Bernadette A. Lear

@balibra76
31 Followers
40 Following
402 Posts
Librarian in PA, USA. Wide interests, esp. books, coins, American Indian culture/lit, children's/YA lit, history, music, travel, Lego, cats.
Disgusting hat two kids who have no background in #arts or #history threw thousands of grant applications into #ChatGPT, told it to look for projects that "involve #DEI", and recommended termination based on what #AI told them. No critical thinking about how the bot interpreted their prompt or the wording used in the grants. Besides unfairness toward #women and people of color, DOGE's so-called "work" was apparently incompetent as f*ck. https://abcnews.com/Politics/2-doge-staffers-regrets-people-losing-income-reduce/story?id=131050170
2 DOGE staffers say 'no' regrets for people losing income, didn't reduce the deficit: Depositions

The DOGE employees defended the effort to cut "useless agencies."

ABC News
Hhhmmm. Why does the @RollingStone list of 500 Greatest Albums of all Time include albums that weren't included on RS's #1980s, #1990s, and other lists? Can an album be the best of all time and *not* be the best of its decade? Librarians need to know! LOL #music
Relistening to #BoyzIIMen 's II. What a great album! In addition to their iconic, harmonic vocals, there is a super range of emotions and sounds here. #1990s #music at its best and a great choice for #BlackHistoryMonth.
Ok, so I need to listen to Charlie #Puth. Great rendition of the National Anthem! #music #SuperBowl
I was today years old when I first listened to the #Feelies 's Crazy Rhythms (1980) album. What a pathbreaking work! -- I hear so much 1990s #music and later AAA in it. Very reminiscent of the #indie scene, quirky cult classic films, and other things that came later. So grateful that I stumbled across it!
Of all the things that the #Trump administration is doing, the changes that are being made in our national #parks and #museums offend me most on a professional level. When I look at what's happened at Independence Hall this week, and at other sites over the past year, there is no doubt in my mind that Trump and too many of his followers are seeking to erase #Black people and their perspectives from our national story. #history #politics https://6abc.com/post/philadelphia-slavery-exhibits-presidents-house-removed-trump-administration-directive/18451011/
Slavery exhibits at President's House in Philadelphia removed after Trump administration directive

Crews dismantled plaques telling the stories of the nine enslaved people who lived in the President's House and were owned by George Washington.

A thought-provoking #poem for the present times. I don't necessarily believe there is an acceptable middle ground for every #political issue (for me, some positions are non-negotiable). But, our society's inability to discuss things, inability to listen and empathize, making snap judgments, inability to think independently, and the sundering of so many relationships, is a deep loss for America. https://poets.org/poem/consensus
Consensus

Too soon some / of we became / they

Poets.org
Just started listening to @RollingStone 's list of best #1980s albums, which was compiled in 1989. I wonder if RS would include the same ones if they published a similar list today. Are these same bands/musicians still important in music history? Did albums that didn't make the list in 1989 become more influential over time? Anyway, I am looking forward to a fun #music journey. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-150477
100 Best Albums of the Eighties

From Michael Jackson, Madonna, the Clash and Prince, 100 best albums of the Eighties selected by the editors of Rolling Stone.

Rolling Stone
A helpful article about recent state #laws that place more restrictions on course content in #highereducation. More than half of American #college #students now attend institutions where these types of #censorship laws are in place. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/curriculum/2026/01/15/report-state-lawmakers-enacted-21-censorship-bills-2025
Report: State Lawmakers Enacted 21 Censorship Bills in 2025

The legislatures in all 15 states that passed higher education censorship bills are Republican-controlled. Measures range from curricular control to curtailing faculty governance.

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
Sit with your anger and sadness as you need to. But if you need a fresh tune to dance to, I'd recommend this one. Great #1980s style #synth. #hauteandfreddy #music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BhJBoSILk4
Haute & Freddy - Dance The Pain Away

YouTube