Why delete rules unless you plan to break them?

Yesteray, I took my required online training course in Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response (SMPP). This is an administrative mandate, where the university periodically tells me I have to take some particular training; I’ve had courses on implicit bias, COVID awareness, and responsible conduct of science, for instance, and they generally are reminders of what we’re expected to do in our job. It’s not at all like signing a EULA, though. EULAs are legal noise that are designed so you won’t bother to read the whole thing. These are detailed step-by-step breakdowns of our legal obligations, where we have to verify that we’ve read each short section, and there are example scenarios and descriptions of situations and proper responses, with short quizzes to make sure you understand the points. It sounds like a lot, but I cruised through it in under a half hour and it was easy.

It starts with a reminder of the official policy of the Board of Regents.

The University shall:
(a) provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression;
(b) establish and nurture an environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors that actively acknowledges and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and is free from identity-based prejudice, intolerance, or harassment; and
(c) promote and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and equal opportunity through hiring and admissions processes, academic programs, employment policies and practices, the delivery of services, the purchase of goods, materials, and services from businesses of the diverse communities it serves, and all of its other programs and activities.

We also get a dose of Title IX.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]” All federal agencies that provide grants of financial assistance are required to enforce Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate. ED gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges and to certain other entities, including vocational rehabilitation programs and libraries.

Yeah, I kind of rolled my eyes at most of it, because I’d never even consider breaking those rules. It is, however, good to be reminded of the social chains that bind us, especially since they impose no painful constraints — the chains are light, they don’t limit me from doing what I want to do, and they can double as armor in case anyone wants to violate my boundaries. So it’s all good. I’m happy to work within the system.

And then I read about Iowa.

Iowa lawmakers became the first in the nation to approve legislation removing gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights code Thursday, despite massive protests by opponents who say it could expose transgender people to discrimination in numerous areas of life.

The measure raced through the legislative process after first being introduced last week. The state Senate was first to approve the bill on Thursday, on party lines, followed by the House less than an hour later. Five House Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against it.

The bill would remove gender identity as a protected class from the state’s civil rights law and explicitly define female and male, as well as gender, which would be considered a synonym for sex and “shall not be considered a synonym or shorthand expression for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role.”

The measure would be the first legislative action in the U.S. to remove nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity, said Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ+ rights think tank.

I remember back in 2009, when Iowa first legalized gay marriage. They beat Minnesota to it. I was impressed that stodgy, conservative, Republican Iowa could approve something so progressive. What happened?

I am confident that my colleagues in Iowa naturally accept the same principles we sign off on here in Minnesota, but I do wonder about those people who celebrate the removal of explicit protections. Are they now thinking it’s OK to disrespect people’s gender identity? Are they now happily planning to sneer at gay or transgender people? Why did they want a constraint removed, other than to allow some people to violate the rights of others?

Someone in Iowa needs some sexual discrimination training.

The very public gaslighting of Zelenskyy

Jesus. I am so ashamed of America right now. The spectacle of a couple of American bullies lying to a beleaguered foreign leader is shameful, and it’s going to go down in the history books as one of those moments where this country revealed itself to be on the wrong side. Trump and Vance took turns lying, accusing Zelenskyy of being the one to start the war, of not being sufficiently grateful, right to his face. It’s classic gaslighting.

It also reveals that Trump and Vance are Putin’s stooges.

Zelenskyy: What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you are asking about? What do you mean?

Vance: I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country.

Zelenskyy: Yes, but if you …

Vance: Mr President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president.

Zelenskyy: Have you ever been to Ukraine to see the problems we have?

Vance: I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people on a propaganda tour, Mr President.

Do you disagree that you’ve had problems with bringing people in your military, and do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?

Zelenskyy: First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. You have nice solutions and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.

Trump: You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.

Zelenskyy: I am not telling you, I am answering …

Vance: That’s exactly what you’re doing …

Trump, raising his voice: You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good and very strong.

Zelenskyy tries to speak.

