Trump was on the phone with Putin for 85 minutes, today, the 4th of July, America's 250th. Putin. And, the speech is canceled. The 'crowd' evacuated. America's 250th a humilation. What. Putin dictated Trump make sure the U.S. was seen as incompetent even in this? Our 250th?
Seems so.
Hey #BikeTooter friends, some advice sought!
My front derailleur got busted somehow, appears to be bent, with a piece tearing off? It's jammed against my chain, and neither will move.
1) How big of a deal to repair this is it? I assume I need a new front derailleur and swap out the whole mechanism. (My trusted local shop closed last year, and the other one in town has bad vibes.)
2) Do I need any specialized tools beyond some hex wrenches?
3) What specifications do I need to look for in a replacement? Exact same model? Same # of gears? Something else?
(ok to boost, didn't post full public to avoid getting swept up in the hashtag)
This man, who cannot be president, is more presidential than the current occupier (and destroyer) of the White House on this eve of our country's 250th birthday.
https://www.youtube.com/live/JztQx56c2nA?si=CLMduUk26ZjpAJDP
the story of the day is the heat
Another event that used to be held on the mall in DC was the solar decathlon, sponsored by the Department of energy (?)
Teams from colleges and universities across the country would compete to achieve the highest score in solar efficiency. Each team was challenged to build and power a small house which had to be heated and cooled completely with solar power. They were very innovative!
I believe they ended up moving the competition to California.
Does anybody else remember the #solardecathlon
The Smithsonian used to hold their Folk Life Festival on the Mall in DC around this time every summer. It was a wonderful event— it was always very crowded as well as very educational. One year the focus was on the Mekong River basin. A group of monks showed their pictorial alphabet. Another year it was Scotland, and a woman demonstrated the process of making fine, knitted lace.
Does anyone else remember the folk life festivals? please share your memories.
You’ve heard of Delaney Hall, here are some of the US concentration camps you may not have heard of.
Hey all, I need some help.
Last month we had to replace our home's AC unit here in Minneapolis. Our existing one wouldn't last the season. My housemate has medical issues making the heat a choice between a hotel or the ER -- we've already had close calls. I have savings, but we struggle a lot on my single income.
We'd need $11000 to pay it all off, but anything helps! Thank you!
$591/$11000
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/help-tess-and-housemate-stay-cool-and-safe
the gladiolas have only been open for a couple days but the hummers know where they are
this one visited at sunset
Hey BikeNite, it's call for questions time. Any questions, read below, add the hashtag, and I will add them. Hope you are having a good week!
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Next #BikeNite is this Friday at 4pm Pacific standard time (UTC-8)!
This is our weekly call for questions. Reply with any you'd like me to add to the discussion on Friday. Please add the BikeNitePQ hashtag so it's easier to find a Proposed Question. There is room for more!
(BikeNite is a Q&A type discussion on the Fediverse.) #BikeTooter cc @bikenite
Airforce Major Jason Paul Watson made history as the first active duty officer in the military to call for Trump's impeachment and removal from office.
He also urged Americans to engage in peaceful, nonviolent protest until Congress fulfills its constitutional duty
Free Speech For People Statement in Support of Active US Air Force Officer Arrested in Peaceful Capitol Protest Calling on Congress to Impeach, Remove and Convict Trump
https://freespeechforpeople.org/free-speech-for-people-statement-in-support-of-active-us-air-force-officer-arrested-in-peaceful-capitol-protest-calling-on-congress-to-impeach-remove-and-convict-trump/
The Health and Human Services secretary is targeting the largest Muslim civil rights organization as Republicans run on Islamophobia in a tough midterm cycle. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/02/rfk-cair-terrorism-muslim-investigation
#Crimean Olha Tsyryk gets 16-year sentence after blitzkrieg ‘trial’ for selfies and anti-russian comments
No mention is made of the fact that Olha Tsyryk was abducted a year earlier and held completely incommunicado
These are brilliant! https://mastodon.ar.al/@aral/116845483419084297
This New Republic piece is exactly correct. The most important dividing line right now for Democrats is between those who will fight and those who will send strongly worded letters.
The internal policy debates must take lower precedence than stopping gangster government: https://newrepublic.com/article/212581/colorado-democratic-primary-results-left-wins-gaza-socialism
Please help me get the word out to people who might be interested in reading Democracy Americana in German: I hope I can build a readership large enough to carry this experiment of offering my work in two languages (it’s a struggle!).
If you want to read the essay in English, you find it here:
https://steady.page/en/democracyamericana/posts/59b197fa-1a03-44e5-b155-2c221e2a3c0e
NEW - A Troubling Milestone: Most Supreme Court Rulings Are Secretive Votes With Little Justification
ProPublica conducted a new analysis that shows the court is deciding more consequential rulings than ever before in largely unsigned orders with little to no explanation.
https://www.propublica.org/article/supreme-court-shadow-docket-rulings-milestone?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post
#News #SCOTUS #Law #SupremeCourt #Legal #Trump #Data #Research
like mushrooms after a summer rain, ICE warehouses keep popping up.
Locally, we successfully blocked one in Chester, NY, but now there’s an even bigger one near Newburgh. Dammit!
https://open.substack.com/pub/projectsaltbox/p/houston-firm-wins-355-million-lease