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memsomerville.bsky.social
@memsomerville.bsky.social
Scientist. Lacemaker.

lacecouvige.com for Wikipedia project
Reposted
Who ever could have seen this coming
Minnesota farmers are worried they won’t have enough hands to tend livestock and manage crops this year, a consequence of ongoing federal immigration enforcement in the state.
Minnesota farms face labor shortage as workers fear federal immigration action
Agriculture leaders say some farms might not survive the season since migrant workers might avoid the state.
www.startribune.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Someone pointed out to me recently that the logo for Wuthering Heights new film is actually... #lace!

I am here for the lace font. I am agnostic on the actual film.
February 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I've been hearing for years that the failure to teach/learn cursive handwriting was going to blow back somehow. I didn't really think so.

Am now watching youngsters struggle with 19th century really nice penmanship in #LostCanadians forums (on church documents + census forms).

Struggle. Real.
February 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
All men too. Just the way they want it.

Speaking of: what is the name on JD Vance's birth certificate? I mean, I know he has a passport because he got booed in Italy. But I'm curious.....
This is precisely what polling places were like for part of the 19th century.

People often traveled long distances by horse to vote. It was a big deal when folks got together this way.
February 15, 2026 at 12:35 AM
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Please read this long but important thread from an immigration defense attorney.

If this administration is permitted to scale its current abuse, neglect, and inhumane treatment of immigrants to the breadth and scope for which they’re currently planning, we’ll all be witness to mass atrocities.
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.

I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”

1/
February 14, 2026 at 1:44 PM
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Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 2:37 AM
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Roses are red,
violets are blue,
follow public health advice,
thanks,
we couldn't think of a way to end this....

Happy Valentine's day.
February 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Reposted
February 12, 2026 at 5:46 PM
The battle of Big Food and Big Pharma?

We live in interesting times.

#GLP1 #MCD #PEP
February 12, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Oh, wow: I had no idea. George Washington Carver was also a #crochet lace maker!

You can try the patterns.

#BlackHistoryMonth #lace

pieceworkmagazine.com/george-washi...
The Scientist Who Crocheted: George Washington Carver’s Unexpected Legacy
Discover George Washington Carver’s quiet lifelong passion for crochet and fancywork and download free crochet patterns for his swatches.
pieceworkmagazine.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I'm old enough to remember when interfering with some clergy was full-on outrage....
I can’t believe we’re back to medieval level conflicts like “local government thugs stop, harass priests, cardinal intervenes”
February 11, 2026 at 12:57 AM
This is clearer than any media I've seen (even from immigration law firms) on the #LostCanadians issue.

There are displaced Acadians, descendants of the Underground Railroad, and the economic diaspora all working this now. It's fascinating.
I'm not saying that Canada is perfect, I'm saying that the bar is pretty low right now.
February 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Hey neighbors: some good news.

#SomervilleMA #RumeysaOzturk
NEW: An immigration court has terminated removal proceedings against Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, finding that DHS did not meet its burden of establishing that she was removable, her lawyers tell the Second Circuit. live-awp-vermont.pantheonsite.io/app/uploads/...
February 10, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Today in "things you don't hear from US news". Cuba is seeing consequences from the Venezuela activity.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Air Canada halts Cuba flights as Havana airport warns it will run out of jet fuel | CBC News
Air Canada announced it is suspending service to Cuba effective Monday as the Caribbean island's major airport warns it will run out of jet fuel.
www.cbc.ca
February 9, 2026 at 9:32 PM
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Cordially inviting my fellow Somerville business owners to print these for their front doors

www.rrsupershoppingcenter.com/s/ICE-Flyer-...

(All credit to artist Ryan Adams)
February 7, 2026 at 11:23 PM
I enjoyed the emu getaway story in these otherwise bleak times to read the news.

I also love that they identified Enzo in the group photo like you couldn't tell.

#emu #runaway

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Enzo the emu makes a break for it, local stardom ensues | CBC News
A female emu named Enzo briefly escaped from an eastern Ontario animal rescue sanctuary earlier this week, and has now turned into something of a local celebrity.
www.cbc.ca
February 7, 2026 at 11:17 PM
I was just out shoveling and saw a guy in shorts too. Also Boston.
February 7, 2026 at 9:52 PM
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Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump

Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.

www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Former Institute of Museum and Library Services leaders from both political parties expressed concern that the new funding guidelines could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American h...
www.propublica.org
February 6, 2026 at 4:29 PM
This whole administration lies like they breathe--all naturally. And not a single fucking consequence for any of them, for any heinous and deadly thing they are doing.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak
Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM
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BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
There are a lot of creepy details on the #EpsteinFiles of course. But who knew he was a power user of #23andme kits....

Ugh.
February 5, 2026 at 5:59 PM
No doubt that fact-based reporting will be incompatible with the future of the CDC and NIH and FDA and...everything science-adjacent going forward.

That said, already WaPo had slid into some crankery of late. Maybe those reporters are the ones that are staying.
Without the Washington Post health and science team the public would have known far less about what’s been happening at NIH and CDC this year.

Post reporters have done absolutely key reporting, for example a profile on NIH cancer researcher Steve Rosenberg speaking up about damage to his work.
The Washington Post gutted the health team which I helped to lead despite our stories being among the most widely read, impactful and adept at reaching new audiences.
February 5, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Reposted
The term ultra-processed food is ridiculous and the entire idea is a painfully silly extension of the naturalistic fallacy
February 5, 2026 at 12:38 AM