Auburn Scallon
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wsauburn.bsky.social
Auburn Scallon
@wsauburn.bsky.social
1.1K followers 170 following 1.2K posts
Guidebook author & localization editor. I’m into pop culture, performing arts, politics, podcasting, critical travel writing, & conscious language. they/she.
https://auburn.contently.com/
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wsauburn.bsky.social
Repost with an iconic fictional band
The Max Reno band from the cantina of “Return of the Jedi”, includes a blue elephant-like puppet playing a circular keyboard, a tall yellow alien with a long snout, and a pinkish guy with a wind instrument
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
The power of a good editor (with alt text).

WA State House Rep @jayapal.house.gov
has some notes for the NYT newsletter “The Morning”
Screenshot of The New York Times “The Morning” marked up with red pen edits: A group of eight Democrats broke with their party [edit: caved] to vote Republicans, 60-40, to start the process of clearing the gridlock that has shuttered the government for more than a month, [edit: as Trump threatened to illegally withhold backpay from] hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, [edit: illegally withheld SNAP benefits from] millions of hungry Americans at risk of losing food assistance, and [edit: illegally stranded] millions more stuck at airports. The spending agreement will still need to be debated and passed by the Senate, approved by the House and signed into law by President Trump. [edit: I'm a HELL NO.] Here's what we know right now: • The spending agreement would fund the government through January and give federal workers back pay. • It would not automatically [edit: do nothing to] extend health care tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year, greatly increasing premiums for millions of Americans. Democrats spent weeks arguing that those subsidies were a crucial piece of any agreement. The deal allows the Senate [edit: a worthless pinky promise] to vote on them later, If they pass, they still may not survive a vote in the House. [edit: while Mike Johnson wont allow a vote on extending them.] • It would reverse layoffs of federal workers made during the insists he shutdown. [edit: which was illegal anyway!] Continued screenshot of NYT Morning News Senate Democrats who joined [edit: caved to] Republicans said the shutdown had become unsustainable. "A lot of people are being hurt," [edit: and will be hurt worse when their premiums skyrocket!] said Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats and voted to [edit: betray working people] reopen the government. (The administration has threatened to punish states that try to send food stamps anyway.) But many in the party were livid at the eight senators who backed down, primarily because the deal [edit: highlight] does not protect health care subsidies. Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the minority leader, said House Democrats could not back the deal for that reason. "Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our country, and the American people know it," he said in a statement. [Edit: EXACTLY! This is a Republican Shutdown and Trump is inflicting maximum pain — we cannot back down and give them this win at the expense of the American people. But Democrats have to learn to actually fight back.
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
It’s the most wonderful distraction of the year… the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 😁

www.comedywildlifephoto.com/gallery/fina...
One leopard has a paw on another’s back and looks like it’s shouting into their ear. The other leopard looks bored. Photo credit in small text reads: Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod - Bad Mouthing/Comedy Wildlife Bored club girl meme, guy in red plaid shirt is drunkenly shouting into the ear of a girl in a red spaghetti straps, who looks bored out of her mind.
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Same!
Tiger-striped grey head of a cat peeking out of a black-and-white blanket tucked around him. He has commandeered a human’s lap, insisting all work must wait.
October 25, 2025 at 11:30 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only.
The Pink Panther pointing at his chest
October 19, 2025 at 6:11 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
One of my favorite stories of resistance from the Prague Spring — citizens painted over street signs, and small towns used an “I am Spartacus” approach, so that invading Russian troops didn’t know where they were going.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_...
Screenshot from Wikipedia: Alexander Dubček called upon his people not to resist. Nevertheless, there was scattered resistance in the streets. Road signs in towns were removed or painted over—except for those indicating the way to Moscow. Many small villages renamed themselves "Dubček" or "Svoboda"; thus, without navigational equipment, the invaders were often confused.
October 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
I love a good word game, including @flaminghydra.com’s Hydranym.

Editors share a weekly theme & combo of letters. Subscribers create a phrase & vote for their faves. This is my first time with a winning idea!

Cheers to worker-owned journalism and creativity 🥂

flaminghydra.com/annals-of-hy...
Screenshot of contest results from the Hydranym: THEME: MILITARY W A H S H B “We appreciate hypermasculinity-Sign here, boys!” Auburn, 12 votes “Walk around hometowns shooting harmless bystanders” max entropy, 12 votes
October 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
I’m a sucker for soapy journalism shows. Would’ve loved to see where this one went in S2. 😢
Poster for a BBC series called Press. Three actors (white man, Black woman, white woman) in front of a largely white backdrop with faint bits of newspaper text. There are Masterpiece and PBS logos in the bottom right corner.
September 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
I know you’re not the one who needs the definition, but @transjournalists.org’s got this covered.

