Alexander Howard
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digiphile.bsky.social
Alexander Howard
@digiphile.bsky.social
Dad, writer, cyclist, citizen, cereal dilettante. Advocate for freedom of information, open governance, & democracy. Lover of the Oxford Comma, hater of hubris. Recovering journalist. Trying to move carefully, & fix things. https://civic-texts.ghost.io
An interesting chart about how Members of the House of Representatives voted on funding the Department of Homeland Security by @pbump.com that shows, instead of tells.

Great column on AI featuring @mims.bsky.social + more data visualizations this week:
www.howtoreadthisch.art/the-robots-h... #ddj
January 24, 2026 at 4:32 PM
No White House should use AI to mislead the public with propaganda about Americans.

It’s crucial for public safety & a national security: The White House must keep credibility & retain public trust in case of war or disaster or pandemic.
January 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM
If you’re in the path of this winter storm, please take it seriously!
❄️Prepare for snow, ice, losing heat, inability to travel.
Get #WinterReady: www.ready.gov/winter-ready
💡Follow @nws.noaa.gov
📲Charge devices
⚠️Add CO/MO detectors
🍝Stock nonperishable food
💊Fill prescriptions
🪏Safety kit for cars
January 23, 2026 at 2:15 PM
The @nws.noaa.gov is doing everything they can to warn Americans about the risks of this inbound winter storm. 🇺🇸

Make sure you’re prepared by getting #WinterReady before snow & ice arrives: www.ready.gov/winter-ready

Avoid non-essential travel, if you can.

Enjoy the snow, where possible.❄️⛄️
January 23, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Spotted on a neighbor’s hedge on Capitol Hill in the District of Columbia:

X
was born
Twitter
🕊️🏳️‍⚧️
January 22, 2026 at 5:20 PM
This garden statue of an elephant has been steadily deteriorating over many years in Washington, but continues to sit near Eastern Market, painted pink with a wee necklace.

It seems like some sort of apt metaphor for our times, but I can’t quite put my trunk on it.
January 22, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The Department of Homeland Security is violating the Fourth Amendment by entering homes without a warrant, empowered by a secret memorandum to Congress provided by a whistleblower & disclosed to the Associated Press. apnews.com/article/ice-...
This is why open government matters in our democracy.
January 22, 2026 at 12:28 AM
I’m old enough to remember @Twitter’s Suggested User List — I was there for technology — which had the same goal. X’s “starter packs” sound like @bsky.app’s feature & share a similar goal: help new people find accounts to follow.

The difference may be algorithmic recs, vs humans.
January 21, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Today’s political conditions won’t allow it this year, but there could be better possible futures if “We the People” have a dream, again.

Hold the line. Remember that the role peaceful protest & civil disobedience played in world history.

Stay in line, on Election Day.

We shall overcome, someday.
January 20, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Our union will never fully heal until there are truth & reconciliation commissions for:
-Colonialism & the genocide of indigenous people
-Chattel slavery & apartheid states across the South
-Unconstitutional policing, war crimes, & corruption in the Trump regime, with public trials & accountability
January 20, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Sad to see the Trump administration took down Serve.gov & MLKDay.gov, where Americans could learn about how “We the People” can serve one another on #MLKDay.
obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/01...
But we don’t need a website to serve:
Volunteer.
Bear witness.
Protest.
Teach.
Run for office.
🇺🇸
January 19, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Yesterday, I noticed a faded but still legible sign outside of the FAA HQ in DC, at 7th & Independence. I stopped & learned it was a notorious location in the chattel slave trade.
There’s no webpage at the link to GSA, but
historians remember, so all Americans can:
folklife.si.edu/magazine/yel...
January 17, 2026 at 10:42 PM
New beta feature from @bsky.app:
“Show when you're live.”

“Set your live status on Bluesky to add a badge to your avatar. Tapping it takes people straight to your stream.”

I like the dialog that informs a creator upon log-in.

Anyone who livestreams used this yet, or plan to do so?
January 16, 2026 at 5:12 PM
They failed to both assign accountability for systemic, catastrophic failures to prepare our nation for an authoritarian assault on American institutions & democracy, and to light the way forward for what must be done by a Congress and presidency committed to strengthening our union in the future.
January 15, 2026 at 2:56 PM
After Washingtonians voted to adopt ranked choice voting, the DC Board of Elections is rolling it out for this year’s primaries and general election.
Learn more & fill out sample ballot on BOE’s
interactive website: dcboe.org/rcv
January 14, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Lucky and Daphne also recommend daily naps.
December 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Hello again, DC.

You’re feeling mighty balmy, after the wintry climes of upstate NY.
December 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Ice storm up on the hill, here in upstate New York.

Just spent a couple hours scraping, breaking, salting, feeding birds, and taking out trash & recycling over the ice rink that is the driveway.

Thankful that the Subaru I’ve inherited from my Mom is a good winter vehicle, with a fine defroster.
December 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It’s homemade chicken soup and hot tea weather in upstate New York as a wintry mix of precipitation bounces off the roofs above & windows around.
Chocolate 🍫 peppermint 🍃 pu-erh 🍵 is tasty! I am learning about shou pu-erh teas as a result:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu%27er...
December 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The @opengovpartnership.org Independent Review Mechanism submitted its assessment of the Biden administration’s implementation of the prebaked, unambitious, weak commitments it chose:
www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/un...

TL/DR: High completion rate, low to no impact, now dust in the wind.
December 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Can you read alt text?
December 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Yeah, this is …worth adding.

Beware worm holes under the rabbits’ work.
December 26, 2025 at 2:00 AM
December 26, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Merry Christmas ☕️🎄🎁 to everyone celebrating this morning around the United States and the world. 🌎

May you and yours find peace, community, and kindness today.🕊️

Much love and light to everyone who’s missing family, wherever you are. May you be blessed by their memories.🌟
December 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Per @axios.com, @whitehouse-47.bsky.social took control of @TheJusticeDept & is using it like @RapidResponse47, further eroding public confidence in USG accounts as nonpartisan, trustworthy sources of info.
Congress should confirm & check partisan abuses of official accounts by taxpayer-funded staff
December 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM