April Gardner
@slignot.bsky.social
Proudly intolerant of intolerance. Formless terror in service of the Old Ones here to doom mankind.
Queer ace she/her
Queer ace she/her
Reposted by April Gardner
i can crop the pictures of the little round birds i see on my morning walk into cinemascope aspect ratio if i want to. it's legal
December 16, 2025 at 1:09 AM
i can crop the pictures of the little round birds i see on my morning walk into cinemascope aspect ratio if i want to. it's legal
Reposted by April Gardner
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In honour of Rob Reiner, have David Moore's thread on the best sword fight in movie history and exactly how nerdy it is.
Reposted by April Gardner
At what point exactly will the behavior of the American Gestapo become a true national flashpoint?
This is actually the subject of my next missive, out in a few minutes.
This is actually the subject of my next missive, out in a few minutes.
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
December 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
At what point exactly will the behavior of the American Gestapo become a true national flashpoint?
This is actually the subject of my next missive, out in a few minutes.
This is actually the subject of my next missive, out in a few minutes.
Reposted by April Gardner
Part of the Chanukah tradition is to place the light menorah either outside or in a window where outsiders can see it. This is supposed to advertise the miracle of Chanukah. These days, it is also a way of saying, “This is a Jewish home.”
Every year I think about how it is also an act of bravery.
Every year I think about how it is also an act of bravery.
December 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Part of the Chanukah tradition is to place the light menorah either outside or in a window where outsiders can see it. This is supposed to advertise the miracle of Chanukah. These days, it is also a way of saying, “This is a Jewish home.”
Every year I think about how it is also an act of bravery.
Every year I think about how it is also an act of bravery.
Reposted by April Gardner
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
December 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by April Gardner
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT BUY THEM BOOKS!
IF YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT THEN CONGRATS YOU ARE BUYING THEM BOOKS OTHERWISE ARE YOU SURE? REALLY SURE?
IF YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT THEN CONGRATS YOU ARE BUYING THEM BOOKS OTHERWISE ARE YOU SURE? REALLY SURE?
You could have me pick out 3 books for you!
Starting to get to crunch time! Since we select our bookseller bundles from what's on the shelved they're always in stock!
December 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT BUY THEM BOOKS!
IF YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT THEN CONGRATS YOU ARE BUYING THEM BOOKS OTHERWISE ARE YOU SURE? REALLY SURE?
IF YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BUY SOMEONE AS A GIFT THEN CONGRATS YOU ARE BUYING THEM BOOKS OTHERWISE ARE YOU SURE? REALLY SURE?
Reposted by April Gardner
most of the people fired actually made factual posts about Kirk.
December 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
most of the people fired actually made factual posts about Kirk.
Reposted by April Gardner
ICE agents violently detained another disabled person, causing severe injuries.
Arturo Ruvalcaba lives in Utah and is deaf.
Three ICE agents grabbed him at a bus stop.
He tried to use sign language to communicate his disability to them, and they interpreted that as “resisting arrest”.
Arturo Ruvalcaba lives in Utah and is deaf.
Three ICE agents grabbed him at a bus stop.
He tried to use sign language to communicate his disability to them, and they interpreted that as “resisting arrest”.
A deaf Utah man says ICE agents injured him months ago and he’s still in pain. Now he’s suing.
A Utah man who is deaf says ICE agents discriminated against him and injured him, in what he says in a lawsuit was an unconstitutional search.
www.sltrib.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 AM
ICE agents violently detained another disabled person, causing severe injuries.
Arturo Ruvalcaba lives in Utah and is deaf.
Three ICE agents grabbed him at a bus stop.
He tried to use sign language to communicate his disability to them, and they interpreted that as “resisting arrest”.
Arturo Ruvalcaba lives in Utah and is deaf.
Three ICE agents grabbed him at a bus stop.
He tried to use sign language to communicate his disability to them, and they interpreted that as “resisting arrest”.
Reposted by April Gardner
How many measles cases are going undetected?
Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Utah, said in some communities, getting tested means a tank of gas, missing work, finding a babysitter.
“If your kid has a measles rash but isn’t very sick, why would you bother?”
Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Utah, said in some communities, getting tested means a tank of gas, missing work, finding a babysitter.
“If your kid has a measles rash but isn’t very sick, why would you bother?”
While scientists race to study spread of measles in US, Kennedy unravels hard-won gains
How many measles cases are going undetected?
Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Utah, said in some communities, getting tested means a tank of gas, missing work, finding a babysitter.
“If your kid has a measles rash but isn’t very sick, why would you bother?”
www.sltrib.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:25 PM
How many measles cases are going undetected?
Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Utah, said in some communities, getting tested means a tank of gas, missing work, finding a babysitter.
