Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
@kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
600 followers 1K following 1.1K posts
narcolepsy + sleep advocate ~ NFL fanatic ~ Carolina Panthers fan ~ The Sims 4 ~ COVID cautious in CLT ~ pro-mask, pro-vaccine, pro-abortion ~ cat mom ~ DnD, Doctor Who & pro cycling lover ~ skeets are my own ~ she/her ~ @kimberlyratliff on TwitterX
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
Gentle reminder that you can mute words & tags on Bluesky. So if there are subjects today making you mad or sad, and you need a break from them for a day, a week, or a month, hit Settings > Moderation > Muted Words & Tags, and then fill out this form:
Screenshot of the "Add muted words and tags" function in the Bluesky mobile app on Android.

Text: "Add muted words and tags. 

Posts can be muted based on their text, their tags, or both. We recommend avoiding common words that appear in many posts, since it can result in no posts being shown. 

Enter a word or tag"

There are radio button selections for the duration of the mute, ranging from one day to 7 days to 30 days to forever.

There is also a radio button to choose between muting from both text and tags or just tags.

There is a checkbox to avoid muting users you follow.

At the bottom is a button labeled Add+.
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
quarantegan.bsky.social
Heads up, #NoKings comrades - if you do not have a digital security plan, you need one 𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺. That would have been true without this bullshit, but it's extra now. Whether these vans are in play on 10/18 or not, a solid protest digital security protocol going forward is now a #1 priority.

1/3
lorenzofb.bsky.social
NEW: ICE purchased custom-made vans from a company called TechOps Specialty Vehicles (TOSV) that are equipped with fake cellphone towers designed to spy on phones.

TOSV president said the company integrates the cell-site simulators into their vans, but does not manufacture the surveillance tool.
ICE bought vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phones  | TechCrunch
The federal contract shows ICE spent $825,000 on vans equipped with “cell-site simulators” which allow the real-world location tracking of nearby phones and their owners.
techcrunch.com
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
sarwark.org
Impeach Pete Hegseth.
premthakker.bsky.social
NEW: Pentagon officials are forcing staff to watch Pete Hegseth's "Warrior" speech he forced generals to listen to.

Officials are even "testing" staff to see if they watched — and are threatening consequences if they lie about watching it or if they mock it, sources tell @swin24.bsky.social and I.
The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth’s ‘MAGA Garbage’ Speech… Or Else
Defense Department sources tell Zeteo that staff have been warned that if they don’t watch or read the speech, or if they speak negatively of it, they could face severe consequences.
zeteo.com
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
refusefascism.bsky.social
Get on the bus to DC! #Nov5FloodDC
11-05 11AM Washington Monument for mass nonviolent protest to demand
THE TRUMP FASCIST REGIME MUST GO NOW.
Buses from NYC, Philly, Boston, Chicago, &. beyond — all heading to DC to surround the halls of power and make history.
🎟️ Get your tickets
Nov 5 Washington DC: Trump MUST GO NOW 11am at the Washington Monument Rally - Bus to National Mall in Union Station, Washington, DC on November 5 2025 11:00 AM
Let's get there together: Trip to Nov 5 Washington DC: Trump MUST GO NOW 11am at the Washington Monument at National Mall in Washington D. C., DC on November 5, 2025. Join our on-demand, crowdsourced ...
rally.co
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
broadwaybabyto.bsky.social
This is a fantastic article I encourage everyone to read.

The damaging effects of COVID on our immune system are not up for debate.

It’s not hypothetical.

And it’s not limited to “only the vulnerable”.

This is why many of us mask. Respirators like an N95 do a great job preventing covid.
drjenirwin.bsky.social
‘While SARS-CoV-2 does not cause HIV/AIDS, its ability to induce immune dysfunction—including T cell depletion & dysfunction, increased susceptibility to infection incl opportunistic, accelerated bio aging, neurological, & systemic damage provide parallels... .’
www.ajpmfocus.org/article/S277...
COVID-19 is “Airborne AIDS”: provocative oversimplification, emerging science, or something in between?
COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is often compared to other pandemics for its societal and global health impact, with some commentators drawing parallels to HIV/AIDS due to the immune dysfunction caused ...
www.ajpmfocus.org
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
Take a look at these body butters! Everything @skincarebully.bsky.social makes is thoughtfully formulated. With fall & winter coming up, central heat/fireplaces kicking in soon, we'll all need more moisturizing & hydrating body products. Plus, @ixorabb.bsky.social is a Black woman-owned business.
skincarebully.bsky.social
It’s here! I present to you, the Budget Baddie Butters! ixorabb.com/collections/...
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
pnca.bsky.social
Gov. Stein said it best. Our Republican lawmakers seem to have forgotten who they were elected to work for. Take five minutes today to call and remind them.
Sen. Phil Berger: 919-733-5708
Rep. Destin Hall: 919-733-3451
#ncpol #ncgov #ncga #gerrymandering
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
democracync.bsky.social
What makes the gerrymandering announcement even more insulting: legislators are prioritizing rigging voting maps as a favor to Donald Trump instead of focusing on passing a state budget or addressing the critical needs of North Carolinians.
This is politics at its worst. #NCpol
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
If you can get to Raleigh (NC) to protest the NCGOP attempt to redraw congressional districts in service to herr dictator Trump -- go, and raise your voice loudly! If you can't get there, can you contribute, so those from around the state who need a ride can get there? #ncpol
ncdemocrats.bsky.social
THE PEOPLE WILL BE HEARD.

NC's top Republicans are carving up our congressional districts AGAIN to appease their power-hungry president.

