Alan Kaplan
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jd2mcse.bsky.social
Alan Kaplan
@jd2mcse.bsky.social
640 followers 830 following 130 posts
After 18 years of family law, I made my hobby my living. BA Philosophy. Former VA IT secure configuration baseline lead. Science and Sci-fi. Former board member of interfaith camp. Proud dad of two LGBTQ kids.
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jd2mcse.bsky.social
Alan Kaplan @jd2mcse.bsky.social · Dec 9
I am a hetero cis male. My pronouns are he/him. I am a senior citizen with 2 LGBT children. Yes, it took me a while to use they/them for my oldest child. But I learned. I don’t understand how people see this as any different from ethnic or racial identities.
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
prmurp.bsky.social
This remake of "Idiocracy" sucks. It's too dark.
July 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
queenofthesouth.bsky.social
You wouldn’t say that someone was a gravity skeptic. You’d just say they were wrong. Vaccines work. Period. That is a verifiable fact.
June 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
joshh23.bsky.social
RIP, Norm.
May 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Q: Who would believe payment to the family of a deceased insurrectionist? A: anyone paying attention.
libradunn1.bsky.social Harry Dunn @libradunn1.bsky.social · May 19
What a disgrace by our "Justice" Dept.

The family of Ashli Babbit to recieve nearly 5 million dollars.
May 19, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
thejenniwren.teamlh.social
More details are emerging as Rep. Joaquin Castro meets with the deported family of the 11yo U.S. citizen girl in Mexico.

CBP agents *confiscated her seizure meds.*

That’s not law enforcement—it’s abuse.
Keep reposting.
Keep raising hell.
Be a voice for the voiceless.
#OnYourSide
May 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
Our trade deal so far is no tariffs on Rolls Royces and Bentleys and our refugee policy is white South Africans only.
May 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
usili.bsky.social
also you all need to see this, because this is something I don't think *anybody* could predict for where this ad goes
May 6, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
shiplives.bsky.social
The summer pest series continues! It's the time of year when folks see swarms of termites out on their mating flights. How can you stop your home from becoming a termite buffet? Read on! 🧪
news.ncsu.edu/2025/05/prot...
May 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
The text of the presidential oath of office is: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
May 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
npr.org
The VA has abruptly ended the only low-interest, affordable loan modification option for thousands of vets who are behind on their mortgages.

If you're a vet at risk of foreclosure, we want to hear your story.
If you're a military veteran at risk of foreclosure, NPR wants to hear from you
The VA has abruptly ended the only low-interest, affordable loan modification option for thousands of vets who are behind on their mortgages. We want to hear your story.
www.npr.org
May 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
tristansnell.bsky.social
May 3, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
isaacdovere.bsky.social
Pritzker invokes his own Jewish background in responding to Trump:
"Stop tearing down the Constitution in the name of my ancestors. Do not claim that your authoritarian power grabs are about anti-semitism. When you destroy social justice, you are disparaging the very foundation of Judaism."
April 28, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
scribejohn.bsky.social
A spoof interview between a policeman and a pro-Palestinian protestor...

Highlights how lacking in knowledge and fed on mostly online propaganda Palestinian protestors are.

Subscription FREE. Dive in a prove Elon Musk wrong for sidelining Substackers.

scribejohn.substack.com/p/the-interv...
The Interview
Just how informed, uninformed or dumb are pro-Palestinian protesters?
scribejohn.substack.com
April 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
apnews.com/article/army...
Black woman first to compete.
West Point graduate becomes the first woman to compete in the grueling Army Ranger contest
A female Army Ranger for the first time competed in the annual Best Ranger Competition, and her two-soldier team finished the grueling three-day event over the weekend and came in 14th overall.
apnews.com
April 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Another impact of “return to work”: There’s no parking spaces left at the Hampton Virginia VA medical center. Employees are now being shuttled from a remote lot to free spaces for veterans.
April 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Court cases have opening statements and closing arguments. An opening statement tells gives a forecast of what a party intends to prove to the jury (or judge in a non-jury trial). Journalists should avoid this common mistake.
April 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
A new class of non-addictive pain medicine is a welcome addition. But it is recommended for relief of acute pain only. We need action on meds for chronic pain.

www.fda.gov/news-events/...
FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain
The FDA approved Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 mg oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
www.fda.gov
April 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
blackazzknight.bsky.social
I'm humbly asking Stephen King to write us out of this horror novel. John Patrick Leaman Cummings
April 14, 2025 at 2:32 AM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Again the Onion gets uncomfortably close to reality.
zacharyschrag.bsky.social Zachary Schrag @zacharyschrag.bsky.social · Apr 12
🗃️
theonion.com The Onion @theonion.com · Apr 12
Revised National Parks Webpage Describes Harriet Tubman As Human Trafficker
theonion.com/revised...
April 14, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
diveintodiscovery.bsky.social
On April 12, 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. It marked a turning point in medical history and Salk—refusing to patent it—gave his cure freely, famously saying “Could you patent the sun?”

#StayCurious #Skystorians #DiveIntoDiscovery
Jonas Salk and the Ethics of the Polio Vaccine This black-and-white photograph captures Dr. Jonas Salk in the lab, carefully examining a syringe containing the inactivated polio vaccine he developed in the early 1950s. Dressed in a crisp white lab coat and dark tie, Salk looks intently at the vial with a calm but focused demeanor, symbolizing both scientific rigor and moral clarity. The image is overlaid with powerful text that reads, “Jonas Salk chose not to patent his 1955 polio vaccine, making it more affordable for the millions of people who needed it.” Below, it continues, “As a result, he missed out on earning an estimated US$7 billion. Thank you, Dr. Salk (1914–1995).” This snapshot and caption encapsulate one of the most defining moments in 20th-century medical ethics. At the height of the polio epidemic, when fear gripped parents and iron lungs filled hospital wards, Salk’s vaccine arrived as a scientific miracle. But it was his refusal to monetize that miracle that cemented his legacy. When asked who owned the patent, Salk famously replied, “The people. Could you patent the sun?” In an age often defined by profit and patents, this act of selflessness made him a global hero. The photograph speaks not only to the success of the vaccine itself, which slashed polio cases by 90% within a few years, but also to a moment when medical advancement was driven by a sense of responsibility rather than reward. His work helped to eradicate a disease that had once left tens of thousands of children and adults paralyzed each year. Today, Salk’s decision is studied as a benchmark in public health leadership, representing the highest ideals of scientific discovery. This image, both humble and historic, invites viewers to consider not just what we invent—but why we invent it, and for whom. Through it, Salk’s enduring message of shared humanity lives on. The Moment the World Breathed Easier – Polio Vaccine Declared a Triumph This historic black-and-white photograph captures a poignant moment in medical history: a nurse holding up a front-page newspaper for a polio-stricken patient in an iron lung. The bold headline reads, “Vaccine ‘Triumph’ Ends Polio Threat,” signaling to the world that the nightmare of polio was finally coming to an end. The man, partially encased in the cylindrical machine that breathes for him, gazes with quiet astonishment at the paper. This machine—a staple of polio wards in the mid-20th century—represented both life and limitation. The nurse, standing at his bedside with a proud, comforting smile, holds more than news; she holds a moment of national catharsis. Taken on April 12, 1955—the day Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine was officially declared “safe, effective, and potent”—the image encapsulates the mix of hope, relief, and disbelief that swept the country. On this day, bells rang across cities, churches held special prayers, and classrooms erupted in celebration. Parents had lived in fear of a disease that paralyzed or killed thousands of children each year, with outbreaks forcing the closure of pools, parks, and even entire towns. The polio vaccine trial was the largest in U.S. history, involving over a million children—dubbed the “Polio Pioneers.” For those already battling the disease, like the man in this photo, the news was bittersweet: salvation had arrived too late for them but in time for the next generation. The image illustrates not only a medical milestone but the emotional release of a society delivered from one of its most dreaded public health crises. It marks a cultural turning point in which modern science visibly and powerfully triumphed over fear. Framed by the rigid lines of the hospital room and the soft human interaction between nurse and patient, the image immortalizes a day when hope became headline—and when science delivered on its promise to protect the vulnerable. A Generation Shaped by Polio—And Saved from It This touching image shows a young girl in a dress standing on crutches, gazing into a full-length mirror. The reflection shows her smiling face, but