Thomas Spainhour
@spainy53.bsky.social
Retired engineer/IT analyst
Refugee from Gather
Army veteran
Refugee from Gather
Army veteran
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
"Work is not just a central economic institution. It's not just how we pay the bills. It's a central social institution."
September 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"Work is not just a central economic institution. It's not just how we pay the bills. It's a central social institution."
Who would have guessed that chainsaws would be a leitmotif of this administration?
That, and YMCA.
That, and YMCA.
July 8, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Who would have guessed that chainsaws would be a leitmotif of this administration?
That, and YMCA.
That, and YMCA.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Pete Hegseth thinks that America’s armed forces need to choose between lethality and professionalism, Mike Nelson argues. But being a soldier is about more than being a warrior:
What Pete Hegseth Doesn’t Understand About Soldiers
Lethality alone doesn’t win wars.
bit.ly
July 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks that America’s armed forces need to choose between lethality and professionalism, Mike Nelson argues. But being a soldier is about more than being a warrior:
Sets fire to your town, claiming it's in the national interest, then after considerable damage, extinguishes the flames, claiming he's a hero.
Pathetic that such maneuvers are being done. Even worse is how many are deceived by them.
Pathetic that such maneuvers are being done. Even worse is how many are deceived by them.
“If the U.K. deal is a model for deals yet to be struck with other nations, Trump will have little to show for the chaos and disruptions that his tariffs have unleashed,” Scott Lincicome writes:
What the U.K. Deal Reveals About Trump’s Trade Strategy
The United States is settling for a tiny fraction of what it could have achieved through traditional free-trade agreements.
bit.ly
May 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Sets fire to your town, claiming it's in the national interest, then after considerable damage, extinguishes the flames, claiming he's a hero.
Pathetic that such maneuvers are being done. Even worse is how many are deceived by them.
Pathetic that such maneuvers are being done. Even worse is how many are deceived by them.
@bethlytle.bsky.social Hello, I am founder and admin for the 570-member Facebook group Refugees from Gather. Was this you, back in the day?
web.archive.org/web/20130101...
web.archive.org/web/20130101...
Beth L. | Gather
Professional freelance writer since 2008. I telecommute (work at home) and write articles, work on my novel and do transcription (Transcription Connection)
web.archive.org
May 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
@bethlytle.bsky.social Hello, I am founder and admin for the 570-member Facebook group Refugees from Gather. Was this you, back in the day?
web.archive.org/web/20130101...
web.archive.org/web/20130101...
Well, here we go from Darwinian to Orwellian -- with some Vonnegut, Bradbury and Lovecraft thrown in.
Time to dust off the Edward Abbey.
Time to dust off the Edward Abbey.
May 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Well, here we go from Darwinian to Orwellian -- with some Vonnegut, Bradbury and Lovecraft thrown in.
Time to dust off the Edward Abbey.
Time to dust off the Edward Abbey.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Institutions in 2010: “We’re never going to get caught in a mess like subprime again.”
2025: “Universities, after herding into venture capital and private equity in the past decade, are now finding themselves overexposed to hard-to-value assets.”
2025: “Universities, after herding into venture capital and private equity in the past decade, are now finding themselves overexposed to hard-to-value assets.”
May 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Institutions in 2010: “We’re never going to get caught in a mess like subprime again.”
2025: “Universities, after herding into venture capital and private equity in the past decade, are now finding themselves overexposed to hard-to-value assets.”
2025: “Universities, after herding into venture capital and private equity in the past decade, are now finding themselves overexposed to hard-to-value assets.”
Tempting to say "best government money can buy" except some of the buyers are getting scammed.
I’m still baffled at how America took one of the basic principles of the presidency — the occupant shouldn’t be able to benefit financially from the office — and just said, nah, that just doesn’t count for this one guy.
An international trucking logistics firm is buying as much as *** $20 MILLION *** worth of President Donald Trump’s crypto coins to influence the administration’s trade policy.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
May 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Tempting to say "best government money can buy" except some of the buyers are getting scammed.
May 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
When asked why they were voting for Trump, most said prices and border security.
Not this.
Americans should #resist the targeting of ANYONE for retribution.
Not this.
