Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted

Anna Bower

@annabower.bsky.social

DOGE cut off payments for the electricity, cell phone, and internet service of U.S. government employees who work in a high-risk area in Central America.

Meanwhile, DOGE apparently plans to spend $25,000 to install a washer and dryer for their own personal use in a federal office building in DC.

Because DOGE has shut down USAID's payment system (Phoenix), our housing
electricity and the electricity in our USAID building have not been paid for. Mission
leadership has informed us that the only reason our electricity is on is because we've
asked for an extension from the electric company. The Mission asked for a waiver but
because our payment system is down, the Treasury has no way to issue money to USAID
and State Department representatives here are hesitant to make payments on our behalf
for fear of not being reimbursed.
7. Once the electricity goes out in our homes, we lose access to our security cameras and
radios. Again, I live in a high-risk post, so access to security systems is very important to
me.
8. I have been told by Mission leadership that the cell phone and internet bills are due this
week with no way to pay them. This is despite the so-called "waiver" process that has
been allegedly implemented to preserve such access.
9. Our cell phones and radios are also the only way to communicate with the Regional
Security Office about security threats. We have access to no other USAID security
systems.

The agency is also considering spending about $25,000 to install a washer and dryer on the building’s 6th floor, according to a Feb. 25 invoice obtained by POLITICO. There is also a child’s play area decorated with a stuffed animal and toys, according to a photo of the room shared with POLITICO.

“People are definitely … sleeping there,” said one GSA staffer.

March 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM

Reposted

Journaling Happiness

@alycearmstrong.bsky.social

Indian Eagle owl is a large horned owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent.
🪶📸 #photography by Sanjay Garg - @sanjaygarg

February 4, 2025 at 8:03 PM

Reposted

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈

@josephpolitano.bsky.social

USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).

For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your service”

February 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM

Reposted

Alisa Bokulich

@alisabokulich.bsky.social

Sailboat silhouetted on the ocean with an orange sky & golden sun behind it on the horizon.

February 5, 2025 at 3:20 AM

Reposted

Bodega Cats

@bodegacats.bsky.social

January 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM

Reposted

Ashley Kuckelman

@ashleyvotesblue.bsky.social

Welcome to Trump’s vision for American women. Project 2025 was legitimate, they all knew and they lied to the American people.

This is the future that Republicans dream of implementing. Why you ask? Because they hate women.

Side note:
Anyone know who created this? It’s an excellent graphic.

January 11, 2025 at 1:32 AM

Reposted

Jwst Feed

@jwstfeed.bsky.social

High resolution image of a heavy star.
🔭 🧪

$The luminous, hot star Wolf-Rayet 124 (WR 124) is prominent at the centre of the James Webb Space Telescope’s composite image combining near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths of light. The star displays the characteristic diffraction spikes of Webb’s Near-infrared Camera (NIRCam), caused by the physical structure of the telescope itself. NIRCam effectively balances the brightness of the star with the fainter gas and dust surrounding it, while Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) reveals the nebula’s structure. Background stars and galaxies populate the field of view and peek through the nebula of gas and dust that has been ejected from the ageing massive star. A history of the star’s past episodes of mass loss can be read in the nebula’s structure. Rather than smooth shells, the nebula is formed from random, asymmetric ejections. Bright clumps of gas and dust appear like tadpoles swimming toward the star, their tails streaming out behind them, blown back by the stellar wind.$

January 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM

Reposted

𝔸𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕒𝕨𝕟

@amberdawn1116.bsky.social

January 11, 2025 at 6:20 AM

Reposted

GloPhi – Philosophizing in a Globalized World

@glophi.bsky.social

Hi Bluesky! We’re new here and first of all wanted to let you know about our current lecture series (with live streams):

What is Philosophy?
A Critical Polylogue with Philosophers from Africa
Thursdays, 6–8 p.m. (CET)

www.uni-hildesheim.de/glophi/2024/...

Live streams: youtube.com/playlist?lis...