DebIsWriting
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deborahz.bsky.social
DebIsWriting
@deborahz.bsky.social
Biliary cancer survivor — I write romance, hor-rom, bad pun poetry, CNF, and the occasional blog post at newnormal2016.wordpress.com. Frequent smart ass. You can find my latest CNF, Are We Not Evil, in the third Annual.
He isn’t going to tell us because he’s probably not paying for health insurance.
Look at this man's language--force? Pay them what I want? You're words, Mark. You are the one out of touch and also...scared? I told you how much I'm paying for health insurance next year. What are you paying, Mark? I'm 100% sure that you could pay a hell of a lot more than you do.
December 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I'm betting that he's betting on OUR susceptibility to billionaire-worship. Look how he tries to spin this to be about hurting our healthcare practitioners. Nah, Mark. I love doctors, nurses, CRNPs, patient care techs, etc.

It's billionaires I don't care about.
So you want to force doctors and hospitals to do what you want and pay them what you want ? Doesn't matter what they want ? Doesn't matter the investment they have made in their education, practice , employees , equipment

Fuck em. Pay em what works for all of us. Right ?

Who is out of touch ?
December 11, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This incredibly out-of-touch man is describing a world we're already in--different care for the super rich? Limited access to physicians? Limited access to treatments, particularly specialized medicines?

Tax the super rich until they're only "rich."
For all Universal HC/Single Payer/M4A advocates.

What do the biggest, expensive hospital chains do. Do they opt out and only serve the rich ?

Who in the USA gov runs the program?

R U ok with having to see a primary care doc before you can see a specialist ?
December 11, 2025 at 12:04 AM
My pancreas has stopped working and there’s a spot on my lungs BUT two immigrants just helped me carry a heavy thing into my house because…immigrants are not the problem. We had a great time laughing at my high school Spanish weak-ass attempts to thank them, too. 😂
December 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Damn. Let the kids have some fun.
Downtown. 210 Forbes Ave - Outside of Moe's Southwest Grill. Caller says that a group of kids started a snowball fight and are no longer welcome to Moe's.
December 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The end of the year should come with a sticker like in kindergarten and then we should all get 45 minutes of recess.
December 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I grew up in snow country and can confirm Pittsburghers cannot drive in even the smallest dusting of snow. Today, it’s NOT a dusting.
Brighton Heights side of the McKees Rocks Bridge. Caller says none of these jagoffs know how to drive in the snow and they want PD to direct traffic.
December 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Look at this gorgeous nod to Pittsburgh's iconic bridges, handmade by the great Frank Nowalk. One of a kind, just like he was.
Francis J. Nowalk Iron and Marble Bridge Form Hall Table
Francis J. Nowalk (American/Pittsburgh, PA, 1928-2024) custom designed iron and marble hall table. Variegated green marble square top. Iron base reminiscent of the designs of Pittsburgh, PA bridges. T...
bid.conceptgallery.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Started reading a new book. Five pages in, the mom is dying of cancer. I just wanted a little escapism, not a book-side seat to my—and my children’s—possible future. Obv, that book is closed, maybe for good.
November 29, 2025 at 4:59 AM
This is awesome. I’ve got 5 adoptees on my shopping list now.
Did you know that letters mailed to Santa go on the USPS Operation Santa page where you can read them, adopt one and send them their wished for gift? (Anonymity is protected all around) www.uspsoperationsanta.com
USPS Operation Santa® Program
Adopt a child's letter to Santa this holiday season with the USPS Operation Santa® program. Spread holiday cheer and help make a child's holiday wish come true.
www.uspsoperationsanta.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:20 AM
For tonight’s dinner, I had leftover pecan pie, made with brown sugar and maple syrup. Ate the pie like vacuum cleaner sucks dust. Here’s the “after” pic. Haha
November 29, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Larry Summers “is deeply ashamed” …of the democrats who released his emails.
November 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Still not a twinge of regret that I’m never entering a Target again. Or a Starbucks. Frozen hot chocolate is just watery chocolate milk with whipped cream on top. It’s objectively terrible.
Beginning Monday, a Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate drink will be available exclusively at Starbucks cafés inside Target stores.

The chains are hoping the drink can drum up excitement from customers this holiday season.

🔗https://tinyurl.com/yrshv45s
November 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Were they struck by the driver or were they struck by the car? I feel like this detail matters regarding potential injury evaluation.
Carrick. Brownsville Road at Becks Run. Caller says a crossing guard was just struck by a driver of a car.
November 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Person on NextDoor: “I’ve been alive my whole life…”
Me: finally, something true was posted on NextDoor. Didn’t ever expect to see that.
November 16, 2025 at 6:08 AM
A stranger bought my breakfast. In secret. What a kind thing to do. Thank you, stranger! Now…to pay it forward.
November 14, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I wrote a thing for the third Annual. If you live in Europe, you should track a copy down. It's cool, it's fun, it's edgy. If you live in the US, it's not available, though you can hit me up. I might have a few copies left to sell. Love to give them away but working writer here.
November 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
All of you who are old enough to remember the brief and embarrassing age of desktop publishing know what’s actually going on here.
Below are two videos showing the White House vs Waldorf Astoria renovations. Can someone knowledgable about the relevant trades breakdown what it took to do each one? What was the process? How much human skill and craftsmanship were involved?
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
New blog post with weird references, music recommendations, and a cancer non-update update.
The (Early) Winter of Our Discontent
Francis Nowalk’s here in Pittsburgh is closing its doors after more than 75 years. Frank, as he was called, worked in the store he built until Covid brought him literally to his knees in 2023. Afte…
newnormal2016.wordpress.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Making your underpaid employees perform for me isn’t going to bring me back. They aren’t puppets and neither am I.

In related news, if you shop locally owned businesses, your money stays in your own community.
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.

They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.

If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."

🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Hoodie season confirmed!
November 8, 2025 at 1:32 AM
This is a joke, right?
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 PM
People in my age group are, yet again, incredibly disappointing. I think I’m going to revert to being 25-ish. I hate to do it since I love being nearly 60 but I’ve come to realize that politically I’m much younger.
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Oh no. Not that. How terrible…. Can we tax them out of existence today? Now? One cannot be a billionaire and be a good person. Hoarding resources is inherently immoral.
November 1, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Ring cameras are providing data to our federal gestapo. If you have one (I don’t), maybe you shouldn’t anymore.
October 31, 2025 at 11:45 PM