Adding Six Trans Neighbors to Our Memorial List 2024/2025

Some of these deaths only came to light recently. I did not want anyone to be overlooked around the Trans Day of Remembrance, so I created a compilation post. Please visit Remembering Our Dead for more robust information. Nonbinary and queer artist of Dominican descent was killed in Seattle in December 2024 Jonny Adamow was […]

My personal Facebook page has been shadow banned for over two years

For a long time now, I’ve noticed that engagement on my personal Facebook page has been dramatically lower than in previous years. No one comments, likes, or shares. People tell me all of the time that they don’t see my content (and when I point out that they could seek it out, they don’t.) What […]

People let me down so I made a list

I’m trying hard to blog daily for NaBloPoMo. It has been a dark week. Other people let me down, I let myself down. My post for today is a list of what I accomplished today. As my reward for not giving into despair, multiple cats came to visit me tonight in my room. That makes […]

Q&A with Councilperson Erika Strassburger about strengthening nondiscrimination protections on the local level

The two bills were motivated by similar realities at the federal level, where federal executive orders have weakened fair housing and other protections for various protected classes. City Councilor Erika Strassburger steered two pieces of legislation that addressed and bolstered nondiscrimination protections in the City. Protections based on sexual orientation were first added to the […]

The (Red Cup) Rebellion – Starbucks Workers Strike in Pittsburgh and Beyond

So don’t go to Starbucks. They went on strike today and it is open-ended. Don’t go to Starbucks. Don’t buy Starbucks stuff. The open-ended strike begins with 65 stores across 40+ cities and comes after six months of Starbucks refusing to offer new proposals to address workers’ demands for better staffing, higher pay, and resolution […]

The blog post about placeholders

I can’t think of a blog topic today. That’s okay. Sometimes you just need a placeholder while your brain sorts out all of the things.

Charlotte was a Northside community cat. A pet food pantry, TNR, and a devoted caretaker made her life better at the end.

I held Charlotte in my arms yesterday as she was euthanized because of a massive tumor in her chest. For the past thee years, she’s lived in the Mexican War Streets, being fed by a 75 year old caretaker with a fixed income. Charlotte was trapped, spayed, and released. She showed no interest in human […]

Will the grandchildren of ICE Nazis make amends?

I watch (and share) a lot of videos that are focused on identifying ICE agents, documenting kidnappings, and lauding the creative, persistent resistance. Sometimes I wonder what I’d say if I was holding the bullhorn or recording with my phone. I’m not sure that the words of an individual have any impact or can prevent […]

My best friend Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD died on this date in 2007. He was 41.

I found this today “Susan, Though I do not tell you often, I am glad that you are part of my life. Some or most of my best memories are times that we have shared together. I will love you always and I hope the day (my birthday) was special for you truly are. I […]

Worry. Why do I let myself worry?

Today was busy. I did some work on sourcing winter shelters for our pet food pantry caretakers. Thanks to many volunteers, we now have 10 completed shelters that should be distributed in the next 48 hours as cold weather approaches. We need some more. I asked Animal Friends for more kits. One of our caretakers […]