All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.

No sales for a while, so I’m still needing to sell at least 14 framed pieces to have rent! *Lots* of new work in the store & tons of specials in the feed! I’ve been putting together some awesome gift sets to go home w/ orders.

Really important fundraising opportunity for the farm sanctuary I work for - please chip in if you can!

And it's another short thread @wingsndnsilver.bsky.social with tonight's inventory selections, a pair of concha earrings plus a separate necklace-and-earrings set, all set with Welo opal like the featured work:

Today's NDN Silver Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DSyJT4hju3.... Follow us at: www.instagram.com/wingsndnsilv....

Well hello there MELIA 💗 your Bluesky friends are helping you find a quiet adult only home. With no dogs. Cats are ok (slow intro) dont you worry baby girl, it'll happen soon 🤞💗🤞 🏠Hempstead Animal Shelter ☎️(516) 785-5220 📍3320 Beltagh Avenue , Unit Wantagh, NY 11793 💻[email protected]

Happy #caturday from MooCow and MyDude. #catsky 🐈

The blue goldstone in the middle just found a home, who's up next?

Pretty much a metaphor for the current state of technology. Heckuva job, billionaire tech bros!

Excellent, poignant thread.

This is a wonderful piece.

anyway good night

They're like cartoon villains now; ICE arrested a guy & divided up his purchases among themselves. This part is a lot less cartoonish, though: A woman asked if she could take down the man's wife's phone # to let her know he'd been detained, & ICE wouldn't let her. newrepublic.com/post/204750/...

Second is for our cat peeps! New, just posted tonight. Sama's disabled, and she's caring for two ferals, trying to keep 'em alive and safe. She needs to build them winter shelters. $500 goal; how fast can we do this? gofund.me/b1857157c

First up is Eric, who REALLY needs support. Here's my thread from this afternoon: bsky.app/profile/wing.... It was $70. Now it's $340. Can we get him to $1K tonight? Here's his GFM link: gofund.me/4660f50cf.

Now, tonight's local urgent needs. I might have a local mama's wishlist later via the local mutual-aid group [we'll see if I have time to create it before I pass out from exhaustion] But for now, two crowdfunds.

And it's another short thread @wingsndnsilver.bsky.social with tonight's inventory selections, a coordinating pair of works [sold separately] honoring Dragonfly's cousin, Butterfly:

And it's a final short thread @wingsndnsilver.bsky.social with tonight's local urgent needs, 2 crowdfunds, one old [medical], one brand new [cat rescue] :

If someone has enough extra money laying around and wants to get me something, this necklace and these earrings would be perfect.

Any Secret Santas out there? [We celebrate Christmas the old way, from 12/24 through Epiphany, LOL. Mostly because we have no time prior to Xmas.]

Truth

"The poverty of this century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied, but written off as trash." -John Berger

All right, tonight's local urgent needs. We had a little good fortune a few days ago, and so we set aside $100 to split between the 5 current crowdfunds I know about. $20 each. Can you match it? $20 for each fo the 5? Even $20 for just one? They're below:

First, Cindy, newly guardian to her little niece and nephew. Home repairs are urgent. Everybody, match our $20? spot.fund/w2fh1thdc

Second, Eric, with severe arthritis, a torn rotator cuff, and a year fo battling blood cancer [ongoing], who got screwed last month by SSA for disability. Help him make it to his next hearing in spring? gofund.me/4660f50cf

Third, Lisa, whose 15-y/o daughter is battling dangerous complications from lupus and must travel weekly for treatment. Again, match our $20? gofund.me/ecdb368fe

Fourth, Bridgett and family, battling to get back on track after husband's job loss put them underwater on everything. Match us? spot.fund/gb2rp6rdc

And finally, Jesse, dealing with severe illness and hospitalization, needing long-term treatment/care: gofund.me/b7ea8db8d

For @stellamae50.bsky.social. 🎄🎄🎄

‘Brief funnel clouds expected’ is suboptimal for the Christmas morning forecast.

The wind has been almost cartoonishly gusty, swirling and strong overnight.

Merry Christmas, beautiful Bluesky people. And in the spirit of #JoinIn here's a Christmas story for you... BBC News - Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Happy Christmas everyone. If you're not feeling much like celebrating today or feeling lonely can I suggest looking at #joinin? Started by @sarahmillican.bsky.social several years ago on the now toxic site, it's a good way to connect with other people and may even make you smile a bit!

a very meowy christmas for all who celebrate!

“Like prime, but with human beings”

My god this is an incredible story. Perfect for today, especially if your heart is struggling to find joy or magic right now.

This thread has been saved from the wastes of Twitter! Go on; have a read, it’s a lovely Christmas Eve tale.

It's called, aptly, "Of a Winter's Night": wingssilverwork.com/of-a-winters.... Beads are blue-flash Labradorite; fine silver; silvery blue-gray baroque pearls; Labradorite; sapphire; rare blue rose quartz; royal lapis lazuli; sterling silver:

Okay, tonight's inventory selection. Just one, but perfect for this night. Today's featured work is a cuff [shown below] set with a gorgeous rainbow moonstone that refracts incredible blue light. We have a gemstone bead necklace, no rainbow moonstone, but it's a perfect match.

(Psst…if you pick up something from the store today - including gift certificates - you might get a little Christmas elephant or fox painting included…)

Get this set framed & I’ll take $50 off!

I cannot bear Christmas without you, Winston. My life feels well and truly over. I would give everything to have you in my arms again. For the past year to have been just an awful nightmare, from which we will both wake up. I love you forever, my precious Christmas Goose.

Here's hoping next year is just as creative! youtube.com/shorts/568o6...

My ko-fi where I sell my art ko-fi.com/mahtheyzhawe... My link🌲 where I have wishlists for medical stuff and other things. linktr.ee/mahtheyzhawey

What I've been obsessing over. I even made earrings. Just have to back them all.

December Mutual Aid. Goes towards bills, medical, personal care, and January rent. If you want to just support a disabled Native artist share or donate. Also have my kofi where I sell my art. PayPal.me/kiagbear Cashapp $kiagbear Venmo kiagbear ko-fi.com/mahtheyzhawe...

May you all enjoy a wonderful evening and a special Christmas Day. Many blessings.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for this post-solstice light, for the snow that doesn't come and the storm that cannot midwife itself into being: wingssilverwork.com/red-willow-s....

1) Moving paper by young ME/CFS researcher Katherine Cheston. She was aware of the great disability it causes but "encountering the reality of this suffering first-hand was still shocking and deeply saddening." She gives examples of patients who do not get appropriate care.

8) "The sheer magnitude of the unmet needs is devastating: this population live with disabling and life-limiting symptoms, yet they feel alone and abandoned, receiving little to no institutional support, care or recognition of their suffering."