Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Jul 14

Other than BBC News and PBS NewsHour, I don’t lean on cable news networks for news, information, and analysis. I was however struck by the @nytimes.com description of @newsnation.bsky.social as a “conservative news network.” I thought that they were aiming to be “centrist”?

Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Jul 14

Um, I bought the Krypto popcorn bucket so that I can watch my dogs use it as a water bowl. Krypto is my new Baby Yoda.

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · May 11

Once dubbed the Justin Trudeau of Castro Valley. This week? Accused of being worse than Donald Trump—during a school board meeting. Apparently I contain multitudes. #winning #range #welcometocastrovalley

two men in suits and ties are sitting in front of a fireplace with a flag that says navy

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media.tenor.com

Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Apr 18

My son says that I sound like #ChatGPT.

Text from my son to me telling me that my text sounded like something that ChatGPT would say.

Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Apr 12

Note to evangelical youth groups: Super creepy when you approach a 14-year-old in a Target on a Friday night about joining your club, talk to him about finding “fellowship.” My kid is too polite to tell you to leave him alone. He just wants his energy drink. Take the night off, go watch a movie.

a painting of jesus with the word no underneath him

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Apr 12

The attack on research continues, reducing IDC to 15% for DOE. Of course, announced after hours on a Friday. Trump’s war on “woke” universities is unraveling decades of a successful partnership.

#IndirectCosts #IDCMatters #ResearchAdministration #SciencePolicy #DOE
www.science.org/content/arti...

Energy Department cuts university overhead rates to 15% on research grants

Sudden move mirrors NIH cap on “indirect” costs that was ruled illegal

www.science.org

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Apr 7

I watch The Righteous Gemstones right after The White Lotus. It was a relief to see that Uncle Baby Billy was born again by then.

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Apr 7

Lochlan must be a #TarHeel because he saw God @uncchapelhill.bsky.social #GoToHellDuke #WhiteLotus

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Mar 9

They need to hurry up and rescue these #Yellowjackets.

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media.tenor.com

Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · Feb 22

Worst. Episode. EVER.

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 18

Die AfD darf sich verpissen lassen.

And so can JD Vance and Trump for embracing a political movement that includes literal Nazis.

#NazisRaus #FCKAFD

Reposted by Mike Kusiak

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Feb 12

If we’re renaming bodies of water based on petty grievances, I propose that this be renamed the Kendrick Lamar passage.

Google maps screenshot of the Drake passage between South America and Antarctica

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 12

What would Vannevar Bush do? Maybe we need an Endless Frontier 2.0.

#scipol #researchadministration #researchpolicy #SaveNIH #IDCMatters

🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A direct hit

Late last week, the Trump administration set off a frenzy in the US scientific community when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that indirect cost reimbursement for federally funded re...

www.science.org

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 12

Please #Denmark, buy #California!

After the past few weeks of Trump 2.0, we good use hella Hygge. We can enjoy your lovely dairy products.

But, I’m not learning Danish - I speak German and can be a Hjemmetyskere. 🐻🇩🇰 #hygge

denmarkification.com?utm=.share.b...

Help Denmark Buy California – Because Why Not?

Buy it from Trump, the bigliest crowdsourcing ever

denmarkification.com

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Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · Feb 11

Imagine if @aoc @sanders.senate.gov , every dem, SIMULTANEOUSLY held Town Halls where they allowed grant and contract recipients to explain to the country what it is they do and why it's important

Invite all media. Including RW podcasters. @spaces Flood the zone

Call it a Day Of Transparency

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Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Feb 10

NIH Updates

Good news: It appears that at least of the submitted F31 diversity supplements for which the study section had disappeared from eRA commons are reappearing with the original study section. Still uncertain future, but it's a step.

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media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Alexander Tin @alexander-a-tin.bsky.social · Feb 10

A federal judge in Massachusetts has just blocked Trump administration's move to cut NIH's funding of indirect costs

A hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 21 in case, which was brought by 22 states earlier today

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

A screenshot of text that reads in part: 'ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF STATES’ EX PARTE EMERGENCY MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ANGEL KELLEY, D.J. Plaintiff States’ Ex Parte Emergency Motion For Temporary Restraining Order [Dkt. 4] is GRANTED. Defendants and their officers, employees, servants, agents, appointees, and successors are hereby enjoined from taking any steps to implement, apply, or enforce the Rate Change Notice (NOT-OD-25- 068) within Plaintiff States until further order is issued by this Court. Counsel for Defendants shall file a status report with the Court within 24 hours of the entry of this Order, and at biweekly intervals thereafter, confirming the regular disbursement and obligation of federal financial assistance funds and reporting all steps that NIH, HHS and their officers, employees, servants, agents, appointees, and successors have taken to comply with the Court’s temporary restraining order. Defendants’ opposition to the Motion is due by Friday, February

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 10

Warren was master communicator of the impact of the financial crisis on everyday Americans. I find her, Buttigieg, and AOC the types of voices we need telling a story that resonates with ALL Americans. They may be from different parts of the party, but I like them all!

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 10

Kiddo scary AF!

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Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Feb 8

A Primer on Indirect Cost Rates

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 8

Another good indirect cost recovery resource #IDCMatters #SaveNIH

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 8

For what it’s worth, this news hit around 3:15 Pacific yesterday. The response among research administrators was immediate. APLU and AAU had statements out with long hours. Higher education is responding.

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 8

Speak up higher education! The last few weeks of demurring while the Trump Administration has gone after the diversity of our communities has been disheartening.

Adrian Daub @adriandaub.bsky.social · Feb 8

From Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University: slate.com/life/2025/02...

Dear Fellow College Presidents: We Need to Do More Than Wait This One Out

Why civil society needs university leaders to speak up.

slate.com

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Reposted by Mike Kusiak

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · Feb 8

Under fascism, no one is safe.

Universities stayed quiet as the admin targeted DEI & foreign aid, censored research, etc.

Now, they face devastating cuts to indirect cost rates, threatening research & operations.

Silence won’t protect institutions. It won’t protect people; it never does.

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Mike Kusiak @skibidimckoozyak.bsky.social · Feb 8

This graphic from MIT frames it well #IDCMatters

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