Mary Bannister (MaryB)
@maryb2004.bsky.social
If you repost me I’ll probably block. Retired M&A lawyer. Lifelong learner. Reader. Favorite Authors: Dorothy Dunnett, Louise Erdrich, AS Byatt, Iain Pears, Robertson Davies. New France history buff.. http://alonewitheachother.blogspot.com
Pinned
Warning: if you follow thousands of users and 90% or more of your posts are re-posts of someone else then if you follow me I will block you. I am not interested in being reposted to the masses.
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Okay I can't. The news is reporting Paramount is taking its offer directly to shareholders in a hostile bid. That's not exactly correct.
December 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Okay I can't. The news is reporting Paramount is taking its offer directly to shareholders in a hostile bid. That's not exactly correct.
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Another victim of the DOGE cuts to government funded programs; the Library here is ending their Hotspot loan program for areas without internet access.
December 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Another victim of the DOGE cuts to government funded programs; the Library here is ending their Hotspot loan program for areas without internet access.
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Narco terrorism? Covert ops? Shady government officials? A confused President? TOTAL FICTION.
Join Historians At The Movies on Netflix this Sunday, December 7 at 8pm eastern for CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.
Do the honorable thing and share and we’ll see you soon!
Join Historians At The Movies on Netflix this Sunday, December 7 at 8pm eastern for CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.
Do the honorable thing and share and we’ll see you soon!
December 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Narco terrorism? Covert ops? Shady government officials? A confused President? TOTAL FICTION.
Join Historians At The Movies on Netflix this Sunday, December 7 at 8pm eastern for CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.
Do the honorable thing and share and we’ll see you soon!
Join Historians At The Movies on Netflix this Sunday, December 7 at 8pm eastern for CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER.
Do the honorable thing and share and we’ll see you soon!
Having Veronica Mars on the TV in a scene from The Man on the Inside was truly excellent.
December 5, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Having Veronica Mars on the TV in a scene from The Man on the Inside was truly excellent.
Katie Woo is going to the Dodgers. Damn.
December 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Katie Woo is going to the Dodgers. Damn.
Attn #STL - includes Schnucks Low-moisture part-skim shredded mozzarella.
The FDA is urging customers to toss certain brands of grated Pecorino Romano; at the same time, it escalated an existing recall of numerous shredded cheeses. n.pr/48yohW6
Check your cheese: Shredded and grated varieties are recalled nationwide
The FDA is urging customers to toss certain brands of grated Pecorino Romano; at the same time, it escalated an existing recall of numerous shredded cheeses.
n.pr
December 3, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Attn #STL - includes Schnucks Low-moisture part-skim shredded mozzarella.
🤞
Multiple large natural experiments have documented Shingles vaccine is linked with ~20-25% reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A new report today adds to that and extends the to slowing the progression of dementia @cellcellpress.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
December 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
🤞
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
This is why I support freedom of expression.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
December 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This is why I support freedom of expression.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
Appropriately, it is the chaos of a system that supports free speech that gives rise to the grand process of democratic self-governance and the ideally upward arc of human progress and flourishing.
Yesterday a Stoppard play, today a tweet.
In November I read a good historical novel by Andrew Miller, an unexpected biography by the novelist Iain Pears and a classic novel (The Age of Innocence) that I ended up loving. Plus some mysteries.
Details at my blog.
#Booksky
Details at my blog.
#Booksky
November 2025 Reading
Book reviews, TV reviews and general culture discussion
alonewitheachother.blogspot.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:37 AM
In November I read a good historical novel by Andrew Miller, an unexpected biography by the novelist Iain Pears and a classic novel (The Age of Innocence) that I ended up loving. Plus some mysteries.
Details at my blog.
#Booksky
Details at my blog.
#Booksky
The question I always have is not for the academics but for the rest of us. When we see a job applicant with a college degree, should we discount the value of that degree because students today are getting degrees without doing the work? (And writing samples are worthless because of AI).
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The question I always have is not for the academics but for the rest of us. When we see a job applicant with a college degree, should we discount the value of that degree because students today are getting degrees without doing the work? (And writing samples are worthless because of AI).
Finished! I loved this book. Wharton’s dry wit in her descriptions of old New York was delightful but the narrator, never got in the way of me hearing her characters clearly - even filtered through Archer’s POV. And he was dense but I didn’t hate him.
What is the next Wharton I should read? 🏹
What is the next Wharton I should read? 🏹
November 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Finished! I loved this book. Wharton’s dry wit in her descriptions of old New York was delightful but the narrator, never got in the way of me hearing her characters clearly - even filtered through Archer’s POV. And he was dense but I didn’t hate him.
