Brenda Martin
@blsmartin.bsky.social
I am here for birds, squirrels, flowers, mountains, good people, and resistance news.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Cutting 30,000 jobs at the VA, which will put veterans' services at risk.
Firing federal workers across government, many of whom are veterans.
Gutting SNAP & Medicaid, which millions of veterans need.
Our vets defended us, and this is how the Trump regime is repaying them?
Firing federal workers across government, many of whom are veterans.
Gutting SNAP & Medicaid, which millions of veterans need.
Our vets defended us, and this is how the Trump regime is repaying them?
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Cutting 30,000 jobs at the VA, which will put veterans' services at risk.
Firing federal workers across government, many of whom are veterans.
Gutting SNAP & Medicaid, which millions of veterans need.
Our vets defended us, and this is how the Trump regime is repaying them?
Firing federal workers across government, many of whom are veterans.
Gutting SNAP & Medicaid, which millions of veterans need.
Our vets defended us, and this is how the Trump regime is repaying them?
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Reposted by Brenda Martin
"Baffled archaeologists not actually baffled" news #ancientbluesky #archaeology
Researchers baffled by 1,300-year-old Orkney remains: Were the Picts not wiped out?
A new archaeological study from Orkney has challenged long-held assumptions about one of Scotland’s most mysterious races – the Picts.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"Baffled archaeologists not actually baffled" news #ancientbluesky #archaeology
Reposted by Brenda Martin
“Our oaths did not expire simply because we took off the uniform.”
Former Navy pilot Ken Harbaugh shares a powerful Veterans Day message about service, sacrifice, and what real patriotism means — inspired by Marine Master Sgt. Mike “Top” Washington.
Former Navy pilot Ken Harbaugh shares a powerful Veterans Day message about service, sacrifice, and what real patriotism means — inspired by Marine Master Sgt. Mike “Top” Washington.
A Different Kind of Patriotism
Today, more than ever, America needs its veterans to remember that their oaths to the Constitution do not expire.
www.meidasplus.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
“Our oaths did not expire simply because we took off the uniform.”
Former Navy pilot Ken Harbaugh shares a powerful Veterans Day message about service, sacrifice, and what real patriotism means — inspired by Marine Master Sgt. Mike “Top” Washington.
Former Navy pilot Ken Harbaugh shares a powerful Veterans Day message about service, sacrifice, and what real patriotism means — inspired by Marine Master Sgt. Mike “Top” Washington.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
"But when a commander in chief and a Defense secretary spend the year sidelining combat-tested officers because of who they once worked for and when senior billets are treated like party jobs, the line has already been crossed from their side." On Veteran’s Day, Brian O’Neill offers his thoughts.
Quiet service in a noisy, political year
The people we celebrate today are serving under leaders who make that service harder.
contrarian.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"But when a commander in chief and a Defense secretary spend the year sidelining combat-tested officers because of who they once worked for and when senior billets are treated like party jobs, the line has already been crossed from their side." On Veteran’s Day, Brian O’Neill offers his thoughts.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
"That American flag means the world to me, partly because of the personal ordeal to which it bears silent witness but, even more, because of the national ideals it symbolizes." If only all Americans were this patriotic. www.thebulwark.com/p/my-fathers...
My Father’s Flag and the Idea of America
Over decades, across continents, and through harrowing experiences, my family held on to this bit of cloth as a reminder of everything they believed in—and were running toward.
www.thebulwark.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"That American flag means the world to me, partly because of the personal ordeal to which it bears silent witness but, even more, because of the national ideals it symbolizes." If only all Americans were this patriotic. www.thebulwark.com/p/my-fathers...
Reposted by Brenda Martin
And this, thanks MO.HASH for sharing. ✌️💖
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
And this, thanks MO.HASH for sharing. ✌️💖
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Red Velvet
Caught this beauty just as it was beginning to open 🌹
Home garden
10-2025
#Red #Rose #Macro #Photography #Bloomscrolling #Nature #Art #写真 #風景 #Foto #Fotografia #Colors #Portrait #Flower #scape #ArtYear #Scape #flora #Bloom #SonyAlpha
Caught this beauty just as it was beginning to open 🌹
Home garden
10-2025
#Red #Rose #Macro #Photography #Bloomscrolling #Nature #Art #写真 #風景 #Foto #Fotografia #Colors #Portrait #Flower #scape #ArtYear #Scape #flora #Bloom #SonyAlpha
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Red Velvet
Caught this beauty just as it was beginning to open 🌹
Home garden
10-2025
#Red #Rose #Macro #Photography #Bloomscrolling #Nature #Art #写真 #風景 #Foto #Fotografia #Colors #Portrait #Flower #scape #ArtYear #Scape #flora #Bloom #SonyAlpha
Caught this beauty just as it was beginning to open 🌹
Home garden
10-2025
#Red #Rose #Macro #Photography #Bloomscrolling #Nature #Art #写真 #風景 #Foto #Fotografia #Colors #Portrait #Flower #scape #ArtYear #Scape #flora #Bloom #SonyAlpha
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Many Americans are hurting right now because of the shutdown, but caving to Republicans won’t end the hurt.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Many Americans are hurting right now because of the shutdown, but caving to Republicans won’t end the hurt.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Lost my little girl, love of life yesterday. 15+ years of bliss. Never a day she wasn’t excited to see me come home from work. Our morning/evening breakfast ritual. The walks that we loved to go on.
I’ll miss little girl so much!
In these crazy times it’ll be difficult, she was pure joy!
I’ll miss little girl so much!
In these crazy times it’ll be difficult, she was pure joy!
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Lost my little girl, love of life yesterday. 15+ years of bliss. Never a day she wasn’t excited to see me come home from work. Our morning/evening breakfast ritual. The walks that we loved to go on.
I’ll miss little girl so much!
In these crazy times it’ll be difficult, she was pure joy!
I’ll miss little girl so much!
In these crazy times it’ll be difficult, she was pure joy!
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Am I the only one who really wishes dogs could talk?
November 9, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Am I the only one who really wishes dogs could talk?
Reposted by Brenda Martin
UPDATE ON MY HEALTH: I have not recovered from my Covid and mono flare. I'm still in a Lupus flare. I saw my primary doctor last week & had a full physical (14 vials of blood). My body is weak and I have to sort what I expend my energy on. I will NEVER GIVE UP. Please keep fighting & don't give up.🙏
November 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
UPDATE ON MY HEALTH: I have not recovered from my Covid and mono flare. I'm still in a Lupus flare. I saw my primary doctor last week & had a full physical (14 vials of blood). My body is weak and I have to sort what I expend my energy on. I will NEVER GIVE UP. Please keep fighting & don't give up.🙏
Reposted by Brenda Martin
🆘🐶DO NOT KILL DAVE
He’s a stray who’s sometimes anxious but is easily leashed & walked
It’s impossible to figure out what he’s done to land him a death sentence
He occasionally leash bites, but u don’t kill a dog for that. Vid shows him relaxed & enjoying a good cuddle
Repost to find a #foster
He’s a stray who’s sometimes anxious but is easily leashed & walked
It’s impossible to figure out what he’s done to land him a death sentence
He occasionally leash bites, but u don’t kill a dog for that. Vid shows him relaxed & enjoying a good cuddle
Repost to find a #foster
November 9, 2025 at 3:12 AM
🆘🐶DO NOT KILL DAVE
He’s a stray who’s sometimes anxious but is easily leashed & walked
It’s impossible to figure out what he’s done to land him a death sentence
He occasionally leash bites, but u don’t kill a dog for that. Vid shows him relaxed & enjoying a good cuddle
Repost to find a #foster
He’s a stray who’s sometimes anxious but is easily leashed & walked
It’s impossible to figure out what he’s done to land him a death sentence
He occasionally leash bites, but u don’t kill a dog for that. Vid shows him relaxed & enjoying a good cuddle
Repost to find a #foster
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Let's also call it what it is... they know what they are supporting is deeply unpopular and evil, which says more about them than anything and living on military bases keeps them from being publicly protested because they are snowflakes.
“More and more cabinet members — Rubio, Miller, Noem — live on military bases now, & it's another parallel to Iraq, where the administration lived in the Green Zone. There’s something deeply unhealthy about a society where leaders are literally shut off from the communities that they govern.”
Don Moynihan on "Purge, Merge, and Surge"
"Instead of surging in Iraq, it’s happening here in American cities."
www.publicnotice.co
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Let's also call it what it is... they know what they are supporting is deeply unpopular and evil, which says more about them than anything and living on military bases keeps them from being publicly protested because they are snowflakes.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Congratulations Marc 👌
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Congratulations Marc 👌
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Powerful and important essay, Mike. Thank you!
As a retired Texas teacher I can’t afford to support very many of the good writers I encounter, but your writing is important and is one of the few I can vote for with a paid subscription.
You and Christopher Armitage.
As a retired Texas teacher I can’t afford to support very many of the good writers I encounter, but your writing is important and is one of the few I can vote for with a paid subscription.
You and Christopher Armitage.
Cook presented tribute. Bezos killed the endorsement. Musk bent the knee. They all bet on inevitability. Then people organized, sustained it, and won decisively. The simulation is collapsing—and their cowardice bought them nothing.
The Simulation is Collapsing
The End of Inevitability
www.notesfromthecircus.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Powerful and important essay, Mike. Thank you!
As a retired Texas teacher I can’t afford to support very many of the good writers I encounter, but your writing is important and is one of the few I can vote for with a paid subscription.
You and Christopher Armitage.
As a retired Texas teacher I can’t afford to support very many of the good writers I encounter, but your writing is important and is one of the few I can vote for with a paid subscription.
You and Christopher Armitage.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Downy woodpecker (dryobates pubescens), adult female. Photo © Enrique Shore #bird #birds #woodpecker #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #photography #birding #downywoodpecker #beauty
November 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Downy woodpecker (dryobates pubescens), adult female. Photo © Enrique Shore #bird #birds #woodpecker #nature #naturephotography #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #photography #birding #downywoodpecker #beauty
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Think back to how you felt a year ago when Trump was reelected.
Now think about how you feel after last night's election.
You volunteered. You went to protests. You didn't check out.
You put in the work required for our democracy — and it's paying off.
Remember this.
Now think about how you feel after last night's election.
You volunteered. You went to protests. You didn't check out.
You put in the work required for our democracy — and it's paying off.
Remember this.
November 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Think back to how you felt a year ago when Trump was reelected.
Now think about how you feel after last night's election.
You volunteered. You went to protests. You didn't check out.
You put in the work required for our democracy — and it's paying off.
Remember this.
Now think about how you feel after last night's election.
You volunteered. You went to protests. You didn't check out.
You put in the work required for our democracy — and it's paying off.
Remember this.
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Luisa Gonzalez Ballesteros, MD
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Luisa Gonzalez Ballesteros, MD
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Reposted by Brenda Martin
Vincent van Gogh ~ Mulberry Tree, 1889
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Vincent van Gogh ~ Mulberry Tree, 1889