Peter Murray
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Peter Murray
@dltj.org
170 followers 190 following 220 posts
Library technologist, open source advocate, striving to think globally while acting locally. mypronouns.org/he-him
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Looks like this little guy is trying to cool off on the patio.
Gray squirrel lying stretched out on stone pavers, resting in dappled shade beneath a swing. The squirrel's body and tail are fully extended as if cooling off on the stone surface.
July 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
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My Senator, Jon Husted, has co-sponsored S.334 (the "American Values Act"). I wrote him to express my disapproval.
Screenshot of Jon Husted's contact-me form with the subject '"American Values Act" is not about American values' and the following message: I am writing to express my deep concern regarding your co-sponsorship of the "American Values Act" (S.334). The restrictions this bill seeks to permanently enact stem predominantly from particular religious perspectives, not universal American values. Our nation was founded on the principle of separation of church and state, enshrined in the First Amendment. Legislation that codifies one religious viewpoint on reproductive health contradicts the fundamental American value that government should not privilege any one faith tradition over others or no faith at all. Truly American values respect religious pluralism rather than imposing one religious perspective on all citizens. America is home to citizens of countless religious traditions and philosophical worldviews, many of which have nuanced and differing perspectives on reproductive healthcare. By labeling this bill as representing "American Values," it incorrectly suggests a consensus that simply does not exist among Americans. Polling consistently shows that a majority of Americans support access to reproductive healthcare options in various circumstances. The diversity of thought on these complex issues is itself an American value. Legislation that fails to acknowledge this diversity and instead promotes a singular, religiously-influenced viewpoint cannot accurately claim to represent "American Values."
July 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
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It is mid-July, and this is wrong
A supermarket aisle featuring a large Halloween candy display in the center. A cloud-shaped cardboard sign arches overhead reading “Spooky Delicious! Halloween Classics,” flanked by black-and-white cutouts of a snarling werewolf on the left, a brooding vampire in the middle, and Frankenstein’s monster on the right. Beneath the sign, shelves and orange-and-black cardboard boxes are stocked with bags of seasonal treats—Hershey’s, Kit Kat, Reese’s, Payday and more—while a galvanized metal tub at the front overflows with individually wrapped candies. In the background, brightly lit store shelving is lined with additional colorful candy packages.
July 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
dltj.org
My daughter was listening to the radio tonight and heard a guest say the perfect protest sign slogan: Dictators hold parades. So that became her #NoKings sign.

dltj.org/article/tesl...

(3/3)
The protest sign shows a composite image of Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un shaking hands with rows of marching soldiers in the background. Bold text at the top reads 'Dictators Hold Parades' and at the bottom, 'Not Democracies.' The image critiques authoritarian displays of power, contrasting them with democratic values. The military parade emphasizes the message against dictatorial practices.
June 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
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The flip side of my #NoKings protest sign is this one. It has been sitting as a draft in my protest signs document for a while, and now is the right time to pull it out.

dltj.org/article/tesl...

(2/3)
The protest sign emphasizes the roles of the three government branches with phrases: 'Legislative: Investigate!' and 'Executive: Follow the Law!' and 'Judicial: Defend the Bench!' in blue and red lettering. Below, 'Three Co-Equal Branches' is displayed in a mix of blue and red. The background features alternating gray and white stripes, reinforcing the message of balance and cooperation among the branches.
June 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
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Getting ready for the #NoKings protest tomorrow. Here is one of the signs I'll be using...I think it is my favorite.

Information on printing your own on your home printer is here: dltj.org/article/tesl...

(1/3)
The protest sign features a cartoon character with the body of Eric Cartman from South Park, dressed in a police uniform, and a face resembling Donald Trump. The character is angrily shouting. Next to the character, the text reads 'RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!' in bold teal letters. Below, in stylized orange and yellow text, it states 'No Kings in America.' The design humorously critiques authority, blending pop culture with a political message.
June 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
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Lastly, our #CatsOfBluesky — It has finally gotten warm enough to be outside during the workday, and we are taking full advantage of it.
Black cat wearing a red harness and leash exploring outdoors, nibbling on grass blades in a lush green lawn with shrubs in the background.
June 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
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It just might rain on Trump's parade...Saturday at 6:30 pm.

#NoKings
Graphic of Washington DC 10-day weather forecast showing rainy conditions predicted for Saturday, June 14, with showers and 0.34 inches of precipitation. A yellow text box highlights "It just might rain on Trump's parade" for the parade time Saturday evening. The forecast includes detailed temperature and precipitation graphs through June 19.
June 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
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This is an early draft for my protest sign for #NoKings this coming Saturday. Thoughts or imitations welcome!
The protest sign features a cartoon character with the body of Eric Cartman from South Park, dressed in a police uniform, and a face resembling Donald Trump. The character is angrily shouting. Next to the character, the text reads "RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!" in bold teal letters. Below, in stylized orange and yellow text, it states "No Kings." The design humorously critiques authority, blending pop culture with a political message.
June 8, 2025 at 9:21 PM
dltj.org
That's all for this week's Thursday Threads about government surveillance. I leave you with this picture of a cat overlooking his fresh catnip patch. 10/10 (The "10/10" marks the tenth post in this 10-post series, and also Alan's rating as a very good boy.)
White and gray cat with purple collar sitting attentively in a mulched garden bed, surrounded by green lawn and suburban homes in the background. In front of the cat is the dead remnants of last year's catnip patch with new green sprouts shooting up.
May 29, 2025 at 12:25 PM
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Cool! Another of my #TeslaTakedown signs in the wild this week!

Download and print your own at home for next week here: dltj.org/article/tesl...
The protest sign features bold red text saying, "The SIGNAL is coming from INSIDE the house!" Surrounding the text are cut-out images of six individuals, indicating figures of political or public interest. In the background, an image of the White House is visible, with the American flag prominently displayed.
April 27, 2025 at 3:02 AM
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Got my #TeslaTakedown protest sign printed and ready to mount. Hope to see you tomorrow!

I've added these to my protest sign page, where you can download and print your own 26"x16" version: dltj.org/article/tesl... (There is a more vulgar version of the second one, if it suits your mood.)
The protest sign presents a multiple-choice question format. Options are labeled: "A: Hateful?", "B: Corrupt?", and "C: Ignorant?". Along the right side of these options are the heads of Donald Trump. Elon Musk in a black ball cap, and JD Vance. The final choice, "D: ALL of the ABOVE!" is accompanied by a large green check mark. The design conveys a critical stance using bold black text on a white background, emphasizing the collective critique across all options. The protest sign features bold black text on a white background stating, "My GOVERNMENT did WHAT?!? Who ELECTED these ASSHOLES!" Images of four men—Donald Trump, JD Vance, Elon Musk, and Marco Rubio—are aligned under the words. The design expresses frustration and disbelief, capturing a critical and provocative stance on governance and electoral choices. The image features the "Disaster Girl" meme with a twist: the face of Elon Musk is pasted over the girl’s. In the background, a house is engulfed in flames, with firefighters and onlookers nearby. The expression conveys a sense of mischievous calm amid chaos, adding humor to the scene. Protest sign with bold text: 'Our GOVERNMENT was FINE' in black and blue, followed by 'Now it is MUSKed UP!' in red. An image of Elon Musk is crossed out with a red circle and line. The bottom displays 'Fire Elon' in flaming orange letters.
April 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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This week's #CatsOfBlueSky ... Alan basks in the window.

Thank you for browsing the topics of this Thursday Threads issue on the rise of surveillance camera networks. You can read the full issue here: dltj.org/article/issu...
A black and white cat lounges on a soft blanket on a windowsill, surrounded by potted green plants. Behind the cat, a view of a street and trees can be seen. Sunlight filters through the window, creating a serene and cozy atmosphere. The cat is looking at the photographer, as if awaken from a nap.
April 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
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That's a wrap for the #ColumbusOhio #TeslaTakedown protest. Probably between 500 and 600 people. The pictures were taken early in the protest, and after a while we had good coverage on all four corners.
Left-most portion of a large group of protestors gathered in front of a Tesla store, holding signs. They line the sidewalk along a busy intersection with cars passing by. The photo is taken from an elevated perspective, showing a wide view of the scene. Center portion of a large group of protestors gathered in front of a Tesla store, holding signs. They line the sidewalk along a busy intersection with cars passing by. The photo is taken from an elevated perspective, showing a wide view of the scene. Right-most portion of a large group of protestors gathered in front of a Tesla store, holding signs. They line the sidewalk along a busy intersection with cars passing by. The photo is taken from an elevated perspective, showing a wide view of the scene. A protester stands in front of a Tesla store holding a sign featuring the "Disaster Girl" meme with Elon Musk's face superimposed. In the background of the picture on the sign, a house is ablaze, with firefighters and bystanders in soft focus. The bottom left corner of the sign reads, "Musk... What a disaster," in yellow text. The protester, wearing a sun hat and sunglasses, is among a group of other protesters visible in the background, some holding signs as cars drive by. The scene conveys a sense of activism and engagement.
April 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
dltj.org
Looking for a #TeslaTakedown protest sign? Download one of these four and print it on your home printer. Paste together the 6 tiles to make a 26-inch by 16-inch sign—the same size as a campaign yard sign (if you have one of those to recycle). dltj.org/article/tesl...
The protest sign features bold text against a bright red background, stating, "I'm not MAD at you. Don't be MAD at me. Let's both get ANGRY at the BILLIONAIRES RUINING the COUNTRY." The words "MAD," "ANGRY," and "BILLIONAIRES" are emphasized in larger, eye-catching fonts. On the right side, there's an image of a smiling Elon Musk, crossed out with a red circle and line, signifying opposition. The overall design is vivid, conveying frustration towards billionaires. The image features the “Disaster Girl” meme with a twist: the face of Elon Musk is pasted over the girl’s. In the background, a house is engulfed in flames, with firefighters and onlookers nearby. The expression conveys a sense of mischievous calm amid chaos, adding humor to the scene. The protest sign features bold red text saying, "The SIGNAL is coming from INSIDE the house!" Surrounding the text are cut-out images of six individuals, indicating figures of political or public interest. In the background, an image of the White House is visible, with the American flag prominently displayed. Protest sign with bold text: 'Our GOVERNMENT was FINE' in black and blue, followed by 'Now it is MUSKed UP!' in red. An image of Elon Musk is crossed out with a red circle and line. The bottom displays 'Fire Elon' in flaming orange letters.
April 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
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I have my sign set for tomorrow's #TeslaTakedown. If you want one of your own, find a 6-page PDF here: dltj.org/article/tesl...

It prints out as six pages; tape 'em together to make a 26"x16" sign. (That size, by the way, is the same as campaign yard signs in case you have one of those to recycle.)
The image features the "Disaster Girl" meme with a twist: the face of Elon Musk is pasted over the girl’s. In the background, a house is engulfed in flames, with firefighters and onlookers nearby. At the bottom is the phrase "Musk...What a disaster". The expression conveys a sense of mischievous calm amid chaos, adding humor to the scene.
April 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
dltj.org
This week's #CatsOfBluesky: Pickle curls up for a snuggle. I need to get pictures of Pickle into the newsletter while I can. Later this fall she is off to Penn State with her "primary" as my daughter starts her graduate degree program.

That and more in Thursday Threads! dltj.org/article/issu...
A man reclines on a beige couch with a patterned throw, using an iPad. He wears glasses and a smartwatch, dressed in a white and blue striped shirt and light blue pants. A black and white cat is comfortably resting on his lap. A decorative pillow with a fern design is in the background.
April 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM
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Someone suggested cutting the girl out completely and replacing her with Musk's face. Graphic editing is not my strong suit, but this didn't come out too bad.

Still taking suggestions for this #TeslaTakedown protest! (If you can do better, I'm happy to send the source images.)
The image features the "Disaster Girl" meme with a twist: the face of Elon Musk is pasted over the girl’s, wearing a red cap with white text. In the background, a house is engulfed in flames, with firefighters and onlookers nearby. The expression conveys a sense of mischievous calm amid chaos, adding humor to the scene.
April 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
dltj.org
Designing a protest sign for #TeslaTakedown. There is something about Musk's smirk in the first picture that reminds me so much of Disaster Girl, but I can't quite put it together. If I try putting Musk's face on the girl, the image loses its meme impact. So I think I have to keep her in. Thoughts?
Headshot of Elon Musk wearing a red baseball cap with text that reads "TRUMP [WAS] RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING" and the numbers "45-47" on the side. The expression hints at a subtle, knowing smile. The image features the "Disaster Girl" meme, with a young girl smiling slyly at the camera while a house burns in the background. In the lower left corner, there's an image of Elon Musk wearing a red cap with white text. The scene conveys a sense of chaos juxtaposed with calm, adding a humorous or ironic twist to the situation.
April 8, 2025 at 9:28 PM
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Today's #TeslaTakedown in a rainy and spirit-filled #ColumbusOhio!
Protest outside a Tesla store with people holding signs along the sidewalk of a busy intersection. The overcast, rainy weather is visible, with wet roads reflecting the gray sky. The photographer captures the scene from an elevated angle, showing a wide view of the protestors and passing cars. Protester in front of a Tesla store holding a sign with the message: "I'm not MAD at you. Don't be MAD at me. Let's both get ANGRY at the BILLIONAIRES RUINING the COUNTRY." A red crossed-out circle covers an image of Elon Musk. The person wears a hat and jacket, with an umbrella visible nearby hinting at rainy weather.
April 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
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See you there!
The protest sign features bold text against a bright red background, stating, "I'm not MAD at you. Don't be MAD at me. Let's both get ANGRY at the BILLIONAIRES RUINING the COUNTRY." The words "MAD," "ANGRY," and "BILLIONAIRES" are emphasized in larger, eye-catching fonts. On the right side, there's an image of a smiling Elon Musk, crossed out with a red circle and line, signifying opposition. The overall design is vivid, conveying frustration towards billionaires.
April 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
dltj.org
Whoa! The Library of Congress is looking to experiment with using synthetic DNA for digital preservation: sam.gov/opp/adc4a2ac...
Paragraph from the web page: The Library of Congress, hereinafter referred to as the “Library” or “LOC”,” is exploring innovative preservation methods for its digital collections. The LOC is seeking to determine the feasibility of utilizing synthetic DNA data storage for the long-term preservation of a subset of the Library’s digital collections. Currently, the Library manages over 1 billion unique objects of digital preservation data (~31 petabytes) via traditional storage methods. For redundancy, it may be reasonable for this portion of data to be permanently stored on a less accessible medium, like synthetic DNA. The Library aims to demonstrate the feasibility of DNA as a high-density, scalable, and durable medium for digital data storage.
April 3, 2025 at 2:13 PM
dltj.org
Workshopping another #TeslaTakedown #protest sign idea. This one is a "civics 101" kind of sign. I wanted something to have that reinforced support for courts, and it evolved from that.
The protest sign features text emphasizing the roles of the three government branches, each paired with an action: "Legislative Investigate!" "Executive Follow the Law!" and "Judicial Defend the Bench!" in blue and red lettering. Below, in a mix of colors, it reads "Three Co-Equal Branches." The sign uses alternating gray and white stripes in the background, highlighting the message of balance and cooperation among the branches.
April 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
dltj.org
Workshopping a new #TeslaTakedown #protest sign idea. I asked my spouse about it. She said the sign wasn't true—she was very mad at the people who voted Trump into office. That's a point, but I still want MAGAs to understand that they are not voting in their best interest.
The protest sign features bold text against a bright red background, stating, "I'm not MAD at you. Don't be MAD at me. Let's both get ANGRY at the BILLIONAIRES RUINING the COUNTRY." The words "MAD," "ANGRY," and "BILLIONAIRES" are emphasized in larger, eye-catching fonts. On the right side, there's an image of Elon Musk crossed out with a red circle and line, signifying opposition. The overall design is vivid, conveying frustration towards billionaires.
April 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
dltj.org
If you are looking for a 26" by 16" version, look no further: dltj.org/assets/attac...
A protest sign features bold red text saying, "The SIGNAL is coming from INSIDE the house!" Surrounding the text are cut-out images of six individuals: JD Vance, Michael Waltz, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and in the left corner Donald Trump with a kissy-face. In the background, an image of the White House is visible, with the American flag prominently displayed.
March 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM