OtterB
@otterb.bsky.social
Longtime SFF reader. Retired Higher Ed data cruncher. Barbershop singer. Married, parent to one adult launched & one with intellectual disabilities semi-launched. Catholic. In favor of wonder and kindness. She/her. Avatar thanks to [email protected]
Reposted by OtterB
I've been looking up reviews of my 1998 novel Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary, because reasons. I thought I'd turned off AI, but was presented with this:
December 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
I've been looking up reviews of my 1998 novel Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary, because reasons. I thought I'd turned off AI, but was presented with this:
Reposted by OtterB
Well now, would you look at that? A massive, 4-YEAR-LONG study of NEARLY 30 MILLION people in France found that individuals who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine had a 74% LOWER risk of death from severe COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals and ZERO increased risk of all-cause mortality.
December 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Well now, would you look at that? A massive, 4-YEAR-LONG study of NEARLY 30 MILLION people in France found that individuals who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine had a 74% LOWER risk of death from severe COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals and ZERO increased risk of all-cause mortality.
I would like to watch or read most of these and I would gift them to my daughter the scuba instructor. But I suppose we’re a pretty niche audience. I love the variations on a theme here.
This is a very important scientific outreach project: Hallmark Christmas movies… but in the abyss. High-pressure romance included. Underwater and scientifically questionable. You’re welcome. Expect bioluminescent meet-cutes and emotionally unavailable octopuses.
#Trenchmas
#Trenchmas
December 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I would like to watch or read most of these and I would gift them to my daughter the scuba instructor. But I suppose we’re a pretty niche audience. I love the variations on a theme here.
Reposted by OtterB
I say this not to insist that this is the answer, but to remind people that statistics can tell a number of different, and sometimes competing, stories, depending on how you align them.
December 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I say this not to insist that this is the answer, but to remind people that statistics can tell a number of different, and sometimes competing, stories, depending on how you align them.
Reposted by OtterB
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Orca
Black bear
Moose
Dolphin
Sandhill crane
Orca
Black bear
Moose
Dolphin
Sandhill crane
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Goliath heron
Himalayan vulture
Cerulean warbler
Laysan albatross
Australian king parrot
Goliath heron
Himalayan vulture
Cerulean warbler
Laysan albatross
Australian king parrot
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Blue whale (and calf)
Mexican free-tailed bat
King rail
Portuguese man-o-war
17 year periodical cicada
Blue whale (and calf)
Mexican free-tailed bat
King rail
Portuguese man-o-war
17 year periodical cicada
November 29, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Orca
Black bear
Moose
Dolphin
Sandhill crane
Orca
Black bear
Moose
Dolphin
Sandhill crane
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
November 24, 2025 at 1:50 AM
A movie that takes place where you’re from.
Reposted by OtterB
Unhoused people are not "People with zero source of income."
Unhoused people are "People whose source of income is not enough to acquire and maintain a house."
In 2025, you can have a job, and through unseen events (wildfire, medical debt, temporary loss of income, arrest) lose your housing.
Unhoused people are "People whose source of income is not enough to acquire and maintain a house."
In 2025, you can have a job, and through unseen events (wildfire, medical debt, temporary loss of income, arrest) lose your housing.
November 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Unhoused people are not "People with zero source of income."
Unhoused people are "People whose source of income is not enough to acquire and maintain a house."
In 2025, you can have a job, and through unseen events (wildfire, medical debt, temporary loss of income, arrest) lose your housing.
Unhoused people are "People whose source of income is not enough to acquire and maintain a house."
In 2025, you can have a job, and through unseen events (wildfire, medical debt, temporary loss of income, arrest) lose your housing.
Reposted by OtterB
I have been doing entirely too much earnest posting about deep things recently, I need to do a proper thread about hippo testicles or something just to keep myself sane.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
a statue of a hippopotamus with its mouth open and teeth showing .
Alt: A hippo being tossed a watermelon, which it crushes in its massive jaws.
media.tenor.com
March 12, 2025 at 5:33 AM
I have been doing entirely too much earnest posting about deep things recently, I need to do a proper thread about hippo testicles or something just to keep myself sane.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
Oh by the way hippos have migratory testicles.
This is one of my favorite posters on Bluesky for fascinating and encouraging science that I would not otherwise run into.
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that getting vaccinated against shingles- a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster virus- not only LOWERS the risk of infection, but can also PROTECT against Alzheimer’s disease!
November 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This is one of my favorite posters on Bluesky for fascinating and encouraging science that I would not otherwise run into.
Reposted by OtterB
Don't do any of this.
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Don't do any of this.
I have just been earwormed.
"A word about Mr. Teach."
"Edward? In the garden center? I've heard no complaints."
"Well, this is a bit delicate...it's the shanties."
"The shanties?"
🎶 Oh, what shall we do with a shrunk azalea,
What shall we do with a shrunk azalea,
What shall we do with a shrunk azalea?
GIVE IT SOME MORE WATER!
"Edward? In the garden center? I've heard no complaints."
"Well, this is a bit delicate...it's the shanties."
"The shanties?"
🎶 Oh, what shall we do with a shrunk azalea,
What shall we do with a shrunk azalea,
What shall we do with a shrunk azalea?
GIVE IT SOME MORE WATER!
November 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I have just been earwormed.
Reposted by OtterB
You can disagree and argue as much as you like but the point of evaluating something scientifically is that not every statement should be given equal credence because evidence matters
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
You can disagree and argue as much as you like but the point of evaluating something scientifically is that not every statement should be given equal credence because evidence matters
This was a good laugh.
With all this political fuckery going on…I think we all need a good laugh
Volume up 😆😆😱
youtube.com/shorts/ueyqR...
Volume up 😆😆😱
youtube.com/shorts/ueyqR...
Bro outtalked the entire police department #foryou #funny #parrot#animals #police
YouTube video by Funny Animal 777
youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This was a good laugh.
Reposted by OtterB
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Well now, would you look at that?
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
A massive study of NEARLY 300,000 people in the United States found that receiving an updated 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine REDUCED people’s risk of severe disease AND death in ALL age groups, REGARDLESS of immunity from prior infection or vaccination.
Reposted by OtterB
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Reposted by OtterB
I've said this several times on here, but the best thing you can do in your middle or upper school library is put up a white board with ice breakers and passive activities like word games, riddles, or puzzles.
November 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I've said this several times on here, but the best thing you can do in your middle or upper school library is put up a white board with ice breakers and passive activities like word games, riddles, or puzzles.
Thread 🧵 on 25 years of the International Space Station. And on tables and their social importance.
THREAD: 25 years ago today, the first crew of the International Space Station for a four-and-a-half month stay. Two cosmonauts - Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev - were joined by NASA astronaut William Shepherd. Since that moment, the ISS had had at least two people onboard.
November 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Thread 🧵 on 25 years of the International Space Station. And on tables and their social importance.
I am reviewing a hotel contract for an event for a hobby org. I opened it in Adobe and got a message at the top: This appears to be a long document. Save time by reading a summary using AI Assistant.
Gave me a visceral HELL, NO! The whole point of reviewing a contract is to read every damn word.
Gave me a visceral HELL, NO! The whole point of reviewing a contract is to read every damn word.
October 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I am reviewing a hotel contract for an event for a hobby org. I opened it in Adobe and got a message at the top: This appears to be a long document. Save time by reading a summary using AI Assistant.
Gave me a visceral HELL, NO! The whole point of reviewing a contract is to read every damn word.
Gave me a visceral HELL, NO! The whole point of reviewing a contract is to read every damn word.
Reposted by OtterB
Starting this week, Capital Area Food Bank is providing free food assistance to furloughed federal workers & contractors struggling to make ends meet because of the government shutdown. Simply show your government work I.D. & stock up on shelf-stable items & fresh produce.
October 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Starting this week, Capital Area Food Bank is providing free food assistance to furloughed federal workers & contractors struggling to make ends meet because of the government shutdown. Simply show your government work I.D. & stock up on shelf-stable items & fresh produce.
Reposted by OtterB
Notice how it’s always, “the Bible must inform our laws!” until it comes to the +2,000 verses in the Bible that discuss the generous use of wealth and possessions in a way that prioritizes the needs of the poor, this sick, the stranger, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.
October 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Notice how it’s always, “the Bible must inform our laws!” until it comes to the +2,000 verses in the Bible that discuss the generous use of wealth and possessions in a way that prioritizes the needs of the poor, this sick, the stranger, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.
Reposted by OtterB
Three high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.
When books were being pulled from Iowa classrooms, these teens started an after-school club to read them
Three Iowa City West high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.
n.pr
October 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Three high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.
Reposted by OtterB
Reposted by OtterB
🎶
I am the very model of a MAGA Major General,
I've information secondhand from sources purely digital,
I know exactly nothing but what LLMs convey to me
In unencrypted late night chats, eschewing all security.
🎶
I am the very model of a MAGA Major General,
I've information secondhand from sources purely digital,
I know exactly nothing but what LLMs convey to me
In unencrypted late night chats, eschewing all security.
🎶
October 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
🎶
I am the very model of a MAGA Major General,
I've information secondhand from sources purely digital,
I know exactly nothing but what LLMs convey to me
In unencrypted late night chats, eschewing all security.
🎶
I am the very model of a MAGA Major General,
I've information secondhand from sources purely digital,
I know exactly nothing but what LLMs convey to me
In unencrypted late night chats, eschewing all security.
🎶
You are now a magician. A wizard. A sorceress. A witch.
What is your familiar?
A river otter. They have such fun. I need to be reminded to make time for that. Although no doubt it would get annoying.
What is your familiar?
A river otter. They have such fun. I need to be reminded to make time for that. Although no doubt it would get annoying.
You are now a magician. A wizard. A sorceress. A witch.
What is your familiar?
Mine’s a peregrine falcon. Very fast (good for reconnaissance and message-sending); at home in urban high-rises (like me); official city bird of Chicago.
What is your familiar?
Mine’s a peregrine falcon. Very fast (good for reconnaissance and message-sending); at home in urban high-rises (like me); official city bird of Chicago.
You are now a magician. A wizard*. A sorceress. A witch.
What is your familiar?
Mine's a raccoon. Just a little trashy guy. Also quite dextrous for carrying out my evil magical requests.
*please picture John Constantine for this scenario. Constantine plus a racoon, just imagine!
What is your familiar?
Mine's a raccoon. Just a little trashy guy. Also quite dextrous for carrying out my evil magical requests.
*please picture John Constantine for this scenario. Constantine plus a racoon, just imagine!
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
You are now a magician. A wizard. A sorceress. A witch.
What is your familiar?
A river otter. They have such fun. I need to be reminded to make time for that. Although no doubt it would get annoying.
What is your familiar?
A river otter. They have such fun. I need to be reminded to make time for that. Although no doubt it would get annoying.