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zarq.bsky.social
Me.
@zarq.bsky.social
510 followers 390 following 4.1K posts
SciFi fan. Amateur baker. Marketing/Comms professional. Jewish. Progressive. Black Lives Matter. Pro-Choice. Pro-Women's Rights. Trans rights are human rights, and gender-affirming care saves lives. Kindness above all else. he / him.
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zarq.bsky.social
Crazy hail outside right now.

We've had loud booming thunderstorms overnight and lots of heavy rain. Didn't expect hail, tho!
November 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
zarq.bsky.social
Good Shabbos
A pair of homemade challahs on a cooling rack.
November 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
zarq.bsky.social
One pletzel.
First attempt at a Jewish onion board. Bialy dough topped with caramelized onions, poppy seeds and a little salt. For my father in law.
November 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Hey @moderation.bsky.app, can y'all please try to fix this?

We shouldn't have to individually mute "pedophile", "pedophilia", "pedotrump" and "pedophiles" when we could just mute "pedo*"
No, variables or wildcards do not currently work in Bluesky's built-in word mute lists. The platform's mute feature only blocks posts containing the exact word or phrase you have entered. For example, muting the word "pig" will not automatically mute variations such as "pigs" or "píg". Users wishing to block multiple variations must manually enter each one into their mute list. This limitation has been a point of discussion among users, with many hoping for future improvements that would allow for more flexible keyword moderation, such as partial matches or regular expressions (variables). Some third-party tools or extensions may offer more advanced filtering capabilities, but the native Bluesky app's moderation settings require exact matches for muted words.
November 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Tchaikovskaya: none of you know what propaganda actually is, do you? Ashleyetc: its when a British person takes a good look at something Tchaikovskaya: this is legitimately the absolute funniest thing anyone has ever added to one of my posts, thank you for your service
November 12, 2025 at 5:10 AM
zarq.bsky.social
My dad died in 1993. Way before social media existed. As his multiple sclerosis became much worse, he began to sound a lot like this. The anger, bitterness, narcissistic rants and abusive lashing out all feel disturbingly familiar.
A deranged post by Trump on his social media platform. @realDonaldTrump "All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially “docked.” For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax,” I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering. The last “Administration” wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated “junk.” They had no idea what they were doing! Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU - I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Bread with a cinnamon swirl or two.

I didn't add a couple of teaspoons of flour to the filling this time, to see how large the gaps would be. Pretty large! 😁

Looks better the other way.

Cinnamon breakdown is 1/4 pumpkin spice mix and 3/4 regular cinnamon. Much better taste than last time.
Bread with a cinnamon swirl or two.
November 10, 2025 at 3:59 AM
zarq.bsky.social
Beer cheese soup. The kids get homemade garlic croutons and popcorn as a topping, with turkey bacon on the side. Mine's au natural.
Beer cheese soup. The kids get homemade garlic croutons and popcorn as a topping, with turkey bacon on the side. Mine's au natural.
November 9, 2025 at 12:59 AM
zarq.bsky.social
It's that time of year again.

Beer cheese soup. This is the broth, heating. The cheese will be added later, after it's had time to simmer for a while.
A creamy broth that will eventually become beer cheese soup.
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM
zarq.bsky.social
"Many legal experts, including lawyers who fought for gay marriage, have counseled calm.

