Helen H-A

Millions of Americans Don’t Have Documents Proving Their Citizenship Readily Available Requiring Americans to prove their citizenship to register to vote would exclude millions of citizens from the political process.

More than 21 millions Americans do not have documentation proving their citizenships, and would be disenfranchised by the SAVE Act the GOP just passed through the House. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

Inside TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans From Filing Their Taxes for Free Using lobbying, the revolving door and “dark pattern” customer tricks, Intuit fended off the government’s attempts to make tax filing free and easy, and created its multi-billion-dollar franchise.

With tax season in full swing, here's our reminder that TurboTax owner Intuit spent two decades fighting to prevent Americans from filing their taxes online for free.

(Published 2019)

GM: Charisma check.

Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]

GM: that’s a d6 how did you

Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊

Direct link? TinyURL is throwing an error for me.

This thread is the gift that keeps giving! I finished the whole series by @adapalmer.bsky.social, and am back to working my way down the list 🥰

The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.

“The point is not to get back to normal. Normal is how we got here.

The wall looks permanent until the day it comes down.”

semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003

when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out

The Gist: The Abuse Factory X, the child abuse imagery app, revealed our state has no red lines. This is the Gist.

New Gist: The Abuse Factory

It shouldn't be difficult to act swiftly and without hesitation when the question posed is "Is it OK to work with the child sexual abuse material factory?" But our state failed this most straightforward of tests this week.

www.thegist.ie/the-gist-the...

Here is a video of a frozen creek that had begun to thaw, and the water was flowing beneath the thin ice on top. I took this because it was soothing and wonderfully bloopy and I wanted to listen to it for hours. You are all welcome to enjoy it, too. Let your brain settle here and rest for a moment.

Here’s some things that can be done by a party out of power

- file impeachment articles every day in the House

- withhold unanimous consent in the senate and filibuster every nominee

- be everywhere with comms saying this is lawless and impeachable

Reminder: resolutions can be fun! You can resolve to try a new cheese every week, eat all the weird fruits you’ve been curious about at the grocery store, or commit to watching 12 different classic films.

Why make crappy resolutions when you can make happy ones

I’m so glad you liked it! I already grabbed Light From Uncommon Stars from the challenge (and handed it off to spouse and kid, too), and generally stuffing my library hold queue with the stuff I haven’t already read :)

A barista once told me I did that.
“Oh, sorry!” I said, thinking I was weirding her out.
“No, it’s nice. It’s like I’ve just made my best coffee of the morning!”

Independent voters file Commonwealth Court lawsuit to end closed primaries in Pa. • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Under the Election Code, people who are not registered as members of the two major political parties cannot vote in partisan primaries.

A group of five independent voters including political commentator Michael Smerconish filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a Pennsylvania court to end the commonwealth’s bar against independent voters participating in primary elections.

From @petehallpa.bsky.social

a skeleton lovingly holds a pile of dirt with a sprout coming out of it with a butterfly on their skull. The city of Philadelphia is in the background. The words say "Native Plant Prep Party! Help pack native seed packets for free distribution" hosted by Skype a Scientist

Hey cuties, wanna share some snacks, chat, & pack up native plant seeds for free distribution?

Join us December 17th for the next iteration of the Native Plant Prep Party!

The goal: Pack up 10,000 seed packets.
We're currently at 2000 already packed.

RSVP here: luma.com/o3sladpu

Since you have already had two sci-fi authors, I will recommend Song For A New Day (as well as the short story collection that holds the original short story, Sooner or Later Everything Falls into The Sea) by Sarah Pinsker!

With the goal of reaching new ppl w/biodiversity action, we're expanding the Native Plant Project to bars. We're calling it Biodiversity Beers.

