Nirali
@firewordsparkler.bsky.social
associate publicist at graywolf press. giver of gay awards. media monday quarterly. youtuber. phandom/swiffer/etc. firewordsparkler.com (she/her/any)
Pinned
Nirali
@firewordsparkler.bsky.social
· Jan 10
Everything I made in 2025 (It took me five years to make this!)
YouTube video by firewordsparkler
youtu.be
New video! I talk about my 2025 makes, which only happened because of a few amazing minneapolis independent stores.
youtu.be/V4Q0CN5HnwQ?...
youtu.be/V4Q0CN5HnwQ?...
Reposted by Nirali
Over the weekend, I encountered someone who said that explaining to people why the hats "weren't helpful" was "exhausting." Friends, if this is how you are exhausting yourselves, you aren't doing the movement any favors. I am tired, too, but more fruitfully so.
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Over the weekend, I encountered someone who said that explaining to people why the hats "weren't helpful" was "exhausting." Friends, if this is how you are exhausting yourselves, you aren't doing the movement any favors. I am tired, too, but more fruitfully so.
Reposted by Nirali
The real story is why *more* elite athletes are not regularly masking and occasionally quarantining as needed. If you spent years training for an event, wouldn't you take every step to ensure peak performance?
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy. n.pr/4akK70l
Olympic Covid restrictions are gone, but some athletes still self-quarantining
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.
n.pr
February 9, 2026 at 8:25 PM
The real story is why *more* elite athletes are not regularly masking and occasionally quarantining as needed. If you spent years training for an event, wouldn't you take every step to ensure peak performance?
Reposted by Nirali
Please don't accuse people in knitted hats of only wearing their supposed politics if all you're doing is posting, which is basically just another way of wearing your politics. It's a silly thing to attack people over in any case. Using fashion to signal support for ongoing acts of rebellion is good
February 9, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Please don't accuse people in knitted hats of only wearing their supposed politics if all you're doing is posting, which is basically just another way of wearing your politics. It's a silly thing to attack people over in any case. Using fashion to signal support for ongoing acts of rebellion is good
Reposted by Nirali
Bat bags!
And wheel chair friendly!!!! 💞🦇🖤
And wheel chair friendly!!!! 💞🦇🖤
Happy Black History Month!
It costs 0$ to Repost a Black disabled queer small business! It could lead to my next sale.
These convertible bags are spacious, cute and can be worn in so many ways including being attached to mobility devices! They're almost sold out!
Store: Bibipins.com
It costs 0$ to Repost a Black disabled queer small business! It could lead to my next sale.
These convertible bags are spacious, cute and can be worn in so many ways including being attached to mobility devices! They're almost sold out!
Store: Bibipins.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Bat bags!
And wheel chair friendly!!!! 💞🦇🖤
And wheel chair friendly!!!! 💞🦇🖤
Reposted by Nirali
🥇😷🥇
Olympians are masking up with N95s because they know a covid infection can derail their chances of competing.
They know it could derail their careers.
They know it could disable them.
They’re practicing self care and community care.
Give them a gold medal in public health!
They know it could derail their careers.
They know it could disable them.
They’re practicing self care and community care.
Give them a gold medal in public health!
February 7, 2026 at 4:26 AM
🥇😷🥇
Reposted by Nirali
February 6, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Nirali
ICYMI @libro.fm now has a fantastic annual plan (in addition to their current big sale) Switch to the annual plan here:
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
Audiobook membership
Join Libro.fm to support local bookstores, get up to two audiobook credits monthly, exclusive sales, and DRM-free downloads.
www.awin1.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 PM
ICYMI @libro.fm now has a fantastic annual plan (in addition to their current big sale) Switch to the annual plan here:
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
Reposted by Nirali
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Nirali
Going to hold some of y’all’s hands when I tell you this: telling marginalized people they should vote for someone who thinks they don’t deserve rights is exactly the opposite of coalition building.
Maybe actually listening to why people are so against Newsom is a start
Maybe actually listening to why people are so against Newsom is a start
February 5, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Going to hold some of y’all’s hands when I tell you this: telling marginalized people they should vote for someone who thinks they don’t deserve rights is exactly the opposite of coalition building.
