Thankful Thinker
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thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Thankful Thinker
@thankfulthinker.bsky.social
13K followers 13K following 5.4K posts
Optimistic realist. Humanity gets twisted into evil shapes by trauma, but we can recover, be better, & extend our recovery to others & the planet.
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thankfulthinker.bsky.social
When is someone going to give tRump his very own gold decoder ring?
Image of a gold decoder ring. The ring has two rotating halves, one with the alphabet and the other with a viewing hole to see the number associated with the alphabet.
December 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
They project their negative qualities onto the rest of us - vultures, parasites... But they're not 'sub-human.' They are very human & represent an age-old problem for societies.

They are terrified of class war, which created real change in the 20thC, much of which we've lost thanks to Republicans.
“Protectors of our Industries” was created by Bernhard Gillam and published by Keppler and Schwarzmann in The Puck, a satirical magazine. It was released in 1883, six years before the Johnstown Flood (Gillam 1883). The cartoon depicts the outrageous inequalities that ravaged the Gilded Age. In the image, wealthy businessmen sit on top of a raft that is held up by various types of workers. The businessmen cling to their money, while the workers struggle beneath them. This image captures the public’s frustration with the parasitic power dynamic between the industrial giants and the working class. Businessmen commonly exploited their workers, forcing them to shoulder horrendous and often dangerous working conditions, while experiencing no such circumstances themselves. In the aftermath of the Johnstown Flood, this power dynamic was fundamental to the public’s anger. It was especially infuriating that the figures who were responsible for the disaster were already exploiting many of the victims in the first place, yet faced no consequences for either crime. https://courses.bowdoin.edu/history-2203-fall-2020-cgoldber/gilded-age-cartoons/ “Bosses of the Senate” was created by Joseph Keppler and also published in The Puck on January 23, 1889, less than five months before the Johnstown Flood. This image was heavily circulated in the media (Keppler 1889). It depicts large, overindulgent businessmen representing their corporate interests as they loom over tiny senators. The sign behind the businessmen reads, “This is the Senate of the Monopolists by the Monopolists for the Monopolists.” Businessmen had an overwhelming political influence during the Gilded Age. America’s legal system was corrupt and essentially useless, since dominating industrial interests undermined any pursuit of justice. Despite often acting unfairly and even illegally, businessmen were often able to evade consequences. This corruption became evident in the aftermath of the Johnstown Flood. Despite evidence of their guilt, the South Fork Fishing Club members took advantage of their considerable wealth and influence to avoid any legal liability. https://courses.bowdoin.edu/history-2203-fall-2020-cgoldber/gilded-age-cartoons/
December 6, 2025 at 8:28 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
It wasn't Nicholas Bonfilio who died, though. It was Salvatore Bonfilio Jr. (Sept 2019). I can't find anything about the cause.

Nicholas Bonfilio, on the other hand, has been charged with drug dealing, including fentanyl, & killing a man who was trying to break up a fight back in 2007 (I think).
(Wrentham, MA 03/30/17) Nicholas Bonfilio is taken from the courtroom after being arraigned on drug charges in Wrentham District Court. Thursday, March 30, 2017. Staff photo by John Wilcox. (Photo by John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
December 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
I can't decide. Is Pantone trying to curry favor with the fascists in the WH? Or are they trying to be ironic?

Pantone’s 2026 color of the year is Cloud Dancer (white); not a color at all. This is the 1st time 'white' has been designated color of the year.

What do you think? Dystopian or Ironic?
Pantone's 2026 color of the year image: a cloudy sky behind a man in a white suit with very wide-legged pants, reminiscent of the wide-legged pants of the 1970s. "Pantone’s 2026 color of the year is historic and, technically, not a color at all — meet Cloud Dancer, the first-ever white shade to receive the designation from the world’s color authority."
December 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Right? Who needs three meals a day? Peasants should be able to eek by with a thin gruel made from grain scraps & water, or bread made from less desirable ingredients like acorn flour, tree bark, & ground weeds. Yum yum!
Famine and Death in Medieval England, tapestry depicting peasants tilling a field.
December 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Carville thinks Dems are loosing elections because of 'pronoun politics,' so tells Dems not to run on them. To him, this issue is about votes. That doesn't mean he's against LGBTQ rights or a bigot. Nor am I saying he's right.

