What do folks do when something is down? They go to social media to find out if it is just them or if it is really down. Yep, #PayPal is down, all over the planet. I haven't heard any reports of why yet though. #PayPalDown

Censorship is so 1984. Banned Books Week is October 5 - 11, 2025. For more, check out bannedbooksweek.org Censorship Is So 1984 artwork is ©American Library Association. Banned Books Week is ®American Library Association. #BannedBooksWeek #bannedbooksweek2025 #ireadbannedbooks

Citing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social says his democratic socialism is about "better distribution of wealth for all of God's children." "We're in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and one in four New Yorkers are living in poverty."

go.bsky.app/DVCi3GG @bobhudson.bsky.social @pennyflynn.bsky.social @urbanballet.bsky.social @tammyv.bsky.social @stephen54.bsky.social @reginagarson.bsky.social @veronicaeye.bsky.social @justfara.bsky.social @larrydolphin.bsky.social

Most students are using AI to write, but not necessarily to cheat. They’re brainstorming, revising and thinking critically with tools like ChatGPT. A writing professor says this isn’t a threat – it’s an opportunity, rather than a loss.

Hong Kong police have defused a 450kg World War II-era bomb discovered at a construction site, prompting the evacuation of more than 2,800 residents. Authorities said the device was still ‘fully functional’ and could have caused mass casualties if mishandled.

I'll probably never fully retire, even if I have enough money. Work is a huge part of my identity, and it keeps me mentally sharp.

Ivey and Ag Commissioner Rick Pate celebrated the essential role Alabama’s farmers play in sustaining families and the state’s economy.

Via @chatlanis.bsky.social and @stateline.org: A new Trump administration rule bars immigrants living in the United States under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from buying health insurance from Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

The DNC launched a new organizing initiative, using data and analytics, to rally Mobile voters behind Democratic State Rep. Barbara Drummond.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested John Shin, who has played with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West. The Department of Homeland Security cited his 2019 DUI conviction as the reason.

Y'all get your practice on. The last Saturday in August is Play Music on the Porch Day. You can register and make it official if you are so inclined. playmusicontheporchday.com #playmusicontheporchday #playmusic

Celebrating poets: past and present. Happy Poet's Day! #poets #poet #poetrylover

I snapped this yellow beauty the other day at Monte Sano State Park, southeast US. I have tentatively identified is as goldenrod, although not one of the more common varieties of it found in our area. #flowerfriday #floralfriday #bloomscrolling #flowers #gardens

I made a starter pack! go.bsky.app/K71wfyW

Celebrating, more like contemplating, the Fourth of July: On duty, responsibility and freedom. The photo of the Statue of Liberty is from Pixabay. The meme quote is mine. #statueofliberty #freedom #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #july4th #happy4th #happyfourthofjuly #independenceday

"The senior ranks of the FBI and DOJ’s national security teams have been decimated, as a result the FBI and Justice Department are completely unprepared to respond to a crisis, including the fallout from the current conflict in the Middle East."

My bad…👇 How about you?! 😂

. From 'The Niche Narrows' (2000) —Samuel Menashe #poetry #poem #poems

The United States never has enough money to keep people alive at home but always has enough money to kill people overseas.

Now that Noem, Blondi and Cocaine Kash have gotten rid of departments investigating and prosecuting foreign terrorist threats, how long before we get hit?

Where is Congress?

Via @stateline.org: Lawmakers say political rhetoric that dehumanizes anyone who disagrees on an issue has created a charged atmosphere. As politicians increasingly describe their rivals not just as wrong on policy but as the enemy, the message can embolden extremists to carry out violence.

He just dropped $280,000,000 worth of artillery in a war that’s not ours, but our grandparents have to live on Ramen noodles because America can’t afford Meals on Wheels anymore. Make it make sense.

A president bombing a foreign country without congressional approval is ILLEGAL.

No Speaker Of The House in U.S. history has abdicated his responsibility and ceded the power of Congress to a reckless and impulsive tyrant more than Mike Johnson has. He's happy to sit on his hands and do NOTHING while the president abuses his power & steamrolls legislators. DISGRACE. #FDT #ETTD

no accidents

Much as I would not dare to predict the consequences of this war, I do think we can summarize it thusly so far: A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.

This…this is real. He really typed this with those greasy fingers.

A federal appeals court ruled Trump can keep control of California’s National Guard troops in L.A., rejecting Gov. Newsom’s challenge. The court said Trump acted within his authority—though judicial review still applies. Newsom called the ruling “disappointing.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

So the next time we have a Democratic President in office, the Republicans are going to be fine with him taking over every “red” state’s National Guard anytime they ignore mandates, like healthcare, equal rights, or to hunt down rightwing militias, etc. Correct?

JD Vance, the biggest fascist of them all, is coming to LA to co-splay as commander of the Marine Corp. & National Guard occupation in #LosAngeles. Let our elected reps in to review detention centers dammit. Stop kidnapping citizens from grocery store/church parking lots! ktla.com/news/califor...

Celebrate Freedom. June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. . Art courtesy of Canva. #juneteenth #freedom #freedomday #blackhistory #celebratefreedom #Juneteenth2025 #independence

I macerated fresh peaches in sugar (cut them up, top with sugar, and let them sit to draw out the juices. A squeeze of lemon juice keeps them from turning brown.). Then, mix up some vanilla pudding, throw it all together, and top with whipped cream. 🍜 #food #peaches #pudding #dessert #freshfruit

All court hearings need to be halted until these attacks stop. How can authorities expect people to follow laws when they are not? This is entrapment. This is bounty hunting. This is abuse. This is immoral. It is inhumane.

“You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens asking to see a judicial warrant” —Brad Lander just now as he is being handcuffed by ICE.

Here's a longer video of Brad Lander's detention just now inside 26 Federal Plaza as he tried to walk a man out of immigration court, by masked federal agents.

“What you are seeing is the beginning of fascism,” says Ramirez, who represents parts of Chicago. “For fascists, they select a public enemy. And today, it’s an immigrant. … Tomorrow, it’s anyone they find undesirable.”

You know, we used to study Dr Kings civil disobedience as something good. It was

Thursday #FreedomLovers @wtdmovement.bsky.social @iluvtrees.bsky.social @garelebette.bsky.social @beansbeth.bsky.social @shadowdancer73.bsky.social @beachbums79.bsky.social @moberzan.bsky.social @cindic1112.bsky.social @softtail65.bsky.social @dalewalls1.bsky.social

It’s almost TACO TIME…👇 Are you READY?! 🤚 Enjoy. 😎✨

And BOOM, there it is…👇 Boom, there it is… Boom, there it is… BOOM. Bitch. Bye. 👋 ✨

@pelosi.house.gov: "On January 6th...we begged the president of the United States to send in the National Guard. He would not do it...And yet, in a contra-constitutional way, he has sent the National Guard into California. Something is very wrong with this picture."