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gwembel

@gwembel.bsky.social
871 followers 1.5K following 492 posts

Reader & puzzle game player. Interested in science, culture, math, music, art, education. Politically liberal work-within-system. Hobby-writer of Interactive Fiction IF text adventure (stories about time travel/magic/humor/mystery). Wife, mother, grandma.

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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
See which groups endorse candidates for non-partisan offices in your area + choices on state ballot questions. This works for Progressives, centrist Democratics, labor unionists, education unionists, etc. ; You can give more weight to the groups in line with your own viewpoint. bluevoterguide.org
bluevoterguide.org
Blue Voter Guide: Vote Fast, Smart, and Blue
Blue Voter Guide helps you make quick, informed, pro-democracy choices by showing what's on your ballot, with endorsements from trusted, forward-looking organizations.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I still don't really understand much of this, but it's been a fun topic to think about.
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Erin Hanson @erinhansonartist.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
This painting was inspired by a canoe trip down a slow-moving creek in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The water was so still I could see reflections of the surrounding trees. Gilded Reflections by Erin Hanson, 2026 Oil on canvas 60 x 48 in www.erinhanson.com/portfolio/gi... #art #dailyart #sciart
This painting was inspired by a canoe trip down a slow-moving creek in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Tall, overhanging trees lined the banks, enclosing the creek and enveloping it in total silence. The water was so still I could see the reflections of the surrounding trees almost mirror-clear in the water. The only thing that disturbed the water's surface was the occasional fish gulping at a bug. While I was painting this work, I felt completely enveloped in the silence and quiet peacefulness of this memory.

Gilded Reflections
by Erin Hanson, 2026
Oil on canvas
60 x 48 in
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Abilu Tangwa. @abilutangwa.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The ocean has absorbed 90% of the heat we created. It's not "just getting warmer" — it's boiling, acidifying, and dying. No ocean, no us. #SaveTheOcean
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Find out how to block this harmful bill. When grant proposals are denied by NIH, reasons WHY are shown by peer review numerical evals. Hiding those numbers would kneecap deciding whether/how to modify/resubmit. Hurts even non-controversial health research. www.linkedin.com/pulse/nih-pr...
linkedin.com
NIH is proposing a massive shift away from transparency: Make your voice heard
On August 14, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) quietly released a Request for Information (RFI) (NOT-OD-26-088) on a proposed shift which would drastically reduce transparency when it comes to ...
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Joseph Herscher's machines are pretty funny. You will be amused, and then there will be cake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=auIl...
youtube.com
The Cake Server | Joseph's Most Complex Machine Ever?
YouTube video by Joseph's Machines
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Petra Michaela @petramichaela.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Our planet has two lungs: trees and oceans are the lungs of the Earth. Plant more trees, don't cut them down, and reduce plastic waste in the sea. Protect our forests and oceans to preserve the health of our planet.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
For what it's worth, I got today's Wordle answer on my own but had to look up the fact that FWIW is a texting abbreviation meaning "for what it's worth" and actually has nothing to do with Wordle puzzles at all.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
#BlockTheMerger
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
According to Paramount, their $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros will go ahead as planned in September. That's time enough before the midterm elections. (1/7 #BlockTheMerger) bfmbreakdown.substack.com/p/who-gets-t...
bfmbreakdown.substack.com
Who Gets to Tell America’s Stories? Hollywood’s Biggest Merger Is Becoming a Fight Over More Than Money
When a handful of companies control what gets made, who gets hired, and which voices reach audiences, is that just business—or does it become a question about the future of creativity itself?
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Another fatal shooting into a car by ICE, this time in Maine. That's less than a week after their murder in Houston while looking for a target who wasn't even inside the car whose driver they shot to death. Click this link for evidence of recent horrific ICE behavior in this NYT gift article.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
"High Note," a short animated film from 1960 www.youtube.com/watch?v=DATu...
youtube.com
Looney Tunes High Note 1960
YouTube video by antoine orsero
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I AM DAD @iamdad.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
We're divided by abilty, age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual/gender orientation. We know what it's like to be treated unfairly by those who don't like who we are. May our own battles help us to see that we should stand together.
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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
#SteveThoughts
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phoenixrising @mmcarthur.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Koho Shoda (Japan, 1871–1946) : Moonlit Sea, 1930 woodblock print 28.3 × 22 cm | 9-1/2 x 6-7/8 in Private Collection Further descriptions in the alt text 👇
Beautiful view of a boat in dark silhouette making its way across the ocean at night, moonlight shimmering on the surface of the water. A few grasses and reeds frame the scene in the foreground, adding a sense of depth. A full moon glows in the night sky above, surrounded by softly shaded blue gray clouds. An exquisitely rendered shin-hanga design with lovely effects of light and fine bokashi shading. 

The Night Scenes Series - 
Lovely design from a series of 21 night scenes first published by Hasegawa/Nishinomiya in the 1910s. Subjects are evening and night views, primarily printed in shades of blue, many with glowing moons or twinkling lights and figures in silhouette. The series was quite popular with editions printed up through the 1930s and even later. Beautifully colored and printed, these classic shin-hanga designs are a favorite with collectors.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
How ancient earthquake data might resolve controversial issues about the creation of the Tigris/Euphrates fertile crescent and large quantities of salt found at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea: www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/s...
smithsonianmag.com
Scientists May Have Discovered the Origins of the Euphrates River, Which Helped Nurture Some of the Earliest Known Civilizations
The famous waterway began as two rivers, a new study suggests. Tectonic activity around five million years ago probably made them change course and merge, helping to birth the Fertile Crescent
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
As a kid I was fascinated with the numerical index of Roget's Thesaurus. With all the possible ways to categorize all of its words into a single sorting scheme, how could they possibly decide what would be the best strategy? www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/rog... www.roget.org/hierarchy.htm
merriam-webster.com
Roget's Thesaurus
More than just a collection of related words—Peter Mark Roget intended his Thesaurus to be a classification of all knowledge
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Sompe Kuukkanen @sompe.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Hyvää Juhannusta ystävät! 🌿☀️🥂 Happy Midsommer! #juhannus #midsommar
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Space VFX @spacevfx.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
A river of spilled starlight glides through a silent, otherworldly landscape toward a radiant beacon beneath the Milky Way. There, between darkness and light, the journey promises no destination—only an endless invitation to wonder.
A glowing river of stars winds across a dark alien landscape toward a radiant beacon of light beneath the Milky Way in a surreal digital space artwork.
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Traces of Texas @tracesoftexas.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Y'all, today is, of course, Juneteenth. I have written a ton over the years about this celebration and its historical roots in Texas. The best thing I ever wrote was this. texashighways.com/travel-news/... I hope y'all take the time to read it, to study the photos, and to ponder the meaning.
texashighways.com
The History of Juneteenth in Photos
Junteenth commemorates the issuance of General Order No. 3 in Galveston, informing enslaved people of their freedom and the end of the Civil War.
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Art & Nature @capecodfairytales.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
#Poetry #Painting #Morality The good and the evil are happening concurrently. The choice to focus on the good is itself a way to defy the evil. -Jared K Anderson 🎨 Deko Lroi
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Endorsed by woke Star Trek characters everywhere.
fruit cube with caption "Resistance is less frutile when driving by after voting."
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
In Israeli politics, Arab-Jewish parties struggle to be trusted. Can a new party with bipartisan leaders bring in enough new voters without splitting October's anti-Netanyahu vote? #APlaceForAllOfUs Makom Lekulanu GiftShareLinks: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... www.nytimes.com/2026/06/16/o...
haaretz.com
Jewish-Arab movement Standing Together launches Knesset run with new party
Co-founders Alon-Lee Green and Rula Daood Will Lead A Place for Us All, a Jewish-Arab Party Seeking to Mobilize Voters Who Would Otherwise Abstain, and Which Pledges Equal Representation for Jews and ...
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The contradiction between who I am and what I've brought to share is all that's left of both. Except for the other stuff, of course.
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Prof @everwyn.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Good morning. From my #landscape #art, #illustrationart, and #photography portfolio: "Hope in the Morning of Despair"
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phoenixrising @mmcarthur.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Julie Woodrow : Untitled, n.d. www.juliewoodrow.art/recent-work Artist statement in the alt text 👇
"The study of animal forms and themes that merge human experience with the natural world are often points of departure for me to begin developing my ideas.  References to protection and exposure infuse themselves into my visual vocabulary.  Exploring borders, boundaries and barriers in my work has created multiple pathways for me to think about themes of safety, displacement, restriction and loss.  As I work, I’m attempting to inspire feelings that fluctuate between escapism, healing, compassion and hope."
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Jan @janstreit.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Ukrainian artist Lyudmila Bolbas focuses on the ancient technique of encaustic painting, which originated in the 5th-4th centuries BC.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
According to a post from Merriam-Webster, the usage of the word "spam" to mean "unsolicited usually commerical messages" (as opposed to canned meat) comes from Monty Python. But this amateur video song about Mr. Spam-Man is just my own bit of fun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx5j...
youtube.com
Mr. Spam-man
YouTube video by mvu9876
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Belonging to a group can provide its members with the security of identity plus self-esteem pride. But uberOutrage, labelSlinging, blamePointing, & gateKeeping can lure us into shooting ourself in the granfalloon, letting out any survival benefit that cooperation might yield. #vonnegut #granfalloon
deflated balloon with caption "Granfalloon"
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Love the photo posted by Anna Quent of a red squirrel who seems to be thinking in German: "First things first: a siesta." More red squirrel photos posted by pixelgraphix@pixelgraphix.de‬ #BotanischerGartenBerlin Wikipedia shows this image of red squirrels holding nuts on a German coat of arms.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Rest assured that no snakes or humans were harmed in the making of this video. Hognose snakes are drama queens, and the voice-over is great. www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-J0...
youtube.com
I AM DEAD SNAKE (Hilarious Voiceover!)
