“Winter is beautiful,” said Frog. “Come out and have fun.” “Blah,” said Toad. “I do not have any winter clothes.”

Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. ― H.L. Mencken

Sore loser department

he mighta been a 49'er for a few years, but we know he's really a Seahawk

winter biking, Grumpy's Bar, NE Minneapolis

Thanks to all who Liked and Reposted! We will get there! We hope to get more support to reach our goal in 2026! Hit that follow button! 👆 And have a great weekend!

There will come a time when people of good faith are empowered to uphold the law. When that time comes, Illinois will have the testimony and records needed to pursue justice to its fullest extent. The truth of what Trump and his masked agents are doing in Chicago will be told.

Olive Theatre Donalsonville, GA

A terrific experience to chair the @bookcritics.bsky.social nonfiction committee, with the amazing @gwinnma.bsky.social, @michaelschaub.bsky.social, Jacob Appel, Colette Bancroft, Iris Dunkle, Jonathan Leal. Congrats to all longlisted authors and all writers whose work we read during the last year!

Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Nonfiction

Chicken DeKalb, IL

Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Biography

Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Autobiography

Conditions are dangerous and access routes may be lost at any time. Go north or south of evacuated area away from flooding waters. Do not drive or walk through standing or moving water. Turn around, don’t drown. Do not drive around barricades or road closures.

This is for residents and businesses east of the green river in the Orillia area in Tukwila, Renton and Kent. Due to breach in the Desimone Levee, this area is under a GO NOW evacuation notice. Leave immediately if you are in this area.

Information from NWS Seattle: In coordination with King County, we have issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for a levee breach in Tukwila WA near Todd, Blvd. Water is likely moving north towards I-405. In addition, an evacuation notice is now in effect from King County.

Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Criticism

Announcing the National Book Critics Circle 2025 Longlist for Fiction

Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah. Praying for his full & speedy recovery. And so deeply inspired by his example.

Well, this is primitive 😳

Indiana Senate Republicans displayed more backbone to Trump this week than the leaders of Columbia and Northwestern and many law firms and countless other corporate leaders.

Under the previously undisclosed program, TSA provides a list to ICE of travelers who will be coming through airports. ICE can then match the list against its own database of people subject to deportation and send agents to the airport to detain those people. nyti.ms/4oUnl4J

This ballroom not only marks the destruction of a historic landmark — it's also creating a monument to corruption in our country, as massive corporations & the ultra-wealthy have donated millions to build the ballroom & buy Trump's favor. We need to put a stop to this entire corrupt enterprise.

“When I was small, not much bigger than a pollywog,” said Frog, “my father said to me, “Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner.”

Stay tuned… Our highly anticipated longlists are coming out next week!

Lunch, painted in 1914 by Zinaida Serebriakova, born on this day in 1884. More poignant when you realize that the Revolution would shatter this family only three years later.

New discovery: 4th-century mosaic hall unearthed in Türkiye’s ancient Hadrianopolis The mosaics feature motifs such as peacocks drinking from a fountain, geometric patterns, ribbon designs, or an eight-pointed star. About 80% of the mosaic has survived intact. www.dailysabah.com/life/history...

Trump 0-3 on indicting Tish James and just had his ass handed to him by Indiana Republican legislators he threatened and bullied. Also new low in AP poll at 36% approval.

The Indiana Senate rejected a redistricting plan in a rebuke to President Trump, who mounted an aggressive pressure campaign on Republican lawmakers to adopt new congressional maps.

“What most struck me is the brutality and physical violence involved in every story,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “This is stuff that should be unrecognizable as America. It should make everyday Americans outraged.” By @nicolefoy.bsky.social

BREAKING: Democrats and Republicans in Congress just voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore federal workers’ union rights – the first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term. https://bit.ly/4oNyBQc

As rain continues to fall, roads may continue to flood. Things to keep in mind these next few days🧵 1. Road conditions can change quickly, but your GPS apps may not have the most recent info. Check our travel map for the most accurate current conditions: wsdot.com/Travel/Real-...

Whoa. This is a big one. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...

In a stealth upset, Democrat Eric Gisler flips a GOP-held Georgia House seat spanning parts of Athens and Oconee County. Gisler won 39% of vote last November. He captured 51% tonight to defeat a Republican backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and other GOP leaders.

Hey, if you’re a Seattle/WA author with a book coming out next year and you have a firm pub date, please let me know for potential inclusion in the Seattle Times’s 2026 book preview. (Space is limited but I’ll do my best.) Drop a link either in replies or at my email: [email protected].

You can hear Jose scream in excruciating pain as an ICE vehicle runs over his foot while he's being detained. His family says Jose is a good man, with no criminal record, who works in roofing. He needs to be released from detention to receive appropriate medical care.

I cannot get over how evil this is.

I swear maybe once a decade in public, and this is the moment. This fucking racist and all the gibbering racists nodding along behind him are the ruination of our country. Our fucking job for the next fucking year is to fucking destroy them in the next election. Fuck them.

A giant

NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month. This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory! Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...

If I ever received a book review like this for a future memoir, I would genuinely move to the woods. wapo.st/49MrLqr

Book critics, tomorrow is the deadline to apply for the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing. Only @bookcritics.bsky.social members are eligible so please check the status of your membership before you apply here: www.bookcritics.org/awards/balak...

Oh no

A reminder that my Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar starts tomorrow. 🎄 Of course, it may bear a distinct resemblance to my advent last year (and the year before that, and the year before that …) 😊 Artist: PB Hickling

I happily donate to Wikipedia, incredible resource in this day and age especially.

My life is a triumph of all the things I don't know. I don't have to know everything. I read Agatha Christies and throw them away when the detective says "And the murderer is..." The mystery's always greater than the solution. —John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Tech companies are pouring billions into AI chips and data centers. Increasingly, they are relying on debt and risky tactics. Financial analysts are worried there's a bubble that will soon pop.

people big mad at president psychomoron