John Mark Ockerbloom

@JMarkOckerbloom
969 Followers
194 Following
4K Posts

A Philadelphian with professional interests in libraries, technology, copyright, and culture, and nonprofessional interests that include singing, reading, hiking, biking. Also other personal interests that you might pick up from my posts over time.

He, him, his. Lent, Easter, Pentecost. Speak out, organize, vote.

Show threadJohn Mark Ockerbloom23h ago
@dsalo @emjonaitis We had wind here too; it died down by mid-day, but it did make holding signs a challenge at times. Layering and gloves worked well for me, though I should have worn my hat more than I did (not so much for warmth as for sun protection).
John Mark Ockerbloom23h ago

We witness
We remember
Vote this spring
Vote in November
#NoKings

(Adjust as appropriate for your state's election schedule: https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/calendar/ ) #USPol #PAPol

2026 Election Calendar: Primary and General Election Dates

Complete 2026 midterm election calendar with primary and general election dates for all 50 states. Track U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor races and more from AP News.

AP News
John Mark Ockerbloom1d ago
The two sides of my sign for today's #NoKings marches in Philadelphia. #UsPol #vote
Show threadJohn Mark Ockerbloom1d ago

My non-doctor understanding of medical consensus is that gender transition *surgery* is usually best deferred to adulthood (with non-genital surgery maybe appropriate in some teen cases), but a broader spectrum of gender-transition *care* (eg. social transition, puberty blockers, hormones, etc.) is recommended, with appropriate conditions and safeguards, for both kids and adults.

Some are trying to equate professional caution on one intervention type with government restrictions on all types.

John Mark Ockerbloom1d ago

Since some media are misreporting it, here's what the American Medical Association actually says about transgender care in minors.

2026: "AMA policy on gender-affirming care is unchanged. The AMA supports gender-affirming care as medically necessary per our policy." https://cloud.e.ama-assn.org/newsletter?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_term=3262026&utm_content=AMA_BoardNewsletter_Mar_032626&utm_campaign=MMX_Email_Newsletter_BoardChair&utm_uid=GENEM&utm_effort=GENEM#gender-affirming-care

2024 Clarification of Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care: https://policysearch.ama-assn.org/policyfinder/detail/%22Clarification%20of%20Evidence-Based%20Gender-Affirming%20Care%22?uri=%2FAMADoc%2FHOD-185.927.xml

2021 opposition to legislation prohibiting or penalizing gender transition related care to minors: https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-press-releases/ama-states-stop-interfering-health-care-transgender-children

AMA Board Newsletter

John Mark Ockerbloom2d ago

This Defector story on "Why I Got Out Of The Gambling Business" notes that, while ganbling firms have some safeguards for gambling addicts, they generally don't kick in until a bettor is in serious trouble. E.g.: "Customers don't set limits on their accounts until after they have done something bad, if they ever set limits at all."

Among needed reforms is requiring safeguards from the get-go. E.g.: You *have* to set a limit as soon as you open an account: https://defector.com/why-i-got-out-of-the-gambling-business?giftLink=13ad49c3e90eaccf3bb08549957f0853

Why I Got Out Of The Gambling Business | Defector

There are broadly speaking two types of gamblers: valuable and not valuable. All are referred to as customers. The latter group are dilettantes. These people deposit maybe once or twice, usually to take advantage of a first-time deposit promotion, but rarely or never again after that. Maybe they don’t care much for sports, or are turned…

John Mark Ockerbloom2d ago
Show threadAkaSci 🛰️2d ago

Find an event near you using the tool at https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/

Prep videos at https://www.youtube.com/@NoKingsMovement

Lots of helpful resources at https://www.nokings.org/

#UsPol #NoKings
3/n

No Kings March 28th · No Kings on Mobilize

What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.

Mobilize
Show threadJohn Mark Ockerbloom2d ago
@ink I'm thinking I'll do a sign on voting (urging folks in the march to do so in the primaries and general election, and reminding those watching the march that we'll hold elected officials and candidates accountable when we do.). Still thinking about how to best express that on a sign, though.
John Mark Ockerbloom3d ago

Whether or not you're at #NoKings this weekend, I care more that you show up to vote afterwards. Electing candidates who will fight for the people's rights instead of cooperating with the Trump regime's wrongs is essential for peaceful change.

Start with the primaries, happening soon in many states. They may require you to register in advance, particularly if you've moved or will vote in a party's primary for the first time. Schedule & requirements by state: https://www.usvotefoundation.org/primary-election-dates #vote #USPol

Primary Election Dates | U.S. Vote Foundation

Find Primary Election dates by state. A good candidate choice is the first step to winning an election. Includes quick links to voter services.

Show threadJohn Mark Ockerbloom3d ago
@jmccyoung I have read that. I'm not sure how much we can really tell about the long-term effects of genAI at this point, but I do worry about a number of different types of losses from it that will be hard to recover from.