YouTube video by The RPG Chick
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
KK's shared video of a young clouded leopard is wonderful! Here's an adult clouded leopard photo from the San Diego Zoo. Per Wikipedia, some clouded leopards have been seen to climb down vertical tree trunks head first & hang on to branches with their hind paws bent around branchings of tree limbs.
adult clouded leopard photo from the San Diego Zoo
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
"The politics of the number line teaches us this: every dimension excluded creates a class of outlaws. And every outlawed dimension carries knowledge the system desperately needs but cannot yet afford to admit." ‪Jaime Hoerricks, PhD autside.substack.com/p/the-square...
The Square Root of Us: Imaginary Numbers and Other Real Minds plus
diagram of complex plane. "The politics of the number line teaches us this: every dimension excluded creates a class of outlaws. And every outlawed dimension carries knowledge the system desperately needs but cannot yet afford to admit." ‪Jaime Hoerricks, PhD
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Joseph Lewczak (Truth Seeker) @truthseeker59.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This artwork is a Japanese woodblock print titled Dotonbori, created by artist Uehara Konen in 1928.
Scene: It depicts a serene night scene along the Dotonbori canal in Osaka, featuring a prominent willow tree in the foreground and lit buildings reflecting on the water. Art Style: The print is a classic example of Shin-hanga ("new prints"), a movement that modernized traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques with atmospheric lighting and softer colors. Artist: Uehara Konen (1878–1940) was a Tokyo-based artist and painter active during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods.
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fravery.bsky.social @fravery.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
"Blue View" Artist- Alice Brasser
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Pope Leo refered to A.I. as a valuable tool, but stressed that we need oversight and transparency to work against its tendency to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources, expertise, and access to data. #encyclical #ai #ethics #military www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/w...
nytimes.com
Pope Leo Warns of Risks From A.I. in 42,300-Word Encyclical
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Andrii Frolov @artandriifrolov.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
"Lawn Sprinkler" - my oil painting
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Mr Natural @neilmatheson66.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Paul Evans (b.1954) Meadow and Moon. mixed media.
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Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Feeling overwhelmed with all of this. LISTEN. Another Louisiana resident (Marshawn is the only name we have) testifies against the state’s racial gerrymander, speaking truth to power up and down the hearing room and predicts how this story will end. Speak your truth, fight and believe.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
bluevoterguide.org is a voter tool for the 2026 Democratic primaries. Enter your address to see all candidates.Shows many endorsements (from unions, conservation leagues, End Citizens United, Defend the Vote, NOW, Planned Parenthood, Gun Sense, Progressive Leadership Alliance, etc) #vote #elections
bluevoterguide.org
Blue Voter Guide: Vote Fast, Smart, and Blue
Blue Voter Guide helps you make quick, informed, pro-democracy choices by showing what's on your ballot, with endorsements from trusted, forward-looking organizations.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Hawaii passed a bill to block corporations from spending money in state elections, using a new strategy to counter the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling. #EndCitizensUnited #hawaii www.courthousenews.com/hawaii-legis...
courthousenews.com
Hawaii Legislature passes first-in-nation bill targeting Citizens United ruling
Supporters of the bill say citizens, rather than corporations, should have more power in elections.
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Do you believe that in key #RedtoBlue races, some MAGA pacs are donating to blue primaries, pushing candidates who have skeletons waiting to sink them in the general election? Some Bluesky posters discount most anything from NYT, but still... www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/u...
nytimes.com
Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
So much horrible news about how redistricting is being used so viciously as a weapon of racism. The Virginia Supreme Court has added yet another outrage. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
pbs.org
A state-by-state guide to the redistricting fight
Republicans have opened up an advantage in a national redistricting battle among states after a pair of court rulings that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities and invalidated...
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Beautiful music, and such an interesting person! I wonder if it's true that he didn't leave a written score for this piece.
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Ron Stonebear Shields @stonebear4747.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
This is the most beautiful corn I have ever seen. It is a Native American variety called 'Glass Gem Corn', and yes, it does grow like that.
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Art & Nature @capecodfairytales.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
#CapeCod #Poetry #Painting #Spring It is morning, and again I am the lucky person to be in it Mary Oliver 🎨 Kaoru Yamada
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BERGΛMΛX @bergamax.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The Skeleton Flower (Diphylleia grayi) 💦❄️🍀 This flower when it blooms and conditions of prolonged rain and high humidity are met, its petals become translucent like glasswork. It is native to northern and central Japan. Photography by aki_goodspeed [IG] #flowers #nature #chrystal #petals
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gwembel @gwembel.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The title song of this album led me along an intriguing path of fancy quick notework, only to shock me with a sweet "aha" chord. It held for a few moments of enlightenment before vanishing like a forgotten dream. The jump from complicated to simple took me by surprise again and again.
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Meandering M🌿 @pathwaymoments.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
This fading menagerie of Bluebell’s keeps Springs’ appeal going 📷 🌱…
White, purple and pink fading Bluebells are sunning in Springs’ heat.
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