“If your kid has a measles rash but isn’t very sick, why would you bother?”
Andrew Pavia, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Utah, said in some communities, getting tested means a tank of gas, missing work, finding a babysitter.
“If your kid has a measles rash but isn’t very sick, why would you bother?”
Reposted by April Gardner
On the accelerating crisis of vaccine preventable disease, the significance of the drop in vaccination rates, and how this relates to differing responses across the US. This week, an entire school district in Iowa closed to stop a measles outbreak, while hundreds are in quarantine in South Carolina.
The signal in the noise: pertussis, measles & the cost of anti-vaccine rhetoric — Jessica Kant
In the year 2000, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that measles, a deadly and highly infectious disease which disproportionately harms children, was successfully declared eliminated. Tw...
jessk.org
December 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
On the accelerating crisis of vaccine preventable disease, the significance of the drop in vaccination rates, and how this relates to differing responses across the US. This week, an entire school district in Iowa closed to stop a measles outbreak, while hundreds are in quarantine in South Carolina.
Reposted by April Gardner
ICE snatched a human rights hero.
Guan Heng risked his life to capture video of Uyghur concentration camps. After escaping to the U.S., Guan was in hiding for years, not knowing his work had been crucial to substantiating China's mass detention practices.
On Monday, he has an asylum hearing in NY.
Guan Heng risked his life to capture video of Uyghur concentration camps. After escaping to the U.S., Guan was in hiding for years, not knowing his work had been crucial to substantiating China's mass detention practices.
On Monday, he has an asylum hearing in NY.
Our ex-BuzzFeed team has provided a testimonial to the immigration court about the value of Guan's work and his incredible bravery. I hope that this man - who I am in absolute awe of - is granted the asylum he needs and deserves. You can read more here: hrichina.substack.com/p/man-who-fi...
Man who filmed Uyghur concentration camps now fights for his own freedom in the United States
In 2020, Guan Heng embarked on a risky mission to prove the existence of concentration camp facilities used to imprison Uyghurs. Now, he faces the threat of deportation back to China, where he would f...
hrichina.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:29 AM
ICE snatched a human rights hero.
Guan Heng risked his life to capture video of Uyghur concentration camps. After escaping to the U.S., Guan was in hiding for years, not knowing his work had been crucial to substantiating China's mass detention practices.
On Monday, he has an asylum hearing in NY.
Guan Heng risked his life to capture video of Uyghur concentration camps. After escaping to the U.S., Guan was in hiding for years, not knowing his work had been crucial to substantiating China's mass detention practices.
On Monday, he has an asylum hearing in NY.
Reposted by April Gardner
Any member of faculty at Oklahoma University who stands up for trans people will be automatically suspended.
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Any member of faculty at Oklahoma University who stands up for trans people will be automatically suspended.
Reposted by April Gardner
Periodic reminder that RFK Jr already did this in American Samoa, leading to the death of 83 people. This was just in 2019. He’s a menace who spreads pestilence!!
December 14, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Periodic reminder that RFK Jr already did this in American Samoa, leading to the death of 83 people. This was just in 2019. He’s a menace who spreads pestilence!!
Reposted by April Gardner
We can’t afford a $1M trailer slot 😔
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
December 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We can’t afford a $1M trailer slot 😔
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
But reposts on Bluesky cost $0 - and they really help tiny teams like ours ❤️
If cozy medieval creativity is your thing, here’s our Scriptorium trailer!
Reposted by April Gardner
Two Indigenous groups from opposite sides of the world — the Yuchi of Oklahoma and the Pertame in Central Australia — have formed a powerful partnership in their shared mission to revive their endangered first languages.
Yuchi families went to Austrailia to meet with the Pertame people. #LangSky
Yuchi families went to Austrailia to meet with the Pertame people. #LangSky
April 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Two Indigenous groups from opposite sides of the world — the Yuchi of Oklahoma and the Pertame in Central Australia — have formed a powerful partnership in their shared mission to revive their endangered first languages.
Yuchi families went to Austrailia to meet with the Pertame people. #LangSky
Yuchi families went to Austrailia to meet with the Pertame people. #LangSky
Reposted by April Gardner
Deeply disappointed to hear that the BBC has pushed out one of the most brilliant presenters in all of science communication for speaking with integrity and honor in support of human rights and dignity.
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Deeply disappointed to hear that the BBC has pushed out one of the most brilliant presenters in all of science communication for speaking with integrity and honor in support of human rights and dignity.
Reposted by April Gardner
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
Reposted by April Gardner
Yes, to be clear: with measles, there's a heterogeneous range of combinations of outcomes — but the idea that you can sustain an illness, recover, then have it kill you years later more or less without warning is fairly astonishing considering very powerful people are calling for "natural immunity"
One thing I have to stress here that folks also don't get.
Diseases like the ones we vaccinate against? That shit isn't just "oh, you recover or you die." It's just "you don't die." For a lot of them, you just plain never recover. Ever. There's always lingering scars that are debilitating.
Diseases like the ones we vaccinate against? That shit isn't just "oh, you recover or you die." It's just "you don't die." For a lot of them, you just plain never recover. Ever. There's always lingering scars that are debilitating.
It's very clear people don't realize how terrifying measles is, or this would be front page news. Measles is absolutely brutal. Earlier this year a child died in years after recovering from the virus. Others experience vision and hearing loss, or have seizures.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/la-c...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/la-c...
December 13, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Yes, to be clear: with measles, there's a heterogeneous range of combinations of outcomes — but the idea that you can sustain an illness, recover, then have it kill you years later more or less without warning is fairly astonishing considering very powerful people are calling for "natural immunity"
Reposted by April Gardner
"You have to use AI."
...why?
...why?
December 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
"You have to use AI."
...why?
...why?
Reposted by April Gardner
Me, living life: "Ugh, Catholic bullshit."
Me, watching a movie: "YAY! CATHOLIC BULLSHIT!"
Me, watching a movie: "YAY! CATHOLIC BULLSHIT!"
December 13, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Me, living life: "Ugh, Catholic bullshit."
Me, watching a movie: "YAY! CATHOLIC BULLSHIT!"
Me, watching a movie: "YAY! CATHOLIC BULLSHIT!"
Reposted by April Gardner
ah yes, all workers should have the right to hurl racial slurs at black customers
“Those of us on the left should be fighting to improve protections for workers of all races, and thereby for the betterment of people’s material conditions regardless of their views,” Arash Azizi argues:
Why the Cinnabon Story Doesn’t Make Me Happy
The left should be promoting working-class solidarity, not delighting in seeing workers summarily dismissed.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
ah yes, all workers should have the right to hurl racial slurs at black customers
Reposted by April Gardner
Hey everyone. I'm in the lean times for living expenses right now, and need to get through to the 17th. If anyone can spare any paypal or interac for groceries and transit fees, it would help me out a lot. I don't need much, just enough to get through another week and avoid any NSF fee nonsense.
I make very little dollary doos and live in a very expensive city. If I’ve ever made you laugh or think and you can spare a few dollars, please consider tipping!
Paypal and Interac are both
sincerelynataliereed
at
gmail
❤️❤️❤️
Paypal and Interac are both
sincerelynataliereed
at
gmail
❤️❤️❤️
December 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Hey everyone. I'm in the lean times for living expenses right now, and need to get through to the 17th. If anyone can spare any paypal or interac for groceries and transit fees, it would help me out a lot. I don't need much, just enough to get through another week and avoid any NSF fee nonsense.
Reposted by April Gardner
5. basically, alt text is a way for people with visual impairments to look at your art. it's a chance to include more people in your space. it ALSO helps other people who use screenreaders for whatever reason, but it was designed for blind/VI folks.
it's helpful. it's welcoming. use alt text.
it's helpful. it's welcoming. use alt text.
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
5. basically, alt text is a way for people with visual impairments to look at your art. it's a chance to include more people in your space. it ALSO helps other people who use screenreaders for whatever reason, but it was designed for blind/VI folks.
it's helpful. it's welcoming. use alt text.
it's helpful. it's welcoming. use alt text.
Reposted by April Gardner
This is now standard framing on the BBC - "trans women - biological males who identify as women" - and it's hateful. Literally.
'Biological' male or female used for trans+ people is misgendering and not neutral, it's a slur. It doesn't matter if a judge said it.
Media folk using it are doing a similar thing to interviewing racists and not just repeating their slurs in quotes but adopting them themselves.
It needs to stop
Media folk using it are doing a similar thing to interviewing racists and not just repeating their slurs in quotes but adopting them themselves.
It needs to stop
December 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This is now standard framing on the BBC - "trans women - biological males who identify as women" - and it's hateful. Literally.
Reposted by April Gardner
11 Dec 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- NH bathroom ban introduced that includes a trespass statute but would penalize trans women only not men, which is a first. Has 10 sponsors in House and 3 in Senate--but many NH bills start this way so unclear this point if it has legs to pass or not.
New Hampshire Bill Would Create First Private Business Trans Bathroom Ban, Would Only Apply To Trans Women
The bill has several cosponsors and would target transgender people in bathrooms across the state.
www.erininthemorning.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
11 Dec 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- NH bathroom ban introduced that includes a trespass statute but would penalize trans women only not men, which is a first. Has 10 sponsors in House and 3 in Senate--but many NH bills start this way so unclear this point if it has legs to pass or not.