With what frequency is “tradition” invoked to defend practices that were never admirable? Shall we conduct periodic reviews of our traditions?

I found this vintage photo of Stephen Miller:

I apologize for being so grouchy: The political obsession with “border security” is a convenient distraction from the fact that the country can’t even secure clean water in half its municipalities. #frustrated

As I read more and more, it is abundantly clear progress usually results from people refusing to accept cruelty as normal. Obviously not a lawmaker, going to do what I can to challenge cruelty I see immediately around me. Then ramp it up. #resist

*This is a platform where you can share your justified reactions. It is also a platform to share your work, efforts and experiences.. ~For a better world~ Sngreen..

This belongs in every classroom. When systems fail people, solidarity is our lifeline. #Education #Unity #Literature

Italy seizing millions in Mafia‑linked assets.... ....is a blueprint for how to deal with the Trump infestation.

1. Your favorite brands incorporate in *unexpected* jurisdictions worldwide — to siphon/conceal profits through re-invoicing, dummy entities. Your governments establish presence in *unexpected* places to reroute tax dollars to trusted leaders, foundations, and IBCs.

Societies rarely decline through dramatic collapse; they fray quietly. Or as TSE wrote, "with a whimper."

Certainly much bailing out of corporations and banks.

Whether cynical or realistic, I am viewing expenditures and essentially all governments' activities with a far more critical eye. Thank you @raquelreveals.bsky.social -Bill

Final thought for Monday: Artists pulled out of the America 250 celebration and the administration responded with “cancel it.” Feels retaliatory.

Jim Acosta just trashed Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld for gloating over a photo of the staff of Colbert Show - dozens of people. "You are celebrating the fact that all of these people are losing their jobs. All because your dear leader can’t take a joke. Seriously, wtf is wrong with you,"...

Long weekends highlight to me the fact most people are running on fumes and pretending they’re fine.

Climate enforcement remains weak and the EPA’s own public dashboards show inspection numbers still below pre‑2020 levels. Is humanity happy to saute itself? #Climate

UK universities cut jobs, research, teaching amid squeeze in overseas students. 30,000 job losses, brain drain, less student choice. Local economies shattered because of obsession with 'foreign' students. Govt can exclude them from immigration stats during period of study. archive.ph/L0iEn/again

IRAN AND OMAN ARE REPORTEDLY DISCUSSING A PERMANENT STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRANSIT FEE SYSTEM, WITH TEHRAN PUSHING FOR HEAVY CHARGES ON COMMERCIAL SHIPS WHILE POTENTIALLY GIVING PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO ALLIES SUCH AS RUSSIA AND CHINA. - SOURCES

People in general massively overestimate number of people coming to the UK, while massively underestimating what they bring. It's an issue amplified by xenophobic and racist rhetoric and policies, including those of current government, which seek to make immigration out to be some kind of "crisis".

Invoicing That is just sending a bill. Who has heard of re-invoicing?

FUCK OFF MAGA! To Target a Gay Couple with a baby is Beyond Asinine! You should be taking a look in the mirror! youtube.com/shorts/KyXx3...

This one deserves to be re-released! #Bluesky #Boost #FollowFarmersAnonymous go.bsky.app/133fZM1

#satire #51ststate

The economic remains oddly detached from daily life. “Cooling inflation,” they say, while the price of a simple shop seems to rise with every visit. One learns to read the footnotes and subtext in addition to the headlines. #Economy

Like all of you--perhaps more than some, less than others--I tend to fret a great deal about the state of the world. I am unlikely to be of any help if I do not perform a system shutdown each evening. I like to retreat into a book and I highly recommend it. #MentalHealth

#ballroom #satire

We can't all be shopping for Mother's Day cards at the same exact time. We need to take turns.

“Do you support this kind of demonstration?” @justinjpearson.bsky.social : “Absolutely! What the hell else are we gonna do?” (From @MemphisForAll)

All you lucky lucky people who still have your mothers go give them hugs and kisses this weekend and give them even a few from me!!!!

3 ships. The Strait is not open.

Trump's grift is so predictable. 8 days ago @mtsw.bsky.social predicted that Trump would let Iran control the Strait of Hormuz if he gets a cut. Today: yes, that's his plan. Trump learned business in mob-run New York construction and he's never changed. No governance, just extortion.

For people just catching up to the Amanda Ungaro / Paolo Zampolli story (she was an Epstein victim, then the mother of his child; he just had her deported by ICE), here's the bigger context: it was Zampolli who brought the Slovenian model Melania Knauss to the US and introduced her to Trump. 1/

Einstein Visa? Or Epstein Visa?

Why do people talk about “division” like it’s a natural disaster? It is nearly always engineered. Someone benefits when neighbors and communities stop comparing notes and start pointing fingers. #Money

The question is, who's about to leak info, Iran or Pam Bondi?

Remote work has reshaped cities faster than any zoning reform. Office districts now function as architectural relics of a previous economic era. #thoughts

UK will not allow US to use air bases for infrastructure attacks, signals Downing Street www.ft.com/content/e7b1...

the world: falling apart my Instagram algorithm:

Nancy Pelosi has called for President Trump to be removed from office

“Donald Trump’s very act of making such apocalyptic threats, including his warning of ending ‘a whole civilization’, reveals a staggering level of cruelty and disregard for human life” www.amnestyusa.org/press-releas...

So a ceasefire (good) but also seems that Iran gets to cheap charging tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. So the dust settles and Iran can generate massive amounts of new income. Hmmm

Public trust erodes quickly when leaders treat accountability as optional. The United States offered a rather vivid demonstration of this during Trump presidencies; we’d be wise to take note. #Governance

This is an actual post. This is not funny. This is beyond desperate. This is a deeply unwell man who doesn’t belong anywhere near the levers of power. Every member of his cabinet and Congress is complicit in not demanding his removal now.

Donald Trump’s first administration had a 90% cabinet turnover rate. We’ll probably see the same again, and with any luck, this time they’ll all write their tell-all books from prison cells.

Good call yesterday with Keir Starmer. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s actions are putting global economic stability at risk. We will work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation can resume as soon as possible.

Pam Bondi has been sacked as US attorney general in the Trump administration

New @therestpolitics.bsky.social mini-series out today. Talking to Labour MP @liambyrnemp.bsky.social about populism. Why the charismatic charlatans are winning and how to beat them. He has thought deeply about it. We all need to to get the world back on track. Wherever you get your podcasts

Trump just lifted sanctions on three Russian ships, one of them tied to stolen grain & other resources from occupied Ukrainian territory, in another gift to Moscow I have lost track of how many gifts Trump has given to Russia as it continues its genocidal war olgalautman.substack.com/p/trump-lift...