I’m planning on posting (and in some cases re-posting) a series of essays for my friend David who asked me, “How are things going?” About two years ago and to whom I’m finally replying in a series of essays. You’ll get to read (most of) them too, even if you aren’t David. Which you probably aren’t.

Tinkering today. Trying this Quotebacks bookmarklet I stumbled on to here at quotebacks.net. For a long time I’ve wanted to add quoting tools to Micro.blog, so that it’s even easier to embed text from other blog posts and add your own thoughts. Markdown block quotes are fairly easy, but do require a little more copy/paste work and some editing. Manton Reece https://www.manton.org/2020/06/15/embedding-microblog-posts.html

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😟 I coordinated a statewide series of webinars for Older Americans Month with our EAP. Fridays at 10 in May. My agency even did a press release with info about it (which I guess means you’re all invited?). Today’s topic was about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. The info is important to know, but it is also depressing to hear.

I just 🤬🤬🤬 worked through my therapist appointment because I forgot I had one. This is despite having filled out therapist paperwork this morning and directly emailing to my therapist a “see you soon” email this morning. Didn’t even realize I missed it for 45 whole minutes. Arg! 🧠💨

KEYS AND PENNIES COVERED WITH TOBACCO

Neil, many years ago, played an album by Megan Mullally (Karen from Will & Grace) for me. It’s surprisingly good, and when I saw it on Apple Music this morning I got excited and played one of its songs for Michael. It happens to be one of the saddest songs I know. I remain struck by a few things: her nuanced delivery and lovely voice. At the time, I didn’t even know she sang much less had an album.

“According to news reports, the [bomb] threat was in response to a planned Rainbow Story Hour, featuring a book by an LGBTQ author.” What to say to your child when Christian nationalists threaten to bomb his library 👆Example of why I’m more of an anti-theist than atheist. #RecoveringChristian

“DEI bans: Conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum” Speaking of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I do, it’s under attack by (guess who) members of the GOP. The mere mutterment of the phrase DEI is just too much for some delicate, racist snowflakes to take. Say DEI around GOP politicians and they’ll act like you just forced them to view an entire Robert Maplethorpe exhibit all Clockwork Orange style (neither being cultural references they would understand or appreciate).

Everyone needs to understand what Project 2025 is. This newsletter covers it. Here’s my referral link. project2025istheocracy.substack.com

(This post contains fucks.) Today I Learned: Gov. Noem is seen as a leading contender for the GOP vice presidential nomination alongside Trump. She also brags about shooting a puppy (not kidding this fucking sociopath fucking shot a puppy dead and boasts about it) and later, a goat. Mortifying.

Today is our eighth anniversary. Michael presented me with this beautiful bronze statue this morning. I can’t even tell you how very grateful I am for him.

The church claims to have been fighting poverty for 2,000 years. Poverty is still here, yet the church became rich. - @walterrhein

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES (THEHILL.COM ARTICLE SUMMARY)

Main Takeaways: Rising Threats and Legal Backlash: Public libraries in the U.S. are facing increasing threats and censorship, particularly in states like Florida and Texas, where laws have been passed to regulate and restrict available materials. Despite these challenges, there is a notable pushback, with states like California, Connecticut, and New Jersey proposing legislation to protect libraries and librarians from these threats. Historical Significance and Current Impact: The article underscores the historical significance of public libraries as foundational to American democracy and intellectual freedom.

BEST NEWSLETTER ON SUBSTACK

I have a new favorite newsletter. Don’t worry, though, I still love Heather Cox-Richardson, but her writing style is a little bit, how shall we say, more refined than this gentleman’s? I’ll say one thing, though - he sure knows how to write one helluva post title 😊 everyone is entitled to my own opinion by Jeff Tiedrich

OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE: THAT’S POLITIC$ 🤷🏻‍♂️

Well whaddya know… Title: Dark Money and Deception: Uncovering FirstEnergy’s Secret Support for Governor DeWine Main Takeaways: Secret Financial Contributions: FirstEnergy Corp. made a significant secret payment of $2.5 million in 2018 to State Solutions, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. This organization is linked to the Republican Governors Association and supported Mike DeWine’s gubernatorial campaign, highlighting the opaque nature of dark money in politics. Implications for Political Transparency: The undisclosed financial support raises concerns about the influence of corporate money in political campaigns, especially when the funds come from a company implicated in the largest public corruption scheme in Ohio’s history.

PUNKPOST DELIVERS DELIGHTFULLY. AGAIN

I’m (obvs) frustrated by & furious with GOP/MAGA fascism, but I’m also quite fed up with Dems for not fighting back harder when Republicans do what they do. Dems keep reaching over the aisle to make handshake deals only to pull back a bloody stump and a Republican 🤷🏻‍♂️. I honestly don’t know who to write to or contact about my frustrations. Local headquarters? State? National? Newspaper editors? City council members?

Location check in 🗺 — Fox in the Snow

Kate Bush 10” ✔️ Kristin Hersh LP ❌ Donna Summer State of Independence mixes 12” ✔️

Spoonful Records is first. Want to find both releases here. Magnolia Thunderpussy will probably be next. Then Used Kids Records or RPM. This used to be an all day affair for me. I just wanna get in, get records, get out, catalog them, and put them on a shelf to never open them; that’s what I do.

Happy Record Store Day 2024! I’m out looking for two items 1) Kate Bush’s 10” picture disc of Eat the Music from The Red Shoes (one of the first songs I never heard by her thanks to a mixtape from Emily in HS) 2) Kristin Hersh’s Hips and Makers. I’m wearing red lip gloss and a Read My Lips t-shirt.

🎵I just looked at iTunes and all the music I really love somehow turned 25-35 years old overnight. I don’t understand time. 25: Ágætis Byrjun, When the Pawn… 30: Live through This, Dummy, Grace 35: Doolittle, Raw Like Sushi, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, The Sensual World, All Hail the Queen,

Is there a way to see if a post is stuck somewhere in the ether @help ? I posted a photo with about a paragraph of text using Sunlit from the iOS share sheet, and it’s not showing up anywhere. I can’t remember all I wrote so I can’t replicate.

Giving Cowboy Carter a first listen. So far, I’ve gotten full body chills and honestly want to cry because what she’s doing is amazing. Her homage, reclamation, genre bending & blending, and inspired reinvention is easily advancing music’s agenda. It’s beautiful to see and hear.

Arguably one of the finest ice creams in America. Darkest Chocolate Mouth-filling and palate-gripping with a pleasingly dry finish. The most amount of Fair Trade cocoa and the least amount of anything else. What’s a pint’s fair cost? $8.00? $10.00? Try $14.50. Jeni has gone and lost her damn mind.

What iPhone photo cutout?