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Just gonna say that I think there’s going to come a point where we view the way alcohol has been mass-marketed to women over the past few decades in the same way we view cigarette advertising in the 50s.
Think about how many times you say wine is the solution. It’s not.
(You know what is the solution to everything by the way? Justice.)
(Also: 156 days here.)
For everyone responding defensively: 1) that’s a sign to do some self-examination; 2) when you’re hungover all the time you’re not operating a full capacity; 3) patriarchy likes us numb because it keeps us quiet.
https://t.co/iMd11oxP36
Think about how many times you say wine is the solution. It’s not.
(You know what is the solution to everything by the way? Justice.)
(Also: 156 days here.)
For everyone responding defensively: 1) that’s a sign to do some self-examination; 2) when you’re hungover all the time you’re not operating a full capacity; 3) patriarchy likes us numb because it keeps us quiet.
https://t.co/iMd11oxP36
Good morning. I will be live tweeting the #MTLeg House Judiciary hearings of HB112 and HB113, the anti-trans bills. All the content warnings because it is going to be deeply upsetting. Link for the hearings here:
More info on the context here:
More info on the bills here:
Committee chair begins by noting that the bills are "controversial" and there will be a lot of feelings. #MTLeg
These hearings are going to go very long. I will stick around as long as I can. #MTLeg
More info on the context here:
Lawmakers are playing dangerous politics with trans kids lives. The escalation is terrifying. https://t.co/KVYTmwdR1e
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) January 17, 2021
More info on the bills here:
On Wednesday, Montana will be the first state to hold hearings on dangerous anti-trans bills in 2021. We need your help! The House Judiciary Committee will be voting on HB 112 and HB 113 (links below). These bills bar trans people from sports and ban health care for trans minors.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) January 7, 2021
Committee chair begins by noting that the bills are "controversial" and there will be a lot of feelings. #MTLeg
These hearings are going to go very long. I will stick around as long as I can. #MTLeg
My announcement that I was running with a mask got a LOT of comment (from all sides) earlier. It’s in response to changes in the state of the pandemic and the transmissibility of the virus. Worth unpacking 1/goodness knows
First I posted the photo after a couple of interviews this week in which mask use outside was discussed in the context of surging infections due to the variant B.1.1.7. Here's one
And then this with RTE where were talked about mask use in the context of the situation in the Republic of Ireland, where cases are surging. I commented that I run with a mask. Hence the
Some asked “why are you doing this outside?” – I know where they’re coming from. Risk of transmission is MUCH lower outside. If all contacts were outside there probably would not *be* a pandemic. But it's also not nil
and remember this is also about solidarity. Seeing a person wearing a mask is a sign that they are looking out for you and not just themselves, because masks greatly reduce the risk of transmission
Yes. I wore a mask while running earlier. pic.twitter.com/KMQf6pkf3V
— Bill Hanage (@BillHanage) January 15, 2021
First I posted the photo after a couple of interviews this week in which mask use outside was discussed in the context of surging infections due to the variant B.1.1.7. Here's one
Great conversation between @BillHanage, @j_g_allen and @writtenbysalma about masks and other measures to improve safety during the pandemic. Starts at 2 hours 4 mins. https://t.co/6sACsU3mCI
— Adam Hamdy (@adamhamdy) January 14, 2021
And then this with RTE where were talked about mask use in the context of the situation in the Republic of Ireland, where cases are surging. I commented that I run with a mask. Hence the
Dr. William Hanage, Associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard University discusses whether we should wear masks outdoors & while exercising due to Covid-19 variants#RTEPT | #Covid19 | @BillHanage | @franmcnulty pic.twitter.com/8VAPaReczG
— RT\xc9 Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) January 14, 2021
Some asked “why are you doing this outside?” – I know where they’re coming from. Risk of transmission is MUCH lower outside. If all contacts were outside there probably would not *be* a pandemic. But it's also not nil
While running outside? \U0001f928
— jenny t. jackson \U0001f1fa\U0001f1f8 (@jmomteague2) January 16, 2021
and remember this is also about solidarity. Seeing a person wearing a mask is a sign that they are looking out for you and not just themselves, because masks greatly reduce the risk of transmission
It's not unusual here in NYC. Not all runners, but many. Most bicyclists. Almost all pedestrians on the sidewalk. Like that since the summer. I assume it's not strictly necessary in lowering the spread, but it seems a show of solidarity as much as anything.