Americans should #resist the targeting of ANYONE for retribution.
Joining 20 coalition partners, we wrote a letter denouncing threats to arrest Gov. Evers over state guidance he issued regarding ICE.
Once again, the Trump administration is undermining democracy by appearing to target a public official they disagree with.
www.aclu-wi.org/en/press-rel...
Once again, the Trump administration is undermining democracy by appearing to target a public official they disagree with.
www.aclu-wi.org/en/press-rel...
Wisconsin Advocacy Groups: Threats Against Gov. Evers Undercut Rule of Law
In response to recent calls for Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ arrest over state guidance issued regarding ICE in State of Wisconsin buildings, 21 advocacy groups issued the following statement:
www.aclu-wi.org
May 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
When asked why they were voting for Trump, most said prices and border security.
Not this.
Americans should #resist the targeting of ANYONE for retribution.
Not this.
Americans should #resist the targeting of ANYONE for retribution.
Not something I'd brag about!
"Palantir's AI software is used by the Israel Defense Forces to strike targets in Gaza..."
"Palantir's AI software is used by the Israel Defense Forces to strike targets in Gaza..."
It may not be a household name, but Palantir is now one of the world's most valuable companies. Its "spy tech" is set to gain more government and military work in the Trump administration.
By @bobbyallyn.bsky.social
By @bobbyallyn.bsky.social
How Palantir, the secretive tech company, is rising in the Trump era
It may not be a household name, but Palantir is now one of the world's most valuable companies. Its "spy tech" is set to gain more government and military work in the Trump administration.
www.npr.org
May 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Not something I'd brag about!
"Palantir's AI software is used by the Israel Defense Forces to strike targets in Gaza..."
"Palantir's AI software is used by the Israel Defense Forces to strike targets in Gaza..."
Another #DT47Gang target pushes back.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is the first to permanently block an executive order issued by President Trump punishing a law firm for representing clients or causes he dislikes.
Federal judge strikes down Trump order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is the first to permanently block an executive order issued by President Trump punishing a law firm for representing clients or causes he dislikes.
www.npr.org
May 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Another #DT47Gang target pushes back.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
NEW: The Trump administration is subverting the traditional priorities of the Education Department’s decimated civil rights office by making discrimination investigations practically impossible — instead enforcing its own anti-diversity campaign.
A Gutted Education Department’s New Agenda: Roll Back Civil Rights Cases, Target Transgender Students
The Trump administration is subverting the traditional priorities of the department’s decimated civil rights office by making discrimination investigations practically impossible — instead enforcing…
www.propublica.org
May 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NEW: The Trump administration is subverting the traditional priorities of the Education Department’s decimated civil rights office by making discrimination investigations practically impossible — instead enforcing its own anti-diversity campaign.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
“After centuries of intellectual progress, Americans must face a terrible question,” the physicist Alan Lightman writes. “Are we now descending from light into dark?” https://theatln.tc/GonKaWSv
May 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“After centuries of intellectual progress, Americans must face a terrible question,” the physicist Alan Lightman writes. “Are we now descending from light into dark?” https://theatln.tc/GonKaWSv
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Your tax dollars at work. 🤡
May 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Your tax dollars at work. 🤡
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
After Karoline Leavitt wouldn’t rule it out, Democratic House Rep. Jared Moskowitz introduced an amendment to block arresting Supreme Court Justices for voting against the executive branch.
All Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted against it.
All Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted against it.
May 1, 2025 at 12:55 AM
After Karoline Leavitt wouldn’t rule it out, Democratic House Rep. Jared Moskowitz introduced an amendment to block arresting Supreme Court Justices for voting against the executive branch.
All Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted against it.
All Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted against it.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
No, I do not want to see a video about a three-time Trump supporting farmer regretting his vote because he has no market for his soybeans.
Show me the farmer who voted in his neighbor’s best interest three times.
I’d like to see that video.
Show me the farmer who voted in his neighbor’s best interest three times.
I’d like to see that video.
April 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
No, I do not want to see a video about a three-time Trump supporting farmer regretting his vote because he has no market for his soybeans.
Show me the farmer who voted in his neighbor’s best interest three times.
I’d like to see that video.
