Rita L. Portela
LightNews LightNews
banner
westernspinster.bsky.social
Rita L. Portela
@westernspinster.bsky.social
3.1K followers 1.4K following 1.5K posts
(Acjáchemem) CA Indigenous, free Palestine! Health justice, bikes, outdoors, bioscience, data, LOLOLOL, STEM, languages, arts, justice. Bay Area. Native American Linguistics.
Posts Replies Media Videos
westernspinster.bsky.social
Native American Wisdom:

Do not get a tattoo because somebody on the Internet told you to.

Tattoos have meanings. You must know & understand cultural context. You must honor cultural values, including your own role & access.

Tattoo translation:
Screenshot of a dictionary entry reading: $íchi$icha/i [INTR/TRANS]: INTR: 1) continually squirt out, 2) have diarrhea continually. TRANS: continually squirt something out $ích$icha/i [INTR/TRANS]: INTR: 1) squirt out now and then, 2) have diarrhea now and then. TRANS: squirt something out now and then, spew out now and then
November 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
A man who needs TWO court orders to not starve his own people, but does it anyway, isn't just unfit for office.

He's unfit to walk free in the normal world.

He belongs in prison for his crimes against humanity.
Screenshot of a twitter post. It reads: attorneyryan A man who needs TWO court orders to not starve his own people, but does it anyway, isn't just unfit for office. He's unfit to walk free in the normal world. He belongs in prison for his crimes against humanity.
November 5, 2025 at 6:05 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
"NO FOOD FOR YOU UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS LET US TAKE AWAY YOUR HEALTHCARE"

-US House Speaker Mike Johnson
Screenshot of a twitter post. It reads: johnfugelsang "NO FOOD FOR YOU UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS LET US TAKE AWAY YOUR HEALTHCARE" -US House Speaker Mike Johnson
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
If you want a very authentic Native American tattoo that will impress your friends with your sophisticated knowledge, consider this word in Acjáchemem Chamtéela: $íchi$icha

It means "resilience" but in a very nuanced & esoteric manner.

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
#NativeAmerican
#Chamtéela
Black background and a bold white font that reads: $íchi$icha
November 5, 2025 at 5:48 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Bad Bunny:

"English is not my first language. But it's ok, it's not America's first language, either."

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
Black and red screen with white lettering in a bold font. It reads: Bad Bunny: "English is not my first language. But it's ok, it's not America's first language, either."
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
The ACA Covered California website is still NOT WORKING. Fourth try.

I'm trying to recertify to see what the new cost for my health insurance is.

I already know that my insurance is more than doubling in cost for much much worse coverage. Republicans can go to hell.
Photo of a computer screen, mostly white, with red lettering. It reads: Password We could not access your account. This could be because: The username or password is invalid. Please try again later or click "Forgot username? Search Photo of a computer screen, mostly white with black lettering. It reads: Cannot Confirm Account Your account is not available at this time. Please contact Covered California for help. OK Create an Account
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
my transformation into a raccoon is almost complete

dark circles under my eyes ✓

hissing at anyone approaching me ✓✓

ate too much trash last night ✓✓
White text on a black background: my transformation into a raccoon is almost complete dark circles under my eyes ✓ hissing at anyone approaching me ✓✓ ate too much trash last night ✓✓
November 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Poverty chic. You can't afford to heat your home but you can look ultra glam all bundled up.

No need to burn fossil fuel because you are a HEAT MACHINE!
Photo glam shot of a woman in a red quilted pantsuit. It has wide legs and the jacket is unzipped to reveal a cropped black tube top with the rest of her torso bare. Photo glam shot closeup of a woman's torso in a red quilted pantsuit. The jacket is unzipped to reveal her bare skin. She has her bare abdomen showing and her hand on the waistband with her thumb under the waistband next to her tanned skin.
November 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
"My dog tells me you're on drugs"

"You're the one with the talking dog!"
Photo of a few people's backs, with faces obscured. They are in a public setting. An inspector-looking man in a neon yellow vest is motioning to a yellow lab dog looking up at him. Speech bubbles say: "My dog tells me you're on drugs" "You're the one with the talking dog!"
October 27, 2025 at 2:41 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Mine is going from $700/mo to $1,347 & zero deductible to over $5K deductible. One person.

This means I will lose health insurance. My medical costs are typically over $10K/yr. This is a true catastrophy, will lower quality of life substantially. I'll be w/out critical healthcare.

How to fix this?
Photo of a paper in blue with white text. It reads: You Can Stay With Blue Shield and Switch to a Bronze Plan to Save In 2026 Current Health Plan Lower- Blue Shield Silver 70 PPO 2026 Monthly Premium: $1,348 Financial Help:* -$1 Amount You Pay: $1,347 Blue Shield
October 26, 2025 at 4:03 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
See Asem live on SUNDAY! Livestream poetry from Gaza, Sun., 10/26/25, 11AM-12:30PM PDT, on the reality of life during genocide.

Join us for live-streamed performances + Q&A by 3 incredible poets in/from Gaza: Mariam Mohammed Al- Khatib, Asem Alnabih, & Hala Al-Khatib.

bit.ly/gazapoets
Black, red and green flier with three headshots. Wording reads: LIVE-STREAM POETRY FROM GAZA on the reality of life during genocide Sunday, 10/26/25, 11AM - 12:30PM PDT Register: https://bit.ly/gazapoets Sliding scale All proceeds split evenly between the poets Asem Alnabih Mariam M. Al-Khatib Hala Al-Khatib
October 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
"Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth."

- June Jordan

All proceeds will be split evenly between the three Palestinian writers featured in this event.

SLIDING SCALE - NOBODY TURNED AWAY
Black background with angular green trim and red lettering. Wording reads: "Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth." - June Jordan All proceeds will be split evenly between the three Palestinian writers featured in this event. SLIDING SCALE - NOBODY TURNED AWAY
October 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Hala Al-Khatib is a 20-year-old writer and poet from Gaza. Since childhood, Hala dreamed of becoming a writer. She wanted to write about love, music, hope, and beauty. But being from Gaza made her words carry the weight of pain, loss, and destruction.

During the genocide, she... Contd. in caption
Head and shoulders vignette of a young woman in a black hijab and a black dress with colorful floral embroidery. Tha background behind the vignette is olive tree leaves. The wording reads: Hala Al-Khatib is a 20-year-old writer and poet from Gaza. Since childhood, Hala dreamed of becoming a writer. She wanted to write about love, music, hope, and beauty. But being from Gaza made her words carry the weight of pain, loss, and destruction. During the genocide, she wrote about what those around her endure, "so the world can hear us and preserve our stories. Like everyone else, we are human - not numbers." Hala is a member of We Are Not Numbers and the Gaza Poets Society. Her writings have appeared in Al Jazeera, Mondoweiss, and The Electronic Intifada.
October 20, 2025 at 1:32 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Mariam Mohammed Al-Khatib is a Palestinian writer, poet, and dental student currently based in Egypt. A survivor of genocide and displacement, Mariam uses literature as a form of resistance and a vessel for memory. Her work has appeared in international platforms including... Contd. in caption
Vignette of a young woman smiling, against a background of olive tree leaves. She is wearing a beige hijab, a light blue top and embroidered black shawl. Her features are round and a very small area of dark blond hair is visible over her forehead. Wording reads: Mariam Mohammed Al-Khatib is a Palestinian writer, poet, and dental student currently based in Egypt. A survivor of genocide and displacement, Mariam uses literature as a form of resistance and a vessel for memory. Her work has appeared in international platforms including We Are Not Numbers, Avery Review, This Week in Palestine, and Palestine Deep Dive. Through a feminist and existential lens, her writings explore war, the female body, survival, and urban memory. Mariam is also a dedicated oud player, embracing music as another language of resilience and self-expression.
October 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Me fitting in.

I'm doing my very very best to not let my OG side come out at the upcoming picnic.
Crazy horiffic slate black monster with an extremely elongated head, about ten times the length of a normal human head. No eyes or nose but only large sharp teeth. It is partially bug looking, partly machine, partly humanoid. It is wearing a pink ruffled and lace dress with bows and puffy sleeves and sitting at a tea table with fancy tea set. Wording reads: "Me fitting in"
October 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
The doctor looked at me with tears in his eyes and said: "You are the healthiest president that I have examined."
Three photos side by side: Left - Obama shirtless on a standing paddle board, smiling broadly with the photo snapped mid action of paddling.; Middle - Trump plump, bulging, red and in wrinkled up golf clothing, looking blank faced into the distance.; Right - Biden, in action on a bike and wearing a helmet and aviator glasses, smiling broadly. Wording reads: The doctor looked at me with tears in his eyes and said: "You are the healthiest president that I have examined."
October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Asem Alnabih is the spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, an engineer, and a PhD researcher currently based in Gaza City. He has written for many platforms in both Arabic and English. He has published several academic papers and is actively engaged in efforts to plan and support Gaza's reconstruction.
Round cameo of a man's head and shoulders. The background is an image of olive tree leaves, and a black background. The man is smiling broadly, has vivid blue eyes and tidy short hair and a dark blue button down shirt. Text below the image reads: Asem Alnabih is the spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, an engineer, and a PhD researcher currently based in Gaza City. He has written for many platforms in both Arabic and English. He has published several academic papers and is actively engaged in efforts to plan and support Gaza's reconstruction.
October 12, 2025 at 3:33 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Livestream poetry from Gaza, Sun., 10/26/25, 11AM-12:30PM PDT, on the reality of life during genocide.

Join us for live-streamed performances + Q&A by 3 incredible poets in/from Gaza who refuse to be silenced: Mariam Mohammed Al-Khatib, Asem Alnabih, & Hala Al-Khatib.

bit.ly/gazapoets
Flier in black, green and red, bold colors and geometric design. There are three headshots, of two women and a man. The wording reads: LIVE-STREAM POETRY FROM GAZA on the reality of life during genocide Sunday, 10/26/25, 11AM - 12:30PM PDT Register: https://bit.ly/gazapoets Sliding scale - All proceeds split evenly between the poets Headshots are captioned: Asem Alnabih Mariam M. Al-Khatib Hala Al-Khatib
October 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Photo of Trump looking like hell. Confused and unhealthy. Mouth both open and in a purse. Very red eyes and huge pronounced bags under the eyes
October 6, 2025 at 5:52 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
White wording on a blue background. It reads "Call your reps about the Global Sumud Flotilla 202-224-3121 into Gaza. My name is___ and I'm a constotuent from [zip.] I'm calling on behalf of the American citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a multi-national mission carrying aid It appears the boats have been illegally intercepted by the IDF on international waters. International law protects peaceful citizens at sea. I is the duty of the U.S. government to protect Americans abroad from detention by foreign governments. I'm asking the Congressmember / Senator to demand the State Department intervene. Thank you."
October 6, 2025 at 5:47 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Wukó'axam!
Come home!
(Command, to more than one person.)
.
.
#Acjáchemem #Chamtéela #Payómkawichum #CaliforniaIndigenous #Acjachemen #IndigenousLanguage
October 2, 2025 at 3:56 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Wukó'axam!
Come home!
(Command, to more than one person.)
.
.
#Acjáchemem #Chamtéela #Payómkawichum #CaliforniaIndigenous #Acjachemen #IndigenousLanguage
October 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Poetry, with illustration:
On a white background, a closeup image of a woman's butt in black leggings, in a circular crop. The wording reads: You look like your ass Make the figure more curved
September 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
I don't gossip, I just do unpaid investigative journalism.
On a bright orange background there is a white colored bean-shaped cartoon creature with a visible naked butt. It is smiling and raising its left thumb in a thumbs up. The wording reads "I don't gossip, I just do unpaid investigative journalism."
September 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
westernspinster.bsky.social
Abdullah wants to open a new grocery store but first he needs OUR help with ongoing medical expenses. Please share and donate to save his leg and get him back on his feet.

Our friend Abdullah needs a series of surgeries, ongoing medical care and essential supplies.

Abdullah: gofund.me/f48e07ed
September 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM