Paul DiMilla
@pauldimilla.bsky.social
Ex-professor of engineering/chemistry & healthcare technology R&D professional. Native New Englander self-transplanted to PNW. Hiker/climber & climate-conscious gardener. Boston sports fan(atic). Cultivator & purveyor of a cornucopia of interests.
Pinned
Paul DiMilla
@pauldimilla.bsky.social
· Mar 16
the entire U.S. tourism industry dependent on international travelers is in for a very shitty summer
Been thinking about soccer's 2026 World Cup (to be co-hosted by the US/Canada/Mexico) & Los Angeles' 2028 Summer Olympics for a while: how can the gross chaos devolving since Trump took office not crush these events (which have enormous economic impacts, international visitors, & prestige)?
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
I'm gonna make some of you mad by saying this, but please don't do this.
I do not hope for, or celebrate, any human being's death. (Which is not to say I cry when guys like Bin Laden are taken out.)
But don't let Trump make you into this.
I do not hope for, or celebrate, any human being's death. (Which is not to say I cry when guys like Bin Laden are taken out.)
But don't let Trump make you into this.
December 18, 2025 at 4:28 AM
I'm gonna make some of you mad by saying this, but please don't do this.
I do not hope for, or celebrate, any human being's death. (Which is not to say I cry when guys like Bin Laden are taken out.)
But don't let Trump make you into this.
I do not hope for, or celebrate, any human being's death. (Which is not to say I cry when guys like Bin Laden are taken out.)
But don't let Trump make you into this.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
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 2:49 AM
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
I agree. No one who supports Trump should be able to say "oh, I didn't see/hear about that post about Reiner."
Correct; shove it in their faces.
How many people do you know that continue to delude themselves on this because they’re too embarrassed to admit how easily fooled they were.
Make them feel discomfort.
How many people do you know that continue to delude themselves on this because they’re too embarrassed to admit how easily fooled they were.
Make them feel discomfort.
December 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I agree. No one who supports Trump should be able to say "oh, I didn't see/hear about that post about Reiner."
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Seriously, for their own good, Dems who voted for this need to not be saying “we did a good thing, this is why.”
The line needs to be “we fought like hell to get healthcare back, but Donald Trump was willing to burn the country to the ground.”
The line needs to be “we fought like hell to get healthcare back, but Donald Trump was willing to burn the country to the ground.”
Durbin said critics of his vote “need to understand how the Senate works”
November 10, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Seriously, for their own good, Dems who voted for this need to not be saying “we did a good thing, this is why.”
The line needs to be “we fought like hell to get healthcare back, but Donald Trump was willing to burn the country to the ground.”
The line needs to be “we fought like hell to get healthcare back, but Donald Trump was willing to burn the country to the ground.”
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
So many people think it's normal to spend huge amounts of money on cars and vacations and house luxuries, and then think it's the world's fault they're broke.
Americans spent 13 BILLION dollars on sports betting last year. |(Let's not even talk about porn or lotteries.)
Americans spent 13 BILLION dollars on sports betting last year. |(Let's not even talk about porn or lotteries.)
So many people with comfortable positions are not living the reality of everyday folks. See here:
Housing in metro areas is a real problem. But Will has a point about "affordability," which is really about "affording what you *want*," not what you might need.
Health care and housing? Yes, problems. The rest, not so much.
Health care and housing? Yes, problems. The rest, not so much.
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 AM
So many people think it's normal to spend huge amounts of money on cars and vacations and house luxuries, and then think it's the world's fault they're broke.
Americans spent 13 BILLION dollars on sports betting last year. |(Let's not even talk about porn or lotteries.)
Americans spent 13 BILLION dollars on sports betting last year. |(Let's not even talk about porn or lotteries.)
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Neal Katyal's opening volley against Trump's tariffs:
"May it please the court: Tariffs are taxes."
"May it please the court: Tariffs are taxes."
November 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Neal Katyal's opening volley against Trump's tariffs:
"May it please the court: Tariffs are taxes."
"May it please the court: Tariffs are taxes."
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
None of what Trump is doing is popular and voters are telling us that
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
None of what Trump is doing is popular and voters are telling us that
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
this is the most successful a CIA officer has been at toppling a government in years.
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 AM
this is the most successful a CIA officer has been at toppling a government in years.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
There are more of us than there are of them.
November 5, 2025 at 2:31 AM
There are more of us than there are of them.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
November 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
The Trump administration is a fascist administration, but the United States is not yet a fascist state.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
October 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The Trump administration is a fascist administration, but the United States is not yet a fascist state.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
I suspect the next few weeks of living in a Dorothea Lange photo are going to shatter a lot of Americans' preconceptions about who's using SNAP and WIC.
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I suspect the next few weeks of living in a Dorothea Lange photo are going to shatter a lot of Americans' preconceptions about who's using SNAP and WIC.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
If the National Guard is really in D.C. to protect federal
property, they should probably have been at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. two days ago
property, they should probably have been at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. two days ago
October 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
If the National Guard is really in D.C. to protect federal
property, they should probably have been at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. two days ago
property, they should probably have been at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. two days ago
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Take note of all these people turning out for protests in small towns in red states.
Remember them the next time you’re inclined to write an area off because “they voted for this.”
Remember them the next time you’re inclined to write an area off because “they voted for this.”
October 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Take note of all these people turning out for protests in small towns in red states.
Remember them the next time you’re inclined to write an area off because “they voted for this.”
Remember them the next time you’re inclined to write an area off because “they voted for this.”
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
“The Purdue student newspaper owns its own presses” is the sound of engines revving
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
October 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
“The Purdue student newspaper owns its own presses” is the sound of engines revving
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Laws are not self-executing. Is this an obvious Hatch Act violation? Of course. But without good men and women in government faithfully executing the laws, it doesn't matter.
When this is all over, assuming we still have a constitutional government, there needs to be an accounting.
When this is all over, assuming we still have a constitutional government, there needs to be an accounting.
By my count: Of the 15 Departments of the US Government, 13 launched new BlueSky accounts tonight (all but Justice and HUD), and all 13 have posted explicitly partisan political posts blaming Democrats and/or Chuck Schumer for the government shutdown.
October 18, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Laws are not self-executing. Is this an obvious Hatch Act violation? Of course. But without good men and women in government faithfully executing the laws, it doesn't matter.
When this is all over, assuming we still have a constitutional government, there needs to be an accounting.
When this is all over, assuming we still have a constitutional government, there needs to be an accounting.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
heartbroken to learn the pope sympathizes with the poor. how can i continue to believe in god
October 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
heartbroken to learn the pope sympathizes with the poor. how can i continue to believe in god
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Protest organizers are also recommending that you don't lean into antifa.
October 14, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Protest organizers are also recommending that you don't lean into antifa.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
In the last 70 years, federal jobs fell from 4.5% of all employment to below 2%.
Civil servants aren't what's driving government debt, and firing them won't address it.
Civil servants aren't what's driving government debt, and firing them won't address it.
October 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In the last 70 years, federal jobs fell from 4.5% of all employment to below 2%.
Civil servants aren't what's driving government debt, and firing them won't address it.
Civil servants aren't what's driving government debt, and firing them won't address it.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.
www.cbsnews.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Welcome back monarchs on Sunday,
No kings next Saturday.
A sign like this should work for both.
No kings next Saturday.
A sign like this should work for both.
October 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Welcome back monarchs on Sunday,
No kings next Saturday.
A sign like this should work for both.
No kings next Saturday.
A sign like this should work for both.
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
The entire American economy is being held hostage to the whims of a guy who doesn’t understand how the economy works
October 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The entire American economy is being held hostage to the whims of a guy who doesn’t understand how the economy works
Reposted by Paul DiMilla
Hanging onto every bit of good news
The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.
This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.
lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...
The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.
This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.
lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...
One Year After Klamath Dam Removal, 'There's Just Fish Jumping All Over the Place': Scientists Describe Improvements to Water Quality and Wildlife
lostcoastoutpost.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Hanging onto every bit of good news
The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.
This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.
lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...
The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.
This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.
lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...
"Officials are hoping for minimal impacts on travelers, but it's unclear what the extent of the impacts may be." Would a tragic crash or collision still count as "minimal", or is that perspective too "woke"?
Burbank Airport air traffic control tower unmanned on Monday evening amid government shutdown
Burbank Airport air traffic control tower unmanned on Monday evening amid government shutdown
The air traffic tower at Burbank Airport is unmanned on Monday evening as air traffic controllers begin to call out in greater numbers due to the government shutdown.
abc7.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:34 AM
"Officials are hoping for minimal impacts on travelers, but it's unclear what the extent of the impacts may be." Would a tragic crash or collision still count as "minimal", or is that perspective too "woke"?