In my public television special “The Story of Fascism in Europe” (www.ricksteves.com/fascism), we learn from Europeans whose families lived through fascism that a strong democracy requires vigilant and engaged citizens. We are all participants, we are all responsible, and freedom isn’t guaranteed.

Lol. The Box showed up. This is a running joke with our lake old farts posse.

Low & slow Roast Beef for Rosh Hashanah 5786: Done Guests brought homemade sorta kosher pizza, fried chicken (from restaurant to make up for chicken kabobs someone failed to bring), carrot tzimmes, salads,... Enough food for an army. Many sweets will be had, as well as wine (some good).

Good evening. May your new year be as sweet as the bees find Blue Sage mdc.mo.gov/discover-nat... L’shana tovah u’metukah

Don't be that person who arrives an hour early for a dinner party AND, instead of bringing the chicken kabobs they volunteered to make, says, "I didn't have time to cook. Thought I'd go pick up any last minute items you need. Want me to go get a bag of ice?" 🤯

You know I like a good pony post. With the Great Khan, it is extra super good and a blessing upon the people.

Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal cookies for Rosh Hashanah 5786: Done The other half of the dough will be baked for Great Northern Adventure #LandYacht #Trip10

Wisconsin MAGA gov candidate Bill "I will keep boys out of our daughters' sports and locker rooms" Berrian scrubs links to sexually explicit social media accounts Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article via Wayback Machine archive.today/2025.09.22-1...

9th ward Ald. Browning issues statement opposing the two #DataCenterSTL proposed for the #ArmoryTIF district. "Decisions about data centers should be delayed until the City can establish appropriate regulations that prioritize people instead of nameless tech companies" bsky.app/profile/smb-... /2

Rapture Day turned out to be something totally different

Well done, Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience, a St. Louis City public magnate school 🥇

Hey, Illinois electric customers 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 23rd, Illinois Sierra Club Virtual Workshop 💡 Clean Energy for our Communities Learn about the status of wind and solar energy throughout Illinois Register act.sierraclub.org/events/detai...

Good afternoon. Silver Spotted Skipper mdc.mo.gov/discover-nat... on red Zinnia. Haven't seen any Monarchs, Swallowtails, or Regal Frittilaries yet today, just Skippers.

Was it awkward for Truman Dinner attendees when there was a fundraising ask and they realized that they would be funding the purchase of a $600k building in Jefferson City, despite the party having no staff there? #moleg

Husch Blackwell is no longer repped by the lobbyists at Nexus Group Who will they hire next?

There are six non-compliant expenditures in April & July MEC Reports by Democratic Campaign Cmte of St Louis City 🧐 Monthly Checks for $1,755.20 each in January-June were made out to the Committee for salary, NO name and address for the person or persons who performed work as required by law

Once, twice, maybe three times a #datacenterSTL Will the city post docs to enable the public to comment on specifics at the 9/25 Conditional Use hearing for the #500Prospect site? Some docs have been shared at a public meeting of the #SLU353 The #ArmoryTIF district also has 25 years tax abatement.

It should not surprise you to find out there is even more drama associated with MAGA Governor Appointed St. Louis City Police Board Member Sonya Jenkins-Gray St. Louis Post-Dispatch article via Wayback Machine archive.today/2025.09.22-1...

1 pm Tuesday, September 23rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Arboretum Horticulture Class 🌱 🌳 Gardening with Native Fruits Trees & Edible Plants Walking tour + classroom survey of some of wild food sources in Missouri $15 Donation suggested Register bellefontainecemetery.org/event/hortic...

My guess is St. Charles County is going to go with the same bullshit on data centers as St. Louis City- hold a public hearing then ignore what was said and rubberstamp it. That's the sort of thing that comes from lobbyists.

4 pm Tonight, Monday, Sept 22, St Louis City (Police) Civilian Oversight Board www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/event... Last posted Meeting Minutes: July www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d... 🧐 Reception Office Renovation-Emergency Requisition 🧐 Appreciate Certificates

Some nuggets from this morning's @stlmag.bsky.social St. Louis Daily Newsletter Presidential hopeful Andy Beshear and the Gentleman from AIPAC, smdh, kiss of death imo Check your inbox soon for a video by fmr Congresswoman Cori Bush Subscribe for Free info.stlmag.com/newsletters

Hey, St. Louis Ciry & County Gardeners 👩🏾‍🌾 👨‍🌾 September 30th Deadline To participate in University of Missouri Extension Online Survey: St. Louis City & County Gardening Needs Assessments extension.missouri.edu/news/survey-...

Maybe we can get @sarahfenske.bsky.social to clarify something. Is this an annual fundraiser for Forest ReLeaf or an annual fundraiser for Clark-Fox Family Fdn that will eventually might go to other nonprofits- Forest Park Forever, Seed St. Louis, Delmar Divine?

Friday Deadline to Order 🌷 Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Tulip & Daffodil Bulb Sale 30 bulbs only $18 Daffodils- Brightside Midwest Mix, Carlton Darwin Tulips- Brightside Red, Pink Impression October pick up @ Forest Park Greenhouse or pay for delivery brightsidestl.org

Policy by online popularity contest is a fad that I hope is short lived St. Louis board president asks for policy ideas from residents. Some offer jokes St. Louis Post-Dispatch article via Wayback Machine archive.today/2025.09.22-1...

The deification of Charlie Kirk as a means to censor voices and elevate facism to both fashionable and acceptable has come to Dent County, Missouri. This county govt decided to lower its flags once a month to protest same sex marriage, then next day reversed their decision based on flag protocol.

Good morning. Starting out the week with a cheery sunflower. These give me so much joy. Hope you find/make some joy for yourself and others this week.

Oklahoma MAGA also going all in for their Horst Wessel.

Hey, butterfly lovers, free webinar 6 pm Monday, September 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department virtual event 🦋 Mighty Monarchs Register mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventD...

#TransparencyFail No Way To Run A Govt #395634 4 pm Monday, Sept 21, St. Louis City Preservation Board www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/event... 😡 NO Agenda posted with Calendar Notice, only found on their webpage www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/d... 👎 2 car garage on Shenandoah, Soulard

Meanwhile in St. Charles County, Missouri MAGA US Rep Onder and state senators Schroer and Schnelting offer money for fascist grooming club at Francis Howell School District St. Louis Post-Dispatch article via Wayback Machine archive.today/2025.09.21-1...

Also harvested last of the sauce tomatoes. I had already cleaned up the San Marzano patch weeks ago but forgot there was one more plant stuck in a grow bag on other side of garden.

Or what? What is the penalty proposed by Trump Family & Friends Grift Inc for speaking truth to power? What is the penalty for exercising the First Amendment? What is the penalty for calling a fascist- a fascist?

Help out @stlbworks.bsky.social next Saturday if you're available. They not only run a learn and earn 🚲 bicycle program for St. Louis area kids, they send bikes to needy people across the globe who depend on them for transportation. See 🧵 for more info

Good evening. Cut back most but not all coneflowers (the birds have had their way with the seeds already) and planted the pansies. Had an excellent garden day.

So unifying

New 🌱 Gardening and 🦋 Nature post on the blog Garden & Nature events, classes (including virtual), advice, news, most free. Heavy on St. Louis area (Missouri & Illinois) but might be useful for anyone in Zones 6a, 6b, 7a. Includes guided hikes & bike rides, outdoor volunteer opportunities

If you're in Missouri or Zone 6a, 6b, 7a, and have room, get a 🌳 Fig Tree. Self pollinating, so you only need one. They are easy to maintain and will produce lots of fruit within a few years. BUT make sure to plant at least 20 feet from house and pipes.

You'd think a pope or top elected official of a country had died jfc Putting phone in drawer, going to get lots done in garden instead of giving further thought to today's state funeral for a fascist, racist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic,... shitposter being elevated to MAGA's Horst Wessel.

Good afternoon. Salvia still looking good.

We keep being told the pharmacies within a half hour drive of the lake do not have and might not get COVID 💉 due to low demand but one front desk gal said she didn't think the vaccine was legal. 🤦‍♀️ So, we are hunting for COVID 💉 an hour away in Springfield but Hyvee says it requires prescription. 🤬

Also on today's walk to lake Big Cat musky urine smell in two forested residential areas and two forested areas at lake park, most likely Bobcat mdc.mo.gov/discover-nat... There are no domestic cats or cats turned feral roaming outdoors at lake Gif, not video of said Bobcat, which I did not see

This place. smdh A handful are followers.

📷 from walks to the lake Left: 10 days ago, tree w/ green leaves turning yellow after less than 1' rain for over 3 months + excessive heat Right: Today, tree almost leafless after 2/3' rain over three days Not sure if native Black Walnut or 😬 invasive Tree of Heaven bplant.org/compare/82-318

Starting October 4th (14 Tickets remaining) 9:30 am Saturdays is Belly Dancing Class @ Central Library Scroll to bottom of event information for more belly dancing class dates slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/68714...

Native Plant Sale & Fun Alert 🚨 10 am to 2 pm Today, Sunday, September 21st 🌱 Bring Conservation Home Expo at Tower Grove Park Missouri Wildflower Nursery and other vendors will be selling sites.google.com/stlouisaudub...

This talk about negotiation by Democrats is mind-boggling. Trump Family & Friends Grift Inc lies, non-stop lies. Whatever Democrats think they can get from Trump, it's going to be a lie. Shut! It! Down!

this is completely false. the "unanimous" vote consisted of one person, Rick Scott, voting. The chamber was entirely empty except for him and Tommy Tuberville, & both of them had to be prompted as to how to execute the vote: