Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 12hThe sudden closure of the Academy of Natural Science was a gut punch. I went five times in September — all day for two of those times. But there’s a campaign to reopen it that includes stakeholders with clout. News reports and action steps at the link: save-the-academy.org 000
Reposted by Laura BlanchardMichelle says: Be kind. Always. ❤️ @snarkysillysad.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Giving a tiny bird a helping hand: #AGoodPlace Source: www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmil... 782840370
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Doing my bit to save the Academy of Natural Sciences -- I went on Friday, joined the Academy to help bump their numbers, and am contacting my elected officials and other stakeholders. Without a concerted public effort, the country's oldest natural history museum will close at the end of the month. 186
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 07/04/2026With Congress, having skedaddle and being disinclined to come back to cope with this, I suppose our only recourse is to call the White House comment line and register an opinion – which I just did. The number is 202-456-1111. I told them I would support any lawful action to invoke Article 25. 010
Reposted by Laura BlanchardClare Moore @clarelmoore.bsky.social · 05/04/2026Sneak peak for our first Big Read session: Erik Jampa Andersson on Tolkien’s “On Fairy-stories”! erikjampa.substack.com/p/tolkien-on...erikjampa.substack.comTolkien On Fairy-storiesThe Tolkien Society 'Big Read': Session 1 1155
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Her novel,The Ear Trumpet, merits reading and re-reading. 110
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 06/04/2026I screamed at my Congresscritters about Trump/Hegseth and war crimes, immigration, the despoliation of our public lands, and the Epstein files first thing this morning. Enjoy this photo of a magnolia blossom with solar flare as a palate-cleanser. 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 02/04/2026I did my civic duty last weekend. I also scream at my Congresscritters on the regular. 010
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 31/03/2026I’m only sharing because Gritty is holding a gingko branch, honest! 010
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 27/03/2026I'm registered mobilize.us/s/BU4Ehcmobilize.usNO KINGS PHILADELPHIA · No Kings**We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.** What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading fr... 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 03/03/2026Are you a friend, colleague, or admirer of the open access work of the late, great Will Noel? Nominate an open access project for the Noel Prize Award (deadline March 15). Details: pacscl.org/what-we-do/f... 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 21/02/2026A cleanse for your feed as the level of political angst rises: my beautiful Hippeastrum 'La Paz,' a cybister hybrid, now opening on my windowsill. You're welcome. 020
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 20/02/2026The signage is back at The President's House historic site. For now. share.inquirer.com/Wi6KW4share.inquirer.comHow a Black history tour kept the story of the President’s House alive after the Trump administration tried to erase itThe National Park Service began restoring slavery exhibits at the President's House on Thursday, but in the last few weeks Philadelphians made sure the story was told despite the bare walls. 011
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 20/02/2026I want the hat! Unfortunately, it's out of stock -- for a preorder??? 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 20/02/2026The only thing better than reading about the Supreme Court's tariff decision is reading about the reaction of that man in the White House. 000
Reposted by Laura BlanchardOmg. WTF is Happening? @lalahaenzy.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue 5783269114042
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Welp, so much for my plan to order some red yarn... 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 04/02/2026When I'm not doomscrolling, caregiving, preparing for the Flower Show, or protesting, there's always Tolkien. This online read-through of The Hobbit is definitely popcorn-worthy. The sessions are live-streamed on YouTube with recordings available later. www.rosenbach.org/programs/bib... 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 04/02/2026More opportunities to support the restoration of the President's House signage... 021
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 03/02/2026I signed the petition to restore the interpretive signage at the President's House, where George Washington Washington evaded Pennsylvania's gradual emancipation law. www.change.org/RestoreOurHi...change.orgSign the PetitionTell The Truth: Restore the President’s House Slavery Memorial 021
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 31/01/2026The weather and the news are both frightful but the holiday cactus doesn't care. 020
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 31/01/2026Gift link: share.inquirer.com/VgnUJXshare.inquirer.comJudge chastises Trump administration attorney in hearing over dismantled President’s House exhibitsThe city wants the judge to order that no more exhibits be removed and that the already-removed exhibits be protected as the litigation continues. 043
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 30/01/2026The administration's removal of signage about slavery at the President's House in Philadelphia included a panel about the venerable Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Today they issued a statement. paabolition.org/presidents_h...paabolition.orgPennsylvania Abolition Society 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 24/01/2026I am stirred up about ICE, Trump's multifarious malefactions, and the attempt to erase George Washington's shenanigans over his enslaved house servants at Independence Park, but Buddy says he has a warm lap and all is well. 020
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 23/01/2026DEADLINE APPLICATION: January 26, 2026 for Pennsylvania Abolition Society grants. Our gift to the snowbound: something to do between bouts of shoveling. Grab an electronic copy of your 501(c)(3) letter and think about what you might do with another $1,000 or so. Paabolition.org/grants.htmlpaabolition.orgPennsylvania Abolition Society 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 23/01/2026Tar. Feathers. I comfort myself with the reality that although they take down the signs they cannot erase the history. George Washington was an enslaver who rotated his enslaved house servants between Philadelphia and Mount Vernon to avoid having them emancipated under Pennsylvania law.inquirer.comHere are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence ParkFollowing last year’s review, every sign has been removed from the President’s House site. 000
Reposted by Laura BlanchardAdam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 19/01/2026Danish Parliament Deputy Speaker Lars-Christian Brask: "If I could come with some advice, it would be for the Senate & House to start to take control of political power in America because with this erratic & mad behaviour, you have to ask the question, is the President capable of running the US?" 17023473611934
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 19/01/2026I will scream at my Congresscritters about Greenland and Minnesota tomorrow. Meanwhile, I made a contribution via standwithminnesota.com. 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 17/01/2026I take this personally. Hobbii yarns is in Denmark. Mess with my knitting supplies and you have a real problem, Buster. 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 16/01/2026Hwæt! Today I learned that by long-pressing d and t respectively on my iPhone I get ð and þ! 142
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Now that Meta is literally in bed with a Republican senator, it's time to spend more quality time on BlueSky. Buddy The Cat approves. 020
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Deadline extended to January 23 -- please share! Yes, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society is still around. Small grants, easy application process. Details here: paabolition.org/grants.html 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 25/11/2025Please share! Pennsylvania Abolition Society -- yes, it's still doing the work. Small grants available, easy application process, details at the link. paabolition.org/grants.htmlpaabolition.orgPennsylvania Abolition Society -- grants 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 22/11/2025“This Thanksgiving,experience the history of European settlers as never before…” There. Fixed it for you. I have prerevolutionary ancestors on both sides but, frankly, my more recent immigrant ancestors were much more interesting. 000
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 18/11/2025Behold the Lemon Hill ginkgo. It shines like a beacon across the valley. 010
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 18/11/2025Philadelphia ginkgos. I stalk them when the leaves turn. They went extinct in the Americas years ago but I’m glad they’re back. 031
Reposted by Laura BlanchardAdam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 05/11/2025I do think yesterday’s results reinforced the dynamic that while much of the American leadership class is chickenshit, most of the electorate is not 245192233301
Laura Blanchard @lblanchard.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Pennsylvania retained its three Supreme Court justices and I found a lost earring. All in all, a good day. In response to one of Trump's latest tantrums, we are donating to Philabundance to help local folks who lost food assistance benefits or have been furloughed by the shutdown, among others. 000