patience_limited's recent activity
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Comment on How an American Israel Public Affairs Committee smear campaign works in ~society
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Comment on Why socialists should embrace luxury apartments in ~society
patience_limited Link ParentWorth looking at the history of social housing in Vienna, Austria. It took a revolution and a couple of world wars to get it done, but it's probably the best available model globally.Worth looking at the history of social housing in Vienna, Austria. It took a revolution and a couple of world wars to get it done, but it's probably the best available model globally.
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Comment on European Parliament approves new rules for gene-edited plants in ~enviro
patience_limited (edited )LinkI've been following GMO legislation for a while, just as a purely amateur gardener, tree-hugger, and former public health nut. This is good news from an environmental, public health, and science...I've been following GMO legislation for a while, just as a purely amateur gardener, tree-hugger, and former public health nut. This is good news from an environmental, public health, and science perspective.
I'd like to see a three level "traffic light" legislative/regulatory regime where:
Green: mix-and-match genetics from known safe cultivars of a single plant species, as /u/Tardigrade suggested. It's conceivable that this might impact nutrition or allergenicity in food plants or invasiveness in non-food crops, but not outside the expected bounds of that particular plant. Requires certification that the resulting cultivar breeds true for at least 5 generations to establish that viability is not compromised by off-target edits, and seeds must be licensed for saving. May be upgraded to "organic" certification after 10 years without reported negative impacts on consumers, pollinators, or ecosystems other than those expected for cultivation of the unmodified varieties.
Yellow (edible plants): Insertion of genes from other known safe food crop plants (not previously genetically modified), like carotene genes added to rice. Genes that confer resistance to herbicides or express higher than normally occurring levels of pesticidal/biocidal chemicals for the original species are not eligible for Yellow classification. Requires nutritional composition analysis with favorable comparison to the unmodified species and allergen testing for food crop certification, in addition to the proofs at Green level. Inserted genes should not transfer to unmodified plants if licensing is applied.
Yellow (non-edible crops): Insertion of genes from related known safe crop species (i.e. jute genes in hemp or pest resistance from other trees in ash or pine). Requires testing to ensure that the transgenic hybrid is not invasive and that inserted genes are not transferrable to unmodified plants.
Red: Insertion of genes from non-edible plants in food plants. Insertion of genes from other kingdoms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) and synthetic genes in all crops. Requires extensive targeted studies for release - toxicology and nutritional equivalence for food crops, environmental impact, proof that modified genes do not transfer to unmodified plants, and public benefit/risk analysis. Requires prominent GMO labeling.
Plants that continuously produce higher than naturally occurring amounts of pesticidal/biocidal chemicals (example) should not be approved at all, due to ecological and health impacts and selection for resistant organisms.
Ideally these Red label plants should include multiple sensitivity genes to allow eradication of the modified plant by common herbicides.
If released, requires a public health registry for reporting and detection of medical problems, as well as monitoring for environmental impact (pollinator and insect population decline, etc.), including excessive herbicide/pesticide use in conjunction with the crop. Licensing may be withdrawn on adequate notice of harms and withdrawal may require proof that the released plant has been eradicated in open field use.
Fantasy land, I know. I'm a hard "no" on GMO animals for humane and ecological reasons, unless it's to prevent extinction.
It's obvious that we need to accelerate release of food crops tolerant to the impacts of climate change (as well as accelerate adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices). OTOH, glyposate or dicamba application on "Roundup Ready" and other herbicide-resistant GMO crops have been slow-moving environmental and public health disasters, and the last thing we'd need for the food web would be someone deciding to include nicotines or other pesticide expressing genes in everything.
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
patience_limited Link ParentSo, a qualified "yes" to the aggressive licks, from my cat experience. Except that the bullied cat welcomes the aggressive lick and tries to lean into it while purring. The aggressive cat follows...So, a qualified "yes" to the aggressive licks, from my cat experience. Except that the bullied cat welcomes the aggressive lick and tries to lean into it while purring. The aggressive cat follows it up with a hiss and swat. Very confusing for the friendly bullied cat.
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Comment on ReciproCard — find free library cards, reciprocal and non-resident cards for Libby in ~books
patience_limited LinkGreatly appreciated, thank you! Michigan has a huge library network and I was able to add 10 libraries with bigger collections than my local. I'll also note that if you want access to a large...Greatly appreciated, thank you! Michigan has a huge library network and I was able to add 10 libraries with bigger collections than my local.
I'll also note that if you want access to a large library and are willing to pay, the Broward County Library in Florida is worth the $38/year fee. I kept my membership for as long as possible after moving out of the state, and the option to hold on as a subscription has been great.
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
patience_limited Link ParentNo dispute here - the human cost (let's include immigrant concentration camps while we're at it) and ensuing reputational destruction for the U.S. are going to last for generations. The relative...No dispute here - the human cost (let's include immigrant concentration camps while we're at it) and ensuing reputational destruction for the U.S. are going to last for generations. The relative respect for each country might change if China tries to take Taiwan by force, though, as it's been intimating for a while.
