Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
@brynstar7.xyz
ICE must be destroyed.
Tired, gay, and covered in cat hair. Neurodivergent AF. Possibly five possums in a sundress. She/they.
Nerdy about: music (cello/bass/keys), bikes, snakes, Macs, and the special interest du jour.
Twin Cities (the boring one), MN.
Tired, gay, and covered in cat hair. Neurodivergent AF. Possibly five possums in a sundress. She/they.
Nerdy about: music (cello/bass/keys), bikes, snakes, Macs, and the special interest du jour.
Twin Cities (the boring one), MN.
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
Let tonight be a lesson to all of us: Make sure you have established your own, and are aware of your loved ones', advance directives.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
January 21, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Let tonight be a lesson to all of us: Make sure you have established your own, and are aware of your loved ones', advance directives.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Do you want to be awakened from your slumber when It Happens? Or do you want to find out when you awake naturally and unlock your phone? Let your loved ones know.
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence.
“If you’re attempting to accelerate growth in your corn, one option is to feed a single food item twice as often as you normally would.”
“If you’re attempting to accelerate growth in your corn, one option is to feed a single food item twice as often as you normally would.”
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence.
"'Yes -- yes -- my masters of the League of Forgotten Men -- yes, we understand, just give us time!"
"'Yes -- yes -- my masters of the League of Forgotten Men -- yes, we understand, just give us time!"
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"Because 'individuality and rebellion were obsolete', Devo 'dressed identical so you couldn't tell who was who,' says Mothersbaugh."
"Because 'individuality and rebellion were obsolete', Devo 'dressed identical so you couldn't tell who was who,' says Mothersbaugh."
January 21, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and post the second sentence.
“If you’re attempting to accelerate growth in your corn, one option is to feed a single food item twice as often as you normally would.”
“If you’re attempting to accelerate growth in your corn, one option is to feed a single food item twice as often as you normally would.”
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
I am overwhelmed & exhausted by the amount of press we've gotten over this but also determined to continue speaking loudly against Trump's reign of cruelty & retribution. #AbolishICE
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul has until Wednesday to turn over employment records to the Department of Homeland Security as part of a surprise audit launched Friday, just hours after one of the shop's owners criticized ICE agents during a television interview. bit.ly/4r5AFol
January 21, 2026 at 3:42 AM
I am overwhelmed & exhausted by the amount of press we've gotten over this but also determined to continue speaking loudly against Trump's reign of cruelty & retribution. #AbolishICE
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
I borrowed this from elsewhere.....
January 21, 2026 at 4:19 AM
I borrowed this from elsewhere.....
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
please pause your doomscrolling for this breaking news re: dogs and fries 👇
January 20, 2026 at 9:15 PM
please pause your doomscrolling for this breaking news re: dogs and fries 👇
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
museums are cool because the people who work there are like look at this neat thing and you're like wow that is neat and you just do it over and over again until it is time to go
January 20, 2026 at 3:03 AM
museums are cool because the people who work there are like look at this neat thing and you're like wow that is neat and you just do it over and over again until it is time to go
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
"He is the most interesting cephalopod in the world."
🐙📷 David Maass (www.flickr.com/photos/maass...)
🐙📷 David Maass (www.flickr.com/photos/maass...)
January 19, 2026 at 11:15 PM
"He is the most interesting cephalopod in the world."
🐙📷 David Maass (www.flickr.com/photos/maass...)
🐙📷 David Maass (www.flickr.com/photos/maass...)
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
A wordy update! News of ICE hitting us with a retaliatory audit went kinda viral and we've received a HUGE amount of support. Not only were we extremely busy all weekend, but we also received over $1000 in unsolicited donations.
Friday afternoon, ABC News ran an interview with one of Mischief Toy Store's owners about the store's practice of giving away free whistles. Hours later, ICE agents showed up at their door.
Here's my story (gift link):
Here's my story (gift link):
Hours after ABC News ran a story about Mischief Toy Store, ICE agents arrived at their door
“In 27 years of being retailers in St. Paul, we’ve never been audited for this,” one owner said.
www.twincities.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:36 AM
A wordy update! News of ICE hitting us with a retaliatory audit went kinda viral and we've received a HUGE amount of support. Not only were we extremely busy all weekend, but we also received over $1000 in unsolicited donations.
Me: *playing poker with the kids*
Wife: *walks by*
Me: “Wanna play? They’re taking all my money.”
Wife: “Isn’t that just what having kids is like?”
Wife: *walks by*
Me: “Wanna play? They’re taking all my money.”
Wife: “Isn’t that just what having kids is like?”
January 20, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Me: *playing poker with the kids*
Wife: *walks by*
Me: “Wanna play? They’re taking all my money.”
Wife: “Isn’t that just what having kids is like?”
Wife: *walks by*
Me: “Wanna play? They’re taking all my money.”
Wife: “Isn’t that just what having kids is like?”
I noticed John Piper’s birthday in upcoming events on their website, which told me all I really needed to know, but scoops has the full scoop here (it’s a good thread with important details).
That church on Summit with the ICE pastor has a lot of ties to John Piper's Bethlehem seminary, and specifically with toxic figures that were kicked out of that (already quite conservative) church because they were abusive and palling around with fascist pastor Doug Wilson (Pete Hegseth's mentor)
January 19, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I noticed John Piper’s birthday in upcoming events on their website, which told me all I really needed to know, but scoops has the full scoop here (it’s a good thread with important details).
Don’t say “abolish ICE”?
Okay.
Demolish ICE.
Obliterate ICE.
Take off and nuke ICE from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Okay.
Demolish ICE.
Obliterate ICE.
Take off and nuke ICE from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
The first 3 letters to the editor printed in today’s Minnesota Star Tribune, on MLK Day, were a *choice*:
1) do not say Abolish ICE
2) do not protest in a way that makes anyone angry
3) do not whistle; do not honk horns
One writer suggests walking around silently holding a candle
1) do not say Abolish ICE
2) do not protest in a way that makes anyone angry
3) do not whistle; do not honk horns
One writer suggests walking around silently holding a candle
The Strib‘s media coverage is so aggressively banal … www.startribune.com/jacob-frey-l...
January 19, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Don’t say “abolish ICE”?
Okay.
Demolish ICE.
Obliterate ICE.
Take off and nuke ICE from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Okay.
Demolish ICE.
Obliterate ICE.
Take off and nuke ICE from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
This is MY state capitol building
January 19, 2026 at 7:26 PM
This is MY state capitol building
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
ICE identified in Marine on St Croix this morning.
Black jeep, no plates, white man in tactical vest.
Report from former US military combat vet.
They are moving progressively north into the small communities in MN.
#ICEout #minnesota
Black jeep, no plates, white man in tactical vest.
Report from former US military combat vet.
They are moving progressively north into the small communities in MN.
#ICEout #minnesota
January 19, 2026 at 5:13 PM
ICE identified in Marine on St Croix this morning.
Black jeep, no plates, white man in tactical vest.
Report from former US military combat vet.
They are moving progressively north into the small communities in MN.
#ICEout #minnesota
Black jeep, no plates, white man in tactical vest.
Report from former US military combat vet.
They are moving progressively north into the small communities in MN.
#ICEout #minnesota
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
the knitters too. this is the top pattern on ravelry right now
January 19, 2026 at 4:40 AM
the knitters too. this is the top pattern on ravelry right now
I'm looking for a storage upgrade for Teen the Younger's computer and even "old" stuff like SATA SSD's are more expensive than I think they should be. It's making spinning platters look a lot more attractive.
January 19, 2026 at 1:25 AM
I'm looking for a storage upgrade for Teen the Younger's computer and even "old" stuff like SATA SSD's are more expensive than I think they should be. It's making spinning platters look a lot more attractive.
It honestly feels really fucken weird plugging this with [gestures at the Twin Cities] rn, but also I feel like big gay orchestra is a thing worth supporting and part of what makes the Twin Cities awesome, so this is happening on Saturday:
January 19, 2026 at 12:28 AM
It honestly feels really fucken weird plugging this with [gestures at the Twin Cities] rn, but also I feel like big gay orchestra is a thing worth supporting and part of what makes the Twin Cities awesome, so this is happening on Saturday:
I practiced bass for a while and got my head around some rhythms and I feel a little better for it, but still:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
January 19, 2026 at 12:21 AM
I practiced bass for a while and got my head around some rhythms and I feel a little better for it, but still:
I am but furniture for the cats.
January 18, 2026 at 8:51 PM
I am but furniture for the cats.
POV: You are in possession of The Coveted Meat.
January 18, 2026 at 7:02 PM
POV: You are in possession of The Coveted Meat.
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it
January 18, 2026 at 3:11 PM
This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
Just a reminder to the out-of-staters. The Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area is known locally as The Twincy (short for The Twin Cities).
January 17, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Just a reminder to the out-of-staters. The Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area is known locally as The Twincy (short for The Twin Cities).
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
We experienced a truly incredible moment at the aquarium when this octopus decided to be a total jerk to its tankmate.
January 16, 2026 at 11:30 PM
We experienced a truly incredible moment at the aquarium when this octopus decided to be a total jerk to its tankmate.
Reposted by Brynstar of the North (aka Ellie)
“How to Talk Minnesotan” is intended to be comedic but I recommend it for every autistic transplant, because no one will explain any of this to you, they’ll just get mad at you and you won’t know why. This outright just tells you the unspoken rules and everything makes so much more sense after that
This is light-hearted and doesn't touch on cases of fuckaroundits, but maybe it'll spark joy. Mid 90s local PBS.
youtu.be/oiSzwoJr4-0
youtu.be/oiSzwoJr4-0
How To Talk Minnesotan | Full Length Film
YouTube video by Twin Cities PBS
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 12:42 AM
“How to Talk Minnesotan” is intended to be comedic but I recommend it for every autistic transplant, because no one will explain any of this to you, they’ll just get mad at you and you won’t know why. This outright just tells you the unspoken rules and everything makes so much more sense after that