Meanwhile, Republicans are increasingly hostile to LGBTQ rights.
James Carville: "If you think the issue is that important, then you got to convince people. They're telling people we got to be courageous and be for this. Why don't you change public opinion and win an election, and then you might be able to achieve your goal? But right now the public doesn't want it. And you're asking Democrats to do this. And all you're doing — they are not going to change in the short term for sure. And all you're doing is helping the opposition."
November 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Electric was slightly ahead of gas!

Robert Anderson developed one ~1835 & Gustave Trouvé in 1881. William Morrison built the 1st practical electric car in 1890, & Thomas Parker the 1st production electric car in 1884. At the turn of the 20thC, electric cars were more popular than gas in the US.
One of the many Fritchle electric cars manufactured in the early 20th century. 30003403, History Colorado.
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
"Startling images have come from India where, for the first time in a generation, the Himalayas have been visible more than a hundred miles away...."

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas seen from Jammu, north India, after air pollution levels started to drop during lockdown. Photograph: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Says it all, doesn't it? Although MAGATs wearing diapers & carrying around little jars of "JD Jizz" was out there, too!

@snopes.com article about the jizz jars says that it 'had the hallmarks of a hoax.' Maybe they should contact the creator, Mickey Willman.
Four photos of Trump supporters holding up plastic jars labelled "JS VANCE Full Family Kit." MAGA supporters wearing t-shirts that read "real men wear diapers," and wearing 'trump' diapers.
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
America, under tRump, is pursuing ties with all the psychopaths it can.

www.economist.com/asia/2025/08...
Extract from Economist article: Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, could hardly have wished for more. For almost two years he had been under fire at home over his meddling in politics. Racked by debt and insurgent violence, his country had been sidelined in geopolitics as America and other rich countries courted India, Pakistan’s arch-rival. And yet there he was, enjoying a private lunch with Donald Trump in the White House on June 18th, just over a month after Pakistan’s brief conflict with India. Then, at the end of July, came further snubs for India: branding it a “dead economy”, Mr Trump imposed tariffs of 25% while hailing a new trade deal with Pakistan. He then raised the tariff rate to 50% on August 6th. The field marshal’s fortunes reflect a shift in American policy that affects India, China and the Middle East. America’s close ties to Pakistan deteriorated after American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, in his Pakistani hideout in 2011. America then lost interest after leaving Afghanistan a decade later. But to India’s dismay, America and Pakistan are now rebuilding ties with a focus on trade and investment, counter-terrorism and consultation on Middle Eastern policy. America may even sell arms again to Pakistan (it currently gets around four-fifths of them from China).
November 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
There is a lovely garden that I often visit while walking the dogs. I'm assuming that it is a tribute to Monet's Water Lilies. I wish I had the time (& skill) to paint!

Explore this gift article from The New York Times (“Monet’s ‘Waterlilies,’” by Robert Hayden...).
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Photo of a pond surrounded by trees. In the distance, over the pond, is a small arched bridge reminiscent of the pond Monet immortalized in his many waterlily paintings. Wide angle. Photo of a pond surrounded by trees. In the distance, over the pond, is a small arched bridge reminiscent of the pond Monet immortalized in his many waterlily paintings. Photo of an arched wooden bridge with a bit of the pond showing. In the pond is a Heron. The bridge is reminiscent of the pond Monet immortalized in his many waterlily paintings.
November 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Don't you wish that puppet's nose would grow when he lies?
A cartoon of Speaker Mike Johnson standing at a podium with a long nose like Pinochio.
November 4, 2025 at 1:07 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
I wonder how many tRump costumes we'll see this Halloween. They'll need one of these.
October 24, 2025 at 6:24 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
What if all across America, we did the Thriller dance on Halloween? Everyone in costume. Could that work as a protest? Maybe not, but it sure would be fun. And dancing, like marching, is one of those things that builds solidarity for us simple primates.

