Frances_Larina

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

Here's that dystopic corporation-controlled future you ordered back in the 1980's, sorry for the wait.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2023/11/08/amazon-announces-new-benefit-for-prime-members-primary-care-services-for-9-per-month/amp/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

Capitalism is not your or anyone else's friend.

From this article:
"At 124.5 meters long, the [helium filled] Pathfinder 1 dwarfs the current Goodyear airships and even the massive Stratolaunch plane designed to launch orbital rockets. It’s the largest aircraft to take to the skies since the gargantuan Hindenburg airship of the 1930s."

https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/08/the-worlds-largest-aircraft-breaks-cover-in-silicon-valley/

From an article on NBC news-dot-com:

"An MRI can’t function without some 2,000 liters of ultra-cold liquid helium keeping its magnets cool enough to work. But helium — a nonrenewable element found deep within the Earth’s crust — is running low, leaving hospitals wondering how to plan for a future with a much scarcer supply."

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

Congratulations, Tracy Chapman!

"Fast Car wins country song of the year – 35 years after its debut"

We met once, very briefly in the early-mid 90's; she was one of the nicest, most grounded celebrities I've ever met. As the short conversation drifted we ended up chatting about how different paint colors affect mood & how subjective that is.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/09/tracy-chapman-fast-car-cma-winner

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"I am through with hugs and kisses. Handshakes are the only answer | Adrian Chiles | The Guardian"

All right; the pandemic is over, let's get back to normal and spread those germs!

(how about let's just not touch anyone in any way without their consent, hmmm?)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/09/i-am-through-with-hugs-and-kisses-handshakes-are-the-only-answer

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

"Transgender people can be baptized, Vatican says"

Well, that was unexpected. And also highly inconsistent with the theology they spouted the last two decades.

I mean, honestly - until the 2000's we could get our names changed in the parish registry.

Why now & why don't I trust that this means something?

Oh wait; that's right - anyone and everyone can already get baptized! That's been the case for the last 1300 years or so.

https://www.axios.com/2023/11/09/vatican-transgender-catholic-baptism-godparents

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Danica Roem Becomes Virginia’s First Out Trans State Senator"

She was a state rep before, also a first for Virginia. I'm happy for what this means for trans representation and as a message of acceptance. She defeated Gov. Youngkin-endorsed Bill Woolf who ran on an anti-trans platform.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/danica-roem-wins-virginia-state-senate_n_6351c6bce4b0b7f89f5fae44

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

American Ornithological Society (broadly paraphrased):

"If we can't name birds after racist people, we won't name them after any people at all. In fact, we're going to un-name all of our birds named after people."

https://theweek.com/science/birds-wont-be-named-after-humans-anymore-in-an-effort-to-eliminate-racist-links

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

Issue 1 in Ohio has been called* for "Yes" votes!

58% yes to 42% no as of now.

ie, Voters - including those in traditionally GOP counties - are voting yes for:

"Establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion"

This means the state Legislature cannot pass laws that violate or negate it. Even rural GOP counties that would normally be deep red are 50-50.

*official count won't be for two weeks.

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn a court of appeals decision that, earlier this year, determined voting is a fundamental right in Kansas."

I mean, it's consistent with Republican politics?

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article281399353.html

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Sherman High School transgender student loses lead theater role over gender policy"

This is just petty. First the principal says there's a new policy that actors must match their AGAB. Then when called on it, says there's no policy, it's just for this specific show. Then said that it's the show itself, "Oklahoma" is just too adult for high school.

https://www.kxii.com/video/2023/11/07/sherman-high-school-transgender-student-loses-lead-theater-role-over-gender-policy/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

Every now and then, the Harkleroad House wind turbine in Novato gets mentioned in the media. It was made of half-oil-barrels mounted in a framework on the roof of a cinderblock workshop on a hill overlooking highway 101. Next to it was a homemade round house that rotated. The nostalgic news stories are always accompanied by one of two photos from post-2000 real estate listings for the property that show the barrels painted white. And that's what makes me a little sad.

None of the journalists apparently know that when it was in its prime and people would see it from the road on their way to Santa Rosa or Napa or Guerneville, it was painted in Pride rainbow colors, one hue per half barrel. Even as a little kid, I knew there was something special about that, even if I didn't know the social significance yet.

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

This is how Netanyahu justifies erasing Palestine:

From the Torah: "I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys."

"The lesson, when read literally, is clear: Saul’s failure to kill every Amalekite posed an existential threat to the Jewish people.

47% of Israeli Jews said in a poll conducted last month that Israel should “not at all” consider the “suffering of the civilian Palestinian population in Gaza” in the next phase of fighting. Casting the enemy as Amalek reinforces that attitude."

One problem:

"Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the head of T’ruah, a rabbinical human rights organziation, said that rabbis generally agree that Amalek no longer exists, and that references to it do not provide a morally acceptable justification for attacking anyone."

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/11/benjamin-netanyahu-amalek-israel-palestine-gaza-saul-samuel-old-testament/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

To all my trans siblings, FYI:

I don't know if this is valid or not, so take it with a grain of salt, but images of Nashville school shooter Aiden Hale's manifesto may have been posted online today. Also, it appears the right wing site that received the leaked images is not just posting them in their entirety for people to read but instead posting chosen snippets only with commentary.

cw - link is far right wing
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/11/video-trans-school-shooter-manifesto-leaked-report/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

Oh, surprise: now the UK doesn't want cis women to have estrogen, either.

This despite more than a half-century of studies that build up to solid knowledge regarding how sex hormones co-regulate serotonin. Which, in turn, very much does affect mood - among other attributes of menopause.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/05/i-could-have-sworn-hrt-had-cured-my-brain-fog-and-rage-then-i-read-that-it-hadnt

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Ethereum Insider Drops Bombshell: ETH Founders’ Fraud Bigger Than FTX Fraud"

I am shocked that yet another blockchain company has turned out to be riddled with fraud and deception.

/sarc

https://bitcoinist.com/ethereum-insider-founders-fraud/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

NPR: "School board elections latest battleground for polarized national politics"

Okay, NPR is a bit late to the game, and I've said it before & I'll likely say it again:

School boards and Sheriffs are no longer "nonpartisan". Election officials and ballot processes that treat them as such are enabling Republican extremists to take over those positions even in blue counties by not having to reveal their actual political stance.

The positions are already partisan at this point, thanks to MAGA efforts. Put them on the ballot as such and make candidates pick a party. Voters and basic honesty deserve as much.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/05/1210672666/school-board-elections-are-latest-battleground-for-polarized-national-politics

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

CNBC finance journalist: Gen-Z doesn't ever want to retire, they really prefer to work until they die!

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/04/gen-z-leans-into-soft-saving-less-focused-on-retirement.html

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

I can't reconcile this Mission Creek with the one I remember. Let's just say it didn't used to be a trendy little neighborhood of super expensive houseboats and the location itself was more, um...well, I'll just call it, "funky, in a good way".

https://sfstandard.com/2023/11/04/san-francisco-floating-home-for-sale-rare-find/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

At her disciplinary hearing for being transphobic, British Columbia nurse Amy Hamm says she's not transphobic, she just doesn't believe in gender identity, calling it "anti-scientific, metaphysical nonsense". She also said she has nothing against trans people, she just wants to protect women & young girls.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-amy-hamm-disciplinary-hearing-nov-3-1.7018573

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Carson said the EPA is considering requiring a 90% reduction in polychlorinated biphenyls and a 50% reduction in mercury going into San Francisco Bay."

I'm just curious; why is there any mercury aside from natural sources?

https://www.marinij.com/2023/11/02/marin-jurisdictions-could-face-costly-unfunded-stormwater-mandates/

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

This smells like Prop 8, all over again.

Or, "Why even states like California are not safe for trans people"

"Backers of 3 anti-trans CA measures receive okay to begin signature drives"

The first requires schools to notify parents if a student is trans, with no exceptions for student safety concerns.

The second repeals 2014's AB1266 that ensured trans student non-discrimination and goes as step further, mandating students only participate in any school activities based on their AGAB.

The third blocks all affirming health care for trans minors.

They need 546,651 signatures to get the measures on the ballot.

There are around 6 million evangelical protestant adults in California, and 20 million Catholics in the state; a bit under half the Catholics poll as following the official anti-trans teachings. That's 16 million conservative Christians. Whittle it down any way you please, but Republican churches alone can and will ensure those measures will get on the Nov 2024 ballot.

https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=news&sc=news&id=329494

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"PragerU buys 'takeover' ad on X as part of $1M campaign to promote polarizing 'Detrans' film"

A takeover ad means it takes over the ad feed on your timeline and it cannot be blocked. Elon is making it clear Xitter is anti-trans.

Why do any trans people stay when they are granting the platform legitimacy?

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/prageru-buys-takeover-ad-x-part-1m-campaign-promote-polarizing-detrans-rcna123351

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

"Israeli army attempts to ‘encircle’ Gaza City as Joe Biden calls for pause in fighting - but not a ceasefire"

"Israel’s bombardment has killed at least 9,025 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. Hamas’s original attack on Israel killed 1,400 people. Israeli officials said 18 Israeli soldiers had been killed since its forces began their ground offensive in Gaza."

That ratio, though.

I am against Hamas & Hezbollah. I am also against anti-antisemitism. To me, Islam is as dangerous to the people I love worldwide as Christianity. Apart from a handful of small liberal sects that I appreciate, both are whatever the religious analogy is to xenophobic. It's been my experience that Judaism is the opposite; self-constrained w/ only small conservative sects.

But now Netanyahu & his government show no sign of intending to slow down before he eliminates Palestine. This has become a slaughter. How many innocent civilians & refugees must he kill before the world says, "enough"?

https://www.ft.com/content/9a639400-f3bc-4142-b958-2d519c72984c

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago (edited 6 months ago) to random

Yay that feds are finally acting at any level, but let's face it, the USA treats the so-called "free market" with kid gloves. And I doubt that, whatever milquetoast settlement they finally agree to, this will have any long term effect.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/2/23943724/amazon-project-nessie-algorithm-ftc-antitrust-case

Frances_Larina, 6 months ago to random

"Israeli Government Mulls 'Forcible, Permanent' Transfer of 2.2 Million Gaza Strip Residents to Egypt"

There's a very real chance that soon, Palestine will only consist of the West Bank. One must ask why Netanyahu would want to stop there?

https://thewire.in/world/israeli-government-population-transfer-gaza-strip