Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
@phoenixashes76.bsky.social
Gay and trans. MSLS, herder of library kids. I’ll read anything once. Proud cat dad. ko-fi.com/phoenixashes76
Pinned
Ok. I’m a librarian. I recommend books for a living. I believe in reading as a destressor and a means of processing
Also, while most passive and solitary activities aren’t resistance, reading IS. So here’s a list I’ll pin to my feed and add to as I get time/ memory jogs/ smth becomes relevant
Also, while most passive and solitary activities aren’t resistance, reading IS. So here’s a list I’ll pin to my feed and add to as I get time/ memory jogs/ smth becomes relevant
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
they avoided talking about fascism all year by being like “healthcare healthcare healthcare” and then they blew up our healthcare??? and you think you’re entitled to my vote why exactly???
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 AM
they avoided talking about fascism all year by being like “healthcare healthcare healthcare” and then they blew up our healthcare??? and you think you’re entitled to my vote why exactly???
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
;alskdnf;adsifjadsfadf THEN GET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER YOU SHIT ARE YOU A LEADER??????????
*SCHUMER SAYS HE IS VOTING 'NO' ON GOP BILL
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
;alskdnf;adsifjadsfadf THEN GET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER YOU SHIT ARE YOU A LEADER??????????
I just have to think the senators knew how much hot water this was going to be because we all had, what, an hour? to figure out what they were up to and call in, if we weren’t online on a Sunday evening we would have missed the whole thing
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I just have to think the senators knew how much hot water this was going to be because we all had, what, an hour? to figure out what they were up to and call in, if we weren’t online on a Sunday evening we would have missed the whole thing
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
The “the Republicans are Dad and Democrats are Mom” idea really gets that truth across, I think. Drunk abuser makes a mess and dutiful Mom, trapped by the system, cleans it up and tries to put a happy face on things.
November 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The “the Republicans are Dad and Democrats are Mom” idea really gets that truth across, I think. Drunk abuser makes a mess and dutiful Mom, trapped by the system, cleans it up and tries to put a happy face on things.
The ENTIRE FUCKING POINT of Obamacare was so that you wouldn’t be tied to a job to get healthcare, if you are dependent on FSAs it will tie you CLOSER to your job. If you have one. And it offers benefits. Both very big ifs!
"A development that appeared to break the logjam: Republicans proposed that healthcare funding be provided directly to households rather than used to pay for a 1-year extension of ACA subsidies. That involves sending federal money into FSAs instead of insurance companies" www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Republicans Pitch Alternative to ACA Extension to End Government Shutdown
A proposal by GOP senators to send money directly to consumers’ health accounts rather than to insurance companies showed signs of breaking a stalemate on negotiations.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The ENTIRE FUCKING POINT of Obamacare was so that you wouldn’t be tied to a job to get healthcare, if you are dependent on FSAs it will tie you CLOSER to your job. If you have one. And it offers benefits. Both very big ifs!
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
You CANNOT spend FSA money on health care premiums, and if you’re self-employed or unemployed you don’t even have a fucking FSA.
"A development that appeared to break the logjam: Republicans proposed that healthcare funding be provided directly to households rather than used to pay for a 1-year extension of ACA subsidies. That involves sending federal money into FSAs instead of insurance companies" www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Republicans Pitch Alternative to ACA Extension to End Government Shutdown
A proposal by GOP senators to send money directly to consumers’ health accounts rather than to insurance companies showed signs of breaking a stalemate on negotiations.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
You CANNOT spend FSA money on health care premiums, and if you’re self-employed or unemployed you don’t even have a fucking FSA.
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
THAT ISN'T HOW FSA'S WORK
You CANNOT spend FSA money on health care premiums, and if you’re self-employed or unemployed you don’t even have a fucking FSA.
"A development that appeared to break the logjam: Republicans proposed that healthcare funding be provided directly to households rather than used to pay for a 1-year extension of ACA subsidies. That involves sending federal money into FSAs instead of insurance companies" www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
THAT ISN'T HOW FSA'S WORK
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
LOOK UPON MY WORKS, YE MIGHTY
A 450-foot Prometheus. A 500-foot George Washington. Tech investors are racing to build colossal monuments celebrating Western power.
America’s Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues
With proposals for a 450-foot statue of Prometheus on Alcatraz and a 650-foot George Washington, MAGA adherents are racing to build America’s largest statue.
bloom.bg
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
LOOK UPON MY WORKS, YE MIGHTY
I once worked for an LGBT Center that was located inside a church and they paid our phone bill as part of the rent. So we did sometimes get phone calls meant for the church
A TikToker did a social experiment where she called churches to get help to buy formula to feed her baby.
Every church repeatedly declined to help.
TikTok now can’t stop talking about the experiment.
/
Every church repeatedly declined to help.
TikTok now can’t stop talking about the experiment.
/
November 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I once worked for an LGBT Center that was located inside a church and they paid our phone bill as part of the rent. So we did sometimes get phone calls meant for the church
Sweet potato is marginally better but for Thanksgiving I would rather have sweet potatoes in casserole and then it’s too much to have them in pie too so I want sweet potatoes casserole and pumpkin pie
sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Sweet potato is marginally better but for Thanksgiving I would rather have sweet potatoes in casserole and then it’s too much to have them in pie too so I want sweet potatoes casserole and pumpkin pie
Strike etiquette question. If Starbucks has called a strike for a given day, is it ok/preferable to buy Starbucks any other day? Or should I just not buy Starbucks until they get right?
November 9, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Strike etiquette question. If Starbucks has called a strike for a given day, is it ok/preferable to buy Starbucks any other day? Or should I just not buy Starbucks until they get right?
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
hard SF vs soft SF is a false dichotomy, it's really mathpervert or alienfucker
November 9, 2025 at 5:18 AM
hard SF vs soft SF is a false dichotomy, it's really mathpervert or alienfucker
This is a thread with a story and I’m going to chime in with mine
When I got housing after a spell without it, I knew I wanted a cat. Needed a cat with every fiber of my being.
I was also still very much in survival mode, dealing with the disability that lost me housing, and rebuilding EVERYTHING
When I got housing after a spell without it, I knew I wanted a cat. Needed a cat with every fiber of my being.
I was also still very much in survival mode, dealing with the disability that lost me housing, and rebuilding EVERYTHING
While they’re still screwing about with SNAP, it’s a good idea to donate to pet shelters, too.
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
Families on SNAP worry about not just feeding themselves but also their pets
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:01 AM
This is a thread with a story and I’m going to chime in with mine
When I got housing after a spell without it, I knew I wanted a cat. Needed a cat with every fiber of my being.
I was also still very much in survival mode, dealing with the disability that lost me housing, and rebuilding EVERYTHING
When I got housing after a spell without it, I knew I wanted a cat. Needed a cat with every fiber of my being.
I was also still very much in survival mode, dealing with the disability that lost me housing, and rebuilding EVERYTHING
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
While they’re still screwing about with SNAP, it’s a good idea to donate to pet shelters, too.
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
Families on SNAP worry about not just feeding themselves but also their pets
With SNAP benefits going out late, nonprofits are begging for pet food donations to prevent desperate owners from surrendering their dogs and cats to animal shelters.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
While they’re still screwing about with SNAP, it’s a good idea to donate to pet shelters, too.
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
If you dare show up with “poor people shouldn’t have pets”, I will tear such a new one it generates a black hole.
apnews.com/article/pets...
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Describe your cat’s personality with one photo
Zero thoughts. Zero fucks. Sharps out.
Zero thoughts. Zero fucks. Sharps out.
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Describe your cat’s personality with one photo
Zero thoughts. Zero fucks. Sharps out.
Zero thoughts. Zero fucks. Sharps out.
So what that means is I’ll have to remember to keep my eyes on the floor and have earbuds in if I go through the door. Meanwhile Walmart offers quiet shopping hours. This is an accessibility issue in an environment that used to be less overwhelming than most stores
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:26 PM
So what that means is I’ll have to remember to keep my eyes on the floor and have earbuds in if I go through the door. Meanwhile Walmart offers quiet shopping hours. This is an accessibility issue in an environment that used to be less overwhelming than most stores
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Dunno why we bother teaching the extra long ones when everything about Dickens politics exists in the time travel story about ghosts at Christmas
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
November 8, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Dunno why we bother teaching the extra long ones when everything about Dickens politics exists in the time travel story about ghosts at Christmas
Ok this is weird but whatever. I bought some mandarin oranges, which I rarely do, and I forgot how good they smelled when you peel them. Is there a way to like… save the peels so the house will smell like that? Internet, do your magic
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Ok this is weird but whatever. I bought some mandarin oranges, which I rarely do, and I forgot how good they smelled when you peel them. Is there a way to like… save the peels so the house will smell like that? Internet, do your magic
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
OH REALLY
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 PM
OH REALLY
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
"Show feet, sweetie. The car won't run again until you do."
Today's entry in "why your chatbot, particularly that one, should not be in general deployment"
"My car asked my kids a shocking and inappropriate question. That’s how I realized there are few safe spaces anymore" in the Toronto Star [gift link]
"My car asked my kids a shocking and inappropriate question. That’s how I realized there are few safe spaces anymore" in the Toronto Star [gift link]
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
"Show feet, sweetie. The car won't run again until you do."
That’s it, I’m moving, I like horror but I don’t do the flavor for my current state nope nope
One Thing About Living In Virginia I Never Could Stomach...All The Damn Vampires.
(Yes, Vampire. This is about you. No I don't dislike you. Yes, I got your text. I told you no there. The answer is still no. Try again after next October.)
(Yes, Vampire. This is about you. No I don't dislike you. Yes, I got your text. I told you no there. The answer is still no. Try again after next October.)
November 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
That’s it, I’m moving, I like horror but I don’t do the flavor for my current state nope nope
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
10/10 take. No notes.
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
10/10 take. No notes.