FFS people, can “we” PLEASE stop calling Health Insurance “Health Care?” While directly related, those two things are NOT the same. No one (except perhaps members of congress,) actually HAS health care in the USA. We are tools in a profit-based system that doesn’t care if we live or die. #health

Vetting Followers: another “winner” in the falsified identity game: (seriously folks, reverse-image search is your friend and doesn’t take a lot of time.)

BTW, neither of us meant this in a doomerism way. We meant that whatever we have afterwards, in terms of a nation, will be something else entirely. Possibly difficult/bad, possibly arcing towards improvement. A lot depends on the next few months & will take years to re-stabilize.

Vetting followers: a few weeks ago, I started using G’s Image Search for any new “follower” that included anything resembling a personal image. So far, almost every one has come up as a data-mined image with no relationship to any specific person. E.g. (see image & search results)

Why are BlueSky users forced to mute/block “followers” we do not want to be associated with? Blocks show up in a way that gets us targeted for “Lists” & diss campaigns? Why can’t we simply “accept or decline follower”, keep that info private for safety, & carry on?

BlackRock will buy AES, one of the largest publicly traded utility companies in the U.S. AES is a major power provider for Big Tech companies building out data centers. Yes: while these data centers drive up your electricity costs, wealthy financiers are going to make a killing.

I hear that one of my "jobs" around here is to help cats who don't have amazing homes like me, yet. My friends at @loudouncats.bsky.social could use some food and training pads. Can you help them? It will put a smile on my face. www.chewy.com/g/loudoun-co...

Heads Up to newsy folks: the loss of ACA subsidies aren’t about losing health care. They are about Losing Health Insurance, which is a totally different thing. Even with Health Insurance, one has NO guarantee of receiving Health CARE in the USA. (Ask any disabled person if you want to learn more.)

Now that SimCityBuildIt is being sold to F*ckFace Kushner & The Saudis, along with all EA titles, I’m deleting the game & city I’ve been building since 2014. IT was a peaceful, resource-management game that I enjoyed. Anyone have any replacement suggestions? (NO war games/shooting anyone or thing)

If you’re a Horror Film enthusiast, this post is not for you. I do not enjoy horror films at all. In fact, I can think of only a few that were spoofs or comedies that are even mildly appealing. Context: I had brothers who used me as their torture victim and a (long-ago-ex) husband who /1

The pre-check-in questionnaire at the clinic hits different this year. They use MyCh*rt, which has documented data security failures. Plus, I don’t trust the massive surveillance system “our” government has built, especially in the hands of said government. The Privacy Notice doesn’t reassure either

This whole “democrats are shutting down the government” thing reminds me of when my older brothers used to pin me down, grab one of my hands and use it to hit me, while saying “why’re you hitting yourself, dummy”

Is the “first major storm of the year” imminent? Yes Should I have started looking for the garden umbrella cover as soon as I heard about it 2 days ago? Also Yes Did I do that? No, started a few moments ago Did I find it? Also No Adulting in a new-to-you home can be hard.

Dear @bsky.app PLEASE give us the Remove Follower option.

I love seeing all the young’uns “discovering” & reacting to music from the 70s-80s. Most of them end up saying they’re amazed at the musicianship. So, for every Boomer/Jones Gen’er who said “most modern music doesn’t cut it,” we were right. (Also, WDYM you never heard Barbra, Journey, or Queen???)

Welp, received the annual update packet from the insurance company that administers my Part D Prescription coverage. The monthly premium is increasing more than 93%, from $53.60 to $103.80 - that’s just for the plan. 2 of the 3 meds I take for asthma are also going up by ~75%. Fuck the GOP.

If you or anyone you know is wondering what is REALLY going on with the shutdown… Watch every second of this. I Promise it’s worth your time. #TrumpsGovernmentShutdown

We, as a society, missed a critical opportunity when we all (seemingly) agreed to call online-presenters “influencers” and not “advertisers.” It’s not a coincidence; advertisers face legal consequences for overtly lying, but influencers do not (yet.) this allows outright lying without consequences.

Neighbor having work done on their yard & house for the past 10 days. Poor Romeo is ridiculously triggered. Lots of strange machines & voices & faces we can see looking back at us where it’s normally empty/calm. When he’s this far gone, every little thing sets off his very piercing panic bark. Sigh

Currently watching The Hunger Games films for the bazillionth time. One thing I find most striking about this fictional(?) society is the complete participation of every member of the ruling class. Some may be intentionally ignorant, but most are fully aware of their evil ways & do it anyway.

Donate to my campaign to make Laura Loomer’s day worse: secure.actblue.com/donate/abu-bluesky

So a long-time, close friend has converted to “sharing” updates about his life by sending me links to posts he’s made on various platforms. No real context in the messages, no phone calls, just links. I am SO saddened by this. I don’t think “platform-based friendships” have made us better people.

Minor Good News post. I spent winter of 2023 creating a written crochet pattern in my phone’s Notes from a video. Lots of rewinding! My pattern disappeared after an update; many tears followed; project in closet. YESTERDAY I found my pattern was moved to their Journal app. Glad to have it back.

If you can do so, please consider getting your COVID19 vaccine before ACIP meets on September 18-19. I don’t think it’s out of bounds to guess that, since they are going to manipulate data to falsely claim that the vaccine killed children, they will also recommend pulling FDA approval.

New scam attempt dropped. Recvd email saying it was from the SocSecAdmin’s Ofc of Inspector General informing me my SSN had “suspicious inconsistencies” gave # to call & had an iCal link/doc. It was NOT from SSA-OIG, was not their ph# (cell phone in MO). Didn’t open link/call#; reported scam to SSA.

Holy Shit! Look at this fire map of California. Many of these events were started by last weekend’s lightening storms (dry lightening/no rain). Yikes!!

If you're arrested in Illinois protesting the planned ICE HQ in North Chicago, I can represent you pro bono. Email me at [email protected]. As always, I will take as many cases as I can.

Absolutely everything sucks on so many levels right now. HOWEVER, the Joanna Lumley BBC travel shows are amazing. She’s a shining light of grace, kindness & empathy. I love how she interacts with locals; with pure joy & respect on her face. Truly delightful; 100% recommend. She also tells the truth!

Life@ 65: had a sore spot on my right foot on Sunday. Used a foot roller/massager to help alleviate it. Worked, sort of… Next AM, the Plantar Fascia in that foot was in full revolt, strung tighter than a guitar, unable to place any weight on it. Now using a cane to hobble around, crying, so I’m fun!

Accidentally listened to a YT podcast, hosted by a young-ish man. His caller argued in defense of voting for DJT bcuz of Mass Deportations & how Ai will eliminate “many” men’s jobs, so they need the immigrants gone so American Men can have those jobs…. SOOO many “WTFs” in that convo. 1/

On this date, fifty years ago, I was married in Reno NV to my high school boyfriend because I was pregnant. I was barely 15. My parents lied about my age, saying I was 16 (the minimum legal age for marriage in NV at the time.) Proving that “honesty” is a permeable concept in ‘Christianity’. /1

Best piece of voter-prep advice I ever received read to track down the funding source, and their funding sources (etc.) until you can identify the “leanings” of the actual “source” behind every State Bill or Proposition. It helps put everything in perspective. Thanks for pointing this one out!

Kinda wild that a nation that once prided itself on self-determination and the power of “ownership” has so quickly capitulated to the “you don’t own it; you subscribe to it” model of capitalism. Who’d a thunk it, eh?

I crowdfund for Missouri Democratic State Rep and State Senate candidates because that is the way we make change at the state level that will help at the federal level. My goal is to fund the nominees in every district. Even the red and rural districts. You can help us. Join us. bluemissouri.org

#PlantSky Question for any gardeners in a Western State: would you remove Purslane if you found it in your planter box? I know it has medicinal/nutritional value, but I also read that it can take over and be hard to control. Thoughts?

Ask any serious person from the NatSec end of world relations how it worked out when cult leaders willfully+knowingly created groups of angry, empowered, lethally armed men & allowed them to enforce their ideals. (Hint: not great!) That’s what we have now… empowered, angry, armed men roaming the US.

I love the way last night’s limoncello sunset reflected on the clouds. The lower tier clearly shows the limey-yellow, while the upper tier is still tinged with pink. Lovely! IPhone14 (shot through a glass window,) no filters/no edits.

His Lordship of Silkiness is convinced it is bedtime. This is him staring at the hallway, which leads to the bedroom, where we experience the condition known as “bedtime.” LOL

I made cream cheese yesterday morning. Would have to say it was my best batch yet. (I’ve been trying different methods & found one that gets to the right flavor & consistency.) Today, some of that goodness became Scallion+Shallot Cream Cheese, enjoyed on a raisin bagel w/sliced cucumbers. YUMMY!

Found a somewhat roundish piece of obsidian in the backyard a few days ago. (There are several “extinct” volcanoes nearby.) Decided to see if I could make it into something, ground down the roughest edges & started polishing. It’s become my favorite object to hold in my hand. (Clippers for scale)

I had about a cup and a half of fresh blueberries that were on the verge of “turning”. Still good, but clearly waning. After adding a bunch to Romeo’s breakfast (he LOVES ‘em), decided to make scones. They turned out lovely and made for a pleasant break in our morning routine.

I subscribe to a local newspaper that is largely right-leaning, with a dash of “NorCal Hippie” thrown in. It is the only paper left in the area where you can get local news. It is stunning to see how many people have been captured by the MAGA cult, and their total acceptance of the lies. So sad!

A Tale of Two Tongs 🧵 Was shopping while the store was reorganizing. In the Household Goods aisle, the clerk responsible for updating the display was mumbling under her breath. I needed something from that display & could now hear the clerk “how the hell am I…” /1

We Used to be a Proper Country! (Not a political post.) I bought a Dremel in the early-1990s. It came in a lovely case w/accessories. It also came w/FOUR printed publications. A full owner’s manual. A Parts Almanac (that included an order form) & 2 Project books with full details on how to do them

The took down the BLS.gov website. I was there yesterday, all pages were valid, all links worked, reports available, etc. It would appear that “someone” doesn’t want citizens to see or know anything about this government agency. Super suspish!

Labor Statistics Revisions. Historically, the BLS monthly stats are estimates, based on a sampling of employers’ reports, which are not due until the 10th of the following month. Quarterly stats are gleaned from quarterly payroll tax reports, based on actual pay issued/hours worked. /1

There’s a feral cat colony nearby. (FYI:There are no TNR programs in this town/county). Today, while raking up after weed-whipping, I discovered the mostly decomposed corpse of a calico cat. It was under a rosemary shrub. Was tempted to cure the skull for my nature altar, but couldn’t follow thru…

Part of my problem with the Democratic Party is that all aspects of “political success” have been reduced to “who has (or raised) the most cash.” Emails saying “we’ve had enough!” cite the amounts raised by Repubs. They do not state what they plan to actually do. I guess they’ll cash a check?

Imagine my surprise to learn that I was automatically “subscribed” to a propaganda email series from Dr. O z, on behalf of Medicare. Followed instructions to unsubscribe-not easy. It took four attempts to complete. If you have an online Medicare account, check your communication preferences!

Question for “regular folks” (meaning not pundits, journalists, or government employees/adjacent). Does an email title from the Dems saying something like “Please read! Don’t Delete” actually increase the chances you will read said email? It doesn’t for me; makes me delete instantly.