Hoping against hope that Democrats in the House do a better job of #holdingtheline

Any Democrat who caves deserves to lose their seat.

Today is a struggle but I am grateful for the nature just outside my glass doors: desert cottontails, Gambel’s quail, a gila woodpecker, and white-crowned sparrows helped me breathe a my last meeting.

I do not believe the FBI images for a second & neither should you. This is all being orchestrated for their escalation against immigrants and people of color. A MAJORITY of shooters are white, cis, heterosexual men. So, watch the spin, and who is in charge of the information that is being released!

Just going to leave this from @onthemedia.bsky.social here

I am pretty sure I have had an expression much like that of this White-winged dove Cafter returning from a vacation looking for #birds in and around the Chiricahua Mountains and seeing the latest headlines.

Only one very bad photo taken through a dirty windshield but I was able to add an Elegant Trogon to my life list today. Not the only lifer but the most unexpected.

I had a peeping tom this afternoon who was completely unbothered when I got up to get my camera and take several photos through the glass door #birds

Juvenile male Costa’s hummingbird, taken at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon near Green Valley, Arizona. #birds

As part the SE Arizona Birding Festival, I joined 3 accessible outings for my first time birding as part of an organized group. Having more than just my own eyes was a treat as was meeting some nice folks. Lists yet to be tabulated/ photos sorted but this reflection was a nice surprise. #birds

If you are posting info (especially numerical data) following a disaster, please include a date and time. Also disaster tourism gets in the way of finding and helping those affected and cash is the most helpful thing to donate unless responding to a specific and credible request.

People living under fascism didn’t survive by giving up joy—they protected it. They held onto the things fascism tried to erase: art, friendship, jokes, rituals, language, memory. Not as escapism but as resistance. As proof they were still human. Joy isn’t frivolous under fascism. It’s strategic.

Grateful that someone let me grab a photo while they were visiting. #birds

White-winged doves can be bullies at the feeders but this one was looking lovely in the early morning light. Taken at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, Hereford, Arizona. #birds

I took a much needed break from all the bad things happening in the world to visit Las Cienegas NCA, Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, and Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds. I added at least two lifers (White-tailed Kite, and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Here is an Anna’s Hummingbirds from Ash Canyon. #birds

Not a productive photo or bird day but a chance to explore Tohono Chul before it got too hot. I found a few spots likely to be favorites for meincluding the area where I finally got an identifiable photo of a Lucy’s warbler one of the life birds I have added since arriving in AZ. #birds

I miss waking up and my first thought not being what fresh hell has been set in motion while I slept?

When Stephen Miller gave the orders to ICE to conceal identity, Miller helped get these elected officials shot. He’s complicit in these attacks. Impeach, remove, prosecute, imprison.

One of the round-tailed ground squirrels who have been entertaining and distracting me the last couple of days. The adults like this one are cute but the young are cute magnified. Sadly the babies are not cooperating when it comes to photos. Taken through a glass door.

Two lifers today but only one with a photo. This Bronze Cowbird was taken at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. The second was my first Harris Hawk while driving to Saguaro NP East early this morning. #birds

Grateful for a summer next that exceeds my expectations. Three days and a “yard” bird count of over twenty.

Darn it; how did my settings change to lose the reminder to add alt text.

Lucky spot if not great photo of the day was this Swainson’s hawk nesting along the road at Smith Reservoir in Colorado. More exciting but a worse photo was finally managing to spot a Pinyon Jay to add it to my life list. It made me work for it but an identifiable photo was managed.

I spent a delightful few hours at Monte Vista NWR today. This Wilson’s Snipe was one of my favorite subjects. #birds As delightful as today was, I am so looking forward a month from now . I will have lots of new places to explore and a different set of birds to photograph

As someone who received such benefits from the age of 6 until 18, I would have much rather had my mother alive than my father get those checks.

Protests aren’t the only tool in the anti-authoritarian toolkit, but they’re incredibly important. Protests help us see each other; they make it feel safer to refuse to obey the dictator, and make it more possible for us to organize mass non-cooperation. It’s an essential step in the process.

Are more of the “leaders” willing to stand up and follow the people now? Much gratitude to the minority who have already been making noise and good trouble.

Talking heads who try to discount the crowds today as “paid agitators” are going to look far more stupid than usual.

Steve Jackson Games posted this to their blog and the post is getting so many hits their site is effectively crashed but the point is worth repeating

You might be a nature nerd if you are building out a Notion template to help you keep track not just of what you have seen but when and where you might see things not already on that list.

The look I am giving the day and it is only 6:30 am #birds Anhinga closeup. Taken at Merritt Island NWR in early 2020.

60 days until a new bird centered chapter of my life begins. I can hardly wait to get to know a new group of birds.

Liberal Susan Crawford has won the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, an election in which the richest person in the world featured prominently and one that could determine the future of abortion in the state.

Thank you Vik! isn't it brilliant 🌱

Upcoming move? Spring fever? Overwhelm and exhaustion from the state of the world? Lingering effects from Covid? Something else? Who knows but the number of important things I cannot find and chaotic state of my inner and outer worlds is far above my comfort line.

The divide isn’t left v. liberal or moderate v. progressive. It’s this is normal—not good, sure, but ultimately fine—and therefore requires a standard 20th century-style response v. this is highly abnormal, very dangerous, and getting worse, so it needs a nonstandard response that meets the moment.

best way to know you did the absolute wrong thing is that trump said you did the right thing

According to Trump and his cabal It’s illegal to criticize him Voice dissent to a side he disfavors in an armed conflict Represent anyone who opposes him in a court of law Receive grants-even if they were approved-with which he disagrees Or protest corrupt billionaires if they’re his friends

Today the biggest split among Democrats is between those who want to stand and fight and those who want to play dead. House Democrats united to stand and fight. Too many Senate Democrats played dead. We need more leaders from the stand and fight wing of the Democratic Party.

When pro-cloture Senators are up: 2030 Gillibrand (NY) King (ME) 2028 Cortez Masto (NV) Fetterman (PA) Hassan (NH) Schatz (HI) Schumer (NY) 2026 Peters (MI) not running Shaheen (NH) not running ...evidently one has to protect one's post-office livelihood www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

Yes a shutdown would have consequences. And a Republican President, Republican House, and Republican Senate would be responsible. They have acted in a unilateral and unprecedented way. Democrats cannot cave. They must fight back.

Again: A shutdown will directly, negatively affect my household. But everything the Republicans are doing is also negatively affecting us, and will for a long, long time. Putting in obstacles to slow them down is the *least* we can do. No on cloture, no on the CR and the GOP bill. Fight.

Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage

It is time for the old guard to step aside and let those with courage - especially those who are other than rich, cis, straight, white males - lead.

“Hamilton” is canceling plans to perform next year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, citing President Trump’s moves to impose his values on the venue. “We’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center,” said its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

As someone who has always said they didn't like cities or the heat (well heat + humidity), I ridiculously happy about plans to head to Tucson in a couple of months. So looking forward to the birding and photography.

I wish I had a television so I could be sure to watch something other than the liar lie in protest.

And most folks are treating these decrees like they're legitimate, that they have actual legal force, instead of what they are: the cartoonish ravings of a wannabe dictator, blurting out whatever random shit careens into his lizard brain