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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 1d

I haven’t either! Trying to find out what might cause it.

Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 1d

Ghost pipes in a Southern Appalachian forest—usually these are a glassy-white, but this magenta color was eye-catching. #FlowerReport #Bloomscrolling

A group of seven bell-like flowers of varying height, on scaly stems, on a leafy woodland background. Ghost pipes do not photosynthesize; they don’t produce chlorophyl, so they aren’t green, but are pale magenta-to-white in color here. More commonly they are glassy white.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 3d

Brown sign with white letters reads “CAUTION Bears on Hiking Trails.” An inset diamond-shaped image with a yellow background shows silhouettes of a large bear walking on four feet, followed by a smaller bear walking on four feet.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 4d

A purple drink cup with a cotton zipped pouch resting against it. On the pouch is printed a conversation: Security Guard: Ma’am, you can’t bring outside drinks in here. Me: This is a service mimosa.

Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 7d

I copy this wisdom into the front of my journal each time I start a new one.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 7d

Yes, I’ve seen a few HUNDRED of these just on our property. We’ve stumbled through their webs so often I think they’re now learning to place them above human height along our pathways.

Georgia Recorder @georgiarecorder.com · 7d

Have you seen a Joro spider in Georgia? Researchers want to know. New from @journalistross.bsky.social.

Have you seen a Joro spider in Georgia? Researchers want to know • Georgia Recorder

If you live in north Georgia, there’s a good chance you’ve come face to cephalothorax with the Joro spider in the last few years. The behemoth black and yellow arachnids hitched a ride to Georgia from...

georgiarecorder.com

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Alexis Wolf @dralexiswolf.bsky.social · 10d

Thinking this morning about the importance of writing, reading, creative practice. Not only do the stories we tell have political power, writing allows us to reconnect with parts of ourselves and subverts the noise we've all gotten so used to.

Wishing everyone a quiet moment this weekend.

A typewriter and books on a clear kitchen table

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Carve Her Name @carvehername.bsky.social · 17d

“Our heedless and destructive acts enter the vast cycles of the earth and in time return to bring hazard to ourselves."

#OnThisDay, 27 Sept 1962, Rachel Carson's influential book 'Silent Spring' is published, documenting the environmental impact of pesticides.

#WomenInHistory #WomenInSTEM 🗃️
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Rachel Carson with a copy of Silent Spring. She is a white woman with dark hair standing in front of a bookcase.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 18d

Beautiful cover art, too.

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Wolf Conservation Center 🐺 @nywolforg.bsky.social · 19d

Despite ongoing debates about hybridization, science is clear: Red Wolves are a distinct species.

"Phenotype, genotype, evolutionary history – all of that already distinguishes Red Wolves from coyotes,” says WCC Research Associate, Sunny Murphy.

Read more: bit.ly/3VAHhgL

Are Red Wolves Hybrids? No, And That’s A Critical Distinction For The World’s Rarest Wolf

“This whole debate really roots in the attempt to delegitimize conservation and recovery efforts.”

www.iflscience.com

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 20d

I celebrated the equinox early with a Sunday hike among the clouds on Black Balsam Knob in NC, one of the highest Appalachian balds.

A meadow with grasses and red and yellow flowers stretching toward slopes and higher mountain peaks, with the edge of a dirt trail and low cloud drifting out of left frame. The air smelled spicy-sweet from the flowers.

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Atlanta News First @atlantanewsfirst.com · 25d

Report reveals Georgia Medicaid program has spent more on admin than care

A government watchdog has raised concerns about high administrative costs in Georgia's Medicaid program.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · 29d

It’s an amazing place.

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Wild Wonder Foundation @wildwonder.bsky.social · Sep 14

We are thrilled to welcome our newborn zine: Your Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling a Garden!
In this FREE new zine, learn how and why to nature journal a garden—it helps you slow down, notice more, and sparks JOY and curiosity. wildwonder.org/garden

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you for this reminder--I forgot my library has it!

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Sep 4

Beautyberry, soon to be bird buffet 🐦‍⬛

Branch with bright green toothed pointed oval leaves with clusters of small berries, ranging in color from bright green to light purple

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Polly Atkin @pollyrowena.bsky.social · Aug 26

I keep getting asked for my salty thoughts about the Salt Path as my position on nature cure narratives is v clear! A mere fraction of those thoughts published here @literaryhub.bsky.social, with thanks to @bookwormvaught.bsky.social and @nicwilson.bsky.social for their earlier pieces linked below.

Nature is Not Going to Cure You: On Raynor Winn’s Fabricated Memoir

Like many writers, I have been following the unfolding revelations about Raynor Winn and The Salt Path with great interest, and a degree of self-interest. I am a memoirist and nature writer, and I …

lithub.com

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

Sarah Boon @snowhydro.bsky.social · Aug 31

"Nature writing has long had a problem with the way it presents illness. Nature writing only wants to admit illness into its pages if it is to show nature performing a miraculous cure." @pollyrowena.bsky.social at @literaryhub.bsky.social lithub.com/nature-is-no...

Nature is Not Going to Cure You: On Raynor Winn’s Fabricated Memoir

Like many writers, I have been following the unfolding revelations about Raynor Winn and The Salt Path with great interest, and a degree of self-interest. I am a memoirist and nature writer, and I …

lithub.com

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 29

Fisk is the only reason I still subscribe to Netflix. Enjoying season 3 so much.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 27

!!!
georgiarecorder.com/2025/08/26/l...

Georgia state Senate election to replace former Sen. Brandon Beach goes to a September runoff • Georgia Recorder

The lone Democrat in a seven-way race has advanced to a runoff in a special election that will decide who will replace former Alpharetta Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach, and the top GOP candidates...

georgiarecorder.com

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Reposted by Debra Mihalic Staples

ACLU @aclu.org · Aug 26

The 19th Amendment was ratified on this day in 1920, barring voting discrimination based on sex. But for women of color, the right to vote wasn’t fully realized until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

105 years later, we're still fighting for equal ballot access for all.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 21

I feel seen.

Susie Dent @susiedent.com · Aug 21

Word of the Day is ‘theic’ (19th century), defined as ‘one given to immoderate tea-drinking; a tea drunkard’.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 14

This thread shows why we need to protect our children—and ourselves—from Meta’s products in particular and chatbots in general:

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · Aug 14

New reporting from @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social, who got hold of internal standards for chatbot behavior at Meta.

“It is acceptable to engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,” according to Meta’s “GenAI: Content Risk Standards.” The standards are used by Meta staff and contractors who build and train the company’s generative AI products, defining what they should and shouldn’t treat as permissible chatbot behavior. Meta said it struck that provision after Reuters inquired about the document earlier this month.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 14

It’s the tech industry’s version of the whole carbon footprint thing—trying to make individuals “responsible” for a problem that was forced on us.

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Debra Mihalic Staples @dmihalicstaples.bsky.social · Aug 13

Heads up, #UglyDogs :

Blair Braverman @blairbraverman.bsky.social · Aug 13

Flame and I are sooo excited to share a first peek at The Day Leap Soared, featuring breathtaking gouache paintings by @oliviawhen.com!!

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