Saturday, September 19, 2026

QOTD -- Banning The Free Press

 

"The president said it plainly in the Oval Office, describing his own planned action as a 'ban on the free press.'

"The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference. That protection does not depend on whether the president likes a news organization’s coverage, agrees with its reporting, or approves of the questions its journalists ask. 

"This is about more than the rights of journalists. It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office. 

"The WHCA stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO who are being singled out for doing their jobs." -- Jacqui Heinrich, WHCA president, on the Malignant Fascist's latest attack on the free press.  Now let's see if their member organizations have the sack to follow through by boycotting White House press conferences, cancelling the annual "nerd ball" dinner, joining in any lawsuits filed against these press restrictions, etc.  We'll reserve judgement.

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC;  context here)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Randy Bish, @bishtoon;  context here)

(Martyn Turner, The Irish Times, Dublin)

(Matt Wuerker, Politico)

(Michael de Adder, Globe and Mail, Toronto;  context here)

(Christo Komarnitski, caglecartoons.com, Bulgaria)

(Bill Day, caglecartoons.com)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Phil Hands, Wisconsin State Journal)

(John Buss, @repeat1968;  context here)

(Emily Flake, The New Yorker)


Skeets Of The Day

 

The Trump - Epstein files coverup:  House recesses to duck vote --


By carrying out Trump's orders and blocking Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's petition forcing action on the Epstein files, Johnson and MAGA loyalists are only pausing the inevitable: soon the America people are going to have irrefutable evidence that Trump is a child rapist. 2/End

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 1:38 PM

 

Operation Epic Quagmire: Saudi airport hit, lying about casualties, war costs--


“.. Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 19, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone.” REUTERS/Stringer

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) September 19, 2026 at 9:35 AM

 

WAPO is reporting that at least four more service members have died in the war in Iran than DOD is publicly acknowledging. CNN is reporting that the US almost seized a Chinese vessel because AI incorrectly identified it as containing Iranian nuclear material. Clown show.

— Angry (@angrystaffer.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 3:01 PM

 

The world’s most expensive criminal “excursion.” “The U.S. military's price tag for the Iran war has grown to $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3, according to a new estimate provided this week to lawmakers.“

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— Sanho Tree (@sanho.bsky.social) September 19, 2026 at 8:45 AM


Meanwhile, Whiskey Pete Hegseth's focusing on the important stuff -- 


I don’t think “standing at attention” means what they think it means.

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— The Volatile Mermaid (@ohnoshetwitnt.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 8:46 PM


Another attack on the First Amendment by the lawless and corrupt Malignant Fascist --


Trump banning media outlets from the WH over their coverage is unlikely to affect their reporting much, but it is yet another example of how the right wing definition of “free speech” is that they can say what they want and you can say what they want. (Gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

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— Adam Serwer (@adamserwer.bsky.social) September 19, 2026 at 9:06 AM

 

I'll say it for the thousandth time: No legitimate news organization has any business being in the White House press briefing room. If a source lies to you repeatedly, you stop using that source. Period. The only thing you gain by proximity to this administration is access to propaganda.

— Rex Huppke (@rexhuppke.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 6:51 PM


The MF's Greenland nothing burger "deal" --


Step 1: Slip Trump a copy of the 1951 Defense Agreement, but with the name changed. Step 2: Describe it in the most favorable light possible, since he won't read it anyway. Step 3: Trump goes on "Truth Social" and proclaims himself a genius negotiator.

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— Dan Nexon (@dhnexon.net) September 18, 2026 at 5:31 PM

 

It’s really seems like the US got close to nothing in this Greenland deal, or at least nothing the US cldnt have gotten at the beginning by asking nicely. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/u...

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— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 11:14 PM


Thousands turn out at Kennedy Center to oppose the MF -- 


For the first time in a while, the Kennedy Center was brimming with life. Thousands of supporters gathered Friday, surrounding as much of the building as they could, in protest of President Trump’s takeover and closure of the venue.

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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) September 19, 2026 at 7:30 AM


What's Kashyap Patel's FBI up to now? Dating advice to ICE officers that's what -- 


FBI Warns ICE Agents Not to Trust Any Woman Willing to Date Them

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— Gizmodo (@gizmodo.com) September 18, 2026 at 5:50 PM


Much better advice --

 

Let’s please elect adults and not stunted children who are afraid of their abusive father.

— John Sipher (@johnsipher.bsky.social) September 19, 2026 at 8:18 AM


Ed Sheeran tour news -- 


“This is, uh, Jimmy and his songwriting partner, Freddie.” — Ed Sheeran

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— The Onion (@theonion.com) September 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM

 

 

Trump's Greenland Charade

 



Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, but we're not blaming the Danes.  It seems the diapered carny barker Malignant Moron has suddenly announced a "deal" with Denmark and Greenland that he wants us to believe is a total WIN.  Caveat emptor:

Denmark and Greenland on Saturday said any agreement with the United States would not compromise Greenland's sovereignty, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal would give Washington "permanent control" over the Arctic island's security, leaving its precise scope unclear.

The U.S., Denmark and Greenland said late on Friday they had entered into an agreement for the U.S. to ‌develop a significant military presence on Greenland, while prohibiting American adversaries from building their own bases on the island.

Key details of the agreement have not been made public, including the degree of U.S. military presence in the self-governed ⁠Danish territory and whether any formal power over foreign policy and resources would be ceded to Washington.

Denmark and Greenland expressed hope that a deal, which is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week, would end months of uncertainty triggered by Trump's threats to seize control of Greenland. Parliamentary action is still needed by the governments of Denmark and Greenland before it can be enforced.[snip]

Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that Washington respect the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom and accept that Greenland is not for sale.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform late on Friday that under a deal, "the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America."

The deal "gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland," he said, adding that no adversary would ever be permitted to have a base or military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments there, without Washington's express written approval...

The Malignant Fascist is desperate for "wins" and to extricate himself from all the brambles he's bumbled into around the world.  With his usual dishonesty, he's likely painting the yet-to-be-signed "deal" as something entirely different from the 1951 security agreement between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland:

A 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark already gave Washington wide latitude to expand military bases and deploy troops to the island, something that NATO diplomats have pointed out with some frustration since the start of the Trump administration. It is not clear how this new agreement changes that agreement which already gave Washington much of what Trump has been demanding.

Spoiler alert:  it likely doesn't change anything, but the MF has probably been convinced by one of his lickspittles that it makes him Emperor of the North.  Denmark, Greenland and NATO are just going along with the charade.  But that's obviously how he has to be dealt with, considering his narcissism, paranoia, and advancing dementia.

Going back to the main article, there's also some healthy skepticism on the other side of the "deal": 

Steffen Nielsen, a 49-year-old sales worker living in Copenhagen, told Reuters: "I think that the U.S. is probably going to get what they could have had the whole time, if they just asked nicely."

"I don't like it," Kaj Jorgensen, an 80-year-old pensioner, also living in Copenhagen, said of the news. "I don't wish the United States to be present anywhere in the Danish Kingdom. I really don't trust Donald Trump."

They've sniffed out what's rotten.

Color us skeptical, too.

(Photo:  Greenlanders express their feelings, Nuuk, Greenland, Jan. 17, 2026Evgeniy Maloletka, AP)

 

Ethics Complaint Alleges Boebert Misconduct

 

Colorado's attention-grabbing MAGAt Rep. Lauren "Bobo" Boebert is the subject of an ethics complaint alleging that she engaged in three sexual relationships with staffers, and paid one of the staffers $200,000 in hush money.  From American Muckrakers:

"A sworn ethics complaint filed yesterday with the U.S. House Committee on Ethics alleges that Rep. Lauren Boebert engaged in sexual relationships with three House employees under her direct supervision, in violation of the House rule adopted after the #MeToo reckoning that flatly prohibits Members from sleeping with their own staff.

The complaint, filed by David B. Wheeler of American Muckrakers and supported by exhibits drawn from House payroll records, Federal Election Commission filings, court records, and on-the-record sources, names three current and former senior aides:

Clarice Navarro, Boebert’s District Director from January 2021 to January 2025

Raven Finegan, Boebert’s current District Chief of Staff

Jeffrey Small, Boebert’s Chief of Staff from 2021 to 2025

The centerpiece is the alleged relationship with Ms. Navarro, a former Colorado state representative and Trump USDA appointee who ran Boebert’s district operation for four years."

There're more gory details at the link, all very well documented.  A scandal of this type is not new to Boebert, who was videoed in a Colorado theater in 2023 vaping and fondling her date, and was subsequently asked to leave. 

 

City Island, NYC

 

Comedian Tom Delgado takes us on another light- hearted walking tour of a New York City neighborhood -- this time it's the city's hidden seaside town, City Island.  Quaint village, a fishing harbor, seafood, local characters, and a Nautical Museum are all part of the little, largely unknown gem within view of Manhattan's skyscrapers (when the fog isn't in!). 

Friday, September 18, 2026

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)

(Ruben Bolling, gocomics.com)

(Jeff Koterba, caglecartoons.com)

(Kevin Kallaugher, The Economist, UK)

(Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Canada)

(Theo Moudakis, Toronto Star, Canada)

(Benjamin Slyngstad, @slyngstad_cartoons)

(David Rowe, Financial Review, Australia)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Joe Heller, hellertoon.com)

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

(Brooke Bourgeois, @b_a_bourgeois)


QOTD: "Europe And Canada Believe In Democracy"

 

An excerpt from former Rep. Adam Kinzinger's Substack piece on Canada's new relationship with the European Union, which was forced by the ignorant, vindictive Malignant Fascist's petty grievances against our great ally to the north:

"This week, in a parliament chamber in Strasbourg, something happened that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stood up to give her annual address, and sitting there as her honored guest was the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. And she turned to him and said, 'Dear Mark, Europe and Canada believe in democracy, that power does not belong to the strongest, richest and loudest, but to all of us.'

Then she invited Canada to become the first associate member in the history of the European Union.

The chamber rose to its feet. She and Carney exchanged kisses on the cheek. A new alliance, covering trade, defense, technology, and the Arctic, was born.

'Power does not belong to the strongest, richest, and loudest.' President von der Leyen was talking about us. About our country that, until recently, led the free world and was a friend, however imperfect, to our fellow democracies and foe to autocrats worldwide."

When 77 million voters decided to overlook the MF's mental instability, his botching of the COVID pandemic, his criminal convictions, and his attempt to violently overturn the 2020 election and hand him a second term as a virtual dictator, they voted for this disaster and so much more.  The harm to the U.S. economy -- not to mention to our formerly close relations with democracies worldwide -- by the MF's irrational, even treasonous actions will be felt over time.  Mitigating it will require the expulsion of MAGAt lawmakers over the next several election cycles, and even then, the trust and respect we once enjoyed from democracies may be lost for generations.

Skeets Of The Day

 

The Epstein- Trump files coverup /  post-election discharge petition --


🚨 MAJOR NEWS: Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna say they have now secured commitments for all 218 signatures needed to force a House vote on Epstein Files Transparency Act II.

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— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) September 17, 2026 at 8:22 PM

 

Operation Epic Quagmire / pain at the pump --


Local California pump prices and EGAD the diesel 😳 Transportation costs will now add to inflation woes. Already seeing grocery prices jump.

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— Dr. Joe Krulder (@joekrulder.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 9:14 AM

 

Gasoline grabs headlines, but diesel — the fuel of commerce — is experiencing bigger price gains and building up vulnerabilities for the US economy

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— Bloomberg Opinion (@opinion.bloomberg.com) September 18, 2026 at 5:15 AM

 

"Bananas" Trump, the economically illiterate moron --

 

I usually attribute Trump's bizarre ramblings to either his psychopathic lying or his psychotic delusions, or some combination of the two. But this is just him being an economically illiterate moron.

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— George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 (@gtconway.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 11:43 PM

 

Think of all the money you'd save if you didn't buy food!!!

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— Paul Rosenberg (@paulrosenberg.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 8:34 AM

 

Bipartisan messaging fails --

 

After insisting that Biden bore blame for an international economic crisis caused by a pandemic that unfolded on Trump's watch, Republicans are now trying to persuade voters *not* to blame Trump for a worse crisis he deliberately created through unneeded wars and tariffs. Good luck with that!

— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 9:21 AM

 

look we are too corrupt and ignorant to regulate so it's up to a collection of foppish, pasty sociopaths in overpriced sneakers to hold themselves accountable for killing everyone with monopolized cloud computing

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— Karl Bode (@karlbode.com) September 18, 2026 at 9:46 AM

 

democrats, your political consultants are using their positions to set up their future mid-6 figure lobbying job instead of giving you winning advice

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— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 7:24 AM

 

What he says  👏  and his sock puppet opponent --

 

Abdul El-Sayed: "When I said with Jesse Watters that I'd rather have good roads and good schools than have a billionaire make a second billion, I know that resonated with a lot of folks who might not agree with everything else I had to say."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) September 18, 2026 at 7:56 AM

 

While the media might find it fun to do another 500 hours of Piker discourse, it might be fruitful to look at the actual political record of Mike Rogers as a lying war-monger. www.thenation.com/article/poli...

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— Jeet Heer (@jeetheer.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 9:54 AM

 

Hey, Democrats! -- 


THIS 👇 HERE.......

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— M Meerkat (@kackbro.bsky.social) September 18, 2026 at 8:18 AM

 

Happy Friday! --

 

#Delft #Delftholland

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— Delft Holland (@stimoo.bsky.social) September 11, 2026 at 2:35 AM

 

 

Weekend Music

 

"Run Away," is a song from Beck's new album, released today, "Ride Lonesome." The video features Japanese actor/ director Tadanobu Asano and was filmed in Tokyo.  Beautiful, melancholy composition.  Hope you enjoy.

Trump's Name- Branding Mania Continues

 



He couldn't kill it, so he wants to "permanently" brand it instead (ETTD).  The village idiot Malignant Fascist's naming mania continues:

Ousted board members of the U.S. Institute of Peace are asking a federal court to block the imminent carving of President Donald Trump’s name on the headquarters of the nonpartisan institution he sought to dismantle shortly after taking office.

Members of the board who were removed by the administration filed an emergency motion Thursday in Washington in a dispute that has echoes of Trump’s effort to place his name on the Kennedy Center.

Poll: "Blame Biden" Not Working

 

A new Politico poll indicates that the American voter isn't buying the lying Malignant Fascist's blame game for former President Biden on the economy / cost of living:

"President DONALD TRUMP and Vice President JD VANCE insist that stubborn inflation and the associated cost-of-living concerns is former President JOE BIDEN’s fault. Voters aren’t buying it.

A new POLITICO Poll finds that a plurality of Americans believe that Trump is responsible for the state of the economy. Forty-three percent of those surveyed said Trump was either mainly or fully responsible for the state of the economy, including 21% of Trump voters. That compares with just 28% of Americans who believe Biden is wholly or mainly responsible.

And 52% said the top issue facing the U.S. is the cost of living being too high." (our emphasis)

As the MF's war of choice on Iran continues, and as Middle East oil becomes far less available, every sector of the economy will feel it in terms of higher prices, compounded by his harmful tariffs. As time goes on, more people outside of the MF's hard core cult will put the blame squarely on him.

 

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Matt Davies, Newsday;  context here)

(John Darkow, Columbia Missourian)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)

(Monte Wolverton, caglecartoons.com)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)

(Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Canada; context here)


(Arend van Dam, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Nick Anderson, Raw Story)

(Chris Britt, Creators.com)

(Vaughan Tomlinson, airmailweekly.com archive)


QOTD -- Destroying Things He Can't Possess Or Control

 

"... Although the Kennedy Center board insisted that only Trump’s name on the building would restore donations, in fact, the Washington Post reports that ticket sales and fundraising plunged when Trump added his name to the building in the first place.

"Nonetheless, Trump posted that he is the only one who can save it, 'because I have the ability to raise the money, and the ability to construct—that few others have. I also have the strength and power of the Presidency, which will be needed [to] do what must be done, and give it a strong shot at Greatness again!'

"As George Conway of the Bulwark noted, 'To destroy things he can’t possess or control is his essential nature.'

"It is also as if Trump is self-soothing by celebrating his core identity even as his incompetence and greed have driven the United States, and the world, into crisis..."
-- Heather Cox Richardson, in her "Letters from an American" Substack yesterday, quoting in part George Conway.  That we have to deal with this petty vindictiveness as the Malignant Fascist's war on Iran causes pain throughout the world, and his ongoing threats to democracy quicken as the mid-term elections approach is beyond mind-numbing.

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Quagmire: pictures don't lie, war crimes, gas prices --


Photos leaked of bombed out US Middle East bases, with aircraft in pieces and buildings turned to rubble from Iranian fire. As @gregsargent.bsky.social notes, it's striking imagery, a symbol of US decline. Utter failure of Trump/Hegseth's fascist worldview, with its shallow conception of strength.

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— Nicholas Grossman (@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 8:04 AM

 

GENEVA (AP) — UN-backed human rights experts find 'reasonable grounds' to believe US committed war crimes in 2 deadly strikes on Iran.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 6:40 AM

 

gasoline up to $4.434/gal as of tonight, while diesel has climbed to $6.387/gal, according to the latest GasBuddy live view. up from $4.355 and $6.301 last night, and tomorrow will bring more increases to the averages as they play catch up.

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— Patrick De Haan (@gasbuddyguy.bsky.social) September 16, 2026 at 11:03 PM


EU and Canada move closer to each other after the corrupt Malignant Fascist's threats --


Dear @mark-carney.bsky.social, we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the EU. And create a common prosperity and economic security space.

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— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu) September 16, 2026 at 4:27 AM


The lying, extortionist Malignant Fascist --

 

“.. a fresh indication the sides haven’t agreed to an energy truce despite claims by US President Donald Trump.” @bloomberg.com $CRAK www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 7:49 AM

  

Trump: "We spent more than $2 billion in FEMA funding. You're waiting for some additional funding. I'm gonna get that to you. Now if Michael loses, I'm not sending it." Crowd: *groans*

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) September 16, 2026 at 8:04 PM

 

The sick, narcissistic MF will destroy Kennedy Center if his name isn't slapped on it -- 


I wish we still lived in a world where, “He can’t just knock down the Kennedy Center” was a true fact.

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— Schooley (@schooley.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 12:07 AM

 

If you think Trump wouldn’t demolish the Kennedy Center, that this is all some kind of bluff or only a calculated distraction, you clearly haven’t been paying attention all this time.

— Charlotte Clymer (@charlotteclymer.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 1:10 AM


MAGAt remorse about ICE.  They voted for it and can go screw themselves --  


Her district's like 3/4 Hispanic and Trump won it by 15 points in 2024 (and she won by 20). Her polling must be terrrrrrrible if she's posting an ad where she rebukes Trump by name.

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— Gary Legum (@glegum.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 9:40 AM


The Republican mid-term campaign pitch --


That is basically the Republican Party platform for the midterms. What else are they going to campaign on? Corruption, new wars and higher prices?

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) September 17, 2026 at 7:09 AM


We can identify -- 


Me forgetting the password I just fucking changed.

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— SlenderSherbet (@slendersherbet.bsky.social) September 7, 2026 at 8:05 AM