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Comment on More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests in ~society
patience_limited LinkIt's interesting that the chart didn't share the opinion scores from nations that have territorial or other disputes with China, like India, Japan, or the Philippines. It's mentioned further down...It's interesting that the chart didn't share the opinion scores from nations that have territorial or other disputes with China, like India, Japan, or the Philippines.
It's mentioned further down in the article that the U.S. is viewed more favorably in these countries as an ally, but even ideologically aligned Vietnam engages with China as an adversary over the Nine Dash Line. It's likely that government policies and public perception of China vs. the USA haven't sync'ed yet, but I suspect that the Tibet/Nepal colonizations, saber-rattling, Chinese warships, border skirmishes, illegal fishing, exported pollution, and trade warfare aren't making the populace in neighboring countries happy.
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Comment on After pushing anti-trans laws to "protect women’s sports", Project 2025’s Heritage Foundation now wants to eliminate women's sports to "assist fertility" in ~society
patience_limited LinkAs a further policy reification of the imagined gender binary, we have this: Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for service members. I don't think there's any surprise at this point...As a further policy reification of the imagined gender binary, we have this: Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for service members.
I don't think there's any surprise at this point that the Project 2025 guys and the rest of the Christofascists are all-in on "Kinder, Küche, Kirche" for AFABs and creation of prime cannon fodder for AMABs.
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Comment on Boycotting palm oil in general is actually bad for the environment in ~enviro
patience_limited (edited )Link ParentCan confirm, though it's not a huge effect. I mostly use EVOO and peanut oil for cooking, and stay away from the processed foods that are the biggest source of palm oil in Western diets. It's...Can confirm, though it's not a huge effect. I mostly use EVOO and peanut oil for cooking, and stay away from the processed foods that are the biggest source of palm oil in Western diets.
It's worth avoiding/replacing tropical oils if you have high LDL cholesterol or inflammation issues.
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Comment on Wildfire smoke from Canada will soon spread across the Midwest and East United States in ~enviro
patience_limited (edited )LinkReal time air quality. Northern Michigan had visibility warnings for travel yesterday - the Mackinac Bridge dropped its speed limit because the smoke was so thick. The EPA Air Quality Index is...Northern Michigan had visibility warnings for travel yesterday - the Mackinac Bridge dropped its speed limit because the smoke was so thick.
The EPA Air Quality Index is currently 550 where I am, and the Western Upper Peninsula hit an AQI of 884. "Hazardous" starts at an AQI of 300. The whole house smells like smoke even with the windows closed and air filters running.
Hoping our Canadian and Minnesota friends are safe from the fires, and that you get rain soon.
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Comment on Silicon Valley has a science fiction problem in ~tech
patience_limited Link ParentI'm a little surprised that the essay doesn't go beyond the superficial science fiction marketing to explore the science fiction writer who influenced the Silicon Valley founders' ethos the most...I'm a little surprised that the essay doesn't go beyond the superficial science fiction marketing to explore the science fiction writer who influenced the Silicon Valley founders' ethos the most deeply: Ayn Rand.
It's her "'I' before 'we'", valorization of elite individuals, dismissal of any responsibility for collective good or harm, and abolition of empathy as a value that permeates Silicon Valley's leadership. Although they still get it wrong.
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Comment on A philosopher’s one-word theory to explain why the world feels so weird: uni-context in ~humanities
patience_limited Link ParentI came here from G+ and concur. It was very easy to organize Circles by trust, expertise, and exposure. Less formal than private chats, but more formal and controllable than sub-Reddits.I came here from G+ and concur. It was very easy to organize Circles by trust, expertise, and exposure. Less formal than private chats, but more formal and controllable than sub-Reddits.
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Comment on Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’ in ~society
patience_limited Link ParentI don't know of any poisons or non-obvious externally applied physical forces that can cause an aortic dissection (official cause of death, along with atherosclerosis), so that should take care of...I don't know of any poisons or non-obvious externally applied physical forces that can cause an aortic dissection (official cause of death, along with atherosclerosis), so that should take care of any possible conspiracy theories.
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Comment on Sam Neill, Jurassic Park star, dies at 78 in ~movies
patience_limited (edited )LinkI'm going to miss Sam Neill - he was a very capable actor who did well to brilliantly in every role that I've seen him in. From the romantic interest in My Brilliant Career to the man of action in...I'm going to miss Sam Neill - he was a very capable actor who did well to brilliantly in every role that I've seen him in. From the romantic interest in My Brilliant Career to the man of action in the series, Reilly, Ace of Spies, to the Russian sub officer in Hunt for Red October, to the louche artist in Sirens, to the doomed insurance investigator in In the Mouth of Madness, to the vile Major Campbell in Peaky Blinders... just a big capacity for acting that wasn't always used well by Hollywood.
I haven't watched The Piano or Hunt for the Wilderpeople yet, so those are going in the queue.
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Comment on Last night was terrifying in ~talk
patience_limited Link ParentThanks for that - my county EMA does SMS alert subscriptions directly from its webpage, so no dealing with Meta, et al. or keeping an AM radio around. I don't know that it will give me any more...Thanks for that - my county EMA does SMS alert subscriptions directly from its webpage, so no dealing with Meta, et al. or keeping an AM radio around. I don't know that it will give me any more warning than the Wunderground app, but it's worth a try.
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Comment on Last night was terrifying in ~talk
patience_limited Link ParentI'm old enough to remember actual public service messages on TV about what to do in emergencies, and those daily siren tests, but can't recall seeing or hearing anything like that in decades.I'm old enough to remember actual public service messages on TV about what to do in emergencies, and those daily siren tests, but can't recall seeing or hearing anything like that in decades.
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Comment on Last night was terrifying in ~talk
patience_limited (edited )Link ParentI didn't want to add to your trauma while it's still so fresh, but your situation was very reminiscent of the Camp Mystic disaster around the same season last year. The claims have been made that...I didn't want to add to your trauma while it's still so fresh, but your situation was very reminiscent of the Camp Mystic disaster around the same season last year.
The claims have been made that it's very difficult to predict exact rainfalls and where flash flooding will occur, that people aren't plugged into channels where alerts are issued, don't take the warnings seriously, or are suffering from alert fatigue. I have to call b.s. because the wide areas of intense storms and the nature of the underlying terrain made flash flooding a region-wide certainty.
I can't believe how little public preparation is being made for the fact that our predictive models and data gathering aren't working well enough in the face of new climate conditions. Our emergency alerting systems aren't designed and focused on how to best mobilize people out of danger quickly.
FEMA has an app. Yay. /s
Edit: The work I do has me dealing with the human factors issues of alert fatigue in healthcare. I know there've been public complaints and concerns about "too many" different weather alerts, watches, warnings, etc. without concrete advice on what to do at each level of alert. As /u/hobofarmer mentioned, a local siren would have made all the difference, because of course people aren't paying attention to yet another cellphone noise in the middle of the night. There are emergency tornado warning/air raid sirens (Cold War leftover) all over the U.S., and it's surprising to me how rarely they're used appropriately. It's known that the Maui fires in 2023 might have been less devastating if the siren warning was given.
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Comment on Last night was terrifying in ~talk
patience_limited (edited )Link/u/hobofarmer, I had cause to think of your situation this morning. My question is, were there any weather reports at all of the incoming storms? As of yesterday, northwestern lower Michigan had.../u/hobofarmer, I had cause to think of your situation this morning. My question is, were there any weather reports at all of the incoming storms?
As of yesterday, northwestern lower Michigan had two straight days of perfectly clear blue skies and baking hot weather. Several more days of the same were predicted, to the point where I nagged my spouse about fixing the cracked sprinkler head he'd been putting off because of consistent rain.
Imagine my surprise at 3:30 a.m. this morning when an almighty bang of thunder and howling winds rattled the windows. We received an inch of rain over the next two hours. I was the dubious beneficiary of two sopping wet cats huddled in my armpits, and I'll be cleaning up some downed branches and overturned patio stuff later.
The thing is, there was not a whisper about this event on the most accurate weather app I could find for the area (Wunderground, which uses NOAA + AI prediction + local amateur weather station data), or any of the local news services within the prior eight hours. The radar track for the storm covered a broad area, with dramatic storm cells. The winds would certainly have merited a small craft warning for the lakes, and that much rain probably caused flooding somewhere in town.
I know that NOAA has been downplaying the impact of its budget cuts on weather forecasting accuracy. Storms can arise suddenly, and not every severe event gets detected in time to issue appropriate warnings. I can't find hard data on how often this occurs, but it does seem like things have gotten worse since the DOGE cuts.
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Comment on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's surveillance of cyclosporiasis in ~health
patience_limited Link ParentKale chips are delicious, and can probably be made without much oil if you air-fry them.Kale chips are delicious, and can probably be made without much oil if you air-fry them.
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Comment on Last night was terrifying in ~talk
patience_limited Link ParentHugs to both of you, and hoping your son's stomach bug goes away quickly.Hugs to both of you, and hoping your son's stomach bug goes away quickly.
So I literally just talked with my spouse 15 minutes ago about El-Sayed's "failure" to release his tax returns for public scrutiny. Spouse now thinks he's hiding something.
1 minute web search found that he released his tax return last Wednesday, but filed for an extension on his personal financial statement. Which his opponent has also done in the past.
I am so sick of this 💩 flinging and reality distortion. I am joyfully voting for El-Sayed in the primary because he's a good man.