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wmbartle.bsky.social
@wmbartle.bsky.social
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wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Samoset & the Pilgrims. Early relations between the Pilgrims & the Wampanoag were peaceful, but colonial expansion & conflicts over land & religion eventually led to violence. The first major war occurred decades after the Pilgrims arrived and involved many newer arrivals.
In a historical print, 3 pilgrims are shown meeting with 3 Native Americans. They are shaking hands, which is meant to represent the close friendship they shared. The image has a few color details added, such as the Native Americans skin being a light brown and the pilgrims. Clothing of both groups features lime green and/or deep red. Text states that Trump is 304 days into his second term with 1157 more days reminder.
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
President George W Bush and May, the turkey, during the White House 2007 turkey pardoning ceremony. President George H.W. Bush officially began the practice of pardoning turkeys in 1989, though it can be traced back to President Harry Truman’s symbolic gesture in 1947.
In a Rose Garden ceremony, President George W Bush carries on the tradition began by his father. Dressed in a dark suit and dark red tie, he leans over, his head nearly sideways, as he watches May. Being a domestic turkey, May has a red and blue head but pure white body feathers. While Bush the younger was often maligned as a simpleton, an examination of this photo proves his vast superiority over Trump. His gaze expresses genuine curiosity about and empathy for the bird in front of him, traits totally absent in Donald Trump. Text states that Trump is 303 days into his second term with 1158 more days remaining.
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Wild turkeys. Turkey fossils have been found across the southern US and Mexico, some dating from more than 5 million years ago. In the early 1900s, there were about 200,000 wild turkeys in the US. Thanks to conservation, there are about 6.5 million wild turkeys in the US today.
Against a backdrop of golden yellow fall leaves, two wild turkeys stand next to one another. The first has a red and blue head and neck and dark feathers with brown wingtips and a black “beard” on its chest. The second has a white/pink head and predominantly brown body. Text states that Trump is 302 days into his second term with 1159 more days remaining.
November 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Snoopy and Woodstock in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”, first aired on November 20, 1973. It was Peanuts’ third holiday special and the first to feature an adult voice—composer Vince Guaraldi, who wrote such songs as “Linus and Lucy”, sings his composition “Little Birdie”.
Against a backdrop of an impossibly bright pink sky, the still frame animated art shows Snoopy smiling as he prepares to serve the turkey and vegetables he prepared in the mysterious depths of his doghouse while his bird friend Woodstock stands adjacent to him beside an empty plate with silverware, wings somehow clasped like hands, smiling in anticipation of devouring a fellow bird. Text states that Trump is 301 days into his second term with 1160 more days remaining.
November 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Decorative window clings. Non-adhesive, reusable vinyl decals used to enhance the appearance of glass and acrylic surfaces and can be easily applied and removed without leaving residue. They are an excellent, low-commitment option for holiday decorating in homes or storefronts.
A woman is shown from the back dressed for a warm late summer/early fall day in a predominantly olive green sundress with a tank top, tie in the back, and a long, floral print skirt. She stands next to a large window with multiple framed panes of glass situated side by side. The woman appears to be pondering the fall themed window clings covering a significant portion of the glass—fall leaves, white and orange pumpkins, acorns, squash, pinecones and mushrooms—though she could be just peering through the window itself. What is on the other side is unclear, however, as it is dark and blurry, but hints of orange suggest perhaps a wooded autumn landscape. Text states that Trump is 300 days into his second term with 1161 more days remaining.
November 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Connecticut Field Pumpkin: An old heirloom variety, dating back to before the 1700s. These pumpkins are typically smooth with slightly ribbed skin and are bred for their size and reliability for carving. They are also suitable for baking and pies.
A grassy field enclosed by a little, old wooden fence and bordered by a corn field is shown littered with bright orange pumpkins. Most appear smooth skinned, but several appear lumpy, which might be the result of growing conditions or a mild viral infection in the plant. The plants themselves are not shown, so one can conclude that the pumpkins have been brought here from elsewhere, possibly for the purpose of being offered for public purchase or just decoration. Text states that Trump is 299 days into his second term with 1162 more days remaining.
November 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Melted plastic "popcorn" turkey. These decorations were invented in the 50s by Kage Company in Manchester, CT. Company owner Kibbe Gerstein accidentally discovered the process when his daughter put colorful plastic pellets on a baking sheet and melted them together in the oven.
The turkey decoration is shown hanging on a wall (or laying on a floor) that appears to consist of wood paneling in a layered, zigzag pattern. The turkey itself is a standard full body, in 3/4 profile. Only one wing, but both feet are visible, and the tail feathers are angled to show the fanning effect. While the majority of the bird is brown and orange with white highlights and a red head, the beak and feet are yellow. This version of the decoration features a blue and green mix on the majority of the wing, which varies from other similar versions that were produced. Text states that Trump is 298 days into his second term with 1163 more days remaining.
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
The Columbia River Gorge — An 80-mile long canyon that forms the border between Oregon and Washingto and featuring a rich landscape of forests, waterfalls, and bluffs. It is home to more than 90 waterfalls and over 200 miles of hiking trails.
In an image that looks more like a painting than a photograph, dark pines at the top of the ridge give birth to a plunging, two-tiered waterfall that cuts the middle of the frame neatly in half with a bridge spanning the water from one mid-level cliff to the other. in the distance, lush vegetation in fall orange surround the falls, eventually giving way to bright, mossy green rocks that encircle the pool at the bottom. A pile of brightly colored fallen leaves adds a focal point at the bottom in the foreground. High above, the sun appears to be directly behind the trees at the top, its rays shining through them from the lightly clouded blue sky. Text states that Trump is 297 days into his second term with 1164 more days remaining.
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
The Narrows bridge, Parke County, IN. One of the most photographed covered bridges in the state, it is accessible from 3 state park hiking trails as well as canoe trips on Sugar Creek (natives called it Pungosecone which may be translated as "the waters of many sugar trees").
Sugar Creek appears as a silver, reflective ribbon running diagonally across the bottom half of the frame, surrounded by trees of green and yellow with hints of red and orange. Clusters of dropped leaves float in the water. Just above the horizon point is the wooden, red and black covered bridge spanning between the two rocky riverbanks. Its reflection is also visible in the water, all beneath a heavily clouded, slate gray sky. Text states that Trump is 296 days into his second term with 1165 more days remaining.
November 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Brown County in south-central Indiana known for its rugged hills, ridges, and ravines, earning it the nickname "Little Smokies". It is a popular destination, especially in the fall, with attractions like Brown County State Park, numerous art galleries, shops and distilleries.
A shot looking out over the treetops and rugged landscape of Brown County in the fall. The scene pops with color, bright orange, red, orange, yellow and green accents beneath a partly cloudy pale blue sky. Touches of pink color the sky as the image was no doubt captured in the golden hours of late afternoon. Text states that Trump is 295 days into his second term with 1166 more days remaining.
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Man o’ War’s grave — Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington. A bronze statue of the champion racehorse stands guard over the memorial site, which includes the burial plots of several of his sons and daughters, most notably Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame member, War Admiral.
The larger-than-life statue dominates the frame, not depicting Man o’ War racing down the straight, but standing calmly, head up, seemingly enjoying his peaceful surroundings. He stands on the statue’s generously sized base, surrounded by flowers and fall foliage as well as the ring off his offsprings’ graves that encircle him. Text added to the image states that Trump is 294 days into his second term with 1167 more days remaining.
November 11, 2025 at 7:02 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville,TN. Guests can enjoy 9 acres of indoor gardens & trails, award-winning restaurants, an assortment of shops & high-end vendors and a world class spa. The hotel is also renown for its seasonal events/entertainment.
The image shows a beautifully illuminated scene with a two-story building of classic construction complete with an illuminated clock on the top of a tower on its roof. It is surrounded by mid-size, well-trimmed trees and a sprawling patio set with multiple tables and chairs that overlook the bank of a gently flowing river just beyond an iron-wrought fence. But even as lights twinkle all around in this idyllic scene, there is evidence that it isn’t exactly real. The ceiling high above is cross-crossed with lattices holding the glass ceiling in place, keeping unpleasant weather and natural precipitation at bay and ensuring it’s always a beautiful day (or night). Text states that Trump is 293 days into his second term with 1168 more days remaining.
November 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Fight between a Dragon and a Lion — Leonardo da Vinci's famous pen-and-ink drawing, located in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. The drawing is part of a broader study on animal movement and anatomy, particularly the spinal column's flexibility.
The image on golden parchment, shows a dragon, drawn in DaVinci’s classic style, attacking a lion. In body size, the two are strikingly similar, though the dragon, with its flexed wings and curled neck appears to have the clear advantage. It stands with one foot on the back of the hapless lion, which strains to defend itself by twisting and roaring back at the creature. The edges of the drawing have an indistinct feel, like some erasing and blending was done. Text added to the image states that Trump is 292 days into his second term with 1169 more days remaining.
November 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Old San Juan — the historic, walled colonial district of Puerto Rico's capital city, renowned for its rich history, colorful Spanish colonial architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. It is a major tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A bright, colorful shot looking above what must surely be a quaint and narrow street at the balconies facing each other, jutting out from the historical buildings painted white, yellow, pale green, orange and an especially cheerful bright blue. Some of the railings on the balconies are painted to match, but at least one is still the more traditional black. Lush greenery sprouts here and there, lending a tropical vibrancy to the scene, including a palm tree on the right and bright pink flowers in the lower left. Text states that Trump is 291 days into his second term with 1170 more days remaining.
November 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Carl Sagan—“Time” cover, 10/20/80. An American astronomer, planetary scientist, author and science communicator, his best known scientific contribution was his research on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and his assembly of the Pioneer plaque and Voyager Golden Record.
Though the magazine cover showed Sagan in a black turtleneck, here it appears red with his camel colored jacket and tan pants. Beyond that, though, he is artificially placed in the same breaking wave around his calves that was meant to depict the mysterious vastness of space. What would, at first, appear to be bubbles in the water in front of him are distant stars and constellations. Behind the smiling Sagan, hands in his jacket pockets, and the frothy sea he is surrounded by, the sky is a darkened blue, not quite night, but perhaps representing a the dawn of knowledge and new understanding. Text added to the image states that Trump is 290 days into his second term with 1171 more days remaining.
November 7, 2025 at 4:13 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park. It is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. It is located in the Midway Geyser Basin.
In a photo taken from high above, the hot spring appears like a loosely oval shape pool with bright blue in the center surrounded by aqua blue-green around that. A few submerged rocky features are visible along the rim, which appears a bright, golden yellow, and outside that, flows of bright orange seep out like fiery tears in all directions, dramatically coloring the gray-brown and white surrounding landscape. Text states that Trump is 289 days into his second term with 1172 more days remaining.
November 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Michigan City, IN Lighthouse & pier. Built in 1904, the lighthouse has become the most popular symbol of the city. It is the only public operating lighthouse in Indiana. The pier is a favorite spot for fishing & watching sunsets. It is frequently photographed by local artists.
The sandy shores of Lake Michigan are shown along Indiana’s northwest edge. It appears to be winter, as the dune grass is long and brown as it bends in the lakeshore winds, rocks and patches of white at its base. The lake itself has a frosty pale blue/white appearance, suggesting the waters are icy but calm. In the distance, we see the little white, black and red lighthouse, standing as it had for nearly a century, guiding ships on their way, with a long, thinly constructed pier reaching out to it from the shore. And behind it all, the sunset sky puts on a delightful show with puffy, layered clouds of pink and purple beneath a dome of bright blue. Text states that Trump is 288 days into his second term with 1173 more days remains.
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Baby Salmon Shark—A species found in the North Pacific Ocean known for its ability to maintain a body temperature above the surrounding water. Sometimes mistaken for great whites, their diet mostly consists of salmon, but they also eat squid, sablefish, herring and other fish.
Looking as adorable and huggable as a shark ever has, the baby Salmon Shark is held above the calm gray water—presumably by a researcher whose black shirt and faded blue jeans are only visible. The shark’s large black “doll-like” eyes reveal little, but it must be thinking, “WTF?!” Its tail is not visible, but it looks to be roughly 2.5 feet long. Added text states that Trump is 287 days into his second term with 1174 more days remaining.
November 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
The Day of the Dead has a festive characteristic.Traditions include honoring the deceased with flowers, building home altars with the departed’s favorite foods/drinks & visiting graves with these items as gifts. It‘s also common to give gifts like candy sugar skulls to friends.
