafts, and cats. Trying to be on this app more these days. she/her
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Brits are dying in a hunger strike for Palestine
Tomorrow's front page 📰
'The UK is letting these people die'
'The UK is letting these people die'
December 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Brits are dying in a hunger strike for Palestine
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Keeping the servers cool in space is enough to make this a bad idea, and that's not even the hardest part.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
December 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Keeping the servers cool in space is enough to make this a bad idea, and that's not even the hardest part.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Bezos and Musk are just unbelievably gullible.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
War profiteers still profiteering. Corrupt congress is in on the scam.
The idea was that no service member would ever be left waiting on a contractor to fly in from Norway to repair a simple part — which once happened.
Congress Quietly Kills Military “Right to Repair,” Allowing Corporations to Cash In on Fixing Broken Products
Both chambers included Pentagon budget provisions for a right to repair, but they died after defense industry meetings on Capitol Hill.
theintercept.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
War profiteers still profiteering. Corrupt congress is in on the scam.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I've seen this idea floated around and it's so fundamentally wrong that any professional suggesting it can be dismissed out of hand on anything they say.
Just because it's being passed around a lot: NO, data centers in space do NOT benefit from space being cold. Space is cold in the formal sense we use to define temperature. But it is very bad at cooling. What would you rather have to cool hot metal: a lukewarm water tub or a giant cold atmosphere?
December 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I've seen this idea floated around and it's so fundamentally wrong that any professional suggesting it can be dismissed out of hand on anything they say.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The right’s preferred gender ideology—one of male supremacy, women’s exclusion from dignity, citizenship, and vast spheres of public life, and an enforced heterosexuality of eroticized domination—is much more prescriptive, aggressive, and ubiquitously pushed than anything coming from trans people.
Conservatives have their own "gender ideology" they are pushing constantly, and it's one that's built on coercion and treating women like property.
December 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The right’s preferred gender ideology—one of male supremacy, women’s exclusion from dignity, citizenship, and vast spheres of public life, and an enforced heterosexuality of eroticized domination—is much more prescriptive, aggressive, and ubiquitously pushed than anything coming from trans people.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
This flood event will also extend into NW Oregon and SW British Columbia, though WA will likely be worst-hit. Major impacts and significant inundation/damage is possible, as are significant landslides. Additional warm rain on horizon through late Dec. #WAwx #BCstorm #ORwx [3/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
On Wednesday, widespread heavy rain & very high snow levels (7,000-9,000 feet) will cause enormous runoff into already swollen rivers. Widespread moderate to major flood is likely, with some rivers expected to experience *record* flooding (esp. Skagit & Snohomish). #WAwx [2/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
On Wednesday, widespread heavy rain & very high snow levels (7,000-9,000 feet) will cause enormous runoff into already swollen rivers. Widespread moderate to major flood is likely, with some rivers expected to experience *record* flooding (esp. Skagit & Snohomish). #WAwx [2/3]
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Widespread significant river flooding has already developed across western Washington as a series of extremely warm & moist #AtmosphericRivers move slowly across the region. This flooding will further worsen tomorrow as strongest part of AR moves ashore. #WAwx [1/3]
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Widespread significant river flooding has already developed across western Washington as a series of extremely warm & moist #AtmosphericRivers move slowly across the region. This flooding will further worsen tomorrow as strongest part of AR moves ashore. #WAwx [1/3]
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Exactly.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
December 8, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Exactly.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
I'm so sick and tired of people trying to justify Labour throwing marginalised people under a bus because we make for convenient road pavement.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I think it’s ok to admit that the Nazis borrowed from US white supremacy and current US white supremacy is borrowing from their innovations and previous US white supremacy
Both can be true at once
Both can be true at once
December 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I think it’s ok to admit that the Nazis borrowed from US white supremacy and current US white supremacy is borrowing from their innovations and previous US white supremacy
Both can be true at once
Both can be true at once
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
I think one of the reasons the Nazi takeover of Germany is a helpful parallel for what’s happening in academia specifically is that unlike the Jim Crow US where integration hadn’t happened (not even during reconstruction), Jews were integrated into the German academy and had to be forced out
Also
Also
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I think one of the reasons the Nazi takeover of Germany is a helpful parallel for what’s happening in academia specifically is that unlike the Jim Crow US where integration hadn’t happened (not even during reconstruction), Jews were integrated into the German academy and had to be forced out
Also
Also
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
December 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Frank Gehry, 1929–2025 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Utility company Southern California Gas is using ratepayer funds to incentivize Los Angeles wildfire survivors to rebuild their homes with gas appliances. And the California Public Utilities Commissions is letting it happen. insideclimatenews.org/news/0312202... via @hilarybeaumont.bsky.social
LA Wildfire Survivors Want to Rebuild All-Electric, but a Utility Is Using Customer Funds to Incentivize Gas Appliances - Inside Climate News
California’s utility regulator said it would eliminate ratepayer-funded incentives for gas appliances in new construction, but created an exception that allows rebates for them in wildfire rebuilds.
insideclimatenews.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Utility company Southern California Gas is using ratepayer funds to incentivize Los Angeles wildfire survivors to rebuild their homes with gas appliances. And the California Public Utilities Commissions is letting it happen. insideclimatenews.org/news/0312202... via @hilarybeaumont.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
It proposes the idea that a person's only value is their ability to contribute to a society, and that everyone else is disposable. It's a fascist idea at its very core.
Eugenics isn't bad because it's a bad word. It's bad because it leads to the mass death of the socially undesirable.
December 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
It proposes the idea that a person's only value is their ability to contribute to a society, and that everyone else is disposable. It's a fascist idea at its very core.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
The end of coal in California ⬇️
Something to be thankful for!
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
Utah's largest coal-fired power plant—the Intermountain Power Project, located in the west desert near Delta and serving southern California—stopped burning coal at mid-day on Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. 🔌💡
December 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The end of coal in California ⬇️
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
In the running for "Overreaction of the Year Award," CEO Brian Niccol has barricaded his office to avoid striking baristas getting anywhere near him.
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
In the running for "Overreaction of the Year Award," CEO Brian Niccol has barricaded his office to avoid striking baristas getting anywhere near him.
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
No matter. We'll be waiting right out front when you're ready to talk, Brian!
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Agribusiness responsible for criminal deforestation in Brazil got badges, a space in the Blue Zone, in partnership with a Brazilian govt agency. They even did a barbecue there.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
November 22, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Agribusiness responsible for criminal deforestation in Brazil got badges, a space in the Blue Zone, in partnership with a Brazilian govt agency. They even did a barbecue there.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
Clearly, Von der Leyen is not the only one to believe you can talk about emissions without dealing with the sources.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
People learn through practice and challenge; not by receiving answers.
But a deeper problem is that an essential aspect of teaching is helping someone organize their thinking in new ways. LLMs — systems which cannot think or appreciate thinking — are incapable of doing this in a meaningful way.
But a deeper problem is that an essential aspect of teaching is helping someone organize their thinking in new ways. LLMs — systems which cannot think or appreciate thinking — are incapable of doing this in a meaningful way.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
People learn through practice and challenge; not by receiving answers.
But a deeper problem is that an essential aspect of teaching is helping someone organize their thinking in new ways. LLMs — systems which cannot think or appreciate thinking — are incapable of doing this in a meaningful way.
But a deeper problem is that an essential aspect of teaching is helping someone organize their thinking in new ways. LLMs — systems which cannot think or appreciate thinking — are incapable of doing this in a meaningful way.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
BREAKING: 30 more Starbucks locations are joining the strike.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
November 20, 2025 at 8:58 PM
BREAKING: 30 more Starbucks locations are joining the strike.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
A horrifying graphic from Pew showing the fruits of the right wing war on public health.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A horrifying graphic from Pew showing the fruits of the right wing war on public health.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
You're telling me an electric kettle inside a moving car made by a "company" called BLONGKY is unsafe???
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Portable Electric Car Kettles Due to Risk of Serious Burn Injury; Distributed by BLONGKY www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
You're telling me an electric kettle inside a moving car made by a "company" called BLONGKY is unsafe???
Reposted by Dr. Catherine Wilka
Ellis repeatedly accuses multiple CBP and ICE officials of lying (under oath) and says their "widespread misrepresentations call into question everything" they "say they are doing in their characterization of what is happening." She broadly discredits their testimony as objectively false.
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis just handed down the written opinion version of her preliminary injunction order, regarding use of force by federal agents in Chicago.
It's the one already put on hold by the 7th Circuit.
It's 233 pages.
Here you go: cst.brightspotcdn.com/49/34/daecfb...
It's the one already put on hold by the 7th Circuit.
It's 233 pages.
Here you go: cst.brightspotcdn.com/49/34/daecfb...
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Ellis repeatedly accuses multiple CBP and ICE officials of lying (under oath) and says their "widespread misrepresentations call into question everything" they "say they are doing in their characterization of what is happening." She broadly discredits their testimony as objectively false.