Melanie Scheller

A few of my favorite things: writing children's books, orange tabby cats, reading children's books, old-time music, tuxedo cats, collage art, gray tabby cats, quilt shows, black cats, waterfalls, blue-gray cats, sewing, tortoiseshell cats, bluegrass music, white cats, craft fairs, calico cats.

#OtD 27 Oct 1942 17-year-old Helmuth Hübener was beheaded by the Nazis in Berlin for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. Learn more about working class youth resistance to Nazism in Germany in our podcast episode 72: workingclasshistory.com/podcast/72-e...

#fascism

Western North Carolina came together after Hurricane Helene to help one another. This spirit inspires me, and I carry it with me as I run for Congress. We need leaders who will show up for their communities when catastrophe strikes. #WNC #NC11

My opponent can’t win on the issues or the truth, so she’s turned to fake, AI-generated ads. Western North Carolina voters deserve better. I got into this race to do politics better, and I’ll continue to run on my mountain values and delivering results for Western North Carolina.

How Newspapers Helped Democratize Knowledge and Civic Participation Their downfall may explain some of where we are today. lithub.com/how-newspape...?

A couple of years ago I was speaking to a finance guy about the inevitability of the "Ai" bubble popping, and he vehemently disagreed. He maintained that the liability was sufficiently spread out over many industries that didn't solely depend on "Ai" to survive. When I said, "But if it doesn't..."

Scientists: you have the right to speak up for pro-science candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, and we have resources to help you do so safely. Read about the legal risks scientists face from politically-motivated attacks, & how to defend against them: www.csldf.org/resource/poc...

Dangit!

#OtD 26 Oct 1881 communist Indigenous activist Dolores Cacuango was born in Ecuador. She took part in several strikes and uprisings, the landless and indigenous movements, and fought against sexual abuse of Indigenous women by hacienda bosses stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9863...

we don’t claim this maris(s)a

Google’s data center brings wolves. “We had wolves coming into the village because all the wild animals moved out of the forest,” 53-year-old Otanmäki resident Anni Ranta told the Guardian. “They fled.”

Addendum: Here's early + mail voting turnout rates 10 days before election day in the last 3 midterms in #ncpol 📊 ⤵️ Takeaway: the 2026 Democratic turnout rate is far exceeding Democratic turnout rate at the same point in 2022 (a good Rep. yr) and 2018 (a good Dem. yr). #ncpol

9 days until Election Day and these Meck Dem volunteers are working hard to make sure every voter has a plan to vote. Make your plan today: iwillvote.com

Have you voted early?

AI is taking away the first rung of the career ladder. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warns that young graduates could be left with low-paying service jobs as AI disrupts traditional career paths.

This piece is so, so good, and everyone should read it.

We need more of this now.

Excerpt: The Last Best Place on the Internet- a Human History of Wikipedia I use it nearly every day and donate as well. #booksky lithub.com/why-wikipedi...?

Info needed in Phoenix!

A government official helping spearhead RFK Jr's MAHA push has “disqualifying” family financial interests that clash with her work, according to documents obtained by The Washington Sun. www.washingtonsun.com/influence/ta...

An IT Security Center from the 1990's....

#OtD 24 Oct 1940 the 40-hour work week came into effect in America under Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the result of decades of militant working-class struggle and organisation stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9690...

Review: The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside a Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation #booksky www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/t...

Western North Carolina deserves a leader who will show up, listen, and actually care. Our political system is drowning in partisanship and noise. Folks I talk to are craving earnest leaders who care about their community and want to solve big problems for hard working people. #NC11 #WNC #WesternNC

Just what we need -- rabies making a comeback! (Important note: This beaver does not have rabies, but it could. A woman near my home was bitten by a rabid beaver.)

Do you look like your cat? See the people who definitely do.

punkin dunkin

CEO of Inclusion Canada calls for basic income for disabled people to match basic income for seniors. Basic income already works for some -- let's build on it for all. Published in The Winnipeg Sun (which leans conservative).

Wow! Make Amy Acton governor. “I am making a promise to Ohioans...that no one in my state will ever, ever be invisible to me."

#OtD 22 Oct 1921 workers at the Castleconnell fisheries in Ireland went on strike, then occupied their workplace and formed a soviet (workers council). Police and vigilantes tried to evict the strikers, but the workers held out until Dec when they won stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1263...

Ugh.

“There is no study that can measure the lifelong grief of a parent who has to bury a child. “But science can tell us something important: Many of these deaths can be prevented” through vaccination.

#OtD 22 Oct 1972 feminists in Vancouver, Canada founded SORWUC - the Service, Office and Retail Workers' Union of Canada. They sought to represent workers in marginalised, low-paying, largely female-dominated sectors stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9520...

The state of Tennessee tortured Christa Pike in their failed attempt to execute her, per new details from her lawyer. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

More outtakes from the recording of my album, ‘Hope Is the Thing with Feathers,’ all captured by my dear friend, @karencoxphoto.bsky.social. Thank you to all of the beautiful musicians who were a part of this! Making art with my chosen family is one of my favorite things in the world.

I spent last night in Mars Hill meeting with students and neighbors who've called this place home for years. Thank you to everyone who showed up! #WNC #NC11 #WesternNC

Fantastic @craigtimes.bsky.social column on the history and status of wildlife crossings in Florida for panthers, turtles, and other critters, featuring an extended cameo by America’s favorite #roadecology book. floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/22/t...

"Capitalism is not an excuse for treason." Exactly so. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/its-time-t...