Karen E. Lund 💙💛

My posts may be shared to other Mastodon and PixelFed instances. I DO NOT CONSENT TO SHARING OR COPYING TO NOSTR, MOSTR, THREADS OR ANY OTHER PLATFORM. #NoBots

Pedestrian advocate. I enjoy walking, especially in parks. Newsletter author on environment, history, infrastructure. If you're a writer or reader, follow me at https://writing.exchange/web/@Karen5Lund.

Pronouns: She/her, Ꝥey/Ꝥem, Yes, ma'am.

Medium (migrating my blog): https://medium.com/@Karen5Lund
My LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen5lund/
iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/karen5lund
Lots of ME online: https://karen5lund.start.page/

Public Key

npub169uy9pewcqa0arae0amvgxgfqnwctk07uygl66wm0h34w9cj76gsv7h2wp

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsdz7zzsuhvqwh737uh7akyryysfhv9m8lwzy0ad8dhmc6hzuf0dygpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds59qrrn

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub169uy9pewcqa0arae0amvgxgfqnwctk07uygl66wm0h34w9cj76gsv7h2wp

Show more details

Last Notes

2026-06-23 16:45:48 UTC

- reply

Other choices I like: museum shop, farmer's market, locally owned business, borrowed from a library (many now offer more than books)...
Well, almost anything that isn't shipped from far away and wrapped in more packaging (by volume or by weight) than the thing itself. Some are better than others, of course. I can't think of any that's worse than Amazon.
#PrimeDay #AmazonPrime

2026-05-12 22:19:24 UTC

- reply

No one has yet pointed out that this article is more than a decade old... but then I haven't seen evidence the anti-renewables crowd is getting smarter or smaller.
This is an occasion for someone like me to exercise white privilege.
I sunburn rather easily and have had a couple of painful burns. I *need* these solar panels to soak up excess photons that burn my skin. Banning them is discrimination against fair-skinned people like me.
Kidding, of course, but might work.

2026-05-11 21:19:21 UTC

- reply

I just see "Post removed by author" and no indication what the account is/was.
Moderation at work?

2026-04-27 16:17:39 UTC

- reply

Last year, inspired by a friend, I created a text & photo habit called "It's good to be retired on a Monday morning."
Take a walk. Take a photo. Share with a friend (or more than one).
It's a good way to get out of that Monday inertia, especially if you are retired and don't have the motivation of a paycheck. Also exercise and friendship maintenance.
Unfortunately the cold and snowy Winter put it on pause for me, but now that the weather is nicer I'm 100% in.

2026-04-20 13:06:54 UTC

- reply

I saw a post by one instance that said they are giving users 72 hours (it's less by now) to migrate or download their data, then they will defederate. This seems practical, and other instances would do well to follow their example.

2026-04-14 20:27:05 UTC

- reply

A different but related poll could be made of only hashtags.
#Monsterdon has risen recently, as has #hnom (which for some reason is almost always lower case).

2026-04-08 13:29:00 UTC

- reply

Very nice.
BTW, that's not "out of focus," it's creative use of depth of field.

2026-04-07 12:47:26 UTC

- reply

Thanks for sharing! It's been a while since I last re-read this.
I joined Mastodon in September 2018 and this article was a significant influence on my decision to join.

2026-04-05 13:58:23 UTC

- reply

The same to you!

2026-03-29 02:26:47 UTC

RE: https://c.im/@bbamok/116309922912071588
Even better than the sign (which is good) is the t-shirt on the person holding it: Make racism wrong again.
#NoKings
#note1d9m…6538

2026-02-16 14:12:05 UTC

- reply

Good morning, doves!

2026-02-09 16:08:15 UTC

RE: https://drk.network/@OV_Nordwalde/115996341317030699
It appears that the German Red Cross not only has an account in the Fediverse, they have an *instance*!
Really wish the American Red Cross would do that. (And that the Germans would be a little more active.)
Are there any others here? Please introduce yourselves!
#RedCross #AmericanRedCross #DRK #IFRC #ICRC
#note1gk5…hp8j

2026-01-27 16:15:30 UTC

Overturn Supreme Court’s Citizens United Ruling
As Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the billionaire class continue attacking the very foundations of our democracy, the American people must keep the pressure on to overturn Citizens United.
Take action today even if you’ve signed petitions before in support of overturning Citizens United—there’s no such thing as doing too much to protect our democracy!
#CitizensUnited #Democracy #PublicCitizen #Petition
https://act.citizen.org/page/93163/petition/1

2026-01-17 18:35:53 UTC

- reply

NYC, where I am, is entering a week or so of cold weather--entirely expected, as this is the time of year when historic average daily highs and average daily lows reach their low points. A couple of cats or at least one large furry dog would be useful.

2026-01-09 14:27:09 UTC

- reply

Dad had a stroke shortly before the 2020 election. Occasionally, despite COVID, I was able to visit him in the hospital. One day two nurses told me the same story:
A doctor was examining Dad and asked the usual questions--name, birthday, day of week--to assess his awareness. When the doctor asked who the President was, Dad said "I hope it's the other guy."
As it turned out, that was Dad's last witticism, and a good one!
#ILikeIke

2026-01-09 14:22:23 UTC

- reply

I once asked my Dad why he was a Republican and he replied that when he moved and had to re-register as a voter Ike was President and he respected him.
Dad lived into his 90s, long enough to ask my brother and me never to mention Donald Trump's name in his presence.
1/2

2025-12-28 13:31:06 UTC

- reply

It looks fine to me; in fact, the stacks of books look much like my living room, but sadly I lack a fireplace. However, it could be better with a hot beverage on the table. Yes, I found the mug on the mantle, but how is one able to sip from it without disturbing the cat on the lap?

2025-12-23 16:15:07 UTC

Tell EPA: Act Now on Glyphosate
EPA is allowing the most widely used pesticide in the world to remain on the market without a valid human health assessment. In fact, the continued registration of glyphosate is illegal because EPA cannot show that current uses do not pose unreasonable risks to people or ecosystems.
Add your name to tell EPA to review and grant CFS’s cancellation petition.
#Glyphosate #EPA #Petition
https://nation.centerforfoodsafety.org/glyphosate_dec25?

2025-11-20 16:15:16 UTC

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services released its assessment of the dangerous pesticide atrazine. They found that atrazine does not pose an extinction risk to a single protected animal or plant species that was evaluated, despite a mountain of evidence demonstrating atrazine’s toxicity.
We need supporters to comment on FWS’s biological opinion for atrazine and highlight the dangers and inconsistencies with their assessment.
#Atrazine #CFS #Petition
https://nation.centerforfoodsafety.org/atrazine25?

2025-11-09 23:41:10 UTC

- reply

Is this soccer or ice hockey? Or just Canadian soccer?

2025-11-09 12:10:52 UTC

- reply

I have a brand new pair of sneakers. Let's go!

2025-11-03 16:16:01 UTC

No One Should Go Hungry in America | NEA
More than 40 million people in the United States who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed themselves and their families are at risk of losing their benefits in November. Urge your members of Congress to pressure USDA to release contingency funds to help people facing hunger, including students and some educators.
#Hunger #SNAP #USDA #NEA #Petition
https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/take-action/no-one-should-go-hungry-america

2025-07-19 14:45:26 UTC

They're adorable!
Rare images capture snow leopard cubs in their dens | New Scientist
"A pair of researchers have visited two snow leopard dens in Mongolia’s Tost mountains, where they studied and photographed five cubs, offering a rare opportunity to gather data on this threatened species."
#SnowLeopards #Caturday #Wildlife
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2488533-rare-images-capture-snow-leopard-cubs-in-their-dens/

2025-07-04 14:37:55 UTC

- reply

I was able to find and subscribe on Podcast Addict. Look forward to listening!
It's OK that I'm an atheist but not a Satanist, isn't it? And I like to read.
@npub14p7…2uvv

2025-07-04 14:31:36 UTC

- reply

That was a while ago. I'm old enough for three now, and maybe a small shotglass.
(It annoys me that the suggestions my tablet offers are "shotgun" and its plural before "shotglass." I have removed them from learned words.)

2025-07-04 14:01:56 UTC

- reply

Another co-worker left to go back to college, so we gave him a farewell at his favorite dive bar.
Although a dive, it was fairly scrupulous about keeping out underage customers. As expected I got past the guy at the door without question, but when I went to order at the bar, the barkeeper said to me, joking, "Are you old enough to drink?"
"I don't know. What's the legal age the days?"
"21."
"Then I'll have two."
A co-worker standing next to me stared, doing the math.

2025-07-03 22:39:54 UTC

- reply

Some years ago I worked with some guys in their mid- to late-20s; I was in my early 40s.
The oldest of the guys was fast approaching 30, worrying and complaining about it. One day I'd heard enough.
"Don't worry. 30 isn't so bad. [dramatic pause] But 40 is better."
If he did complain again it wasn't within earshot of me.

2025-06-26 14:25:30 UTC

- reply

If your first thought is "Couldn't she get a babysitter?" consider this from my Mom.
Mom was fascinated by the early NASA space program. Mom told me I watched John Glenn's flight, sitting next to her with my sippy cup, my infant brother in her lap.
Years later I asked why she didn't just put us down for naps. It would have been easier.
The point, Mom said, was that she wanted us to be able to say we saw it, even if we didn't remember it.

2025-04-17 12:51:46 UTC

- reply

Same here. I got lazy over the Winter and have been feeling it; but the only sure fix for that is to walk more.

2025-04-17 12:16:54 UTC

- reply

We saw a couple of these little birbs on our walk yesterday morning. And a bunch of kinglets, warblers, robins, and other small birds. Migration season is happening!
Despite a large part of the park being closed for repaving of paths and other maintenance, our two hour walk ran 2:45. Lots to see.
Our alternate Wednesday walks will be weekly in May to capture peak migratory action.

2025-04-15 21:41:00 UTC

- reply

Have not heard of Kagi; I'll look into it.
Sooner or later doesn't everything go bad?

2025-04-15 13:31:02 UTC

- reply

I've been using the DuckDuckGo browser and its accompanying search engine on my tablet for a while and quite liking it.
This morning I did a search and the first result was an AI synopsis of the subject.
UGH!
Then I noticed the little cog icon for settings. Clicked it. Presented with a list of options regarding how often I want to see AI results.
Clicked "Never."
We'll see. I'm hopeful.

2025-04-15 11:22:38 UTC

- reply

Good meowing!
After a workshop at the public library yesterday, the presenter mentioned he'd quit Twitter and was trying out Bluesky, but he couldn't really get into it. I asked if he'd considered Mastodon. He's heard of it, but not looked at it yet.
I suggested he give it a look. "The biggest problem most people have is choosing an instance," I said. He asked what an instance is. I gave a brief explanation, while writing on a piece of paper:
Mstdn.social

2025-04-04 12:48:35 UTC

- reply

Not sure where (if at all) a cell phone might fall on the hierarchy of needs, but the body’s need for physical and mental rest must surely be among the most basic of needs.
Couch optional. Circumstances permitting, I'd choose a hammock strung between two leafy trees.

2025-03-18 14:02:10 UTC

- reply

Have you read The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch? I think you would enjoy it.
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/melinda-taub/the-scandalous-confessions-of-lydia-bennet-witch/9781538739204/?lens=grand-central-publishing

2025-03-06 14:43:02 UTC

New York State is reaching out to former federal employees who were recently fired. If that's you, have a look.
"We have thousands of open positions, and these jobs are open to EVERYONE - not just federal employees. If you’re a federal employee looking for a new opportunity, know someone who is, or are a New Yorker interested in public service, visit https://ny.gov/wewantyou to learn more about our open positions."
#NewYork #FediHire
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/116/013/626/441/909/original/34fa2ad112d39319.png

2025-02-10 16:26:01 UTC

- reply

I also want to be excluded from your automated sharing.

2025-01-30 14:23:16 UTC

- reply

More like a bad science fiction movie in this case. Alien parasite infects human, who becomes a parasite himself.

2025-01-19 15:32:11 UTC

- reply

While searching for this I found some other old posts (some old enough to use "toot") that might be useful to the newest arrivals from InstaFaceTok. So I will probably be boosting some of them into circulation again over the next few days.
Meanwhile, if you were part of the Great Twitter Migration of October-December 2022, please note that you are now veteran Mastodonians and able to help those who are #NewHere.

2025-01-17 00:04:51 UTC

- reply

Done.

2025-01-16 02:20:37 UTC

- reply

Walk? Maybe you were walking. Summer was running, leaping, frolicking...

2025-01-16 01:42:10 UTC

- reply

I knew, even as I wrote that, that it would be really strange without context. If not for community ethos here, I'd have improvised a "quote tweet." But those toots out of context can be fun!

2025-01-15 02:46:46 UTC

- reply

I saw this too late and the post no longer exists on LinkedIn.
But I found this excerpt that seems to sum up what he wrote.
https://werd.io/2025/i-have-fired-meta-as-a-client
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/830/061/018/841/851/original/5a40ee379bd6234d.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/830/076/912/488/370/original/9a919f4d88112acd.jpg

2025-01-01 01:24:52 UTC

- reply

"Vultures in the Dead Tree" sounds like a very bleak rewrite of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

2024-12-30 19:14:03 UTC

- reply

Earlier this year a woman about my age, maybe a few years older, asked why I do all this. Her tone made it clear she found this outdoor activity a bit distasteful. I said I enjoy it and it keeps me busy, which is true, but not knowing her health status I was reluctant to say that I want to be as active as I can for as long as I can. I'd rather wear out my body than let it atrophy.
Yes, sometimes the muscles ache and the joints are stiff, but better that than the alternative.
2/2

2024-12-30 19:07:38 UTC

- reply

Wow, Chris, that is impressive!
I have a feeling you're a fair bit younger than me--in fact, I have a birthday coming up and can't say "early 60s" anymore; it's mid-60s now.
I've always walked a lot (live in NYC and never learned to drive), but since retirement I've been doing more: nature walks, alone and with groups, errands, etc. And I volunteer with Parks and do beach cleanups and the like. Not lifting 200 lbs, but it keeps me active.
1/2

2024-12-30 18:14:14 UTC

- reply

So you tested your limits? And your body let you know you're not quite there yet... but you did it. That's progess--congratulations.
As for a walk in the park, I do that rather often but I'm not in condition for what you did.

2024-12-30 15:50:51 UTC

- reply

Becinator, I recommended this post and all of his many bird photos. His other photos, too, for variety.
#birdsforbecsnan
[@artdragon86](https://mastodon.art/@artdragon86 )

2024-12-30 14:30:11 UTC

- reply

Impressive but probably not wise. I think your body is trying to tell you that just because a thing can be done does not mean it is advisable to do.
Hope your muscles are feeling better.

2024-12-30 12:24:41 UTC

- reply

The yellow feet are an easy identifier for Snowy Egrets (as a local bird walk leader taught me), but the problem is that they often stand in water, which obscures their feet. You're lucky this bird had one foot raised.
And a lovely bird it is!

2024-12-28 12:35:40 UTC

- reply

My account has been scraped and duplicated without my knowledge (until now) or permission (ever) by gleasonator dot dev.
I also have no idea what momostr.pink is and never gave it permission to duplicate my account information.
@npub1vl7…f6g0 #Fediblock
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/730/453/425/402/121/original/8a8b165f3c1208eb.jpg

2024-12-25 00:42:38 UTC

- reply

I don't celebrate Hanukkah, but I love the confluence of holidays this time of year.
Great New York story: Several years ago a colleague's cousin was visiting from Hong Kong and he asked if I could show them around the holiday decorations in midtown Manhattan.
We picked a time and place to meet.
And so it happened that I met two Buddhists on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral on the first day of Hanukkah to look at Christmas decorations.
Happy Hanukkah!

2024-12-16 10:26:56 UTC

- reply

That’s wonderful! I'm not mad anymore.

2024-12-15 03:35:07 UTC

- reply

He appears to be a very literary cat.

2024-12-10 18:19:46 UTC

- reply

If you can't go all-out, over-the-top for Christmas (or whatever big holiday you celebrate), when can you?

2024-12-04 13:16:10 UTC

- reply

Looks more coffee bar than sandbar to me.

2024-12-03 20:59:59 UTC

- reply

Thanks for the explanation.
I'm a Cool-hunter, which makes sense. Is there a name for people who take a lot of polls? Because recently it feels like I do.

2024-12-01 19:51:33 UTC

@npub1vl6…z0tt Is that "mad science skill" or "mad sciences kill"?

2024-11-25 16:15:50 UTC

Act now, during Native American Month, to tell Congress you support the Indian Buffalo Management Act to help Tribes restore culturally and ecologically significant #buffalo herds to their lands.
#NativeAmericanMonth #Bison #Buffalo #NWF #Petition
https://support.nwfactionfund.org/page/72961/donate/1

2024-11-13 13:23:34 UTC

- reply

This particular web is not worldwide, but instances of similar webs can be found all over the world.

2024-11-11 01:08:23 UTC

- reply

Here's an answer:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/11/09/wildfires-spread-in-new-jersey-as-forecasters-warn-of-critical-fire-conditions-in-the-northeast-heres-what-to-know/
And good news: we've had a little rain. Not enough, but a start. (And, no, I don't want a month's worth of rain all at once.)
#NYC #Wildfires #RedFlagWarning

2024-11-10 16:54:52 UTC

- reply

We have something similar.
Can't seem to get it turned from the sideways orientation.
#SilentSunday #NYC #StatenIsland
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/459/689/421/585/114/original/e1b93cf5526ab450.jpg

2024-11-09 13:28:48 UTC

Walked out of the house this morning and immediately smelled smoke.
Temperature has dropped considerably in the past 48 hours but we are still under a red flag warning, probably until forecast rain tomorrow night.
So the question is whether people are using fireplaces, there are brushfires in NJ (per Notify NYC), or our parks are having wildfires again.
Not used to this in NYC.
#TheWorldIsBurning

2024-11-01 11:47:31 UTC

- reply

Summer doesn't like cold & drizzle.
Here in NYC we've had high temperatures in the upper 70s and even low 80s. One more day of warm and then temperatures are forecast to plummet to... uh... slightly above normal. But look! More 70s next week?
It is now November. I have not come close to turning on the heat.

2024-10-28 16:51:36 UTC

- reply

Bezos may not care that you personally cancel your account, but I've seen reports that thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of subscribers have canceled since the Post's non-endorsement, and sooner or later he's going to notice.

2024-10-28 15:14:56 UTC

- reply

There are many things to dislike about this event, but to me the worst was to see it play out in front of a larger-than-life image of George Washington.
Excellent recovery of lost video, though. A historical lesson we need now.

2024-10-26 13:43:31 UTC

- reply

This is especially effective if you happen to get a human (increasingly rare).
We get calls about supposed credit card problems. "Oh, yes, I'd like to help. Which of the credit card holders are you trying to reach?" Not one robocaller has yet had an answer.
"Who is calling, please?" us also very effective.
Or just ask if their Mother knows they do this for a living. That guy CALLED BACK to cuss me out, and he might have been crying.

2024-10-23 13:30:01 UTC

"We've all watched with horror the terrible destruction from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our hearts go out to the people who lost their lives and homes, and it would have been so much worse without the extraordinary scientific work of NOAA--the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"Join us in thanking the scientists of NOAA for their essential work to improve storm models and provide accurate warnings that save lives."
#UCSUSA #NOAA #ThankYou
https://secure.ucsusa.org/a/2024-thank-noaa-scientists

2024-10-20 23:20:42 UTC

- reply

Not only is this a beautiful photograph, I also love your alt-text.

2024-10-18 12:42:35 UTC

- reply

Just heard this on TV.
Zelenskyy "let the war start"? This sounds like an abusive spouse: "I wouldn't have hit her if she had dinner ready on time." (Fortunately for Trump's wives they had servants.)
Also, I usually avoid listening to him speak, so haven't heard him in a while. Wow! Just wow! He sounds half asleep and speaks in monotone.

2024-10-14 15:19:36 UTC

- reply

Lovely photo!
You really ought to pin this post to your profile so you can say #LynxInBio.

2024-10-06 22:32:25 UTC

- reply

#Boop

2024-10-01 20:42:16 UTC

- reply

A public announcement like that is just asking for trouble.

2024-09-30 14:03:01 UTC

- reply

*This* is a birb!
https://www.audubon.org/news/when-bird-birb-extremely-important-guide

2024-09-28 02:05:36 UTC

Sometimes when I wake up too early, I'll get out of bed, have breakfast, maybe watch a little TV (Dragnet at 5:30 am is a favorite), then go back to bed for another hour or two of sleep.
#OddHabitsToStartTheDay

2024-09-21 11:33:59 UTC

- reply

It’s a *department* vehicle. He shouldn't be attaching anything permanent to it without prior permission. Period. Full stop.

2024-09-05 13:20:06 UTC

- reply

A few years ago I considered the Meatless Monday movement and thought "Huh, I already eat meatless at least once a week..." Tried a few things of my own devising and am now meatless Monday through Thursday--except, for example, this past Monday which was a holiday. Occasionally I have a little fish.
It is one of those great times when my health, the environment, and my budget are in alignment.

2024-09-03 14:21:33 UTC

- reply

Good morning, dove!
(Said that to a Mourning Dove in a park once. Thought there was nobody within earshot. Heard a human giggle behind me.)

2024-08-19 15:56:12 UTC

- reply

That second shot IS perfect! The slight blurring of wing feathers suggests flight better than a sharper photo ever could.

2024-08-04 20:17:52 UTC

- reply

RC Cola (Royal Crown, but I think that like many companies it just uses the initials now) still exists, though it's difficult to find.
I'm a Mets fan, and along with the other traumas of that loyalty I remember the RC commercial with Tom Seaver singing their jingle.
#Mets

2022-12-19 02:22:14 UTC

I'd like to point out, apropos of something I saw this weekend, that the suggestion to write an #introduction post assumes that new users *want* to be found.
Some people are here because they've had bad experiences on other social media sites--or even other instances--and would like to be quiet for a bit. It's OK to be a wallflower and watch from the shadows for a while until you feel comfortable. And you are in no way obligated to disclose more about yourself than you wish to.