Frances_Larina

Frances_Larina, 3 months ago to random

"Access to telephone landlines could be in jeopardy for some California residents depending on an upcoming decision by the California Public Utilities Commission. AT&T is required to provide service as the states “Carrier of Last Resort,” providing basic telephone service in a particular area. AT&T wants to end that obligation. If approved, and another company doesn’t volunteer to provide service, it would affect customers in certain service areas throughout the state"

It's pretty much all those little less- or non-profitable corners, typically forested or hilly, where a carrier of last resort is the only carrier. There's no cell service and typically no Internet. You know, the exact reason the regulation existed until now?

Personally, after what they did to solar power in California over the last two years, I do not trust Newsom's PUC to do the right thing.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/address-lookup-how-to-find-out-if-you-could-be-impacted-by-atts-request/?pupeml=205428

thomasfuchs, 3 months ago to random

Literally nothing has changed (ad from 1991)

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 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 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

Capitalism is not your (or democracy's) friend, part two:

"US faces almost daily hazardous chemical accidents, research suggests"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/09/how-many-chemical-accidents-spills-explosion

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

This is the first accurate reporting on the non-story I've seen in the media. It's another one of Francis', "who am I to judge" PR shams.

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2023/11/vatican-signals-openness-but-also-caution-on-transsexuals-and-baptism

rolandelli, 6 months ago to random

Hey folks, go get the newest Covid shots, because the hospitalizations and deaths are creeping up again.

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

On Nov 1st, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara were carrying out handy work outside the ISS when they accidentally let a tool bag float away. The bag is now a +6 magnitude satellite, visible ahead of the ISS with the help of binoculars.

Do you think there's friendly heckling on the ISS?

"Hey Loral - hand me a pliers, will ya? Oh, that's right, you left them outside."
(points to the window at the bag floating ahead of the station)

To be fair, if I was outside the ISS I'd probably forget to hang on and become a satellite myself.

https://gizmodo.com/iss-tool-bag-orbits-earth-space-junk-1850998462

starlight, 6 months ago to random

Migrating from firefish.social was interesting. I got all the follower relationships, but I had expected it to migrate follows too, and after waiting a few days because I didn't wanna accidentally break anything, I finally bothered to use the export/import functionality, which worked nicely.
Also, kitty.social is so much faster and smoother, while still feeling at home because Firefish.
So I'm pretty happy 😊

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

To nobody's great surprise, Youngkin's state of Virginia settled with the ADF-backed wedding photographer, allowing him to discriminate as much as he pleases against LGBTQ people.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/11/christian-photographer-wins-right-to-discriminate-against-lgbtq-couples/

https://adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/UpdegroveDismissal.pdf

stevesilberman, 6 months ago to random

One of the quickest ways to normalize GOP fascism is by having CNN articles about Glenn Youngkin bylined by Jake Tapper referring to his "non-MAGA politics." https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/politics/virginia-elections-glenn-youngkin/index.html

terraboops, 6 months ago to random

transfem support request from a reader: does anyone have any tips on eyebrows? like how to get started with plucking/dying/filling-in/etc?

please boost for more coverage!

thanks cuties ❤️

ScottAkenhead, 6 months ago to Bitcoin

Bitcoin is dirty, dirty, dirty.

“The worldwide BTC mining network consumed 173.42 TWh of electricity during the 2020–2021 period, bigger than the electricity consumption of most nations. The mining process emitted over 85.89 Mt of CO2eq in the same timeframe, equivalent to the emission caused by burning [42 million tons] of coal or running 190 natural gas‐fired power plants.”

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF003871

#bitcoin #climatechange #climatecrisis

stevesilberman, 6 months ago to random

I don't usually agree with crystal worshippers and other practitioners of woo, but I will say that if alleged liberals keep repeating and signal-boosting defeatist mantras like this, they will totally create our reality like some fucked-up Fascist version of "The Secret."

@Adam_Cadmon1
I will be completely shocked if Trump does any time. Even with all that's happened. Got a very bad feeling that he's going to be our next president (again).

Frances_Larina, 9 months ago to random

If you don't or won't understand that alt-text exists to provide a hint of equity to people who can't see images, or to prevent harm to vulnerable people, and you rant about being corrected instead of trying to do better...or if you think it's okay to mock people who try to get others to have more compassion regarding alt-text...please don't follow me.