Mary Bonauto, who represented James Obergefell at the Supreme Court, said she understood the fear but believed marriage rights were on solid ground."
Many legal experts, including lawyers who fought for gay marriage, have counseled calm. Mary Bonauto, who represented James Obergefell at the Supreme Court, said she understood the fear but believed marriage rights were on solid ground. “I know everything is being thrown up in the air and feels unstable,” Ms. Bonauto said. But she noted that several justices had discussed the importance of maintaining precedents that people have relied on to order their lives in fundamental ways. The court said in Obergefell that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage, calling marriage a “keystone of our social order.” The plaintiffs in the case, the court said, were seeking “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.” “You have a precedent here, which affects our whole society,” Ms. Bonauto said, noting that there are about 823,000 married same–sex couples in the U.S. raising nearly 300,000 children. “This is something that people need to be able to count on.” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who wrote the Obergefell opinion and is now retired, said in an October interview that “a powerful argument against” overruling the decision was the “tremendous amount of reliance” that same-sex couples and their families had placed on the decision. Polls show that same-sex marriage also now has broad public support. More than three dozen House Republicans helped pass legislation in 2022 that required states and the federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages. “Nothing in the petition before the court justifies creating a patchwork of state laws excluding some families from marriage licenses in the states where they live,” Kevin Jennings, chief executive of Lambda Legal, an L.G.B.T.Q. legal advocacy organization, said in a statement ahead of Friday’s conference.
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
zarq.bsky.social
From matt Bennett: "It turns out that firing half of Northern Virginia for no reason might not be super popular in Northern Virginia."
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 AM
zarq.bsky.social
Of note: the yellow areas went for Cuomo. They include a lot of heavily Jewish areas.
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 AM
zarq.bsky.social
NYT projects Zohran Mamdani as winner in NYC Mayor race with 75% of the votes counted.
New York City Mayoral Election Results ‹ See all New York state results Winner Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, wins the New York City mayoral race. Race called by The Associated Press. Latest results from 1m ago 75% of votes in AP race called Candidate Party Votes PercentPct. Zohran Mamdani Dem. 860,327 +50.4%50.4% Andrew M. Cuomo Ind. 704,866 +41.3%41.3 Curtis Sliwa Rep. 128,400 +7.5%7.5 Total reported 1,708,515
November 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
zarq.bsky.social
This is a FANTASTIC response from @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social Genuinely exceptional.
Mamdani responded to the attack on Instagram: “I’m looking forward to being a mayor for every single Jewish voter, whether they’re voting for me, whether they’re voting for someone else, whether they’re not voting at all,” Mamdani said. “They deserve to be celebrated. They deserve to be cherished, and they deserve someone more than just a president who’s looking to try and define what it means to be a good Jewish person in this city or in this country.”
November 5, 2025 at 12:39 AM
zarq.bsky.social
Maybe we can split the difference and have James Austin Johnson interrupt Cheney's funeral with a self-aggrandizing monologue.
Comedian James Austin Johnson of Saturday Night Live, portraying our whiny president.
November 4, 2025 at 10:28 PM
zarq.bsky.social
There's no one running in a local race here. I'm always obsessive about making sure I vote, but this is my first election day ever with no one to vote for.

Am I staying home? No, because there are *17* proposals on the ballot, including these:
STATE OF TEXAS PROPOSITION 14 "The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue." (PROPUESTA NÚMERO 14 DEL ESTADO DE TEXAS) ("La enmienda constitucional que prevé la creación del Instituto de Prevención e Investigación de la Demencia de Texas, estableciendo el Fondo de Prevención e Investigación de la Demencia para destinar dinero para la investigación, prevención y tratamiento de la demencia, la enfermedad de Alzheimer, la enfermedad de Parkinson y trastornos relacionados en este estado, y transfiriendo a dicho fondo $3 mil millones de los ingresos generales del estado".) STATE OF TEXAS PROPOSITION 15 "The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children." (PROPUESTA NÚMERO 15 DEL ESTADO DE TEXAS) ("La enmienda constitucional que afirma que los padres son los principales responsables de la toma de decisiones para sus hijos".) STATE OF TEXAS PROPOSITION 16 "The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen." (PROPUESTA NÚMERO 16 DEL ESTADO DE TEXAS) ("La enmienda constitucional que aclara que un votante debe ser ciudadano de los Estados Unidos".)
November 4, 2025 at 3:39 PM
zarq.bsky.social
With alt text
Six people became ill and died after eating prepared pasta meals that were contaminated with listeria and sold at major grocery chains across the country, federal health officials said. The meals, sold at Albertsons, Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s and other major stores, were recalled in recent months in connection with the outbreak, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said grew last week. Federal health officials said the supplier, Nate’s Fine Foods Inc., had found Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause illness and death, in a sample of its pasta. Health officials said that a total of 27 people in 18 states had been affected by the outbreak, and that they were working to investigate the source. The outbreak sickened 27 people in 18 states. The meals, which included fettuccine, linguine, farfalle and other types of pasta, were sold at major retailers nationwide and were recalled between June and October. Of the 27 people who became ill, 25 were hospitalized, health officials said. Many of them reported eating precooked meals. In one case, a pregnant woman lost her fetus after becoming ill, health officials said. The cases were reported in California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. “When it comes to listeria outbreaks, this one’s fairly significant and large,” said Benjamin Chapman, a food safety specialist who is the head of the agricultural and human sciences department at North Carolina State University. The number of deaths linked to the outbreak is “tragic,” he added. In a statement on Sep. 29, Nate’s Fine Foods said that it was “committed to the highest standards of food safety,” and that it was working with the C.D.C., the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials to “fully investigate the source.”
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
zarq.bsky.social
NYC Halloween Parade: Thriller 2025
November 3, 2025 at 5:33 AM
zarq.bsky.social
#bluesky
Bright blue sky. Fluffy white clouds. Some of the clouds have light gray shadowy bottoms.
October 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Not bad.
October 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Finally out of the oven. It smells delicious.

I'm not staying up long enough for it to cool so I can cut into it though.
Loaf of banana bread on a cooling rack. This was baked in a pyrex loaf pan. Loaf of banana bread on a cooling rack. This was baked in a pyrex loaf pan. Loaf of banana bread on a cooling rack. This was baked in a pyrex loaf pan. Loaf of banana bread on a cooling rack. This was baked in a pyrex loaf pan.
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
zarq.bsky.social
Text from my child:
"I WOULD PAY SO. MUCH. MONEY. TO WATCH THIS MOVIE MASHUP:"
October 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
zarq.bsky.social
...because the wine might have been used for idolatry. Oh and it might lead to intermarriage.🤯 So, it has to be prepared by a Jewish person. See below.

oukosher.org/halacha-yomi...

And all of that applies to grape juice, too. But it's not a rule many Jews who keep kosher probably care about.

+
Stam yayin is a term in Jewish law for non-kosher wine that is forbidden for Jews to drink or benefit from due to contact with a non-Jew. It is a rabbinic decree enacted out of concern that the wine might have been used for idolatrous purposes or to prevent intermarriage through social interactions involving wine. This prohibition applies to non-mevushal (uncooked) wine and grape juice that a non-Jew has touched, or kosher wine that has been left unsupervised with a non-Jew. Key aspects of stam yayin Reason for prohibition: The primary reason for the prohibition is a rabbinic decree (gezeira) to prevent intermarriage, and a secondary concern that the wine may have been poured for idolatrous worship (yayin nesech). What makes wine stam yayin?: Any non-mevushal wine or grape juice handled by a non-Jew becomes stam yayin. This includes kosher wine left unattended with a non-Jew. Difference from yayin nesech: Yayin nesech is wine used for idolatrous worship and is forbidden by biblical law (d'oraisa). Stam yayin, which is not known to have been used for idolatry but was touched by a non-Jew, is forbidden by rabbinic decree (d'rabbanan). Mevushal wine: The prohibition does not apply to mevushal (cooked or pasteurized) wine, even if a non-Jew touches it, because the heat is thought to have removed any potential idolatrous use. Prohibition details: Drinking stam yayin is forbidden. According to many authorities, one may not derive any other benefit from it either. Other products: The rules for stam yayin also apply to products made from wine, such as non-kosher wine vinegar.
October 16, 2025 at 7:41 PM
zarq.bsky.social
Growing share of U.S. Jews say they avoid wearing things that might identify them as Jewish Q: In the past 12 months, have you avoided publicly wearing, carrying or displaying things that might help people identify you as a Jew? Nov. ’22 23% Nov. ’23 26 April ’24 40 Sept. ’25 42 Source: Sept. 2-9, 2025, Washington Post poll of 815 Jewish Americans with a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.7 percentage points. Previous surveys by the American Jewish Committee. Just 18 percent of Jews say they feel “very” safe in the U.S., while 51 percent say they feel somewhat safe, 26 percent say “not too” safe and 6 percent say “not at all.” There have been several high-profile threats and attacks on Jews and Jewish organizations in recent months. In April, an attacker set fire to the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), who is Jewish, during the Passover holiday; a Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday. In late May, a gunman shot and killed two Israeli Embassy employees as they left a reception at a Jewish museum in D.C. Less than two weeks later, a man in Boulder, Colorado, was accused of hurling molotov cocktails at a demonstration where people had gathered to call for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Fewer than 4 in 10 Jewish Americans think Trump's antisemitism task force is aimed at reducing antisemitism on college campuses Q: What do you think is the main goal of Trump's task force and investigations of antisemitism? Is it to... Reduce antisemitism on college campuses 35% Make colleges more politically conservative 45 A different goal 21 Note: Percentages do not add to 100 due to rounding. Source: Sept. 2-9, 2025, Washington Post poll of 815 Jewish Americans with a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.7 percentage points. More Jewish Americans say Democratic Party is "unfriendly" toward Jews in the U.S. than in 2020 Q: In general, how friendly or unfriendly do you think each of the following is toward Jews in the U.S.? (Percentage choosing each option) FriendlyNeutralNo opinionUnfriendly The Democratic Party 2025 36 33 31 2020 52 34 4 10 The Republican Party 2025 36 35 29 2020 29 41 4 26 Donald Trump 2025 38 29 33 2020 31 28 37 Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. Source: Sept. 2-9, 2025, Washington Post poll of 815 Jewish Americans with a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.7 percentage points.Nov. 19, 2019, to June 3, 2020, Pew Research Center poll of 4,718 Jewish Americans with a margin of error of 3 points.
October 15, 2025 at 9:29 PM
zarq.bsky.social
This is the photo I wound up using. Full set is here: stock.adobe.com/search/image...
Cute young girl holding a violin with one end properly on her collarbone. She's holding the bow against the strings. The photo is showing her from her mid-section, up. She's wearing a lovely white dress and smiling directly at the camera. Background is an out of focus rock face, with a thin leafy tree branch to the right.
October 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM