Many people DO NOT UNDERSTAND how financially desperate people are right now. A friend posted asking for GAS MONEY to get to a dying family member, and an older friend (65) private messaged me that "our parents figured out stuff and didn't beg." I said, "My parents bought a $15,000 house in 1975."

Wright Morris Farmhouse in Winter, near Lincoln, Nebraska 1941 "A perplexing example of a first-rate sensibility who never quite produced a first-rate book. He's an excellent photographer; so good that from the first his photography has challenged his prose." - Larry McMurtry

Exactly. What was done to Twitter ended up as a test run for what has been done to America.

As evidence: everything Musk chose to do to Twitter is now happening in our nation itself: selling golden visas; eliminating protections for the marginalized; catering to frauds, billionaires and extremists; amplifying lies and conspiracy and attacking those with evidence, expertise and experience.

There are many factors that made this corrupt and foul age possible, but I believe history will agree that Musk+Miller+Project 2025 were the core enablers of every abuse and atrocity we see around us today. Trump? A convenient figurehead and hypeman for the MAGA base—there not to lead, but to feed.

In the process Musk infused NewTwitter’s DNA into Project 2025’s spawning matrix, where it fused with the vile xenophobic seed of Stephen Miller. The horrors of this 2nd Trump regime burst from that grotesque incubator like a swarm of winged demons, innumerable enough to blacken the sky.

Musk then jumped onto the Trump Train, fueling it with his endless cash and then taking a job in the administration that essentially did what he did to Twitter to America’s good-government infrastructure—and to the Constitution.

With ad sales plummeting, Musk desperately pivoted X toward lowest-common-denominator revenue sources: Selling “golden checkmarks,” enabling con artists, coddling ideologically aligned oligarchs and hatemongers, and encouraging predatory behavior toward women.

Among the things that were eliminated were tools and staffers focused on protecting users on the margins and did their best to build safe and productive communities, while amplifying signal and reducing noise in a way that also supported an ad-based revenue stream.

When Elon Musk was forced to buy Twitter and fired 80% of its staff, everyone thought it would collapse immediately. It didn’t. It rotted from the inside out, becoming a Nazi-infested crucible for hatespeech and AI-deepfake sexual harassment—unrecognizable as the vital social connector it once was.

PLEASE never-ever-ever get a pet from a stranger on social media unless you are aware of the worst possible scenarios. A family just bought a puppy with parvo from a known animal abuser, and I had to get them in touch with a rescue that specializes in saving parvo puppies 💔

I LOVE the first day of the term questionnaire when students tell you something about themselves. I have a student who raises Highland cattle, a student who researches a certain type of plant. We are all just geeking out over here together 💗

The number of people who advocate shooting people's pets with any type of firearm is disturbing.

Every time I prep courses, I think back to a time when textbook companies weren't just giant corporations, churning out a new edition each year just to make the old one obsolete and make more money off students. Yes, I'm aware OERs exist, but I've yet to find ones I like 💔

Plan for the day -- syllabi-writing, course prep (winter term classes start tomorrow -- Eeee!), laundry (because having clothes to teach in would be nice), then hopefully a run and maybe walking a shelter dog to a dog-friendly bar. Wish me luck! 💗

The group picture and an action shot from Runners of the Sage yesterday. 209 people showed up to run. Wow! 💗🏃‍♀️

We love when our adopters are in LOVE with the pets they adopt. When Newt's new mama met him, she told us she was so excited, she rushed out and bought everything she could think of to welcome him home 💗🐾 We have a shelter full of animals waiting to be loved by YOU 💗🐾 #dogs #ADOPTdontshop

It's a big day for kitty adoptions! Happy Adoption Day to Jinx! We love this sweet boy! Jinx's foster said, "Jinx is the sweetest guy. He LOVES to launch himself onto your chest for hugs. He is such a mild and loving baby." 💗🐾 We are so happy Jinx has found his fur-ever home 🏡 #cats #kittens

Sen. Tammy Duckworth:   "The American people believed Donald Trump when he promised on the campaign trail that he would get our nation out of foreign wars, but this morning we awoke to another stark reminder that he is—and has always been—a liar who has never cared about keeping his promises."

Happy Adoption Day, Jingle! We are so happy for this sweet kitty! Please always share our happy adoption pictures! You never know who will be inspired to visit their local shelter and adopt! #cats #kittens #ADOPTdontshop

3.25 miles, 759 elevation gain. Badger Mountain! #CharityMiles #everymilematters #getoutside

I live in the weirdest place on Earth.

What in the AI slop is this?

A story for the New Year 💗🐾

Ummm... Someone is taking pumpkins off people's porches and leaving this note? What? Some people are saving these pumpkins to roast the seeds or to plant the seeds or to feed to their livestock :-/

2.45 miles, 433 foot elevation gain. Last run of 2025! Last sunset of 2025! #CharityMiles #everymilematters #getoutside

If anyone is looking to do some year-end giving, please consider @pawspendletonor.bsky.social ! You can make it a one-time donation or monthly by choosing an amount from the drop down menu at pendletonpaws.org/donate Thanks so much! 🐾💗

Did I run outside in my pajamas (plus a hat) to feed the wild turkeys in the 20° frosty morning? You betcha! Love these guys. 💗🦃

Seared Ahi tacos at LU LU Craft Bar + Kitchen. Yes, I also got slaw as my side. So delicious! I 💗 cabbage!

I'm in a mall. This is crazy, y'all! We transported a dog, and I forget that cities exist a lot of the time.

Hope is a beloved dog who has an upcoming surgery on January 29th at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic. She has tumors which will be removed and biopsied. Please call 541-276-3141 to donate over the phone and say your donation is for Hope Graham. We love you, Hope! 💗🐾 #dogs

Matt and I are transporting Oscar, the dalmatian, for Many Paws Volunteer Transport Team . Please consider volunteering for them. You just drive a dog for an hour of their journey, and it makes a huge difference 💗🐾💗🐾 @manypawsvt.bsky.social

I just learned of the sudden passing of Jeff McShane. He was just the nicest person, and it's so sad and shocking to think he's gone. Please share this flyer and the GoFundMe to help his family. 💔😭 gofund.me/fd77a802a

There is no reason for anyone to be breeding dogs/cats anymore until the shelter crisis is over. Two parents and 6 Airedale puppies dumped in various locations because the owners thought this would keep them from getting caught. This is happening DAILY. #dogs #adoptdontshop

Latkes (zucchini/squash/potato) with applesauce, goat cheese, and sour cream/lox :)

2.96 miles, 461 foot elevation gain. So thankful for all of it. Even the hard parts. #CharityMiles #everymilematters #getoutside

Newt was adopted as a tiny baby in 2018 and was just returned to @pawspendletonor.bsky.social because his adopters have a grandchild with allergies. I told him he's still a tiny baby to me, and we'll find him the best home, ever 💔🐾 #dogs

Why are there Pop Tarts but no Mom Tarts? The pastry-archy.

I signed up for a winter run series where it's sure to be much colder than this 😬 Trying to talk myself into going for a run now to "practice"/ try out gear.

Matt, Max, and me visiting dog-friendly establishments that support @pawspendletonor.bsky.social . He's an almost 13-year-old German Shepherd/Malamute who has been in and out of the shelter for years 💔 Please give this best boy a fur-ever home #dogs #AdoptDontShop

I just made the shelter Facebook fundraiser for these two babies. If you're on Facebook, please help by donating and/or sharing. Thank you! www.facebook.com/share/p/1Coi...

Facebook memories: Freezing fog 12 years ago 💗❄️

💛🐾🐾💛🐾🐾💛

2.26 miles, 433 foot elevation gain. Still on two cold/sinus meds but wanted to try out my new running gear! Topo Athletic shoes and @brooksrunning.com gloves. #MerryChristmas #CharityMiles #everymilematters #getoutside

If you want to help pay shelter vet bills as part of a very good deed, these are the amounts PAWS owes at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic for these two pets. Sydney - $1133.24 Comet - $312.80 Please call 541-276-3141 & donate to PAWS bill over the phone. Thank you!💗🐾

I'm so happy for Daxton!

We spent all day at vet's offices (at emergency rates) with two shelter animals. One of the heeler puppies was discovered to have an infected puncture wound and got antibiotics & we helped a stray kitty whose head was chomped by a dog. If you can help, please do! pendletonpaws.org/donate #dogs #cats

Thank you to Wheatland Insurance for the pet supply drive they hold every year! Haley is holding Jingle, and Hunter is holding Jingle's brother, Japan! Also pictured is our big, orange boy, Firefly! Thank you to our community! Merry Christmas! #donate #dogoodfeelgood #cats

Meant to go grocery shopping. Rescued a bunch of puppies instead. Please help people spay/neuter their pets.

Can I read this draft of proposed legislation while on two different cold meds? LFG! Note: I promise I will be rereading it later as well...