janea4old

https://bsky.app/profile/nhannahjones.bsky.social/post/3lgilzuta3k24

January 24, 2025 More nonsense about wildfires from Trump (I'll spare you the mini-videos of the creep) Updates via https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com Trump: "I'll be signing an EO to begin process of fundamentally reforming & overhauling or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good. When you have a problem like this, you want to use your state to fix it & not waste time calling FEMA..I think we're gonna recommend FEMA go away" Trump on abolishing FEMA: "When there is a problem with a state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state. That's what we have states for. They take care of problems." REPORTER: Any talk on having money instead of doing through FEMA, to go local groups? TRUMP: Yeah. That's what I want to do. We want to bring it locally, so that a state takes care of its problem, and then they can bring it down to a local level like Samaritan's Purse and Franklin Graham Commentary on the above via Helen Kennedy https://bsky.app/profile/helenkennedy.bsky.social/post/3lgjsyaxlkk2l Giving federal disaster money to local religious charlatans to dole out as they see fit (if they see fit) sounds like a great idea. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this. Now he's just making up random sh!t for his executive orders (There are no such water pipelines in existence) Trump: "I'm signing an executive order to open up the pumps and valves in the north. We want to get that water pouring down here as quickly as possible ... you're talking about unlimited water coming up from the Pacific Northwest, even coming from parts of Canada." The bottom line is that Trump denies climate issues, and blames the wildfires on California officials being unaware that you need to put water on fires. Oh and he restated the nonsense from several years ago that forests should be raked. He just doesn't want to send federal funds to California so he's stating nonsense. Trump will not agree to aid for California wildfire damage -- unless California adopts mandatory voter ID, which would essentially end mail-in voting for that state.

The evil creep saying stupid stuff to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lgjpzmgiep2q

It insisted that I subscribe but I found a free open copy here https://archive.is/BZBU0 Obeying Trump order, Air Force will stop teaching recruits about Tuskegee Airmen A video on the pioneering Black pilots, famed for their World War II exploits, was stripped from an Air Force basic training curriculum at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. President Donald Trump’s assault on federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives has claimed a new victim – the Tuskegee Airmen. A video describing the exploits of the groundbreaking African American airmen, who flew combat sorties during World War II, has been removed from the instructional curriculum for new recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the hub of Air Force basic training. Trump, in his inaugural address on Monday, vowed to "end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life." The same day, he signed an executive order dismantling federal DEI programs. On Tuesday, the new administration placed DEI officials on leave and ordered agencies to remove postings or advertisements promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The effects were felt almost immediately at Lackland. A memo circulated among Air Force personnel said that "in accordance with NEW DEIA Guidance," portions of the basic training curriculum were being revised "immediately." DEIA stands for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The memo said a video on the Tuskegee Airmen, a second video titled "Breaking Barriers" and a third about the Women Airforce Service Pilots who supported the war effort during World War II had been removed from a course on "airmindedness." A video on diversity was stripped from a separate human relations course, the memo said. The 37th Training Wing, which oversees basic and technical instruction at Lackland, had no comment. An Air Force official, who asked not to be identified, told the San Antonio Express-News by email: “We are ensuring we implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President and are currently doing a thorough review of all applicable curriculum. We will provide status updates on curriculum changes as soon as we are able.” The official referred the Express-News to a memo issued Wednesday by an acting assistant secretary of the Air Force. It directed all Air Force commands and units to delete references to DEI from their websites and social media accounts and “cancel any DEIA-related training and terminate any DEIA-related contract.” Every year, more than 35,000 recruits go through Air Force basic training at Lackland. For years, the 7½-week regimen of weapons training, calisthenics and classroom learning has included instruction on the Tuskegee Airman and how the pioneering Black pilots played a vital role in the Allied war effort. Well before World War II, the nation’s troops had been racially segregated, in part because of an Army War College report that wrote off the role Blacks could play as aviators, saying they lacked the courage and fortitude to fly planes. African Americans were relegated to noncombat jobs, even in the war zone. The all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, based at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, shattered the race barrier. The unit had as many as 14,000 airmen 1,000 of them pilots. In the skies over war-torn Europe, they flew 15,533 sorties, racking up 112 aerial kills and earning 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Presidential Unit Citations. As the decades passed, their legend grew as books, news media attention and a Hollywood movie brought their exploits into America’s consciousness. Some in their ranks went far in the armed services. Brig. Gen. Charles McGee lived through three wars and lived to see his 102d birthday. He marked the occasion by visiting Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in late 2021, where he received the red carpet treatment and was celebrated as a hero, McGee was given a tour of a squadron and its planes and was treated to a simulator flight in the T-1A Jayhawk, a training aircraft. McGee spoke in a briefing room adorned with portraits of his onetime boss, Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who became the Air Force’s first Black one-star general. Another Tuskegee Airman, Daniel “Chappie” James, was the first Black officer to reach the rank of four-star general. His son, Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, would serve as commander of the Air National Guard and adjutant general of the Texas National Guard. Racial barriers continued to fall over the ensuing decades. Gen. C.Q. Brown, a San Antonio native, became the first African American to lead the Air Force in 2020. He is now chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but not the first Black officer to hold the job. That honor belonged to the late Gen. Colin Powell. The removal of the instructional videos on the Tuskegee Airmen quickly drew scorn from people commenting on a Facebook page devoted to Air Force enlisted personnel, Air Force Amn/Nco/Snco. “None of that has to do with DEI, they should know the history of the Tuskegee Airmen,” one person wrote. “That’s so dumb, that has nothing to do with the woke DEI!” another wrote. “That is just stupid,” wrote retired Air Force Maj. Skeeter Lieberum, 72, of New Braunfels. “It's history, not DEI.” The Tuskegee Airmen, he told the Express-News, "are my heroes."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/legal-immigrant-deportation-trump-ice Late on Friday January 24: Trump administration followed up, announcing that it was expanding a fast-track deportation authority nationwide, allowing immigration officers to deport people without appearing before a judge. The administration said it was expanding the use of “expedited removal” authority so it can be used across the country, in a notice in the Federal Register outlining the new rules. “Expedited removal” gives enforcement agencies broad authority to deport people without requiring them to appear before an immigration judge. There are limited exceptions, including if they express fear of returning home and pass an initial screening interview for asylum.

https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegatescbs/p/DFL_FcsyF73/ beyondthegatescbs and theonlydaphneeduplaix One thing about the Duprees... they’re gonna serve LOOKS. 😌 #BeyondTheGates #newsoapalert #drama #gossip #mustwatchtv #soapopera #servinglooks . (posting extra white spaces under the IG, so as to prevent the bleeding of IG posts into the next SON post underneath it, as sometimes occurs)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFOjsazyBHy/ January 6, 2025 sheiladucks Weekend Views! Thank you @melchaires! Happy Monday!!! ☀️☀️☀️ .

I can't stand Aunt Jordan, despite the talents of the actress. I'd be happy if her storyline was truly over. But this announcement of her end ... (despite Jordan apparently drinking poison onscreen)... is about as believable as last year's B&B "death" of Sheila.

Immigration raids in Bakersfield, California - the Border Patrol rounded up anyone who looked like they might be a farm worker. (Bakersfield isn't at the border.) https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/surprising-immigration-raid-kern-county-foreshadows-what-awaits-farmworkers-and-businesses “It was profiling, it was purely field workers,” said Sara Fuentes, store manager of the local gas station. Fuentes said that at 9 a.m., when the store typically gets a rush of workers on their way to pick oranges, two men in civilian clothes and unmarked Suburbans started detaining people outside the store. “They didn’t stop people with FedEx uniforms, they were stopping people who looked like they worked in the fields.” Fuentes says one customer pulled in just to pump gas and agents approached him and detained him. .... a man and woman drove up to the store together, and the man went inside. Border Patrol detained the man as he walked out, Fuentes said, and then demanded the woman get out of the vehicle. When she refused, another agency parked his vehicle behind the woman, blocking her car. Fuentes said it wasn’t until the local Univision station showed up that Border Patrol agents backed up their car and allowed the woman to leave. “They were stopping cars at random, asking people for papers. They were going to gas stations and Home Depot where day laborers gather,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust. “It’s provoking intense anxiety and a lot of fear in the community.” The president of the industry group California Citrus Mutual said: “We’re in the middle of our citrus harvesting. This sent shockwaves through the entire community. “People aren’t going to work and kids aren’t going to school. Yesterday about 25% of the workforce, today 75% didn’t show up.”

The ICE (immigration) raids have begun. They have stated plans to go into places like churches and schools which were traditionally off-limits. They are starting with "sanctuary cities". They raided place in Newark yesterday without a warrant. Some of the people taken were U.S. citizens, including a military veteran. They just don't care. https://www.nj.com/essex/2025/01/newark-mayor-ice-raided-business-without-a-warrant-detained-us-citizens.html

Tractor Supply said, back in June 2024, that it was ending diversity and climate initiatives https://apnews.com/article/tractor-supply-ends-dei-climate-goals-ab9e570d39095de6bead7fbfe76a6edc As Trump opposes all DEI Walmart already rolled back its DEI policies back in November https://apnews.com/article/walmart-dei-inclusion-diversity-f2fc1ab086186ec6600c38950d8d2c74 McDonalds ending DEI https://apnews.com/article/diversity-dei-goals-companies-lawsuits-eb052e0b420824485041263b7df1f715 Target is ending its diversity goals https://apnews.com/article/target-dei-supreme-court-diversity-7f068dfee61a68a9a1f82b94e135b323 BUT -- in contrast -- January 2025: Costco defends its diversity policies (the Costco board and the Costco shareholders) Some thinktank wanted Costco to rollback/end DEI, The board said no, and at the shareholders meeting yesterday 98% of the shareholders agreed to vote against the rollback of diversity (in other words, the shareholders voted to support diversity) https://apnews.com/article/costco-shareholder-proposal-diversity-dei-0330f448741b35f2f788a36948ff3f95

I know! Days has beds in various homes/hotels/etc all with the same headboard. It's nuts.

The Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC Service on Repentance (regarding needed Reparations) (as described two posts up) January 24, 2025 will be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ8PJj2xx6w

Book by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde "How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith" https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705987/how-we-learn-to-be-brave-by-mariann-edgar-budde/

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde statement: On January 24, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral, I will preside and preach at “A Service Toward Repentance,” a liturgy of truth-telling and repentance for harms done within our diocese to Black persons, from the enslavement era through the present. Here is her diocese's full statement/description about the event: https://edow.org/2025/01/09/showing-up-for-one-another-in-vulnerability-and-love/ (This was event was already long-planned) Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC page on Reparations https://edow.org/ministries-programs/equity-and-justice/reparations/

https://bsky.app/profile/coltonlittle.bsky.social/post/3lgbocsyagk22

I personally never much attention to threadstarter graphics on community threads -- sometimes I noticed them, and sometimes I didn't. I liked how things were, long ago, when various people took turns starting threads, and there was no expectation to have specific graphics, although sometimes people put them in for fun, informally. I just wanted to read the discussions. I get the idea of the admins now wanting to make it fair and make everyone equal, as well as orderly about the timing of when a thread begins. So whatever works to get that done. And thus it makes sense for the admins to start the threads. Especially since we have a new soap coming!

All federal offices ordered to shutter their diversity offices. Including NASA. Remembering all the work of actress Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from the original Star Trek). In real life, she worked with NASA to bring diverse astronauts into NASA. (There's a movie about the work she did, called "Women in Motion".) Sally Ride and Guion Bluford came in through this program. That NASA diversity office, signed away with the stroke of the orange one's pen... https://nasawatch.com/trumpspace/internal-nasa-memo-on-diversity-erasure/ . Federal employees ordered to dismantle their DEI offices. If the DEI offices don't dismantle themselves, then the other employees in those agencies are supposed to report that it still exists, and you can get in trouble for not reporting. WTF century is this? Government agencies ordered to not honor Black History Month, Women's History Month, etc. Orders against racial discrimination in federal contracting -- in place since Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s -- rescinded by the orange one's pen.

Here's a link to the above-posted newspaper item "Debut of Maryland soap opera spurs hope for genre’s future" (Carroll County Times / Baltimore Sun) Commentary by freelance writer Debra Rughoo January 20, 2025 https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/01/20/debut-of-maryland-soap-opera-spurs-hope-for-genres-future-guest-commentary/

Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pennsylvania https://www.instagram.com/repsummerlee/p/DFLrJLzNYxQ/

Queen Sugar was created and produced by Ava DuVernay. 90% of the cast was black. Ava DuVernay hired a bunch of directors for the series, and EVERY one of the directors was female. The three siblings were played by Rutina Wesley, Kofi Siriboe, and Dawn-Lyen Gardner. Their aunt was played by Tina Lifford. All very strong and complex characters and actors. Greg Vaughan was one of the very few white actors on the show. He played the intermittent love interest of Rutina Wesley's character. (I won't spoil the details on that) "Queen Sugar" was like a nighttime soap but more serious. Lots of political and cultural themes in addition to romance. Things that made me think. Yet entertaining, too. I found Rutina Wesley, Kofi Siriboe, and Tina Lifford to be mesmerizing, I just couldn't wait to watch their scenes. Such great actors, and so believable. On Queen Sugar, Dawn-Lyen Gardner's character was married to Timon Kyle Durrett's character. She discovers that he cheated on her. This is near the beginning of the Q.S. series, so I'm not spoiling much. The confrontation wasn't the same as with Karla Mosley's scenes in the BTG promo, but I felt some of same energy in how Timon played his reaction to the confrontation in the BTG promo.

Timon Kyle Durrett was part of the main cast of "Queen Sugar". Queen Sugar was a series about three siblings in Louisiana who inherit their father's sugar cane farm. Timon played the husband of one of the siblings. Excellent series, I suggest binging on it while waiting for BTG. First aired on OWN. All six seasons are up on Hulu. They can be purchased to stream on Amazon Prime.

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez of New York https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3lggmpphm3p2a

1843, the fictional Ebenezer Scrooge in England https://www.themorgan.org/collections/works/dickens/ChristmasCarol/9 The Republicans want to bring the USA backwards to such attitudes. Except that the fictional ghosts were eventually, later in the story, able to open Scrooge's heart. I don't think the Republicans are interested in opening their hearts.