iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#Pluribus I just started watching the TV show Pluribus, I’ve watched two episodes. The premiss is that a signal from deep space sent a sequence for an RNA molecule that, when synthesized and disseminated around the world, turns the entire human population into a single-minded collective. We

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Eugenics is the discredited beliefs and practices that claim to improve the genetic quality of a specific group by eliminating the propagation of the “out-groups.” This has been accomplished in the past by forced sterilization, inhumane institutionalization,

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

MAD COW, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is a neurological disease caused by the accumulation of prions, mutant proteins, in the brain. Prions are hard to destroy, cooking contaminate meat does not inactivate them. So when eaten they can cause the disease in an otherwise normal

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Our local neighborhood javelinas were amorous this morning. I recall a Beatles song, can you name it?

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

“NIH is building the scientific infrastructure needed to develop, validate, and scale technologies that better reflect human biology,” said NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya….This essentially says our government is allowing research using humans. Where this will inevitably lead to is unethical.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#NIH under White House control. An Executive order decrees this as the latest attacks on science unfold. Authoritarian ignorance is destroying US life science and vaccine research. Your future health is in jeopardy. In January 2021, I co-authored an OpEd “Science — restoring the

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The clouds in Tucson are a constant amazement.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Worried about AI killing us all. A good prognostication is HAL in 2001 A Space Odyssey. Go watch it.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

On a happier note: A dachshund’s muzzle is an all purpose tool, for opening doors, digging, sniffing and butting me in the morning to wake up, given there is a wet nose attached its often a wet nose muzzle butt. BTW this is Lola.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Now that Hegseth has dangerously depleted the defense department’s funds with his useless war he is joining the war on science and your health by trying to steal NIH health research funds to pay his debts. Think about how scumbag low this is. democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-r...

democrats-appropriations.house.gov

Defense Officials Attempt to Raid NIH Funds to Cover Department of Defense Activities

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) has learned that officials at the Department of Defense (DoD) are working to divert billions of dollars from the National Institute...

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

R-F-K-J-r, those five consonants represent the greatest attack on American health ever. You are being lied to about every aspect of health in the U.S., our ability to do health research is damaged and forget about being ready for a novel highly-contagious virus. The rise in communicable

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#DemocraticLeadership what is your plan B? The administration’s insanity and destruction are relentless, and I, and I believe I’m joined by more than half of the American people, need some hope. Some feeling that there is a light at the end of this hellish tunnel. Hope that this mafia

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

“Each of us had been tested as we tried to protect our communities and the agency we loved…we could no longer remain quiet under this administration”. It’s been a year since @drdebhoury.bsky.social @drdemetre.bsky.social and Dan Jernigan resigned from the CDC. Their courage is inspiring.

statnews.com

We quit the CDC last year. The problems we protested remain

How disease spreads and the risks and benefits of interventions are questions for science, not for ideology.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

During COVID the deniers were keen on saying “people died with COVID not of COVID”, implying that they died of some comorbidity and happened to get COVID. It sounded so convincing if you didn’t think about it and so many Americans didn’t think. Now both Oz and Kennedy are saying the 2 unvaccinated

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

In the increasingly morally repugnant America, people are betting on the final number of measles cases in 2026. There have been 2 measles deaths in Pennsylvania and many hospitalizations, the measles epidemic and every child dead, or permanently harmed, is blood on Trump and Kennedy’s hands. This

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Alina Chan, a self-promoting, self-proclaimed expert on the origin of SARS-CoV-2, had a guest opinion in the NYT a few days ago. It was a promotion of her conspiracy theories that SARS-CoV-2 originated from a lab leak. In an earlier

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social and I write about Trumps executive order on vaccines. “We aren’t even close to experiencing the full magnitude of the outcomes that the administration’s endless war on public health may bring.”

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

#A.I.generatedviruses I have posted previously about the use of A.I. to design viruses. The viruses created so far are bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria) and, therefore, can only grow in bacteria. The researchers provided A.I. with only bacteriophage genomes to learn from.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

It’s been quite a summer for the bacteriophage model hanging in the entry hall (bacteriophage are viruses that infect bacteria). First a cardinal made a nest in it and after they left a western screech owl decided it was a good place to hang out during the hot days.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R,spineless) greatly harmed the health of every one of us by confirming anti-science, anti-vax RFKJr to head the Dept. of Health and Human Services. He’s an MD and knew better but sold out. Now he will distroy the Constitution and the rule of law for all

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

“This A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in Nature.” As a virologist the future use of AI in designing viruses worries me. It was inevitable that it would be done and now we know AI can design viruses, albeit bacteriophage at this point. But whats next…? Can a human pathogen be designed? But

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Eugenics is the discredited beliefs and practices that claim to improve the genetic quality of a specific group by eliminating the propagation of the “out-groups.” It’s evil but it’s coming back. In the comments is an OpEd that @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social and I wrote.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

You know we all want someone to blame for bad situations. We want to be able to sue and publicly disgrace those we blame. We can’t live with the idea that shit happens, that a natural event, a flood, hurricane, earthquake, blizzard, or pandemic can simply wipe us out at any moment - we can’t deal

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

If you haven’t noticed, the pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi that make us sick) are winning…measles is out of control, Cyclospora is out of control, other vaccine preventable diseases are rising, and now our old friend SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) is making its predictable summer

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I’ve had this t-shirt for 50+ years and it’s as relavent as ever.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

While away on vacation a bird built a nest in the phage in the front entry way. There are three eggs. Remember I am a virologist.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Tucson friends this is a picture from the Jean Talon market in little Italy in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

This is Jack, our black and Tan dachshund, now he is blank, tan and white as he is 13 yo. He is, in his mind, the largest dog ever. He did once charge and chase a coyote out of the yard with terrifying barking. And he has a lesson: sometimes forget the coyotes and relax in a soft fuzzy place.

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Judy Stone @drjudystone.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

My Op-Ed on the OMB in the Portland Press Herald - Gift link: 🎁 www.pressherald.com?p=7678248&uu... Pls call your Congress reps and submit a comment to the Federal Register opposing this dangerous rule. @defendpublichealth.bsky.social makes it easy with their guide actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

pressherald.com

Proposed federal rule threatens far more than scientific research | Opinion

A troubling new framework for grant applications would put invaluable federal grants of all kinds at risk.

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Defend Public Health @defendpublichealth.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

We are a large group of scientists, researchers, clinicians, and health professionals-we are experts. This administration's political appointees do NOT have the expertise or understanding of complex science needed to assess the wide variety of research/contracts the govt funds. Period.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

In your home state many services are funded by federal grants. Grant funding is about to be highly politicized by the Office of Management and Budget (ruling OMB-2026-0034). We will all be adversely affected. Use the link to learn more and protest to Congress. actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

actionnetwork.org

Oppose OMB Proposal to Put ALL Federal Government Funding Decisions in the Hands of Political Appointees

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), OMB-2026-0034, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance. The scope of this proposed regulation is...

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

If Senator Cassidy wants to have a less than infamous legacy he should speak out against RFKJr’s lies, encourage impeachment proceedings against him and legislate against him. But no…he is spineless.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Clouds in Tucson are always a treat.

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Russell Vought is an evil man. This plan is nothing short of a personal take-over of federal grant making. It will affect ALL of us. Political commissars will now be in charge of all agencies, reporting to him. But we are not powerless. See what you can do below. 1/ www.thenation.com/article/poli...

thenation.com

Russell Vought’s Latest Plan to Gut the Government Should Terrify You

A proposed new rule changing the way the federal government hands out money could be absolutely devastating for every single person in this country.

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I learned a word from RFK Jr.’s podcast that was new to me, and that word is “polyanecdotal”, which is like putting an evening gown on gym gossip. RFK Jr. does not, of course, make a distinction between rigorous scientific data and some guy saying words.

defendpublichealth.org

RFK Jr.'s podcast is an anecdote factory with no scientific relevance | Defend Public Health

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD, shares her thoughts on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s science-deficient podcast.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

It’s easy to send a letter to you congresspersons opposing the OMB power grab that will make all federal grant funding political. This will affect everything from research to road building to social programs to meals on wheels. You will lose big time if this is enacted.

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

“Wicked snakes inside a place you thought was dignified” -A lyric from “Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend. Hearing it aways makes me think of the White House.

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

If you read this article and feel moved to write your Congresspersons, head to the link below.

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I'm up early. First things, first. Write to your members of Congress. Russell Vought is out of control. He is seeking to take over the entire federal apparatus of grant-making. He is a dictator in waiting. He who controls the purse controls it all. actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

actionnetwork.org

Oppose OMB Proposal to Put ALL Federal Government Funding Decisions in the Hands of Political Appointees

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Jim Alwine @jimalwine.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I posted this over a month ago and now there is the expected massive outbreak of flu at a Texas Military base. Way to go Hagseth.

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Judy Stone @drjudystone.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Superficial and needs follow-up post, but @Politico at least mentions that OMB plans to oversee/kill ALL grants. Doesn't explain this will affect things like healthcare, Meals on Wheels, road repair, Head Start, Small Business Support and anything with a whiff of DEI www.politico.com/live-updates...

politico.com

OMB nominee touts plan to give Trump appointees power to kill grants

The administration is expected to finalize the proposed changes as soon as this summer.

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