Maybe actually listening to why people are so against Newsom is a start
Maybe actually listening to why people are so against Newsom is a start
ICYMI @libro.fm now has a fantastic annual plan (in addition to their current big sale) Switch to the annual plan here:
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
Audiobook membership
Join Libro.fm to support local bookstores, get up to two audiobook credits monthly, exclusive sales, and DRM-free downloads.
www.awin1.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 PM
ICYMI @libro.fm now has a fantastic annual plan (in addition to their current big sale) Switch to the annual plan here:
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
www.awin1.com/cread.php?aw...
(affiliate link)
Reposted by Nirali
My commitment to you is to ensure that the City of Minneapolis does its part. At today’s council meeting we will be voting on rental assistance and legal assistance. My hope is that these pass at the city council and aren’t vetoed by Mayor Frey. 3/
February 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
My commitment to you is to ensure that the City of Minneapolis does its part. At today’s council meeting we will be voting on rental assistance and legal assistance. My hope is that these pass at the city council and aren’t vetoed by Mayor Frey. 3/
Reposted by Nirali
School librarians are freaking out. The site is used a lot, esp for middle school. And nonfiction that isn't narrative or bio - such as country fact books - has been decimated in kidlit to the point where it doesn't really exist anymore outside little kid books, so no replacement for the site.
Killing the CIA World Factbook might seem like small potatoes, but it was a touchstone of curated facts in a sea of disinformation.
February 5, 2026 at 6:53 AM
School librarians are freaking out. The site is used a lot, esp for middle school. And nonfiction that isn't narrative or bio - such as country fact books - has been decimated in kidlit to the point where it doesn't really exist anymore outside little kid books, so no replacement for the site.
Reposted by Nirali
every $5 donated with note "LOON" gets you an entry to win this amazing @pailbn.bsky.social print! there will be FOUR winners!
Hi! We are partnering with Mpls-based artist @pailbn.bsky.social for a raffle! Brianna graciously donated 4 framed prints to help us raise mutual aid ❣️
$5/entry
Note: "Loon"
Venmo: @jamesirving
Cashapp: $jamesirvinghair
4 winners drawn at the end of Feb. Pickup in Uptown or we can ship unframed. ❤️
$5/entry
Note: "Loon"
Venmo: @jamesirving
Cashapp: $jamesirvinghair
4 winners drawn at the end of Feb. Pickup in Uptown or we can ship unframed. ❤️
February 4, 2026 at 11:14 PM
every $5 donated with note "LOON" gets you an entry to win this amazing @pailbn.bsky.social print! there will be FOUR winners!
Reposted by Nirali
Hi all. I’m working with @ziibiing.com at standwithminnesota.com to get rents paid for Minnesota families impacted by ICE as soon as possible.
I’m barnraising $2400 for one campaign. I’ll chip in $25.
Please chip in and share this need:
V: colocha_rachel
$: ColochaRachel
Put a 🌻 in the memo.
I’m barnraising $2400 for one campaign. I’ll chip in $25.
Please chip in and share this need:
V: colocha_rachel
$: ColochaRachel
Put a 🌻 in the memo.
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Hi all. I’m working with @ziibiing.com at standwithminnesota.com to get rents paid for Minnesota families impacted by ICE as soon as possible.
I’m barnraising $2400 for one campaign. I’ll chip in $25.
Please chip in and share this need:
V: colocha_rachel
$: ColochaRachel
Put a 🌻 in the memo.
I’m barnraising $2400 for one campaign. I’ll chip in $25.
Please chip in and share this need:
V: colocha_rachel
$: ColochaRachel
Put a 🌻 in the memo.