also the physical burden she bears—metal braces on her legs, a painful reminder of the lasting effects of polio. The scene is both tender and heartbreaking: her small frame is dwarfed by the mirror, yet her spirit shines through. Captured in the early 1950s, this image represents a generation of children forced to navigate formative years under the shadow of a crippling disease. Polio struck indiscriminately, often paralyzing victims overnight. It especially targeted children, robbing them of the ability to walk, play, or grow without pain. For many, wheelchairs and leg braces became as common in the home as toys. Despite the impact on mobility, polio survivors like this young girl displayed remarkable resilience. The photograph also reflects how medical interventions—while life-saving—were not always curative. Before the vaccine, care often meant managing disability, not preventing it. This is what made Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine announcement on April 12, 1955, so momentous. It wasn’t just about eradicating a virus—it was about sparing millions of children from a future filled with braces, crutches, and physical therapy. This girl, peering at herself with a quiet blend of strength and innocence, could have been any child in America during the polio era. Her image is a stark contrast to the celebration that followed the vaccine’s success, and a reminder of what was at stake. Polio wasn’t a distant threat; it was a daily fear, visible on playgrounds, in classrooms, and in rehabilitation centers. This moment frozen in time reflects the emotional and physical toll of a disease now almost entirely eliminated from the globe. It also underscores why April 12 remains a powerful milestone—not just in science, but in the fight for every child’s right to a whole and healthy life. Iron Lungs and the Frontlines of a Forgotten Epidemic This haunting image depicts a hospital ward filled wall-to-wall with iron lungs—massive cylindrical ventilators used to keep polio patients alive when the virus paralyzed their respiratory muscles. Each child lies inside a metallic chamber, their heads exposed while the rest of their bodies remain encased. Nurses move quietly between the rows, adjusting settings, checking vital signs, and offering what little comfort they can. The scale of the scene is staggering: dozens of these life-saving machines occupy every corner, a mechanical forest born of desperation and necessity. In the pre-vaccine era, polio was one of the most feared diseases in the world. It spread swiftly, striking the healthy without warning and often leaving victims paralyzed or dependent on machines like these for survival. For patients who couldn’t breathe on their own, the iron lung was their last line of defense—a rhythmic pump that mimicked the act of breathing through negative pressure. Introduced in the 1920s and perfected in the 1930s, iron lungs became a defining image of the polio epidemic. For many children, living inside one for weeks—or even months—was the only path to recovery. Some patients spent years in these devices, their lives reduced to the confines of a tube, surrounded by the hum of machinery and the diligent care of medical staff. This photo captures a world that once was: one where innovation struggled to keep pace with disease, and where entire wards became monuments to both human vulnerability and medical perseverance. It also highlights what was at stake on April 12, 1955, when Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. The iron lung, once a symbol of survival, soon became obsolete. This image reminds us of the true scale of that victory—not just in lives saved, but in lives unburdened. A whole generation was spared this metallic captivity because one man believed health should never be patented
April 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Due process matters
rmayemsinger.bsky.social Randi Mayem Singer @rmayemsinger.bsky.social · Apr 7
Can we stop calling these atrocities "deportations." These people sold to El Salvadorian prisons were not deported. Deportation is a process that did not take place. They were rounded up and removed with no process. They were kidnapped, not deported.
April 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
Vaccines save lives
April 4, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
economist.com
Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq
April 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
jd2mcse.bsky.social
I just finished watching Star Trek: The Animated Series. I never watched it before because it was broadcasted with the Saturday morning cartoons when I was in HS. I was wrong to discount it, and now have watched all shows and movies.
March 30, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Reposted by Alan Kaplan
atrupar.com
GOP Rep. Bacon: "Everybody that reads the messages knows that it was inappropriate for the secretary of defense to put when we were gonna bomb Yemen, when the aircraft are taking off ... I have no doubt that Russia and China are able to read those messages. I would be very surprised if they did not"
March 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM