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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff

@lukobe.bsky.social
254 followers 490 following 24 posts

Writer, editor, father, husband; author of the book Seattle Then and Now (www.google.com/books/edition/Seattl…) and the blog Writes of Way (writesofway.org). בנימין 동욱 Луков 🗽 🌊 ✡️☯️

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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The former Cesar Chavez Park has a new name: Parque Libertad. www.writesofway.org/parque-liber...
writesofway.org
Parque Libertad is new name for former Cesar Chavez Park
The park at 7th Avenue S and S Cloverdale Street in the South Park neighborhood, formerly named after Cesar Chavez, finally has a new name: Parque Libertad. According to The Seattle Times: One wonders…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
This West Seattle street was created in 1937 as part of Forest View Tracts, an addition to the City of Seattle. At the time, it truly was in the middle of the forest, and still today Fauntleroy Park lies to its north and east. www.writesofway.org/forest-court...
writesofway.org
Forest Court SW
This West Seattle street was created in 1937 as part of Forest View Tracts, an addition to the City of Seattle. At the time, it truly was in the middle of the forest, and still today Fauntleroy Park…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
This West Seattle street was named for the nearby Brace Point. The "cuspate foreland" was itself named in 1857 by the U.S. Coast Survey, but unlike with Fauntleroy Cove, Mount Ellinor, Mount Constance, and The Brothers, we don't know why the name Brace was chosen. www.writesofway.org/sw-brace-poi...
writesofway.org
SW Brace Point Drive
This West Seattle street was created in 1911 as part of the plat of Fauntleroy, an Addition to Seattle, and named for the nearby Brace Point. According to HistoryLink.org, Brace Point was itself named...
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
This West Seattle street was created in 1936 as Ocean View Way. Even though the Pacific Ocean is 92 miles to the west, as the crow flies, I’m pretty sure the street and addition were named for Puget Sound—from the end of the street to the beach is about 500 feet. www.writesofway.org/sw-ocean-vie...
writesofway.org
SW Ocean View Drive
This West Seattle street was created in 1936 as Ocean View Way, part of the plat of Ocean View Addition to the City of Seattle. Even though the Pacific Ocean is 92 miles to the west, as the crow flies...
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
This West Seattle street was created in 1941 as part a plat filed by, among others, Marie A. (1914–1976) and Horace S. Kelsey (1903–1961), and named for the Kelseys. www.writesofway.org/kelsey-lane-...
writesofway.org
Kelsey Lane SW
This West Seattle street was created in 1941 as part of Allan MacLean’s 1st Add’n to the City of Seattle, filed by Allan and Nellie MacLean; H.S. and Marie A. Kelsey; and, on behalf of Carroll Hillman...
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I had the good fortune to meet him back when I was the “Seattle History Examiner,” working on the U District Museum Without Walls, and writing my book. He encouraged my love of writing about history. I will forever be grateful. May his memory be for a blessing. www.writesofway.org/paul-dorpat-...
writesofway.org
Paul Dorpat, 1938-2026
The dean of Seattle local historians, Paul Dorpat, has died. Below is the obituary on his own site, written by longtime collaborators Jean Sherrard and Clay Eals. I had the good fortune to make his…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Cesar Chavez Park no longer has a name, though a new one is in the process of being chosen. FWIW, city policy prohibits naming parks after living people such as Dolores Huerta -- Chavez died four years before the park was given his name. www.writesofway.org/cesar-chavez...
writesofway.org
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
This Rainier Valley street, created in 1931, was named after Camano Island in Puget Sound. www.writesofway.org/s-camano-pla...
writesofway.org
S Camano Place
This street, created in 1931, was almost certainly named for Camano Island (known as ʔəw̓alus in Lushootseed), which is located, as Wikipedia tells us, in Puget Sound “between Whidbey Island and the…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
WA Office of the Secretary of State @secstatewa.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
"The SAVE America Act is voter disenfranchisement masquerading as election security. It compromises voter privacy and would not add any additional security to our elections -- while creating barriers for eligible voters." — Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
This West Seattle street (more of an alley, really), which was created in 1946, resurrects the name of an earlier neighborhood street named for real estate man Louis Ayers Parshall (1870–1950). www.writesofway.org/parshall-pla...
writesofway.org
Parshall Place SW
This West Seattle street was created in 1946 by Ordinance 75595 and expanded nearly 40 years later by Ordinance 112188. However, it was named after an earlier Parshall Place, created in 1909 as part…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
This street was created in 1920 as part of the Homecroft plat, Seattle's contribution to the movement which “encouraged wageworkers to become competent backyard gardeners rather than yeoman farmers.” (It ended up becoming just another residential neighborhood.) www.writesofway.org/croft-place-...
writesofway.org
Croft Place SW
This West Seattle street was created in 1920 as part of Homecroft, an Addition to the City of Seattle, filed by the Puget Mill Company, who once owned Washington Park (see Arboretum Drive E)…
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
This short Montlake street was created in 1925 as part of the plat of Glenwilde, an Addition to the City of Seattle, filed by E.F. Barnum and his wife, Sarah Barnum, and named for that subdivision. www.writesofway.org/glenwilde-pl...
writesofway.org
Glenwilde Place E
This short Montlake street, which runs just over 150 feet from E Roanoke Street between 24th and 25th Avenues E in the south to the alley to the north, was created in 1925 as part of the plat of…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
This street was created in 1955 as part of the plat of Lowrain Park, filed by Adlai Lorain Wood (1891–1981) and Jack Earl Wood (1919–1995), his son. My guess is they named the street after themselves, the subdivision being in the southeasternmost part of the city. www.writesofway.org/s-eastwood-d...
writesofway.org
S Eastwood Drive
This street was created in 1955 as part of the plat of the Lowrain Park Addition, filed by A.L. Wood and J.E. Wood of Lowrain Park, Inc. Their full names would appear to be Adlai Lorain Wood (1891…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
This street was created in 1919 as part of the plat of the Loch-Gilvra Addition to the City of Seattle, filed by the executors of the estate of John J. McGilvra (1827–1903). He and his wife were the first settlers in what is now Madison Park, in the mid-1860s. www.writesofway.org/e-mcgilvra-s...
writesofway.org
E McGilvra Street
This street was created in 1919 as part of the plat of the Loch-Gilvra Addition to the City of Seattle, filed by Oliver C. McGilvra (1867–1955) and Charles L. Denny (1861–1919) as executors of the…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
This Wallingford street was created in 1907 as part of Tronstad’s Addition, filed by Norwegian immigrants Nils and Bertha Tronstad and another couple. It appears to have been named after the Tronstads’ first child and only son, Menford Tronstad (1904–2001). www.writesofway.org/n-menford-pl...
writesofway.org
N Menford Place
This street was created in 1907 as part of Tronstad’s Addition to the City of Seattle, filed by Norwegian immigrants Nils and Bertha Tronstad and another couple. It appears to have been named after…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Thanks to Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, the Insurrection Act of 1807 has been in the news lately. Today I learned that, of the 30 times the act has been invoked, two of them were in Seattle — 3 months apart — thanks to anti-Chinese rioting in 1885 and 1886. www.writesofway.org/insurrection...
writesofway.org
The Insurrection Act has been invoked 30 times. Two of them were in Seattle
Thanks to “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, the Insurrection Act of 1807 has been in the news lately. Today I learned that, of the 30 times the act has been invoked, two of them were in Seattle…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Let’s be clear — if Trump doesn’t end up invading Greenland, or doesn’t end up doing any other of his seemingly unlimited batshit insane, illegal and corrupt crimes, it WON’T be “evidence that we were overreacting.” It will ONLY be BECAUSE WE DIDN’T UNDER-REACT.
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Sorry, but it's always going to be Sea-Tac to me @portofseattle.bsky.social 😉https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GXPJzcV9K/
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Qagggy! @qagggy.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Before the first 🇪🇸Barcelona Superblock... Before the first 🇬🇧London LTN... Before the 🇳🇱Groningen circulation plan... 🇺🇸Seattle built the Stevens Neighborhood Traffic Diversion Demonstration Project. LET'S REVIVE THIS IDEA FOR A 21ST CENTURY SEATTLE
traffic circulation plan diagram
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
S Raymond Street was named by and for Herbert R. (1862–1933) and Minnie M. Raymond (1874–1947). His obituary described Herbert as "formerly one of the Pacific Northwest’s prominent shoe merchants and leading civic spirits." www.writesofway.org/s-raymond-st... www.writesofway.org/s-raymond-pl...
writesofway.org
S Raymond Street
This street was named in 1906 as Raymond Avenue, part of Replat Tracts 30 & 31 Sunnyside 5 Acre Tracts, by Herbert R. Raymond (1862–1933) of New Brunswick, Canada, and his wife, Minnie M.
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Noem is right. Domestic terrorism IS happening in Minneapolis. kstp.com/kstp-news/to...
kstp.com
Several school districts switch to remote learning amid ICE activity
Minneapolis Public Schools remains closed through the weekend out of an ‘abundance of caution.’
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy 2026, everyone. youtu.be/SrXswIbWA7Y?...
youtu.be
George Harrison - Ding Dong, Ding Dong
YouTube video by GeorgeHarrisonVEVO
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 01/01/2026
On the one hand, not a fan of the home fireworks. On the other though, can’t really fault people for celebrating 2025 finally coming to an end.
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
New articles on E Olive Lane, E Olive Place, and E Olive Street, all named after Olive Julia Bell Stewart (1846–1921), who was 5 when the Denny Party landed at Alki Point in 1851. www.writesofway.org/e-olive-lane/ www.writesofway.org/e-olive-place/ www.writesofway.org/e-olive-stre...
writesofway.org
E Olive Lane
This portion of E Olive Street was renamed E Olive Lane by Ordinance 100274 in 1971. It is unclear why. For some reason, as the quarter section map shows, the name change wasn’t extended into the…
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Triton Drive NW, a North Beach street with a view of Puget Sound, was likely named after Triton, son of Neptune, Roman god of the sea. NW Neptune Place is nearby. www.writesofway.org/triton-drive...
writesofway.org
Triton Drive NW
This street was established in 1926 as part of North Beach, an Addition to the City of Seattle, which overlooks Puget Sound. Just as my assumption is NW Neptune Place was so named because Neptune is…
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
This is huge news regarding Talaris in Laurelhurst www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Seattle may force owner of rare open space to sell
The Talaris property in Seattle has been the subject of debate over how it should be developed for decades.
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Reposted by Benjamin Donguk Lukoff
Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
This street was established in 1926 as part of North Beach, an Addition to the City of Seattle, and has excellent views of Puget Sound. I assume Neptune being the Roman god of the sea was the inspiration behind the name. www.writesofway.org/nw-neptune-p...
writesofway.org
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fern k hahn @fernkhahn.com · 13/11/2025
it might be time for a renaming
Google Street View screenshot of a sign for Diagonal Avenue South hanging vertically from the end of a leaning pole
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fern k hahn @fernkhahn.com · 13/11/2025
show, don't tell
Google Street View screenshot of a sign for Diagonal Avenue South sitting askew on a leaning pole, the sign itself appearing diagonal from the camera's point of view
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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 12/11/2025
I very strongly agree with this from @awongpublic.bsky.social. And I was happy with 3 of the 4 school board endorsements the Stranger made this year! But overall they’re doing more harm than good by making school board endorsements when they don’t regularly cover the district.
medium.com
The Stranger Should Cover SPS More or Consider Not Endorsing in Seattle School Board Races
Over 20 years The Stranger’s endorsees have made up 34 of 36 School Board members even though The Stranger does not cover SPS consistently.
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
I’m sure there are people who are unhappy about this. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
nytimes.com
Live Updates: Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Hostages in Gaza
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Benjamin Donguk Lukoff @lukobe.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
A screenshot of two social media posts. The first, from user jrbloom54, reads: "If, as liberals claim, people need $20.00 phr. ($3,466.00 per month) for flipping burgers or serving in fast food joint as a 'Living wage.' Shouldn't that also be the minimum Social Security payment for retirees who paid into the system all their working lives?" Below this post, there is a reply from user stonekettle that says: "Now you're getting it."
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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 28/08/2025
Am I a misogynistic racist for sending this email to Liza Rankin, who represents me on the school board, asking some questions about a memo she wrote proposing more school closures? I just received this reply from a different school board director. I submit myself to the Internet’s judgement.
Screenshot of an email that reads: “I thought that was an interesting memo. I have a few questions about it:

1. When you call for “right-sizing” schools, which schools are you envisioning closing? Elementaries, option schools, K-8s, something else? Will this be the same list as we saw a year ago?

2. You write about “the community’s vision and values” and how those should be incorporated in board decisions. Yet the community made it really clear they opposed closing schools, with there being virtually no public support for them. Why then propose closing schools again?

3. When you write about “strategic abandonment” what exactly do you have in mind? What programs, schools, or students should SPS be abandoning?

I may submit something to the Urbanist about this, but I’m also curious as a constituent of yours in the 1st district.

-Robert”Screenshot of an email that reads: “Robert—since you chose to send a threatening and harassing email, I am choosing to respond.
 
These types of emails, which are publicly disclosable, are inappropriate and unacceptable. They are also misogynistic, sexist, and potentially racist, given the fact that you have been harassing a woman board director who has multiple identities.
 
My request to you is that you cease and desist from these harassing behaviors. Both Liza and I chose to run to be elected public servants. You have that option too. Instead of harassment, I suggest you run if you believe you could do a better job.
 
Director Sarju”
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
This street was created in 1926 as part of the Replat of a Portion of Blocks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of North Beach, an Addition to the City of Seattle. I presume it was named for the neighborhood’s view of Puget Sound (“mar”) and the Olympic Mountains (“mount”). www.writesofway.org/marmount-dri...
writesofway.org
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Like Loyal Avenue NW, this street was named by Edward B. Cox, Harry Whitney Treat, and Olive Marion Graef Treat in the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. The streets and the subdivision were named after Loyal Graef Treat Nichols (1906–2004), the Treats’ newborn daughter. www.writesofway.org/loyal-way-nw/
writesofway.org
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
This street was named as part of the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights. Then, as now, the lots abutted a wooded (“sylvan”) area surrounding an unnamed creek that begins just north of NW 87th Street and flows to Puget Sound at North Beach. www.writesofway.org/sylvan-place...
writesofway.org
Sylvan Place NW ~ Writes of Way ~ Seattle street names origins and history
This street was named as part of the 1907 plat of Loyal Heights, filed by Edward B. Cox and Harry Whitney Treat, and Treat’s wife, Olive Marion Graef Treat. Then, as now, the lots abutted a wooded (“s...
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Originally published on Crosscut.com in 2011, an article on Dave Niehaus Way S -- the honorary designation of 1st Avenue S as it runs alongside T-Mobile Park. www.writesofway.org/dave-niehaus...
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
More information on the closure, namesake, and history of the Seattle BNSF Railway facility Balmer Yard www.writesofway.org/balmer-yard/
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The contempt they have for disabled children is rooted in a mistaken belief that there aren't too many of them. Estimates show that between 1-in-8 and 1-in-5 students in America have some kind of learning disability. There are an awful lot of SPED families out here, and we will *fight* this shit.
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Writes of Way ~ Seattle Street Names and History @writesofway.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
This short Madrona street, formerly an unnamed alley, was named in 1923 for E Howell Street, itself named for Jefferson Davis Howell (1846–1875). www.writesofway.org/howell-place/
writesofway.org
Howell Place ~ Writes of Way ~ Seattle street names origins and history
This street was named in 1923 by Ordinance 45722, which provided that: That certain alley in the City of Seattle, being the alley in Block one (1), Yesler & McGilvra Addition, running from East Howell...
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
For those following the story of unidentified men violently dragging a protester from a local Idaho GOP meeting, it turns out they were from a private security firm called LEAR Asset Management. But neither the sheriff (who watched it all go down) or the GOP will take responsibility for hiring them.
cdapress.com
UPDATE on town hall chaos: Woman who was dragged out speaks, police chief condemns security, name of security firm confirmed
A legislative town hall organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee devolved into chaos Saturday when unidentified, plainclothes security personnel dragged a Post Falls woman from th...
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
This morning at Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HQ in DC as mandatory return to office began, this video played on loop for ~5 mins on screens throughout the building, per agency source. Building staff couldn’t figure out how to turn it off so sent people to every floor to unplug TVs.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
The guidance for how to deal with Musk’s 5 bullets email (deadline 11:59pm tonight) is all over the place. HHS employees have received multiple conflicting emails from leadership. DOJ and State said don’t reply. SSA, GSA, Treasury, FDIC, VA were told to respond. Total mess.
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Nancy Levine Stearns @nancylevinestearns.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
💥The Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in Tesla, Meta, and Alphabet (Google). The fund with US $569 billion equivolent in assets is "directing more money to companies and projects that help to improve society and the environment." #Divest www.reuters.com/markets/euro...
reuters.com
Dutch pension fund ABP sells all Alphabet and Meta shares, CEO tells newspaper FD
ABP, the Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in tech companies Meta and Alphabet , its CEO told Dutch newspaper FD in an interview published on Monday.
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Rep. Zooey Zephyr @zoandbehold.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Another win! This morning, we killed a bill that would have taken $50M of the Montana budget and spent it on cyrptocurrency, NFTs, and precious metals.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Several conversations today w people in the key executive departments. And while the particulars are hard to pin down my impression is that the Musk take over stuff is considerably worse than is being presented in the press. By this I don’t necessarily things they *done* yet but the level of …
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Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Please, everyone, drop what you’re doing and read this:
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Breaking News from Face-EatingLeopardStan
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
My mentions are filled with people insisting Senate Democrats are powerless. They’re not. They can throw up roadblocks by denying unanimous consent, forcing quorum calls, using holds and filibusters, etc It’s so easy to figure out even a dimwit like Tuberville managed to pull it off.
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C. Robert Cargill @crobertcargill.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
All bourbons. Most American whiskeys. Tito's and Deep Eddy vodka. A lot of Beers. But California wines are free and clear. Huge FU and a roadmap to put real heat on the administration from within his own party.
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