Three (presumably) young women are shown in skeleton costumes that include grinning skull masks decorated with red and golden-orange flowers, butterflies and stars and moons. Their torsos and arms are covered in black body suits painted with white paint to depict very realistically the underlying bones. The lower half of their bodies appear to be clad in colorful skirts (green, red and blue) with bright flower prints. The trio are playfully peering out from within a curtain of multi-colored streamers in green, orange, hot pink, red, orange, yellow, light and bright blue, purple and white, making for a very festive scene. Text added states that Trump is 286 days into his second term with 1175 more days remaining.
November 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Flowers & Sugar Skulls for The Day of the Dead, celebrated Nov. 1 & 2. The holiday involves family & friends gathering to remember friends & family who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember amusing events/anecdotes about the departed.
Hot pink and golden orange carnations surround three painted sugar skulls—skulls made from a paste of granulated white sugar, meringue powder, and water. The skull on the left is maroon and bright pink with details in yellow and aqua blue. The middle skull is purple and turquoise with touches of white. The skull on the right is avacado green with what resembles an orange beard and white teeth. Text states that Trump is 285 days into his second term with 1176 more days remaining.
November 2, 2025 at 11:26 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
The name "Jack-o'-Lantern" comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil but was denied entry into both heaven and hell after he died. The Devil gave him a single ember to light his path, and Jack placed it inside a carved-out turnip.
A spookily carved and lit Jack-o-Lantern sits on wooden boards. In the background, the sun appears to be setting Behind it, ushering in all the fun and mischief of Halloween Night. Text states that Trump is 284 days into his second term with 1177 more days remaining.
November 1, 2025 at 5:03 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Stephen King’s House in Bangor, Maine. King based the fictional town of Derry from “It” on his hometown. Many landmarks from his books such as the Paul Bunyan statue, the Thomas Hill Standpipe, and the unmapped tunnel system are based on real features in and around Bangor.
The sky has an unnatural orange glow in this shot that gives the turreted, gothic looking home an eerie cast. Fall leaves litter the ground and a large ironwork fence with bats, spiders and webs as the central motifs greets onlookers in the foreground.. text states that Trump is 283 days into his second term with 1178 more days remaining.
October 31, 2025 at 6:52 AM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Statue titled Marie-Jeanne Valet vs. the Beast of Gevaudan — in France. It memorializes the bravery of one young woman facing the monster of her age. Valet defended herself and her younger sister from the beast in 1765. She used a homemade spear to stab it in the chest.
Shown in dark silhouette with the light falling on an expansive, green rolling valley in the background, the close-up of the statue features the infamous monster “wolf” leaping at dauntless Valet and right into the spear she holds firmly with both hands in front of her. Text states that Trump is 282 days into his second term with 1179 more days remaining.
October 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Burial mask of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Mummies are associated with Halloween because of the ancient fear of the dead, the popularization of "mummy curses" in literature and film, and the horrifying imagery of bandaged, reanimated corpses.
The burial mask of “King Tut” is shown in closeup, revealing the flawless shine of the gold and exquisite detailing of the features. A bright cobalt blue adds color to the headdress portion as well as the eyebrows and as eyeliner. The mask maker even added such painstaking detail as barely visible touches of red blood vessels at the corners of the whites of the eyes. Text added states that Trump is 281 days into his second term with 1180 more days remaining.
October 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
wmbartle.bsky.social
TRUMP TERM COUNTDOWN:
Promotional image for the film “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”. The famous series of “Abbott and Costello Meet…” movies began in 1948 with the title mentioned above, which also featured Dracula and the Wolfman. These film continued through the mid 1950s.
In a colorized image, Abbott and Costello are dressed in the tan uniforms of railway package handlers. Positioned in the foreground, they stand next to one another, hunched towards the camera with their right index fingers pressed to their lips in the classic shush position. Costello’s eyes, in particular, look wide with concern. Directly behind the pair, Frankenstein’s monster can be seen in his full, dark, broad shouldered costuming and green monster make-up complete with neck bolts, exaggerated forehead and brow ridge and hint of straggly black bangs on top. The monster has its eyes closed, so perhaps it hasn’t seen the comedy duo yet. The promotional photo didn’t bother with an elaborate background, settling instead for a plain dark navy blue with black shadows. Text states that Trump is 280 days into his second term with 1181 more days remaining.
October 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM