Robert Vander Velde
@robvander.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
So this morning I received an email from Medicare with the caption saying “Your mental health matters”. And then you open it up and this charlatan’s face is on it. I have an idea. 💡How about we prosecute, impeach, convict, and remove all these criminals then I think my mental health will improve.
December 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
So this morning I received an email from Medicare with the caption saying “Your mental health matters”. And then you open it up and this charlatan’s face is on it. I have an idea. 💡How about we prosecute, impeach, convict, and remove all these criminals then I think my mental health will improve.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Don't blame the turner diaries troglodytes literally dismantling the Department of Education, blame the 11 year old with ADHD who needs an extra 30 minutes for the test.
So they're just transparently starting the drumbeat against a new vilified group just like they did with trans athletes, racial minority students, MeToo/BLM/anti-genocide activists, etc. right?
There always needs to be a group who's "unfairly taking your kid's spot"
There always needs to be a group who's "unfairly taking your kid's spot"
Even by the standards of The Atlantic, this is an extraordinarily weak evidence base for an article.
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
December 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Don't blame the turner diaries troglodytes literally dismantling the Department of Education, blame the 11 year old with ADHD who needs an extra 30 minutes for the test.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
RFK Jr has been WILDLY, WILDLY successful—surely beyond his wildest dreams—in his extreme, dangerous anti-vaccine crusade, aided of course by powerful elite MAGA and MAHA MDs and PhDs like the Great Barrington Declaration dudes (Drs Bhattacharya & Kulldorff) & Drs Makary, Prasad, Hoeg, and Oz
The FDA wants to make it harder to get vaccines approved.
“It's a de facto ban disguised as higher standards.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
“It's a de facto ban disguised as higher standards.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
RFK Jr has been WILDLY, WILDLY successful—surely beyond his wildest dreams—in his extreme, dangerous anti-vaccine crusade, aided of course by powerful elite MAGA and MAHA MDs and PhDs like the Great Barrington Declaration dudes (Drs Bhattacharya & Kulldorff) & Drs Makary, Prasad, Hoeg, and Oz
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
In the Holocaust, Nazis captured my grandpa’s sister Sheinale (Yiddish for "beautiful") & her family & executed them in a forest in Lithuania. Their bodies are in an unmarked forest grave.
In contrast, Covid vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in their 1st year of use.
See the difference?
In contrast, Covid vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in their 1st year of use.
See the difference?
Just when I thought I'd seen it all........
endpoints.news/new-acip-cha....
endpoints.news/new-acip-cha....
December 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
In the Holocaust, Nazis captured my grandpa’s sister Sheinale (Yiddish for "beautiful") & her family & executed them in a forest in Lithuania. Their bodies are in an unmarked forest grave.
In contrast, Covid vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in their 1st year of use.
See the difference?
In contrast, Covid vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in their 1st year of use.
See the difference?
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Today is World AIDS Day
The disease has killed 44 million people
The State Department:
“The US Government will not be commemorating World AIDS Day this year.”
It’s disrespectful to everyone who lost their life. Everyone who lost a friend, partner or loved one. Everyone currently living with HIV.
The disease has killed 44 million people
The State Department:
“The US Government will not be commemorating World AIDS Day this year.”
It’s disrespectful to everyone who lost their life. Everyone who lost a friend, partner or loved one. Everyone currently living with HIV.
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Today is World AIDS Day
The disease has killed 44 million people
The State Department:
“The US Government will not be commemorating World AIDS Day this year.”
It’s disrespectful to everyone who lost their life. Everyone who lost a friend, partner or loved one. Everyone currently living with HIV.
The disease has killed 44 million people
The State Department:
“The US Government will not be commemorating World AIDS Day this year.”
It’s disrespectful to everyone who lost their life. Everyone who lost a friend, partner or loved one. Everyone currently living with HIV.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
I have scripts memorized for how to deal with students disrupting various lectures. I have plans I have rehearsed and chains of who to contact memorized. So far I've been fortunate in my current position, but every semester it's the same panic again and again.