Everybody would be posting pics.
Still from Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Michael Jackson is in the centre in his red suit. Zombie dancers flank him.
October 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
tRump's regime optimizes Mueller's dire warning about "the 'iron triangles' of organized criminals, corrupt government officials, and business leaders pose a significant national security threat."

archives.fbi.gov/archives/new...
Excerpt from Mueller's speech to the FBI in 2011. It's too long to copy and past the text, but here is the relevant point: These crimes are not easily categorized. Nor can the damage, the dollar loss, or the ripple effects be easily calculated. It is much like a Venn diagram, where one crime intersects with another, in different jurisdictions, and with different groups. How does this impact you? You may not recognize the source, but you will feel the effects. You might pay more for a gallon of gas. You might pay more for a luxury car from overseas. You will pay more for health care, mortgages, clothes, and food. Yet we are concerned with more than just the financial impact. These groups may infiltrate our businesses. They may provide logistical support to hostile foreign powers. They may try to manipulate those at the highest levels of government. Indeed, these so-called “iron triangles” of organized criminals, corrupt government officials, and business leaders pose a significant national security threat. Let us turn for a moment to the link between transnational organized crime and terrorism. If a terrorist cannot obtain a passport, for example, he will find someone who can. Terrorists may turn to street crime—and, by extension, organized crime—to raise money, as did the 2004 Madrid bombers. Organized criminals have become “service providers.” Could a Mexican group move a terrorist across the border? Could an Eastern European enterprise sell a Weapon of Mass Destruction to a terrorist cell? Likely, yes. Criminal enterprises are motivated by money, not ideology. But they have no scruples about helping those who are, for the right price. Intelligence and partnerships are key to our success in countering these threats. In the past nine years, we in the FBI have shifted from a law enforcement agency to a national security service that is threat-driven and intelligence-led. ...
October 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Melania's fashion inspiration?
October 22, 2025 at 3:38 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Were the Puritans Christian? Their beliefs were strict & extremely patriarchal. In fact, after taking over England for eleven years under Cromwell, the rest of Christian England was sick of them & their extreme Christianity.
How is this schism different from the one I'm pointing to in America today?
The Puritans encouraged industriousness: it was believed that hard work helped a person reach heaven. As such Cromwell believed that ‘pointless’ enjoyment was a sin while sports and entertainment were banned - theatres and inns were also closed. Plain dress was also enforced. Sunday was a holy day under Puritan rule, which meant that work was not allowed - people who were found to be doing unnecessary work on a Sunday could even be put in the stocks, while even a walk to anywhere that wasn’t church could result in a fine. In Medieval England, feast days were held to celebrate saint’s lives. In Cromwell’s England, monthly fast days - when people abstained from food - were held to encourage the English people to focus on God. Cromwell divided England into 11 areas; each area was governed by one of Cromwell’s trusted major-generals, the majority of whom had served in the New Model Army with Cromwell. One of the most extreme examples of Cromwell’s Puritan rule was that Christmas was banned. He wanted Christmas to be a purely religious celebration in which people contemplated the birth of Jesus. Puritans viewed with consternation eating and drinking on Christmas day. Festive food was removed from the streets which meant that the smell of a roasting goose could also bring trouble, while decorations, too, were banned. However, Cromwell himself did not live a life of rigid self-control. He enjoyed music, hunting and bowls. He even allowed entertainment at his daughter’s wedding.
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
I used to use that term, but stopped. Why? Because of Chrissy Stroop, another ex-Evangelical:

"...there are no universally accepted grounds they can appeal to on which their contradictory metaphysical claims can be adjudicated, which means that..."

chrisstroop.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/a...
There are a lot of Christians out there who don’t want support for #IllegitimatePresident Donald Trump to define their faith. I understand them. I’m as outraged and disgusted as anyone that the white Evangelicals I come from are the demographic most singularly responsible for bringing us this nightmare presidency, and that they remain Trump’s most supportive demographic. Conservative Christianity in the U.S. is undoubtedly authoritarian through and through, and those of us who escaped from it have been sounding the alarm on this for some time. Does that mean, however, that we can dismiss as “fake” those Christians who understood voting for our incompetent, volatile, pussy-grabbing narcissist-in-chief precisely as a religious imperative? Spoiler alert: No. There are no solid intellectual grounds for equating Trump support with “fake” as opposed to “real” Spoiler alert: No. There are no solid intellectual grounds for equating Trump support with “fake” as opposed to “real” Christianity. Politically, such an approach may be cathartic. It may even be of some immediate tactical value in some engagements. But as the claim underlying this approach is patently false, I believe we will be better off in the long run without using it. Before I get to the why, consider a few pro-Trump Christian tweets:...
October 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
"...immigrant workers have been filling the workforce gap in the nursing home industry. Nearly a quarter of CNAs are foreign-born, including both legal & unauthorized immigrants, & many are immigrant women from the Caribbean, Central America, and Southeast Asia."
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Nursing home staff in America are disproportionately women, with Black women making up a significant portion of the workforce. The staff is also becoming more diverse ethnically, with a high percentage of Black, Hispanic, and immigrant workers, especially among Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Many nursing assistants have less formal education, which makes the job accessible but can lead to lower pay. Demographics Gender: The vast majority of nursing home staff are women. Race and Ethnicity: People of color make up a significant portion of the workforce, particularly in roles like nursing assistant, where they are the majority. Black and African American workers: These workers make up a disproportionate share of the nursing home workforce, especially when compared to the overall workforce. Immigrant workers: Immigrant women, particularly from the Caribbean, Central America, and Southeast Asia, are a vital part of the direct care workforce, especially in areas with high immigrant populations.
October 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Read this! They're going to attack everyone who isn't them! tRump is going to use this list to attack averagage Americans for expressing ideas his Christofascists don't like!
The Trump administration isn’t only targeting organizations or groups but even individuals and “entities” whom NSPM-7 says can be identified by any of the following “indicia” (indicators) of violence: anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-Christianity, support for the overthrow of the United States Government, extremism on migration, extremism on race, extremism on gender hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion, and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on morality. “The United States requires a national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence so that law enforcement can intervene in criminal conspiracies before they result in violent political acts,” the directive states (emphasis mine).
October 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
While there were issues with the solar roads, I still think there is a lot of promise in this idea. The panels need to be stronger.

Alternative: South Korea has bike paths covered by solar panels providing enough energy to power nearby homes, electric vehicle charging stations, & highway lighting.
In South Korea, engineers created one of the most innovative renewable energy projects in transportation—a bike path covered entirely by solar panels that runs between major highways. Stretching more than 30 kilometers, the path not only generates clean electricity but also provides cyclists with shade and protection from rain. It’s a perfect blend of sustainability, mobility, and urban comfort. The solar roof produces enough energy to power nearby homes, electric vehicle charging stations, and even lighting for the highway itself. What makes it unique is that it reuses existing transportation corridors, rather than requiring new land for solar farms. This helps maximize energy production without disturbing natural habitats or agricultural areas. The project has attracted global attention as a model for multi-functional infrastructure. Other countries could replicate it along highways, canals, or public walkways. By integrating renewable energy with transport systems, South Korea shows that smart design can reduce emissions, encourage cycling, and expand renewable capacity all at once. #SouthKorea #SolarBikePath #SustainableTransport #CleanEnergy #Innovation
September 29, 2025 at 10:12 PM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
group, The White Rose, with a small group of university students & professors. They spread anti-Nazi pamphlets. Hans & Sophie were caught &, along with Christopher Probst, were executed for this 'crime.'
September 29, 2025 at 12:44 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Inge & her siblings were young when Hitler fever swept Germany. They were very enthusiastic & joined the Hitler Youth. But the bloom wore off & as stifling conformity became the norm & Germans around them disappeared, they grew disillusioned. Hans & Sophie, the eldest, helped form a rare resistance
author whom Hans liked very much. This man had had to flee Germany because he had defended the idea of peace. Finally the open break came. Some time before, Hans had been promoted to the rank of Fahnleinfuhrer—troop leader. He and his boys had sewn a handsome banner, bearing in its design a great mythical beast. This flag was something special; it was dedicated to the Furhrer, and the boys had pledged their loyalty to the banner because it was the symbol of their fellowship. One evening, however, when they had come into formation with their banner and stood in review before a higher-echelon leader, the unheard-of happened. The leader suddenly and without warning ordered the little flagbearer, a cheerful twelve-year-old, to hand over the banner. "You don't need a banner of your own. Use the one prescribed for everyone." Hans was deeply disturbed. Since when this rule? Didn't the cadre leader know what this particular flag meant to the troop? After all, it was not just another piece of cloth that could be changed at will. The order to hand over the banner was repeated. The boy stood rigid, and Hans knew how he felt and that he would refuse. When the order was given for the third time, in a threatening voice, Hans noticed that the flag was trembling. At that he lost control. He quietly stepped from his place in the ranks and slapped the cadre leader. That put an end to Hans' career as Fahnleinfuhrer. The spark of tormenting doubt which was kindled in Hans spread to the rest of us. In those days we heard a story about a young teacher who had unaccountably disappeared. He had been ordered to stand before an SA squad, and each man was ordered to pass by the teacher and to spit in his face. After that incident no one saw him again. He had disappeared Excerpt from The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943 by Inge Scholl.
September 29, 2025 at 12:44 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Don't forget the role of conservative Christians. This is from Inge Scholl's memoir, "The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943":

"The conservative Christian parties smoothed Hitler's path to power. Ten years later, Germany was a hotbed of robbers and rapists who waged war against all of Europe..."
...read their material again, I was surprised to find a clear political analysis in the writings of the White Rose. Their leaflets repeatedly underscored the issue which was to be decisive in delaying the downfall of Hitler's Reich--Nazi anti-Communism. Along with anti-Semitism, to which it was linked in many ways, anti-Communism was the most virulent force in the Nazi ideology. Millions of "good" Germans did not like the Nazis, yet thought that they were the lesser evil compared with Communists. These good middle-class Germans, persuaded, by 1933, of the threat of Communism, voted for Hitler, thereby bringing him to power via legal and democratic channels. The conservative Christian parties smoothed Hitler's path to power. Ten years later, Germany was a hotbed of robbers and rapists who waged war against all of Europe, while specifically targeting Eastern Europe for their more gruesome atrocities. The White Rose clearly and justly stated that "the first concern for any German should not be the military victory... From: The White Rose: Music 1942-1943" by Inge Scholl, sister of Hans and Sophie Sholl. In 1942, Hans and Sophie Scholl led a small underground organization of German students and professors to oppose the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazi Party. There is an audio edition, narrated by Heather Henderson, Eoardo Ballerini, Elizabeth Wiley, Josh Bloomberg and more...
September 29, 2025 at 12:44 AM
thankfulthinker.bsky.social
Turn on, Tune in, & Drop Out should take on a new meaning:

Turn On Alternative Media
Tune In to good programming
Drop Out of Sinclair TV

See map text for alternatives to Sinclair TV Stations. Let's punish the real culprits! Disney/ABC caved because of Sinclair!

For those who cancelled Disney,
Map showing where Sinclair operates TV Stations. Other Broadcast Networks: Sinclair owns and operates stations affiliated with networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and others. You can receive these signals from stations owned by other broadcasting groups in the same area, or through a different method than Sinclair's stations. Cable and Satellite Providers: In most markets where Sinclair stations are present, you can find major cable companies (like Comcast, Charter), satellite providers (like DirecTV, Dish Network), or other regional telecommunication companies. Streaming Services: The proliferation of streaming services offers access to live TV channels and on-demand content from major networks, often as an alternative or supplement to traditional providers, according to MarketBeat and Wikipedia. Competitors in the TV Industry: Sinclair also faces competition from other large broadcast groups, such as Nexstar Media Group and Gray Media.
September 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM