TIL that the herring gulls near me (about 20 miles inland from the Atlantic) live an average of 12 to 20 years, with the record being 49 years. This may explain some things.
I have to thank you again for putting some serendipity in my path: that Atavist article has a defunct ad for an app I loved – Audm, which the NYTimes bought and murdered a few years ago.
Audm had professional narrators reading mid- to long-form magazine articles from hundreds of periodicals. It's how I discovered so many great publications like The Atavist, The Bitter Southerner, and The Conversation.
I actually have the live bear cams page saved to my phone browser! I started watching them when Mom was in the hospital, it cheered us both up in her final months.
Ellen S. White's Etymology Dictionary (https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/14732.511517) informs me that boink is "perhaps a bouncier form of bonk" and applies to both senses of the words. This information pleases me.
Mrs. JC texted me yesterday to let me know she'd had to chase a bear cub off her mom's porch that morning. He'd knocked down a gate across the stairs and the two concrete urns that were to either side of the steps getting onto the porch.
She said mom wasn't in view anywhere and she hoped he wasn't an orphan, as she'd seen a report earlier about an injured momma bear with 2 cubs.
Trump on Mt. Rushmore? Maybe. Make a bigly mold, fill it with Sacrete then roll it to the bottom of the mountain. Let it set, then peel off most of the mold. Spray paint the hair Obnoxious Blonde and the face Domestic Orange. Mission accomplished.
Regarding Mount Rushmore - have we not already desecrated native American land enough? With two slaveowners and a war buff? Even Lincoln was not immune to political errors for the wrong reasons. One appointment he made as a political favor was so incompetent that the end result was the explosion of the Sultana and way too many deaths. This was reported on the PBS show "History Detectives, where qualifies expert historical researchers looked into questions from viewers about historical events. The investigator of this case was Wes Cowan (possibly the most qualified of the four, although all were qualified and conscientious.)
Four of our best Presidents there, and none was perfect. And now there are people who want to add a convicted felon, a convicted rapist, a kleptomaniac narcissist? Excuse me while I go lose my lunch.
A bright spot in Friday's SCOTUS rulings: although they have curtailed lower courts from issuing nationwide injunctions, the Supremes seem to have strengthened the principle of Collateral Estoppel somewhat.
Collateral Estoppel means that the Administration cannot endlessly relitigate settled aspects of any new or continuing case. As in, if a court has found that ICE systematically ignores due process requirements as a part of its decision for any one litigant, future litigants can simply cite the ruling as a proven fact about ICE's practices in future cases without the Government being able to force the plaintiffs to prove its allegations about ICE general practices all over again.
That these rulings have an oversized effect right now is largely situational. Limiting the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions is as much a good thing as a bad thing for us in the long term, if it's consistently applied. Likewise Collateral Estoppel is an especially powerful tool against an administration that routinely engaged in principle-free lawfare. It should be pressed heavily. , especially in cases deemed likely to force SCOTUS to further bolster it. Even if they are determined to break the American legal system for the sake of short-,term partisan gains, proving that to the public is of value. Forcing MAGA to show their teeth is a vital component of our fight.
The Kristi Noem-run Department of Homeland Security ignited backlash over the weekend after sharing on social media an AI-generated image promoting a controversial immigration detention center ― that’s been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” ― that is proposed for Florida’s Everglades.
“Coming soon,” the DHS captioned an image of four alligators wearing caps labeled “ICE,” a reference to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, by a prison-esque fence topped with barbed wire.
LA Times (today): "Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian lived in the United States for 47 years, married a U.S. citizen and raised their daughter. She was gardening in the yard of her New Orleans home when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers handcuffed and took her away, her family said.
Kashanian arrived in 1978 on a student visa and applied for asylum, fearing retaliation for her father’s support of the U.S.-backed shah. She lost her bid, but she was allowed to remain with her husband and child if she checked in regularly with immigration officials, her husband and daughter said. She complied, once checking in from South Carolina during Hurricane Katrina. She is now being held at an immigration detention center in Basile, La., while her family tries to get information.
