Julie OBrien

Starts at 3PM today, Sat, Jan 31 near the ICE building in Portland OR. Story at link below will be updated throughout the day with reporting from OPB journalists in the field. www.opb.org/article/2026...

Larry watching the backyard dog TV, his favorite show comes on every morning after Mom puts food out for the birds and squirrels #dogs #squirrels #nature #garden

Thankfully some things are still reliable and don't disappoint. The view from my kitchen window #fall #leaves #nature #garden

As a Portland area resident, FUCK Trump. A few protesters in front of the ICE facility for months are exercising their 1st Amendment Rights. Anyone who got out of hand was handled by local police. I fear this is not going to end well in our city. #Portland www.opb.org/article/2025...

Larry and Kevin got new toys #dogs

Bumble bee just landing on a Zinnia flower. So happy to see lots of bumble bees in the garden this year. They've been kind of scarce the last couple years around here. #bees #flowers #Gardens #nature #photos

Wait for it... (Larry and Kevin) #dogs

Dogs vs flowers. The solution was growing flowers in pots. Had to be thrifty, so repurposed most of the pots, got a few new ones and planted dwarf seeds, including 2 Japanese maple seedlings from the backyard. Now my 2 little dogs can play and pee to their hearts content! #gardens #nature #flowers

My newest little adopted one, Larry, who has fast become a character around here, alongside his big brother Kevin #dogs #pets #rescue

Did you know one of the best things we can do to help the bee population is to plant lots of flowers in our gardens? Especially in urban areas. I try to have plants blooming throughout the year for them. And here they are on cue, visiting my Oriental poppies #gardens #flowers #bees #insects #nature

My Spring flowering trees have put on a spectacular show this year, Pink Dogwood in the foreground, Golden Chain in the background #gardens #trees #flowers #nature #backyard

I lost my darling boy Scooter this week. He was the sweetest boy with an ever wagging tail and loved to be petted by everyone, strangers and friends alike. The running joke "he'd go home with anyone who would pet him". They bring us so much joy and it's always incredibly hard to let them go. #dogs

Spanish Lavender, easy to grow and always gives me reliable early lavender blooms in the garden. #garden #backyard #flowers #nature #herbs #photo

Garden art #garden #nature #photo #flowers #buddha

A moment of backyard Ahhhhhh... #Garden #backyard #nature #pond

“Trump is Tariffying.” www.opb.org/article/2025...

Stormy day wind chime symphony #garden #backyard #flowers #nature

Backyard garden art #garden #photos #backyard

Now I know spring is here... my magnolia is starting to bloom! #gardens #flowers #nature

Thankfully we will have flu vaccines this coming Fall, not the usual process but they did get there. www.idse.net/FDA-News/Art...

Meanwhile nature prevails in the garden... Bees in Lavender #gardens #nature #bees

This excellent speech gives me hope. May his faith in us be well placed.

Please sign and let President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people know we support them: sign.moveon.org/petitions/to...

"President Trump’s actions during his first month in office have sparked an uproar throughout the Pacific Northwest. People are protesting the administration almost every week, and the political frustrations seem to be growing." www.opb.org/article/2025...

"National concealed carry reciprocity “would be the absolute prize” for Republicans, “and they’re going to do everything they can to get that,” said Josh Horwitz, co-director of Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions" www.thetrace.org/2025/02/repu...

Wow! I really needed this pep talk! Thank you @aoc.bsky.social

STOP H.R. 569 This is happening right now. Rep. Chip Roy, a leading co-sponsor of this bill, openly denounced the US-born citizen children of immigrants on the House floor. Please use the link below to send letters to your representatives in Washington DC. actionnetwork.org/letters/sign...

"The White House directive has spurred a nationwide response by churches and other houses of worship. Knutson said he’s getting calls from clergy in multiple states, all wanting to establish sanctuary services in their communities." www.opb.org/article/2025...

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a declassified World War II-era CIA guide to sabotaging fascism in the workplace has become one of the most popular free ebooks on the internet: www.404media.co/declassified...

Support for doing the right thing at local levels is something we still have some control over. www.opb.org/article/2025...

Something to keep an eye on, SMR's (small modular nuclear reactors) especially if they are getting a push from big tech. www.opb.org/article/2025...

🎵 Christmas Time is Here 🎵

This sums it up, yes.

We’re appropriately focused on all of the awful things we’re about to face during the next four years but we’re going to miss all of the little things we’ve come to expect from a normal president too.

Word fun 😀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOUq...

Imagine if we could all be like this... why is it so hard to do?

So after setting up this new crate for my recently adopted rescue Kevin, I am apparently living with a little beast who has stored all his treasures and left over animal conquests in and around his "cave". Fortunately access is still being granted to Scooter and me.

H5N1’s risk to the general public remains low, but scientists closely monitor its spread. Andy Pekosz and Meghan Davis share what’s changed in recent months and how an administration change could hinder federal response to a public health emergency podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/824-avian-in...

From widespread deregulation and the politicization of climate change, to the disempowerment of scientists and agencies, the second Trump administration could irreversibly impact #PublicHealth. Former top #EPA official Tom Burke explains what’s at stake: podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/825-the-futu...

These two little sweet boys, Scooter and Kevin, have no idea how much they have helped me stay grounded and keep my sanity since Nov 5.

A safe place to hide from morons is a library or book store.

#NoDemUnder1K