Hope things went smoothly for everyone yesterday, and I hope that energy is sustained through the upcoming elections. That's where words become action, and action becomes policy.

At long last, my podcast is back. Below is just a teaser of the return episode. www.linkedin.com/posts/joaopi...

This one of those perfect weather days here that brought all sorts of families out to the local park to take photos by the pond. Love to see it.

A little something to brighten the end of the week. At the signing for "Better Broken" from Sarah McLachlan.

Reminds me of that scene in "The Untouchables" when they dropped cash on the desk of Eliot Ness. Should this version be called "The Unsaltables?"

First sign of fall...

As a former Texas State Rep, let me be clear: LOCKING Rep. Nicole Collier inside the chamber is beyond outrageous. Forcing elected officials to sign “permission slips” & take police escorts to leave? That’s not procedure. That’s some old Jim Crow playbook.

Plenty happening in the world but, who else is going to pirate weekend at the New York Renaissance Faire this month? Good excuse to commiserate about the state of things and plot further resistance--just like pirates.

#standforwolves #wolfconservation

If I have to explain to you why it's a bad idea to use a machine that makes shit up 15-80% of the time AND destroys the environment AND contributes to rising fascism and genocide AND puts brilliant skillful creatives out of work by stealing their work, then we're already speaking different languages

Such an important point: “Progressive policies…are very popular in this country…but you have a segment of the Democratic Party that keeps trying to convince progressives we’re losing elections because their policies need to be more moderate.” Matt Dowd I wish more understood this. A confession… 🧵

Make it make sense... www.npr.org/2025/08/04/n...

The frustrating part is, the people who push us closer to Mad Max tell themselves they're building a Star Trek future. They learned all the wrong lessons, focus on personal gain and grifting, while they destroy the environment, communities, and the health of the public. Don't let them wear you down.

I am so damn PROUD of TX Dems for standing up and fighting back!! But this won’t mean anything if the rest of the country doesn’t back them up. BLUE STATES! IT’S ON YOU TO MOVE! No more talk. Start announcing referendums and special sessions to redistrict the GOP out of existence!

Read people, please read Let your kids see you reading Books will always better you in some way Even if it’s only entertainment

Plenty to be anxious about these days. But not this. 😁

🚿 🚿

As if I play the flute any other way...

Watters: I remember you said you can't win a trade war, no one wins a trade war. We just did. What did we give up? Jessica: The right to have affordable European goods

Woofer with little subwoofer…. 🥰 Good boy keeping the little one calm… 🐶

From earlier this morning at my local pond in NJ.

I think at this point, I should give the local Great Blue Heron a nickname. Suggestions?

What a headline.

BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.

Trying some mental and emotional multitasking -- remaining outraged and activated, exploring ways I can take a stand against "all THIS" while also listening to the #KPopDemonHunters soundtrack. The positivity of "Golden" can actually fuel resistance and resilience.

Heron Heron. (Didn't see any rabbits this morning).

Just a reminder to keep speaking your truth. It is okay to take inspiration from fiction, because it often gives voice to sentiments we want to express in a real world context. youtu.be/KYnE2Mxayco?...

I'll keep this short--you all already have your political perspectives on today's Supreme Court rulings. Mine is to dig in. To me, it is time to reaffirm support networks, be resilient where you can, and tune out the propaganda so it won't wear you down.

Finally a corporation is reacting to what’s happening here. Don’t be surprised that it’s not a car company or a shampoo brand. They’re all still pretending that life is normal. It’s a bookstore. Barnes and Noble fills their store display windows with Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale.

From my morning walk, my lucky Great Blue Heron returned. Until the heat breaks, limiting my time outdoors.

Good morning. Wish all of our days could be as simple as making s'mores around a campfire.

Just some of the photos from the Wolf Conservation Center. I booked the visit long before world and personal events according. It was a nice respite before returning to the world.

Spending my Saturday in the company of wolves (with fencing between us) at a wolf conservation center.

One of my cousin's passed away yesterday. She had a stroke Tuesday, which I didn't know about until I got yesterday's news. I saw her just a couple months prior at an uncle's funeral. Embrace fond memories of family, but also keep making new ones with the time you have.

Michael Pham fled Vietnam at the age of 13. He was named bishop of San Diego a month ago. Today, he stood watch at a courthouse: ICE agents were “standing there covered with masks as we walked toward the courtroom. Eventually the agents scattered and went away” timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/06...

😕 🇺🇸

Mayor Karen Bass standing on business🔥 His name is Senator ALEX Padilla.

On Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom and recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there is cause to hope for tomorrow’s light.

I'm not a Texan but I'm glad my family who lives there has @repjasmine.bsky.social to represent them.

Just a reminder that knowledge, skill, creativity, and problem solving are still very human.

Took yesterday and today off from work (tomorrow is a holiday too). Using my birthday week to work on the book, practice my flute, and take pictures--always up to chat about fantasy, sci-fi, cosplay, LARPing and TTRPG since I mostly just talk to my plants.

Far bigger things than my birthday are happening in the world today, but here's me playing my flute at my local park very briefly. (I didn't consider the background noise when I decided to do this, apologies in advance).

In the video, you get to see my old Shadowrun gamemaster screen as I run some tabletop exercises. Just me weaving a bit of TTRPG into my work podcast. I'll continue to run RPG-style scenarios in future episodes. www.informationweek.com/machine-lear...

Skip the man cave and the she shed. Give me the attic #library. #books #booksky #WritingCommunity #design

A little bit of LARPing this weekend went a long way.

A LOT is happening out there right now. Started my day with a 2.5-mile walk and then voted in the NJ gubernatorial primary before clocking into work. There's plenty meant to make you feel powerless right now--find little moments to express power that's yours.

Proactive communication > relying on social feeds for important updates (I see the irony of this post) Had my first public musical performance yesterday but some friends missed an update about a time change. I'm frustrated that they made the effort to support me but didn't get my in-person thanks.