In collab w/artists Marian Bailey, @hanfranstudio.bsky.social, & @the666cat.bsky.social, we're making pint glasses that encourage planting of native 🌱

(bb) (1) The term "race" includes traits historically associated with the individual's race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or policy or other rule or policy justified as a bona fide occupational qualification, provided the employer demonstrates all of the following, if the rule or policy impacts traits historically associated with the individual's race:(i) Without the adoption of the rule or policy the health or safety of an employe or other materially connected person may be impaired.(ii) The rule or policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons.(iii) The rule or policy is specifically tailored to the applicable position and activity.(iv) The rule or policy is applied equally to individuals whose positions fall under the applicable position and activity.(2) Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace policy to prevent a hostile work environment, provided the policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons and is applied equally.(cc) The term "protective hairstyle" includes, but is not limited to, such hairstyles as locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros and extensions.(dd) (1) The term "religious creed" includes , but is not limited to, head coverings and hairstyles historically

associated with religious creeds. Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or policy or other rule or policy justified as a bona fide occupational qualification, provided the employer demonstrates all of the following, if the rule or policy impacts head coverings and hairstyles historically associated with the individual's religious creed:(i) Without the adoption of the rule or policy the health or safety of an employe or other materially connected person may be impaired.(ii) The rule or policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons.(iii) The rule or policy is specifically tailored to the applicable position and activity.(iv) The rule or policy is applied equally to individuals whose positions fall under the applicable position and activity.(2) Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace policy to prevent a hostile work environment, provided the policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons and is applied equally.Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days

An overwhelming bipartisan majority has sent the PA CROWN Act to Gov. Shapiro's desk; this has been a priority of @repmcclinton.com @latashaforpa.bsky.social for years. It will prohibit discrimination based on a person’s hair type, hair texture or hairstyle. www.palegis.us/legislation/...

Young People are Ditching Their Phones This Weekend Social media-addicted Gen-Zers are hosting an event this weekend to collectively dump the apps — and instead enjoy each other in person.

The irony of sharing this on social media is not lost on me, but if you're looking for support / solidarity in getting off your phone and into the real world, my pal Mark is here to help! thephiladelphiacitizen.org/the-citizen-...

One of the many things I really admire about @repdwightevans.bsky.social is that not only has he decided to retire from Congress next year at 72 after decades of public service, but he announced it well enough in advance so that any interested candidates could compete in an open primary.

My segment starts at 11 minutes in 🥰

A bunch of people gather around a table drawing

Oh, what’s that? You need some free or cheap stuff to do in Philly? I got you.

Mon 11/10
Bad Art for Good
Make art that encourages action on imp you issues!

Wed 11/19
Native Plant Prep Party
Help me pack native seeds for free distribution!

Fri 11/21
Drink & Draw

Get all links at Lu.ma/dgs

November 5, 2025 - Block by Block This episode features stories from our community news reporters about about SEPTA's budget crisis, a recent Youth Mental Health Summit, two new book shops in the area that are dedicated to romance boo

My PhillyCAM fellowship is “wow, so you’ll give me 5 minutes to share cool people on the radio??” Tonight’s ep has @sarahmackattack.bsky.social talking about one tiny awesome thing she does — showing off the local minifauna (bugs!)
I could do a whole hour just on her.
soundcloud.com/phillycam/bl...

Zohran was polling at six percent in January. Nothing is impossible

Walmart, McDonalds and Amazon are the largest employers of people who require SNAP assistance.

The CEOs earned between 18-40 million last year, 1000x their median employee income.

They took billions in profits, while their workers relied on SNAP to survive.

Wanna fix fraud and abuse?

Fix that.

Gosh, thanks, Google (whose algorithms have long pushed users toward extremist content, because profit is everything and humanity is nothing, to Google).

Reminder: There’s no such thing as “a substack” and definitely no such thing as _your_ substack. www.anildash.com/2024/11/19/d...

Three years after shutting down, Philly’s old Greyhound station will reopen in 2026 “Unsustainable” Spring Garden terminal to close; PPA will run the rehabbed Filbert Street station.

Bringing intercity buses back to a proper terminal is a recognition that people deserve more than a curb under a highway overpass — they deserve shelter, dignity and respect.

Heyyyy we desperately need more archaeologists to volunteer to answer questions from students via video chat through @skypeascientist.bsky.social.

We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵‍💫

If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

I joined a radio fellowship this year.
This Wednesday at 5:30, my first-ever piece will air: wppm.phillycam.org

My topic: Join Philly, and why you should join a club.

Joining a club, a fellowship, a group, etc - it’s all saying YES to something new. I hope you find your YES, wherever you are.