80 and tornado watch Friday night, waking up to this and 32 degrees on Sunday morning. #midwestweather #ilwx #midwestspring

2pm at post office, 17-person deep line. One clerk working. She was fast, efficient, still smiling. Old guy enters. “What’s going on? Hmph. Federal govt at work, amirite?” Let me tell you: if the words “Elon” or “Trump” had been uttered next, this nice middle aged mom was spoiling for a fight.

The Trump administration has placed two top security chiefs at the U.S. Agency for International Development on leave after they resisted turning over classified material in restricted areas to Elon Musk’s staffers. America, please stand with us—we are fighting to defend this country!

Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sources The Department of Government Efficiency, run by President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicar...

This is such a massive violation of basic privacy rights, and every elected Democrat in Congress should be screaming about the illegality of it and demanding accountability. apnews.com/article/dona...

Trump’s DEI Snitch Email Is Being Targeted by Spammers Various NGOs reported seeing the address added to their email lists. But they don’t think it’s Orwellian. They think it’s a prank.

“The internet knows how to handle trolls.” www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-dei-...

“Without treatment, virus levels in people with H.I.V. will quickly spike, hobbling the immune systems of the infected people and increasing the odds that they will spread the virus to others.”

Forgot this needle minder was on the project I pulled to work on this week, but it’s oh so appropriate.

This is Carolyn Edwards. She was one of the first officers attacked and knocked out on January 6th. She bravely testified before the January 6th committee. She is one of the bravest people I know and she deserves better. (She posted this publicly on her FB page which is why I'm sharing publicly)

Bishop Asks Trump to ‘Have Mercy’ on Immigrants and Gay Children The direct appeal to President Trump at the start of the first full day of his presidency was a remarkable moment at a National Cathedral event that traditionally has not been political.

When a bishop begged Trump to "have mercy" on LGBTQ children and immigrants, the expressions on the faces of the president, his family and vice president betrayed irritation and consternation. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/u...

It’s pretty messy driving out there in Springfield. Be careful out there! I even slid some in my Subaru and I do know how to drive in this - I lived in Maine for 10 years!

Beautiful essay about one of the best books I read in 2024, indeed, the past several years.

Well, I used to be an editor, back when there were editors to ask these questions.

Illinois EPA has begun moving into the White Oaks Mall It’s official – employees of the Illinois EPA are clearing out their desks and moving into the new location inside the White Oaks Mall.

Asking with sincere curiosity: has anyone considered the traffic impact of 559 cars trying to exit White Oaks Mall nearly simultaneously? www.sj-r.com/story/busine...

One of my favorite #jimmycarter stories

The best part of buying a few #megamillions tickets is the discussion with my teen about what nonprofits we’d support and where we’d travel.

Illinois among worst states to celebrate Christmas, new report finds When it comes to Christmas celebrations, a new report found Illinois is among the worst states to do so.

I’m still reeling from the news that Illinois is one of the worst places to celebrate Christmas and now I find out I can’t even shoot down a drone to try to make things merrier. www.sj-r.com/story/news/s...

Mystery drones are being seen some places. Can you shoot one down in Illinois? A series of reported drone sightings have taken place in the Northeast over the last month, what about in Illinois?

Spoiler alert: “some places” does not include Illinois, and no, you can’t shoot them down. www.sj-r.com/story/news/s...

Many Christmas songs are bad, but these are the 10 worst Christmas songs can give you the feels, but some just make you cringe. From boy bands to chipmunks, here are the 10 worst.

Thankfully, I’ve never heard some of these. Possibly unpopular opinion: I’m actually kind of fond of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” definitely belongs on this list. www.usatoday.com/story/entert...

I don’t understand how anyone can be a Verstappen fan. Whiny, entitled.

When you ask your teenager to help get the house ready for a holiday party 😂😂 …

If we want to do this, people who believe in democracy need to start gearing up to run for school boards across the country ASAP.

I really like this shop and it was jarring to see that they’d auto applied a 10% tip. I mean, you need to put the item in a bag.

I just placed an online order (for merchandise, in-store pickup) at a locally owned shop that I like and want to support. But I was caught off guard when I noticed a 10% tip had been added to total. I removed it. Am I being off-base in thinking this is not a tipping situation?

I’ve visited hundreds of women’s restrooms over the course of my life. Not once have I seen anyone else’s genitals.

Too many people haven’t touched a book since they graduated high school and it shows.

Yes, I judge your character by whether you return your shopping cart. I’ve found it to be fairly accurate.

WaPo in the understatement mode: “Still, McMahon is not particularly known for work on education policy or practice, a point that concerned some conservatives in the education community”

Trump to nominate professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be education secretary Howard Lutnick is head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast.

Not The Onion.

I’ve been meaning to go there! Looks like I need to do that soon.