Was at Publix checking out when the mom of the teen-age checker came up and started gabbing with her while we waited.
When they were done I asked the mom if she had baby pictures of the checker.
Mom scrolled through her Facebook for 5 minutes to find baby pictures. Checker was hand-over her mouth mortified.
Today's top Trump headlines:
—Fires the much-admired longtime Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, for being Black.
—Orders agencies to stop using the civil-rights measure of "disparate-impact liability."
—Orders one exception to the otherwise total shutdown of refugee admissions: white Afrikaners.
—Attacks the digital-equity act, which provides high-speed internet access to disadvantaged groups including veterans, older people, the disabled, and rural areas, as "racist."
See a pattern?
Why This Matters
Amateur radio may seem antiquated, but its unique capabilities make it irreplaceable in certain scenarios. Here’s why preserving these frequencies is crucial:
Emergency Communications: When natural disasters take out cell towers and internet infrastructure, ham radio remains operational. Examples:
During Hurricane Katrina, amateur radio operators provided vital communication links when all other systems failed.
https://hamadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hurricane-Katrina.pdf
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, ham radio operators were instrumental in relaying messages from Puerto Rico when conventional communications were disrupted.
During Hurricane Harvey, ham radio operators sprung into action to set up temporary communication networks when cell phones failed.
https://www.lastwire.ca/the-surprising-role-of-ham-radio-in-disaster-response-from-hurricane-katrina-to-hurricane-harvey/
Ham radio operators volunteer with their own equipment to help their friends and neighbors by setting up emergency communication systems.
https://emergencyservices.westchestergov.com/information-and-alerts/amateur-radio-emergency-communications-races
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #AstralPlane
The Velvet Underground:
🎵 Venus in Furs
https://talismtalism.bandcamp.com/track/venus-in-furs-the-velvet-underground
from the album Venus in furs
It appears angry geese have taken over Waterloo, Canada. (does this count as #AnimalHour?) #geese
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #AstralPlane
The Stone Roses:
🎵 Waterfall
https://theblogthatcelebratesitself.bandcamp.com/track/daydream-cathedral-waterfall-the-stone-roses
from the album Rave On, A Madchester Celebration
The POTUS has issued a memo ordering a federal investigation into Chris Krebs, former head of DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The president fired Krebs after the CISA director declared the 2020 election that Trump lost was the most secure in U.S. history.
"Trump's orders revoked the security clearances for Christopher Krebs, the former head of DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Miles Taylor, a former senior DHS official who wrote a highly critical tell-all book about his time in Trump's first administration."
When Trump first took aim at Chris Krebs back in 2020, I started getting tons of hate mail that was directed at him. People full of ignorant rage figuring we're the same person because we share a last name. We're not even related.
Now it's happening again. Here's one I just got less than an hour ago:
From: Eric <[email protected]>
Subject: Accountability
Message Body:
Krebs:
I used to be an admirer of yours but, ever since the 2020 election, I lost all respect for you.
You either lied or were complicit in the 2020 election theft and DJT is coming after you.
Krooks like Krebs need to be held accountable and I can't wait.
Sean Casten
Smplefy
Dysmorphia💛🤍💜🖤
James Gleick
AI6YR Ben
KEXP 🎶 #NowPlaying Bot
BrianKrebs