Airplanista 🇺🇦

https://squawk.mytransponder.com/@Av8rdan

IFR-rated private pilot, photographer, happy Oregonian. Airplanes are life. Former career freelance feature and news writer for Flying Magazine and most other aviation magazines. Retired President/Creative Director of my own ad agency. #aviation #airplanes #avgeek #writing #journalism #photography #Oregon #PNW #NotMAGA I am also completely hooked on watching winged 410 sprint car racing.

“Sometimes Serious, Sometimes Humorous, Always Unpredictable.”

Public Key

npub1nz4lmmn0pf4hpwav2jdqxugvgh4xk7zh35yrc2n3z2n0t4fnp59sjp29c7

NIP-05 Address

av8rdan_at_squawk.mytransponder.com@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsf32laaehs56mshwk9fxsrwyxyt6nt0ptc6zpu9fc39fh465es6zcprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmnt2glex8

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub1nz4lmmn0pf4hpwav2jdqxugvgh4xk7zh35yrc2n3z2n0t4fnp59sjp29c7

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Last Notes

2026-03-21 18:25:38 UTC

If you get this joke, you probably are in my generational demographic.
I'll have the #spam with a side of spam, and not the email kind.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/116/268/566/556/120/286/original/68a61d5d3afbe762.jpg

2026-03-18 20:54:24 UTC

Screenshot from a news station out of L.A.
Oh, so much winning.
$8.79 for diesel ought to make all this suburban cowboys in their gigantic belching 4x4s (most who voted for Big Orange) really happy. My pity for them can be placed on the head of a pin.
These insane price increases also hitting trucking hard, so expect all that to eventually be paid for by us when we buy stuff.
That is, if you actually have money to buy anything right now.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/116/252/155/705/366/701/original/6d6865e1adeff03e.jpg

2026-03-01 03:10:11 UTC

I really have no words for the strike on Iran. About the only thing that makes sense is that we are not talking about the Epstein files today.
The Greenland distraction did not work.
The Venezuela distraction did not work.
Now, Iran will kick Epstein off the "front pages" of the MSM for a couple of weeks.
Mano man, that dude must be guilty as hell.

2026-02-18 20:11:37 UTC

As an #avgeek, I'm cool with selling as many airplanes as possible. Each sale makes GA stronger.
However, #GAMA is reporting (via this AIN article) that bizjet sales were WAY up YoY in 2025.
"The airplane billings soared to $31 billion, a 16.1% leap over the $26.7 billion reported in 2024. The business jet segment drove these increases, with deliveries up by 11.8% to 854."
There are two ways to see there are too many billionaires. Yacht and Bizjet sales.
#EatThem
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-02-18/industry-billings-reach-new-heights-bizjets-surge?utm_campaign=AIN%20Alerts&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9xhwIzZBmIqa4lVUHDOIvYCD8-LHicM69uQjdjDllFHj0123fZuKFJ-CymfwgavWT4tTZbCk1kzftHCj0WRFtT8cR7nA&_hsmi=404390645&utm_content=404390645&utm_source=hs_email
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/116/093/451/857/962/174/original/bb0396eb58d74f51.jpg

2026-02-05 17:43:14 UTC

Bitcoin is bring exposed as the extreme risk speculative product they've always been.
After rising to the highest price ever in October, 2025 when it reached approximately $126,210.50, today it is hovering around $67,000. This represents a substantial decline of around 46% from its peak.
We can soon expect to see a wave of LAMBOS for sale cheap.
Crypto Bros be like "To the MOON, baby!"
Uh huh, sure, more like "to the floor."
Never touched crypto, never will.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/116/019/256/567/092/658/original/25d0ee4407dde397.jpg

2026-01-24 04:00:19 UTC

Just got back in from a quick overnight to Seattle, and I was blown away how bad their traffic problem has become. Mostly gridlock all the time. We walked to a restaurant from our hotel and it would have been $20 to park in their lot to eat their food. Never heard of that before.
There is just too many people, too many cars, WAY too many giant 4x4 diesel pickups, too much of everything these days. After running that gauntlet, it does feel like there are 50% too many humans on this planet now.

2026-01-16 19:17:49 UTC

Had a person new to #Mastodon ask me why they were not getting followers here.
I told him that this is entirely the POINT of this platform, to make good connections with like-minded people without chasing likes and followers.
If you want followers here, just post good content, and like a lot of other people's good content. They will see your like, check out your stuff, and if it is in their lane/wheelhouse, they will follow you...all very organic.

