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Dr. Karma

@drkarmaw.bsky.social
315 followers 214 following 410 posts

Writer, teacher, stand-up comic, Simpsonologist, editor-in-chief of Margaret Atwood Studies, clumsiest woman in the world. No DMs: I'm here for public engagement with others, not private chats. :)

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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The same people who said dumb shit like "when AI can do our jobs, we will be free to just make art" now say "of course AI should make all the art!" 🙄
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why would we need people who could speak foreign languages or know about other cultures? We don't do "diplomacy" any more. Foreign policy is now just threats to our friends and fawning over our enemies.
chronicle.com
White House Moves to Cancel Nearly All Funding for Key International-Education Grants
The Trump administration has rescinded $69.6 million of the $70.3 million appropriated by Congress for teaching and research focused on foreign languages and cultural studies covering global regions.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The WP reports that Putin and Ofputin (aka 47) are changing a UN policy. AI weapons' behavior will no longer be required to be “predictable” and “reliable."
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
What I've accomplished today: giving testimony on behalf of my union & making this chart to explore the question: Are Trump and Humpty Hump the same person? ;)
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Last weekend's conversation with my boob: I wake, discovering Selma, my left boob, is unwell, a week after surgery. Me: Selma, you’re hard and you’re red and you’re hot. What’s going on? Selma: It is my boiling outrage! Me: Ummm…these are warning signs that something could be wrong, like sepsis. 1/4
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Selma and I are in the hospital with an abscess. I'm really glad I am taking medical leave this quarter to deal with the surgery and radiation. 1/2
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
All of these are flowing into me right now. Selma* may have sepsis. *My left boob.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I was hoping to be much more healed up after Friday's surgery, but I am still weak & I had to get my boob incision reglued today. (Selma was leaking a lot of red fluid this morning.)
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy #StarTrekDay Live long & prosper!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Looked under the surgery bra today. I have a frankenboob. (Or do I have to be pedantic & call it a Frankenstein's monster boob?)
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I was supposed to be on a panel at #DragonCon yesterday, with a new cosplay outfit, but I had a lumpectomy instead. Now I am cranky and itchy and impatient to be healed enough to do stuff!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A little catch up post: www.dr-karma.com/2026/09/03/t...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
My first #hellofresh order is here. Haven't tried the food yet, but Graymalkin loves the box!!!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
We adopted Snowball II six years ago today!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
A little blog I wrote about Dolly a while back: www.dr-karma.com/2020/08/18/y...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Olivia Rodrigo's song: "Serena Joy":
youtube.com
Olivia Rodrigo - serena joy (Audio)
YouTube video by OliviaRodrigoVEVO
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
About 8 years ago, my son and I were walking into the UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center. I was there to perform my Chronic Pain: A Comedy show. Dante said it was “ironic that you’re doing this in the center for the one thing you don’t have. Yet.” (1/3)
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Someone syphoned gas from Shaun while I was in Indy. They broke the fuel access door too. When I was struggling to open it, I ripped the outer cover off.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Happy #PinotNoirDay
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I just got out of a meeting wherein we discovered that the woman running the meeting and one of the new members of the committee were both in my Comp Lit Great Books class, just over 20 years ago!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Have been trying out different songs as morning alarms. Gloria Estefan & the MSM's Conga scared the crap out of me this morning!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
a little blog about the last two weeks: www.dr-karma.com/2026/08/08/b...
dr-karma.com
Back from Oxford
So many things happened in London, Granada, and Oxford, but this is just a quick wrap up of the last two weeks. I: found Shaun (my mini) completely covered in pollen got my grades in had good Mexican ...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Normally, I wouldn't be celebrating the third anniversary of a very stupid decision to marry, but I just proofread the divorce papers: they are ready to mail! 📃📨
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I turned 51 yesterday. Today, I learned I have to put surviving cancer at the top of my to-do list. Luckily, we caught it early.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Me, today, at 51
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Today is the birthday of my third Great-Grandmother, born in Quebec (1852) as Marie Eloise Pare, buried 92 years later (1945) in Indiana as Mary Louise. (Her married name was Pagin.) I had about twenty years with her granddaughter, Bessie. (1/3)
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I’m in the waiting room for a contrast-enhanced biopsy of my left breast. I’ve had to wait too long for it.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
My kid is 33!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Poor Shaun is covered in six weeks of pollen!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I would like to withhold my funding from the USA, until I see proof it isn't run by a fraud. Heather Cox Richardson: "Today [RFK Jr said the US] is withholding ... funding from California and Minnesota, saying they want to see proof that payments there aren’t fraudulent."
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Oh Sam Neill, you were as lovable as your Simpsons character. We'll miss you so!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Obligatory Stonehenge with The Monkey pics: 2026
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
My lunch, half a block from my summer classroom, right before the students' orientation: fish & chips & mushy peas, with Oxford Sauce, and a Pimms Fizz on the side. Oxford, I'm home!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Checking out of the hotel in Granada was very complicated & since he had figured out that I can often understand when people speak Spanish, the desk clerk playfully commanded me to have the whole long conversation in it. Aye caramba!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I haven't been to a graduation since high school, including for my own degrees, but l saw my son hooded last month & today witnessed #MargaretAtwood get her honorary doctorate from the #UniversidadDeGranada!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
a little blog about the last four weeks: www.dr-karma.com/2026/06/14/e...
dr-karma.com
End of May + Beginning of June Q&A
Q: Don’t you usually do a “by the numbers” wrap up? A: I am too discombobulated to count. Q: So you don’t know how many books, etc.? A: I read a lot of books, had a few mystery bruises, saw a few play...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The doctors: It's vital that you are extremely hydrated for today's procedure. The earth: It's hot AF today! My body: It's time for diarrhea!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I got all of my travel toiletries out to pack for London, Spain, & Oxford. Anubis finds them strangely comfortable.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/w...
nytimes.com
Police Remove Diabetes Experts From Conference for Distributing Critique of Trump Administration
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
When leaving my allergy shot appointments, I have to have my arms checked for hives. My nurse didn't mention the line of dried blood down my arm. No wonder I got weird looks at the grocery store.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Saying goodbye to three classes today, but with my cane in reach, because my back wants to say goodbye to walking well. The tech in the first classroom is broken too.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Goodnight, Graymalkin
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
My son just called me "an older woman of Davis," while suggesting I take a cat with me to the Mondavi Center.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I didn't sleep last night & woke up with such low blood pressure that I was in danger of fainting. My doc said to rest, reclined, so naturally I only followed half of the instructions & worked all day on the couch.
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
a little blog about TMJ + insufficient healthcare: www.dr-karma.com/2026/05/23/u...
dr-karma.com
US Healthcare & its eternal plan B
About a month ago, my jaw started giving me problems–more than usual. I have had TMJ (now called TMD) since I was a teenager. I’m really careful about what and how I chew (no gum, etc.), and while I d...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
A picture with Master Waltonen!
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
I'm sure this will be fine. I mean, it's not like our CDC isn't allowed to coordinate with the WHO and our CDC isn't a hollow shell and the official Pandemic Response Team isn't disbanded. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/w...
nytimes.com
W.H.O. Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
A little wrap up of the last month: www.dr-karma.com/2026/05/14/t...
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Dr. Karma @drkarmaw.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
We're going to get a Weird Al Jukebox Musical!
playbill.com
A 'Weird Al' Yankovic Jukebox Musical Is in the Works
The Grammy-winning satirist is working with Beetlejuice and Gutenberg! writers Scott Brown and Anthony King on the project.
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