Matt Smith

Hebrew calligraphy in dark green stretches in lines across the image. Negative space makes room for a simple representation of an inflatable frog costume with a blue bandana. That shape consists of the English translation of the Hebrew, in a lighter green, and in much smaller text. -- Famously, the Egyptian tyrant causes Egypt to be overrun with frogs because he refuses to free the Hebrew people, but there are additional details that make this a fun one to ponder. For one, the Hebrew says "the frog came up" - ONE frog - even though the rest of the time it says "frogs." So there are a few explanations rabbis have come up with to explain this. One is that a single frog multiplied to create swarms. A more creative explanation is that there was a singular giant frog who traveled and brought destruction. Jewish social media was sharing videos of the Portland Frog protester with the caption, "One Big Frog! One Big Frog!" Of course the frog protesters did multiply, and many were seen in crowds all over the world on "No Kings" Day. This calligraphic work takes the verses addressing the frog plague and combines them to form a simple rendering of the Portland Frog protester. The frog figure itself is made up of the English translations of the Hebrew around it. At the bottom left my signature is in the shape of a lily pad.

"Tzefardea Tzedek" (Frog of Righteousness)

As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

This!

New pope attended St. Mary’s grammar school in Riverdale. Some folks outside said he was an altar boy here as well. It is abandoned and unlocked right now.

YouTube video by The Humanist Report TikTokers & Redditors Weaponize “Anti-Woke” App to Boycott Pro-Trump Businesses

Avoid local MAGA businesses by using “Public Square” app - it tracks MAGA businesses near you… youtu.be/eonvSeewVjA?...

To be clear – the app originated for Maga people to seek out like-minded small businesses.

I’ve been using it and (IMHO) it’s shocking to see how many and who they are.

My god is that stunning! If you like that, you’d love Taoist stone sculpture. I’ll try to find you photos. 👍

Opinion | Elon Musk’s Legacy: DOGE’s Construction of a Surveillance State (Gift Article) DOGE is rapidly assembling a sprawling monitoring system, the foundation of many authoritarian regimes.

Gifting this article for everyone because it’s just too important.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...

How to Create a Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM Taking some of these practical steps to promote a neurodiversity-affirming classroom can make a big difference for students.

Useful for more contexts than just classrooms. Imagine modifying this for adult/workplace contexts, etc…

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/01/how-...?

NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.

Elon’s evil munchkins sent this ridiculous email out to all 2 million or so Federal employees demanding they reply by midnight Monday. If you want to let them know what you did last week I’m bet they’d love to hear from you at HR@OPM.Gov! I can’t wait to tell them about my norovirus symptoms!

For every $1 the IRS spends auditing the top 1%, it can collect $13.

For every $1 the IRS spends auditing the top 0.1%, it can collect $26.

Laying off 7,000 IRS employees (during tax season) isn't about efficiency.

It's about making it easier for the rich to evade taxes.

That's horrible.

Opinion | Don’t Believe Him (Gift Article) Look closely at the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s second term and you’ll see something very different than what he wants you to see.

Gifted article. 🙂

Trump administration seems now to have mastered how to approach media.

Especially how to dangle a carrot in front of us with the left hand to trigger us while their other hand is getting away with systemic sabotage.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/o...

Geee, this sure was essential to accomplish. Effing dolt.

My sis-in-law has mad HP Lovecraft art skills.

In case anyone is spooked enough to need Left-leaning prepper community. This is NOT a militia prepper group - just civility-minded people forging deeper levels of protection together ... discord.gg/tqSHFCfR

*Grumble grumble…*

We’re there soon too! Basically, find waterfalls (there are plenty) and enjoy sitting in them with your favorite people. Looks like you’re near a national park too. Absolutely soak that up. But wear boots. Red ants are prevalent. And your feet are their munchies. 🙂

The Reductress continues to provide…
#Reductress

Nonpartisan heroics exist 👍❤️

Perfect words to start the next 4 years. This is precisely why she deserved the Medal of Freedom - decency before politics.

A black ink woodcut print on cream colored paper. The subject is a river otter running with a jug hanging from a rope clenched in its mouth.

2024 Liv Rainey-Smith creations
Kawauso
Woodcut print
Another woodcut that was carved years ago for a book, and finally editioned in 2024. #art #woodcut

YouTube video by WritersTheatre EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Writers Theatre

More about it here…

youtu.be/IVs0jh7JW4Q?...

A wonderful experience seeing Every Brilliant Thing

#WritersTheater #EveryBrilliantThing

Yeeeesh… This may be the best reason yet for me to mothball both of those social media hubs… leaving them exclusively as an old photo album (if that).

Counterpoint: Crypto is basically a pyramid scheme that will fall apart as soon as the underlying algorithms become worthless.

And quantum computing will make a LOT of them worthless.