Jess McLaughlin, PhD (they/them)
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jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Jess McLaughlin, PhD (they/them)
@jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
11K followers 1.1K following 13K posts
Evolutionary biologist and professional nerd. Asst Prof, University of Alaska Anchorage.

queer af, they/them. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️✡️

jfmclaughlin.org
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jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Getting served absolutely cursed ads. Curséd, even.
Oh boy, where to start. It's an ad for a program called "BitePal", and the copy reads "Duolingo, but for weight loss. Built for neurodivergent people by people who know what it's like". The image is a fever-dream of AI cartoons in pastel tones that are somehow also all yellow. There's an Alice in Wonderland character but her hand is morphing into some sort of yellow cake. A friendly witch with four fingers is in the corner. There's a ghostly green raccoon standing in the middle, and a broom with a happy face on it, but the handle isn't connected to the bristles. Some sort of two-headed child is peeking out of a bush. There's just a lot going on but also, at the same time, nothing at all. It is the death of meaning, the sludge found in the bottom of the garbage can after society has dissolved.
January 18, 2026 at 1:50 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
This weekend's project: the hallway.

You may be thinking "wow that's already done, looks great!" but tomorrow's update will have a twist
Before: a narrow hallway with one wall light blue and the other white. Now the left way is a deep gold color and the other the same terracotta orange as the dining room.
January 18, 2026 at 1:40 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Also had a pretty great sandwich
A breakfast sandwich that means serious business. There's a substantial fraction of a cow's worth of beef salami. There's pickled onions. It's a work of art.
January 17, 2026 at 7:55 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Oh no i'm trapped
A selfie of me laying on the couch, but Réaltín has just straight-up laid on me and is using my boob as a pillow. Tähti is curled up on my feet.
January 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
I was procrastinating (shocking, right?) but finally got it put back together for now. I *love* the wallpaper SO MUCH, it's so fun and cheerful
The bathroom is more or less done! The red wallpaper is visible in all its glory, and the shelves have been replaced with some that actually match the white paneling. A view showing the sink. It's still a little worn, but the lightbulbs are cool retro LEDs and there's a print of some grosbeaks in the same color scheme as the wallpaper on the wall. The showerhead is now generously sized and a little spring rod storage shelf thing is in the corner
January 13, 2026 at 3:27 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Wallpaper samples finally arrived and found the obvious winner for the downstairs bathroom
A dark green pattern of white egrets, in a vaguely art deco look. It'll go great with that green bathtub.
January 11, 2026 at 6:02 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Oh no they're multiplying

(Yes I'm dealing with my dread and anxiety at the state of the world in part by assembling tiny dioramas, in case you're wondering)
A little greenhouse book nook on the M shelf of my library A tiny magic shop book nook holding up the end of the O shelf A little witch shop between the P and R sections of the shelves A little street scene full of cherry blossoms in the C shelf
January 11, 2026 at 12:36 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Just in case you need it, here is Tähti presiding over her throne of pillows
A rather self-satisified looking dog in a tie-dyed sweater nestled comfortably in a large pile of pillows on a bed, with a view of a snowy neighborhood visible out the window behind her
January 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Same, bro
An Arby's sign against a rapidly darkening sky. Despite being brightly lit, it looks tired in a way one can only describe as deeply weary. Behind the bare branches of winter trees, the word "NO" hovers ominously on the sign- nothing else
January 8, 2026 at 3:04 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
It's this one. Available at Michael's stores, not sure if it's exclusive or anything
DIY miniature house corner bookstore package
January 6, 2026 at 9:26 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
I got one of those little book nook diorama kits, and I regret to share that they are indeed as deeply satisfying as expected
A little model of a bookstore serving as a bookend at the end of the H shelf
January 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Not everyone is on board with the weather:
A white cornsnake in a cardboard tube looks out a snowy window. She appears disdainful, but admittedly it's hard to tell with snakes.
January 6, 2026 at 7:46 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Timeline cleanse: dogs in snow
Two fairly large dogs on sweaters in a snowy yard. The snow is up past their bellies
January 6, 2026 at 7:43 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
WIGEONS
A male wigeon with the tan body of an American wigeon and the red head of an Eurasian wigeon
January 6, 2026 at 6:02 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Still slowly getting the last of the wallpaper glue off, but finally found my big wrench to replace the showerhead
The shower now has a giant showerhead that looks far superior to the original
January 6, 2026 at 3:39 AM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
God that looks good?? (Ignore the pile of stuff I need to put away still lol)
The dining room wall is now thoroughly orange with bold white woodwork around the stove alcove. A lot of vintage bottles and assorted prints accent it all.
January 4, 2026 at 6:26 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
The living room is pretty much done (other than the fact my coffee table randomly collapsed and so that'll need fixed?) and boy is it spiffy AF
A view of the corner of the two blue walls. The round pink couch has matching pillows, and a selection of artwork in a variety of styles hangs on the walls The front wall is green, and a set of dark blue curtains are now on the windows. A little console table is in the corner and a pair of parrot conservation posters hang next to the door
January 3, 2026 at 11:53 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Okay that orange needs SO MANY COATS WTAF but it looks so amazing!
The wall around the stove is now a terracotta color- somewhat patchy in places but the white woodwork around the stove looks incredible
January 3, 2026 at 11:42 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Have to work around the mess (product of last night's panicked cleaning of the garage so I could park in it) but here's the before pics of the dining room
A view from the other side of the stairs. The front wall is partially painted green around a bay window filled with plants. The other wall has an alcove of brick around a wood stove, and is still white
January 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Starting to work my way towards the dining room, and that means orange accents
A view of the room from the other direction, showing the stairwell is now a light terracotta color A little passage under the stairs. Idk what color that'll be
January 3, 2026 at 7:46 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Everything is awful so idk, here's my progress on the living room
The room is being put back together. The pink couches and blue and green walls match the rug on the floor. A couple of pictures have been hung on the wall.
January 3, 2026 at 6:57 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
God I wish I could be this blissfully unaware and unconcerned for like 1 hour
A dog snoozing on a pink couch with her head resting on a blue pillow
January 3, 2026 at 6:04 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Okay time to let that dry for a bit before coat 2
The pink couches are in the middle of the room, with the corner where the dark blue and pale green meet visible.
January 2, 2026 at 11:13 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
YES
The walls are dark blue now
January 2, 2026 at 10:16 PM
jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social
Trying out the other color
The light blue wall partially painted a darker blue
January 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM