Teach Honest History

@cliftographer.bsky.social

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Amateur wildlife photographer, mostly birds. Retired software engineer. Politically progressive, I believe in authentic democracy and diversity in all its many dimensions. I'm an old white guy who tries not to act like one.

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“Today, 24 Texas prison units still have agribusiness operations. Nine are located on former plantations. Incarcerated workers harvest many of the same crops that slaves and later convict laborers did from 1871 to 1910.“ www.texasobserver.org/texas-prison...

Texas’ Plantation Prisons: Inside a 200-Year History of Forced Labor Shrouded in Secrecywww.texasobserver.org Punishments, injuries, and deaths—including from heat—on TDCJ farms are more hidden than they were in the years following convict leasing.

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I'm working on policy proposals to protect consumer rights when companies brick smart devices. So please share devices that you've owned that stopped working because the company that made it killed software support or went out of business. Also, please share this request. Thank you.

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If you're going to have the blues on Monday, it might as well be the Indigo Bunting blues. 🪶

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A belted kingfisher looking for breakfast on the go. 📷 #Nikon #Z8 + Nikkor 180-600mm (ISO 12800, f8, 1/2500s) 🪶 #birds #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

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Celeste Pewter

Remember: here's the breaking news handbook. All of these are good rules to stand by at the moment.

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This mink looks so much like my ferrets that I just want to hug it and give it treats and scritches... but my understanding is that wild mink are not QUITE as friendly as domesticated ferrets. Mink, the other danger noodle. #nature #wildlife

I love mink so much. 😍 I think this is my best capture yet. laurel-gale.pixels.com/featured/ame... #mammals #nature 📷

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Main Beach Strand, Western Cape, South Africa 🇿🇦

Which do you prefer: A) Typical pale yellow eastern tiger swallowtail #butterfly, or B) The blue-black dark morph? #insect #insects #insectphotography #naturephotography

An example of what you can do if you shoot raw & post-process the Hell out of a shot. Subject is TINY (ruby-throated hummingbird) FAR, and lighting was TERRIBLE. First photo is SOC JPEG, 2nd is final result. No prizewinner for sure, but at least its recognizable. Nikon Z8, TC1.4, 100-400. #birds

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Right about now, in 1863, came one of my favorite moments of the Battle of Gettysburg. Division commander Maj Gen Alex Hays, of Pittsburgh, seeing that his division had smashed the rebel attack, kissed his aide-de-camp, grabbed a reb flag, mounted his horse, and rode his line dragging it behind him

Please vote! Do you prefer: A. Graceful photo of a killdeer in flight, or B: Close-up of a killdeer with lots of detail. Remember. your vote matters! #birds #thinlydisguisedpoliticalmessage

Merlin sound-id has taunted me many times with reports of a great crested flycatcher, but this is the first time I've managed a photo of one. Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia, USA. #birds

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Taniel

THE sentence of the day: A Macronist incumbent in the Marseille region came in 3rd in her seat. She just dropped out to support the left. She said, about why she's maneuvering to block the far-right: "Defeats happen, but you can never recover from dishonor."

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A glittery bi-colored striped sweat bee visiting a purple cone flower. These bees live in communal ground burrows, I see them peeking out as they come and go. Quite charming. #insects

I call this photo 'Cirque de Goldfinch'. American goldfinches, my backyard, 25JUN2024. #birds

Good morning #woodpecker fans. For your viewing enjoyment here's a close-up red-bellied woodpecker. My backyard, 25JUN2024. #birds

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new personal best swift pic from this morning ✨ #birds

As with many birds, eastern bluebird males get most of the attention. But I got this female at short range in nice soft light and my word isn't she gorgeous? My backyard, 24JUN2024. #birds

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Lundi

Posted a very similar image 3 1/2 weeks ago, but I've been working with Lightroom Classic lately & believe my post processing result here is better. Pileated #woodpecker males, juvenile & adult. Lucky to get this shot -- the juvenile fledged only hours later! Alexandria, VA USA. 30JUN24 #birds

I have just been assimilated by the Borg, um, I mean the #Adobe -Lightroom-Photoshop conglomerate. Used #Nikon 's free NX-Studio for years, but I think I can go a bit further if I use/learn LrC/PS. Seems to bring up shadows better. Here's a northern flicker I just did. #birds

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Our #hydrangea usually have pale blue blooms, and not many of them. This year they are plentiful and a deep rich blue. #flowers #flowerphotography #naturephotography

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Blue grosbeak, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, VA #birds

A white-tailed skimmer #dragonfly take-off sequence. This is a photo-merge composite of 3 images spanning less than 1/2 second. Alexandria, Virginia, USA 11JUN24. #photography #NikonZ8 #insects #insectphotography #naturephotography

Managed to catch this barn swallow just about to take off. Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia, USA 11JUN2024. #birds

This osprey was angry at not finding any suitable fish and decided to show me some attitude. He even stuck his tongue out at me! Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia, USA 11JUN2024. #birds

Casual outdoor dinner party, #birds style! A male American goldfinch, male house finch, and two female house finches. Clifton, Virginia, 9JUN2024. I wonder if the goldfinches and house finches know they are cousins?