iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 6m

Not exactly news (except for the mechanism by which it happens). For those of us who prefer really big doggos, it's a sad fact of nature. Labradors, for ex., never live remotely close to long enough - they go right from hyper puppy zoomies to arthritis. Not fair. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

nature.com

Big dogs age faster than little ones — rogue ‘jumping genes’ might be to blame

Study of almost 900 dogs from roughly 120 breeds finds that rapid ageing of large canines is linked to changes in the epigenome.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 16m

annual No Kings Rallies are nowhere near enough (in fact, my guess is that they just lead to satisficing - people feeling they don't need to do more, because they show up on a town green once or twice a year; that's a problem). Rome is burning; we're all sitting on our butts playing little violins.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 16m

If you think of it in "fight, flight, or freeze" terms, American liberals have been in freeze mode for waaaaaay too long. Now is not the time for denial ("This is so awful that it can't really be happening.") We all need to get off our phones & start canvassing & protesting, all the time. Twice...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 24m

Pretty sure it's not - that was the people (& democratic principles) overthrowing an absolute ruler & his cronies, and this is the other way round. Less sure we aren't headed into a 4th reich, though.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 10h

Private insurers, Medicaid & the Vaccines for Children Program are all still required to cover pediatric covid vaccines. If you were to lose your insurance coverage, the VFC program would still cover them (at least, so far).

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 10h

Don't forget Nazi-occupied European countries. It's a fascist intimidation tactic.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 11h

Interesting article: "Sleep problems have long been seen as a consequence of [ADHD]. But now researchers are looking at the possibility that the relationship might run in reverse: that disruptions to circadian rhythms — the biological machinery governing... www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

washingtonpost.com

The surprising new idea that is reshaping how we think about ADHD

Scientists are starting to uncover the links between being a night owl and some neuropsychiatric conditions.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

The intention is to scare the populace into silent obedience to the regime.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

We're feeling stunned at my house, as well, but we really shouldn't be - the regime clearly said this was the country they planned to create, and they're doing what they said they would. People should always take fascists at their word.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

If we don't take both chambers in next month's election, we are *well & truly f*cked.* I'm extremely concerned that so many liberals don't seem engaged (& aren't opening their wallets). I think the vast majority of Americans have no idea what's on the line & how consequential this election is.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

Great; thanks! Petitions are low impact, but they're also low effort. If signing a petition keeps folks from engaging in more significant ways, that's a problem. But I know it won't keep you from doing other, higher impact actions, so it's good you signed - easy peasy, & Tillis has nothing to lose.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

Btw, I knew someone who was executed by jihadists who filmed & broadcasted it. Pure evil. In my opinion, Hegseth is no better (regardless of the fact that Hasan is obviously a very, very bad person & a mass murderer.) This has now become about the US government, not Hasan.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

I just added a new thread - please go look. It's really, really bad. I don't know what Congress might be able to do (in the past, public executions were allowed/prohibited at the state level, AFAIK, but this is a military affair) but I plan to call my three members of congress in the morning.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

squad, as well as other details of the execution, were chosen for their symbolism." That is not how any decent, civilized society behaves - using public executions as symbolic shows of force & state power. This indicates a *very* big leap towards fascism, today. I hope folks are paying attention.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

Owensboro, Kentucky. Some 20,000 people gathered to witness the August 1936 hanging of Rainey Bethea, a young Black man who had been convicted of raping an elderly white woman." So, plenty of racist overtones to the practice, too. "Hegseth said that the decision to shoot Major Hasan by a firing...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

be public and available to watch 'because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.'" Well, that doesn't sound like a threat & show of lethal force at all.... "The last state-sanctioned public execution in the [US] occurred more than 90 years ago in...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

which became infamous for videos of gruesome executions of prisoners who were not given due process or convicted of crimes. Mass shooters have in some cases broadcast their killing sprees on livestream sites." Hegseth is following great models, huh. Hegseth said today "that the execution would...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

hold public executions. The human rights group Amnesty International has highlighted some cases in which public executions in Iran and Saudi Arabia have been filmed by bystanders." "The practice of filming and releasing video of an execution is more common with terror groups like the Islamic State,

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

🚨 More reporting, with a gift link. This bodes very ill for our country - the excerpts below indicate why: "the public execution of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad set for Dec. 3 would be the first in modern U.S. history." "There are few countries that... 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/u...

nytimes.com

Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution Will be Public and Streamed Live, Pentagon Says (Gift Article)

If carried out, the public execution of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad set for Dec. 3 would be the first in modern U.S. history.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 12h

"At least two dozen people have been shot at by federal immigration agents involved in President Trump’s deportation campaign since he took office in January 2025. Six people have been fatally shot amid the ICE crackdown, including three U.S. citizens." www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/n...

nytimes.com

ICE Agent Shoots Man in New York City (Gift Article)

The person who was shot had been taken to a nearby hospital and was conscious and receiving medical attention, according to the New York Police Department, which said it was not involved in the shooti...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

If they do, "it could limit the public’s access to an open space that has allowed people to practice free speech at the doorstep of the country’s highest seat of power." Could, or will? Seems like will. Another thing for me to complain to my MoCs about in the morning. I better start a list.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

If the regime is stifling free speech, it must be...any day of the week. This is how frogs get slowly boiled (into an authoritarian stew). The regime "plans to add a permanent fence around the park, with gates that officials could close at their discretion." ... www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

Inside Trump’s Plan to Fence Off a Historic Protest Site (Gift Article)

