Helen Duerr Hays
@hdr85.bsky.social
Wife, Mom, Grandma. Born in 1939, in rural Arkansas, between the beautiful hills of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. Now living Blue in another Red state, Missouri. Retired Associate Professor of Computer Science. Life-long learner.
May light dispel our darkness this Christmas and throughout the new year.
December 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
May light dispel our darkness this Christmas and throughout the new year.
How symbolic of this administration to obliterate the award-winning photo of America the Beautiful on national park passes with an image of The Ugly American.
December 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
How symbolic of this administration to obliterate the award-winning photo of America the Beautiful on national park passes with an image of The Ugly American.
The 28 point peace plan that Trump is pressuring Ukraine to sign before Thanksgiving sounds like a deal with the devil.
In today’s Letter @hcrichardson.bsky.social demonstrates why alliances are so important, and why, in a world where might makes right tens of millions die. Rarely the instigators. We need to support NATO. We need to support Ukraine. We need to replace the current regime. State by state.
November 21, 2025
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The 28 point peace plan that Trump is pressuring Ukraine to sign before Thanksgiving sounds like a deal with the devil.
Beaver moon over the Mississippi. Happily a tugboat passed by as we were packing up to leave the Cape Girardeau, MO overlook.
November 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Beaver moon over the Mississippi. Happily a tugboat passed by as we were packing up to leave the Cape Girardeau, MO overlook.
How about decreasing demand for deadly drugs by programs like some states have for treating addiction. If there were less demand, there would be less incentive for drug smugglers.
October 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
How about decreasing demand for deadly drugs by programs like some states have for treating addiction. If there were less demand, there would be less incentive for drug smugglers.
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
Pope Leo XIV says 'inhuman treatment of immigrants' in the U.S. isn't 'pro-life'
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
n.pr
October 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
Nothing more refreshing than a bunch of Mallards enjoying the cool water rushing toward an overflow, and a cute pup just happy to be on a pleasant walk. Thanks James!
Late afternoon, took the dog out for a short walk, found a duck party and met a lot of other dogs. Successful afternoon. Have a great Saturday evening. #dogsofbluesky #birds #photography
October 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Nothing more refreshing than a bunch of Mallards enjoying the cool water rushing toward an overflow, and a cute pup just happy to be on a pleasant walk. Thanks James!
Wondering what exactly is "Competitive Authoritarianism". Found some good references:
WHAT IS COMPETITIVE AUTHORITARIANISM
REFERENCES
fiveable.me/key-terms/in...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/news-and-upd...
www.numberanalytics.com/blog/ultimat...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
WHAT IS COMPETITIVE AUTHORITARIANISM
REFERENCES
fiveable.me/key-terms/in...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/news-and-upd...
www.numberanalytics.com/blog/ultimat...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
October 1, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Wondering what exactly is "Competitive Authoritarianism". Found some good references:
WHAT IS COMPETITIVE AUTHORITARIANISM
REFERENCES
fiveable.me/key-terms/in...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/news-and-upd...
www.numberanalytics.com/blog/ultimat...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
WHAT IS COMPETITIVE AUTHORITARIANISM
REFERENCES
fiveable.me/key-terms/in...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/news-and-upd...
www.numberanalytics.com/blog/ultimat...
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
What did Trump ever do to help build the USA prestige that he now so carelessly wields and wastes?
September 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
What did Trump ever do to help build the USA prestige that he now so carelessly wields and wastes?
I support UNFPA to help women and girls around the world who have suddenly lost the help previously supplied by USAID, when DOGE decided US billionaires needed that money.
m.unfpausa.org/RSzkJDuhrHMb
USA FOR UNFPA
m.unfpausa.org/RSzkJDuhrHMb
USA FOR UNFPA
2024 Annual Report
m.unfpausa.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I support UNFPA to help women and girls around the world who have suddenly lost the help previously supplied by USAID, when DOGE decided US billionaires needed that money.
m.unfpausa.org/RSzkJDuhrHMb
USA FOR UNFPA
m.unfpausa.org/RSzkJDuhrHMb
USA FOR UNFPA
If this post speaks for you too, we can join many others who agree and pass it on:
I will not be drawn into a debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below.
I will not be drawn into a debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below.
July 15, 2025 at 3:16 AM
If this post speaks for you too, we can join many others who agree and pass it on:
I will not be drawn into a debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below.
I will not be drawn into a debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below.
Maybe the First Family has learned some empathy for people going through disasters. At least Trump isn’t throwing paper towels to the Texans along the Guadalupe River, and Melanie isn’t wearing her “I don’t care”jacket.
July 12, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Maybe the First Family has learned some empathy for people going through disasters. At least Trump isn’t throwing paper towels to the Texans along the Guadalupe River, and Melanie isn’t wearing her “I don’t care”jacket.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable Fourth, when we commemorate the day we declared Independence from a King!
July 5, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Hope everyone had an enjoyable Fourth, when we commemorate the day we declared Independence from a King!
I think it is time for SCOTUS to reverse its presidential immunity decision. They don’t seem to have foreseen how far an amoral, unethical, felon president would use it to ignore the rule of law, the constitution,and the courts. They have tied their own hands and that of all the US courts.
July 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I think it is time for SCOTUS to reverse its presidential immunity decision. They don’t seem to have foreseen how far an amoral, unethical, felon president would use it to ignore the rule of law, the constitution,and the courts. They have tied their own hands and that of all the US courts.
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
For decades, Republicans in Washington have told us that tax cuts would trickle down to workers.
Instead, wealth and power have accumulated in the hands of the richest 1% at the expense of the rest of us.
Trickle-down economics was never supposed to work.
It was a hoax.
Instead, wealth and power have accumulated in the hands of the richest 1% at the expense of the rest of us.
Trickle-down economics was never supposed to work.
It was a hoax.
July 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
For decades, Republicans in Washington have told us that tax cuts would trickle down to workers.
Instead, wealth and power have accumulated in the hands of the richest 1% at the expense of the rest of us.
Trickle-down economics was never supposed to work.
It was a hoax.
Instead, wealth and power have accumulated in the hands of the richest 1% at the expense of the rest of us.
Trickle-down economics was never supposed to work.
It was a hoax.
Freon Smart Feeder: “Hey Mom & Dad, hungry chick here.”
June 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Freon Smart Feeder: “Hey Mom & Dad, hungry chick here.”
For anyone else like me looking for a little geography help today. Arrow points to Strait of Hormuz. Qatar is the small peninsula off the coast of Saudi Arabia into the Persian Gulf.
June 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
For anyone else like me looking for a little geography help today. Arrow points to Strait of Hormuz. Qatar is the small peninsula off the coast of Saudi Arabia into the Persian Gulf.
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
Juneteenth calls us to understand the realities of our past, celebrate the resilience and achievements of Black Americans, and align the course of our country toward its founding creed of liberty and justice for all. Wishing everyone a meaningful Juneteenth!
June 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Juneteenth calls us to understand the realities of our past, celebrate the resilience and achievements of Black Americans, and align the course of our country toward its founding creed of liberty and justice for all. Wishing everyone a meaningful Juneteenth!
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
May 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
Reposted by Helen Duerr Hays
“It’s a lot easier to destroy a thing than to build a thing.”
May 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
“It’s a lot easier to destroy a thing than to build a thing.”
We've all seen the videos of him saying this in his Nevada Primary victory speech. Now we see him as the elected president of the United States, beginning with the most esteemed universities of the country, trying to bring education under his control.
May 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We've all seen the videos of him saying this in his Nevada Primary victory speech. Now we see him as the elected president of the United States, beginning with the most esteemed universities of the country, trying to bring education under his control.
I join all people of good will in wishing President Biden a speedy recovery.
May 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I join all people of good will in wishing President Biden a speedy recovery.