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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚

@jazzncocktails.bsky.social
531 followers 313 following 120 posts

Retired English prof., love good books, good music, good cocktails. My pup is Marlowe, after Philip, not Christopher. #books #booksky

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Reposted by Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚
Matt Dunlap @dunlap4congress.bsky.social · 16/10/2026
Working families in Maine are heading into winter and staring at the highest heating oil bills they've ever seen. Paul LePage openly said that when it gets too cold, he goes to Florida. I'll never abandon Mainers, and I'll fight to end the war in Iran and bring down your heating prices.
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Reposted by Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚
Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com
Title: Just announced! Three new Gruffalo books commissioned from bestselling authors!

Lee Chilld:
The Gruffalo just wants a quiet life, but when a crime syndicate moves into the deep dark wood, he must use his terrible claws and the terrible teeth in his terrible jaws to protect the fellow.

Sally Rooney:
The Gruffalo moves to contemporary Dublin. He  
ill ever see past his orange eyes, purple prickles and poisonous wart.

Kazuo Ishiguro:
After a long absence, the gruffalo returns to the forest and attempts to make sense of his past. Encounters with a mouse, a fox, an owl and a snake uncover long-buried memories, regrets and revelations.
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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 08/09/2026
What makes Turkey the NeNe Leakes of Europe? And why are Ghana and Nigeria beefing over rice? This is @roywoodjr.bsky.social’s geography of who hates who. #TDS30
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Wow.
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Reposted by Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚
Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Let’s talk about Medicare for All. What would it mean for the individual American? ⬇ The day you’re born you get a card that gives you health insurance with no premium, co-pay, or deductible. Doesn’t matter if you get a job, lose a job, turn 26 or 65, get married or divorced — it's there for you.
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Barry Blitt is brilliant.
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Thomas Fortenberry @thomasfortenberry.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 18/07/2026
I wasn’t ready for this. ☠️ 😭 Low T Pete will never live this down.
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Paul Cezanne @cezanne.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Dish of Peaches, 1894 botfrens.com/collections/43/content…
Dish of Peaches
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leftylady.bsky.social @leftylady.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Clarence Thomas says the 14th Amendment should be read narrowly because it was written for formerly enslaved people. By that logic, the 2nd Amendment was written for muskets, not AR-15s. Funny how that kind of originalism only shows up when it's convenient.
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
“And at the most basic level, I worry about how anyone, even in today’s world, could fail to respect the absolutely fundamental principle that whatever you think about someone in politics, you leave people’s kids out of it.” Hopefully they catch the depraved people behind this crime.
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 22/06/2026
This week’s cover is “Landscape Portrait,” by Tom Gauld. Explore the issue here: newyorkermag.visitlink.me/Dg_pd6
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James Talarico @jamestalarico.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
There’s been a lot of talk in this race about what makes a "real man." A man does what’s right when no one is watching. He upholds his commitments to his family and neighbors. He doesn’t lie, cheat, & steal his way through life. Real men serve others. Weak men serve themselves.
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Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
May 16, 2026
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
May 16, 2026
Seventy-two years ago tomorrow, on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously decided Brown v.
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Paul Cezanne @cezanne.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Still life with Italian earthenware jar, 1874 botfrens.com/collections/43/content…
Still life with Italian earthenware jar
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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 14/04/2026
Trump posted an AI image of himself as Jesus healing a bedridden--wait, is that Jon Stewart?!
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Perfect for spring: ‘Instructions on Not Giving Up’ www.nytimes.com/video/podcas...
nytimes.com
Video: ‘Instructions on Not Giving Up’
On a recent episode of the “Book Review” podcast, the former poet laureate Ada Limón made the case for why poetry matters and read two poems, including this one called “Instructions on Not Giving Up.”
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Shakespeare and Company @shakespeareandcompany.com · 09/04/2026
On the other hand, the books we sell you will go on working pretty much forever… www.wired.com/story/amazon...
wired.com
Amazon Pulls Support for Perfectly Fine Older Kindles
In an email to customers, Amazon announced that it would be ending service for Kindle devices older than the 2012 edition. Those devices will lose access to the Kindle Store.
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
We certainly do! Nights in Cape Elizabeth are loud right now. Love it 🐸
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 30/03/2026
I’m a progressive, but if you’re a progressive candidate who had a Nazi tattoo and didn’t remove it until you got called out, and you pushed racist stereotypes about Black folks’ tipping habits, I’m not riding with you. In fact, I’m wondering what else there is. Those are signs of something bigger.
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
My latest @theguardian.com books cartoon

A couple reading in bed. She holds a thick novel he holds something much slimmer.

Him "We must beware the tyranny of the long novel. Length is no barometer of literary merit."

He continues"I have scoured the bookstore, looked past the fat spines and sought out perfection in the miniature!"

He concludes "May not profundity dwell in the humble cottage As comfortably as in the sprawling castle?"

Her, without looking up from her book, "100% agree. But you're aware that's a greetings card, right?"
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Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
March 14, 2026
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
March 14, 2026
March 15 is a crucially important day in U.S.
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
"the Haters" my books cartoon for this week's @theguardian.com
Title: "The Haters"

panel 1.
Two round characters sit in a cinema.
Yellow blob "I hate this!"
Red Blob "Me too!"

Panel 2.
They have left the cinema
Red blob "I hated every minute of that film! It was nothing like the book!"

Panel 3.
"Did you like the book?" asks Yellow.
Red replies "I hated it!" then asks "You?"

Panel 4.
Yellow blob "I've not read it. I hated the film purely on its own merits."

Panel 5.
Red blob "I'll lend you my copy."
Yello blob"That's very kind."

Panel 6.
Caption: "Later"
Yellow, reading the book "I hate this!"
Red (happily) "I knew you would!!"
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books.
Three panels showing a bench on a small hill in London on a grey drizzly day. A man in a fedora carrying a suitcase arrives, then he is joined by a woman carrying an umbrella and a man in dark glasses reading a newspaper. They all look shifty and hurriedly converse:
"Good."
"Very."
"Agreed."
Then they all walk off down the hill.

Caption:
Every month, the Espionage Book Club discuss a classic work of spy fiction at a clandestine meeting. To minimise the risk of exposure, infiltration or surveillance by hostile agents, conversation is restricted to the essentials.
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The Fake History Hunter @fakehistoryhunter.net · 28/02/2026
Just your regularly scheduled share of this masterpiece by @tomgauld.bsky.social
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Not a duet, but fantastic nonetheless. 🪉🇮🇪
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Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
1. It was not an accident. 2. It was not a staffer. 3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia. 4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares. 5. His base agrees with him. 6. He will do it again. 7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
@mainepublic.org I know this is not your programming, but if @pbsnews.org continues to host Gary Abernathy on the NewsHour, I will end all contributions and my nightly news habit. PBS doesn’t need its own Scott Jennings; find a sensible conservative voice to replace David Brooks as needed.
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Keb’ Mo’ @kebmo.com · 29/01/2026
🔥 2018 Grammy throwback: Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ performing “Diving Duck Blues” the night of their Best Contemporary Blues Album win. 🎶 A moment we’ll always come back to.
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Keb’ Mo’ @kebmo.com · 26/01/2026
Having some fun “warming” up backstage - Thinking back to a MUCH warmer day last October on @legendarybluescruise! Stay safe, warm and stay home folks…it will be spring soon😎 ~ KMo’
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Greg Olear @gregolear.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
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Keb’ Mo’ @kebmo.com · 22/01/2026
Back to Chicago, 1995 at Buddy Guy’s Legends — “Angelina.” 🔥 Full performance + more in the Mo’ Memories playlist — link in bio.
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Reposted by Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚
Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Isn't it odd that the United States has enough money to suddenly run Venezuela, but not enough to run our own country? There is always cash in the piggy bank for bombs to kill people, but never for healthcare to keep them alive.
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
While I’m from Maine and am happy I returned home 2 years ago, I spent 24 years in So Cal. One of the places I miss most is the Norton Simon Museum—on the parade route—and I still have friends in South Pasadena. A beautiful place!
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Jess Piper @piperformissouri.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 28/11/2025
If Thanksgiving starts the Christmas season, it's not too early for this
lnk.thebulwark.com
There Is No Mary Problem in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
George’s vision of his wife without him is essential to the film, but critics continue to miss its true—and profound—meaning.
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🎃 Spooky Shoshana 🎃 @shoshana.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
“Inspired yet?” 🤦‍♂️
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Paul Cezanne @cezanne.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Still Life with Jar, Cup, and Apples, ca. 1877 botfrens.com/collections/43/content…
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
I have a very bad feeling about this...
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
😕
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Reuters @reuters.com · 10/10/2025
'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 10/10/2025
Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year: www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
theatlantic.com
The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela
Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.
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Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
I saw George Mitchell give a talk last night about the diplomatic effort to end the Troubles, culminating in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, and he said something so sobering but obviously true: if social media had existed in the 90s the negotiators would never have been able to get an agreement.
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Eric Champnella @echamp.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
If you don't already, watch Colbert. He is a man with no more f*cks left to give. And it's glorious. Check out this song parody from last night's show: Mike Johnson Delays House Epstein Vote Until September
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Paul Cezanne @cezanne.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Still life with open drawer, 1879 #artbots #cezanne botfrens.com/collections/43/content…
Still life with open drawer
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Wholeheartedly agree. And the novel was such a perfect follow up to “This Is Happiness.”
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Steve Clifford #booksky 💙📚 @jazzncocktails.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
As a newly retired English prof, one who was a college English major in the early ‘80s and an English grad student from ‘87-‘92, all I can say is that I wish I wrote this piece by Balazs.
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Mike Luckovich @mluckovich.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
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