The president’s proposal to enclose a park in Washington could alter how the space has been used for generations.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

for days at a time raises hard questions about which laws apply and who has jurisdiction if something goes wrong.” Well, as long as it's unsafe, legally questionable, immoral, a health hazard, and costs us a bundle, we're good, I guess.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

challenges, high cost and checkered history of deportations by sea." “What ICE is functionally contemplating is prison ships,” said a former top ICE official under Biden. “That raises serious concerns at every step. Moving people through international waters and past other countries’ territory...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

racism in the US is that people believe they're unfairly losing resources - but racism is what's costing them significant resources. I've had goldfish smarter than these anti-immigration fanatics. "It is not clear why officials are entertaining such an unusual plan, considering the logistical...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 13h

"The Trump administration is considering using ships...to deport migrants to Central and South America on journeys that could take days and cost millions of dollars." How funny (but not in any "ha ha" way) that a main justification for... 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Administration Considers Using Ships to Deport Immigrants (Gift Article)

Journeys to destinations including El Salvador and Venezuela could take days and cost millions. Officials cautioned that discussions are still preliminary.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

Holy s**. "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it," said Hegseth. It's appalling that this is our government (which clearly wants to get the populace used to public executions). It's equally/more appalling that they'll surely get a big audience. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.com

Fort Hood shooter’s execution will be live-streamed, Defense Dept. says

“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday about the firing squad execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

credible reports of a second infection (let alone death); I've seen many saying none have been put forward, & that Russia denies the allegation. Yes, the Russian government sometimes lies. So do anonymous posters on social media who get a buzz out of whipping folks up.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

social media posts"), they are seeking more information from the Russian gov. What that means is that even people home typing on their couch can post allegations that the WHO then feels compelled to investigate. We should be very mindful not to add to that noise. As of today, I've seen no...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

said the W.H.O. did not assess whether such reports were credible and could ask for information even based on unverified social media posts." That means that the WHO, also, is not saying there are any credible reports of a second illness - simply that, thanks to this "rumor mill" ("unverified...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

a 2nd infection, let alone a 2nd death. The NYT wrote yesterday that it "was not immediately able to identify any credible media reports of a second employee from the Siberian institute coming down with pneumonia." It noted that, "In a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Ghebreyesus [of the WHO]...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

"Russian outlet" isn't even named.) The piece you offer concludes, "Health Canada has told CBC News it is also monitoring the situation, though it sees no risk to Canada at this time." So yes, the rumor mill is running full-steam, but let's not contribute to it. There are *no credible reports* of

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

"media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause" (*not* a death!) - & CBC then says "Those reports started with a Russian media outlet and were spread to English-language audiences by the Daily Mail in Britain" (so *very* sketchy sources! The Daily Mail is ridiculous, & the

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

Okay - that's *not* a report of a second death. That's a report that Russian officials are *denying* "media reports" of a second death - I checked the piece. Those two things are not the same! & it's v. important to note that the "media reports" (that Russia denies) that CBC then refers to are...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

Yes, they are. Not everyone is stocking them (so follks may need to call around) but they are available. Even the VFC shots (for kids without insurance-based access), which were delayed, became available to order in late September.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

Comirnaty & Spikevax are both available. Don't worry. Other folks: if you can't find a pediatric vax via your pediatrician or by calling pharmacies in your area, ask your local health department for suggestions. In my area, for ex., not every CVS has pediatric doses, but some do.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

quicker. In short: very low likelihood of exposure, plus available treatment, makes a vaccine you'd have to keep repeating a poor choice (on top of its side effects). For lab workers who deal with Y. pestis, like the woman in Russia, that risk/benefit analysis was likely different.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

analysis (though MAHA folks deny it). We don't vax folks & then endlessly give them boosters in the US because their likelihood of encountering plague is quite low, & antibiotics are an effective treatment - esp. when cases are bubonic, which most US cases are; with pneumonic, the timeline moves...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 14h

Vax side effects are not the only reason it's not licensed here. Specifically: It's efficacy wanes quickly (and as with other formulations tried, it has iffy efficacy against the pneumonic form of plague) & Americans are at low risk of plague exposure. Vaccination always includes a risk-benefit...

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 15h

Please stop sharing "unverified stories" in replies to my posts. If you want to share them elsewhere, that's your business, but please - not here.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

care about the well-being of infants and children, and Erica Schwartz is all too happy to do his bidding. Lose-lose, for us and for West Africa, whose children RFK clearly views as expendable Guinea pigs.

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

what is standard." This unethical work will be led by a married couple "long lionized by...Kennedy for their controversial vaccine research. Presently, they are facing accusations of scientific misconduct, under review by the Danish Committee on Research Misconduct." Bobby Kennedy clearly doesn't

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

"When news of the CDC grant for the trial first broke last [Dec], infectious disease experts around the world denounced it as unethical and a potential violation of the Helsinki declaration, which requires studies to provide participants with the most effective known medical intervention, not just

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

said Dr. Paul Offit of the Vaccine Education Center at the CHOP. “It saddens me to think that our country would in any way participate in a trial where half of the children would be receiving substandard care and thousands will be doomed to develop cirrhosis or liver cancer."

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

"in a nation where one in five adults have hepatitis B, the study design could result in some of the newborn participants being infected but receiving no birth dose of the vaccine, clinical trial and infectious disease experts contend." It's a "wholly unethical trial, and it shouldn’t be allowed,”

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J. Offir, PhD @joffirphd.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

any number of vital uses for such funding." “'Everyone agrees, the point of global health security is to fight [the diseases] overseas, so they don’t come here,' says a CDC employee." But instead, the CDC will do this new Hep B trial, in which some infants will be vaccinated & some not."

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