Trump: You right now are not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having the cards.

You’re gambling with lives of millions of people, you’re gambling with world war three and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country.

Vance: Have you said thank you once?

Zelenskyy: A lot of times.

Vance: No, in this meeting, this entire meeting? Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.

Zelenskyy: Yes, you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war …

Trump: He’s not speaking loud. Your country is in big trouble. No, no, you’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.

Zelenskyy: I know, I know.

Trump: You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK, because of us.

Zelenskyy: We are staying strong from the very beginning of the war, we have been alone, and we are saying, I said, thanks.

Trump, speaking over Zelenskyy: You haven’t been alone … We gave you military equipment. Your men are brave, but they had our military. If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.

Zelenskyy: I heard it from Putin in three days.

Trump: It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this.

Vance: Just say thank you.

Zelenskyy: I said it a lot of times.

Vance: Accept that there are disagreements and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it in the American media, when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.

Trump: You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. No, listen … And then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire. I want to go and I want this.’

Trump: You’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest, that’s not a nice thing.

The whole world has witnessed that disgraceful exchange. America, bully to the world, Putin’s lackey.

Do spiders count?

My new experimental animal?

A couple of Republicans have introduced a bill in congress to ban all research on animals. All animals, although I’m not sure they understand the breadth of that term. They do helpfully declare that The term ‘‘animal’’ does not include a human. So, according to the ‘Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics Act’, we’re going to have to shut down all research involving any kind of animal, except humans. They don’t have the first clue what an “animal” is, or how devastating this would be to biomedical research.

Specifically, this legislation would ban animal testing in federal labs, establish a three-year phase-out, rehabilitate and re-home former lab animals, saving taxpayer dollars while enhancing research outcomes, and ensuring accountability and transparency. American taxpayers spend an estimated $20 billion funding experiments here in the US and overseas including in countries with subpar safety conditions in China, Russia, and Iran.

“I am proud to work alongside Congressman Aaron Bean to end the cruel and unnecessary spending on animal experiments that have wasted billions of tax dollars and inhumanely kept hundreds of thousands of innocent animals in captivity to be tortured and sentenced to painful death,” said Congresswoman Malliotakis. “From administering transgender hormone therapy to monkeys to infesting beagles with fleas and drilling into cats’ skulls for so-called ‘research purposes,’ the American taxpayer would be outraged to learn how their money has been spent. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus and the Cosmetics Caucus, I am committed to advancing our legislation, promoting humane research alternatives, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.”

“What Fauci did to beagles and other animals is disgusting. The federal government needs to get out of the business of torturing Snoopy. I am proud to join Congresswoman Malliotakis in introducing the SPARE Act.” said Congressman Bean.

Of course she brought up transgender hormones, Fauci, and saving money, the current Republican shibboleths. I can’t believe this would ever pass into real legislation, but I don’t know…congress and the president have been pushing some insane stuff lately. If it did become the law of the land, you can kiss most biological research goodbye.

Welp, I guess I better go release my spiders and all those fruit flies. Then I’ll go raid the local orphanages for small children I can still legally use in my experiments, before my colleagues get the same clever idea.

Minnesota in the crosshairs

The Trump administration has been on a rampage against institutions that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in particular has told the states that they aren’t allowed to tolerate transgender athletes. So they’re threatening to sue us, and California, and Maine, any state that similarly refuses to cave in to bigotry. Minnesota says “no.”

Minnesota quickly went on the radar of newly sworn in U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi after state leaders vowed to buck President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

Bondi warned Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison that the Department of Justice is prepared to sue states that do not comply with Trump’s order. But Ellison indicated he will not back down, arguing that compliance would violate state’s human rights protections.

This isn’t just bigotry, it’s also political payback. Our treacherous Minnesota Republicans seen an opportunity to tear down Democrats.

Minnesota Republicans appear to see an opening with Bondi heading the Justice Department for a broader legal push against Democrats in the state.

