Alanis and Willie

Not sure if this has been posted here, but here goes:

(NM) Burning of Zozobra Friday, September 3

Last year was totally virtual, and people from around the world participated. (In a normal year, people submit a few thousand Glooms; last year the virtual Glooms submitted exceeded 110,000!) This year is a hybrid event, but you can still send in your Glooms to be burned and watch the live streaming event. It’s really something to see and a truly cleansing and uplifting ritual. This year’s event is the 100th anniversary of Zozobra’s founding.

https://burnzozobra.com/

Lazy polling questions like this - and the resulting lazy headlines - do great damage to all of us

Critical thinking 101. I’m not arguing there is no anti-intellectual problem, but for fuck’s sake, WHICH SCIENCE? Do the respondents have cell phones and work on computers? Do they drive cars and have electrical appliances? Do they fly in planes? Do they get annual checkups and X-rays? If so, they certainly forked over large money for “science.” Science is not a single monolithic thing. If we’re to understand the real implications of this sentiment, we need to understand exactly which science they don’t “believe” in (whatever TF that even means). And people who report on these polls do our country a huge disservice by not digging deeper into the poll results. Democracy by sensationalist headlines really sucks.

"War Girls" by Tochi Onyebuchi

Afrofuturistic novel, set in the late 21st century, inspired by the Black Panther film and loosely based on the Nigerian/Biafran wars from the 1960s. I wanted to start over from the beginning the moment I finished the book (but it was due back at the library).

Well done!

An excellent exercise in taking apart an argument! A few other information hygiene tools Hartmann’s article hinted at but didn’t make explicit:

Be skeptical first, even if it’s something you agree with. Especially if you agree with it. It’s very easy to fall into confirmation bias otherwise.
Always ask who funded the research, even if the conclusions agree with your world view. The research conclusions can be contaminated the money.
Notice whether research is primary or a “review of the literature.” A review of the literature literally produces statistics about what other people are writing (which isn’t necessarily wrong, but you should keep it in mind).

You get the idea.

Deb Haaland confirmed as first Indigenous US cabinet secretary

Source: The Guardian

Deb Haaland has been confirmed as the secretary of the interior, making her the first Indigenous cabinet secretary in US history.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/15/deb-haaland-interior-secretary-first-indigenous-native-american-cabinet

Wonder if all those high-tech companies still want to move to TX?

I mean, don’t they sort of require a stable supply of electricity? Won’t their employees expect electrical service to be, you know, available?

Thank you for the hearts, dear hearts

You have gotten me through many years with your humor (looking especially at you, The Ferret) and insights. Thanks to the Admins for this incredible community.

YouTube's lo-fi music streams are all about the euphoria of less

Everyday People -- Sly and the Family Stone