iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 4h

So many ways to go with this... and almost every single one of them not wedding receiption-appropriate.

David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 4h

I think a lot about Putnam's "Bowling Alone" idea, in that without cross-cutting social activities (eg, bowling, Scouting), it's too easy to become chronically siloed, without exposure to alternate viewpoints. Sadly for his trucker, Haitians were "others" before he was forced to see them as people.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

How many ACS members are wealthy now based on current medical systems in the US healthcare system? Let’s not presume for a second that every “scientific society” is equally represented for its members — especially now — regarding federal government expenditures.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I enjoy living in South Florida, but I would've loved living in the South Florida weather of the 1950s.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It's going to be a generational rebuild schedule, since everyone that remained will be considered suspect, even if they weren't complicit. Curious for your take on how to do that -- especially since similar efforts will be needed in other federal agencies (including NOAA).

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Reposted by David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

Mike Wiser @drmikewiser.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Remember: Darwin's note of "I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody & everything" was written on Oct 1 (1861). Thus we are free to celebrate Very Poorly And Very Stupid Hatred Day today.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Nice word choice, by the way. They indeed see "governing" when they hold office as "ruling," an ENTIRELY different perspective on representative government.

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Reposted by David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It was the sadistic murder of mariners at sea that compelled me to write this for the Hill: To rebuild trust in maritime policy, the US must ratify the Law of the Sea thehill.com/opinion/nati...

thehill.com

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thanks to Adam Sandler for bringing it into a couple of new generations, lol. youtu.be/bVHfe0VTTOs?...

youtu.be

Happy Gilmore - I Wanna Kiss You All Over

YouTube video by Clip Requests

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Totally disagree. The Pentagon has gamed out the Hormuz challenge multiple times — and rational Administrations have decided that it’s simply not worth the after-effects, including the perception loss. When an Administration decides otherwise, they then fully own it, lock-stock-and-barrel.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

IIRC, "tree" has a specific definition (likely USFWS or USNPS, both under DoInterior). Sounds like a way to start "harvesting" old-growth from NPS lands before a new Congress starts oversight hearings.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Yeeting this guy into the Sun (along with the rest of the so-called "Cabinet") would do a lot to improve the welfare of the planet. This -- [waving about broadly] -- is SO exhausting.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Stare decisis exists, and it's the basis of our inherited British legal system. I'm waiting for a new President to simply declare (in Andrew Jackson voice) that "shadow docket" decisions without legal support won't be enforced.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It’s on us voters to ensure that it’s the “Republican party” and not the “United States of America” that falls. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of hubris to go around.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In my UG ichthyology course, it’s a LOT of material – fishes are an amazingly diverse, paraphyletic group! Some check out early, but for those who stick with it, they see me and my lab living most of this background in our daily research. By about midterm, they get it. Faculty, be that example.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I use this meme in my ichthyology lectures.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A fantastic thread that all male parents of sons should read. I'd add that yes, talk with your sons (not AT them), but also live the example you want them to become, with how you interact with your spouse, your mother, and your female friends and colleagues. They learn what they see.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

LMFAO, indeed. I'm a Full Professor living in high-cost South Florida, and I'm not even making the low end of the Assistant level posted in that ad.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Indeed! Lower one's expectations, yep. /s (lots of /s) Mamdani scares lots of 90's-era consultants because he's actually delivering. Same to some extent with Spansburger. When Dems learn that pop positions have pos electoral results, we can talk systemic change. I'm just not sure we're there yet.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

But the Dems would actually try to implement a rational policy, which would then lead to all sorts of politically inconvenient exceptions. The conserv media would run with those exceptions, leaving the intent of the policy to wither and die. Wash, rinse, repeat. Propose this with European facts.

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Reposted by David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

Anita Devineni @anitadevineni.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Emory Biology department is hiring a tenure-track ecologist at any rank. Deadline is Nov 1, link below! As I've said many times before, I couldn't ask for a more supportive department. Our faculty colleagues, dept chair, and admin staff are truly awesome ❤️ apply.interfolio.com/191783

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Reposted by David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Shot: "We asked 37 top academics and researchers who study education to rate a range of ideas for both effectiveness and cost, on a scale of 1 to 7." Chaser: "The panel included: Dominique Baker..." LOL y'all I read so many papers to complete this survey on k12 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...

nytimes.com

30 Ideas for Fixing U.S. Schools, Ranked by Experts

Math and reading scores are in a decade-long slump. We asked three dozen experts: What could turn things around?

