Happy Juneteenth Freedom Day ... But The March Goes On

This particular National holiday’s origin story began Galveston, Texas, which was at that time the western-most area of the country, when Union soldiers arrived to tell enslaved Black Americans of their Emancipation on June 19, 1865.

Now, those enslaved people had technically already been freed two-and-a-half years earlier when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but slaveholders in Texas kept the information to themselves, extending the period of violent exploitation of enslaved African Americans.

But in 1865 the news spread: freedom, and the following year, in 1866, a celebration was had in Texas on that same date, June 19th … Juneteenth … to finally recognize freedom from slavery in the United States.

Of course, here we are in 2026, one-hundred-sixty years later, and we know Black Americans still aren’t entirely free; think of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice and Eric Garner and Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown and Freddie Gray and on and on we could go … think of the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act and the current regime ending DEI—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion—in government.

We still have much work to do to free all Americans, of every race and color and gender and sexual orientation.

We need to free People of Color from the abuses of police and the criminal justice system and some in our own government that work to deny them the right to vote.

We need to free Women from having the government control their bodies.

We need to free Educators to teach American history, all of it, even the ugliest parts; every step forward and every step back in American history.

We need to free Parents to be able to raise their own children as they see fit; to let their children read the books of their choosing; to let the parents make healthcare choices for their own children.

We need to free our Trans Brothers and Sisters to live their lives as they identify; to be fully themselves, to be respected by all of us.

We need to free the LGBTQ+ population from continued harassment and violence by rightwing agitators and politicians trying to turn the clock back to the closet.

We are, none of us, free, until we are all free, and there is still work to be done. 

Juneteenth was signed into law as a federal holiday by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021.

In 2025, the current president, vowed to end diversity, equity and inclusion in government and there was confusion about whether Juneteenth would stay on the federal calendar. That all changed when the current president dropped Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day from a list of days people can access national parks for free though he added his own birthday to the list.

So, celebrate Juneteenth, not matter what this regime says; recognize the meaning and the history, American history of this day.

Happy Juneteenth!

Bobservations

Last weekend we did a massive cleanup in the house after having the floors replaced; plus it was hot as literal Hell on Sunday so we got to stay inside with the AC!!

We each had our tasks and I took care of the fireplace, cleaning everything on the mantel, every on the hearth, the painting above the mantel, and the candles and candle-holder inside the fireplace. When I was done Carlos asked if I cleaned the fireplace; and I said, Yes, and he then asked:

“The mantel? The hearth? The painting? The tchotchkes on the mantel? The bricks? The candles and candle holder inside the fireplace?”

“The only thing I didn’t clean was the chimney because I am going to have it removed and shoved up your ass.”

Cleaning is cathartic.

PS That’s the new floor in the kitchen and the dining room; the dining room chairs and artwork are out of the room until the shoe-molding goes in.

This Tuxedo Tale is from February 2010 and entitled SNOWville, Day 2

I know we didn't have SNOWmageddon or a SNOWpocalypse, but this is big news for Smallville, er, SNOWville, as we usually get a one-day dusting of snow each year. Of course, everything came to a standstill; schools and businesses closed before the snow even fell, but it sure makes the town, and our house, look pretty.

Even better, this was Tuxedo's first experience with snow and, well, I'm not sure he liked it.

Oy, that punim!

Republicans have passed $70,000,000,000 for the ICEstapo and $0 to make your life more affordable. Think about that as election gets closer.

As a good citizen of Camden I made it my mission to follow this man all through the grocery store on suspicion of stealing watermelons by shoving then down his jeans.

I offered to do a strip search and check but apparently there was already a long line of volunteers.

You’re welcome.

Iran gets $350 billion from the US to fix what we destroyed in Cankles war and is keeping their nuclear program.

That was worth it!

PS And he’s still threatening more bombs for a war that has been over and won 38 times already.

In honor of Straight Pride we have highlighted of the states in red where heterosexuals have been persecuted with laws banning straight marriage and straight sex and straight people are forced into straight conversion therapy.

That’s all.

In 2015 Cankles ran on the promise of draining the swamp. In 2026 he decided to have the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument painted blue like a swimming pool. Trouble was the blue lining heated the water and filled the reflecting  pool with algae.

So, for $14 million of our money he actually created a swamp!

The average lifespan of a female screwworm fly is 10 to 30 days; once they lay eggs in an open wound on an animal they hatch and the maggots feed for 7 days before dropping to the ground, burrowing into the soil and emerging as adult flies.

So then, dearest GOP, tell me how can the first screwworm case detected in the US on day 498 of the Cankles Regime be Joe Biden’s fault?

I’ll wait …

French-born Rayan Ricci is a multi-hyphenate talent reshaping the space where fashion, identity, and storytelling intersect which is all very nice but Would You Hit It?

Architecture Wednesday: Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company

This is the Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company building at the corner of Tulip St and Longshore Ave in Philadelphia. Designed in a monumental style intended to instill confidence and trust in their customers, the building housed the trust on the first floor, a community library on the second, and a lodge room for Tacony Lodge No. 600 on the third.

Today the Tacony building is one of Philadelphia’s finest examples of adaptive reuse, offering the most discerning buyer a glorious melding of old and new, industrial and cozy, vintage and modern. Built in 1893, this handsome red brick building boasts prominent, full-story Sullivanesqe arched windows spanning both facades with a modern entrance at the west end.

Once inside, find everything you’d expect from such a commanding structure: sun-soaked open spaces, soaring ceilings, columns, steel beams, exposed ductwork and burnished metal. The patinaed hardwood floors, tin ceilings and vault honor the building’s previous lives and history and a freight elevator is a nod to turn-of-the-century industrial design.

At ground level is a spacious open floorplan filled with incredible architectural detail, yet uniquely suited to comfortable everyday living it features defined, cozy spaces while remaining open and loft-like. Here, a piano and music area take center stage against a backdrop of colorful art and plants. A gas fireplace in the corner reading nook anchors a cozy section of the room and provides a reprieve from the chill of crisp winter evenings.

The kitchen is practical and functional with painted black flooring, open shelving, and a door to the beautiful side garden. The industrial shelving, paper lantern light fixtures, wide transom windows, and corner fireplace meld seamlessly into the design of the room. A cheerful light-filled bedroom with a gold tin ceiling, an office, and a full bath fill out the main floor. Downstairs is a full basement with laundry, a workshop with elevator access.

On the second floor is a creative’s dream. Statement arched windows line the south wall, flooding the floor with natural light. Formerly the Jack Costello Boxing Club, this space holds a rich history in the neighborhood. A wide-open blank slate with columns and soaring ceilings allow for endless uses: a workshop, painting or ceramics studio, and gym are just a few ideas. A guest suite with a full kitchen and half bath are open to allow light to bounce throughout the space.

The third floor is currently home to a full-service recording studio carefully designed around the principles of room acoustics. A state-of-the-art control room and monitoring station, soundproof isolation booth, and a spectacular live room with exposed ductwork and vaulted tongue and groove ceilings create a wow factor. Also included on the floor is a traveling musician’s guest suite complete with a kitchenette, sunny bedroom, an office, and a renovated full bath.

Nestled in the Tacony a historic neighborhood along the Delaware River you’ll find a vibrant community with a rich history, industrial heritage, and a strong sense of civic pride. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, the Tacony Disston District is distinguished by its large park and trail system and train access to New York and Philadelphia. In a neighborhood rife with historic architecture, this adaptive reuse is an architectural marvel. A truly exceptional property with charm and thoughtful renovations in a soul-filled building.

And for just $1M USD.

As always click to emBIGGERzate …

Dwell

Meme Dump ... Happy Pride!