Other Iranians are also getting arrested by immigration authorities after decades in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security won’t say how many people have been arrested, but U.S. military strikes on Iran have fueled fears that there is more to come."
I'm sure this is not the intention, but the overwhelmingly bigoted responses of the GOP to Mr. Mamdani (along with Democrats like Cuomo and supposed democrats like Gillibrand) are going to produce the opposite of the intended effect in NYC. I think these demented, foaming-at-the-mouth, comments are going to solidify support and voters for Mamdani.
I tend to agree. There wouldn't be any question about it in California, we flipped Blue over naked political bigotry and the L.A. protests just showed that that disgusting is as alive and well as ever.
I think New York City is more comfortable with soft bigotry. The continuing subscription strength of the New York Times shows that there's an audience for it. But I don't think they'll like the ugly, open shit much. As demonstrated by how hard the Times has to work to conceal the scaffolding of their views.
As compared with Cuomo, Adams and Sliwa? One one level all politicians are cons. It's how any of them get elected. But most of the others do not openly espouse trying to make things better for working people. Of course, he might not mean it, but he is doing a credible job of being believable.
Good visit with Husband's family--no issues with my non-real ID.
My oldest niece is back from her semester in Japan and it's wonderful to see her, but it's funny how she's changed--not fundamentally, but just little things. Like, "Oh, let me see, you say '------' but in Japan WE say..." It's interesting how she changed but also how she's the same little girl I first met when she was 3.
And same with my other niece, back from her first year in college. They're grown up, and yet they're still the same. College is so great for them, because they both were always very close to home, and very much just with their family, and in small Mississippi towns, and they both went out of state and hear new ideas and are finding themselves?
God, I love them so much it makes my heart hurt. They really are the very best girls ever.
Bear cub says hi for today’s gif: https://martiniambassador.substack.com/p/bear-cub-seeks-playmate
And your meme chat:
https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/7cde80f8-a76b-4104-89b0-7e30dd82ec72?utm_source=share
Da cubs
TIL that the herring gulls near me (about 20 miles inland from the Atlantic) live an average of 12 to 20 years, with the record being 49 years. This may explain some things.
Never lose that open-minded curiosity, baby bear!
I learned quite a bit about the intelligence and ingenuity of bears in "A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear".
I have to thank you again for putting some serendipity in my path: that Atavist article has a defunct ad for an app I loved – Audm, which the NYTimes bought and murdered a few years ago.
Audm had professional narrators reading mid- to long-form magazine articles from hundreds of periodicals. It's how I discovered so many great publications like The Atavist, The Bitter Southerner, and The Conversation.
Googling revealed that the Noa app is still alive and well, and I'm enjoying its free five articles a week right now. https://medium.com/@gareth.hickey/what-are-the-best-curio-and-audm-alternatives-454cb36a1dd4
Glad to spread a little happiness in among the existential dread.
Thank you so much! I loved his Atavist article and didn't know there was a book. https://magazine.atavist.com/author/matthew-hongoltz-hetling
he stole that bird's food!
If not gullfren, why gullfren shaped?
Babby Bear!!! (I think of bears as forest doggos) It’s hard making friends, or, uh, snacks. Don’t give up!
Bears are so freaking beautiful and cubs are the cutest. This little one takes the cake.
If you go to Explore.org, there are lots of videos about bears.
They do Fat Bear Week, too.
I actually have the live bear cams page saved to my phone browser! I started watching them when Mom was in the hospital, it cheered us both up in her final months.
Awwww. Rest in peace, Mom.
I vote in Fat Bear Week every year.
And the pickinick baskets!
That little bear is showing that gull how big and fearsome it is! GRRRR! GRWOAW!
If that guy tries to catch me
I simply will take flight
He'll never get his paws on me
It's as clear as black and white
Bearly worth it
Best meme for the meme chat. Edited to add: About two weeks ago, we saw a bear cub on the side of a road near us. First one I've seen in ages.
