Why I'm Voting Yes on Virginia's Redistricting Amendment Today Virginia votes on a constitutional amendment that would allow mid-decade redistricting — redrawing congressional maps in a way that would eliminate mos...

the case for strategic gerrymandering youtu.be/YgMSs_aMP84?si…

The first non-mammalian synapsid embryo from the Triassic of South Africa Oviparity was likely the plesiomorphic reproductive condition for non-mammalian Synapsida, the stem-mammal group. Yet, despite nearly two centuries of research, no definitive fossil eggs of late Palaeozoic or early Mesozoic synapsids have been discovered. Here, three perinate specimens of the dicynodont genus Lystrosaurus from the Early Triassic of the South African Karoo Basin are examined using high-resolution CT and synchrotron scanning. One specimen, NMQR 3636, displays a tightly curled posture suggestive of an in ovo position and completely lacks tusks. Crucially, the lower jaw symphysis remains unfused—a developmental trait found only in pre-hatching embryos of modern birds and turtles. No calcified eggshell is preserved, so the egg might have been soft and leathery. The large size of the reconstructed egg suggests a precocial, non-milk-feeding developmental strategy. As a non-cynodont synapsid, Lystrosaurus offers a rare and valuable glimpse into reproductive biology far removed from the mammalian crown group. Unlike the more derived, mammal-like cynodont Kayentatherium, whose egg size aligns with lactation, Lystrosaurus anchors the plesiomorphic condition deep within Synapsida. Its reproductive strategy may have played a crucial role in its resilience and ecological dominance following the end-Permian mass extinction.

DICYNODONTS ARE CONFIRMED TO HAVE LAID EGGS HOLY SHIT
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

A picture of a small concretion (rock) with a white blob in the middle. this blob was described as the worlds oldest octopus and called Pohlsepia. Our research shows that hidden under the rock are teeth that confirm it is a nautiloid (a relative of modern nautiluses).

An artistic rendering of the rotting Pohlsepia on the seafloor 310 million years ago. Sharks, fish and arthropods lurk in the background

I am so unbelievably proud to present 8 years of hard work: the worlds oldest octopus is not an octopus...

Pohlsepia is actually a really rotten Nautiloid (but oldest soft tissue nautiloid ever found!). 🐙❌

royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attends a news conference in the U.S. Capitol. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

AOC: “This is a threat of genocide & merits removal from office. The President’s mental faculties are collapsing & cannot be trusted.

To every individual in the President’s chain of command: You have a duty to refuse illegal orders. That includes carrying out this threat”

you don’t have to know much world history to look at this map and immediately see why the entire western hemisphere has birthright citizenship

Hochul Moves to Delay and Alter Climate Law, Citing Energy Prices

New York's governor is trying to undermine the 2019 climate law that the NY legislature passed with overwhelming support. Where the rubber meets the road: Accounting for methane, the main component of natural gas and a fast/potent climate pollutant. 🧵 with some background on methane.

I do not like that Fetterman, I do not like him Sam I Am

Three panel comic. Panel 1: young man in a hoodie looking morose and sitting on a swing set. He says “she’s breaking up with me…” Panel 2: next to him is a glyptodon, an early ancestor of armadillos. With his head in his hands, the young man says “what do I do glyptodon?” Panel 3: the glyptodon says “I’m like an early ancestor of armadillos. The young man angrily replies, “are you even listening man?”

I saw how the Greens channelled voters’ anger – and fused it with hope. That’s why they won in Gorton and Denton | Owen Jones Starmer called the byelection a battle for the nation’s soul. This result shows Labour has lost that – and I think it will lose much more, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones

The politics of hope are back.

The politics of fear are in crisis.

New column on the Green victory in Gorton and Denton 👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Stunning and historic result in the Gordon and Denton parliamentary by-election in the UK.

The anti-genocide Green Party led by Zack Polanski has won the seat from Keir Starmer's governing Labour Party.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK and its odious candidate Matt Goodwin beaten.

This is the best possible result! The Greens are the only real left-wing party in the UK right now and have the capability to fully replace Labour and stand up to Reform - this is the way out!

democrats should internalize that this is what their colleagues think of them and act accordingly

Triceratops

Meet America’s new swing voter: The anti-system voter. (Or: Why Democrats should think through nominating AOC in 2028) A new paper finds anti-system sentiment — not left-right ideology — decided the 2016 and 2024 elections

Donald Trump won in 2016 and 2024 because anti-system voters flocked to him.

Democrats need a strategy for competing with anti-system voters in 2028.

This is, in some ways, a very strong case for nominating someone like AOC over Newsom.

www.gelliottmorris.com/p/meet-ameri...

You Know What? Maybe the Time Is Right for an AOC Presidential Bid She’s only 36, and there’s a good argument that she should run for Senate and bide her time. But she also could be a formidable White House candidate.

from the perspective of someone who might want to be president, the best time to run for the white house is now, not later. so if AOC is thinking about it — if the white house is her ambition — then her best bet is to throw her hat in the ring

She is exactly the right person for those low-info voters who want a big change and who dislike the establishment of both parties - they swung big for Trump in 2024 and only vote in presidential elections. Someone like Newsome simply will not be able to get them to vote for him. AOC is the way out

Something to note for those who claim that the American voting public is too sexist to vote for AOC: both times Dems nominated a woman they were the incumbent party at a time of high public dissatisfaction with the status quo. The status quo hate continues, Dems aren’t in office - now is the time

You Know What? Maybe the Time Is Right for an AOC Presidential Bid She’s only 36, and there’s a good argument that she should run for Senate and bide her time. But she also could be a formidable White House candidate.

"From joining Sanders on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour to endorsing Mamdani to her comments in Munich, Ocasio-Cortez keeps showing prescience and depth. Perhaps the right woman is staring right in front of us, and we should embrace her leadership." newrepublic.com/article/2065...

AOC: "Extreme level of wealth inequality leads to social instability and drives authoritarianism, right-wing populism, and really dangerous domestic internal politics. That is a direct outcome of the failure of democracies over decades to deliver."

He’s even dressed like one of the fremen!

Loving the Dune routine from that Kazakh figure skater!

Comic. [2x2 chart. Top left quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of dinosaurs stegosaurus, triceratops, tyrannosaurus, velociraptor, and long-neck dinosaur. Top right quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of mosasaur, quetzalcoatlus, dimetrodon, plesiosaur, and pteranodon. Bottom left quadrant: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of penguin, egret, ostrich, pigeon, falcon. Bottom right: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of squirrel, stapler, plant, person, and bicycle.]

Dinosaurs And Non-Dinosaurs

xkcd.com/3204/

[Standard caveat that people are bad at predicting what will persuade them.] It's funny that a "fight harder against Trump" message polls the best, and James Carville's anti-defund-the-police message is next to last.

Resistance Moms and the never-Trump Republicans have been right about everything.

Great, NOW who’s going to Fire all of these Arcades?

I have nothing of substance to add re: the condemnation of paleo associations with Epstein, but as the initiator of one of the more recent high-profile SVP ethics cases who spent months going through their process, I have some thoughts re: SVP's handling of ethics cases/reports.

A thread 🧵:

Screenshot of a statement from SVP that they find “no policy violations” in having members appear in the Epstein letters

Really SVP? You’re just going to ignore decades of sexual and academic misconduct, marrying a student AT one of your conferences, and every report I’ve filed (implying that’s what you do with reports) to defend famous Horner? You’d rather have pedophiles than students is your message?

basically yglesias, jain, jentleson, WelcomePAC donors etc all base their prescriptions for Dems on a statistical model that nobody can replicate, and refuse to acknowledge (a) that uncertainty dwarfs the detectable effect of moderation & (b) that the last year has proved their views wrong!!

Four people (including a brown-haired Mark Norell) on ladders remove model skull from Apatosaurus mounted skeleton

Hmm, sounds like we need a refresher. The issue of whether everyone's favorite long-neck is called Brontosaurus or Apatosaurus (or both) has *nothing* to do with which skull was historically included on museum mounts! 🧵#FossilFriday

I'm not joking when i say race science dipshits think people are pokemon, but it's rather less funny that a eugenicist has been an assignment editor for much of the mainstream press for the past six years

What’s the most recent activity that you did that turned out better than you expected it to be?