From www.transjournalists.org/tja-urges-ca...
Screenshot from Trans Journalists Association press release: It should also be noted that "transgender ideology" is a term coined for and used in anti-trans political messaging to falsely equate identity with politics, which is a way to frame transgender identity as a political choice rather than an innate identity. As it is often unclear what actions or political positions the phrase actually refers to - not unlike how "the homosexual agenda" is an amorphous term that has no real definition - reporters should be careful about using this term; it is used exclusively to attack a minority group for political gain.
September 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Screenshot of a July 2024 NYT op-ed by Aaron Sorkin that includes the line: At their convention next month, the Democrats should nominate Mitt Romney Promo photo of the cast of The West Wing Movie poster of The Social Network with text saying “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies” over Jesse Eisenberg’s face Movie poster of The Trial of the Chicago 7 with a hippie walking up the steps of a courthouse lined with protesters
August 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
My favorite doctor and companion
Screenshot of Christina Yang and Meredith Grey from Grey’s Anatomy. The pair are in bed in comfy clothes, leaning on each other.
August 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
My fantastic four
90s girl group En Vogue posing in short silver dresses (think Motown/Broadway but seductive), a la their “Never Gonna Get It” video
July 23, 2025 at 7:10 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Screenshot of a viral Ted Lasso text from Beth McColl, edited to say: nothing to add to the [obvious edit to show name] Star Trek: Strange New Worlds discourse but I think it's important to say, on tuesday at 2:12PM, that i'd absolutely have sex with every adult character in it. no skips. & before you start replying with "yeah but what about" let me repeat. no. skips. anyway hope this helps x 9:13 pm September 21, 2021
July 22, 2025 at 7:15 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
What actor's expression in a movie will stay with you for the rest of your life?
Charlotte York in Sex and the City pointing at Big and saying “No!” In the most absurd gravelly voice since Elizabeth Holmes.
June 26, 2025 at 4:05 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
A solid double feature from @salonig.bsky.social summarizing so much of my recent-viewing mood.

Viewers deserve more stories pushing back against oppressive systems:
www.avclub.com/tv-is-tappin...

And way less of ‘rich people behaving badly’: www.avclub.com/tv-needs-a-b...
Screenshot from AV Club article by Salon Gajjar Headline: Breaking away from bad: TV needs a rest from rich people doing terrible things Subhead: These days, it's hard to care about affluent fictional characters who get away with everything. Screenshot from AV Club article by Salon Gajjar Headline: TV is tapping into our collective desire to rage against the machine Subhead: From a trippy Adult Swim satire to a Star Wars saga, shows this year are making the case to question and push back against the system.
June 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
This little guy flies across rooms and captures feather toys with the best of them!
Grey and white tripod kitty stretched across the hardwood floor, mid chasing a feather-stick toy.
June 7, 2025 at 3:33 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Ugly Betty, end of S2 E1! Did not expect a sitcom to break my heart.
Santos with his ribs taped lying in bed next to Hilda in a wedding dress. She’s holding a piece of paper and he’s… [spoiler alert!]
May 30, 2025 at 5:34 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
So according to openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac... I either want to be in charge or break out of jail (or both?) 😂
Sydney from The Bear Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption Michael from Prison Break Peggy Olson from Mad Men
May 19, 2025 at 4:39 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Stayed with friends there two weeks ago and loved my view!
April 17, 2025 at 12:11 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Trying to figure out where to direct the rage surging through me at this.

I’ve been so frustrated by travel writing community discussions saying “I just use it for idea generation or SEO brainstorming” when those ‘ideas’ are stealing hours of uncompensated time, effort, and expertise. 🤬
Screenshot of three book titles in the LibGen database that I gave zero permission for and won’t see a cent of compensation for: Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest (Travel Guide) Jennifer D. Walker, Auburn Scallon Moon Prague & Beyond: Day Trips, Local Spots, Strategies to Avoid Crowds DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Auburn Scallon, Moon Travel Guides Moon Prague, Vienna é Budapest: Palaces e Castles, Art l Music, Coffeehouses e Beer Gardens
March 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
If you could commission one fictional character to fix the current US political problems, who would it be?
Andor screenshot of Cassian saying "I would rather die trying to take them down than giving them what they want."
March 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
Signs of springtime from Malahide! 💐
A cluster of yellow daffodils in the middle of a field of short, small, purple flowers
March 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
If “Mr. Malcom’s List” or “Fire Island” make the Final Four, I will be one happy rom-com fan! #RomComBracket
Ashley Park in a towering blond Regency-era wig (not quite as elaborate as a Queen Charlotte masterpiece, but plenty of height and curls). She’s dressed for a ball in a dress and jewels, gripping a glass, and looking mischievous—almost like she’s plotting how to knock out her final-round Rom Com Bracket competitor. The Fire Island cast in a group hug of overlapping arms around Margaret Cho, all the visible faces have looks of pure awkward joyful glee—how I imagine they would celebrate winning rom-com accolades.
February 22, 2025 at 8:31 PM
wsauburn.bsky.social
This matchup was a great excuse for me to revisit the incredible 80s hair, makeup, and fashions in Working Girl! 😂
Screenshot of Melanie Griffith and Joan Cuasck with enormous, teased and curled, 1980s hair. No seriously, think hair metal bands and then add even more volume. It's glorious.
February 15, 2025 at 12:45 AM
wsauburn.bsky.social
“A combination of three and five. Simply stunning.”
Screenshot from SNL’s “Celebrity Jeopardy” of a handwritten word: Threve on a blue screen
February 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM