After France, Denmark is moving too: its Digitalisation Ministry plans to phase out Microsoft, switching to Linux and LibreOffice in the coming months. The goal is clear—reduce dependence on a handful of global tech giants and strengthen digital sovereignty.

Palantir's CEO published a manifesto arguing Western tech firms have a "moral debt" to US military dominance, that AI weapons are inevitable, and that "some cultures are dysfunctional." This isn't just a regularly evil tech or defence contractor, it’s a fascist political project.

TODAY: Virginia voters decide a referendum that would allow the redrawing of Congressional lines

It could swing four U.S. House seats in Virginia from red-to-blue next year

South Korea to help safeguard Machu Picchu amid climate threats South Korea will send experts to help preserve Machu Picchu, one of the most iconic sites of the Inca civilization, over the next five years, officials said Tue

South Korea will send experts to help preserve Machu Picchu, one of the most iconic sites of the Inca civilization, over the next five years, officials said Tuesday.

www.koreaherald.com/article/1072...

Very cool!

Do You Want To Know A Secret (Remastered 2009) YouTube video by The Beatles - Topic

#MusicSky #Beatles #60s

Do You Want To Know A Secret?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQ7...

New peace pole dedicated in downtown Yakima Martin Streich told a crowd of more than 80 people gathered Wednesday that the pole is a simple but powerful symbol. It was crafted by three local woodworkers and decorated

The monument is part of the global Peace Pole Project that began more than 50 years ago in Japan, sculptor John Barany said, and has grown to include more than 200,000 peace poles installed in communities around the globe. (Joel Donofrio / yakimaherald.com)

Black cat with long pink tongue out

Anybody still do #TongueOutTuesday? Caught Zelda doing this yesterday.

Maybe you could limit replies to followers or just express yourself and have no replies. Sometimes we just want to post a joke or cute picture to lighten the gloom. Not an invitation for unnecessary opining. This isn’t Reddit, folks.

Time for my weekly rant. My page my choice. Two of my posts yesterday were nitpicked to death by about 30 people. Funny story. Not 1 was a follower. Not 1 of them. Then I look at their page & next to no posts & very few followers. You can disagree with any post but don’t be petty.
It’s exhausting

a black and white photo of a woman wearing a chef 's hat eating a piece of food . Alt: a black and white photo of a woman wearing a chef 's hat eating a piece of food .

Me, handling the stress of trying to appear normal

When children are pressed into medical translation and treatment fails, the sense of guilt can be devastating to a child.

LEP kids.

Annual flu vaccine no longer required for U.S. military, Hegseth says The move alarmed some public health experts, who warned that it would weaken troop readiness.

NOT SO FUN FACT—half of all U.S. war casualties during WWI were due to influenza. Today—Trump’s War Secretary remove the flu vaccine requirement for all U.S. military. Plus, bragging about this to all enemies is just absolute idiocy. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

They lost a follower and a donor on this one!

We have 7 cats. “Cleanup on aisle [table, rug, bed, etc]” is a daily request.

ICE releases delayed detainee death reports as 2026 total rises to 17 The reports, covering four January deaths, were posted after the agency missed a 90-day deadline required by Congress.

ICE’s abuses are killing people. We need an immigration system rooted in due process, justice, and humanity.

That starts with defunding and dismantling ICE. End the cruelty.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

I've been less than impressed with @texasobserver.org for exactly this kind of thing. Not sure if they're capable of doing better.

Virginia! Today is the last day to vote in the redistricting referendum.

Make sure to vote YES.

You can find your polling location at IWillVote.com/VA.

Five deer in a deep shade in a front Lawn

Two deer and one deer’s rump visible, up above my retaining wall, trying to decide whether to eat my ferns.

#gardening 🌱

Guess I was blaming the wrong culprits. Not bunnies after all.

FIVE young deer just leaped my privacy fence out of the vegetable garden, came up the driveway, leaped onto/over a retaining wall, and sauntered away up the street.

Reads like a not so subtle hit job: all these bad possible things are worth exploring, though his record clearly shows the opposite? Do better, Observer!

Virginia, go out and vote YES today.

Fight fire with fire and take on MAGA's power grab.

Did my part.

National Library Workers Day sign

Library workers are a special kind of civil servant. Our mandate is to give you and everyone else free access to some of the best things you can have: learning, self-enrichment, community, contemplation, fun, and simple peace and quiet. the best way to appreciate us is to come use us. 🙂 📚

[1/2] After cutting NIH spending and disrupting 383 clinical trials involving 74k Americans last year, Trump is again trying to cut additional billions from research. The U.S. is losing new treatments and cures as we have already fallen behind China in research investments.

EWX extends time of Flash Flood Warning [flash flood: radar and gauge indicated, flash flood damage threat: considerable] for Williamson [TX] till Apr 21, 3:15 PM CDT
at Tue, 21 A... at Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:43:33 +0000 via IEMbot
Additional Details Here.

I tried the Japanese method of decluttering where you hold every object that you own & if it does not bring you joy, you throw it away.

So far I have thrown out all of the vegetables, my bras, the phone bill, the scale & my treadmill.

This needs broad attention!