Betsy
@betsylpretzel.bsky.social
words | music | art | kids | justice | games | puzzles | queer | looking for what comes next
There are so many people sending love to @fooddatanerd.com! I know being surrounded by this warmth and kindness and support has made a world of difference to Randy. Keep the good vibes and messages coming please! More details at www.caringbridge.org/site/17ef516...
Randy and His Brain
We are using CaringBridge to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and…
www.caringbridge.org
September 28, 2025 at 4:57 AM
There are so many people sending love to @fooddatanerd.com! I know being surrounded by this warmth and kindness and support has made a world of difference to Randy. Keep the good vibes and messages coming please! More details at www.caringbridge.org/site/17ef516...
A little story about how art is transformative, why representation matters, and how you never know what's possible until you try. #pride
Hedwig and the Origin of Love
This is what gender-affirming care can look like
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:52 AM
A little story about how art is transformative, why representation matters, and how you never know what's possible until you try. #pride
30 fave queer authors & books. #booksky @corysilverberg.bsky.social @caseymcquiston.bsky.social @stevenrowley.bsky.social @freyamarske.bsky.social @blairfell.bsky.social @elisegravel.bsky.social @augusten.bsky.social @lexcroucher.bsky.social @emilystjams.bsky.social @aliceoseman.bsky.social
Pride 2025: Recommended Reading
Some of my favorite queer authors and queer-centric books for Pride Month 2025
open.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Celebrating #Pride with my fave #queer authors & books
No. 2) Becky Albertalli www.beckyalbertalli.com
Fabulous for readers of all ages, her books are compassionate, funny & sweet and teach me something about how to be a good and authentic human in a world that doesn’t always reward those traits.
No. 2) Becky Albertalli www.beckyalbertalli.com
Fabulous for readers of all ages, her books are compassionate, funny & sweet and teach me something about how to be a good and authentic human in a world that doesn’t always reward those traits.
June 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Celebrating #Pride with my fave #queer authors & books
No. 2) Becky Albertalli www.beckyalbertalli.com
Fabulous for readers of all ages, her books are compassionate, funny & sweet and teach me something about how to be a good and authentic human in a world that doesn’t always reward those traits.
No. 2) Becky Albertalli www.beckyalbertalli.com
Fabulous for readers of all ages, her books are compassionate, funny & sweet and teach me something about how to be a good and authentic human in a world that doesn’t always reward those traits.
Celebrating #Pride by posting about my fave queer authors & books
No. 1) TJ Klune has a marvelous talent for creating characters–whether human or in any number of other fantastical forms–who immediately take up residence in your heart. His books are achingly good. I want to live inside them.
No. 1) TJ Klune has a marvelous talent for creating characters–whether human or in any number of other fantastical forms–who immediately take up residence in your heart. His books are achingly good. I want to live inside them.
TJ Klune
www.tjklunebooks.com
June 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Celebrating #Pride by posting about my fave queer authors & books
No. 1) TJ Klune has a marvelous talent for creating characters–whether human or in any number of other fantastical forms–who immediately take up residence in your heart. His books are achingly good. I want to live inside them.
No. 1) TJ Klune has a marvelous talent for creating characters–whether human or in any number of other fantastical forms–who immediately take up residence in your heart. His books are achingly good. I want to live inside them.
Reposted by Betsy
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
February 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
Reposted by Betsy
🥗 #SNAP
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here's the latest monthly state SNAP data,
I archived for you,
because a hostile foreign agent is setting fire to the federal government and vital data keep disappearing!
Happy SNAPentine's Day! ❤️❤️❤️
doi.org/10.7910/DVN/...
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here's the latest monthly state SNAP data,
I archived for you,
because a hostile foreign agent is setting fire to the federal government and vital data keep disappearing!
Happy SNAPentine's Day! ❤️❤️❤️
doi.org/10.7910/DVN/...
Monthly State SNAP Data
Monthly SNAP participation data for the United States and every state, from October 1988 through the latest month published by USDA Food and Nutrit...
doi.org
February 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
🥗 #SNAP
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here's the latest monthly state SNAP data,
I archived for you,
because a hostile foreign agent is setting fire to the federal government and vital data keep disappearing!
Happy SNAPentine's Day! ❤️❤️❤️
doi.org/10.7910/DVN/...
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here's the latest monthly state SNAP data,
I archived for you,
because a hostile foreign agent is setting fire to the federal government and vital data keep disappearing!
Happy SNAPentine's Day! ❤️❤️❤️
doi.org/10.7910/DVN/...
Reposted by Betsy
We believe news is a public service, but we're currently only reaching 1% of D.C.'s population. Let's get more news to neighbors, spread the word and sign up for our free weekly newsletter: 51st.news/signup
February 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
We believe news is a public service, but we're currently only reaching 1% of D.C.'s population. Let's get more news to neighbors, spread the word and sign up for our free weekly newsletter: 51st.news/signup
Reposted by Betsy
Reposted by Betsy
dates of birth, Social Security numbers, performance appraisals, home addresses, pay grades, and length of service for government employees. In response to employees speaking out, Musk’s aides locked civil servants out of computer systems and offices, with reports of personal items being searched.
February 1, 2025 at 1:14 AM
dates of birth, Social Security numbers, performance appraisals, home addresses, pay grades, and length of service for government employees. In response to employees speaking out, Musk’s aides locked civil servants out of computer systems and offices, with reports of personal items being searched.
Reposted by Betsy
Trump issued a memorandum invalidating government labor contracts finalized in the 30 days before his presidential inauguration. This action is not legal and will not hold up in court.
February 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Trump issued a memorandum invalidating government labor contracts finalized in the 30 days before his presidential inauguration. This action is not legal and will not hold up in court.
Reposted by Betsy
Attn: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent granted representatives of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency full access to the federal payment system!
February 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Attn: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent granted representatives of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency full access to the federal payment system!
Reposted by Betsy
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were ordered to withdraw any pending publications, at any scientific journal, that mention terms such as “transgender,” “immigrant,” “L.G.B.T.” or “pregnant people.”
February 2, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were ordered to withdraw any pending publications, at any scientific journal, that mention terms such as “transgender,” “immigrant,” “L.G.B.T.” or “pregnant people.”
Reposted by Betsy
Please share: We’ve received word that Elon Musk’s staffers are using space characters to identify information leakers. Before sharing any information, please use a checker to detect and remove these.
February 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Please share: We’ve received word that Elon Musk’s staffers are using space characters to identify information leakers. Before sharing any information, please use a checker to detect and remove these.
Reposted by Betsy
USAID, founded in 1961 as the primary U.S. foreign aid agency, is now under threat of being dismantled by President Trump. Signs outside the USAID building have been removed, the agency’s website went offline, and its X account disappeared.
February 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
USAID, founded in 1961 as the primary U.S. foreign aid agency, is now under threat of being dismantled by President Trump. Signs outside the USAID building have been removed, the agency’s website went offline, and its X account disappeared.
Reposted by Betsy
Hundreds of USAID employees have been fired or furloughed, and foreign aid operations were suspended after Trump issued a freeze on aid. The agency’s public affairs team has also been placed on leave and locked out of their systems.
This situation is escalating quickly. More details to come.
This situation is escalating quickly. More details to come.
February 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Hundreds of USAID employees have been fired or furloughed, and foreign aid operations were suspended after Trump issued a freeze on aid. The agency’s public affairs team has also been placed on leave and locked out of their systems.
This situation is escalating quickly. More details to come.
This situation is escalating quickly. More details to come.
Dear World,
Apparently some other voters elected this unfathomably cruel, heartless, short-sighted, ignorant individual to the White House. It's hard for me to understand why they did this. I voted for Kamala Harris.
Apparently some other voters elected this unfathomably cruel, heartless, short-sighted, ignorant individual to the White House. It's hard for me to understand why they did this. I voted for Kamala Harris.
January 31, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Dear World,
Apparently some other voters elected this unfathomably cruel, heartless, short-sighted, ignorant individual to the White House. It's hard for me to understand why they did this. I voted for Kamala Harris.
Apparently some other voters elected this unfathomably cruel, heartless, short-sighted, ignorant individual to the White House. It's hard for me to understand why they did this. I voted for Kamala Harris.
Reposted by Betsy
For transportation to shelter for yourself or someone else please call (202) 399-7093 or 311
January 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
For transportation to shelter for yourself or someone else please call (202) 399-7093 or 311
Reposted by Betsy
2.5% of District high school students identify as transgender, which means that there are thousands of transgender children, youth, and young adults. You have a right to exist. You are valid. osse.dc.gov/node/1734341
a poster that says protect trans kids with hearts around it
ALT: a poster that says protect trans kids with hearts around it
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
2.5% of District high school students identify as transgender, which means that there are thousands of transgender children, youth, and young adults. You have a right to exist. You are valid. osse.dc.gov/node/1734341
Reposted by Betsy
llame este número si está en DC, MD O VA Para reportar redadas de ICE u otras actividades o si su ser querido ha sido detenido por ICE y necesita información sobre recursos disponibles 202-335-1183
January 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
llame este número si está en DC, MD O VA Para reportar redadas de ICE u otras actividades o si su ser querido ha sido detenido por ICE y necesita información sobre recursos disponibles 202-335-1183
Reposted by Betsy
Call this number in the DC metro area to report ICE raids or other activity or if your loved one has been taken by ICE and you need information on available resources 202-335-1183
January 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Call this number in the DC metro area to report ICE raids or other activity or if your loved one has been taken by ICE and you need information on available resources 202-335-1183
Reposted by Betsy
If you're aged 18-24 or are calling on behalf of someone who is, and want to be directed to a youth rather than an adult shelter, please specify the call is about a young adult.
For transportation to shelter for yourself or someone else please call (202) 399-7093 or 311
January 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
If you're aged 18-24 or are calling on behalf of someone who is, and want to be directed to a youth rather than an adult shelter, please specify the call is about a young adult.
Reposted by Betsy
This is not my America... yet.
My latest for Make the Math Work, co-authored by my wife, @betsylpretzel.bsky.social.
makethemathwork.substack.com/p/this-is-no...
My latest for Make the Math Work, co-authored by my wife, @betsylpretzel.bsky.social.
makethemathwork.substack.com/p/this-is-no...
This Is NOT My America… Yet
In an especially jarring juxtaposition, Donald Trump is being inaugurated on the same day we honor the life and legacy of The Rev.
makethemathwork.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:30 AM
This is not my America... yet.
My latest for Make the Math Work, co-authored by my wife, @betsylpretzel.bsky.social.
makethemathwork.substack.com/p/this-is-no...
My latest for Make the Math Work, co-authored by my wife, @betsylpretzel.bsky.social.
makethemathwork.substack.com/p/this-is-no...
Reposted by Betsy
I feel moved to link to Langston Hughes’ poem (Let America Be America Again) so his powerful and searingly painful words can wash over all of us.
“The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?”
@betsylpretzel.bsky.social
poets.org/poem/let-ame...
“The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?”
@betsylpretzel.bsky.social
poets.org/poem/let-ame...
January 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I feel moved to link to Langston Hughes’ poem (Let America Be America Again) so his powerful and searingly painful words can wash over all of us.
“The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?”
@betsylpretzel.bsky.social
poets.org/poem/let-ame...
“The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?”
@betsylpretzel.bsky.social
poets.org/poem/let-ame...
Reposted by Betsy
"The Governor should be focused on reducing traffic fatalities after the fourth consecutive year of 900+ roadway deaths in Virginia — which didn’t even get a mention during his State of the Commonwealth Address — instead of singling out and stigmatizing the very people he’s elected to serve.”
January 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
"The Governor should be focused on reducing traffic fatalities after the fourth consecutive year of 900+ roadway deaths in Virginia — which didn’t even get a mention during his State of the Commonwealth Address — instead of singling out and stigmatizing the very people he’s elected to serve.”