what is going on with the Big Beautiful Bill Act? The Congress.gov page for it is now returning "not found," a week after it was approved and signed. Here's what I saw when I reloaded the enrolled (final) version:

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

How does the U.S. federal workforce compare with those in other countries? President Trump's administration has fired more than 20,000 federal workers. How does the federal workforce compare with those of other countries?

How big is the US federal workforce really?

@likeapple.bsky.social's latest @npr.org article adds excellent context to @elizabethlinos.bsky.social's recent conversation with @nprfreshair.bsky.social.

Read here: www.npr.org/2025/03/06/n...

Groundhog Day at Punxsutawney - fireworks!

The amount of Punxsutawney Phil merch is staggering, here in his hometown
Happy Groundhog Day everyone!

So yeah Phil isn't right all the time - he has bet on winter weather more than 100x since 1887. But as you can see, he's distracted by his search for a good manicure.

I'm about to head into Punxsutawney to check out the local scene. I've been thinking of strategies to deal with a 2:30 wakeup call ... mostly revolving around coffee, but I need to stay coherent enough to be on the radio also, so might have to cap my cups

There is no alcohol allowed at Gobbler's Knob - but bars close late, and some people go straight to the open field at 3 or 3:30 am, to wait for sunrise. They don't recommend small kids coming - mainly because it's usually cold, and there are no benches or places to sit. And you're there for hours...

They say the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day made their festival explode - like 10x the crowd size (3k to 30k+).
There are now events scattered for 2 days before, like a Groundhog Ball and Banquet, pancake breakfasts, musical acts, etc.

The Groundhog Day Inner Circle are Punxsutawney guys working normal jobs -- who also go into Groundhog Mode to wear top hats and tuxes and call each other names like "Frostbite" and "Moonshine." When one retires they like to replace w/ same profession, like a teacher for a teacher etc.

8 things to know about Groundhog Day and its big star, Punxsutawney Phil The weather-predicting groundhog celebrity has met two presidents and drinks a life-extending elixir: "Our Phil is like, probably 139 years old," Groundhog Club Inner Circle President Tom Dunkel says.

Had a great time talking to members of the Inner Circle - the guys in top hats - about Phil. They insist he is basically immortal, the OG (Original Groundhog) from the first ceremony in 1887 at Gobbler's Knob.
www.npr.org/2025/01/31/n...

Celebrating my arrival at Bluesky by traveling to Punxsutawney Pa for Groundhog Day - fascinated by this tradition!
Hotel already assured me they will have coffee and go-bags starting around 3 am.