James M. Fraleigh
@jamesmfraleigh.bsky.social
Deadlines are my lifeline! Solo copyeditor (academic, scholarly, textbooks, trade/narrative nonfiction) and proofreader (any genre!). 🍩 appreciator. Enthusiastic New Jerseyan 🤌🏻 user. Trivial Democratic apparatchik. He/him.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
and always, feel free to go stand or crouch/sit awkwardly in a bookstore aisle and read 15-20 pages of my book to see if you want to buy it bookshop.org/p/books/a-ph...
A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting
How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting
bookshop.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:12 PM
and always, feel free to go stand or crouch/sit awkwardly in a bookstore aisle and read 15-20 pages of my book to see if you want to buy it bookshop.org/p/books/a-ph...
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
“Texas desperately needs a place where we can tell our stories, where we can be ourselves, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories,” writes @kitoconnell.com.
Meet our newest newsletter writer and contributor, who’ll be spearheading our queer coverage 💕
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/25/t...
Meet our newest newsletter writer and contributor, who’ll be spearheading our queer coverage 💕
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/25/t...
I’m a Trans Journalist Choosing to Live in Texas. Here’s Why That Matters.
My name is Kit O’Connell. I’ll be covering queer and trans life in Texas for Big & Bright — The Barbed Wire’s first underwritten vertical.
thebarbedwire.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“Texas desperately needs a place where we can tell our stories, where we can be ourselves, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories,” writes @kitoconnell.com.
Meet our newest newsletter writer and contributor, who’ll be spearheading our queer coverage 💕
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/25/t...
Meet our newest newsletter writer and contributor, who’ll be spearheading our queer coverage 💕
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/25/t...
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
OK hi everyone, sorry for the serious post but NYC must do these things, in order of importance:
1. Stop using rat poison
2. Reduce bird deaths from window collisions
3. Fund spay and neuter for cats (stray/feral and pets).
1. Stop using rat poison
2. Reduce bird deaths from window collisions
3. Fund spay and neuter for cats (stray/feral and pets).
November 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
OK hi everyone, sorry for the serious post but NYC must do these things, in order of importance:
1. Stop using rat poison
2. Reduce bird deaths from window collisions
3. Fund spay and neuter for cats (stray/feral and pets).
1. Stop using rat poison
2. Reduce bird deaths from window collisions
3. Fund spay and neuter for cats (stray/feral and pets).
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
worker: bit of bad news it seems like god got kinda pissed we were building such a cool tower and he kinda cursed us into speaking different languages
worker 2: sacre bleu!
worker: yeah for sure man
worker 2: sacre bleu!
worker: yeah for sure man
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 AM
worker: bit of bad news it seems like god got kinda pissed we were building such a cool tower and he kinda cursed us into speaking different languages
worker 2: sacre bleu!
worker: yeah for sure man
worker 2: sacre bleu!
worker: yeah for sure man
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
All the benefit "fraud" in the entire world doesn't amount to even a fraction of a percent of the taxes multimillionaires don't pay.
Hot take maybe but I actually don’t give a shit about benefit fraud.
I give a shit about multimillionaires and billionaires existing and not paying tax on their actual wealth.
I give a shit about multimillionaires and billionaires existing and not paying tax on their actual wealth.
November 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
All the benefit "fraud" in the entire world doesn't amount to even a fraction of a percent of the taxes multimillionaires don't pay.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
From my anecdotal experience, this is absolutely true
Police have access to massive surveillance networks that track the public whether they are suspects or not. That means probably for every 1 officer caught using the system to harass or spy on people they have feuds with, ex's, activists, journalists, there are probably 100 more we don't know about.
Georgia police chief charged with using license plate readers to stalk and harass people
A police chief in suburban Atlanta has been arrested on charges of using the city's license plate cameras to stalk and harass people.
apnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
From my anecdotal experience, this is absolutely true
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
13 years ago I invented Kicksgiving, an alternative to Thanksgiving where you Celebrate Bruce Lee's birthday by watching kung fu movies and sharing food with your friends, and it's somehow still going strong!
I do find it weird that one of my most useless skills is inventing holidays that go viral.
I do find it weird that one of my most useless skills is inventing holidays that go viral.
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
13 years ago I invented Kicksgiving, an alternative to Thanksgiving where you Celebrate Bruce Lee's birthday by watching kung fu movies and sharing food with your friends, and it's somehow still going strong!
I do find it weird that one of my most useless skills is inventing holidays that go viral.
I do find it weird that one of my most useless skills is inventing holidays that go viral.
We in northeastern NJ have our first prediction this season of my favorite weather shorthand—"wintry mix"—which always calls to mind a dish of mixed chocolate-covered dainties, some minty, others dotted with white nonpareils, that gets passed around the table on card night.
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
We in northeastern NJ have our first prediction this season of my favorite weather shorthand—"wintry mix"—which always calls to mind a dish of mixed chocolate-covered dainties, some minty, others dotted with white nonpareils, that gets passed around the table on card night.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Godzilla, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot stomp on, courage to shoot them with atomic breath, and wisdom to do a big roar afterwards
January 29, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Godzilla, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot stomp on, courage to shoot them with atomic breath, and wisdom to do a big roar afterwards
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
I've taken a deep dive into the DOGE bro's open source software code commits to verify they never wrote (or even oversaw) any code beyond culture war messaging. It's all trivial stuff like this: taking out the "nonbiary" option on some form.
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I've taken a deep dive into the DOGE bro's open source software code commits to verify they never wrote (or even oversaw) any code beyond culture war messaging. It's all trivial stuff like this: taking out the "nonbiary" option on some form.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
ascribing cult-like behavior to people, many who are disabled, who have no desire to risk debility/illness from nonessential activities when ample options exist outside bars/restaurants to be safely in community with people reveals both a profound lack of imagination and a desiccated set of values.
I don’t know, I thought after Long Covid effectively ended my chance at a directing career, ruined my health, my energy, my ability to eat a lot of foods, and my body, it would seem pretty obvious why I don’t want to get it again, even going so far as to sacrifice (the horror!) bars and restaurants.
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
ascribing cult-like behavior to people, many who are disabled, who have no desire to risk debility/illness from nonessential activities when ample options exist outside bars/restaurants to be safely in community with people reveals both a profound lack of imagination and a desiccated set of values.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
18F was liquidated at midnight and our website deleted at the same moment, apparently to end our leftist conspiracy. In general DOGE appeared quite preoccupied with the idea that websites, mass emails, etc controlled by longtime government employees would be used to conspire against them.
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 AM
18F was liquidated at midnight and our website deleted at the same moment, apparently to end our leftist conspiracy. In general DOGE appeared quite preoccupied with the idea that websites, mass emails, etc controlled by longtime government employees would be used to conspire against them.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Did you really read this whole long thread? Wow! Go spread the word: DOGE isn't actually over.
The "DOGE is gone" articles are clickbait but this one gets it closer to the truth: DOGE is not gone, it just claims to have "no centralized leadership" anymore -- in other words, its leadership is hiding in an attempt to avoid blame.
DOGE no longer has ‘centralized leadership’ under White House tech team, personnel head says
The team that was altered to house DOGE — formerly the U.S. Digital Service — is also still doing its own technology work across agencies.
www.nextgov.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Did you really read this whole long thread? Wow! Go spread the word: DOGE isn't actually over.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
So, while I'm not fan of Mark Kelly, I will say I'm entertained by the fact that *he's* the guy this administration has decided to target, the clean-cut former astronaut/fighter ace with a universally beloved wife. Wow, guys, why don't you accuse apple pie & baseball of sedition while you're at it?
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
So, while I'm not fan of Mark Kelly, I will say I'm entertained by the fact that *he's* the guy this administration has decided to target, the clean-cut former astronaut/fighter ace with a universally beloved wife. Wow, guys, why don't you accuse apple pie & baseball of sedition while you're at it?
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
John Wick Muppet Movie where only Keanu Reeves is a human.
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
John Wick Muppet Movie where only Keanu Reeves is a human.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
It says a lot about our country that the FBI had no interest in interviewing Brett Kavanaugh but wants to talk to Mark Kelly.
November 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
It says a lot about our country that the FBI had no interest in interviewing Brett Kavanaugh but wants to talk to Mark Kelly.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
hate linkedin content normally but my heart melted a little seeing a retired librarian get sworn into the state bar in her sixties by her own daughter
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 PM
hate linkedin content normally but my heart melted a little seeing a retired librarian get sworn into the state bar in her sixties by her own daughter
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
people don’t realize this but ‘tri-state area’ can refer to any three states. NY-NJ-CT? sure. IL-WI-IN? you bet. FL-TX-CA? those states are tri and they have an area. HI-KS-RI? just ‘tri’ and stop me.
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
people don’t realize this but ‘tri-state area’ can refer to any three states. NY-NJ-CT? sure. IL-WI-IN? you bet. FL-TX-CA? those states are tri and they have an area. HI-KS-RI? just ‘tri’ and stop me.
Reposted by James M. Fraleigh
I feel like it is culturally important to note that I recently played an old episode of the Simpsons on Disney+ for some kids and then a random newer episode and the kids, unprompted, were like “how come this isn’t as funny?” so it’s not just nostalgia we are correct
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I feel like it is culturally important to note that I recently played an old episode of the Simpsons on Disney+ for some kids and then a random newer episode and the kids, unprompted, were like “how come this isn’t as funny?” so it’s not just nostalgia we are correct