Reposted by Nirali
Megan Thee Stallion is going to have a guest-starring role on The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, an NBC sitcom about a disgraced former NFL star (Tracy Morgan) who is trying to fix his image and control the narrative with a documentary shot by an award-winning filmmaker (Daniel Radcliffe)
February 4, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Megan Thee Stallion is going to have a guest-starring role on The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, an NBC sitcom about a disgraced former NFL star (Tracy Morgan) who is trying to fix his image and control the narrative with a documentary shot by an award-winning filmmaker (Daniel Radcliffe)
Reposted by Nirali
For so long Amazon has had a monopoly on selling self-published books. Good to see that @bookshop.org is ready to compete in the space! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Bookshop.org Teams with Draft2Digital
The online bookselling platform has partnered with the self-publishing company to allow self-published authors to sell e-books on its site.
www.publishersweekly.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:41 PM
For so long Amazon has had a monopoly on selling self-published books. Good to see that @bookshop.org is ready to compete in the space! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Nirali
when i give wired dot com $40 i get access to so many journalists‘ work, when i give my favorite writer $40 i only get that one person’s work AND i can only do that for like one person a year. it sucks!!!!
i know that this is an unpopular take, but everyone starting their own newsletter as a revenue stream is not a sustainable model for writing and reporting or for people who love and want to pay for media.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 3:13 PM
when i give wired dot com $40 i get access to so many journalists‘ work, when i give my favorite writer $40 i only get that one person’s work AND i can only do that for like one person a year. it sucks!!!!
Reposted by Nirali
It shall be a sad day for @washingtonpost.com but Bezos' gutting of the paper is the end of a long hit job on the entire journalism ecosystem. Journalists rarely sit still. They've been busy building new Washington Posts. bsky.app/starter-pack...
February 4, 2026 at 1:41 PM
It shall be a sad day for @washingtonpost.com but Bezos' gutting of the paper is the end of a long hit job on the entire journalism ecosystem. Journalists rarely sit still. They've been busy building new Washington Posts. bsky.app/starter-pack...
Reposted by Nirali
This sounds familiar... 🤔 But growing a newsroom from the ground up takes time and money — and frankly, we need way more resources than we have now to fill this massive gap.
You can help us build the newsroom D.C. deserves: 51st.news/signup
You can help us build the newsroom D.C. deserves: 51st.news/signup
February 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
This sounds familiar... 🤔 But growing a newsroom from the ground up takes time and money — and frankly, we need way more resources than we have now to fill this massive gap.
You can help us build the newsroom D.C. deserves: 51st.news/signup
You can help us build the newsroom D.C. deserves: 51st.news/signup
Reposted by Nirali
What's that you say!
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Trans athletes may not have fitness advantage in women’s sport, landmark study finds
Findings suggest physical performance in trans women converges toward that of cis women over time
www.independent.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:44 AM
What's that you say!
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Reposted by Nirali
Lotta bad things in this, but specifically for my book folks, big yikes.
WaPo's Matt Murray told staff the paper is shuttering sports, moving remaining staff to features, shrinking foreign coverage, restructuring metro, closing books coverage, suspending Post Reports podcast
“Whole company now waiting for a live or die email” one staffer said
More in tonight’s Status
“Whole company now waiting for a live or die email” one staffer said
More in tonight’s Status
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Lotta bad things in this, but specifically for my book folks, big yikes.
Reposted by Nirali
you and forever
bleachers
2/11/26
bleachers
2/11/26
February 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
you and forever
bleachers
2/11/26
bleachers
2/11/26
Reposted by Nirali
I continue to love my local ACE.
February 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
I continue to love my local ACE.
Reposted by Nirali
today is the last day i will ask you to donate to people’s rent this month.
we are trying very hard to meet a $30,000
goal today to help the last few families on our list before their rent grace period ends.
we are trying very hard to meet a $30,000
goal today to help the last few families on our list before their rent grace period ends.
Venmo | SouthMpls RentSupport
Venmo is a digital wallet that lets you make and share payments with friends. You can easily split the bill, cab fare, or much more. Download the iOS or Android app or sign up on Venmo.com today.
venmo.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM
today is the last day i will ask you to donate to people’s rent this month.
we are trying very hard to meet a $30,000
goal today to help the last few families on our list before their rent grace period ends.
we are trying very hard to meet a $30,000
goal today to help the last few families on our list before their rent grace period ends.