Astraia
@astraiastardust.bsky.social
Gen X, introvert, crazy plant lady. Kindness is my superpower.
If everything around seems dark, look again, you may be the light. —Rumi
If everything around seems dark, look again, you may be the light. —Rumi
Reposted by Astraia
Photographer Kathrin Swoboda captured amazing images of a red wing blackbird's song, visible via the bird's breath in cold air and early light #WomensArt
November 29, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Photographer Kathrin Swoboda captured amazing images of a red wing blackbird's song, visible via the bird's breath in cold air and early light #WomensArt
Reposted by Astraia
This article provides more data showing how easy it is to manipulate humans on social media.
These researchers rerouted the algorithm on Twitter to push some users toward “antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity”.
It only took 1 week to elicit changes that used to take 3 years.
These researchers rerouted the algorithm on Twitter to push some users toward “antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity”.
It only took 1 week to elicit changes that used to take 3 years.
Reranking partisan animosity in algorithmic social media feeds alters affective polarization
Today, social media platforms hold the sole power to study the effects of feed-ranking algorithms. We developed a platform-independent method that reranks participants’ feeds in real time and used thi...
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This article provides more data showing how easy it is to manipulate humans on social media.
These researchers rerouted the algorithm on Twitter to push some users toward “antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity”.
It only took 1 week to elicit changes that used to take 3 years.
These researchers rerouted the algorithm on Twitter to push some users toward “antidemocratic attitudes and partisan animosity”.
It only took 1 week to elicit changes that used to take 3 years.
Reposted by Astraia
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Reposted by Astraia
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
Reposted by Astraia
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Astraia
Donald Trump is already laying the groundwork to throw the 2026 midterms into chaos. His success could have dire consequences for American democracy, @dgraham.bsky.social argues.
The Coming Election Mayhem
Donald Trump’s plans to throw the 2026 midterms into chaos are already under way.
bit.ly
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Donald Trump is already laying the groundwork to throw the 2026 midterms into chaos. His success could have dire consequences for American democracy, @dgraham.bsky.social argues.
Reposted by Astraia
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
Reposted by Astraia
America's most notorious child rapist, Jeffrey Epstein, said this man was the worst person he'd ever met. Let that sink in.
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
America's most notorious child rapist, Jeffrey Epstein, said this man was the worst person he'd ever met. Let that sink in.
Reposted by Astraia
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
Reposted by Astraia
I’ve never seen an American elected official fight so hard to starve people.
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I’ve never seen an American elected official fight so hard to starve people.
Reposted by Astraia
The NYT’s @tonyromm.bsky.social puts it plainly:
“.. he has found new and untested ways to spare certain Americans, like the military, from the pain of the government closure, while claiming he has no power to help others, including low-income individuals ..”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/u...
“.. he has found new and untested ways to spare certain Americans, like the military, from the pain of the government closure, while claiming he has no power to help others, including low-income individuals ..”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/u...
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The NYT’s @tonyromm.bsky.social puts it plainly:
“.. he has found new and untested ways to spare certain Americans, like the military, from the pain of the government closure, while claiming he has no power to help others, including low-income individuals ..”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/u...
“.. he has found new and untested ways to spare certain Americans, like the military, from the pain of the government closure, while claiming he has no power to help others, including low-income individuals ..”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/u...
Reposted by Astraia
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Reposted by Astraia
The government is shut down because Trump stooges want to double health insurance costs for struggling Americans.
And now, because Mike Johnson hasn't even had House Republicans show up for work since Sept. 19, many of those Americans are losing food benefits.
And now, because Mike Johnson hasn't even had House Republicans show up for work since Sept. 19, many of those Americans are losing food benefits.
October 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The government is shut down because Trump stooges want to double health insurance costs for struggling Americans.
And now, because Mike Johnson hasn't even had House Republicans show up for work since Sept. 19, many of those Americans are losing food benefits.
And now, because Mike Johnson hasn't even had House Republicans show up for work since Sept. 19, many of those Americans are losing food benefits.
Reposted by Astraia
Reposted by Astraia
Reposted by Astraia
So they didn’t like the ad. Let’s just post Reagan’s 5 min speech against tariffs as it appears on YouTube.
Over and over. On all platforms (some of y’all are still on X).
*1981 Sherrilyn horrified by 2025 Sherrilyn saying “let’s post Reagan’s speech.”
youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc
Over and over. On all platforms (some of y’all are still on X).
*1981 Sherrilyn horrified by 2025 Sherrilyn saying “let’s post Reagan’s speech.”
youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc
President Reagan's Radio Address on Free and Fair Trade on April 25, 1987
YouTube video by Reagan Library
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 5:14 PM
So they didn’t like the ad. Let’s just post Reagan’s 5 min speech against tariffs as it appears on YouTube.
Over and over. On all platforms (some of y’all are still on X).
*1981 Sherrilyn horrified by 2025 Sherrilyn saying “let’s post Reagan’s speech.”
youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc
Over and over. On all platforms (some of y’all are still on X).
*1981 Sherrilyn horrified by 2025 Sherrilyn saying “let’s post Reagan’s speech.”
youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc
Reposted by Astraia
It's not a Bentbill, but the Blue-throated Goldentail is an OK bird, too, I suppose.
At @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #nature #hummingbirds
At @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #nature #hummingbirds
October 18, 2025 at 12:41 AM
It's not a Bentbill, but the Blue-throated Goldentail is an OK bird, too, I suppose.
At @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #nature #hummingbirds
At @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #nature #hummingbirds
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OpenAI's chatbot is a fictional character without an author—and that makes ChatGPT dangerous, Vauhini Vara argues:
Why So Many People Are Seduced by ChatGPT
What makes OpenAI’s chatbot so dangerous? It’s a fictional character without an author.
bit.ly
October 17, 2025 at 3:15 AM
OpenAI's chatbot is a fictional character without an author—and that makes ChatGPT dangerous, Vauhini Vara argues:
Reposted by Astraia
Reposted by Astraia
An EPA report found that the forever chemical PFNA interferes with human development and likely causes damage to the liver and male reproductive systems.
The agency has sat on the report for months. “Scientifically, it was done,” said one scientist.
By @fastlerner.bsky.social
The agency has sat on the report for months. “Scientifically, it was done,” said one scientist.
By @fastlerner.bsky.social
Scientists Completed a Toxicity Report on This Forever Chemical. The EPA Hasn’t Released It.
Agency scientists found that PFNA could cause developmental, liver and reproductive harms. Their final report was ready in mid-April, according to an internal document reviewed by ProPublica, but the ...
www.propublica.org
October 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
An EPA report found that the forever chemical PFNA interferes with human development and likely causes damage to the liver and male reproductive systems.
The agency has sat on the report for months. “Scientifically, it was done,” said one scientist.
By @fastlerner.bsky.social
The agency has sat on the report for months. “Scientifically, it was done,” said one scientist.
By @fastlerner.bsky.social
Reposted by Astraia
A young male Crowned Woodnymph this morning at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
October 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
A young male Crowned Woodnymph this morning at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
Reposted by Astraia
October 4, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Reposted by Astraia
We’ve gotten several messages that the Trump administration has tampered with federal employees’ email systems, making some people’s automatic Out of Office replies blame the government shutdown on the “radical left.” This was done without the employees’ knowledge.
October 3, 2025 at 2:37 AM
We’ve gotten several messages that the Trump administration has tampered with federal employees’ email systems, making some people’s automatic Out of Office replies blame the government shutdown on the “radical left.” This was done without the employees’ knowledge.
Reposted by Astraia
I always pay attention to what stories People Magazine and other consumer media outlets cover. That's how you can tell that something has broken through the usual political and news bubbles. This horrific Chicago story has broken through. people.com/ice-agents-o...
ICE Agents Rappel from Helicopter in Overnight Chicago Raid, Dragging Kids from Beds to U-Hauls
Overnight on Tuesday, Sept. 30, federal agents from different agencies raided an apartment building on the South Side of Chicago, pulling men, women and children — some of them allegedly naked — from ...
people.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I always pay attention to what stories People Magazine and other consumer media outlets cover. That's how you can tell that something has broken through the usual political and news bubbles. This horrific Chicago story has broken through. people.com/ice-agents-o...