Amy W. Ando | Lightnews

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 19h

This post and comments are TRUTH.

Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 22h

I love it when little garbage cats develop the luxury of food snobbery. Yes he was tiny wet ball of fleas found in a ditch but now he's a velvet prince who wants the premium, organic, grain-free chicken in gravy, NOT the premium, organic, grain-free chicken au jus how dare you offer that garbage.

Photo of an adorable black and white medium haired kitten looking at the camera with one golden eye while pinning down a feathery green toy.

Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 22h

I love it when little garbage cats develop the luxury of food snobbery. Yes he was tiny wet ball of fleas found in a ditch but now he's a velvet prince who wants the premium, organic, grain-free chicken in gravy, NOT the premium, organic, grain-free chicken au jus how dare you offer that garbage.

Carole V. Bell @cvbell.bsky.social · 2d

Happy 2025 Books We Love Day. So excited to share this with you. If you love books or you're looking for something great to read NPR has the handpicked, heartfelt recs for you! Proud to be a contributor again this year. Dig in.
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...

Books We Love

Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.

apps.npr.org

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 2d

This is lovely, honestly

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 3d

This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:

He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd; he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome.

He makes light of favours while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets everything for the best.

He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence, he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend.

The Quarterly Journal of Economics @qjeharvard.bsky.social · 2d

Recently accepted by #QJE, “Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects of the Opioid Epidemic,” by Arteaga (@caroartc.bsky.social) and Barone (@vickybarone.bsky.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/...

Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects Of the Opioid Epidemic

Abstract. In this paper, we establish a causal connection between two of the most salient social developments in the United States over the past decades: t

doi.org

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 3d

This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 3d

These journalists shine light on the behavior of monsters who have gotten rich by irresponsibly encouraging women to put themselves and their babies at risk - even pushing the idea that it could be better to let a struggling newborn baby die than to help it start breathing.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world

A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room. Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Charlie Stross @cstross.bsky.social · 4d

To be fair, Neal wrote "The Baroque Cycle" longhand after a computer backup disaster ate the first five hundred pages or so.

Then he transcribed it himself in EMACS and formatted it for submission using a homebrew set of Elisp macros he wrote—

Yeah nope, that's just deranged.

Handwriten manuscript of the Baroque Cycle, a
three-volume speculative epic set in the 17th century,
when the scientific revolution was beginning to take
shape. Author Neal Stephenson says, "The Baroque
Cycle fits under the broader vision of what sclence
fiction is about... fiction that's not considered good
unless it has interesting Ideas in it."

The Baroque Cycle: Quicksilver, The Confusion,
and The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson,
William Morrow Books, New York, 2003-2004

The manuscript consists of two stacks of handwritten foolscap pages; one stack is approximately 60cm deep, the one beside it is 40cm thick.

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 4d

Pay attention to these efforts. Don’t blink.

Dean Napolitano @dinonapolitano.bsky.social · 4d

In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy

The Trump administration this week moved to weaken the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, two bedrock laws, among other deregulatory moves.

By @maxinejoselow.bsky.social

In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy

www.nytimes.com

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 4d

The difference is clear. Listing decisions are to be made on the basis of scientific evidence of endangerment. Only critical habitat decisions can weigh economic impact.
www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/es...

Endangered Species Act - 16 U.S.C. Sections 1531-1544

www.biologicaldiversity.org

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 4d

In contrast, the text of the ESA says about decisions regarding designation of critical habitat: "The Secretary shall designate critical habitat,... on the basis of the best scientific data available and after taking into consideration the economic impact"

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 4d

The text of the Endangered Species Act says about decisions to list species on the endangered species list: "1)(A) The Secretary shall make determinations required by subsection (a) (1) of this section solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available to him"

Dean Napolitano @dinonapolitano.bsky.social · 4d

In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy

The Trump administration this week moved to weaken the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, two bedrock laws, among other deregulatory moves.

By @maxinejoselow.bsky.social

In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy

www.nytimes.com

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world

A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room. Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 6d

GOOD NEWS! Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that getting vaccinated against shingles- a painful and debilitating condition that can flare up years after infection from varicella zoster virus- not only LOWERS the risk of infection, but can also PROTECT against Alzheimer’s disease!

Erik Nordman @eriknordman.bsky.social · 7d

"The researchers estimated the effects of the reinsurance shock on home prices in the ZIP codes most vulnerable to catastrophes... rising insurance premiums weighed down home values by ~ $20k in the top 25% of homes most exposed to catastrophic hurricanes and wildfires, and by $44k in the top 10%."

Rising Home Insurance Premiums Are Eating Into Home Values in Disaster-Prone Areas

Changes in the insurance market have started to affect home prices in the most disaster-prone areas, new research finds, pushing some homeowners’ finances to the breaking point.

www.nytimes.com

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 9d

I appreciate all the light that is now shining on the dark cesspools of power

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 10d

How she was bullied to protect Dershowitz

Ellie Leonard @redpencilscript.bsky.social · 12d

To be very clear, Virginia Giuffre was made to say she mistakenly identified Alan Dershowitz as one of the people who sexually abused her. Here is the proof from this week's Epstein files dropped by the House Oversight Committee.

Donna Rainey @donnarainey4.bsky.social · 9d

Nipplewort,Meadow buttercup,Ragwort & Gorse. #wildflowerhour

Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 10d

THIS IS HUGE! Researchers have just identified a powerful new antibiotic that is 100x STRONGER than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA and VRE. Hiding in a well-known soil bacterium, pre-methylenomycin C lactone KILLS drug-resistant bacteria WITHOUT triggering resistance.

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 10d

Enjoy this splash of late fall color.

Small maple leaves rustle in the breeze, popping with warm shades of red and orange

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 10d

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Food stamps are back, but millions will soon lose benefits permanently

Even though the shutdown is over, the GOP’s signature tax and spending law is poised to kick people off the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.

www.politico.com

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 10d

How she was bullied to protect Dershowitz

Ellie Leonard @redpencilscript.bsky.social · 12d

To be very clear, Virginia Giuffre was made to say she mistakenly identified Alan Dershowitz as one of the people who sexually abused her. Here is the proof from this week's Epstein files dropped by the House Oversight Committee.

Parke Wilde @parkewilde.bsky.social · 12d

What We Lose as USDA Household Food Security Reporting Ends

A conversation with Norbert Wilson, Emily Engelhard, and Lauren Fiechtner. Nov 20.

duke.is/r/at78

A Poster for the webinar, with headshots of Norbert Wilson, Lauren Fiechtner, Parke Wilde, and Emily Engelhard.

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 12d

Wow

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 12d

Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops

Amy W. Ando @awando.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you for that.
Here a my very cute purring cat

An orange tabby cat is sitting in a white fuzzy blanket. His ears are large. You can feel the purring

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 12d

Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops

Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham @paulgp.com · 13d

For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:

splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app

Epstein Document Search

splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app