“We write to inform you of years of rampant unchecked fraud occurring in our state due to failed leadership by Governor Tim Walz, his agencies, and legislative Democrats. We also ask for your assistance to investigate the growing fraud in our state,” state House Republicans wrote in a letter to Bondi earlier this month.

Our state office of higher education has sent us a memo. They aren’t accepting this, either.

Minnesota Higher Education Leaders:
You have likely heard about a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), distributed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
on February 14, 2025, that communicated a change in the agency’s interpretation of federal laws prohibiting
discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE), along
with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), and the Office of Attorney General Keith Ellison, is
assessing the legal and practical implications of this directive.
Like many of you, we have concerns about the letter’s timing, clarity, and potential impact on Minnesota
colleges, academic research, and students. The DCL asserts that diversity, equity, and inclusion, and similar
efforts, are at odds with longstanding civil rights law. It also announces that ED will begin assessing programs
and activities no later than February 28, 2025, with an intent to withhold federal resources from those deemed
not in compliance to this new interpretation of civil rights law.
While the DCL is just that – a letter, which does not carry the full force and effect of law – it has created
untenable uncertainty. With that in mind, I’m sharing more information for consideration as you assess what the
ambiguity and confusion brought on by the DCL means for your campus:
• The DCL by itself is not a civil rights enforcement action, and in its own footnotes, acknowledges that it
“does not have the force and effect of law and does not bind the public or create new legal standards”
(DCL, page 1, footnote 3).
• Federal civil rights enforcement is governed by federal regulations that require ED to take specific steps
before freezing or stopping funding.
• Minnesota state law, including the Minnesota Human Rights Act, prohibits discrimination or preferential
treatment in public education on the basis of race, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity
and other identities.
OHE will continue to seek clarity and keep you informed, and as always, we will do so with a focus on upholding
your academic freedom, your ability to determine curriculum and course offerings, your right to advance
research initiatives, and our shared mission to support every student’s pursuit and completion of a higher
education credential.
Thank you for your partnership,
Dennis Olson
Commissioner, Minnesota Office of Higher Education

But the Republicans have an alternate plan. The US Department of Education has put up a snitch sheet, a page called “End DEI“, where you, yes, YOU, can report all the schools that fail to burn witches torment trans kids.

Schools should be focused on learning.
The U.S. Department of Education is committed to ensuring all students have access to meaningful learning free of divisive ideologies and indoctrination. This submission form is an outlet for students, parents, teachers, and the broader community to report illegal discriminatory practices at institutions of learning. The Department of Education will utilize community submissions to identify potential areas for investigation.
Your email:
School or school district:
School or school district ZIP Code:
Please describe in as much detail as possible the discriminatory practice taking place:

It’s very 1984. Not discriminating has become an illegal discriminatory practice.

But please do report the University of Minnesota Morris — I’m sure people already are. This place supports our LGBTQ students and faculty…also our people who are members of other minorities. I wouldn’t have it any other way. The anti-DEI bigots are attacking, but we will fight back.

That’s how you get spiders, you know

I was feeding the black widows in my lab (all neatly caged, of course) when I saw this little guy hanging out just above the benchtop. Pholcus phalangioides, obviously.

I imagine most people have a little internal debate — do I squish him, or do I gently scoot him out the door? I always take the third option. I had just come from the genetics lab, with a bottle full of redundant Drosophila, and I shook a bunch out over her web. She was showered with flies! She was so excited, scurrying about to wrap them all up.

This is how I generally treat these random spiders in the lab (I call them the Ferals, and I’ve got Ferals all over the place.) I guess I shouldn’t wonder how she got here.

Is anyone still unconvinced that he is absolutely mad?

Come on, wake up. Trump has posted an AI-generated rendering of his peace plan for Gaza. It’s insane.

I also think Trump might have been played. If you freeze the above clip at the 0:31 second mark, you’ll get a glimpse of scantily clad belly dancers wiggling on a beach. They’ve got beards.

If you watch the whole thing <shudder> you’ll see why it would appeal to a narcissist — it’s got a giant golden statue of a surprisingly slim Trump, and gift shops full of nothing but golden statuettes of Trump. It reminded me of that giant statue of Saddam Hussein.

That’s what egotistical tyrants do.

Please, can we topple him now, even before the statues go up?

A guilty pleasure

Sometimes, I’ll tune in to these atheist phone line shows on YouTube. It’s unfair, but it’s always the worst, dumbest, most ignorant Christians who call in to air their idiotic views publicly — maybe there are intelligent Christians out there, but they don’t call in to get skewered by atheists who know the Bible better than they do. Also, I enjoy hearing Matt shout, “SHUT THE FUCK UP” to some babbling ninny who can’t answer a simple question and chooses to instead try and overwhelm everyone with frenzied bullshit.

For example, this video titled “From Biblical Slavery to Alien DNA – Nebraska Steve Takes Us on Another Trip” is a good example of the genre. First the guy tries to say the Bible doesn’t endorse slavery, only to be trounced by the hosts reciting Bible verses at him. Then he segues to claiming there is evidence for God, although he can’t say what it was, in spite of repeated requests from the hosts to explain what that evidence was.

He did finally gasp out that “the WOW signal” is evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. In case you don’t know, here’s is the WOW signal.

In 1977, an astronomer named Jerry Ehrman was recording radio transmissions from space, and got a brief, strong signal that he didn’t understand, so he scribbled “Wow!” on the printout. I’ve seen this cited so often by so many people as a sign that aliens are out there.

It’s not. The observation has been repeated. It’s noise from a passing comet.

The explanation started to come into focus last year when a team at the CPS suggested that the signal might have come from a hydrogen cloud accompanying a comet—additionally, the movement of the comet would explain why the signal was not seen again. The team noted that two comets had been in the same part of the sky that the Big Ear was monitoring on the fateful day. Those comets, P/2008 Y2(Gibbs) and 266/P Christensen had not yet been discovered. The team then got a chance to test their idea as the two comets appeared once again in the night sky from November 2016 through February of 2017.

The team reports that radio signals from 266/P Christensen matched those from the Wow! signal 40 years ago. To verify their results, they tested readings from three other comets, as well, and found similar results. The researchers acknowledge that they cannot say with certainty that the Wow! signal was generated by 266/P Christensen, but they can say with relative assurance that it was generated by a comet.

Somehow, I don’t think Nebraska Steve would care.

What would you tell people who want to gut basic research?

In 1997, Arthur Kornberg wrote an article for the Nobel Foundation, Basic research, the lifeline of medicine. It’s a good read.

The pursuit of curiosity about the basic facts of nature has proven, with few exceptions throughout the history of medical science, to be the route by which the successful drugs and devices of modern medicine were discovered. Though it seemed unreasonable and impractical, counterintuitive even to scientists, to solve an urgent problem of disease by exploring apparently unrelated questions in biology, chemistry and physics, these basic studies proved time and again to be utterly practical and cost-effective.

Then he goes on to give the examples of x-rays, penicillin, polio vaccine and genetic engineering.

The lessons to be learned from these four histories and so many others should be crystal clear. No matter how counter-intuitive it may seem, basic research has proven over and over to be the lifeline of practical advances in medicine. Without advances, medicine regresses and reverts to witchcraft. As in biomedical science, pioneering industrial inventions have not been mothered by necessity. Rather, inventions for which there was no commercial use, only later became the commercial airplanes, xerography and lasers on which modern society depends. Curiosity led to the inventions that became the source of industrial strength. It is imperative for a nation, a culture, a university and a company to understand the nature of the creative process and to encourage its support.

It’s too bad that we have a government that rejects this idea.

Reminder: the Stand up for science rally is taking place next week. The St Paul rally is from 3-5pm on Friday at the state capitol — I’ll be there.

I’m going to have to make a sign this weekend. Any suggestions for what I can put on it? I’m not going to put a copy of Kornberg’s paper on it — I need something short, pithy, and catchy.