2026-01-08 20:40:47 UTC

Just saw this on the Book of Faces. And as an #Oregonian, I am 100% down with this idea. Love everything about Canada, except their #bacon, which is basically just circles of deli ham.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/861/411/258/224/526/original/2d0c4313ab3f5901.jpg

2025-11-18 18:03:03 UTC

Someone named Ryan Feigenbaum has built this really sweet "Color Synthesizer" for building color palettes.
As a career graphic designer (now retired) this would have been incredible when I was working. Simple enough that you could aim a client at this and ask them to mix their own palette, and then pick data from this to use for their project(s) in InDesign, Photoshop or Illustrator.
https://colorpalette.pro
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/572/010/994/860/019/original/ff2ea0f5d7f2202e.jpg

2025-11-12 23:23:13 UTC

The 'Bloom County Boys' strip on the Facebook today is another home run.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/539/298/923/989/082/original/620a95cb7d053f8f.jpg

2025-11-05 04:16:55 UTC

So how's it going tonight for the Blue Team?
NJ Guv: WIN
Virginia Guv: WIN
NYC Mayor: WIN
CA Pro 50: WIN
The Red Team's ties to you-know-who did them in. This is voters screaming that we want a fair democracy, not authoritarian rule by a King.
With the way they've demolished our country like it's the East Wing, it is quite clear now that their hateful brand is tainted.
If this trend continues, a whole lotta Red Hats in Congress will go down hard in the midterms. They need a good slap down.

2025-10-29 18:52:14 UTC

The news yesterday that Amazon is laying off 14,000 people and UPS is laying off 48,000 should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the economy is "the greatest economy ever. A YUGE economy!"
Much like watching the demand for trucking, Amazon and UPS are Canaries in our economic coal mine.
Amazon says they no longer need these humans because AI will do their work. This is a nasty trend that shows no sign of abating.
Amazon:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/10/28/amazon-layoffs-corporate-employees/86941789007
UPS:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/10/28/ups-jobs-worker-layoffs-earnings-report/86951257007
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/458/958/822/171/228/original/daa6583ae874bd23.jpg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/458/958/841/772/481/original/74408e6b7f8fda98.jpg

2025-10-22 21:31:17 UTC

The Bloom County Boys nail it today in their latest Facebook strip. Yet another day we are not talking about the Epstein files. Mission accomplished.
via CNBC:
"Trump to demolish entire East Wing of White House for ballroom: ‘Plans changed’"
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/trump-white-house-ballroom-east-wing-demolition-youtube.html
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/419/949/309/293/918/original/3d43c9e5086f3c63.jpg

2025-09-21 20:49:21 UTC

Apparently some crap is going around about the #Rapture is happening this coming Tuesday. It is burning up on the TikTok.
When you look at the mess that humanity is right now, maybe this is not such a bad idea. Sort of like unplugging "humans" and plugging them back in. Start from scratch. Defrag the planet. Wipe the drive and install a new operating system.
I hear Adam and Eve are living a good minivan life in a Kansas suburb and could be coaxed out of retirement.

2025-09-21 19:36:55 UTC

#SilentSunday
A #Photoshop experiment I did years ago using about every filter it had available at the time. The title is "Koi Party."
#photography #Koi
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/243/968/933/451/581/original/07793c1dace0178e.jpg

2025-09-06 03:22:12 UTC

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"ChatGPT, quick, write me a web article about firearms, theft and ICE."
ChatGPT: "Sure thing. In Washington D.C. today r55k it ofl 8d fh rjr0 White Horse House r00r jf7 kkf6 nuk Obama dd8o3 fj8dmfok. The NRA d77dmn dhye%% for anyone over the age of 4kkif, said Presidenglbonmgj Trumbhup."

2025-09-06 02:07:52 UTC

Finished (except for staining/sealing) my latest #woodworking project, a 24" "Resting Bench" for one of my wife's many gardens.
Unlike the 48" version which was Redwood with Doug Fir dividers, this one is all Doug Fir. Not as happy with the look, but it is what she wanted, and she is the Master of All That Grows here.
Bought a $40 Orbital sander at Harbor Freight and it does a 1,000% better job of finishing than my old half-sheet clunker. Hit it with 80 grit, with a 150 grit final hit. #Decent
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/154/908/299/914/165/original/ba3c5b9505f669bc.jpg

2025-08-27 19:36:47 UTC

I did not know they are shutting down "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida:
via NBCNews.com":
"'Alligator Alcatraz' will likely be empty within days, email with top Florida official shows"
So just how much money did this administration piss away setting this up, only to have to shut it down? Guessing out loud that dough could have helped feed quite a few hungry children.
So much winning. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alligator-alcatraz-will-likely-empty-days-email-top-florida-official-s-rcna227578
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/102/408/441/559/529/original/3c45b4157cb64270.jpg

2025-08-10 02:29:42 UTC

#Pizza Night at the casa. We got the dough proofed correctly this time, although I still need to work on my circular shape. Regardless of the dimensions, it was delicious.
Real imported Italian "Tipo 00" flour, whole milk mozzarella, italian sausage, fungi, homemade sauce, sweet onions, and for a little kick, some poblano peppers, both from our CSA.
Last attempt, dough was like rubber. This time, it was perfect from dough ball to oven.
#foodporn #Napoli #EatItalian
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/115/002/107/102/521/448/original/56f3e5e0fe930724.jpeg

2025-07-09 17:03:53 UTC

Just spent a great 30 mins tutoring my 16YO granddaughter on the various metering modes of her Canon Rebel T7. While it is a smaller version of my 7D, the software Canon uses is pretty much the same.
Taught her the difference between evaluative, center-weighted, spot and partial metering, and how, if you have a part of the frame being blown out by sun to just move a little to reframe to eliminate the blown out part. She really enjoys learning about dSLR photography and works it when she shoots.

2025-06-14 21:29:04 UTC

Second and last (for me) drop of some great #NoKings signs, and one cleverly (but illegal) edited street sign:
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/683/840/827/702/817/original/be7e54c98a1266d4.jpg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/683/840/840/033/071/original/81f4e7ace7798c51.jpg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/683/840/921/251/102/original/e0bb5556695f1b4d.jpg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/683/840/966/906/004/original/7db85849fe3343d8.jpg

2025-06-14 21:22:42 UTC

Video from the #NoKings march in #Eugene #Oregon #PNW:
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/683/814/570/976/836/original/ca9abf179583ce52.mp4

2025-06-14 02:31:56 UTC

So far this #hashtag is winning tomorrow:
#TinyPenisParade

2025-06-11 20:48:08 UTC

A lot of pissed off people are going to be marching Saturday in one of the many #NoKings marches across the country. Proud to say I’ll be one of them.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/114/666/689/597/572/954/original/f6126e40fcb22387.png

2025-06-09 21:15:33 UTC

Maybe if the protesters in L.A. would have instead attacked the U.S. Capitol wearing red hats, they'd all get pardons. Just a thought.
Excuse me while I jump over to Zillow.com/BoraBora to see what's for sale.

2025-03-15 05:12:28 UTC

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Ben I drove big rigs for about eight years, a lot of times with an empty 53' dry trailer. A direct crosswind of 30 kts or better, I'd have to literally crab into the wind. If coming from the left, left front is on the line and back axle two feet to the right of the fog line. Nasty stuff.
Those drivers should learn to read the WX better.

2025-03-04 17:37:56 UTC

You remember that cute little thing called NAFTA? What a quaint concept, Canada, Mexico and ‘Murica all working together on trade. That ship has sailed. Now, when Goober’s tow truck breaks down and needs parts or his baby momma wants another new Escalade, hope he doesn’t come crying to me because he has to pay a shitload more for it all effective today.
Yes, voting has consequences, and he will be getting exactly what he voted for.

2025-01-28 01:29:44 UTC

O.K., someone fill in the blanks for me.
Are we not fighting like cats and dogs about banning TikTok because it is owned by the Chinese? So why the hell is everyone jumping so fast on the #DeepSeek bandwagon?
Compared to a silly app with teenagers dancing, a full-on Chinese AI/LLM tool would be in a much better position to steal all your info and stuff, while you were only trying to find out how many feet in a kilometer.
But yeah, kinda funny Nvidia got smoked on Wall Street today.
#WildWest
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/903/388/580/355/872/original/4faafcc1db0e2bb5.jpg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/903/388/596/451/922/original/b36eaa90e5ab6cd9.jpg

2025-01-19 22:20:57 UTC

Looking forward to seeing lots of #DogsOfMastodon tomorrow. Although, given the day's events, I am wondering if #PigsOfMastodon might work too?
That would, however, be an insult to actual pigs, to which I have far more respect for than anyone that will pollute my TeeVee tomorrow.

2025-01-11 02:35:23 UTC

I needed to do something for Los Angeles, so I just donated $100 to World Central Kitchen who has staff on scene now helping to feed both first responders and displaced residents.
One of the reasons I always choose this charity is that they do not pummel you with requests after you donate. And...Jose Andres is just an awesome human being. And good starts at the top.
https://www.worldcentralkitchen.org/donate
#palisadesfire #eatonfire
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/807/386/476/052/419/original/9e29dc807c2af429.jpg

2024-12-11 22:41:26 UTC

I am currently #elated that I have achieved Hero status in my casa.
Our main tub/shower has had a stuck diverter in the spout for THREE YEARS so we were unable to use it as a tub.
Anything #plumbing is my Kryptonite, and I assumed I would have to replace the entire spout.
But my wife - the ultimate web researcher - found the exact diverter part for our exact #Grohe spout out of the 1 million shapes and sizes they sell. I just replaced it and VOILÁ - it now works fine as both tub and shower.

2024-11-22 20:20:37 UTC

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They [ECMWF] need a firehose not a funnel.

2024-11-22 17:30:20 UTC

#ORWX we have received about 5.5" of rain here in SW #Eugene in the past 2 weeks, 3.15 so far this week since Sunday. Hazardous winds have not materialized. @npub19xy…lkfq

2024-11-18 17:01:13 UTC

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Mark, I was looking at Windy.com and Forecast Disc. and from my amateur WX guy vantage point it looks like the bulk of the bombcyclone energy is going south to very southern Oregon and NorCal. Any chance that is correct(ish)?

2024-11-14 02:19:41 UTC

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Mark if you get anyone to give you reliable Ham Radio advice, I'd love to see it posted here. Def a great plan B for next year.

2024-11-11 22:53:45 UTC

Today's #Mastodon tip: When you see a post from someone that appears to have been thought out and well put together, show your appreciation with a favorite or even a boost. It is just a small way to say "thanks" for them taking the time to produce a fun post/toot that either educated or entertained you.
And bonus, you might also follow that person, and who knows, maybe you'll get some follow backs out of this...always a good thing.

2024-10-30 20:30:39 UTC

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Not an earthquake in Prineville. It was just Meta/Facebook/Insta’s server farm pulling all available resources out of the ground to run their stupid AI LLMs.
OK, was an earthquake.

2024-10-28 20:52:58 UTC

With ballot drop boxes being torched in WA and OR over the weekend, it shows why we personally drove our ballots (blue all the way down) to the County Elections office and dropped them off. I then looked on their site to confirm they were received.
We must do everything we can to get our votes in and confirmed as received. Stay on top of this, the idiots are literally playing with fire.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/ballot-box-set-fire-west-coast-portland-oregon/story?id=115221030
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/387/029/613/464/202/original/2f7c14ee4ec2bf84.jpg

2024-10-23 19:49:51 UTC

I need a little help here to troubleshoot something. I know the instance has been having some backend work done, so this might be temporary, but I have not been able to upload images here for a few days. Tries to upload and then I get a small black box in lower left corner that has “500” in it.
Anyone else on Mytransponder instance having issues with uploading images? I have full faith that our admins do everything they can to keep us up, so trying to diagnose if this is on my end.

2024-10-16 20:09:23 UTC

Here’s my tip for today: Check to see if your state has early voting, and then go get it done. Bonus points for voting blue down the ballot.
Once that task is complete, stop reading the stupid internet news, stop doomscrolling, just stick to happy fun things online that you enjoy. This will improve your mental health big time, and this insane nightmare we are living thru right now should go away soon.
You do NOT need to know what ridiculous thing Trump did or said today.
#JustSayNo

2024-10-16 20:05:03 UTC

It’s been a while since I built a model for my office “hangar” so I just picked up this #Boeing 707 kit. I prefer Tamiya brand models as fit and finish is better than any I have built. This is some off brand so not expecting Tamiya-level quality, but it will occupy my mind for a while and yeah, I sorta have a thing for the 707…first airliner I flew in Fresno (KFAT) to Seattle (KSEA) probably about the mid-1960s.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/318/887/074/560/658/original/5a7c1587031cb3e7.jpg

