Leslie ❄️. Brown
@leslielkb.bsky.social
PhD, Curator, Photohistorian, Educator, and Scholar. Believer in wonder & kindness. Lover of art, music, history, science, rocks, weather, & tiny things.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Sad news about budget cuts at MIT.
Their book conservation lab, which my mother created and oversaw for a decade, is closing.
She is the reason I "care for the text" (as a client recently put it) in academic writing.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/12/b...
Their book conservation lab, which my mother created and oversaw for a decade, is closing.
She is the reason I "care for the text" (as a client recently put it) in academic writing.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/12/b...
Budget cuts come to MIT’s libraries - The Boston Globe
Facing a $300 million shortfall, the school is shuttering some libraries and laying off employees.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Sad news about budget cuts at MIT.
Their book conservation lab, which my mother created and oversaw for a decade, is closing.
She is the reason I "care for the text" (as a client recently put it) in academic writing.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/12/b...
Their book conservation lab, which my mother created and oversaw for a decade, is closing.
She is the reason I "care for the text" (as a client recently put it) in academic writing.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/12/b...
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
For 2024, Tesla paid $0 in federal income taxes on $2,300,000,000 in U.S. income, per the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Third year in a row that Tesla paid no taxes (for $11,000,000,000 in income). Gov't inefficiency is in the eye of the beholder, no?
itep.org/tesla-report...
itep.org/tesla-report...
Tesla Reported Zero Federal Income Tax on $2 Billion of U.S. Income in 2024
Tesla reported $2.3 billion of U.S. income in 2024 but paid zero federal income tax. Over the past three years, the Elon Musk-led company reports $10.8 billion of U.S. income on which its current fede...
itep.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:58 AM
For 2024, Tesla paid $0 in federal income taxes on $2,300,000,000 in U.S. income, per the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Third year in a row that Tesla paid no taxes (for $11,000,000,000 in income). Gov't inefficiency is in the eye of the beholder, no?
itep.org/tesla-report...
itep.org/tesla-report...
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Even if you still believe AI is "thinking," at a certain point maybe you have to acknowledge it is bad at thinking.
For anyone worried AI will replace all of us.
Courtesy of Gemini for the prompt “create an infographic of all the World Series winners since 1986”
I dare you to find 10 things that are right.
Courtesy of Gemini for the prompt “create an infographic of all the World Series winners since 1986”
I dare you to find 10 things that are right.
December 17, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Even if you still believe AI is "thinking," at a certain point maybe you have to acknowledge it is bad at thinking.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
The US Administration has banned Americans from *adopting babies* from much of the African continent.
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
The US Administration has banned Americans from *adopting babies* from much of the African continent.
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Protesters dump ice into Boston Harbor over federal immigration policies | Click on the image to read the full story
Protesters dump ice into Boston Harbor over federal immigration policies
On the 252nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, demonstrators threw ice into the Boston Harbor to protest the Trump administration's immigration policies.
www.wcvb.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Protesters dump ice into Boston Harbor over federal immigration policies | Click on the image to read the full story
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
These are the "good and decent people" who didn't survive the Reagan presidency.
December 17, 2025 at 2:31 AM
These are the "good and decent people" who didn't survive the Reagan presidency.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
It's like on the eve of WWII we decided to stop funding R&D into weapons systems to develop advanced aircraft, ships, and tanks. Climate change is going to kick our butts if we lose NCAR (and NOAA) at a time when climate change is increasing extreme weather events capable of crashing the economy.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 4:24 AM
It's like on the eve of WWII we decided to stop funding R&D into weapons systems to develop advanced aircraft, ships, and tanks. Climate change is going to kick our butts if we lose NCAR (and NOAA) at a time when climate change is increasing extreme weather events capable of crashing the economy.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Trump continues blaming Brown University, this time for not having enough security cameras, while his FBI seems to be completely in the dark about the identity of the mass shooter.
December 17, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Trump continues blaming Brown University, this time for not having enough security cameras, while his FBI seems to be completely in the dark about the identity of the mass shooter.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:33 AM
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Remember back in the day when the FBI used to identify, catch and arrest mass shooters?
December 17, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Remember back in the day when the FBI used to identify, catch and arrest mass shooters?
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Trump is calling for the arrest of his perceived enemies again. Including Christopher Wray, his own handpicked FBI director.
December 17, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Trump is calling for the arrest of his perceived enemies again. Including Christopher Wray, his own handpicked FBI director.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 AM
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I've tried and failed a couple times to write a post explaining how serious this would be. NCAR is globally essential to our climate change response. This can't just be replaced. Every scientist in the world will be doing climate research with one hand tied behind their back for at least a decade
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Isn't it obvious where this is heading?
The Billion Dollar Ballroom.
The Billion Dollar Ballroom.
Trump now says his ballroom will cost $400 million (it was supposed to cost $250 million less than two months ago)
December 17, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Isn't it obvious where this is heading?
The Billion Dollar Ballroom.
The Billion Dollar Ballroom.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
The man with the nuclear codes has a child's understanding of the military he commands
Trump: "The only time anybody could see those planes was when those bomb chutes open up, because it becomes totally un-stealth. You're going in, you go like this. As soon as it goes like this, for some reason the plane is totally visible. Not good. I watched it happening. I watched it go bing bing"
December 17, 2025 at 2:23 AM
The man with the nuclear codes has a child's understanding of the military he commands
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
It's very cool that the Supreme Court invented a political system that gives these lunatics unlimited influence.
Miriam Adelson encourages Trump to serve an illegal third term during a Hanukkah celebration at the White House. The crowd chants "four more years!"
December 17, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It's very cool that the Supreme Court invented a political system that gives these lunatics unlimited influence.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
NOW: Boston Ice Tea Party!
December 17, 2025 at 12:16 AM
NOW: Boston Ice Tea Party!
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
The kicking ourselves in the jingle bells for no good reason will continue until morale improves
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:05 AM
The kicking ourselves in the jingle bells for no good reason will continue until morale improves
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
New statement from Brookline police chief Paster:
"This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we are limited in the information we can share at this time and ask for the community’s understanding and patience."
"This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we are limited in the information we can share at this time and ask for the community’s understanding and patience."
December 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
New statement from Brookline police chief Paster:
"This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we are limited in the information we can share at this time and ask for the community’s understanding and patience."
"This remains an active and ongoing homicide investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we are limited in the information we can share at this time and ask for the community’s understanding and patience."
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Kind of funny that Trump's chief-of-staff Susie Wiles looks a bit like his mom
December 17, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Kind of funny that Trump's chief-of-staff Susie Wiles looks a bit like his mom
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
Now that the Rules Committee killed the moderates’ amendment on Obamacare subsidies, Fitzpatrick, Lawler, LaLota and Kiggans can do a few things:
1. Kill the rule on the floor until they get their vote (which does in the Senate)
2. Sign the Jeffries discharge to save their behind
3. Quit
1. Kill the rule on the floor until they get their vote (which does in the Senate)
2. Sign the Jeffries discharge to save their behind
3. Quit
December 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Now that the Rules Committee killed the moderates’ amendment on Obamacare subsidies, Fitzpatrick, Lawler, LaLota and Kiggans can do a few things:
1. Kill the rule on the floor until they get their vote (which does in the Senate)
2. Sign the Jeffries discharge to save their behind
3. Quit
1. Kill the rule on the floor until they get their vote (which does in the Senate)
2. Sign the Jeffries discharge to save their behind
3. Quit
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
MAGA cannot fail. It can only be failed.
December 17, 2025 at 1:14 AM
MAGA cannot fail. It can only be failed.
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
December 17, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Reposted by Leslie ❄️. Brown
As we wait to find out if this means the US is about to attack Venezuela, a reminder that the pivotal link in the chain of command is Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
December 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
As we wait to find out if this means the US is about to attack Venezuela, a reminder that the pivotal link in the chain of command is Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. @goodauth.bsky.social
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...