Lee
@leeolds.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Mostly Sounders, science and stuff. Vote!
#pnw #seattle #sounders #trumpet #science #space #climate #democracy
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@leeolds on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
#pnw #seattle #sounders #trumpet #science #space #climate #democracy
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@leeolds on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Reposted by Lee
From a new paper in Nature.... Satellite light pollution is becoming a major problem. If it continues at this rate, this is what our deep space telescope images of the universe will look like.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
December 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
From a new paper in Nature.... Satellite light pollution is becoming a major problem. If it continues at this rate, this is what our deep space telescope images of the universe will look like.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
Reposted by Lee
Congress established the U.S. Institute of Peace in 1984. Putting a name on a wall or changing a website does not rename an agency, BBC @nytimes.com @CNN.com: no POTUS can rename an agency.
State may have discretion to rename a *building*, but not USIP itself.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
State may have discretion to rename a *building*, but not USIP itself.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Congress established the U.S. Institute of Peace in 1984. Putting a name on a wall or changing a website does not rename an agency, BBC @nytimes.com @CNN.com: no POTUS can rename an agency.
State may have discretion to rename a *building*, but not USIP itself.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
State may have discretion to rename a *building*, but not USIP itself.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Lee
Trump is now Gen Zzzzzzz 😴
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Trump is now Gen Zzzzzzz 😴
Reposted by Lee
This is the best explanation Whiskey Pete could muster for sending classified information on his personal phone.
media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
December 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is the best explanation Whiskey Pete could muster for sending classified information on his personal phone.
media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
Reposted by Lee
Some ask why US military leaders don't object to war crimes or refuse illegal orders. It looks like Adm. Holsey did—just not in public—and got pushed out for it.
Do I know that for sure? No. Though it's at minimum a reasonable suspicion. That's exactly why Congress should subpoena him and find out.
Do I know that for sure? No. Though it's at minimum a reasonable suspicion. That's exactly why Congress should subpoena him and find out.
December 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Some ask why US military leaders don't object to war crimes or refuse illegal orders. It looks like Adm. Holsey did—just not in public—and got pushed out for it.
Do I know that for sure? No. Though it's at minimum a reasonable suspicion. That's exactly why Congress should subpoena him and find out.
Do I know that for sure? No. Though it's at minimum a reasonable suspicion. That's exactly why Congress should subpoena him and find out.
Reposted by Lee
New article from Smithsonian Magazine about how stupid Reflect Orbital's plans are: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/
Features interviews with me and several of my […]
Features interviews with me and several of my […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 4, 2025 at 3:09 PM
New article from Smithsonian Magazine about how stupid Reflect Orbital's plans are: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giant-mirrors-in-space-could-bring-sunlight-after-dark-one-startup-says-and-astronomers-are-concerned-180987781/
Features interviews with me and several of my […]
Features interviews with me and several of my […]
Reposted by Lee
Also, an argument I've found effective to parents who'd otherwise be on the fence about all this: "you are aware that legal requirements to 'prove' gender mean that people can demand to strip-search your kids, right?"
December 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Also, an argument I've found effective to parents who'd otherwise be on the fence about all this: "you are aware that legal requirements to 'prove' gender mean that people can demand to strip-search your kids, right?"
Reposted by Lee
3rd thought: Hope it’s legit
First thought: This is an extraordinary breakthrough for federal law enforcement in one of nation’s most important unsolved cases.
Second thought: I really hope Trump doesn’t pardon the suspect. www.ms.now/news/fbi-arr...
Second thought: I really hope Trump doesn’t pardon the suspect. www.ms.now/news/fbi-arr...
FBI arrests suspect in Jan. 2021 pipe-bombing case
Authorities say the suspect placed viable explosive devices outside RNC and DNC offices the night before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
www.ms.now
December 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
3rd thought: Hope it’s legit
Reposted by Lee
Seditious conspiracy is the most serious crime charged for Jan. 6, with Oathkeepers and Proud Boys leaders convicted.
Absurd accusations of sedition merely for saying troops should honor their oath and follow the law are not only meant to intimidate, they also aim to render the concept meaningless.
Absurd accusations of sedition merely for saying troops should honor their oath and follow the law are not only meant to intimidate, they also aim to render the concept meaningless.
Scoop: FBI aims to escalate its inquiry into 6 Democrats who made video for troops by pressing domestic terrorism squad to launch a formal seditious conspiracy investigation. Washington Field Office leaders are pushing back b/c they don't see a crime. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
FBI Seeks ‘Seditious Conspiracy’ Probe of Democratic Lawmakers
The FBI is pressuring domestic terrorism agents to open a seditious conspiracy investigation into six Democratic lawmakers who advised military service members to defy unlawful orders, according to th...
news.bloomberglaw.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Seditious conspiracy is the most serious crime charged for Jan. 6, with Oathkeepers and Proud Boys leaders convicted.
Absurd accusations of sedition merely for saying troops should honor their oath and follow the law are not only meant to intimidate, they also aim to render the concept meaningless.
Absurd accusations of sedition merely for saying troops should honor their oath and follow the law are not only meant to intimidate, they also aim to render the concept meaningless.
