Julia DeFranco
@juliadefranco.bsky.social
Chronically ill Unitarian Universalist and lover of fantasy novels. He/him or she/her.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
This should honestly be a legal requirement for discontinued products.
Bose is open-sourcing its old smart speakers instead of bricking them
Bose is open-sourcing its old smart speakers instead of bricking them
Bose speakers un-bricked
buff.ly
January 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
This should honestly be a legal requirement for discontinued products.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Trump is now lashing out at five Republican senators who joined Democrats to advance a bipartisan resolution that would block him from using military force “within or against Venezuela” without prior approval from Congress.
US Senate advances war powers resolution to stop Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela
Democratic-led resolution would require US president to seek Congress’s approval to use military against Venezuela
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Trump is now lashing out at five Republican senators who joined Democrats to advance a bipartisan resolution that would block him from using military force “within or against Venezuela” without prior approval from Congress.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Cat is out of the bag! Tor declined my suggestion to include in the blurb "sapphic Winter Soldier, but wizards"; however this is in fact the only accurate way to describe this book torpublishinggroup.com/call-me-trai...
Call Me Traitor
torpublishinggroup.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Cat is out of the bag! Tor declined my suggestion to include in the blurb "sapphic Winter Soldier, but wizards"; however this is in fact the only accurate way to describe this book torpublishinggroup.com/call-me-trai...
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Happening now: several hundred people are pouring into Chicago's downtown Federal Plaza.
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
January 3, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Happening now: several hundred people are pouring into Chicago's downtown Federal Plaza.
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Protesters lined Lake Street in Minneapolis to protest the U.S. military attack in Venezuela on Saturday. President Donald Trump said the U.S. plans to control the country and use its oil reserves.
January 3, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Protesters lined Lake Street in Minneapolis to protest the U.S. military attack in Venezuela on Saturday. President Donald Trump said the U.S. plans to control the country and use its oil reserves.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Bernie speaks for me!
(tho I'd use expletives)
(tho I'd use expletives)
Trump campaigned on an “America First” platform. Now he wants to "run" Venezuela?
60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Health care is collapsing. Housing is unaffordable.
Trump should address these major crises at home and end his illegal military adventurism abroad.
60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Health care is collapsing. Housing is unaffordable.
Trump should address these major crises at home and end his illegal military adventurism abroad.
January 4, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Bernie speaks for me!
(tho I'd use expletives)
(tho I'd use expletives)
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
At a time when he’s caused healthcare & other costs to skyrocket here at home, Trump bailed out Argentina & wants to "run" Venezuela, including if necessary, w/ US boots on the ground. All he cares abt is enriching himself, big bankers, oil CEOs & the rest of his billionaire pals.
January 4, 2026 at 12:06 AM
At a time when he’s caused healthcare & other costs to skyrocket here at home, Trump bailed out Argentina & wants to "run" Venezuela, including if necessary, w/ US boots on the ground. All he cares abt is enriching himself, big bankers, oil CEOs & the rest of his billionaire pals.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
I reached out to the author of this viral Reddit post thinking there might be a story in it. He sent me an employee badge that Gemini flagged as being AI-generated and supporting documents that I suspect were also generated by AI. Be careful out there folks!
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
From the confession community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the confession community
www.reddit.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:55 PM
I reached out to the author of this viral Reddit post thinking there might be a story in it. He sent me an employee badge that Gemini flagged as being AI-generated and supporting documents that I suspect were also generated by AI. Be careful out there folks!
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
If you can't attend a protest, I would suggest speaking to your values in whatever ways you can, and attending to something *you can do*. Remember, many things are happening at once. They want to keep your head spinning.
Let purpose preempt despair.
Let purpose preempt despair.
January 3, 2026 at 11:28 PM
If you can't attend a protest, I would suggest speaking to your values in whatever ways you can, and attending to something *you can do*. Remember, many things are happening at once. They want to keep your head spinning.
Let purpose preempt despair.
Let purpose preempt despair.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
🚨 HAPPENING NOW! Jan 3, 2025
Protesters have gathered in Times Square, joining 75+ cities around the country in protest to say NO WAR ON VENEZUELA! “Money for jobs & education, not for war & occupation!”
Protesters have gathered in Times Square, joining 75+ cities around the country in protest to say NO WAR ON VENEZUELA! “Money for jobs & education, not for war & occupation!”
January 3, 2026 at 7:37 PM
🚨 HAPPENING NOW! Jan 3, 2025
Protesters have gathered in Times Square, joining 75+ cities around the country in protest to say NO WAR ON VENEZUELA! “Money for jobs & education, not for war & occupation!”
Protesters have gathered in Times Square, joining 75+ cities around the country in protest to say NO WAR ON VENEZUELA! “Money for jobs & education, not for war & occupation!”
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
“Survey after survey has shown that business owners overestimate how many customers drive to their stores vs walking or biking. In a 2012 Los Angeles study, more than half of the store owners on the bike-laned part of the boulevard thought most of their customers drove. The actual number was 15%.”
I read all the studies on the economic impact of bike lanes. Here's what I learned.
Research proves that bike lanes are good for business. So why do so many stores and restaurants still oppose them?
www.businessinsider.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:41 AM
“Survey after survey has shown that business owners overestimate how many customers drive to their stores vs walking or biking. In a 2012 Los Angeles study, more than half of the store owners on the bike-laned part of the boulevard thought most of their customers drove. The actual number was 15%.”
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Augustus famously closed the gates of the Temple of Janus two (or three) times to signify the end of the times of war. In other words, Augustus proclaimed Bella ciao, ciao, ciao.
December 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Augustus famously closed the gates of the Temple of Janus two (or three) times to signify the end of the times of war. In other words, Augustus proclaimed Bella ciao, ciao, ciao.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
DEC 15 2025: STOP BUYING STARBUCKS DAY
Starbucks Baristas are asking us to stop buying Starbucks on December 15th.
Remember, it's not customer vs. worker, it's the 99% vs. the 1%. Baristas are your labor family, let's all help them out!
mailchi.mp/d86e5090fce2...
Starbucks Baristas are asking us to stop buying Starbucks on December 15th.
Remember, it's not customer vs. worker, it's the 99% vs. the 1%. Baristas are your labor family, let's all help them out!
mailchi.mp/d86e5090fce2...
Chicago gave us 48 hours of power. Let’s build on it.
mailchi.mp
December 13, 2025 at 12:23 AM
DEC 15 2025: STOP BUYING STARBUCKS DAY
Starbucks Baristas are asking us to stop buying Starbucks on December 15th.
Remember, it's not customer vs. worker, it's the 99% vs. the 1%. Baristas are your labor family, let's all help them out!
mailchi.mp/d86e5090fce2...
Starbucks Baristas are asking us to stop buying Starbucks on December 15th.
Remember, it's not customer vs. worker, it's the 99% vs. the 1%. Baristas are your labor family, let's all help them out!
mailchi.mp/d86e5090fce2...
I encountered a similar argument about bridge tolls that I found very compelling.
... and to all of the bozos demanding that bikes be regulated, licensed and taxed, if we taxed on the basis of road wear/damage & danger to human lives, small cars $100, big cars $200-400 SUVs $300-800 pickup trucks $10,000, larger pickup trucks $60,000, bicycles $.10.
“For half a century, a litany of federal policies has favored large SUVs & trucks, pushing automakers & buyers toward larger models. Instead of counteracting #CarBloat thru regulation, policymakers have subtly encouraged it. That has been a boon for car companies but a disaster for everyone else.”
December 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I encountered a similar argument about bridge tolls that I found very compelling.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
If Elon is not happy with how DOGE turned out, imagine how the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who got pushed out of their jobs and had their lives turned upside-down feel. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80x35dek82o
Musk says Doge was 'somewhat successful' but he wouldn't do it again
The Tesla boss says instead of leading the Department of Government Efficiency, he could have been working for his companies.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:52 PM
If Elon is not happy with how DOGE turned out, imagine how the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who got pushed out of their jobs and had their lives turned upside-down feel. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80x35dek82o
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
See you tomorrow, NYC!
December 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
See you tomorrow, NYC!
Bringing this up against since it's the Spotify Wrapped time of year. If you click through they recommend alternative streaming services and walk you through how to cancel your account (if you have a subscription) and say why.
I'm canceling my Spotify subscription until the ICE ads are removed. Streaming hate is a choice and I refuse to fund it. #CancelSpotify app.sosha.ai/s/kW5kF1OA
Don’t Stream Fascism: Cancel Spotify
app.sosha.ai
December 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Bringing this up against since it's the Spotify Wrapped time of year. If you click through they recommend alternative streaming services and walk you through how to cancel your account (if you have a subscription) and say why.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
This young man has it exactly right.
November 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
This young man has it exactly right.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
15+ years old, but still VERY relevent — and if we had acted 15 years ago, the “better world” we’d be creating would be a LOT better & easier to reach. There are real consequences we’re just starting to see to not heeding this cartoon a lot sooner.
Even worse if we don’t heed it now. #ClimateCrisis
Even worse if we don’t heed it now. #ClimateCrisis
November 12, 2025 at 5:04 AM
15+ years old, but still VERY relevent — and if we had acted 15 years ago, the “better world” we’d be creating would be a LOT better & easier to reach. There are real consequences we’re just starting to see to not heeding this cartoon a lot sooner.
Even worse if we don’t heed it now. #ClimateCrisis
Even worse if we don’t heed it now. #ClimateCrisis
I'm canceling my Spotify subscription until the ICE ads are removed. Streaming hate is a choice and I refuse to fund it. #CancelSpotify app.sosha.ai/s/kW5kF1OA
Don’t Stream Fascism: Cancel Spotify
app.sosha.ai
November 2, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I'm canceling my Spotify subscription until the ICE ads are removed. Streaming hate is a choice and I refuse to fund it. #CancelSpotify app.sosha.ai/s/kW5kF1OA
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Well, the timer's flipped over from "hours to go" to "minutes to go" – sixty of them, to be exact – so if you haven't been persuaded to chip in yet, I don't have a lot of time to convince you. For those who've been meaning to get around to it, though, final warning!
November 1, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Well, the timer's flipped over from "hours to go" to "minutes to go" – sixty of them, to be exact – so if you haven't been persuaded to chip in yet, I don't have a lot of time to convince you. For those who've been meaning to get around to it, though, final warning!
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
Nutrition assistance is NOT corrupt. Food stamps kept my family fed when my mom had to look for work after my dad got sick with MS.
The Trump administration wants kids, seniors, and veterans to go hungry. They are REFUSING to use emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits going.
The Trump administration wants kids, seniors, and veterans to go hungry. They are REFUSING to use emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits going.
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Nutrition assistance is NOT corrupt. Food stamps kept my family fed when my mom had to look for work after my dad got sick with MS.
The Trump administration wants kids, seniors, and veterans to go hungry. They are REFUSING to use emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits going.
The Trump administration wants kids, seniors, and veterans to go hungry. They are REFUSING to use emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits going.
Reposted by Julia DeFranco
I grew up on food stamps--not SNAP, physical paper stamps that came in a little book that Mom kept in her purse.
October 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I grew up on food stamps--not SNAP, physical paper stamps that came in a little book that Mom kept in her purse.