Dang, there's one of those frickin' MrBeast scammers posting on there already this morning.
I shall boink them w the hammer
Ellen S. White's Etymology Dictionary (https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/14732.511517) informs me that boink is "perhaps a bouncier form of bonk" and applies to both senses of the words. This information pleases me.
Hey! Hi! Hey!
Oh, whatever, I'll eat this thing instead.
Bears are fascinating creatures, really no wonder they're revered by so many cultures.
Frolicking on the shore sounds wonderful, about now.
I really have to master that 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘈 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 part, it comes so easy to critters
Especially the babies.
Mrs. JC texted me yesterday to let me know she'd had to chase a bear cub off her mom's porch that morning. He'd knocked down a gate across the stairs and the two concrete urns that were to either side of the steps getting onto the porch.
She said mom wasn't in view anywhere and she hoped he wasn't an orphan, as she'd seen a report earlier about an injured momma bear with 2 cubs.
Oh, I hope not (orphan).
"I got a fish" 😸
Happy bear cub and sassy birb!
Happy cub, frolicking in the water.
Is he old enough to frolic?
Remember H Ross Perot? Hated Bush's guts? Started his own party and got Clinton elected? 1992. Time for history to repeat as comedy.
Elon Says He’s Launching ‘the America Party’ to Compete With Democrats and Republicans If Budget Bill Passes https://gizmodo.com/elon-says-hes-launching-the-america-party-to-compete-with-democrats-and-republicans-if-budget-bill-passes-2000622406
Trump on Mt. Rushmore? Maybe. Make a bigly mold, fill it with Sacrete then roll it to the bottom of the mountain. Let it set, then peel off most of the mold. Spray paint the hair Obnoxious Blonde and the face Domestic Orange. Mission accomplished.
https://youtu.be/mk5Dwg5zm2U?feature=shared
Africa
Democrat Leaks = Perfect Flight Anyway!! TREASONS!!!!
My city doesn't celebrate pride until July, so I always get a little envious seeing all the great celebrations around the world. So great!
Regarding Mount Rushmore - have we not already desecrated native American land enough? With two slaveowners and a war buff? Even Lincoln was not immune to political errors for the wrong reasons. One appointment he made as a political favor was so incompetent that the end result was the explosion of the Sultana and way too many deaths. This was reported on the PBS show "History Detectives, where qualifies expert historical researchers looked into questions from viewers about historical events. The investigator of this case was Wes Cowan (possibly the most qualified of the four, although all were qualified and conscientious.)
Four of our best Presidents there, and none was perfect. And now there are people who want to add a convicted felon, a convicted rapist, a kleptomaniac narcissist? Excuse me while I go lose my lunch.
Can I just take a moment to vomit over the Sanchez-Bezos wedding?
Unfortunately, given the current state of the canali, it will go unnoticed. /s
The New York Times is a clickbait-driven rag.
A bright spot in Friday's SCOTUS rulings: although they have curtailed lower courts from issuing nationwide injunctions, the Supremes seem to have strengthened the principle of Collateral Estoppel somewhat.
Collateral Estoppel means that the Administration cannot endlessly relitigate settled aspects of any new or continuing case. As in, if a court has found that ICE systematically ignores due process requirements as a part of its decision for any one litigant, future litigants can simply cite the ruling as a proven fact about ICE's practices in future cases without the Government being able to force the plaintiffs to prove its allegations about ICE general practices all over again.
That these rulings have an oversized effect right now is largely situational. Limiting the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions is as much a good thing as a bad thing for us in the long term, if it's consistently applied. Likewise Collateral Estoppel is an especially powerful tool against an administration that routinely engaged in principle-free lawfare. It should be pressed heavily. , especially in cases deemed likely to force SCOTUS to further bolster it. Even if they are determined to break the American legal system for the sake of short-,term partisan gains, proving that to the public is of value. Forcing MAGA to show their teeth is a vital component of our fight.
https://www.salon.com/2025/06/30/scotus-decision-hasnt-ended-the-fight-over-birthright-citizenship/
Kristi's cosplaying again:
The Kristi Noem-run Department of Homeland Security ignited backlash over the weekend after sharing on social media an AI-generated image promoting a controversial immigration detention center ― that’s been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” ― that is proposed for Florida’s Everglades.
“Coming soon,” the DHS captioned an image of four alligators wearing caps labeled “ICE,” a reference to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, by a prison-esque fence topped with barbed wire.
https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1939034194979455282
These assholes are only in office to troll the libs. Why doesn't someone on our side take her prison image and Photoshop her behind its bars?
59,000 in ICE custody, 140% over their Congressional approved capacity.
Drug kingpins, rapists and murders.
Also construction and service workers, students, nursing mothers and babies.
ICE beats the crap out of the father of 3 US Marines. Nice country we have here.
LA Times (today): "Mandonna “Donna” Kashanian lived in the United States for 47 years, married a U.S. citizen and raised their daughter. She was gardening in the yard of her New Orleans home when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers handcuffed and took her away, her family said.
Kashanian arrived in 1978 on a student visa and applied for asylum, fearing retaliation for her father’s support of the U.S.-backed shah. She lost her bid, but she was allowed to remain with her husband and child if she checked in regularly with immigration officials, her husband and daughter said. She complied, once checking in from South Carolina during Hurricane Katrina. She is now being held at an immigration detention center in Basile, La., while her family tries to get information.
Other Iranians are also getting arrested by immigration authorities after decades in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security won’t say how many people have been arrested, but U.S. military strikes on Iran have fueled fears that there is more to come."
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-06-29/after-decades-in-the-us-iranians-arrested-in-trumps-deportation-drive
Alaska has 67 large widfires. https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn#Alaska
Please remember Alaska is very, very big.
I'm sure this is not the intention, but the overwhelmingly bigoted responses of the GOP to Mr. Mamdani (along with Democrats like Cuomo and supposed democrats like Gillibrand) are going to produce the opposite of the intended effect in NYC. I think these demented, foaming-at-the-mouth, comments are going to solidify support and voters for Mamdani.
I tend to agree. There wouldn't be any question about it in California, we flipped Blue over naked political bigotry and the L.A. protests just showed that that disgusting is as alive and well as ever.
I think New York City is more comfortable with soft bigotry. The continuing subscription strength of the New York Times shows that there's an audience for it. But I don't think they'll like the ugly, open shit much. As demonstrated by how hard the Times has to work to conceal the scaffolding of their views.
I wonder how much of the NYT subscription base is outside of NY... . I agree with the "soft bigotry."
Cynical me suspects he'll be as big a shitheel as all the rest.
Just different marketing.
As compared with Cuomo, Adams and Sliwa? One one level all politicians are cons. It's how any of them get elected. But most of the others do not openly espouse trying to make things better for working people. Of course, he might not mean it, but he is doing a credible job of being believable.
I'd vote for him out of sheer spite at this point. My friends in NYC already liked him.
"I feel seen." -Laura Sanchez, in Vogue.
That's only slightly less perceptive than "I feel rich."
I'm BACK!
Good visit with Husband's family--no issues with my non-real ID.
My oldest niece is back from her semester in Japan and it's wonderful to see her, but it's funny how she's changed--not fundamentally, but just little things. Like, "Oh, let me see, you say '------' but in Japan WE say..." It's interesting how she changed but also how she's the same little girl I first met when she was 3.
And same with my other niece, back from her first year in college. They're grown up, and yet they're still the same. College is so great for them, because they both were always very close to home, and very much just with their family, and in small Mississippi towns, and they both went out of state and hear new ideas and are finding themselves?
God, I love them so much it makes my heart hurt. They really are the very best girls ever.