2024-10-14 21:15:27 UTC

I thought I’d play along on #MountainMonday – so here is my submission. It’s part of a website header I had years ago, shot from my old Cessna 172 flying north past Mt. Shasta in NorCal.
#aviation #avgeeks
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/307/845/776/767/482/original/315fb6716b767266.jpg

2024-10-07 01:46:07 UTC

Nate Bargatze did a great Geroge Washington bit last night on #SNL that I believe @npub19xy…lkfq will appreciate.
Good stuff, made me laugh.
https://youtu.be/JYqfVE-fykk?si=ZaVjEuzuvlTAFjtH
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/263/611/983/617/410/original/f3a60d91dd2caa80.jpg

2024-09-25 19:31:53 UTC

This woman lays waste to MAGA in this furious TikTok video. She is done with them, as is the majority of American voters.
Caution: NSFW, includes a delicious amount of foul language that makes sailors and truckers sound like Librarians.
I bet I’m not alone when I say I could have posted the exact same thoughts.
Enjoy.
https://www.tiktok.com/@momma_wears_dad_jeans3/video/7416735604970360106
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/199/852/867/547/459/original/f0a6982360fe270f.jpg

2024-09-22 21:52:28 UTC

Just got back from a quick photo outing to the #Eugene #Oregon Delta Ponds. It is a nature preserve located right in the middle of town next to a freeway and lots of commercial businesses.
Here’s a selection of images I like. All shot at ISO2500, 1,000/sec, about F8 with Sigma 75-300 zoom and Canon 6D MArk II.
#Birds #nature #photography
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/183/415/812/804/924/original/85596268ddc5a65a.jpeg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/183/416/414/112/581/original/c08541940039ac1c.jpeg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/183/418/599/170/108/original/b3784a2d9d52c3cc.jpeg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/183/420/927/965/909/original/1a3b4cafc1305644.jpeg

2024-09-11 03:37:33 UTC

How important to the #HarrisWalz campaign is the #TaylorSwift endorsement?
Her Instagram has 283 MILLION followers.
She has 95.2 MILLION followers on Twitter/X/Bird/Dog.
She has 80 MILLION followers on Facebook.
She has 59.9 MILLION followers on Youtube.
Sure there is a lot of crossover with people following her everywhere. But any way you slice this, that’s a lot of young, mostly female voters (many new) who adore Tay Tay and will follow her lead.
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/116/827/636/342/209/original/8965a0f9e4580222.jpg

2024-09-06 01:50:36 UTC

My last #woodworking project is done and placed in our “Pondo” garden, a creekside water feature that my wife (the gardener) built.
Bench has not been leveled yet because firepit is new and I’ll need to determine how close/far away we need the bench to be.
Fun Fact: The tree on the far right in second pic is one of our two Old Growth Douglas Firs on the property. It has been inspected by several Arborists and they say it is between 250 and 300 years old. The state of #Oregon is only 165YO!
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/088/086/983/240/487/original/e6e511588ffd682c.jpeg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/088/086/988/402/275/original/b9ed639f9e44133f.jpeg

2024-09-04 02:10:53 UTC

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Geocaching is your superpower, Mark. I am lucky to find one on an outing, and you always find several. I wonder what the Guinness record is for most caches found in a day?

2024-08-21 21:22:00 UTC

After nearly a year of building fun little Nesting Boxes for the wild songbirds in our yard/forest, I finished my first actual piece of furniture, a Double Seat Garden Bench for out by our pond.
All the wood screws were coated in Titebond wood glue and then put in, so it is solid and will rot before it falls apart.
Not stained/sealed against the WX yet. Worked from these free plans and every measurement was perfect.
https://howtospecialist.com/outdoor/double-chair-bench-plans
#hobbies #gardening #nature #woodworking #projects
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/002/097/080/562/757/original/337a970ae9c74511.jpeg
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/113/002/099/249/512/672/original/90695792ddf3eb88.jpg

2024-08-03 22:04:42 UTC

The trend of holding these gigantic fundraising/organizational Zoom calls in support of #KamalaHarris shows no sign of slowing down.
Just today I learned of Cat Ladies for Kamala, Deadheads (Grateful Dead fans) for Kamala, and Seniors for Kamala.
Each time they hold one of these they raise millions more for her astonishing campaign. Keep it coming, everyone, this is turning into more of a movement, maybe even a revolution, and not just another #POTUS campaign.
Having fun yet, Red Hats?
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/s3myt/media_attachments/files/112/900/351/522/442/633/original/6c8367da3adfccb6.jpg