Amber

Novartis settles with Henrietta Lacks' estate over use of her 'stolen' cells to advance medicine Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and...

Justice sure took a long while…

apnews.com/article/henr...

It really is fascinating how overt it now is that there are certain - really not controversial - ideas that you aren’t allowed to say on television.

The magic isn’t over.

In two weeks will be the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano-Cortina, in which you’ll be able to witness exceptional athletes with disabilities do things you’d never be able to do. ✨

Mapplethorpe photo of a pair of entwined tulips

Folks, I'm telling you,
birthing is hard
and dying is mean–
so get yourself
a little loving
in between.

Langston Hughes, "Advice"
#everynightapoem #botd

[Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulip, 1985]

The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”

That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.

TEXT: I was Alex Pretti’s final nursing student. He was my friend and my nursing mentor. For the past four months, I stood shoulder to shoulder with him during my capstone preceptorship at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. There he trained me to care for the sickest of the sick as an ICU nurse. He taught me how to care for arterial and central lines, the intricacies of managing multiple IVs filled with lifesaving solutions, and how to watch over every heartbeat, every breath, and every flicker of life, ready to act the moment they wavered. Techniques intended to heal. Alex carried patience, compassion and calm as a steady light within him. Even at the very end, that light was there. I recognized his familiar stillness and signature calm composure shining through during those unbearable final moments captured on camera. It does not surprise me that his final words were, “Are you okay?” Caring for people was at the core of who he was. He was incapable of causing harm. He lived a life of healing, and he lived it well. Alex believed strongly in the Second Amendment and in the rights rooted in our Constitution and its amendments. He spoke out for justice and peace whenever he could, not only out of obligation, but out of a belief that we are more connected than divided, and that communication would bring us together.

TEXT: I want his family to know his legacy lives on. I am a better nurse because of the wisdom and skills he instilled in me. I carry his light with me into every room, letting it guide and steady my hands as I heal and care for those in need. Please honor my friend by standing up for peace, preferably with a cup of black coffee in hand and a couple of pieces of candy in your pocket, just as he would. He would remind you that caring for others is hard work, and we must do whatever it takes to get through the long shifts. Step outside with your dog, breathe in the world, hike or bike as he loved to do, and let yourself find peace in the quiet moments within nature. Stand up for justice and speak with those whose views differ from your own. Hold your beliefs with strength, but always extend love outward, even in the face of adversity. Take one step, no matter how small, to help heal our world. Through these acts, carry his light forward in his name. Let his legacy continue to heal.

From a FB post about Alex Pretti:

The majority of organizing happening in Minnesota isn’t just peaceful, it’s INVISIBLE. Moms showing up who won’t be interviewed on TV, people whose ICE patrols don’t turn into viral video. The grocery runs, the donations, the people filming bc they happen to be there. Please remember this.

Why would you believe people who tell you that the US can't shut down institutions at the drop of a hat when you are currently witnessing this administration do it in real time?

Thank you!!!

Black Panthers played a super important role in the 504 Sit ins, making sure the demonstrators had food while they protested for disability rights.

disabilityhistory.org/2021/12/19/t...

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Excellent book!

Yes!

The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a law, passed by Congress on November 19 with an overwhelming vote. Complying with it was not optional. The Department of Justice did not comply.

I want to make sure this is very clear.

Hey, @govpritzker.illinois.gov can we get this in Illinois?

This made me lol

Thanks for this context. I didn’t know, but it adds a lot to know his jobs.

I’m getting my mom a puzzle board and a gift certificate to jewelry repair shop so she can repair and/or modify jewelry she can’t currently use.

Fine. Give us the Epstein files in Times New Roman, then.

It’s so good!

‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong

Wow!

Yay! I don’t have any brick walls but I do have dreams, so I’m glad my specific day dreaming helped :)

This is huge!

Home educating is lonely and satisfying and exhausting and delightful (for me!). But one of the weirdest parts is the lack of feedback from society at large. So you should crow about your collective victories here and anywhere else you like

😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎

This is an excellent idea!!!

A brick clip or two!

Supermoon Shadow Casting 2025: Complete Guide Discover November 2025's supermoon shadow casting phenomenon. Complete guide to the brightest Hunter's Moon with tips and locations.

1/5 🌕 Get ready for a sky spectacle! November 2025 brings the Hunter’s Supermoon, the brightest and largest full moon of the year. This isn’t just any moon—it’s set to cast rare, vivid shadows across the landscape.
Discover more: scienceagenda.net/blog/supermo...

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Gentle reminder: When sharing resources for food pantries or donation drives, please include alt text for infographics so the information is accessible to everyone.