What is the next Wharton I should read? 🏹
What is the next Wharton I should read? 🏹
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Saw an amazing little exhibition at the new Petri archaeology museum in Berlin - "degenerate" art confiscated by the Nazis and excavated in 2010 during construction of a metro station.
November 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Saw an amazing little exhibition at the new Petri archaeology museum in Berlin - "degenerate" art confiscated by the Nazis and excavated in 2010 during construction of a metro station.
Are the people who publish “best books of 2025“ or “favorite books of 2025“ this week NOT PLANNING TO READ ANY BOOKS IN DECEMBER?
I have no incentive to read these as I can’t take the authors seriously as readers.
I have no incentive to read these as I can’t take the authors seriously as readers.
November 28, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Are the people who publish “best books of 2025“ or “favorite books of 2025“ this week NOT PLANNING TO READ ANY BOOKS IN DECEMBER?
I have no incentive to read these as I can’t take the authors seriously as readers.
I have no incentive to read these as I can’t take the authors seriously as readers.
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
This is wonderful. Jim looks to be living his best life.
THREAD.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.
We decided to call him Jim.
This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is wonderful. Jim looks to be living his best life.
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Judge Sara Ellis, mocking the goons, bc they don't know where they are.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Judge Sara Ellis, mocking the goons, bc they don't know where they are.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
So the mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew was just picked up by ICE.
"A woman with a family connection to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Revere, Massachusetts."
www.wcvb.com/article/karo...
www.wcvb.com/article/karo...
![REVERE, Mass. —
A woman with a family connection to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Revere, Massachusetts.
The woman, Bruna Ferreira, has an 11-year-old son with Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt's brother.
Ferreira migrated with her family to the United States from Brazil as a child and is currently in custody at an ICE facility in southern Louisiana.
Michael Leavitt released a statement, saying that his "only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of [his] son."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x4qyokjtdzgl7gmqhsw4ajqj/bafkreiacyzixchgacpjse7wyra342opgjsvdxzqdrkxq55zzqah65zyeae@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
So the mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew was just picked up by ICE.
I really hope Ellen doesn’t end up saddled with this guy.
Why is it called The Age of Innocence? Does that become clear by the end I wonder. 🏹
Why is it called The Age of Innocence? Does that become clear by the end I wonder. 🏹
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I really hope Ellen doesn’t end up saddled with this guy.
Why is it called The Age of Innocence? Does that become clear by the end I wonder. 🏹
Why is it called The Age of Innocence? Does that become clear by the end I wonder. 🏹
Guests starting to arrive today, Thanksgiving prep getting underway, time for my favorite Thanksgiving TV episode.
youtu.be/zQsvcs9IB8A?...
youtu.be/zQsvcs9IB8A?...
President Bartlet and the Butterball Hotline
YouTube video by Felix Jung
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Guests starting to arrive today, Thanksgiving prep getting underway, time for my favorite Thanksgiving TV episode.
youtu.be/zQsvcs9IB8A?...
youtu.be/zQsvcs9IB8A?...
These are great. Add your own.
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 AM
These are great. Add your own.
😂
TL cleanse.
Before acting, it is necessary to check. 😂
Before acting, it is necessary to check. 😂
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
😂
I love her writing. #booksky
Our weekly #dunnettquote is an example of Dorothy Dunnett‘s funny characterizations
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I love her writing. #booksky
👇
I'll be in Chicago for the AHA---do you have any recs for great places to eat (not too expensive, since I'm on a budget from my school)...
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
👇
Reading this week’s Don Quixote with a sigh when I realize we are back with the Duke. 🫏
November 23, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reading this week’s Don Quixote with a sigh when I realize we are back with the Duke. 🫏
Reposted by Mary Bannister (MaryB)
Eleanor Powell was the only dancer to intimidate Fred Astaire. Thrill to her tapping – and drumming – with Buddy Rich (and the Tommy Dorsey orchestra) in Ship Ahoy. The ease, energy, wit, antics, acrobatics, athleticism: there was no-one like her.
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
Unbelievable Tap Dance and Drumming Routine - Lido Deck - 2 Legends - Eleanor Powell & Buddy Rich
YouTube video by Skro's Nest
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Eleanor Powell was the only dancer to intimidate Fred Astaire. Thrill to her tapping – and drumming – with Buddy Rich (and the Tommy Dorsey orchestra) in Ship Ahoy. The ease, energy, wit, antics, acrobatics, athleticism: there was no-one like her.
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
n.b. There are just six edits.
youtu.be/UoQim3N84XI
A lovely Ave Maria for your Sunday Morning.
Shoshona should get your re-posts, not me.
Shoshona should get your re-posts, not me.
November 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A lovely Ave Maria for your Sunday Morning.
Shoshona should get your re-posts, not me.
Shoshona should get your re-posts, not me.