I think straight and cis people really have no idea what things are like out there for the rest of us. I’ve received minimum one paper Like That per year since I started teaching, if not one or more per semester, all of which contained varying degrees of blunt hate speech directed *at me* lmao
December 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I have scripts memorized for how to deal with students disrupting various lectures. I have plans I have rehearsed and chains of who to contact memorized. So far I've been fortunate in my current position, but every semester it's the same panic again and again.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
New post by me on #MITPressReader @mitpress.bsky.social
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
December 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
New post by me on #MITPressReader @mitpress.bsky.social
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
On the 100th anniversary of the #ScopesMonkeyTrial
the ways we depict #evolution can still give an erroneous progressive view (that evolution leads to humans or ‘increased complexity’).
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/is-our-pictu...
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
🧵HHS today announced that Martin Kulldorff has been hired to advise Secretary Kennedy on science policy.
Kulldorff is one of many in government who share ties to the Brownstone Institute, a think-tank whose associates seek to limit the government’s role in protecting Americans from disease.
Kulldorff is one of many in government who share ties to the Brownstone Institute, a think-tank whose associates seek to limit the government’s role in protecting Americans from disease.
December 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🧵HHS today announced that Martin Kulldorff has been hired to advise Secretary Kennedy on science policy.
Kulldorff is one of many in government who share ties to the Brownstone Institute, a think-tank whose associates seek to limit the government’s role in protecting Americans from disease.
Kulldorff is one of many in government who share ties to the Brownstone Institute, a think-tank whose associates seek to limit the government’s role in protecting Americans from disease.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
As a cancer scientist, it’s definitely, “are they really hiding the cure for cancer?”
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
As a cancer scientist, it’s definitely, “are they really hiding the cure for cancer?”
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Fancy Mr Habronattus brunneus, peering 🖤
#EmotionalSupportSpood
#EmotionalSupportSpood
December 1, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Fancy Mr Habronattus brunneus, peering 🖤
#EmotionalSupportSpood
#EmotionalSupportSpood
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
My periodic reminder that Sarah Palin (quite correctly) called for Rahm Emmanuel to be fired when he used the "R" word.
And my periodic reminder that maybe a political reporter wants to ask her what should happen when Trump uses it.
Like any reporter.
And my periodic reminder that maybe a political reporter wants to ask her what should happen when Trump uses it.
Like any reporter.
November 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My periodic reminder that Sarah Palin (quite correctly) called for Rahm Emmanuel to be fired when he used the "R" word.
And my periodic reminder that maybe a political reporter wants to ask her what should happen when Trump uses it.
Like any reporter.
And my periodic reminder that maybe a political reporter wants to ask her what should happen when Trump uses it.
Like any reporter.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
I don’t know a lot.
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
November 29, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I don’t know a lot.
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
*goes to a natural history museum and holds up a bouquet to an Allosaurus skeleton so they can finally see some flowers*
I don’t know a lot.
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
But I know a lot about dinosaurs.
Now we all know dinosaurs lived for millions of years right?
But does you mind actually wrap around how long they dominated for?
Lets get a little perspective.
Did you know Allosaurus never saw flowers but T.rex did?
November 29, 2025 at 11:28 PM
*goes to a natural history museum and holds up a bouquet to an Allosaurus skeleton so they can finally see some flowers*
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
InFURiating that we all have to write/think/talk about vaccines this much, outside of celebrating new successes (HPV vax largely *eliminating* cervical cancer, my god), this shit was settled as one of the great scientific and public health triumphs EVER and now these dipshits are trying to ruin it
November 30, 2025 at 12:14 AM
InFURiating that we all have to write/think/talk about vaccines this much, outside of celebrating new successes (HPV vax largely *eliminating* cervical cancer, my god), this shit was settled as one of the great scientific and public health triumphs EVER and now these dipshits are trying to ruin it
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Omg I am such a dingbat, I went to look up news articles about foxes, to see if there were any funny examples of foxes doing things in urban environments, so I googled "Fox News", and obviously it gave me fox news, and I was like "What the hell!" then realized that no, this one's on me.
