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Rachel Esselle

@rachelsl.bsky.social
4.4K followers 936 following 27K posts

Writer. Demisexual with a hard Ace lean. SAG/AFTRA. Former journalist. Infertility Warrior. EDS Zebra. Spanish Catholic on Dad's side. Ukrainian Jew on Mom's. Lots of guilt! She/Her

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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 3h
Hitting up the pinball machine before the movie. Kid scored THREE balls someone left behind!
Three kids gathered around a Jurassic Park pinball machine.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 6h
Local festival with the Littles. It was a lovely two hours walking around, exploring all the fun booths, getting our usual Saturday treats from the local cafe, and playing with bubbles! I love making new memories with them. ♥️ Saturday is our family day since my ex comes Sunday. Best Littles ever.
A kid's arm holding a bubble wand with a long bubble stretching with the wind. A foam bubble hovering over a building with a grey sky above.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 7h
THIS. Allllll of this.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 10h
Forgot I took this last night. I drive an hour each way for my kids' gyms. Three nights a week. Having neurodivergent kids, it's important to find a place where they feel safe. And while the drive can be brutal on my body, the views can be damn beautiful. ♥️
View out the open window of Rachel's car. He he horizon behind here the last rays of sun leave colors of gold and orange on the skyline as it meets a body of water. Barely in view, the side of the bridge.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 10h
Up early on a Saturday because I love my kids. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😂 It's gonna be an amazing day.
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Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Earlier this week, I agreed to interviews with two USA Today journalists. They wrote fantastic articles about the Cornell case that I'm proud to have been a part of. What I did not know is that their employer considers interviews to proprietary and opens up recordings to be used by any journalist.
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Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 19h
The data center boom is poised to become the new railroad bubble of the 19th century and a lot of people are going to lose their shirts on the investment…where they’re ever built at all. The enormous cost and unprofitability means we’re headed for miles of abandoned superstructures.
apple.news
‘Truly staggering’: There’s a bigger problem with data centres than water or power, warn experts — BBC Science Focus Magazine
The real story isn’t what these giant facilities consume. It’s what’s holding them up
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 19h
I know things. Things I shouldn't know. Things I couldn't know. But I somehow do. And I KNEW my ex was going to put a wrench in my plans tonight with the Separation Agreement. AND he sent a hurtful text to boot. He's getting the agreement Sunday. I’m moving forward with my life. I KNOW I am. ♥️♥️
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Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
NEW: DHS agents tracked people observing ICE arrests, photographed them, ran their plates, pulled personal information, and added them to a Palantir database, according to newly unsealed court filings. w/ @regret.bsky.social
wired.com
ICE Has Been Dumping Protester Photos Into a Palantir Database
DHS agents not only tracked and intimidated people observing ICE activity in Maine, but stored information about them in a Palantir-built database, newly unsealed court filings say.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ex isn't coming to gym. He got a flat tire. He just called to tell me, so I told him my plan. He didn't say much, but it is what it is. Told him Sunday I'll get him the agreement (and he'll get me the bloody child support) when he comes to visit. Life throws curveballs. Gotta be ready for 'em. ♥️♥️
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Playing with light in the Parent Pickup Line. Anxiety spiked for a bit, and I think it's because, despite my plan, I know my ex likes to drag things out. And I’m just hoping he'll finally let me go. I’m ready to step into the rest of my life. ♥️♥️
Rachel car selfie. In a parked car with the seatbelt off. She wears a Wonder Woman emblem on her burgundy shirt. Harsh light cuts a diagonal avrosss her face.
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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 02/10/2026
The rush to accuse, without anything approaching due diligence, artists of using "AI," should be treated with contempt. An artist gets their work *ripped off* to train a plagiarism machine, which then shits out inferior versions of that work, so then you accuse the artist of using "AI"? Fuck you.
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Neiman Marcus closed its downtown Dallas flagship on Wednesday. The store played a notable role in the history of desegregation in Dallas. Previously, Black shoppers across the US could enter department stores, but they weren't allowed to try on clothes without adhering to certain conditions. 🧵
A notice about the Neiman Marcus store opening in downtown Dallas.An old photo of the Dallas flagship.
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Drew McWeeny @drewmcweeny.com · 02/10/2026
Disastrous decisions right off the bat. Fuck Skydance. Warner Bros. is cooking these days under these two, who genuinely like movies and love making them. This is a great indicator that this merger is going to ruin EVERYTHING.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
THE PLAN: Tonight, I'm giving ex the revised Separation Agreement. Oct 17 I'm going to a wedding, so Dad's in town to watch kids. UPS has notaries and they're available Saturdays. So, I'm going to (truthfully) argue that if we don't want the kids to witness, Oct 17 is our target signing date. 1/
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Got the Mental Health Walk in early today since it's supposed to be hot. While walking, I thought up a gameplan on how to keep ex on a timeline for the Separation Agreement. Going to put the plan in motion tonight. Send wishes of good luck and Care Bear Stares!! I’m sooo close to the finish line!
Rachel mirror selfie. She wears blueish biker shorts and a grey sportsbra. The phone covers her face.
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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A report from the GAO found the Defense Department wasted millions on food never eaten and tents never lived in while assisting Homeland Security's rush last year to build migrant detention facilities in Texas and Guantanamo Bay. From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
stripes.com
Military wasted millions on efforts to help with ICE detention facilities, GAO says
Billions were spent purchasing warehouses, rushing contracts and trying to establish detention operations in locations that didn’t meet regulations.
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Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🎃🌓 @chronicleflask.katday.com · 01/10/2026
Another week, another “we’re vaguely familiar with the basic premise of the story while at the same time wilfully missing the entire point” moment
Screenshot:

Is this a 3D model?
@IsThisA3DModel

80% of the children who accepted Wonka's Golden Ticket died

Josh Daws
@JoshDaws 
Rejecting Al is like refusing Wonka's golden ticket.
Anything you want to, do it Wanna change the world?
There's nothing to it
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Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 02/10/2026
Native tribes denied greater say in water decisions with Newsom veto
latimes.com
Native tribes denied greater say in water decisions with Newsom veto
Newsom vetoed a bill that would have given Native tribes greater say on decisions about water. One tribal leader said it shows he "doesn't care about tribes."
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Boze Herrington, Library Owl @sketchesbyboze.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing an essay, writing a eulogy, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can’t do things we’ve been doing for 5,000 years.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I’m just a gal on the interwebs. But I know that you are stronger than you know, braver than you know, and matter more than you know. Sometimes life is so tough it makes it easy to forget that each of us is made of star stuff. YOU are made of star stuff. And that makes you magic. ♥️
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Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Things Gavin Newsom has vetoed this week: -A ban on secretly recording people with smart glasses -A ban on ICE agents working for the state government -A ban on websites selling your data -A bill giving native tribes more say over water rights -A bill protecting transgender healthcare providers
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Libby Hill @libbyhill.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This is also, like, a request to hit me up if you know of any gigs in Los Angeles that would consider an employing a decidedly competent professional with a diverse, if bizarre, work history.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I wish Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was on DVD. I'm doing another rewatch. There's something about revisiting grief that I needed to do tonight with everything oncoming. It's such a beautiful little series (especially season 1), and I wish I had it on my shelf. ♥️
static.klipy.com
Zoey (Jane Levy) - I Don't Feel Right Right Now
Alt: Zoey from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist saying, "I don't feel right right now"
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Hillary Monahan @hillarymonahan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
To every SA victim reliving their trauma, disassociating, battling rage and fear every day: We survived the hardest part. We made it through, changed, but we're here. Those memories are vampires sapping our very existence, but vampires die in the light. You can borrow some of mine awhile. Love.
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APTN News @aptnnews.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has joined a growing chorus of First Nations voices in denouncing the 'Pacific Link' pipeline-Grand Chief Stewart Phillip is promising a legal fight and possible 'boots on the ground.'
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Frank Amari @frankamari.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Exclusive: Trump administration removes resources to help U.S. citizens born abroad vote www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: Trump administration removes resources to help U.S. citizens born abroad vote
The move could make it harder for a small but significant group of American citizens abroad to understand their voting rights. It’s part of a sweeping attack by the administration on access to the bal...
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Face of a girl who has her new Separation Agreement printed! Placed it in the car, already, so I don't risk forgetting it tomorrow night. Planning to put it in ex's car during kids' gym, like last time. Hoping this is the one. I’m ready to move on with my life. ♥️ Thanks for loving me through.
Rachel selfie. She wears a grey cardigan over a blue, buttoned top. She smiles broadly.
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Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss.com · 28/09/2026
More evidence of the hidden ways in which LLMs are powered by (likely exploited and poorly paid) humans
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Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yehonatan Ovadia – a Hasidic Jew and Israeli citizen who has lived in the U.S. on a visa since 2022 – is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (a notorious federal prison) and facing deportation … for his criticism of Israel on religious grounds.
nytimes.com
A Hasidic Jew Protested Against an Israeli Flag. He May Be Deported.
Yehonatan Ovadia, who opposed the mounting of the flag in a small New York town, belongs to a Hasidic branch that is anti-Zionist. He is now in ICE custody.
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Jesse Felder @jessefelder.com · 01/10/2026
‘Just hours after Paramount Skydance issued $52B of debt to fund the biggest Hollywood buyout ever, investors were nursing hundreds of millions in losses, triggering a flurry of angry calls from money managers to Wall Street banks that underwrote the debt.’ www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Angry Bondholders Flood Wall Street With Complaints on Paramount Losses
Just hours after Paramount Skydance Corp. issued $52 billion of debt to fund the biggest Hollywood buyout ever, investors were nursing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, triggering a flurry of...
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Hillary Monahan @hillarymonahan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
If the argument for women should know better than to go into a rape den like a frat house, explain to me why a rape house like a fraternity is allowed to exist at all.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A few things I know to be true: - you are more than your past - you are worthy of love - you matter more than you know Remember that, loves. And if you forget, DM me. I’m always here to remind you of your worth. ♥️♥️
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Renee Good's family filed two lawsuits today. The first, against, USG, is a standard wrongful death. The second is a Klan Act lawsuit against Jonathan Ross, AND STEPHEN MILLER and Greg Bovino. It names Nick Shirley and Christopher Rufo as non-party co-conspirators for their racist propaganda.
44. At all relevant times, Defendants Ross, Miller, Noem, Lyons, Homan,
Bovino, and the John Doe Federal Agents acted under color of federal law and within the
scope of a joint enterprise with the private actors described below. Defendant
Lewandowski acted in part under color of federal law and in part, as alleged below, as a
private person, his federal status having been limited to a temporary part-time designation
that his conduct exceeded. Shirley, Rufo, and Ben Bergquam, and the other non-party
private actors described below, agreed to and in fact participated in the conspiracy alleged
here: each acted in concert with, and with the knowledge and encouragement of, federal
officials.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Just got out of a LONG meeting and I'm tanked after today. So, for 10 minutes I'm gonna let myself believe in fairy tales. Just 10 minutes. Then back to stoic Rachel.
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Hilary Tamar @hilarytamar.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Anybody have any recommendations for where to find high-quality sewing thread? Would my local fabric store have any, or is that too basic an item for them to carry? Don't laugh, it's been years, and all I remember is my mother's complaints about it already twenty years ago.
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🎃 Killy Witches 👻 @tillybridges.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Los Angeles! come see us at the Burbank Book Fair this Saturday!
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The Hollywood Reporter @thr.com · 01/10/2026
Ben Affleck used AI “for lots of things” in his upcoming Netflix thriller Animals, he said Wednesday at Bloomberg‘s 2026 Screentime event. Not that he’s going to tell you which things.
bit.ly
Ben Affleck Used AI “For Lots of Things” in His New Netflix Movie ‘Animals’
Ben Affleck used AI “for lots of things” in his upcoming Netflix thriller Animals, he said Wednesday at Bloomberg‘s 2026 Screentime event. Not that he’s going to tell you which things.
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the legality of ICE's mandatory detention policy, weighing in on an issue that has been ovewhelmingly rejected by district and appeals courts but has nevertheless roiled the justice system nationwide. www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
politico.com
Supreme Court will rule on Trump’s ICE detention policy
Lower courts have overwhelmingly rejected ICE’s novel view of its detention authority.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Another day it was too bright for an outdoor selfie. A dear friend gave me some tricep exercises to try, so tonight I’m gonna try to focus on that and lower abs. I've had three babies and things get squishy!! 😂 Thankful for the progress. I never believed it was possible to be this STRONG. EEE!!
Rachel mirror selfie. She wears a blueish sportsbra with mesh overlay, neon pink biker shorts, and hiking boots. Her phone covers most of her face.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Rachel is one of my best friends in the world. Her Mom had to have emergency heart surgery, and things are tough. The image below (and alt text) is from Rachel's Instagram. She gave me permission to share all this here. If you're able to help, it is SO appreciated: www.gofundme.com/f/support-bo...
Selfie on a boat of two women, Rachel Esselle and her dear friend, Rachel Fobbs.Hi friends,

Last week I traveled home at my dad's request to help my mum recover from a concussion. That night turned into a nightmare for us, and she ended up undergoing emergency heart surgery. My mother grows her own veggies, makes turmeric milk, loves her walks, so this was a shock to everyone. I'm currently in Virginia helping my dad care for her while he juggles 2 jobs and serving as an elder in the church. My brother made this GoFundMe to help with her recovery expenses, which will be a long road. If I have ever made you smile, please consider donating to help my mum.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Spotted my body in the mirror as I was rushing around this morning. I actually stopped and took a selfie just for me. I have to work SO hard to build up muscle. I was always told what I could and couldn't do. Yes, I have to modify. Yes, I have to be careful. But I’m DOING it. It feels amazing. ♥️
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feeb | yuritober!! @magicmooshka.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
it’s come to my attention that my tumblr post has been crossposted to bluesky, so I’m posting it on my account here #AntiAI #GenAI
recently my friend's comics professor told her that it's acceptable to use gen AI for script-writing but not for art, since a machine can't generate meaningful artistic work. meanwhile, my sister's screenwriting professor said that they can use gen AI for concept art and visualization, but that it won't be able to generate a script that's any good. and at my job, it seems like each department says that AI can be useful in every field except the one that they know best.

It's only ever the jobs we're unfamiliar with that we assume can be replaced with automation. The more attuned we are with certain processes, crafts, and occupations, the more we realize that gen AI will never be able to provide a suitable replacement. The case for its existence relies on our ignorance of the work and skill required to do everything we don't.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yesterday, I was a swirl of emotion. Tonight, I feel far more centered. Loves, thank you for loving me through these past 14 months. Today, I told someone about ONE horrible season from my marriage and she started to cry. I forget, sometimes, what I've overcome. But I have. Almost there. ♥️♥️
Rachel selfie. She wears a long-sleeve grey top. She looks to the camera, tired, but with a soft smile on her lips.
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Brooke Harrington @ebharrington.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
One of the things to come from GamerGate was the gamification of torturing real, live women...hounding them out of their homes, making them look over their shoulders for years. It was treated as a joke, nbd, the work of a few bad apples--as all terrorism against women is--& that failure leads here.
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Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This 33-year-old nurse told the FBI she knew she was “going to set him free” after border patrol agents brought in a man whose face was bloodied and seriously injured. She treated him and helped him escape, and she faces charges now. He got away, and they never relocated him.
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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 01/10/2026
Pennsylvania health officials have reported a fifth measles-associated death.
bit.ly
Pennsylvania records a fifth measles death as the nation endures its worst year since 1991
Pennsylvania health officials have reported a fifth measles-associated death. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Wednesday that the person was from Lancaster County and was unvaccinated.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Should have the finalized Separation Agreement tomorrow from my lawyer. I informed my ex. Next steps will be him meeting with his lawyer for final review. Then, signing. The finish line's in sight, loves. Thanks for loving me through. ♥️
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Alright. Been a while since I've posted a glasses selfie. 👓
Rachel selfie standing outside. She wears glasses and her hair is a windswept mess from driving with the windows down. She smiles softly.
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Rachel Esselle @rachelsl.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Almost didn't post a selfie from my Mental Health Walk. It was too sun-in-my-eyes for a selfie on the road, so I took one when I got home. But I got self conscious about my trouble areas. But, ya know what? This is real. I know what I’m working on and I’m gonna keep going. ♥️♥️
Rachel mirror selfie. She wears a black sportsbra, purple biker shorts, and hiking boots. Her phone covers her face.
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