iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

New piece on aging and exercise - with some good and bad news about Gen X and Elder Millennials. Good news: We are exercising more than prior generations. Bad news: Some of us take "50 is the new 30" a bit too far, and don't adapt to our aging bodies. www.theguardian.com/wellness/202...

theguardian.com

You should act your age – at least when it comes to exercise. Here’s why

Adapting your fitness routine to your physical realities can help prevent injury from over-exercising

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I guess this is what happens when we elect and appoint people who decide to believe in God but not viruses. This is so fucking stupid.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I don't mind dying in a pandemic caused by a virus if we did everything we could to prevent it or stop it. That's just nature doing its thing. I do mind dying in a pandemic we saw coming and did little to nothing to stop. Because that's just fucking stupidity.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

I feel like this site is mainly for Twitter addicts who realized the supply was tainted and needed a better dealer.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

I'm going to start posting the most unhinged bullshit on this account because it's like screaming into a digital pillow over here.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Is anyone else feeling their inner 13yo mean girl emerging from dormancy to do battle in the year of our Lord 2025? Consider this fair warning, comment sections.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

My sanity feels like it's being held together by two pieces of scotch tape and a single staple.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Y'all, it is not fun to be knocking back shots of Robitussin like you're at a frat party in 1992 whilst reading about the demise of public health and medical research. 0/10

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

How is my sabbatical? Great. Fine. So good.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

But how did the sans culottes organize without TikTok???!!! How did folks organize the Montgomery bus boycotts without TikTok?!?!? Call me crazy, but I don't think control of social media automatically equates to the total doom of democracy or the resistance.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

We're on big, virtual slot machines and the whole goal of *every* single platform is to addict you, so part of me is always baffled when people are fighting over which slot machines are more ethical. I see it as play. Maybe for some of you it's serious play, but it's hard for me to take seriously.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

I'm on this episode explaining some of the reasons allergy diagnosis and treatment are so complicated. Give it a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/5D5q...

open.spotify.com

617. Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin?

Freakonomics Radio · Episode

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

A friend in LA sent me a video of someone driving around a still-burning neighborhood and I had the same feeling of despair watching it that I had while seeing videos of Katrina's aftermath in New Orleans. This is LA's Katrina. I'm so, so sorry, Angelenos. This is absolutely devastating.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

I made the mistake of curating a climate science heavy feed here and now it's my most depressing social media feed. I need to start following some funny people STAT.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Sometimes I respect the artistry of a diss comment. "That sounds like a room temperature IQ take." I mean. Chef's kiss. Bravo.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Serious question. If studies have shown there's a drop in reading comprehension when reading digitally versus on paper, and our reading comprehension scores are low anyway, is it even possible that textual digital spaces like this can promote better comprehension of any subject?

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Some medical history: A 1953 questionnaire sent to 444 doctors in Philadelphia showed that 69% never or usually did not inform patients they had cancer. Just 3% said they would always inform the patient. The main reason given for not telling them was "unfavorable emotional reaction."

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I expect any minute to start hearing about the miraculous health benefits of bloodletting. Venesection, baby. That's where it's at.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

I just saw a video asking people what the absolute worst book they've ever read is, as in, would not recommend it to your worst enemy because it's absolute trash. The first comment is: "the Bible" and it has thousands of likes. Sometimes I love the internet.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

I'm starting to think that having a president with cognitive decline is actually the perfect symbol for the USA.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Barely half of most social media users actively post on any given platform. On a site like this, it's barely 1/3. On YouTube, that goes down to just 10%. A lot of folks are in the backseat, ending up wherever the others want to go, listening to the conversations and arguments along the way.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

The cognitive dissonance of anti-aging folks who want to live until 150-years-old and the facts facing us with climate change must be rather large. Unless you have to traffic in toxic positivity to buy into the longevity narratives folks are spinning in the first place?

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Hi, I'm a medical anthropologist and my fun facts are never really "fun." I can ruin a party if you ask me about my research. I know enough about bioscience to have permanent med-student syndrome and think my every symptom is evidence of a fatal disease. I'm here to rain on your parades.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I feel about starting a new social media account the way I feel about teaching right now.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

I don't often talk about my years researching global disease detection (or surveillance), but maybe I should. If I'm not already depressing enough, let me add in my biosecurity training and "fun facts" about Ebola, prions, bird flu, Nipah.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

The CDC is a federal agency. Their leadership changes every time a president does. I don't know why it's a shock to people that they're making political decisions. I did research there in 2009 during a different pandemic. I can tell you there was always tension between scientists and leadership.

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Theresa MacPhail @theresamacphail.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

My rose bushes are already sprouting new growth. Allergy sufferers, start prepping for the onslaught!

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