November 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Omg I am such a dingbat, I went to look up news articles about foxes, to see if there were any funny examples of foxes doing things in urban environments, so I googled "Fox News", and obviously it gave me fox news, and I was like "What the hell!" then realized that no, this one's on me.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
How y’all reading a 100 books a year? That’s amazing.
November 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
How y’all reading a 100 books a year? That’s amazing.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
I've said this before but it bears repetition: the consequence of allowing bigotry & other cruelty into your coalition is that everyone starts to stand up for one another a lot less. That's one reason why tolerance of bigotry &/or cruelty is the antithesis of good antifascism.
November 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I've said this before but it bears repetition: the consequence of allowing bigotry & other cruelty into your coalition is that everyone starts to stand up for one another a lot less. That's one reason why tolerance of bigotry &/or cruelty is the antithesis of good antifascism.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
The thing is: the purpose of our military is literally to DEFEND OUR LAWS.
November 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The thing is: the purpose of our military is literally to DEFEND OUR LAWS.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
When the head of the United States health care system doesn’t believe that HIV causes AIDS, it’s easier to see why germ theory denialism is having its biggest moment since 1890.
November 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
When the head of the United States health care system doesn’t believe that HIV causes AIDS, it’s easier to see why germ theory denialism is having its biggest moment since 1890.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
if Lewis wrote the Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of the Nine would have been four hobbits, Merlin, Thor, Hercules, Puck, and Oberon.
November 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
if Lewis wrote the Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of the Nine would have been four hobbits, Merlin, Thor, Hercules, Puck, and Oberon.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
This is delusional.
It's pulling a Keir Starmer. You cannot outdo the Cons on right-wing policy. Why on earth is this lesson so hard to learn?
It's pulling a Keir Starmer. You cannot outdo the Cons on right-wing policy. Why on earth is this lesson so hard to learn?
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
This is delusional.
It's pulling a Keir Starmer. You cannot outdo the Cons on right-wing policy. Why on earth is this lesson so hard to learn?
It's pulling a Keir Starmer. You cannot outdo the Cons on right-wing policy. Why on earth is this lesson so hard to learn?
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
I think MAHA doctors were livid their “genius” wasn’t recognized regarding COVID and now they are enjoying taking a wrecking ball to things out of retribution.
I can understand the motivation. Is it just that a bunch of extremists who lack critical thinking skills got into power positions? Is it a bunch of people who are sadists and enjoy causing suffering got into decision making positions? Is there some financial incentive? It makes no sense.
November 27, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I think MAHA doctors were livid their “genius” wasn’t recognized regarding COVID and now they are enjoying taking a wrecking ball to things out of retribution.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
IMO the weird exception some supposed leftists seem to make for condemning-the-theft-of-labor-except-art-lol-steal-that-shit is just a weird intersection with puritan "if you enjoy yourself, it's not a real job" brainworms.
"fun" job = member of the leisure class (ROFL) = fair game. Somehow.
"fun" job = member of the leisure class (ROFL) = fair game. Somehow.
Honestly, people calling creators the "petite bourgeoisie" makes me want to snap.
We're working folk. And we work really hard. For next to nothing.
We're not lounging around eating bonbons. We're trying to figure out how we're going to be able to pay rent next month.
We're working folk. And we work really hard. For next to nothing.
We're not lounging around eating bonbons. We're trying to figure out how we're going to be able to pay rent next month.
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 AM
IMO the weird exception some supposed leftists seem to make for condemning-the-theft-of-labor-except-art-lol-steal-that-shit is just a weird intersection with puritan "if you enjoy yourself, it's not a real job" brainworms.
"fun" job = member of the leisure class (ROFL) = fair game. Somehow.
"fun" job = member of the leisure class (ROFL) = fair game. Somehow.
Reposted by Robert Vander Velde
Incredible and enviable and with alt-text
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Incredible and enviable and with alt-text