— Rick Bruner (@rickbruner) January 16, 2021
OK here goes. I think I have completed the not-at-all-exhaustive timeline of relevant events on IH-345 (thread)...
2011 - city of Dallas and Downtown Dallas, Inc. complete original Downtown 360 plan for downtown Dallas that specifically states, "the inner highway loop is a problem, but there is nothing we can do about it." This was a motivating force.
2012 - TxDOT hosts public meeting on future of IH-345 where nine options were shown (these were nine different construction methods and price tags for keeping the highway elevated. not options):
2013 - D Magazine publishes first story (by me) on removing IH-345:
2013 - https://t.co/07TEwhlgdV goes live and gets 22,000+ hits on the first day. Website designed by @justinc
2011 - city of Dallas and Downtown Dallas, Inc. complete original Downtown 360 plan for downtown Dallas that specifically states, "the inner highway loop is a problem, but there is nothing we can do about it." This was a motivating force.
2012 - TxDOT hosts public meeting on future of IH-345 where nine options were shown (these were nine different construction methods and price tags for keeping the highway elevated. not options):
2013 - D Magazine publishes first story (by me) on removing IH-345:
2013 - https://t.co/07TEwhlgdV goes live and gets 22,000+ hits on the first day. Website designed by @justinc
THREAD: I hope this mistake can be used as an opportunity to learn why this kind of language is bad.
The Minister isn't the only person to say things like this- I've even heard parents of kids with autism refer to other children as "normal" & have had to rearrange my face. (1/n)
The hard thing for those of us working in/ living with disability is that this is a mistake we'd NEVER make.
For others (who don't live and breathe disability), saying "normal children" is probably a slip of the tongue- not a betrayal of them secretly being awful people. (2/n)
Given her portfolio this is a bad gaffe for the Minister which has upset people. Rather than piling on, it would be better to use this as a rare opportunity for other people to learn why language matters so deeply in disability and why this kind of thing is so wounding. (3/n)
Children with disabilities or special educational needs have the same rights to education and participation as everyone else. The support they need to achieve this is not "extra help" it's the bare minimum responsibility of State to allow them participate in their own lives(4/n)
By separating children out based on disability and not guaranteeing their rights, we state that their rights only apply when it's convenient for us to meet their needs. Whether we like it or not, this is what we say when we abide appallingly underfunded services. (5/n)
The Minister isn't the only person to say things like this- I've even heard parents of kids with autism refer to other children as "normal" & have had to rearrange my face. (1/n)
Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan describes children without additional needs as 'normal' | @Jessjcasey @aoifegracemoore https://t.co/4S1Y7vIRRC
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) January 14, 2021
The hard thing for those of us working in/ living with disability is that this is a mistake we'd NEVER make.
For others (who don't live and breathe disability), saying "normal children" is probably a slip of the tongue- not a betrayal of them secretly being awful people. (2/n)
Given her portfolio this is a bad gaffe for the Minister which has upset people. Rather than piling on, it would be better to use this as a rare opportunity for other people to learn why language matters so deeply in disability and why this kind of thing is so wounding. (3/n)
Children with disabilities or special educational needs have the same rights to education and participation as everyone else. The support they need to achieve this is not "extra help" it's the bare minimum responsibility of State to allow them participate in their own lives(4/n)
By separating children out based on disability and not guaranteeing their rights, we state that their rights only apply when it's convenient for us to meet their needs. Whether we like it or not, this is what we say when we abide appallingly underfunded services. (5/n)
1/ "Unbelievable: WHO warns of unreliability of PCR test" https://t.co/659Xk3WOBO
pcr-test/ 22.1.21 Auto translation quotes below
'Anyone who expressed doubts about whether the PCR test, co-developed in large part by Christian Drosten, can really provide evidence of infection..'
2/ ..'is virtually considered a heretic in Germany, or worse, a Corona denier. When Luthe, a non-party member of the Berlin parliament, saw doubts about the test's informative value in terms of the Infection Protection Act confirmed by a response from the Berlin Senate..'
3/ ..'in November 2020, I reported on it [https://t.co/RvCq02qib3]. The report was accompanied by a warning from Facebook that fact-checkers had found it to be false. In doing so, they proceed with argumentative shell games (as I described here)
4/ 'And now this! All the self-proclaimed "fact-finders" have to dress warmly. In a new "information note" [https://t.co/mMKpFQarXr], the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced something remarkable on Wednesday. I ask for your understanding if I now reproduce all the..'
5/ ..'technical terms in the original - but for the sake of accuracy it has to be. I'll try to explain them afterwards: "WHO diagnostic test guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 state that careful interpretation of weak positive results is required. The cycle threshold (Ct) required..'
pcr-test/ 22.1.21 Auto translation quotes below
'Anyone who expressed doubts about whether the PCR test, co-developed in large part by Christian Drosten, can really provide evidence of infection..'
2/ ..'is virtually considered a heretic in Germany, or worse, a Corona denier. When Luthe, a non-party member of the Berlin parliament, saw doubts about the test's informative value in terms of the Infection Protection Act confirmed by a response from the Berlin Senate..'
3/ ..'in November 2020, I reported on it [https://t.co/RvCq02qib3]. The report was accompanied by a warning from Facebook that fact-checkers had found it to be false. In doing so, they proceed with argumentative shell games (as I described here)
4/ 'And now this! All the self-proclaimed "fact-finders" have to dress warmly. In a new "information note" [https://t.co/mMKpFQarXr], the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced something remarkable on Wednesday. I ask for your understanding if I now reproduce all the..'
5/ ..'technical terms in the original - but for the sake of accuracy it has to be. I'll try to explain them afterwards: "WHO diagnostic test guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 state that careful interpretation of weak positive results is required. The cycle threshold (Ct) required..'
I'm going to knock out that white supremacy & abortion discourse thread for you today, but before I can get to that, we've got to talk about the 'religion' issue.
Some people are reacting to the Capitol and Christianity in the worst possible way - ethically and strategically.
Several people responded to Christian Identity / white supremacist theology thread with calls to eradicate religion.
Let's just get one thing out of the way:
1) that won't ever happen
2) you're assuming religion is the problem (spoiler; it's
Not only do non-religious ideologies prove equally lethal, but in many cases, religious observance - like regular attendance of mosques, for example - is inversely correlated with political violence.
Also: generalizations are always a very bad idea; they lack analytic depth.
I also had people read the Christian Identity thread, and then write to me to ask:
"I heard a politician open his/her remarks with the name of God / Jesus, and it worried me. Is he/she a Nazi?"
Okay, let me stop you RIGHT there.
The answer here is not “every Christian politician is a Christian identity Nazi, and every mention of ‘the words ‘Jesus’ and ‘God’ is the ‘Christian Taliban’” (or whatever Islamophobic term is in current use).
That ain't it.
For a couple of reasons.
Some people are reacting to the Capitol and Christianity in the worst possible way - ethically and strategically.
Several people responded to Christian Identity / white supremacist theology thread with calls to eradicate religion.
Let's just get one thing out of the way:
1) that won't ever happen
2) you're assuming religion is the problem (spoiler; it's
Brief thread on the white supremacist Christian Identity theology you asked in response to this thread.
— The Provost / \u0633\u064a\u062f\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u062a\u0646\u0629 (@MsEntropy) January 15, 2021
Incoming. https://t.co/TM4pDI3jcC
Not only do non-religious ideologies prove equally lethal, but in many cases, religious observance - like regular attendance of mosques, for example - is inversely correlated with political violence.
Also: generalizations are always a very bad idea; they lack analytic depth.
I also had people read the Christian Identity thread, and then write to me to ask:
"I heard a politician open his/her remarks with the name of God / Jesus, and it worried me. Is he/she a Nazi?"
Okay, let me stop you RIGHT there.
The answer here is not “every Christian politician is a Christian identity Nazi, and every mention of ‘the words ‘Jesus’ and ‘God’ is the ‘Christian Taliban’” (or whatever Islamophobic term is in current use).
That ain't it.
For a couple of reasons.
Very important long-read (only available in Dutch) in yesterday's Volkskrant, revealing the extent to which the Dutch Cabinet and the OMT (Outbreak Management Team), an ostensibly independent scientific advisory body, have grown entangled.
Some key points:
1/ As early as March of last year OMT-members were uncomfortable with the way then PM Rutte blurred the lines between policy steeped in political considerations, and scientific advise in his March 16 speech, discursively rendering the OMT responsible for political decisions.
2/ OMT-member Alex Friedrich, an early advocate for large-scale testing and masks, describes how dissent was not tolerated, especially after the Dutch gov't declared all OMT-advise as "practically holy," and says that politicians were using the OMT as "a heat-shield."
3/ He further tells of how international scientific consensus (masks, the role of children in transmission, presymptomatic infectiousness) was still up for debate in the Netherlands, all through the summer of 2020.
Friedrich: "Positions taken earlier were defended, instead of welcoming new ones [insights]." One of the worst things that can happen to a scientist, he says, "[is] that people start saying you're not a team player if you don't share the same position [on advice/insights etc]."
Some key points:
OMT-leden hadden zoveel moeite met de politieke druk dat ze overwogen op te stappen. Het grote artikel staat in de volgende tweets. (1/3)
— Pim Joosten (@pimjoosten) January 23, 2021
Zonder betaalmuur: https://t.co/JDvJHz92b8https://t.co/hF0PWPVLFb
1/ As early as March of last year OMT-members were uncomfortable with the way then PM Rutte blurred the lines between policy steeped in political considerations, and scientific advise in his March 16 speech, discursively rendering the OMT responsible for political decisions.
2/ OMT-member Alex Friedrich, an early advocate for large-scale testing and masks, describes how dissent was not tolerated, especially after the Dutch gov't declared all OMT-advise as "practically holy," and says that politicians were using the OMT as "a heat-shield."
3/ He further tells of how international scientific consensus (masks, the role of children in transmission, presymptomatic infectiousness) was still up for debate in the Netherlands, all through the summer of 2020.
Friedrich: "Positions taken earlier were defended, instead of welcoming new ones [insights]." One of the worst things that can happen to a scientist, he says, "[is] that people start saying you're not a team player if you don't share the same position [on advice/insights etc]."
This is a good thread, and I am not criticizing it in saying my experience is a bit different, in large part because I'm aware my experience is the anomalous one. :)
That said, there are reasons for this: some are good, some aren't, and by their nature they point to alternatives
The two most critical points of this are as follows:
* This problem mirrors fiction
* There is a structural information load issue at work
Let's dive in.
Fictional protagonists are usually reactive. Antagonists (villains!) drive events and push for change, and protagonists stop them. This is not universally true, but it's so common as so be expected. It's one of the reasons playing villains is fun for reasons other than EEEVIL.
One of the easiest ways to address this in play is with a nominal villains/actual heroes model, which is to say, games of rebels and revolutionaries. This is a popular, very playable model that works in many games.
But it's not quite enough.
If that was all there was to it, then every star wars game would be an example of player driven agendas. But, in practice, Star Wars games tend to be as reactive as anything else, even though the agenda is nominally proactive. Why is that?
That said, there are reasons for this: some are good, some aren't, and by their nature they point to alternatives
I had a bit of a realization about tabletop RPGs recently, and I wanna float it by all ya'll in an overly long thread, because I think it's an interesting problem that stretches to both the culture and design within TTRPGs.
— Ruby Soleil-Raine (@IronsparkSyris) January 26, 2021
Player characters are way too reactive.
The two most critical points of this are as follows:
* This problem mirrors fiction
* There is a structural information load issue at work
Let's dive in.
Fictional protagonists are usually reactive. Antagonists (villains!) drive events and push for change, and protagonists stop them. This is not universally true, but it's so common as so be expected. It's one of the reasons playing villains is fun for reasons other than EEEVIL.
One of the easiest ways to address this in play is with a nominal villains/actual heroes model, which is to say, games of rebels and revolutionaries. This is a popular, very playable model that works in many games.
But it's not quite enough.
If that was all there was to it, then every star wars game would be an example of player driven agendas. But, in practice, Star Wars games tend to be as reactive as anything else, even though the agenda is nominally proactive. Why is that?