Show me the farmer who voted in his neighbor’s best interest three times.
I’d like to see that video.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Paramount, the owner of CBS, has been accused of meddling in reporting being done by 60 Minutes.
Why?
It needs approval from Trump's FCC to be acquired by Skydance — a media company founded by the son of billionaire Trump-backer Larry Ellison.
Always follow the money.
Why?
It needs approval from Trump's FCC to be acquired by Skydance — a media company founded by the son of billionaire Trump-backer Larry Ellison.
Always follow the money.
And now, a note on Bill Owens who, until this past week, was the executive producer of 60 Minutes.
We’ll be back next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.
We’ll be back next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.
April 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Paramount, the owner of CBS, has been accused of meddling in reporting being done by 60 Minutes.
Why?
It needs approval from Trump's FCC to be acquired by Skydance — a media company founded by the son of billionaire Trump-backer Larry Ellison.
Always follow the money.
Why?
It needs approval from Trump's FCC to be acquired by Skydance — a media company founded by the son of billionaire Trump-backer Larry Ellison.
Always follow the money.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
Due to the constant online attacks from Trump and Elon, 67 judges are now receiving enhanced security because of their involvement in high-profile cases. Threats against judges have already led to criminal charges against nearly 50 individuals.
April 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Due to the constant online attacks from Trump and Elon, 67 judges are now receiving enhanced security because of their involvement in high-profile cases. Threats against judges have already led to criminal charges against nearly 50 individuals.
Reposted by Thomas Spainhour
The Trump administration defunded the National Institute of Health's MOSAIC grant program, which launched the careers of scientists from diverse backgrounds.
As a diversity grant dies, young scientists fear it will haunt their careers
The Trump administration defunded the National Institute of Health's MOSAIC grant program, which launched the careers of scientists from diverse backgrounds.
www.npr.org
April 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The Trump administration defunded the National Institute of Health's MOSAIC grant program, which launched the careers of scientists from diverse backgrounds.
April 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Orwellian does seem a more accurate descriptor than fascist or or other terms thrown around by critics.
Bari Weiss’ “The Free Press” is teaming up with Trump’s DC prosecutor to go after Wikipedia’s nonprofit status to pressure it to be more pro-Israel.
Bari could not have chosen a more Orwellian term for her authoritarian news outlet taking a wrecking ball to Western institutions on behalf of Israel
Bari could not have chosen a more Orwellian term for her authoritarian news outlet taking a wrecking ball to Western institutions on behalf of Israel
April 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Orwellian does seem a more accurate descriptor than fascist or or other terms thrown around by critics.
Trump isn't the first President to complain to the effect that "you just can't please [the media]."
A favorite was LBJ's gripe that even if he were to walk on water, headlines would read "President Can't Swim."
But petty insults are Trump's signature style in response to anything that annoys him.
A favorite was LBJ's gripe that even if he were to walk on water, headlines would read "President Can't Swim."
But petty insults are Trump's signature style in response to anything that annoys him.
Trump after meeting Zelensky in Rome:
"[T]here was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities... It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?”"
"[T]here was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities... It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?”"
April 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Trump isn't the first President to complain to the effect that "you just can't please [the media]."
A favorite was LBJ's gripe that even if he were to walk on water, headlines would read "President Can't Swim."
But petty insults are Trump's signature style in response to anything that annoys him.
A favorite was LBJ's gripe that even if he were to walk on water, headlines would read "President Can't Swim."
But petty insults are Trump's signature style in response to anything that annoys him.
First saw these ladies elsewhere (Jimmy Kimmel? ) and initially thought it was a remarkably well-done AI thing. The images seemed too clean, though, and their body language after small lapses in synch were all too human.
Meet Bridgette and Paula Powers, identical twins who speak in synch and dedicate themselves to animal conservation.
These Australian twins have gone viral after speaking in synch
Meet Bridgette and Paula Powers, identical twins who speak in synch and dedicate themselves to animal conservation.
www.npr.org
April 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
First saw these ladies elsewhere (Jimmy Kimmel? ) and initially thought it was a remarkably well-done AI thing. The images seemed too clean, though, and their body language after small lapses in synch were all too human.