Reposted by Lee
IMLS announces "upon further review" that it is reinstating all federal grants to libraries. It leaves out that it's doing this because a federal court told them a few weeks ago that the Trump admin's decision to destroy libraries was not legal.
www.imls.gov/news/stateme...
www.imls.gov/news/stateme...
Statement of Agency’s Reinstatement of Terminated IMLS Grants
Statement of Agency’s Reinstatement of Terminated IMLS Grants Washington, DC– Upon further review, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has reinstated all federal grants. This action supersede...
www.imls.gov
December 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
IMLS announces "upon further review" that it is reinstating all federal grants to libraries. It leaves out that it's doing this because a federal court told them a few weeks ago that the Trump admin's decision to destroy libraries was not legal.
www.imls.gov/news/stateme...
www.imls.gov/news/stateme...
Reposted by Lee
🧵
It’s time for folks at DoD and in the IC to start lawyering up.
If you’re an officer or official who was forced into pushing through potentially illegal orders, get a lawyer.
If you’re a soldier, seaman or airman who was forced to execute them, get a lawyer.
If you’re an officer or official who was forced into pushing through potentially illegal orders, get a lawyer.
If you’re a soldier, seaman or airman who was forced to execute them, get a lawyer.
December 4, 2025 at 12:33 AM
🧵
Reposted by Lee
Harvard deserves credit here, and I’ll admit I was wrong in assuming it would cave.
Schools like Northwestern are bending the knee even as Trump’s popularity starts defining new negative numbers, but Harvard has been his Number One target from Day One, and it’s fought back effectively.
Schools like Northwestern are bending the knee even as Trump’s popularity starts defining new negative numbers, but Harvard has been his Number One target from Day One, and it’s fought back effectively.
Via a friend, the only time I can remember a President of Harvard as subject/hero of an editorial page cartoon.
(Context: Ongoing "Harvard about to cave" NYT coverage.)
(Context: Ongoing "Harvard about to cave" NYT coverage.)
December 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Harvard deserves credit here, and I’ll admit I was wrong in assuming it would cave.
Schools like Northwestern are bending the knee even as Trump’s popularity starts defining new negative numbers, but Harvard has been his Number One target from Day One, and it’s fought back effectively.
Schools like Northwestern are bending the knee even as Trump’s popularity starts defining new negative numbers, but Harvard has been his Number One target from Day One, and it’s fought back effectively.
Reposted by Lee
Refuse illegal orders. ✅
Exclusive: The four-star admiral in charge of Caribbean operations had concerns about the legality of the boat strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked him to retire shortly after they started.
Hegseth Asked Top Admiral to Resign After Months of Discord
The relationship between the Pentagon chief and military leader had been rocky since Trump’s inauguration.
on.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Refuse illegal orders. ✅
Reposted by Lee
Every astronomer who complains about satellite streaks has heard the same response from techbro-types: "Why don't you just put all your telescopes in space?"
There are an incredibly large number of reasons why that is totally not going to work. But here's another from Borloff et al "Satellite […]
There are an incredibly large number of reasons why that is totally not going to work. But here's another from Borloff et al "Satellite […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Every astronomer who complains about satellite streaks has heard the same response from techbro-types: "Why don't you just put all your telescopes in space?"
There are an incredibly large number of reasons why that is totally not going to work. But here's another from Borloff et al "Satellite […]
There are an incredibly large number of reasons why that is totally not going to work. But here's another from Borloff et al "Satellite […]
Reposted by Lee
"#tesla has received a brutal reality check from Germany this week. The country’s closely watched TÜV Report 2026 has not only ranked the Tesla Model Y as the absolute worst car for reliability in its age group but noted that it has the highest defect rate of any vehicle tested in the last ten […]
Original post on mas.to
mas.to
December 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"#tesla has received a brutal reality check from Germany this week. The country’s closely watched TÜV Report 2026 has not only ranked the Tesla Model Y as the absolute worst car for reliability in its age group but noted that it has the highest defect rate of any vehicle tested in the last ten […]
Reposted by Lee
I talk a lot here about what effective local activism looks like
scroll down to read a great editorial from the chair of our county Dem party, who is right there with many of us on our frustrations […]
scroll down to read a great editorial from the chair of our county Dem party, who is right there with many of us on our frustrations […]
Original post on ecoevo.social
ecoevo.social
December 3, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I talk a lot here about what effective local activism looks like
scroll down to read a great editorial from the chair of our county Dem party, who is right there with many of us on our frustrations […]
scroll down to read a great editorial from the chair of our county Dem party, who is right there with many of us on our frustrations […]
Reposted by Lee
MS-NOT.
Wow.
Wow.
MSNBC reporter presents Trump's shameful racism towards Somalis as merely "a different view"
December 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
MS-NOT.
Wow.
Wow.
Reposted by Lee
Trump has pardoned:
(1) A former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
(2) Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold
(3) Binance founder Zhao who failed to stop criminals from using Binance to move money tied to drug trafficking. 1/
(1) A former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
(2) Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold
(3) Binance founder Zhao who failed to stop criminals from using Binance to move money tied to drug trafficking. 1/
December 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Trump has pardoned:
(1) A former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
(2) Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold
(3) Binance founder Zhao who failed to stop criminals from using Binance to move money tied to drug trafficking. 1/
(1) A former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
(2) Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold
(3) Binance founder Zhao who failed to stop criminals from using Binance to move money tied to drug trafficking. 1/
Reposted by Lee
2/ Meanwhile, Manafort’s former lobbying partner, Roger Stone, has been meddling in Honduras. Thread. bsky.app/profile/jenn...
Roger Stone on 1/24/25: “A well-timed pardon of former [Honduran] President Hernandez…cld be the final death blow to Castro w/ national elections set to take place later this year. Castro’s regime cld be upended” in a major “victory for…Próspera” (the network state project backed by Peter Thiel) 1/
How President Trump Can Crush Socialism and Save a Freedom City in Honduras
In the impoverished nation of Honduras, there are geopolitical developments afoot that have major implications for U.S. policy and the future of freedom throughout the world.
www.stonecoldtruth.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:05 PM
2/ Meanwhile, Manafort’s former lobbying partner, Roger Stone, has been meddling in Honduras. Thread. bsky.app/profile/jenn...
Reposted by Lee
Paul Manafort, who briefly led Trump’s 2016 campaign, has “assembled a team of consultants who helped run…Trump’s 2024 effort & is looking to advise campaigns for opposition & far-right political factions in Latin America and Europe, according to documents and interviews.” (Latin America, eh?) 1/
Pardoned by Trump, Manafort Is Back and Looking for Foreign Work
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Paul Manafort, who briefly led Trump’s 2016 campaign, has “assembled a team of consultants who helped run…Trump’s 2024 effort & is looking to advise campaigns for opposition & far-right political factions in Latin America and Europe, according to documents and interviews.” (Latin America, eh?) 1/
Reposted by Lee
#EpsteinFiles update
Scoop: 5 lawmakers are asking AG Pam Bondi for a status update on releasing the Epstein files
Merkley, Murkowski, Lujan, Massie & Khanna want to know if Trump adm is on track to comply with the law's 30-day deadline.
They want a briefing by THIS FRIDAY.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Merkley, Murkowski, Lujan, Massie & Khanna want to know if Trump adm is on track to comply with the law's 30-day deadline.
They want a briefing by THIS FRIDAY.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Lawmakers ask AG Pam Bondi for a status update on releasing the Epstein files
Five members of Congress spanning both parties and both chambers want a briefing by Friday on the Trump administration's progress in releasing the Epstein files.
www.nbcnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
#EpsteinFiles update
Reposted by Lee
If drugs are armaments (they’re not) and America is in a war (it isn’t) and illegal boat strikes saved American lives (they didn’t) then why did the American president just let an enemy general (ie a convicted drug trafficking leader) out of jail?
Sen. Roger Marshall defends Hegseth: "Look, we're losing 200 Americans every day to drug poisoning from these drug lords. This is a war. And it's ugly. War is never pretty ... that strike probably saved thousands of American lives."
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
If drugs are armaments (they’re not) and America is in a war (it isn’t) and illegal boat strikes saved American lives (they didn’t) then why did the American president just let an enemy general (ie a convicted drug trafficking leader) out of jail?
Reposted by Lee
Huh. Just chatted in person with someone who's been on #mastodon for a while, now, who honestly thought that all the Mastodon domains were run by Mastodon. And having a different domain was, like, just a vanity thing to look cool. It only came up because they were complaining about an issue they […]
Original post on fed.interfree.ca
fed.interfree.ca
December 3, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Huh. Just chatted in person with someone who's been on #mastodon for a while, now, who honestly thought that all the Mastodon domains were run by Mastodon. And having a different domain was, like, just a vanity thing to look cool. It only came up because they were complaining about an issue they […]
Reposted by Lee
The US “peace” plan not only had Ukraine giving up land—including some Russia hasn’t been able to take—it also demanded a weakened Ukraine that can’t decide its own foreign relations and isn’t allowed real outside support, leaving it vulnerable for whenever Russia regroups.
Who would accept that.
Who would accept that.
Trump and Witkoff Try to Get Russia a Win
The joint U.S.-Russia proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, taken point-by-point
www.arcdigital.media
December 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The US “peace” plan not only had Ukraine giving up land—including some Russia hasn’t been able to take—it also demanded a weakened Ukraine that can’t decide its own foreign relations and isn’t allowed real outside support, leaving it vulnerable for whenever Russia regroups.
Who would accept that.
Who would accept that.
Reposted by Lee
Over many years, in both words and actions, Russia has made it crystal clear that its goal is conquest, with the destruction of Ukraine’s freedom and independence.
But with a US government intent on lying about that and trying to get Russia a win, it must be repeated.
But with a US government intent on lying about that and trying to get Russia a win, it must be repeated.
December 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Over many years, in both words and actions, Russia has made it crystal clear that its goal is conquest, with the destruction of Ukraine’s freedom and independence.
But with a US government intent on lying about that and trying to get Russia a win, it must be repeated.
But with a US government intent on lying about that and trying to get Russia a win, it must be repeated.