Help us get as many North Carolinians as possible to the NCGA next week. Chip in now » ncdp.org/fund
BREAKING NEWS: The redistricting battle has come to North Carolina.
Can you help us fund getting folks to the General Assembly?
ncdp.org
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
5calls.org
If you can't march, you can still call to say No Kings.

We got you 👉 5calls.org/issue/trump-...
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
The General Assembly was elected to represent North Carolinians and handle state business, not to do Trump's bidding. I'm writing to NC Senate & House leaders Berger & Hall to tell them as much. My Dem state rep & senator won't vote to redistrict in favor of the GOP, but they're outnumbered. #ncpol
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
The side declaring war on both citizens & immigrants, the side invading peaceful cities with military force and secret police, the side refusing to fund aid programs or healthcare -- that's the side who hates America.
atrupar.com
Emmer: "We call it the 'Hate America' rally because you'll see the hate for America all over this thing when they show up. The rumor is that they can't end this shutdown because this small but very violent and vocal group is the only one that's happy about this."
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
Yes, nobody should have to fund their own oppression, and that's what paying taxes to this regime feels like. I was able to rationalize it because judges have been stepping in (sporadically) to ensure at least some of the programs funded by Congress still receive their money. But it still stings.
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
I would just like to take a moment to thank the person at the carbon monoxide alarm company whose idea it was to put a legend on the back of the alarm, so I know that 5 beeps means the alarm is at the end of its life and not that we're dying of CO2 exposure.
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
marcelias.bsky.social
Let's be clear: If North Carolina Republicans gerrymander their already illegal map further, they will be sued and they will lose.

I never bluff and I usually win.
marcelias.bsky.social
🚨BREAKING: North Carolina became the latest GOP-controlled state to announce it will gerrymander its congressional map to please President Donald Trump. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
North Carolina Is Latest Gop-Controlled State To Announce a Gerrymander
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
tmwillia.bsky.social
Are you going to the No Kings protest on Saturday?

Be Prepared!
1️⃣ write the phone number of a trusted friend/attorney on your arm in Sharpie
2️⃣ watch this video!
tmwillia.bsky.social
US citizen picked up by ICE? Here’s what to say:
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
Governor Stein, please educate your social media staff that they need to learn how to post Alt Text on images that include text, in order to be inclusive of users who use screen readers due to visual impairments or other disabilities. Thank you for representing us with dignity.
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
#ncpol
ncgovernor.bsky.social
The General Assembly should be working for you, not taking away your freedoms. Here’s my statement on their shameless plan to redraw North Carolina’s Congressional maps:
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
ncrabbithole.com
just wrote about how the nc senate redistricting chair drew himself a new district in '23 that included App State and then redrew county commission maps that mostly neutered the vote of students at his alma mater over the objections of 71% of that county's voters www.ncrabbithole.com/p/why-voters...
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
The irony of this is that the NCGOP can't even pass a state budget, but they're bringing the legislature back to gerrymander another seat for Trump. #ncpol
ncdemocrats.bsky.social
If you needed confirmation that the NCGOP will do anything for Trump’s approval, here it is. They just agreed to gerrymander our maps.

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 21 to send them a clear message: we're watching and we’re not backing down.
www.mobilize.us/ncdems/event...
REDISTRICTING WATCH · North Carolina Democrats
Republicans are scared of losing, so they're cheating. We've seen redistricting battles play out across the country – and now the fight is coming to North Carolina. **We need to be outside the gener...
www.mobilize.us
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
North Carolina is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation and the evil NCGOP is about to take it a step further. There was no Trump mandate in 2024, btw. The results show a close election, not a landslide. His margin of victory was not large enough to support claims of a mandate. #ncpol
reubenjones1.bsky.social
NEW:

North Carolina Republican leaders say the General Assembly will consider a new Congressional map next week.

“Trump earned a clear mandate from the voters...we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat."

bergerpress.medium.com/general-asse... #ncpol
General Assembly Heeds President Trump’s Call to Thwart Blue State Attempts to Take Congress
Raleigh, N.C. — Today, legislative leaders agreed to hold votes during the previously scheduled October legislative session to block the…
bergerpress.medium.com
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
I absolutely adore the look of this duster on Jula. Wish I had one to wear IRL.
kimberlyratliff.bsky.social
What's next after No Kings? Well, here's one action. An economic & labor boycott Nov 25 - Dec 2. No work. No shopping. No travel. No unnecessary spending. Withhold as much money and labor as you can. Share widely, as people will participate at different levels based on family needs. #NoKings
tmwillia.bsky.social
#blackoutthesystem is back.
You all saw what an economic boycott did for Jimmy Kimmel; see if you can do the same thing to protect your freedom and your life.
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
juliusgoat.bsky.social
"To be a Republican in 2025 represents a clear public confession that you either don't know the difference between good and evil and you're so morally empty that you can't be bothered to begin to try, or that you do know the difference, and you prefer evil." www.the-reframe.com/the-crime-of...
The Crime of Human Virtue
Sometimes it really is as simple as good vs. evil. This is one of those times. Human virtue is our great crime against the fascist project; it's also our great weapon against it.
www.the-reframe.com
Reposted by Kimberly #MaskUp Ratliff, MSc
rincewind.run
if we'd treated their obvious baldfaced lies and deflections more like this over the past eight years maybe we wouldn't be in this situation

shocking how easy it is when you actually see it done
atrupar.com
STEPHANOPOULOS: I didn't insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50k as was heard on an audio tape recorded by the FBI in September 2024. You did not answer the question. Thank you for your time.

VANCE: No, George, I sai--

STEPHANOPOULOS: We'll be right back