Online Luddite

TrailNation Summit Rails to Trails Conservancy’s TrailNation Summit 2025 is October 27-29, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. Early-bird registration opens Jan. 15, 2025

If you're interested in active transportation networks & connectivity--incl. in cities & suburbs --as well as more rural and recreational trails, check out @railstotrails
TrailNation Summit later this month in Cleveland. (I'll be there!) Reg. closes this Fri.! www.railstotrails.org/trailnation/...

Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown Some employees at the Department of Education changed their responses back to the more neutral language, only to have it changed yet again to the partisan response, multiple sources tell WIRED.

NEW: Federal workers had their out-of-office replies changed to an unhinged and probably illegal partisan screed; when they changed them to neutral language, the replies were changed yet again. @leahfeiger.bsky.social and @telliotter.bsky.social have the details:

David Cross folks.

"Hillary's campaign is powered by pizza, anal" — wait, come again? - Salon.com Such are the perils of truncating headlines on the Internet

www.salon.com/2015/11/05/h...

It certainly appears the United States murdered an innocent fisherman who was a husband and father to four children, claimed he was a "narco-terrorist," posted a video of the execution, and then made jokes about it

This. This administration is even worse than any of us thought possible. Who had destroy NIH, CDC, USAID, EPA, scientific research all at the same time on their bingo card?

Congressman Foster and I have stood side by side in the trenches, fighting for Illinoisans – and I’m honored to have him back on my team.

@foster4congress.bsky.social

Imagine if NPR had actually talked to safe streets advocates for this story and learned how the solutions to drivers killing people is not, in fact, victim blaming

Nixon with the Gen Z fuck boy broccoli cut is almost impossible to believe. And yet here he is.

Turns out, you can walk on the escalator. Who knew.

Here you go, From my friend @billbindc.bsky.social

Councillor Glen and Japnam having a conversation on a bench in front of a local school while Japnam's dad looks on

Yesterday afternoon I met 10-year-old Japnam in front of Shingwàkons Public School in #Stittsville.

After reading the sad news of a child getting struck by a vehicle in her neighbourhood earlier this summer, Japnam started a petition asking for more speed cameras in front local schools.

1/

There goes the First Amendment.

This commentary offers a clear, powerful statement of why freedom of speech is at the heart of democracy and must be defended, whether the speaker is Charlie Kirk or Jimmy Kimmel, MAGA supporters or MAGA opponents.

Harris: No. In Texas, you get “reviewed” every six months, but it’s a kangaroo court. When we arrive for the review, the denial forms are already filled out; we just sign to acknowledge we were told “no.” They never tell you what you need to do to get out or when you might be released. Ask when you’re getting out and they’ll tell you, “When we say so.” I watched friends get denied year after year because they were trans or gay and refused to grow their hair to what the system deemed “feminine length.” The not knowing eats at you. The first few reviews, you’re excited: this is it, they’re letting me out. But slowly it dawns on you they have no intention of releasing you when you start meeting people who’ve been in the hole for decades. Eventually you stop going to your reviews because you refuse to participate in their sick game. (Editor’s note: Lawsuits by people subjected to years and decades of solitary confinement in Texas prisons claim these perfunctory reviews reinforce a system of indefinite isolation.)

People who are thrown in solitary confinement aren't told how long they'll spend there.

Some people end up there—for years. There are so few restrictions.

Read how this Texan who's experienced this describes it: boltsmag.org/designed-to-...

...We are sad not to be going back to Baltimore (for now), and there are definitely things I miss about the U.S. (including working in an office, and bars). But this is the right decision for us for right now. (2/2)

Personal post: we have been in Mexico City since Jan. '22 for my spouse's term-limited job that ends next week. However, we decided to stay. It's better for us, for our young child, and for us as parents. We're in the process of moving out of work-provided housing to our own apt.

Hard-Fought Treaty to Protect Ocean Life Clears a Final Hurdle The global High Seas Treaty, decades in the making, will become international law. It aims to create vast maritime conservation areas.

Breaking News: A hard-fought international treaty to protect ocean life, decades in the making, cleared a final hurdle. It allows for the establishment of enormous conservation zones in international waters.

This is partly why I cling to Facebook.
-It (+IG) are the only real remaining "social" (as in friends) media
-I extensively use Friend Lists and custom privacy settings to tailor audience for each post (based on interests, geography, how close or not they are) and keep some friends closer/farther.

This is the top headline on CNN. A good warning sign that your country may be becoming a dictatorship is when your plain-jane straight news networks start saying “Our country is becoming a dictatorship”

🚶🏿‍🚶🚲Celebrating Community Connections🚲‍🚶🏻‍️🚶🏾‍

A new bridge along the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Trail serves as a link between Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties.

Our draft 6-year budget includes $240 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

One of these rich dudes invested in a food company with all proceeds going to kids in need. The other started Sundance Institute, boosting the lives of countless artists. Hey modern rich dudes, don't be a typical greedy AI crypto-prick, be like these two.

White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups

With these now explicit threats to use the Kirk killing as the pretext to attack liberal political groups, and given the Ds hold the cards at the end of the month, what are @chuckschumer.com and @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social going to do about this? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

Stone, 45, said he lost his government contracting job abruptly in July and had been hoping to find another position in the Washington, D.C. area. But so far, he has not been able to do so. "I pressed ahead with the campaign, expecting it to be a short-term issue," Stone said in an email to the Prince William Times. "But now that our family budget is tight due to no income, I have to do what's best for my family and take the job I'm offered."

The GOP nominee in a Virginia state House race this fall has dropped out. He says he lost his government contracting job and has no income, so he's had to take a job out of state & move away.

That's... literally what Dems are campaigning on to win VA. www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/gop-nom...

‘Citizens Academies’ for Transit Riders Teach Self-Advocacy — Streetsblog USA Advocacy courses can help public transit riders, enthusiasts, and community stakeholders understand their local transportation systems and power structures.

Great concept that should spread to other cities: usa.streetsblog.org/2023/06/21/c... (2/2)

I am an alum of this excellent, FREE (+free, good dinners provided) program open to all Baltimore-area citizens wanting to make a difference advocating for better walking, biking, and public transit options. The application is fast but deadline is Wednesday.

Inflation climbs in August as grocery and gas prices jump Inflation accelerated in August as Americans paid more for gasoline and groceries. Over the last 12 months, consumer prices have risen 2.9%.

Inflation accelerated in August as Americans paid more for gasoline and groceries. Over the last 12 months, consumer prices have risen 2.9%.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Is More Popular Than You Think Cameras that ticket drivers who run red lights and speed are effective and widely popular with city residents. So why are they banned in so many places?

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

More Democrats Need To Say It: 'Sports Leagues Should Be Organized By Sex' The overwhelming majority of the public believes this, and it doesn't make them bigots. The view needs to be robustly represented inside our tent.

You can call them bigots until you turn blue, but you're *never* going to convince most people that trans women should be competing in women's sports.
This is an absolute loser for Democrats, and they need to accept that fact.
Common sense from Josh Barro: www.joshbarro.com/p/more-democ...