Indiana Jones got people interested in archaeology, while teaching them to expect treasure hunts and conveniently lost civilisations. Archaeologists’ own breathless announcements of “lost cities” suggest Hollywood isn’t only responsible for keeping the myth alive. theconversation.com/why-indiana-...
Why Indiana Jones is the best and worst thing to happen to archaeology
The idea of archaeology as adventure predates the discipline itself.
theconversation.com
Measles can be eliminated. There should be zero deaths.
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · yesterdayA fifth measles death in Pennsylvania. Entirely preventable.
Alumni dollars keeps the Greek system alive. That's it.
Asher HELLbein@asherelbein.bsky.social · yesterdayWhat kind of scandal will it take to lead to the widespread elimination of Greek fraternities? Hazing so severe it results in serious maiming or death? It's happened. Absolutely hideous sexual assaults? It's happened. Terroristic actions in pursuit of campus political power? It's happened!
Among the American states, Utah consistently matches the track record of states of the Old Confederacy in charging, convicting and sentencing to death Blacks and Hispanics who are plainly innocent of the crimes with which they have been charged. It's evidence of malignant racism
Utah death-row prisoner released after new DNA analysis of 1985 killing
Douglas Carter, 71, who has spent more than four decades on death row, released on bail until new trial begins
theguardian.com
We need to focus on the fact that Senators Kennedy and Grassley participated in this charade and soiled themselves badly in the process. They need to apologize to the witness, and to the American public for their serious misconduct. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · yesterday"Republicans hoped to discredit Smith’s prosecutions of Trump & foster a narrative he weaponized the DOJ at the behest of Biden. And they hoped to catch him in some way that could be fashioned into the perjury indictment Trump has demanded over and over. But Schmitt’s f*ckup didn’t help the cause."
The Tennessee execution system is in fact constitutionally impermissible torture, and it was given a seal of approval from the Opus Dei court.
Capital punishment is barbaric regardless of its form, but it is interesting that the more clinical its presentation, and the further our remove, the greater and more prolonged the suffering. It is still premeditated murder committed by the state even if it’s dressed up as a medical procedure.
Zach Everson@zacheverson.com · yesterdayExecutioners administered two syringes of lethal injection drugs to Pike but she remains alive. Officials prepare one set of syringes for the lethal dose but have enough on standby to build a second set if needed. "The protocol does not say what happens if the backup drugs do not kill the inmate."
An investigation reveals 3 other cases in which Ken Paxton covertly interfered with criminal investigations and prosecutions to protect Republican men who were facing sexual abuse or rape charges or order to get charges dropped or downgraded. It's not just Hoffman in Waco, but a consistent pattern.
Ken Paxton's office struck plea deals in three other sex abuse cases beyond one facing scrutiny
The revelation comes as the Texas Attorney General struggles to gain ground with voters in his U.S. Senate race.
sacurrent.com
“What separates country from blues or hip hop or rock or disco isn’t that country is the true music of the working class. What separates country is that it’s the contemporary music genre most defined by, and most closely associated with, whiteness.” This is so good.
Noah Berlatsky@nberlat.bsky.social · yesterdayone thing I hope people think about with this piece I guess is that country music looks a lot different if you acknowledge Black contributions and think about the way that a lot of stuff that could be country isn't just because it's by Black people. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/there-are-...
Men are doxxing the wrong women because they're so hungry to terrorize a rape victim into further tragedy, they don't care if they violate & destroy other women. They just want to join in men's sexual violence like the 8th in line to a gang rape, any woman will do.
The Road Jess Travelled@jesspected.bsky.social · 2d agoThis is also sexual terrorism, every bit as effective as rape. This is yet another way men identify with rapists & worship the violence of other men. This is men acting as a class to defend their violent enforcement of the oppression of women. But why don't women report, eh?
Yes every woman has been harassed, many assaulted. But every woman has also experienced invisible loss from moments she avoided harassment. She felt a space becoming unsafe, so she left, while men stayed on. And in leaving, she lost: opportunities, experiences, learning, promotions, even simply fun.
Tennessee has had two failed executions this year. The death penalty should be abolished. Christa Pike wasn’t afraid to die. She was afraid they would screw it up and make her suffer. Which is exactly what happened. We shouldn’t allow the government to kill people.
Tennessee governor halts executions after Christa Gail Pike survives lethal injection attempt
Media witnesses say Tennessee officials were unable to carry out the execution of Christa Gail Pike for a 1995 murder on Wednesday.
apnews.com
With HIV cases rising by 12-fold between 2010 and 2025, in mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency. Estimates are that there are upward of 9,000 cases; the country's health minister has announced that 1 in 60 adults are now living with HIV. www.npr.org/2026/09/26/g...
