JL Oakley~Historical fiction author
banner
jloakley.bsky.social
JL Oakley~Historical fiction author
@jloakley.bsky.social
Historian, writer of historical fiction. Retired museum educator. Garden, books, and bird lover. Skills: can churn and wash butter, write in 19th century cursive & wield beater and froe. https://www.jloakleyauthor.com/
Nice. I left for home after 6 month study in France from Southampton. That was in 1967. The entire junior class of my college was onboard the Cunard Line.
Just a little sketch from a visit to Southampton in 1998. I wandered around looking for something to draw and settled for a quick seascape of the docks with gulls. A cold wind coming off the water.
#art #watercolour #drawing #seagulls
December 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Saudis, Kushner owning it is frightening.
🗽Robert Reich
Dec 12, 2025

Let me make it clear I’m against Netflix acquiring Warner Bros Discovery. That would concentrate corporate power in ways that harm consumers and distort American politics. But Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros would be worse.

robertreich.substack.com/p/what-happe...
What Happens When a Bonkers President Takes Over the Private Sector
We need independent regulatory agencies to contain him
robertreich.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
We have Merlin’s here in the NW corner of WA. Their ki-lying scare all the other Birds.
Yesterday I wrongly claimed this bird as a Merlin, in my defense, all my other Kestrel photos have been of birds hovering above my head not at near eye level. So yes, I got a bit overexcited, this is in fact a male Kestrel. Taken at Peterstone Gout, Wentloog.🪶 #birdingwales #ukbirding
December 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
What a jazzy looking bird. Our NW kingfisher is quite bland.
My morning kingfisher pal was in a posing mood today...

#BirdPhotography #Kingfisher
December 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A writerly friend from Authonomy? Looks like a great holiday day read.
Most of us have a Dolly Hunter in our family; someone who has lived quite a long, bittersweet life, and tends to dwell more on the bitter.
She was my grandma. But she found someone to show her how sweet life can be.
The book is finding its readers after two years, and that makes me proud for us.
December 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
No words to add.
Magaziner: “How many United States military veterans have you deported?”

Noem: “Sir, we have not deported US citizens or military veterans.”

Magaziner: “Sae Joon Park is a U.S. Army combat veteran who was shot twice while serving our country…Can you please tell Mr. Park why you deported him?”
December 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
like self driving cars. Who asked for that?
I say this as someone who works for an AI company, and has witnessed first-hand the degradation of thinking and creative ability as people use AI tools to do all the thinking/creation for them:

I totally agree.
I say this as someone whose entire job is finding the narrow use cases in which AI is actually useful:

All the fear about AI, all the reluctance to adopt it, is entirely legitimate, and a product of the fact that it's been foisted on the public with no consideration of its negative externalities.
December 11, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Congrats to all the authors here with their series. Best wishes making it to the short list.
The 2025 Book Series Awarrds Long List

The Series Book Awards Longn List is hot off the presses! Join us in welcoming these authors to the 2025 CIBAs and wish them luck as we move onto the Short List!
The 2025 Book Series Awarrds Long List
The Series Book Awards Longn List is hot off the presses! Join us in welcoming these authors to the 2025 CIBAs and wish them luck as we move onto the Short List!
www.chantireviews.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Uh, maybe YOU have been spotted.
December 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Sounds like a good read. My ancestors served in the Union Army, notably my great grandfather who was surgeon in the 11th PA at Gettysburg.
Congratulations to Antwain K. Hunter, whose book A Precarious Balance: Firearms, Race, and Community in North Carolina, 1715–1865 was published by UNC Press last month!

uncpress.org/978146968989...
December 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Won't this help the economy. No one wants to feel like the enemy of the state trying to visit the Grand Canyon.
This’ll be part of their staunch defence of free-speech I assume.
December 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I suppose T will start targeing this new blue city--just because.
December 10, 2025 at 4:26 AM
That's a wow.
December 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Having pull-up bars will not help with the fear of flying, turbulence, parking at an airport, TSA, and if a young parent, corralling kids.
A cabinet of narcissistic instagram influencers making videos of themselves daily for social media to promote their brand.
December 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
It’s in the Constitution, people,
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

There’s only one way to interpret the 14th Amendment: exactly how it's written. Birthright citizenship isn’t up for debate.
December 9, 2025 at 3:08 AM
I still can't the image of her prancing around at the Madison Square Garden rally.
FOX: Interim U.S. Attorney for the state of New Jersey, Alina Habba has resigned. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she accepted the resignation after a court's decision disqualifying Habba from serving.
December 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
While the US is so busy with FIFa awards and blowing boats out of the water, #Norway and #UK signed a very important agreement about securing the North Sea. It's significant that it's named after Lunna House, first headquarters for the #shetlandbus in 1941 tinyurl.com/yn5thpv4
UK and Norway to operate together to counter Russian undersea threat through major new defence agreement
Combined fleet of at least 13 warships, bolstered by autonomous systems, will hunt Russian submarines and protect critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic as part of new agreement.
www.gov.uk
December 6, 2025 at 7:03 AM
This is insane. I betcha they are not commenting on this on Regime News.
So not only were we busy telling the world what we were doing on insecure Signal chats, we were shooting down our own people at the same time. It has costs to put incompetent people in charge of national security, and I fear we are just beginning to pay them.
www.businessinsider.com/navy-warship...
A Navy warship mistook US fighter jets for enemy missiles and opened fire. The targeted pilot saw his life flash before his eyes.
New documents reveal how the USS Gettysburg shot down an F/A-18 and nearly hit a second one above the Red Sea last year.
www.businessinsider.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Excellent verse.
I have a wish for them. Galatians 5.12
Is Turning Point the next Nazi party?
December 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Is Turning Point the next Nazi party?
They’re killing people as a twitter joke. It’s depraved. Can’t let yourself lose the capacity to be appalled and disgusted and outraged by this.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces another boat strike in response to a request/wish from Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet.
December 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The vine growing next to my house in Honolulu always reminded me of something from Mars.
Passion flower
December 6th 2023
December 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Exactly what the FDA is for.
'Tis the season!

“One Night Cough Syrup” from the 1930s, which contained cannabis, morphine, chloroform, and alcohol! In 1934, the FDA ruled that the claims of the cough syrup's therapeutic properties were misleading, and remaining stock was destroyed.

#skystorians #medhist #science 🧪
December 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I like the old Twitter where I learned to quip in those short characters. I met fellow writers, museum educators (moi), and had great discussions with librarians. It's why I ended up at Shetland Noir23. I quit in early January. I write historical fiction in Norway during WWII & the Pacific NW.
You know what? I miss Twitter - how it used to be. I miss the immediacy and the connections and the simplicity. I miss my old network of teachers, writers and librarians.
I quit the day after the US election.
If you are interested in kids' books, Scotland, history and kindness, let's connect.
December 4, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Is she projecting her own end of life when she's older? Karma can be really mean.
December 3, 2025 at 6:42 AM