Muriel McKnight
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murielmcknight.bsky.social
Muriel McKnight
@murielmcknight.bsky.social
82 followers 69 following 760 posts
Historian, sometimes archivist, animal-lover, Trans ally, annoyingly progressive and unapologetic. Firm believer in socialized healthcare (Medicare for All) and principles of MMT. Would happily eat the rich if it helped make a better world for all.
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murielmcknight.bsky.social
Hmm. I suppose we should let the judge's choose. They all have their merits!
Poster with pictures of twelve different types of siege engine, listed by month of the year. The caption at the top reads "Forget birthstones. What's your birth siege engine?"
November 20, 2025 at 11:17 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Didn't accuse them for long - once Lombardo got involved.
This Fortune article is damning (using archived link):
archive.ph/RYeNG
November 15, 2025 at 3:50 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Remember when Robert Byrd would pull out his pocket copy of the Constitution?
He wasn't perfect, but he certainly understood his professional relationship to that founding document.
I could go for some Constitutional "Red Card" action right now.
October 5, 2025 at 12:50 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
So now we know for sure that's it's Rub-n-Buff.
September 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
That's not it - they're 'expanding' the East Wing. It's still an unnatural and ridiculous vanity project.
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
August 3, 2025 at 7:20 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
I subscribed to the SSA newsletter a few years ago to stay on top of changes. Just unsubscribed. Geezus - the BS in this bit of commentary made me gag.
Screenshot of an Social Security Administration email that says: "Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans. The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's economy. “This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned." The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned. Social Security remains committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public and will continue working closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries understand how this legislation may affect them."
July 4, 2025 at 12:59 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Well done. Let's hope for Bonus Army numbers on those steps, soon.
The "Bonus Army". A very large group of military veterans protesting on the steps of the US Capitol in 1932. They were demanding the bonus pay they had been promised for fighting in WWI.
June 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
More and more like this everyday. . . (explainer of text in the ALT text). Cruickshank, "The happy effects of that grand systom [sic] of shutting ports against the English!!"
lccn.loc.gov/99401790
Cruikshank, The Happy Effects of that Grand System of Shutting Ports Against the English, 1808 President Thomas Jefferson stands, addressing a group of angry Members of Congress. Before Jefferson is a table covered with papers inscribed 'Pettition and Pettition New York'. Napoleon is hiding behind Jefferson's presidential chair whispering; "You shall be King hereafter". Jefferson is saying: "Citizens - I am sorry I cannot call you my Lords Gentlemen!! - This is a Grand Philosophical Idea - shutting our Ports against the English - if we continue the Experiment for about fifteen or twenty years, we may begin then to feel the good 'Effects' - in the mean time to prevent our sailors from being idle. I would advise you to imploy them in various works of husbandry and by that means we may gain the protection of that great and mighty Emperor King Napoleon!! A small dog, with John 'Bull' on its collar, barks "Bow Wow" at the President. The Congressmen say: "How are we to Dispose of our produce; My warehouses are full; Yea friend thou may as well tell us to cut of our nose to be revenged of our face [a Quaker in a broad-brimmed hat]; My famely is Starving'; my Goods are Spoiling; It was not the case in Great Washintons time; we must speak to him in more 'forceble language'.
April 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Poster image with a pale pink and blue background and a handrawn butterfly and flower. The text reads "Trans Day of Visibility 31st March 2025". At the bottom in a smaller font there is a small logo and the words "Stonewallhousing.org"
March 31, 2025 at 5:11 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
We could use a different one each month, with some alternatives to lofting things long distances (shamelessly stolen from Reddit . . .)
Image is titled "Forget birth stones. What is your birth siege engine?" Twelve smaller images for each month, with descriptions underneath each image. January: Siege tower; February: Battering ram; March: Mangonel; April: Ballista; May: Sambuca; June: Catapult; July: Artillery cannon; August: Siege hook; Spetember: Greek fire; October: Trebuchet; November: Springald; December: Onager
March 15, 2025 at 12:56 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
My question: will we set-up one very large and ornate guillotine in D.C. or have several smaller but equally efficient models for that city and at least one for every major urban area? Daily or weekly events? Do we get to wear Phrygian caps? It is on the offical seal of the US Senate, after all.
Official seal of the US Senate, showing a round emblem with a blue border. The words "United States Senate" in white capital letters is on this border. The interior shows a stylized United States flag sitting on a backdrop of white 'feathers', with an olive branch to the left and an oak branch to the right. The stems of these branches stick out below the flag. A banner reading "e. pluribus unum" runnss across the flag motif. Above the flag is a red Phrygian cap with a blue cuff. White letters on the blue cuff spell out "liberty". Below the flag are crossed fasces.
March 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
The geographic breakdown of this election is especially disturbing. As Prof. Bernhard Huss says - it is as if the wall still exists.
Image shows a Bluesky post by Bernhard Huss, showing a map of the recent German elections. He points out that the results, which show that the eastern half of the country (except Berlin) voted for the far-right, make it look like the Berlin Wall is still standing.
February 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Back at ya, Sulley! Percy and Emrys.
Two black cats, one smooth-haired and the other fluffy, reclining on a tall cat perch inside a house. There is a bookcase filled with books to the right and a window to the left. The top of a painted red chair is visible to the right and a stepstool can be seen through the window.
December 14, 2024 at 12:17 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
I've always found it vaguely amusing that the 'father of conservatism', Edmund Burke, would have condemned the current crop of conservatives as unworthy of liberty at all.
Burke's thoughts generally don't appeal to me, but he was pretty spot-on here.
A quote from Edmund Burke's "A Letter to a Member of the National Assembly", 1791. He was writing in response to a member of the French National Assembly who had asked why his support for the French Revolution had waned. The full (long) letter is here: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/004804929.0001.000
December 13, 2024 at 10:24 PM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
Just a few changes to update this classic.
The Bosses of the Senate, a cartoon from Puck, January 23, 1889, shows well-fed monopolists towering over the obedient senators. Above them, a sign rewrites the closing words of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “This is the Senate of the Monopolists, by the Monopolists, and for the Monopolists.”
December 10, 2024 at 3:45 AM
murielmcknight.bsky.social
For my first original post here, I choose to share a picture of some sleeping lion cubs (about 4 months old) at the Fuji Safari Park in Japan.
They are very cute. :)
A picture of four four-month old lion cubs sleeping in a huddle. They are in an enclosure with artificial grass and some logs and rocks to play on.
November 29, 2024 at 11:22 PM