James Cragle

@jamescragle@mastodon.world
48 Followers
72 Following
813 Posts
Microsoft 365 and Azure consultant, cyclist, hiker and dog lover
CountryUnited States
Bloggerhttps://jamescragle.blogspot.com/
GitHubhttps://github.com/jamescragle
Sadly this will probably be my last big #duolingo achievement. In less than 3 weeks I’ll be on a 2 week trip with no internet service. Maybe if I get lucky enough spotty coverage will get me through it.
#duolingo day 650! Besides my job probably the most effort I have consistently put into an activity.
The #crazycat is getting some back scratches after being alone for nearly an hour on this #caturday! Poor neglected baby.
After the #crazycat had a short nap on my head, he decided I needed to be groomed on this #caturday. At least he didn’t bite me this time.

#climate #water #soil

"Earth has lost enough soil moisture in the last 40 years to change the planet’s spin"...

Earth’s Land Masses Are Drying Out Fast, Scientists Warn - Inside Climate News
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032025/earth-land-masses-drying-out-fast

Earth’s Land Masses Are Drying Out Fast, Scientists Warn - Inside Climate News

Researchers comparing satellite measurements of the planet’s water with the wobble in its rotation identified a steady loss of global soil moisture.

Inside Climate News
Keep the Congressional switchboard number handy these days: (202) 224-3121
Hijacked Microsoft Stream classic domain spams SharePoint sites

The legacy domain for Microsoft Stream was hijacked to show a fake Amazon site promoting a Thailand casino, causing all SharePoint sites with old embedded videos to display it as spam.

BleepingComputer
A beautiful common snapping turtle crossing the road. Zoomed out to show its size. That turtle could be 100 years old. Just amazing. #turtle
Poor kitty. There is some painting and remodeling going on so for now the #crazycat is having to spend his #caturday resting on a camping chair. #CatsOfMastodon
I saw this cool little insect today. If it were on a tree it would have gone unnoticed. #InsectsOfTheFediverse
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Keep the Congressional switchboard number handy these days: (202) 224-3121

@georgetakei

It already passed.

@Bandersnatch @georgetakei The man said keep the number handy. That's the point — not enough people called and yelled at their senators before the vote after Pete Buttigieg told us all the vote was impending.

I've had the number for the Congressional switchboard memorized for years. I also know I can send a free fax to at least one of my senators via Faxzero, and I can send both a message via Resist.bot.

@femme_mal @georgetakei

That's fair, I didn't now about it till after it was repealed.

I'm using FiveCalls again to try to prevent that in the future.

@Bandersnatch @georgetakei Here's a source for the bills ahead, now that you're armed and ready.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/

If your senators or House rep are GOP, it's *especially* important to contact them because they're more worried about Trump than their constituents. Flip that around by being heard and making sure other constituents contact them as well.

Solidarity!

Bills and Resolutions -- GovTrack.us

Find legislation in the U.S. Congress.

GovTrack.us

@femme_mal @Bandersnatch @georgetakei Would that be the same #gop whose response to jelling voters in town hall meetings was to simply cancel town halls?

Let's see the positive in this, they are honest in the sense once bought, they stay bought?

@yacc143 Do you think not calling one's GOP reps is an effective response? Don't bother to answer that, it's a rhetorical question. Doing nothing earns nothing.

The GOP is driven by money and fear. If we don't have money, we use fear. Trump pulling Stefanik's appointment is a sign of fear—make every GOP senator and rep afraid for their seat by letting them know what they need to do and how they're failing at it.

EDIT: if you're not American, focus on the fascism growing at home. It's there.

@femme_mal @yacc143 @georgetakei

Yesterday, I straight up told my Senators & Rep. that if we were actually at war I'd be calling for the #SignalGate moron's executions instead of merely their incarceration.

This morning I sent $20 to Josh Weil.

@Bandersnatch Super! Bravo!

You might consider calling your rep and asking them to sponsor an investigation into Signalgate and subsequent impeachment proceedings for each appointee involved who is proven to have lied, covered up, or obstructs investigation into Signalgate.

At a minimum, these 7 reasons are why there must be an investigation and corrective action. They broke multiple laws and several lied about it.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/03/25/seven-reasons-trumps-entire-national-security-team-should-resign-in-disgrace/

Seven Reasons Trump's Entire National Security Team Should Resign in Disgrace - emptywheel

It's not just that Mike Waltz accidentally added the wrong person to a Signal chat, the cover story Trump has adopted. Trump's entire national security team was witness to an egregious breach that might be a crime. All should resign in disgrace.

emptywheel

@femme_mal

While I doubt my #fascist Rep will do anything like that, since he's a #coward that won't even show up to #townhalls, I can give that a shot.

@Bandersnatch Organize with friends and family in the same state and district to make similar calls. Numbers matter -- it wasn't just the yelling which scared GOP reps off town halls but the numbers of people who showed up.

If there's an Indivisible.org group near you, get connected with them because that's another source of numbers, another resource for resistance, and social support so you don't feel isolated in this effort.

Solidarity!

@femme_mal

My wife and daughter are also making calls.

My local extended family are part of the problem.

My wife, daughter, two of our sons and myself will be at a protest this afternoon. I'm pretty sure Indivisible along with the local Dems organized it, but not positive. We have friends joining us for the April 5th protest at the nearest Federal Courthouse.

@Bandersnatch I hear you about the extended family, which is why additional social support is helpful.

Good on you for planning to attend the rally! Be sure to check your opsec unlike the morons who are our current Defense Dept.

And wear masks because COVID isn't over and measles, flu, other viruses are airborne.

https://ssd.eff.org/module/attending-protest

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

Attending a Protest

For quick reference, we've created a handy guide designed to be printed, folded, and carried in your pocket (PDF download). Now, more than ever, citizens must be able to hold those in power accountable and inspire others through the act of protest. Protecting your electronic devices and digital assets before, during,...

@Bandersnatch Now it's time to call our House reps about the parallel bill, H.J.Res 59

Congressional switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Link to the House bill below also includes a link for contacting one's representative:
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hjres59

Disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions”. (H.J.Res. 59)

A resolution in the U.S. Congress.

GovTrack.us

@georgetakei nice that Trudeau cut overdraft fees to $10 as one of his last acts as Prime Minister.

He's looking for a new job, maybe you guys should give him a call. 🤣

@georgetakei Or even better use https://resist.bot an incredible service in these dire times. “Contact all your officials at once”
Resistbot

Text RESIST to 50409 to contact your federal, state, or local elected officials; create movements; and more. Over 30,000,000 letters delivered and counting.

Resistbot
@georgetakei As if what we think is going to make any difference. We have to be OUT THERE, IN THEIR FACE. How was Hitler stopped? What are we doing about out Shitlers?
@georgetakei we've got a call posted about this. it has passed the Senate and is now going to the House. call your reps!
https://5calls.org/issue/overdraft-fee-cap-hj59-sj18/
Block the Return of Predatory Bank Fees - Passed Senate ⭑ 5 Calls

Updates March 27, 2025: The Senate has passed S.J. Res. 18 along party lines, with one lone GOP defector voting no. The legislation now moves to the …

5 Calls

@georgetakei the list of which senators voted which way if anyone is curious

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/119-2025/s153

S.J.Res. 18: A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by … -- Senate Vote #153 -- March 27, 2025

Senate Vote #153 in 2025, in the United States Congress.

GovTrack.us
@georgetakei All the global corporate CEOs are meeting with Beijing, not with Trump. Proof is in the pudding. Trump is a disaster, told everyone investments would be running into the US. But the opposite, they are flying to Trumps nemesis.