I work at a public library. People who want to use AI seem to have no trouble doing so. People who don't want to use AI have a harder time. I crowdsourced and then finalized this document "How to disable or avoid intrusive AI" and then gave it a short URL: notoai.org Please pass along if it's useful

Everyone who read the other Prairieland thing needs to read this.

Megan Wachspress@meganwachspress.bsky.social · 5d ago

It made me so mad I wrote a Whole Thing just so I could stop thinking about it for a while and get on to other things: cooperativeoverlapping.substack.com/p/keep-your-...

Once again returning to @emily.gorcen.ski's call to also spread joy on this app, I present my July in Books:

“Literally, the West Bank was burning with hatred and violence, settlers running roughshod over Palestinian civilians under the protection of the IDF, and in NYC’s Upper West Side, Jews were spewing hate for the mayor for not protecting them from a crime he firmly denounced.”

Ami Fields-Meyer@fieldsmeyer.com · last wk.

An incredibly important and timely reflection on the state of the Jewish people from the scholar Shaul Magid. I hope you will read. open.substack.com/pub/shaulmag...

I'm very happy to announce that I am taking over as newsletter editor for the @newbloommag.net newsletter. My first edition is out today! If you're interested in learning more about Taiwan from a left perspective, consider subscribing! newbloom.substack.com/p/from-taipe...

From Taipei, Taiwan: New Bloom Newsletter July 29, 2026

DAYBREAK Party! • newsletter handover • spying accusations • extraterritorial violence • diaspora traditions • budget cuts, again? • COVID surges • The Dull-Ice Flower

newbloom.substack.com

Many many people in this country cannot recognize Islamophobia because they are swimming so deeply in it on a daily basis and have so internalized it that it isn't actually legible to them as racism. It's why it's so casually deployed in a way that other forms of racism in the country are not.

Yesterday was my one-year anniversary of moving to Taiwan. I never thought I would be building a life on the other side of the planet or that I'd ever make it out of the small town I grew up in. I'm so thankful to all of the friends who have supported me through the highs and the lows.

I was just approved for an Advanced Reader's Copy of Mahmoud Khalil's forthcoming book "No Land to Stand On". I'll be making an effort to read and review it as soon as possible.

Now a Kroger corporate spokesperson tells the DP the store isn’t scheduled to close, though he says they have not renewed the lease. dailyprogress.com/news/local/b...

Update: Kroger working to renew lease, keep Barracks Road store open

Less than a year after Kroger closed its location off Hydraulic Road in Charlottesville, employees at its Barracks Road location say it too will be shuttered.

dailyprogress.com

DTM@thedtm.bsky.social · 3w ago

The Kroger at Barracks Road Shopping Center will not be renewing its lease, an anonymous employee tells the Daily Progress. Which means the store will close at the end of 2028. dailyprogress.com/news/local/b...

Let's be clear. Nearly 2,000 people can storm the Capitol, threaten to kill a Vice President, attempt to overthrow the government and assault police officers. And they're pardoned. And may get paid. An Air Force Major can quietly protest at the same Capitol. He's arrested, his career's in jeopardy.

The US Presbyterian Church has just voted to divest from Palantir & GE Aerospace; recognize the genocide in Gaza; and call for an arms embargo and boycott of genocide-complicit Israeli companies. Cites Palantir & GE's tech being used by human rights violators like ICE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

I like my chances against Mike Rogers😊

The term "biological sex" was adopted widely only in the last decade as a reaction to mainstream acceptance of trans people. It was rarely if ever used before that. By any metric, from legislative usage to search query usage, it's plainly evident this is a novel term only made popular by the right.

Jessica Kant@jessdkant.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I think people think we're exaggerating when we say the widespread use of the term "biological sex" as a term itself isn't organic. This data isn't anomalous, it comports with everything we've seen about the specific use of the term.

We went from over a billion dollars in economic damage to North Carolina and the loss of reelection for a sitting governor over their bathroom ban to cis people now suggesting, "just use the single stall bathroom as a compromise."

I just know if the Trump admin tries to force colleges to adopt a trans bathroom ban, I'm going to have a bunch of cis colleagues saying, you can just use the single stall bathroom! No, I'm not going back. I'm not accepting any "compromise" for something I've had no issue with for 10+ years.

Big Ol’ Mush@chadstanton.blacksky.app · last mo.

I remember North Carolina having to back off its bathroom bill after a concerted pushback and its been wild to witness the wholesale abandonment since.

I have a piece in me about social movements, how these electoral victories are a win for the encampments - and not figuratively: Espaillat is challenged because of anger over how he ignored Mahmoud Khalil's family. Now Dari - an encampment organizer - is Columbia's representative in office.

This question was invented by the Israelis as a way of pushing the goal-post in their negotiations with the PLO. First it was do you recognize that Israel exists? The PLO eventually did. Then it was its right to exist, then its right to exist as a Jewish State. Which no one will do will recognize.

Courtney Milan@courtneymilan.com · last mo.

I have to admit I don't really understand the "does X country have a right to exist" framing. I don't really think any country has an inherent right to exist. Certainly not even mine. Countries exist because people and armies say they do.

I remember North Carolina having to back off its bathroom bill after a concerted pushback and its been wild to witness the wholesale abandonment since.

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The funny part about Matt Walsh types is that they love talking tough, which almost always reveals they actually live in constant fear of everyone around them.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · last mo.

Two thoughts: - The Trump EO applied to people whose parents are here legally, including those on visas here for many years who are fully domiciled here. So Walsh's framing is based on a lie. - It's amazing how terrified these supposedly alpha men are of their fellow citizens.

It is now almost 100% of the time that when I do vox pops in rural America I get asked about Britain supposedly being taken over by Muslims and crushed under the boot of Sharia law. I was just asked suspiciously if I am a Muslim myself when I pushed back

A 5-4 Supreme Court just barely stopped a president from erasing the 14th Amendment by decree. We were one vote away from a very different country, and from upending countless lives in the process.

Two thoughts: - The Trump EO applied to people whose parents are here legally, including those on visas here for many years who are fully domiciled here. So Walsh's framing is based on a lie. - It's amazing how terrified these supposedly alpha men are of their fellow citizens.

Justin Baragona@justinbaragona.bsky.social · last mo.

"Use whatever force is necessary."

Just absolutely insane to me how many milions were spent and the massive political and legal effort exhausted just so a state can ban a single trans girl from playing sports with her friends in school.

Trump is already calling on Congress to overturn birthright citizenship via legislation. Please contrast with Hakeem Jeffries.

So he's gonna advocate for all people with depression to get four months off for rehabilitation, right? And he's gonna tell RFK jr to fuck off with his quest to limit the medication that Kean is very clearly taking to be functional?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last mo.

Rep. Tom Kean finally speaks after months away from Congress for a previously unexplained absence: "I was given the diagnosis of depression ... the doctors recommended I remain in the hospital to address my illness"

Fear of political repercussion in a potential blue wave year is the only thing that stayed the Court's hand. If they get another bite at this apple they'll be sorely tempted.

Mark Joseph Stern@mjsdc.bsky.social · last mo.

The Supreme Court strikes down Trump's attack on birthright citizenship. By a 5–4 vote, it holds that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to children born of unauthorized and temporary immigrants. Roberts and Barrett join the three liberals. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

5–4 on a constitutional question that is older, more settled, and just as clear on the text and purpose as "can women vote?" They're coming for that one too, it's currently in the "right-wing extremists on social media" stage, same place where "there's no birthright citizenship" arose.

Mark Joseph Stern@mjsdc.bsky.social · last mo.

The Supreme Court strikes down Trump's attack on birthright citizenship. By a 5–4 vote, it holds that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to children born of unauthorized and temporary immigrants. Roberts and Barrett join the three liberals. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...