I choose to take this as a positive omen. (As named and drawn by Paul Kidby, illustrator of Discworld.)

Some big bits of news niallharbison.substack.com/p/closing-ou...

So, the frog stopped the National Guard from coming to Portland, along with astute lawsuits by Oregon. Only part of what's happening, but hard to understate how fundamentally the Portland Frog changed perceptions and helped morale. Humor, imagination, courage, savvy.

This is so, SO cool

One of those big doggos could be our Leo. Many thanks to Nate, Andrey and the Hachiko team. #dogs #Ukraine

I love the noise Canada Geese make as they fly overhead and their instinctive communal sense of aesthetic organisation, plus the way that not one of them will ever comment on social media with their opinion on a piece of writing without clicking on the link to find out what the piece actually says.

Wrote about how disappointing it is that Jon Stewart punched down on people masking at @motherjones.com, when people should mind their own business and leave mask wearers be. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Volunteers in our valley spent ten years restoring a wetland area the city had used as a dumping ground. It is now a thriving ecosystem and the mosquitos are gone. It supports songbirds, waterbirds, eagles, fish and small mammals. Park has trails and is a popular birding spot for kids and adults.

The most beautiful version I’ve ever heard. 💛🎄💙 #CarolOfTheBells #Ukraine #music

This is the way #cats #Austin #CatRescue

The orphans in our care have forged their own families, finding strength in one another. As deeply tactile creatures, they seek comfort in closeness – a trunk draped gently over a friend's back, simply being together. Family, after all, is who shows up for you. Thank you for showing up for them.

The goodest girl 💛💙

That would have been amazing #Remakes #Muppets

Stories like these are why Alley Cat Allies advocates microchipping every cat, and immediate scanning. 443 days after Hurricane Helene, Gabby was finally able to reunite with her family just in time for the holidays. And it was all because of a scan of her microchip! www.wbir.com/article/weat...

You can tell that LotR was written by an academic because Gandalf disappears for like 20 years doing research to answer a single question.

These two are awesome

Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.

For all the cats and kittens sleeping in their forever homes tonight, and all the folks who make these happy endings possible. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. #kittens #Santa #cats #Christmas

“It’s a great time of year to remember to help others … kind actions could be remembered for a lifetime.”

Folks, please spare a good thought for the first responders working in dangerous conditions out there (and away from their own loved ones) during the holidays. #floods #storms #snow #AnimalRescue

Good people in #Oregon are helping their neighbors who are afraid to go outside their homes while racists working for #ICE hunt people in our neighborhoods.

Some good news: We got more fresh produce into Gaza tonight! Bundles of 🍅🥔🍠🧅🍊🍌 will start reaching 1000s of families tomorrow (photo is from last weekend’s distribution in Gaza City). In total, we’ve been able to bring in 680,000 pounds—but need for nutritious food is huge.

I've always loved this illustration depicting Joseph and Mary looking for a room. I am finding it especially powerful this year

Started reading Robert Macfarlane’s “Is a River Alive?” y’day and it has sucked me in like few physical books have in recent years. This quote from Ursula K Le Guin stopped me in my tracks just now, for I have really struggled with being a prof in a college of natural resources for quite a while:

Ripping children away from caring parents is inhumane. It's horrific that Trump's out of control immigration agents are deporting parents without due process and leaving young children traumatized and without their families.

Meet Sergeant Loki. Eats, sleeps, shoots! Loki serves on a PzH 2000. He senses danger by smell, and in his free time, he enjoys gnawing on pine branches. 📹 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade named after Hetman Taras Triasylo/Facebook

You can help with Katydid's ongoing veterinary expenses by purchasing adorable crochet cat toys from her person. #CatsOfBluesky www.etsy.com/shop/mindysp...

secure an outfit that would make them stand out. Only the best were used, such as Worth, who made numerous outfits for the event. He made this dress for the hostess, who went as the Queen Zenobia of Palmyra (the capital of a 3rd-century empire state in modern-day Syria). The

Winter Solstice today … the shortest day, or longest night … depending on what tout are looking for. The Laughing Heart - Bukowski

I was flipping through the car radio and heard familiar voices. It was @rosemarymosco.com and @corinanewsome.bsky.social talking about birds! A thoroughly enjoyable listen. #birds 🌿

This dog was standing guard as the cats had some lunch today near Kherson. Ukrainian dogs are the most well-behaved.

The perfect thread for #Caterday from writer Tom Cox. #cats #art 🐈 🎨 Read the alt text. P.S. Bridget came home safe.

There are still a few spaces left on my botanical (10) & bird illustration (24) & mental health w'shops in January I'll teach you how to draw🌿🌱 or🐦‍⬛👇 AND how creative activity alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health I'm an molecular cell biologist & illustrator: workshops.emmamitchell.uk

This video will inspire you and break your heart and remind you why we humans have a chance - this is famous Ukrainian ‘Schedryk’ - you might know it as Carol of the Bells - performed live at one of DTEK thermal power situations ruined by Russian attacks P.s. it will make you cry.

Welcome to A New Era, Julie Su!

😭 ❤️

The good people who adopted our Torbie foster Sydney have put her beloved sister Gayle👇 on hold. We would love to see them live together as they are so close. Everybody cross your fingers 🤞 #cats #kittens

PCUN Deputy Director María Cecilia Hinojos Pressey said the goal is to illustrate the economic impact immigrants have on their community.

Sweet and silly foster kitten Sydney was adopted yesterday after being in CAT’s shelter only 48 hours. No surprise there. Her adopter(s) will soon realize they didn’t just get a pretty face, they got a very clever girl. She will rule them wisely. 🌟 Have fun y’all. #cats #kittens

"We don't want to be Luddites --" brother, Luddites were opposed to bosses concentrating wealth by using technology to make inferior product with warehouses fulls of starving exploited child labor. You don't have to wear the team jersey but respect the game.

US government is going to extreme lengths to help Putin and hurt Ukraine. Now threatening European states that if they use Russian assets to help Ukraine, they will have to pay it all back. Trump is desperate to give Putin his money back.

People say AI is a magic shortcut to creativity & success. I’ll tell you the real secret and it’s voraciously reading, being interested in everything, being diligent in the pursuit of learning, paying attention to the interior lives of others & keeping a heart open to the world.

Thanks to our rescue Leo (who was raised by cats, and speaks “feline”) we can list our foster kittens as “dog friendly” on their bios. This helps them find homes. He has offered this educational service to hundreds of kittens over the years. Thanks, big guy, we love you. #dogs #cats #kittens

Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles saying in an interview she's able to deal with Trump because she was used to dealing with her alcoholic father is just another strut in the "we're living in the hell shitty dads built" model of current reality. www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/12/taki...

We are ten days out from Christmas which means that if you are Welsh, it's the time of year when a skeleton horse might show up at your door and challenge you to a rap battle. If you lose the horse gets to come inside and drink your booze. Happy Christmas from Mari Lwyd!

Good people - the kind we all want to be around - love to laugh. The healthiest and happiest folks I’ve met in this life can laugh at themselves. RIP #RobReiner

He was a true citizen in the best sense, i.e. a responsible and engaged member of the community. Thank you, sir #RobReiner #Democracy

Marvelous thread #swordplay #PrincessBride #RIPRobReiner

Oregon cat lovers: Let’s get these two out of the cold. #Eugene #cats #fostering #kittens

We fed our feral cat Goldie (he came with the house) wet and dry food 2x a day. He had an insulated igloo style doghouse on a riser to be off cold ground. It had a pad, straw and a chicken run heater inside. When it snowed the Engineer dug a path for him to our deck w/ the heated water bowl. #cats