Why this island paradise has the world's fastest-growing HIV epidemic
In mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency because of a startling rise in HIV infections. The country's crystal meth epidemic is a strong contributing factor.
npr.org
Joke about non-consensual contact right out of the gate at the MAHA Summit's "Reform in CMS" panel from moderator Russell Brand, the comedian who has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of rape and sexual assault for which he will stand trial in London next month. Dr. Oz slaps his knee. MAHA!
Amplify Legal sued over Arkansas' abortion ban on a similar right-to-life claim, and advocates in Wisconsin and Oklahoma are challenging abortion laws under the framework. "It is so critical to the future of the movement...to talk about ‘what does the right to life’ mean?” @greerdonley.bsky.social
New Lawsuits Argue That Pregnant People Also Have a Right to Life
Lawyers are fighting abortion bans in state court by establishing that pregnant people have a right to life and liberty—or at least self-defense.
autonomynews.co
Temu Tarzan tried to clap back at @this-is-mallory.bsky.social and it went as well as you’d expect.
America.gov launched today--a DOGE initiative to use AI to deliver public services. Child lying facedown on a frozen lake as the image accompanying the question: "How can I invest in my child's future" is just incredible. Way to go AI
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." UN Declaration of Human Rights, which the United States violates.
Headquarters@headquartersnews.bsky.social · 3d agoThe Trump administration has formally rescinded Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students nationwide.
No update to the MAHA summit. It's boring. Lotta white men talking about how they're empowering or disrupting stuff.
It was like 2 hours into the MAHA Summit before I saw a woman. Elevance insurance exec, Dr. Catherine Gaffigan, spoke at the "affordability" panel.
When even POLITICO struggles to paper over a Senaote Republican's idiocy. 😅
Sen. Eric Schmitt pins down Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan
It appeared that the Missouri Republican misinterpreted a text message reference to the "hawks."
politico.com
Who knew Schmitt is just another incompetent Republican boob who gets basics of sports team wrong. In other words - Vance/Schmitt is indeed the perfect dumb and dumber pairing for MAGA. Nice work AXIOS lmao.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3d agoholy shit -- turns out Jack Smith went to a Hawkeyes game in Maryland but Schmitt's team is so reckless they concocted a conspiracy theory that Smith was actually in Atlanta seeing a Hawks game and colluding with Fani Willis. Klobuchar points out to Schmitt, "you have your teams wrong."
feifeiwrites.substack.com/p/every-woma...
Every Woman knows a Woman Who's Been Raped, But no Man Ever Knows a Rapist.
What happens when a man confesses to rape and thinks he's telling you a sex story?
feifeiwrites.substack.com
Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social · 3d agothe cornell case has me thinking about how existing as a woman means knowing you could be the victim of sexual violence at any moment, all while knowing there's a high likelihood no one will believe it even happened if you come forward.
If you’re tired of South Carolina being the butt of a joke, vote for change this November.
Trump’s FDA nominee said the MMR vaccine is safe and paracetamol doesn’t cause autism, but wouldn’t say Trump was wrong for claiming otherwise. She’s evasive on contraception, abortion and vapes. Regulatory independence apparently stops at contradicting the president. arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
Can Trump ever be wrong? His pick to lead FDA refused to say.
Heidi Overton faced questions focused on vaccines, birth control, and vapes.
arstechnica.com
1 in 8 cancer cases worldwide are caused by infections, study finds. Researchers estimate infections caused 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, by Tashauna Reid www.cbc.ca/news/health/... www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... via @cbcnews.ca @thelancetoncol.bsky.social
Researchers are discovering more infections that can cause cancer | CBC News
New global research suggests 12 per cent of cancers were caused by infections, predominantly caused by HPV and H. pylori
cbc.ca
Remarkable new website launched by the CDC's union, showing the depth of losses to the agency's workforce. Combined losses: 30% of staff Cumulative damage to the nation: Incalculable afge2883ga.org/cdc-employee...
“Previous studies have demonstrated that viruses can pick up genes from their hosts. But the new discovery, reported Thursday in the journal Science, may be the first known instance of a virus with a human gene acquired in recent evolutionary history. “This one hits closer to home,” said Nels Elde”
This Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won’t Let Go of It
Scientists have found a human gene lurking in a virus that causes skin infections. It may be using our own DNA to infect us.
nytimes.com
