It’s November 10 in the Midwest, home of the Great Lakes. As Chicago braces tonight for the gales of November, it’s time to remember the Edmund Fitzgerald on the 50th anniversary of the disaster. (Maya Rudolph recently said Gordon Lightfoot’s only for white people, but we’ll forgive her ignorance.)

1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️

It’s November 10 in the Midwest, home of the Great Lakes. As Chicago braces tonight for the gales of November, it’s time to remember the Edmund Fitzgerald on the 50th anniversary of the disaster. (Maya Rudolph recently said Gordon Lightfoot’s only for white people, but we’ll forgive her ignorance.)

At this point I might as well stay up long enough to be the first person to post about the Edmund Fitzgerald.

It’s amazing that @fetterman.senate.gov has had such horrible mental and physical medical conditions while in office, and his response is, “How can I make getting help more difficult for other people?”

Trump just celebrated Schumer's cave by pardoning 75+ co-conspirators including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

All of our leaders hate us and don’t care if we suffer or die

@durbin.senate.gov siding with the fascists who are tear gassing children in his own home state. Unreal.

For @durbin.senate.gov to sell out Obama and his ACA is what everyone needs to see. The establishment does not care about anyone (not even Barack fucking Obama) except themselves. He’s screwing Obama, Pritzker, and every person in Illinois. He better move to Florida after this.

These politicians aren't in disarray. They fucking hate you. They don't work for you.

Schumer is pissed Mamdani won. This is our punishment.

When I call Durbin’s office, the voicemail says to call during business hours and if they don’t answer try calling another time. No voicemail. Is this normal? Are other people finding this to be the case? (They must be in the office. We all know they’re there tonight.)

3 days ago @durbin.senate.gov posted here on BlueSky how Republicans we’re losing votes because of the shutdown. Today, he decided to screw the Democratic Party & his constituents and hand back votes to Republicans because, one has to assume, he will get $OMETHING from someone on the other side.

My review of HONEY WHISKEY MURDERS by Staci Mercado is on IG/SG. This is book 2 in the Elsie Edens detective series. Set in 1922 Iowa, the book is based on a true crime where a couple was found dead in their country store. Could the Chicago mob have found their way to rural Iowa? If so, why? ⚡️📚💙

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As someone who volunteers to organize educational programs at a community museum, can I just beg you to respond if contacted. It’s perfectly fine to say no. We may not be able to meet your honorarium or schedules might clash. All cool. Just say no so we can move on to the next person. Thanks!

“To take time out with a good book is a vacation unto itself.” HONEY WHISKEY MURDERS by Staci Mercado ⚡️📚💙

For Heated Rivalry fans, Rachel Reid is doing a Reddit AMA tonight at 7:00 (Eastern). Where do you suppose my Reddit login info might be?! ( @becadreads.bsky.social ) 🌶️📚💙

Have you read this indie romance book with disabled characters? You should dig into it. (That’s a pun because it’s about archaeologists.) 🌶️📚💙

I feel like last year I was the only one on BlueSky posting about the Edmund Fitzgerald. It’s so cool seeing so many posting this year!

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My egg dealer at the farmers market was getting rid of onions. I got 7 for $1. I think I might have to attempt to make French onion soup. (You know me and my soups! But I’ve never made French onion.)

I finished some big work projects today (!) and I thought I’d finally spend time on #BookSky. But, honestly, I just want to go to bed with my book! (Maybe that’s the COVID/flu shots I had this afternoon after hitting my deadlines.) 📚💙

Book lovers are more and more important to an industry if the consumer base narrows like this. 📚💙

Maggie North is becoming more active here on BlueSky. I have loved her first 2 books. Follow her and read her books if you like romance set in the Canadian wilderness. Maybe we can get her to post on #BookSky! 🌶️📚💙

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Reminder that if your public library has access to the Hoopla digital service, you get free access to Neil Diamond’s greatest hits. You’ll be supporting public libraries without the guilt of supporting Spotify or Amazon Music. Libraries rock! 📚💙

I keep seeing this headline about women in the workplace, and I am reminded that “some men” find it really difficult to conceive of a world in which they are not so intimidated by women that they feel the need to sexually harass and assault women. (1/2)

Mainstream & Indie Authors, We on #BookSky need to see your book posts. It’s how we know what you’re writing & promoting. If you don’t want to see our reviews, that’s fine. You don’t have to be in #BookSky. But put the 📚💙 in your book-related posts so we can recommend your books to other readers.

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Beca is out here doing the work for #BookSky. She’s convincing publishers to see #BookSky as pertinent to book talk as IG & TT. You know how we can continue to convince them of this? Engagement. Like, repost, comment so publishers see the traction. And authors can post about sales they make here. 📚💙

If we had ruined the workplace, he wouldn’t have a job.

From the top rope

My review of K-Jane by Lydia Kang is on IG/SG. Jane’s a 3rd generation Korean-American. She’s an Omaha teen obsessed with learning as much as she can about Korean culture before her brother is born. It’s about feeling like you don’t belong, respecting family, & deep friendships. Very interesting! 📚💙

My review of FOR THE RECORD by Emma Lord is on IG/SG. Mack & Sam used to tour together but their bands broke up. They live in NYC & it’s suggested they become a duet. He’s a punk rocker; she’s a pop star. Both of their lives have changed since they used to make music, but they still have sparks. 🌶️📚💙

BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall is a historical fiction book about a love triangle & a crime. It’s popular, apparently, & a Reese Witherspoon book club pick. I read it. I finished it. That’s all I have to say about it. (I try not to write book reviews that may hurt feelings, but yeah, no.) ⚡️📚💙

Your regular reminder that shows like Kristen Bell’s NOBODY WANTS THIS on Netflix spend episodes promoting Airbnb through ridiculous product placement. The “no-commercial platform” forces viewers to watch entire episodes of a show highlighting a business that gave millions to a sexual harasser.

I feel like we all kind of forgot the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia ran a gay Nazi porn Tumblr page.

This morning.

If you live in NYC and you are interested in organizing with others around our public libraries, you are invited to join our work @nycplan.org. We have a chance to increase and stabilize funding for our public libraries and you can help make that happen. actionnetwork.org/letters/city...

Maybe BlueSky is less of an echo chamber and more of a speaker’s corner.

My expert political opinion is that killing the job market, raising grocery prices, kicking people off their health care, stealing taxpayer money, and trying to starve 40 million Americans is pretty damn unpopular.

This needs more attention: Zohran SPLIT the straights with Cuomo. ALL of his margin was from LGBTQ+ voters. Every Dem who ever said “we should abandon the transes” needs this shoved down their fucking throat with a ramrod.

I maintain that being on #BookSky is a “small act of rebellion” because we see the value of books, respect the work & creativity of authors, support public libraries, read & discuss banned books, & listen to others who love books. The JOY we find in books is an act of rebellion. Joy is rebellion. 📚💙

This is why Republicans want to take away women’s rights, including voting rights.

My sister is visiting me (in rural IL) and went out with girlfriends tonight and one of them said her daughter’s friend is Mamdani’s speech writer. And I’m kind of in shock as I read all of your reactions to his speech.

“I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life”

Has anyone heard how Meghan McCain is doing tonight?

Normal people are just sick to fucking death of the cruelty and meanness