Gaythia Weis @Gaythia@qoto.org

Once “polarization” is adopted as an overarching diagnosis, as a governing historical and political paradigm, it obscures what the key challenge to achieving a pluralistic democracy is – the anti-democratic radicalization of the Right. 9/

"“We have dozens of these facilities that are within a mile of the Big Sioux River or a tributary, and they’re not managing their waste,” Roberts said.

Complaining about such facilities became harder during the most recent legislative session. Legislators passed a law that says only the owner or lessee of an affected property can file a nuisance action against an agricultural operation such as a CAFO, and only if the affected property is within 1 mile of the operation."

#CAFO #Water #Pollution #SouthDakota

https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2023/09/04/not-all-livestock-operations-in-south-dakota-have-to-manage-waste-equally/?emci=cc4c5d1c-2e49-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=fdd0c25e-db4b-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=75026

To be fair, I've been "using pragerU in the classroom for years" ... for STEM even.

I have a folder of "Terrible graphs" that I use for discussions for stats students, they make so many horrible graphs I had to only pick the most interesting examples so that there is more variety.

(And I've been using them less since the students say it's too easy to spot that flaws. It's more fun to dissect a bad graph that made it into a major newspaper.)

“I know how this information looks—when taken out of context, it seems bad,” Exxon CEO Darren Woods said in response to the Wall Street Journal’s inquiry about the documents that show Exxon executives strategized over how to diminish concerns about warming temperatures, and they sought to muddle scientific findings that might hurt its oil-and-gas business.

Lol. In what context does this look good?

https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/exxon-climate-change-documents-e2e9e6af

PragarU Founders Are Fracking Billionaires Who Delight In Climate Disinformation - For Children - CleanTechnica

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/14/pragaru-founders-are-fracking-billionaires-who-delight-in-climate-disinformation-for-children/

In 1916, 23 yr old chemist Alice Ball discovered a breakthrough in treatment for Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease). She was the 1st woman & 1st Black chemistry professor at UHawaii.

Tragically, Ball passed away months after her discovery due to complications from a lab accident.

What happened next? Arthur Dean, head of her dept, continued the work publishing Ball’s process as “Dean’s method.”

Fortunately, a colleague spoke up & the name was changed to “Ball’s method.” #HistoryRemix #science #history

Having lived much of the last year in a country that has universal healthcare, it's heartbreaking to be back in the U.S. seeing families having to appeal to strangers online through gofundme sites bc they cannot afford outrageous medical bills while dealing with unimaginable tragedy.

My 12 year old who loves sport wrote a school speech that was a fiery repudiation of the misogyny of the sporty boys in her class, inspired by the fact they wouldn't pass to her in a soccer game. She addresses them directly in the speech to say that their behaviour is unacceptable and out of touch. It is amazing.

Her teacher, however, suggested she tone it down as it wasn't "all the boys" and also they might respond better if she made them like her.

Dear readers, she did not tone it down.

Virginia Went to War Over History. And Students Actually Came Out on Top. - POLITICO

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/09/glenn-youngkin-history-wars-virginia-00113958

#SCOTUS Justice Alito declines to recuse from a pending tax case after he gave two interviews to one of the participating lawyers for use in a Wall Street Journal article. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-08/supreme-court-s-alito-rejects-democratic-calls-to-recuse-in-case#xj4y7vzkg

Does no one in the U.S. government have anything to say about one rogue private citizen knee-capping a war effort on which we have so far spent $75 billion?

Ukraine is not mincing words.

#Musk #Ukraine

https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-ukraine-zelenskyy-starlink-access-crimea-russia-invasion-2023-9 https://news.yahoo.com/zelenskyy-advisor-slams-elon-musk-151459281.html

Today, tell your kids about Ruby Bridges—the first Black child at all-white public elementary school in South.

Today Ms. Bridges turns 69.

69.

She's younger than both my parents. And more importantly, she's a reminder of the courage of our youth, of the ever present reality of systemic racism, and of the need to lead with anti-racism to counter this hate.

Let us look to leaders like Ms. Bridges, and build that more perfect union for all people in this country—grounded in true Justice for all

#COVID19 #COVID cautious folks:

Carrying a CO2 monitor helps me check how safe the #AirQuality in a space is, and lower or raise my cautions accordingly. (Details: https://www.harihareswara.net/posts/2023/my-current-covid-risk-approach/#ventilation ) Super useful.

I use and like the #Aranet4 #CO2 monitor. The #Aranet 4 is usually USD$249. It's on sale, direct from the manufacturer, till September 17, for $184.35, with free shipping in the US.

https://shop.aranet.com/north-america/product/aranet4-home

Or from Amazon for $197: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07YY7BH2W/ref=nosim/0sil8 (Might be today only - Sept 7th.)

2/2 #Wastewater testing was stopped in my county > a year ago and we are flying in the dark. CDC says to mask when community levels are high, but how is anyone to know?
It’s imperative that you continue #wastewater testing throughout the country--and preferably that you expand it. #Covid #surveillance #Biobot

Comments DUE BY TOMORROW/FRIDAY https://regulations.gov/document/CDC-2023-0055-0001

How does Colorado use its water?

This 10-question guide breaks down the basics, explaining Colorado’s water supply, how it gets used and what experts do — and don’t — know about its future.

https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/05/colorado-water-use-supply-future/?utm_content=buffer9293a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Mastodon&utm_campaign=buffer

Well... School just started & 3 out of 30 children in my 5th grader's class have already tested positive for COVID. 😷

Be careful out there folks!

The Reaganomics trickle down scam has redistributed $50T from bottom 90% to top 1%.

If the minimum wage increased with inflation & corporate productivity it’d be $26/hr today.

Corporations annually steal $15B from workers and face zero meaningful accountability.

Think about these facts next time you hear an exploitative CEO of a blue collar retail store complain “People just don’t want to work anymore.”
#LaborDay

We'd really be screwed if it wasn't for federal courts consistently slapping the shit out of #DeSantis.

In this one, they tell him his map is way too racist and he needs to redraw it.

'Bipartisan support continued through three reauthorizations of the program. That ended this year, when Republicans took over the House with a slim majority that was beholden to the MAGA wing of the party, which has been looking for opportunities to damage any Biden administration priorities. PEPFAR became a target when the Heritage Foundation released a falsehood-ridden report in May saying the administration was using it as a “vehicle to promote its domestic radical social agenda overseas,” specifically abortion and L.G.B.T.Q. issues.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/opinion/pepfar-abortion-republicans.html