Teen on Musk’s DOGE Team Graduated from ‘The Com’ Wired reported this week that a 19-year-old working for Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was given access to sensitive US government systems even though his past associ...

Elon’s DOGE (Diabolical Oligarch Gone Egotistical) Hires a hacker to steal our data essentially.

#ElonIsVile

krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/teen...

I agree with President Trump that permitting requirements should not hinder a speedy recovery for LA wildfire victims to restore their homes and businesses — which is why I have already waived state environmental regulations and directed agencies to identify opportunities for further streamlining.

UPDATE on the fires worsened by hurricane-force winds in SoCal:

#PalisadesFire: 22,660 acres (11% containment)
#EatonFire: 14,117 acres (15% containment)
#KennethFire: 1,052 acres (80% containment)
#HurstFire: 799 acres (76% containment)

+ both #SunsetFire & #LidiaFire are at 100% containment

Very concerning how for some folks, misinformation is a reflexive response, even to a disaster like this... here are some basic facts for perspective

Some facts for folks, since Gov Newsom took office:

Nearly DOUBLED the CalFIRE budget: $2 billion to $3.8 billion.

The number of CalFIRE personnel has nearly DOUBLED: 5,829 to 10,741.

Incredible operation. I’ve worked disaster operations. This is a remarkable coordination effort.

More than 7,500 firefighting, emergency personnel deployed to fight unprecedented Los Angeles fires | Governor of California

We’re throwing everything we got in responding to these fires.

More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel are on the ground battling these fires and protecting Californians. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/m...

I’m at Hollywood Hills this morning, where our extraordinary firefighters and first responders suppressed the #SunsetFire last night within a 50-acre footprint.

With more favorable overnight winds, firefighting aircraft were able to safely fly and help put out this blaze.

This state is leading the charge in fighting retail crime. Here's how New laws to combat retail crime officially went into effect on Jan. 1

I think these retail theft laws deserved more attention, glad to see them finally in effect in CA

qz.com/california-r...

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, my heart is filled with gratitude for all of you who stood by my side this past year. Your unwavering support, courage, and belief in what’s right have been my greatest source of strength.

The Minimum Wage Claims You Keep Hearing Are Totally Fake. We Can Prove It. In September 2023, California passed a law to bring fast food workers’ minimum wage up from $16 to $20 an hour.

Incredible breakdown of a big creator of misinfo:

They've since been called out & taken action: "the Hoover Institution has now had to retract six articles based on faulty research"

"The Minimum Wage Claims You Keep Hearing Are Totally Fake. We Can Prove It."
www.dropsitenews.com/p/the-minimu...

The California grid ran on 100% renewables with no blackouts or cost rises for a record 98 days No blackouts occurred when renewable electricity supply exceeded 100% of demand on California's main grid for parts of 98 of 116 days.

"The California grid ran on 100% renewables with no blackouts or cost rises for a record 98 days"

Compared to the same period in 2023:
☀️ Solar output is up 31%
💨 Wind power is up 8%
🔋 Batteries are up 105%

+ batteries supplied up to 12% of nighttime demand.

electrek.co/2024/12/31/c...

Schools continue to rebound, thanks to influx of funding: 2024 year in review An influx of state and federal money helped California schools get K-12 students back in classrooms and bolster their learning.

California students continued to recover from the pandemic in 2024, with test scores inching upward, graduation rates improving and discipline rates falling. Perhaps most importantly, more students showed up for class. cal.news/3VZdXBe

📝 Carolyn Jones

a graph of real GDP growth by state for texas, California, and the nation as a whole

This is the first time since ~late 2021 where California's economy is growing faster than both the national average and Texas' economy (though slight caveat that Texas' slowdown is partially just due to slower growth in oil & gas)

"'round the Ferny Bend"

📍Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California

#nature #landscape #naturephotography #landscapephotography #california #nationalparks #stateparks

A stunning view of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, partially shrouded by dramatic white clouds against a vibrant blue sky. The scene is mirrored in the calm waters of the Merced River, surrounded by smooth river rocks and lush green foliage, capturing the serenity of nature. The foreground features intricate reflections of rocks and grasses, adding depth to the image.

El Cap Shrouded in Clouds. Yosemite National Park.

#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #yosemite #nationalpark #california #canon

A pair of Ross' Geese fly in formation in the evening light.

A pair of Ross' Geese in flight. This was from my first day after switching from Canon gear to Sony and I was still getting used to the new system. (Colusa Wildlife Refuge, California)

#birds #ornithology #wildlife #nature #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography

Today marks 134 years since the Wounded Knee Massacre, when U.S. soldiers slaughtered nearly 300 men, women, & children.

On this dark day, we reflect on the atrocities & oppression Native Americans have endured, & carry on the fight to end the injustices that remain.

Trump’s plan to reverse Obama’s 2015 decision to name Alaska’s tallest peak Denali has drawn backlash. The name, meaning “The High One,” honors the Koyukon Athabascan people. Why undo this?

VP Harris lost to Trump by 1.5% in a close election while still earning a historic number of votes for a nominee. She turned around her favorability numbers in a short period of time. Yes, we lost and Republicans gained in swing states but we gained seats in the House. I’m proud of Kamala Harris.

L.A. hotel that gained fame with Doors album cover burns in fire A former hotel in downtown L.A. whose name graced a 1970 Doors album — and where the band shot the record’s cover art — was badly burned in a fire.

L.A. hotel that gained fame with Doors album cover burns in fire www.latimes.com/california/s...

Union protections from Artificial Intelligence replacement will now be backed up by a California law. Cali is the home to 32 of the world's 50 leading AI companies, so I guess it kinda falls on them to start to figure this out.

Just imagine the voice chat nowadays

California defies exodus narrative again, new data shows New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that California's population grew from 2023 to 2024.

"The California exodus that’s been declared over and over again isn’t real, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau published this week."

"an addition of almost a quarter of a million people"

www.sfgate.com/california/a...

It’s a real honor to be included, Brittney. This week has been another level of busy for me, but I post updates about California especially in the next four years. But I like to keep it positive when I can!

San Francisco's Chinatown. Red lanterns adorned Grant Street in front of a Chinese restaurant called Far East Cafe.

Chinatown, San Francisco.

#Chinatown #SanFrancisco #California #NorCal #TheBay #Frisco #SanFran #TheCity#ChinatownSF #FarEastCafe #Chinese #China #Cantonese #Guangdong #HongKong #DimSum #Latino #Chicano #MexicanAmerican #Film #Filmmaker #cinema #cinematic @bskyphotos.bsky.social #art #photography

Sometimes life gets in the way of our time on Bluesky - but that’s rarely a bad thing.
Here’s another winner of a sunset from @photomattca.bsky.social
Hope life been treating you well skywriters 🦋💙

From the Archives: The oil tanker Sansinena explodes in Los Angeles Harbor Six crewmen die and more than 50 people were injured when the Sansinena blows up on Los Angeles Harbor.

From the Archives: The oil tanker Sansinena explodes in Los Angeles Harbor
(1976) www.latimes.com/visuals/phot... Photo by Jack Gaunt.