BFranklin
@bfranklin1205.bsky.social
Cat dad, native plant gardener, lover of cities and wild places, research and policy editor, Pittsburgh transplant, Dormont Shade Tree Commission; views all my own
Very cool that the average American city requires 3.5 years of paperwork and bureaucratic hoops to tear down an abandoned convenience store to build housing because, see, the convenience store was "historic"--but the president can just decide to demolish the White House on a whim.
Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Very cool that the average American city requires 3.5 years of paperwork and bureaucratic hoops to tear down an abandoned convenience store to build housing because, see, the convenience store was "historic"--but the president can just decide to demolish the White House on a whim.
Reposted by BFranklin
a friend of mine shared this ai-generated "emotion wheel" and unfortunately i have been laughing my ass off at it for like 15 minutes now. today i am feeling Fnliinneon
June 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
a friend of mine shared this ai-generated "emotion wheel" and unfortunately i have been laughing my ass off at it for like 15 minutes now. today i am feeling Fnliinneon
Reposted by BFranklin
the first sentence of Elon's obituary should be that he was one of the greatest mass murderers in the history of humanity
this is his legacy
this is his legacy
Musk should be asked about this in every interview he does now and forever. To ignore it is a dereliction of duty.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
May 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
the first sentence of Elon's obituary should be that he was one of the greatest mass murderers in the history of humanity
this is his legacy
this is his legacy
Reposted by BFranklin
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
May 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
Reposted by BFranklin
I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.
April 18, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.
I'm thankful that my representative, Chris Deluzio @deluzio.house.gov, grasps the stakes of what's happening and understands the value of opposition leadership rather than acquiescence. Dems would do well to let this be an example.
I'm laying out a new vision for our politics to restore the American Dream. It’s time for the Democratic Party to grow a spine and focus on fighting corruption, lowering costs, and taking on corporate power.
March 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I'm thankful that my representative, Chris Deluzio @deluzio.house.gov, grasps the stakes of what's happening and understands the value of opposition leadership rather than acquiescence. Dems would do well to let this be an example.
Reposted by BFranklin
they voted for harris, because rural voters are not a bigoted monolith despite what you've been led to believe. but even if they didn't? they'd still deserve fucking mail service
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
they voted for harris, because rural voters are not a bigoted monolith despite what you've been led to believe. but even if they didn't? they'd still deserve fucking mail service
This is awful, but also hard to stomach the "progressives" in the replies who want to make Pitt as a leading research institution (and key driver of an economy that voted overwhelmingly against Trump) suffer because 50% of Pennsylvanians voted for Trump.
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed Friday that there would be no new Ph.D. offers of admission while Pitt works to understand how reduced federal aid could impact the institution.
The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty
A spokesperson for the University told WESA Friday that the school has "temporarily paused additional Ph.D. offers of admission," while Pitt works to understand how proposed federal funding cuts could...
www.wesa.fm
February 22, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This is awful, but also hard to stomach the "progressives" in the replies who want to make Pitt as a leading research institution (and key driver of an economy that voted overwhelmingly against Trump) suffer because 50% of Pennsylvanians voted for Trump.
@acesediting.bsky.social, challenge accepted: a haiku for National Grammar Day, dedicated to my favorite copy editing pet peeve.
"Use the comma splice
at your peril, however
periods are good."
#ACES #GrammarDay
"Use the comma splice
at your peril, however
periods are good."
#ACES #GrammarDay
February 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
@acesediting.bsky.social, challenge accepted: a haiku for National Grammar Day, dedicated to my favorite copy editing pet peeve.
"Use the comma splice
at your peril, however
periods are good."
#ACES #GrammarDay
"Use the comma splice
at your peril, however
periods are good."
#ACES #GrammarDay
Reposted by BFranklin
BREAKING
On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that the NIH had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of 2 federal court orders
On Wednesday, NIH leadership distributed a memo, acknowledging that its funding freeze was illegal and directing staff to resume issuing grants.
On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that the NIH had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of 2 federal court orders
On Wednesday, NIH leadership distributed a memo, acknowledging that its funding freeze was illegal and directing staff to resume issuing grants.
BREAKING: NIH admits funding freeze is illegal, will resume issuing grants
An internal memo issued February 12 was obtained by Popular Information.
popular.info
February 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
BREAKING
On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that the NIH had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of 2 federal court orders
On Wednesday, NIH leadership distributed a memo, acknowledging that its funding freeze was illegal and directing staff to resume issuing grants.
On Monday, Popular Information broke the news that the NIH had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of 2 federal court orders
On Wednesday, NIH leadership distributed a memo, acknowledging that its funding freeze was illegal and directing staff to resume issuing grants.
Helpful thread.
To all those saying "shouldn't we root out government inefficiency? What's wrong with DOGE?" a quick background on Constitutional law and why the WAY it is being violated exposes the true motives of the criminals:
February 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Helpful thread.
Reposted by BFranklin
Analysis: The failure of Nippon Steel’s acquisition of its Pittsburgh-based competitor U.S. Steel reminds us that Pittsburgh’s steel communities still struggle with their past.
U.S. Steel sale block shows Pittsburgh’s complicated steel past
The president's rejection of Nippon Steel's offer to buy U.S. Steel ignites another debate about the industry's role in Pittsburgh's self-image.
buff.ly
January 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Analysis: The failure of Nippon Steel’s acquisition of its Pittsburgh-based competitor U.S. Steel reminds us that Pittsburgh’s steel communities still struggle with their past.
I find the map on the right fascinating. Approx. half the mainland US landmass seems dedicated to producing beef and food for cows, with substantial portions given to other subsidized uses of rural land. I love a good burger (and yes, this makes me part of the problem), but this seems...inefficient.
We estimated the land area currently under subsidized use in the US from these maps created by Bloomberg.
Studies show one large animal fatality for every half mile of barbed wire fencing annually. We'd like to reallocate welfare ranching subsidies to remove abandoned barbed wire from public land
Studies show one large animal fatality for every half mile of barbed wire fencing annually. We'd like to reallocate welfare ranching subsidies to remove abandoned barbed wire from public land
December 6, 2024 at 3:52 PM
I find the map on the right fascinating. Approx. half the mainland US landmass seems dedicated to producing beef and food for cows, with substantial portions given to other subsidized uses of rural land. I love a good burger (and yes, this makes me part of the problem), but this seems...inefficient.
And I find odd the framing from various media and political sources that this site "insulates" us from conservative voices. Conservatives aren't banned here; people merely aren't allowed to abuse and slur their fellow users!
After several days of Bluesky, it's not perfect. Too many bots and a bit buggy, but...I haven't seen a single slur or unhinged threat of physical violence. Sad what a low bar we're left with.
November 24, 2024 at 1:04 PM
And I find odd the framing from various media and political sources that this site "insulates" us from conservative voices. Conservatives aren't banned here; people merely aren't allowed to abuse and slur their fellow users!
After several days of Bluesky, it's not perfect. Too many bots and a bit buggy, but...I haven't seen a single slur or unhinged threat of physical violence. Sad what a low bar we're left with.
November 24, 2024 at 2:04 AM
After several days of Bluesky, it's not perfect. Too many bots and a bit buggy, but...I haven't seen a single slur or unhinged threat of physical violence. Sad what a low bar we're left with.
I'm slowly migrating from the rotting carcass of Twitter as I find my follows on here. Early posts will be sparse, as un-learning my accumulated fear of posting on a site like Twitter will be a process.
November 20, 2024 at 2:55 PM
I'm slowly migrating from the rotting carcass of Twitter as I find my follows on here. Early posts will be sparse, as un-learning my accumulated fear of posting on a site like Twitter will be a process.