Artists I Fancy: Venice in Beautiful Color Images 125 Years Ago | Open Culture

Historical photography.  Below is a view of the Rialto Bridge, which spans one of the city's famous canals, Venice, 125 years ago.  Though not "real" color photographs, they have been colorized and, as such more accurately reflect a lively period in late 19th-century Europe.

The Library of Congress' page on the photocrom process explains it: "Photochrom prints are ink-based images produced through 'the direct photographic transfer of an original negative onto litho and chromographic printing plates.'"  

Have you always wanted to visit Venice?

Wouldn't it be even more interesting to travel back in time and visit 19th century Venice?

You can do so through this wonderful collection of photographs.

Venice in Beautiful Color Images 125 Years Ago:
The Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & More

Fun Related Content:

Shining a Spotlight on Italy

Dream Travel Destinations: Croatia

My Father's Country: The Bahamas

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Climate Change : Irma: A Meditation on Hurricanes and the Bahamas ~ Global Voices

MY STORY:  I grew up in Miami, Florida.  I'm so old that I can remember when hurricanes only had female names.  I no longer in Florida, but I have not fully escaped the hurricanes.  I live in Texas now, and hurricanes also like to swing by here and say Hello! 

People who live in locations where they experience hurricanes and have lived to tell can always share a story.  The longer they live in a place and survive, the more stories they have to tell.  Nicolette Bethel has a story.

And then came Irma: Not behaving at all like a genteel, gracious lady at all.   She even brought friends to her soiree.  September 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Florida, and brought some tornadoes with her.   She definitely gave us something to think about it. These are the thoughts of Nicolette Bethel.

"Every thirty years or so, however, some regular shift in global weather patterns appeared to encourage the formation of hurricanes further north and increase the likelihood that they would affect The Bahamas and US eastern seaboard. These hurricanes would sweep across the Atlantic and not be disrupted by land or mountains until they were well inland in the USA." 

(My comment/observation.)  Extracted this excerpt because it seems to present a plausible explanation for 2017 being the year of the hurricanes.  In other words, maybe it's not the effects of climate change.  Maybe ... it's just normal weather patterns.  The global warming debate continues.

Author of the post republished by GlobalVoices.org is Nicolette Bethel, Bahamian teacher, writer, and anthropologist.

Visit her blog for more interesting posts. (It's a private site. You have to request permission.)

~ Original Article Source: Global Voices

Hurricane, Bahamas. Winslow Homer (1898). 

Image donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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(Recycling from Facebook.)

It's 2026, and it is officially the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The Atlantic season runs from June 1 through November 30 every year.

“A hurricane reminds us that nature is powerful — but so are preparation, community, and calm.”

“Storms may shake the coast, but calm hearts and ready hands weather anything.”

“Stay aware, stay prepared, stay calm — we face the season together.”

I'm sharing encouraging quotes after hearing a report that FEMA might not help. Apparently, Kristi Noem screwed it up before she left. Mind you. The agency wasn't that great to begin with. But it seems she made it worse.

HAPPY JUNE 1st. No really. Don't worry. Be happy.

The Economy: Who Needs Leprechauns When They Have Capitalism and Corruption?

There are several legends, myths, or fairy tales about leprechauns. But the story that almost everybody knows is the one about catching these wicked, tricky little guys and forcing them to give you their pot of gold, which is at the end of the rainbow. The tale is supposedly a warning against greed or being greedy, that clearly … everybody ignores!

(NOTE: Content published in 2022, but updated with social media posts dated 2026. The blog post title was changed to include "Corruption".)

Many people call Facebook “Facebookistan” because it’s like a whole other country in and of itself and should have its own flag. But you know? So is Google! The corporation is really woven into the fabric of our world. People criticize capitalism in favor of socialism, communism, or other forms of government in which they believe wealth among citizens will be equitably apportioned.

QUESTION: Would Google and Facebook even exist if it weren’t for the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured by capitalism?

ANSWER: NOT ALL capitalists are wicked overlord imperialist dogs.

Also, I never really bought into that claim that 99% of the population are poor folks, and all the riches and wealth belong to only “The One Percent” of the citizenry in the USA, which is a capitalist country. Please! Every country, regardless of its government or economy, has the 3-Tier system.

Tier 1: Wealthy people at the top.

Tier 2: Poor people at the bottom.

Tier 3: Folks who are managing to get by on what they make with a little bit extra to spend on “wants”.

You know it’s true! Neither the French Revolution nor the Communists got rid of the bourgeoisie. A word like “oligarch” is not an archaic expression. It is a word in our current vocabulary that applies to certain people TODAY!

Greedy people know no boundary lines and have no respect for any form of government. If they can find a way to exploit and access ill-gotten gain, it doesn’t matter what kind of economic system is in place in any country.

I truly believe that capitalism adds value to any society or nation because people have more freedom to use their talents, skills, and abilities and turn their work efforts into “pots of gold” which can be further translated into philanthropy, humanitarianism, or charity.

Why can’t we all be allowed to use our God-given gifts and talents, to aspire to color our own rainbows, and to create our own pots of gold? It’s a very reasonable question.

We will always have greedy people in this world. But leprechauns do not exist in this world, and we don’t need them even if they did! We have capitalism!

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P.S. For the record, for all you leprechaun-lovers out there, I am NOT hating on leprechauns. But let’s be clear. Leprechauns (nor the tooth fairy, for that matter) do NOT lead to an increase in individual wealth.

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REFERENCES:

Matthews, Chris. *The Myth of the 1% and the 99%.” Fortune, 2 Mar. 2015, fortune.com/2015/03/02/economic-inequality-myth-1-percent-wealth.

Facts about Leprechauns and Where the Legends Really Came From. ”IrishCentral.com, 23 June 2017, www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/top-ten-facts-about-leprechauns-and-where-the-legends-really-came-from-212728761-237598771.

Capitalism & Freedom by Milton Friedman https://t.co/pGFinjagtY 40th #AnniversaryEdition #FirstEd ~ Friedman (1912-2006) rec'd 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for research on consumption analysis, monetary history & theory & the complexity of stabilization policy. pic.twitter.com/7lstYnHoMe

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) January 4, 2020

***THIS IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA AS OF 2026.

“‘Decline is a choice,’ Charles Krauthammer famously said. Donald Trump has chosen decline for the United States, and his trip to China was confirmation of that fact.” www.thebulwark.com/p/youre-gett...

— Bill Kristol (@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social) 2026-05-15T14:55:10.113Z

DOJ created a $1.7 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund”, part of a settlement w/ Trump over his IRS lawsuit. Trumponomics. Trickle-down corruption. #POTUS #Trump🐐🟠 - Think it's OK to destroy this "one nation under God"? Did your spiritual advisor tell you to GO FOR IT? Let's see how far you go. 😡😡

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-05-18T17:25:16.365Z

And if you plan to break the law in the future, go ahead & apply in advance. Get the paperwork out of the way. 😡😡 #POTUS #Trump🐐🟠 - Are you HAPPY? Your toadies🐸 know how important it is for you to be happy. Esp, Acting #AttorneyGeneral #ToddBlanche. He and #JDVance really vie for your approval?

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-05-20T05:45:32.299Z

Artists I Fancy : Succulents (Canvas) by Oliver Gal at Gilt (Plus Gardening Tips)

Succulents (Canvas) by Oliver Gal at Gilt

via Joie de Vivre Magazine on Pinterest

~ Source PIN URL: http://ift.tt/2vanppG

NOTE: Oliver Gal is not a single artist, but a female‑founded art studio based in Miami, created by sisters Ana and Lola Sánchez. They produce contemporary, fashion‑inspired wall art, often featuring bold colors, glam themes, and pop‑culture motifs. Their work spans canvas prints, hand‑embellished pieces, abstract art, and decorative objects.  They’ve become widely distributed through retailers like Gilt, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Amazon, and Wayfair.

SUCCULENTS ARE BEAUTIFUL BUT ...

Succulents are plants that store extra water in their leaves, stems, or roots, allowing them to survive in dry or unpredictable climates. They come in many forms—from tiny stone-like Lithops to towering baobab trees—and make up roughly 3–5% of all flowering plants. Their defining trait is water storage, which lets them thrive in environments where many other plants cannot.  (REF:   British Cactus and Succulent Society)

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🌱 Are succulents good for the environment?

Short answer: They can be—but it depends on how they’re grown, sourced, and used.

Below is a breakdown of the environmental benefits and concerns, based on current research.

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🌍 Environmental Benefits

• Water efficiency
  Succulents use far less water than traditional garden plants. Some need only 1–2 ounces per week, compared to several gallons for other species. This makes them excellent for drought-prone regions and water conservation efforts.  (REF:   shunwaste.com)

• Climate resilience
  Their drought tolerance and ability to store water make them valuable models for adapting agriculture and landscaping to climate change. They can help maintain greenery in increasingly arid environments.  In other words, they can be very eco-friendly.  (REF:  cactusandsucculents.co.uk)

• Ecosystem support
  In their native habitats, succulents provide food, shelter, and water for animals, especially in deserts where resources are scarce. Their fruits help with seed dispersal and support biodiversity.  (REF:  cactusandsucculents.co.uk)

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⚠️ BUT! There Are Some Environmental Concerns ⚠️ 

• Overharvesting and habitat loss
  Some succulents—especially rare cacti—are illegally collected from the wild, threatening species already at risk of extinction.  (REF:  Oxford Academic)

• Carbon footprint from global trade
  The booming popularity of succulents means many are shipped long distances, increasing carbon emissions.  (REF:   shunwaste.com)

• Invasive potential
  Certain succulents can become invasive when introduced outside their native range, disrupting local ecosystems.  (REF:  New Phytologist)

• Soil degradation
  Overharvesting wild plants can damage fragile soils and lead to erosion.  (REF:  shunwaste.com)

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🌿 So… are succulents environmentally friendly?

They are environmentally friendly when:

• grown locally or ethically sourced
• used to replace water-intensive landscaping
• planted in appropriate climates
• not taken from the wild

They are harmful when:

• poached from natural habitats
• mass-produced with heavy resource use
• shipped globally in large volumes
• allowed to spread invasively

Succulents are adaptation champions, but like any trend, sustainability depends on responsible choices.

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I don't have a green thumb.  But if I ever own a home, I'd like to have a garden and want to know what the best flowers and plants are to grow.  Succulents are good for indoors or outdoors.  To learn more, do additional research on eco-friendly succulents and how to grow them sustainably.

Read Books Written for Children like "All Around the Moon" by Jules Verne for FREE!

Do you enjoy reading children's books? I do.

I found an incredible treasure trove of historical children’s books at openculture.com, ALL digitized and free to read online. FREE!! 

I know all about “Around the World in 80 Days”. But I never knew Jules Verne wrote a book titled “All Around the Moon”. Did you?

~ Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2uCnfn7 

Rediscovering Historical Children’s Books

There’s something magical about opening a children’s book from another era. The language, illustrations, and moral lessons offer a window into how past generations understood childhood, imagination, and education. These books aren’t just quaint artifacts—they reveal shifting cultural values, forgotten storytelling styles, and the evolution of what adults once believed children needed to learn.

Exploring historical children’s literature can deepen our understanding of social history, art, and even parenting trends. It’s also a reminder that stories have always shaped how young people see the world.

If you’re curious to explore this rich legacy, one of the best resources available is a remarkable digital archive hosted by Open Culture. They’ve gathered over 6,000 historical children’s books, all fully digitized and completely free to read. The collection spans centuries and genres, making it an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, parents, and anyone who loves the charm of vintage storytelling.

This site offers open access to rare materials that would otherwise be locked away in special collections. It’s a treasure trove of cultural history—beautiful, surprising, and endlessly inspiring.

Book Lovers Gifts for Bookworm/Reader/Librarian, Books Accessories

for Reading Lovers, Bookish Items for Book Club, Reading Accessories Blanket 60x50in

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The Space Novels of Jules Verne: From the Earth to the Moon, All Around the Moon

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TITUS

Titus was a Grecian convert. Luke does not mention him by name in the Book of Acts, but Paul confirms him as a “partner and fellow helper”. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on a trip to Jerusalem. Unable to go for himself, Paul sent Titus to work with the congregation in Corinth, and then bring back news about their well-being and spiritual health. He brought back a good report and refreshed the weary Apostle's spirit. Several years later, Paul would leave Titus behind in Crete to build up the Church there.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator

The relationship between Paul and Titus was much like to his association with Timothy. The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus have been grouped together and referred to as Pastoral Epistles. Both men were directed to ordain elders to oversee the flock of God, warned about false teachers, told to maintain good works, the purity of the Church, and especially ensure their own personal morality and blameless reputation as godly men.

The last reference to this young preacher is Paul's mention of him in a letter to Timothy (whom he had left in Ephesus) that Titus was headed to Dalmatia (conquered by the Romans A.D. 12; today a region of Croatia, Yugoslavia).

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TIMOTHY (or TIMOTHEUS)

Timothy was called Paul's son in the gospel.  Timothy's mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) were devout Jews who taught him the Jewish scriptures from a child. All three of them were converted to Christianity. This young man traveled with Paul to places where he was sent by Paul – such as Berea, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi – to evangelize, preach, teach, comfort, and assure the believers to press on and not falter. Paul was retracing his steps and revisiting Lystra in Lycaonia when he and Timothy crossed paths. The first time he was in this small city was with Barnabas. On this second trip, Timothy joined Paul's company.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator

Paul commended his young companion as follows (paraphrased): “We have the same mind. He does not seek his own. He has served with me in the gospel and has the same boldness to as I do to defend the faith. His love and care for all the churches is genuine.”

While in prison in Rome, awaiting execution, the Apostle wrote to Timothy instructing him to persevere and continue the Lord's work without him.

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: LUKE (or LUCAS)

The name Lucas means “light-giving”. Very appropriate since he authored a two-part work – the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles – both written to shed light on the life of Christ and the establishment of His Church.

Image credit: AI art Generated – DeviantArt

His first appearance, historically, is in Troas. Details about his conversion are unknown. Details regarding his faithfulness are made plain in the New Testament scriptures. Luke traveled with the Apostle during his second (from Troas to Philippi), third (from Philippi to Jerusalem), and final (from Jerusalem to Rome) missionary journeys. In addition, during one of Paul's imprisonments, Luke dutifully remained close by. Luke was an educated man; writer, historian, and physician by profession. Paul speaks of him with great affection as the “beloved physician”.

Paul the Apostle knew his enemies. But he kept his friends closer.

During his final hours, Luke was the only one with him.  (2 Timothy 4:11)

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: BARNABAS

Barnabas was Paul's champion. While others may have doubted the sincerity of the Apostle's conversion, Barnabas sought Paul out. When he found him in Tarsus, he encouraged him to become a fellow laborer and convinced others that he could be an invaluable help with the missionary efforts.

Image credit: AI Generated - DeviantArt

“The disciples were called Christians* first in Antioch.” (Acts 11: 26) Barnabas and Paul traveled together to Antioch in Syria to strengthen the community of believers already there. The zealous teamwork of these two men proved very successful. Though the Church began, A.D. 33, in Jerusalem, from Antioch the “good news” would spread to all the major cities in the Roman Empire, including Rome.

Before becoming a Christian, Barnabas was a Jew; a Levite from the island of Cyprus, whose name was Joseph (Joses). He was called “son of consolation (or encouragement)” by the disciples because he had a gift for motivating those who were discouraged to remain focused, steadfast, and faithful. So committed was he that he sold his property and donated the proceeds to help the poor and needy. His act of generosity spurred others on to perform similar good works.

* Greek: Christianoi: “devotees of the Anointed One.

The Apostle Paul's other companions: 

Luke

Timothy

Titus

Clement

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Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Corruption is a Cancer and Some Countries are Sicker Than Others (An Opinion Piece)

“Why is corruption so hard to remove in our country?”

This question was asked by a person on Facebook. The question and the answer they provided were country-specific. They were discussing the present situation in India and presented an outsider’s point of view on why corruption is an accepted way of life in that country.

I am also an outsider. I live in the United States and have never been to India or to a lot of other places in this world. (Never even been to California.) That doesn’t stop me from having a point of view and my perspective is not country-specific. It’s a world view.

Corruption is a cancer that exists all around the world. ALL countries get sick from it. Some countries are more sick, more than others. But no country is immune to corruption.

In fact, there is no place on earth where people live in a community with rules that should be followed for orderliness, settling disputes, punishing wrongdoing, and living a peaceful happy life, where corruption won’t rear its ugly head. Once it happens …

CORRUPTION is hard to remove in ANY COUNTRY!

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How does corruption occur? It’s the G-men!

We won’t include organized crime, cartels, gangs, and thugs in this discussion. Let’s talk about the other G-men. Not “G” for gangster. “G” for government officials.

First, the corrupt person (one lone individual) provides “fake promises” that will dutifully serve the people; knowing full well that they really only intend to serve themselves and help themselves to whatever they can get!

Once The Corrupt get into their positions and hunker down, they have absolutely no plans for leaving. EVER! Not only that, they surround themselves with supporters who get treats and rewards for “being naughty” FOR THEM.

They build a stronghold of “invisible soldiers”. Invisible? Yes. Quite often you don’t know who’s serving who. It’s not like these people walk around wearing a badge that identifies them.

Then there are those who are NOT supporters but they are too afraid to do anything or speak out against the pernicious acts of the G-men because they fear for their lives or the lives of those they love. It’s just a matter of self-preservation.

As complicated as the matter is, when faced with corruption there are only 3 solutions/choices.

Fight, Flight or Stay.

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Fight. Stand up for your rights and demand change. Some use force, weapons and violence. Some use peaceful nonviolent methods. Either way. THEY FIGHT!

Flight. Leave and go live elsewhere. Hey! Home Sweet Home is wherever you can build it. Mr. Von Trapp was a wealthy man (according to the movie “Sound of Music”)’ but he took his family and left the country anyway!

Stay. Live with it. Not everyone has the physical and mental strength to fight. Not everyone has the means to leave. If you can’t leave and you feel you’re not strong and/or brave enough to fight, then you acquiesce. You resign yourself to the fact that corruption in your daily life is the “normal” and you take each day as it comes. There is a tiny bit of hope buried deep down inside of you that maybe one day you’ll be delivered from evil.

Even though corruption is hard to get rid of, it’s not IMPOSSIBLE!

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The purveyors and perpetrators of corruption can be brought down. I would say brought down low. But The Corrupt are already LOW! They just take their seat in high places.

Cause and effect. If one can eliminate the cause, one can eliminate corruption.

Most people think Divine intervention is too slow, so often a military overthrow is the solution.

But well-known singer/songwriter Sting says that he “never saw a military solution that didn’t end up as something worse”.

So why is it so hard to root out corruption?

Simply put … the root cause of corruption is … Brother Against Brother.

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That’s why it’s so hard. Hard. Not impossible.

Agree or Disagree.

** Since the question on Facebook was specifically about India, here is an interesting link.  India Corruption Rank | 1995-2019 Data | 2020-2022 Forecast | Historical | Chart

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Revisited this content and have a few notes to add JAN 2026.

This would be funny if it weren't for the fact that IT'S NOT FUNNY! Official Top 50 Happiest Countries 2025 www.timeout.com/news/world-h... No surprise USA is not in the #Top10. BIG SURPRISE Israel is on the list. USA is No. 24. Pauvre Greenland. Not on the list. Or is it?🤔 Denmark is No. 2.

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-20T23:13:11.221Z

Happy versus Corrupt Countries. Well! Thanks to #POTUS #Trump, #Venezuela might drop off the black list. Also, thanks to Trump, #America might become Number One on the black list. It's just #humor. (Or not.) Sources: thenationonlineng.net/full-list-50... factsinstitute.com/ranking/most...

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2026-01-20T23:27:41.817Z

Customs was under Dept of Treasury.

Immigration was under Dept of Justice.

Both are now under #HomelandSecurity @DHSgov.
9/11 terrorist attacks were a justification for the reorganization.

Now, ICE agents are the terrorists.❓
Just put things back the way they were!😡 https://t.co/KRcNyiU0lW pic.twitter.com/gQP6F3EUch

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) January 20, 2026