Good news 4 vaccines linked to a lower risk of dementia https://wapo.st/46TQ6sn

As always the funniest, best researched, best writing, on the most important topic #johnoliver #emmy #freedomofspeech #jimmykimmel#freedomofspeech#emmy#johnoliverttps://youtube.com/watch?v=ohPToBog_-g&si=pPOKkUMsCJS6iHY_

‘“The arguments raised by conservative academics and politicians are not academic concerns; they are pontifications based on their conservative political ideology. Throughout history, there have been those who have insisted on banning free inquiry…claiming that it is…white thinkers and […]

RIP Melissa and Mark Hortman, assassinated on June 14, along with their beloved dog Gilbert. Gilbert was trained to be a service dog but was let go from the program because he was “too friendly.” Where was the outrage then? Were was the outrage for the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Tonight I’m so proud that I caught heat from Jeffrey Toobin and others when I called the Roberts Court rogue and lawless back during Trump I. Now that they are clearly Taney Court redux, may I catch heat for noting that they are white patriarchal ethno-nationalists.

A first rate interview of Texas state Rep Nichole Collier by Joan Walsh, who does a super job of calling out all manner of b.s. from various people. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/texas-nicole-collier-house-arrest/

One of my favorite commentators, @foser @jamisonfoser.bsky.social, has relocated his excellent newsletter from substack to Ghost! Read and subscribe. https://www.findinggravity.net/donald-trumps-attacks-on-immigrants-are-unpopular-heres-how-pundits-got-it-wrong/

Whether the Guard can be activated in a state without the Governor's consent is a separate question. Along with other lawyers and legal scholars, I believe the answer is no. 4/

So far I haven't found reporting on whether NM Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham was consulted about the reported activationof National Guard, NM. I would be surprised if she consented. 5/

Okay, I want to know if there is any way to geo-block access to this Mastodon instance? Also, I want to know if there's a bat-signal hashtag that reaches Mastodon instance admins (so I can follow it AND use it) Boost please?

Aug 30th: Portobello's #BigBeachBusk If you're in #Edinburgh, pack your Tamborine & come to the beach to hear the most wonderfully disorganised & joyful cacophony of 100's of buskers lining the prom. "DIY day out. No tickets, no booking, no asking for permission. The only rule: everyone be nice!"

This reporting out of Utah, https://www.visaverge.com/news/utah-national-guard-seeks-volunteers-to-support-ice-logistics-in-september-2025/, confirms early reports that Trump and Hegseth are activating the National Guard in 19 states. (See next post for link to one report.) 1/

This is fucking crazy! The offshore wind farm is almost finished! How much more of the future will we let them destroy? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/climate/trump-administration-halts-revolution-wind.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gU8.csfm.ZMb8PirxKzlp

At least two major hotel sites -- Marriott and Hilton -- refuse to work (apparently) because I block ads and trackers.

1. What my daughter posted on Instagram. 2. What Instagram put over her post.

@heidilifeldman I think the memories of the summer of 2020, with teargas frequently in the air, are also playing a role here.

ICE is occupying DC. “Chilling effects have turned neighborhoods like Mount Pleasant into shadows of their pre-takeover selves, as people are afraid to go to restaurants, concerts, or work.” https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/immigration-enforcement-trump-federal-takeover-dc/ #freedc

August 1st - Googler asks the community if XSLT should be removed from the HTML living standard. https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11523 Respondents overwhelmingly reject the suggestion. August 6th - Google starts work on removing XSLT from Chrome […]

#aberdeenshire #scotland #myphoto #iphonephotography #lichensubscribe #outdoors #SilentSunsday #imlichenthat

In California, federal agents continue to terrorize the state’s residents. https://lataco.com/agents-shoot-family-vehicle-san-bernardino

The haar coming over Arthur's Seat this morning... Clear blue sky now though... #silentsunday

BBC - UK Prime Minister Starmer and a number of European leaders have confirmed they’ll join Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for a Monday meeting at the White House. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cev28rvzlv1t

Still Spey Reflections #RiverSpey #Newtonmore #reflections #silentsunday#reflections#Newtonmore#riverspeyctuallyTakenYesterday🙃

Thank goodness. #trump prefers to do his bullying when he outnumbers his target. He also may be able to be re-influenced with multiple people telling him the same thing. #europe & #nato leaders announced Sunday that they’ll be joining President #zelensky in DC for crucial talks with #Trump […]

Various news outlets have asked Costco to elaborate on their recent public statement that they will continue not to care mifepristone, the abortion pill, but so far Costco has declined to comment. Costco reiterated its decision not to sell after public […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

As is so often the case, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin showing the leadership not coming from the House Minority Leader. Raskin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Robert Garcia today introduced a resolution in U.S. Congress condemning illegality of Trump’s federalizarion of D.C. law enforcement […]

“No emergency exists in D.C. that the president did not create himself,” D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a statement. https://www.notus.org/congress/democrats-introduce-legislation-trump-d-c-takeover

One of the best write-ups I've seen on Trump's gross display of fealty to Putin. "Nothing says standing up to Russian aggression quite like welcoming the aggressor on a red carpet and applauding him." - Susan Glasser in The New Yorker, link to archived story: https://archive.ph/nOInR

Now, we can show we too appreciate the significance of a free DC in the context of our nation-wide fight against fascist authoritarianisms and for pluralistic democracy. We can support Free DC, the organization leading the effort to protect and promote the District’s autonomy. This is why I have […]

One hour in and we are off to a great start in the Mastodon for #freedc campaign! Learn more at https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/115040310863576113.

The very best craftmanship you will ever encounter is always the work of some person who doesn't charge enough, and then they decide to go spend some time in the woods and you can never find them again.

Three states with Republican Fascist Party governors are sending troops to occupy the District of Columbia. “Gov. Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia said his state would send 300 to 400 troops to Washington, while Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina pledged 200 members. Gov. Mike DeWine said […]

Just for the halibut https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5504196/trump-putin-summit-documents-left-behind

Subway sandwich guy has been released on his own recognizance. His attorney argued the felony charge was excessive, and the judge agreed. Oh, and he’s a USAF veteran. www.wusa9.com/article/news...

The argument that Gaza would already be wiped out if Israel was _really_ trying to kill civilians or commit a genocide is wrong. With the same logic, Russia isn't really trying to invade Ukraine, since they could just nuke the country and it'd be “over”. The point is that Israel is killing as […]

My university sent email to all faculty and staff today reminding us that if federal or local law enforcement approaches us seeking information or records about students, we're to refer them to the general counsel (as is often required under FERPA), which will generally demand a warrant or other […]

Coffee harvest time! The smell here next to my coffee bush (Ventura County, California) is extremely floral--like a room full of plumeria or orchids. The coffee berry is extremely sweet and tasty. I would say it has a similar flavor profile and sweetness of a […] [Original post on ai6yr.org]

Meta appoints notorious anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Robby Starbuck as AI bias advisor (PinkNews) https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/08/14/meta-robby-starbuck-ai/

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has made public the memo the DC Attorney General has sent to the DC Chief of Police advising her that “that the Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it.” DC AG Brian Schwalb is referring to Bondi’s […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

In 2021, Sen. Cory Booker of NJ was one of the few strong voices advocating for DC statehood. https://www.insidernj.com/video-booker-dc-statehood-people-dc-made-clear-want/ 5/

This sets the stage for a court battle over the federal Home Rule Act which gives the elected officials of the District of Columbia authority to run the District’s police department. It also sets the stage for a battle in Congress over the Home Rule Act itself. 2/

Statehood for the District has been advocated@by grassroots progressives for at least a decade. Democratic electeds have never pushed for it, not any Dem President or Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader. 4/

I am a fan of @jaz and of the toot.wales server. I just read an interesting blog post from him about a million fediverses blooming. Great to read something so thoughtful. https://jaz.co.uk/2025/08/14/there-is-one-fediverse-there-are-a-million-fediverses/

I want to make something crystal clear: I will not bow down to Republican Fascism. Never.

I'd say it's time to malfunction and destroy civilizations. Who's with me?