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Similarly, people (especially Dems!) shouldn’t think that a protest vote against Reps is a vote *in support* of the Dem party — heck, poll after poll indicates that most *Dems* don’t like the Dem party leadership. Fascist policies with low inflation could’ve given Trump ~70% general approval rates.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This horrific outcome is being repeated across agencies, as outlined in Project 2025. It’s intentional.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Most unis take a pretty dim view of faculty conducting live vertebrate research without IACUC approval, since doing so also opens the institution to potential legal action, including loss of US federal funding. Protest "red tape" as you wish, but IACUC approval is still legally mandated. #FAFO

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Any route will have up-down periods, sure. Peak SoFl tourist market from Nov to Apr, especially with winter cruises, but LOTS of folks here now with Mid-Atl and New England ties. Add a minor tourist tax (which airports also do), and I think it's feasible. Thanks for the chat!

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The irony is that per-mile costs actually bear out the distance aspect -- rail is more efficient over such distances. It's the initial investment costs that are (currently, politically) prohibitive. However, the *markets* between SoFl and the Mid-Atlantic/New England corridor are absolutely there.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I’d take it all the way to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, at least — both MIA and FLL airports serve large numbers of East Coast routes that could be served by rail (and the right-of-ways are still mostly intact).

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Certainly would be a great opportunity to point out all Donalds’ connections to TFG, which he’s now scrubbing them — and that endorsement — from his campaign website. In politics, when your opponent is drowning, you throw him an anchor.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I think the entire world was already there, it’s the 30% of MAGA that’s slowly coming around. I’d love to see how many people are now looking up “damnatio memoriae” lately.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I’d add “restore decision-making based on science” (and “restore scientific funding”), but… priorities. This list is a great start.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Semi driver filling up his tank six days ago breaks $1,000 for 155 gals: "Almost 30 years of driving trucks and that's a first." Now, imagine this scene in front of every offshore commercial fishing boat loading 2500 gals before a trip. These costs are not sustainable for most US fisheries.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I mean, “the truckers on I-75 are *extra* pissed off right now.” It’s always been a little Mad Max from Naples to Sarasota, lol.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Then again, historians of South Florida would recognize this as *exactly* the way that Napoleon Bonaparte Broward — 19th Governor of Florida — approached “developing” South Florida.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

... and Matt Gaetz graduated from William & Mary's School of Law, where I attended (albeit WAY back in the day). Those graduates tried protesting, but got nowhere. Being smart but making reprehensible decisions sadly doesn't make you less smart nor less reprehensible. www.wavy.com/news/wm-law-...

wavy.com

W&M Law School community sign letter calling for alumnus Rep. Gaetz’s ‘immediate resignation from Congress’

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — The William & Mary Law School community released a letter regarding the recent actions of alumnus, Rep. Matt Gaetz (’07) calling for his “immediate …

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Reposted by David Kerstetter, Ph.D.

Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This would align with what I pointed out in last months column: the money is a means to control over higher ed. It's not a genuine interest in funding "better science." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

insidehighered.com

That Same Ol’ Authoritarian Playbook

Throughout history, autocrats have gone after higher ed finances to control institutions’ culture.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

See also, “Miami-Dade Cubans and Venezuelans”

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Anyone else miss the days when the USG used evidence-based infrastructure for decision-making? I sure do. An interesting thread 🧵 below.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I mean, let’s see how the shows do tomorrow morning to see if there’s any resolve to these statements.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Seems like the Florida state Senate just validated the report — nicely done.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In short, it confirms what we all thought for decades about what Chuck Schumer thinks of Democratic base priorities.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Seems like it would be a great opportunity for any elected official Democrat to remind voters what they stand to protect, not just what they oppose.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The US commercial and recreational fishing interests — which both backed him by large margins — would like a word.

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David Kerstetter, Ph.D. @fishguydave.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Wait until recreational charter boats and commercial crab/lobster boats in the Florida Keys face similar restrictions re diesel and non-ethanol gas. French and other EU countries’ fishers have blocked entire ports for less.

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