11,700 Free Photos from John Margolies’ Archive of Americana Architecture: Download, Use & Re-Mix

Friends of Da Burgh! Next weekend, I’m giving a free and family-friendly talk at the Pittsburgh Zoo! Saturday 7/25 at 1:30 PM! Bring the whole family, learn about sharks n’at! I’ll have copies of my book Why Sharks Matter for sale and am happy to sign them for you. See yinz there!

Current* conditions near Sarnia, ON:

As with so many things, it is critical to realize this is not bumbling or ineptitude or not thinking through policy implications. On the contrary: making it impossible for foreign students to do the doctorate here is THE WHOLE POINT. It’s about starving higher ed under the guise of America first.

“What is unfolding is what climate and forest scientists have been predicting for 30 years. That as the world gets hotter and drier, we are exposing forests to more and more risk, and the old strategies of fire suppression are simply being overwhelmed.”

Watching fireflies close to ground & up through the trees. Above between the trees, against the smoky-blue dusk night sky, bats are speeding by. I assume getting bug-snacks. Geeze, this is a lovely time of year in Ann Arbor.

Because so much is shitty &/or going to shit, here’s some fragile gorgeousness happening on our back deck right now. (I’ve been watching their loveliness for 30 min., & I’m grateful they stopped by.) 16 July 2026, Ann Arbor

My god. Watch this. The bravery of Ms Bensky is astounding. The cravenness of the coverup is devastating:

School vouchers -- funded with billions in taxpayer money -- have become such a financial boon to private religious schools that one Michigan company encouraged churches to tap into what it dubbed “God’s new gold mine.”

The Canadian wildfire smoke has arrived in Chicago

Someone just sent me this photo from Chicago, unbelieveable

Whew, this terrific thread:

I'm not sure Democrats understand the shit people will endure to make sure a bunch of milquetoast dildos don't get elected only to insist that we "move on." They're acting like midterms are a lock. Dems need extraordinary turnout to account for massive disenfranchisement and I'm not sure they get it

Can someone explain? Todd Blanche said (working by description) he could not meet with the Epstein victims bc they have lawyers. But he met with sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and her lawyers? Is he ONLY allowed to meet with criminals? I mean, granted, he IS Trump's personal attorney, so...

Swiss company, IQAir, ranks Detroit No. 1 on list of major global cities with most polluted air.

Yeah. This is wildfire smoke from both Canada & Minnesota. 😬 The bridge put out a warning this morning regulating speed & front lamps—like when there’s severe fog &/or snow. That’s how thick it is.

Update: We are nearly 2 hours into Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing and he has yet to mention the Dow. Right now, the Dow is over 50 thou.

Gender-affirming care.

I agree. It is time that we end ICE/CBP & enact meaningful, humane immigration reform. #Voices4Victory #USDemocracy #DV1

Hey Ann Arbor: fireflies are out, go observe & be delighted!

Current* conditions near Mackinaw City, MI:

Because everything is slowly dissolving away—systemically slowly so that we become numb to the dissolving—here’s a very young buck just off our driveway yesterday. 13 July 2026, Ann Arbor

Reupping this clip since I feel like it might become relevant in the next 48 hours

Science can be magical:

Billionth reason to go get & read, & re-read @sarahkendzior.bsky.social ‘s book “The Last American Roadtrip.” It’s not only poignant & powerful, it’s EXQUISITE writing. Get it!

There are so many cool people on this app doing cool things IRL.

*taps sign*

cc: Michigan folks

No one should ever go hungry. Libraries do all they can to help 💛 Video Description: Too many people don’t have access to food. Mychal stands in front of a Library, saying libraries try to help by offering summer meals to kids and teens. He points up to a library sign highlighting this resource ✨

✍️ Megan Rapinoe, writing for Marie Claire “No girl deserves to be discriminated against. That’s why all girls, including trans girls, should be able to play with their classmates in the sports they love… girls who don’t fit someone else’s expectation of femininity, will face further harassment.”

Current* conditions near Marblehead, OH:

Here's the page with current county case numbers, updated last Thursday. There will be daily updates of total cases. And thank goodness for a great state #publichealth department! If you get symptoms, get tested so your case gets counted, Michiganders. www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-m...

This map by @jscarto.bsky.social shows Michigan's cyclosporiasis situation in case rates by county, more precise than the sheer case-count maps you may have seen to date. Wayne, Oakland & Macomb (E/NE of Washtenaw)account for ~40% of MI population. If they turn color after this Thursday's update? 💩

"That’s the thing about semi-authoritarian states that many Americans don’t grasp…. Life goes on, collapsing in pieces instead of dramatic sweeps, acclimatizing you to horrors and destroying your expectations until survival becomes an aspiration."

Just before we became aware of the impending Covid pandemic, a friend said, “welp, at least we live in Michigan, so when the Water Wars hit with this leadership’s 2nd term we’ll be surrounded by the Great Lakes.” They were joking. Um, friends… ? 😬

It feels ridiculous to be told my entire life the importance of reducing my energy usage and switching to stuff like LED bulbs and then read reports of energy prices spiking in many US communities due to data centers.

It’s NOW (again), Friends! IF YOU CAN SEE THEM YOUR BRAIN WILL BE RECHARGED BY OBSERVING FireflyTime™️!! GET OUTSIDE FOR THE WONDERS OF SUMMER DUSK! *here endeth the shouting* (for now)

Fuck this.

Few years ago, I dealt w/ an eldercare emergency which dragged for 2.5 months. I ended up with clinically diagnosed PTSD, lost a whole year of research time, was still teaching all my classes/service. No question if emergency had happened and I didn't have tenure I would've been fired from my job.

Firefly Time™️!!!! If you can see them where you are at dusk—right NOW in Ann Arbor—get outside!!

I love this so much

Textbook example of a bird that transcends the Pigeon Category by virtue of sufficient cuntiness The Victoria Crowned "Pigeon" plainly belongs in the Legit Birds Category, and more specifically, the subcategory of Couture Birds

This shows the value of immigration! And environmental conservation, is this the answer to everything? No, but it shows how melding people, ideas,and research move new technologies into new innovations supporting renewable technology. #pinks

ok i am going on a 🧵 walk here shortly going to status check as many of the president's DC renovation projects as I possibly can this may end up being a multi-day event because of bad afternoon weather and the fact that this involves walking like 10 miles but we'll see how i do lol

Current* conditions near Chicago, IL:

Chaotic swings in weather in part due to climate change are becoming an increasing issue for Michigan farmers & growers. Much of our agriculture relies on sensitive microclimates: orchards, berry farms, and vineyards. Keeping coal plants running and bringing AI data centers here isn't the answer.

This is some real Soviet throwback shit.

Zigzag.