Mastodawn

Mira

@mira@shark.community

22 Followers

67 Following

3.5K Posts

Just some girl who’s old enough to be a grandmother. Former generalist tech worker; currently unemployed. Wannabe goth cat girl techno witch. Wish I was off this rock and working the zero G sections of a starship  Use Linux, Mac, and Windows depending on what I’m doing. Fan of all things sciency with astro, geo, and bio as favs. Also fan of anime and manga, especially of the yuri variety
 Please, no under 18 as on rare occasion, nudes and lewds may be boosted, although they will be CW

Pronouns	She/her
Age	gmilf years

@vitaut They’re waiting for terrestrial fusion reactors to come online, then they’ll sell the Sphere to capture all the energy from those

vitaut 🤍❤️🤍 🇺🇦11h ago

Really disappointed that the Dyson store doesn't sell spheres.

@burnoutqueen Police department: The job is so boring that high IQ people will leave, so why hire them!?

Also the police department: This job is high stress, intellectually challenging and difficult so they need free reign

https://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/story?id=95836

Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops

ABC News

Gay Community News (bot)7h ago

Wimbledon legend Billie Jean King calls for empathy and inclusion for trans athletes

#News #GCN #GayCommunityNews #LGBTQIA #LGBTQ #LGBTIreland
https://gcn.ie/billie-jean-king-empathy-inclusion-trans-athletes/
Tennis legend and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Billie Jean King has spoken out in defence of trans athletes. Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of this year’s Wimbledon, King described the increasingly hostile climate faced by trans athletes as “a nightmare” and called on sporting bodies to

Wimbledon legend Billie Jean King calls for empathy and inclusion for trans athletes

Tennis legend and LGBTQ+ advocate Billie Jean King has spoken out in defence of trans athletes amid efforts to exclude them from sport.

GCN

Coach Pāṇini ®Jan 22, 2024

Here we are now, entertain us…

Raghav Agrawal 7h ago

Cool Jobs: Scientific glassblowers shape science

https://www.snexplores.org/article/cool-jobs-scientific-glassblowers-shape-science

"Beakers, pipettes, flasks and more. Few people realize that skilled artisans make most scientific glassware by hand (and mouth). This career truly marries art and science. Some people came to glassblowing after training in science. Others started as artists who realized their craft could help advance cutting-edge research"

Meet Kevin Moeller, scientific glassblower | Argonne National Laboratory

https://www.anl.gov/article/meet-kevin-moel

Cool Jobs: Scientific glassblowers shape science

Glass has played a major role in research for centuries. Today’s artisans work at the forefront of discovery.

Science News Explores

being a good ally isn't about putting a 🌈 emoji in your name

being a good ally is when an extremely serious 40-something year old man with a beard, phd, and four kids, shares a programming article from a gay furry trans woman's blog on the company's slack

Em, Shrimp Borg

What a real work truck looks like:

@SamantazFox @janneke @Natasha_Jay I know here in the states, the insurance sucks and many of the eye care retail chains are owned by the same people who make the lenses and frames. Very vertically integrated and hence expensive

×

Brits can sleep safely tonight, after the heroic work of the Metropolitan Police. The Reverend Sue Parfitt, 83, a retired priest, was arrested in Parliament Square for holding a sign which read:

“I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

Under British law, this now puts her in the same category as an ISIS or Al-Qaeda terrorist. The courts may impose a prison sentence of up to 14 years, to protect the public against the existential threat posed by this very dangerous woman.

Merry Christmas 2d ago

I'm sure that when ReformUK get elected into Office, it will be all OK for everyone.

@lyndamerry484 @2legged

I think Starmer is taking us towards that route himself! Farridge must be thinking "Oi! I wanted to do that!"

Craig Stewart 2d ago

@2legged is it bad that my first thought was "someone needs to create a new organisation called Action for Palestine and just do all the same shit Palestine Action was doing but as a different group"?

@pmb00cs you sound like one of those dangerous extremists I was warned about. I fear that you might even be opposed to genocide

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@2legged I do not now, nor have I ever, endorsed the actions of Palestine Action.

That said, I don't think spraying graffiti on RAF aircraft is quite as insidious as the actions of some of the other organisations who have been proscribed by the British government. I also don't think genocide is something we should enable as a nation.

@pmb00cs @2legged https://youtu.be/WboggjN_G-4?feature=shared&t=70

Life of Brian - The People's Front of Judea

YouTube

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@ives @2legged yes, that is exactly the clip I had in mind at the time.

@pmb00cs @2legged that group would be automatically proscribed.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@vashti @2legged only if it was formed in a coordinated way with the former members of Palestine Action, such that it was functionally the same group. A separate group of people, disconnected from any members of Palestine Action, would need the government to go through the motions again. Sadly I think the government would take steps to proscribe such a group. But it would be interesting as an observer in the meantime.

Glitzersachen 1d ago

@pmb00cs @vashti @2legged

Now I am wondering if I actually got the joke. Or is this now an instance of the British dead pan?

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@glitzersachen @vashti @2legged I'm afraid the humour, on my part at least, is entirely in the absurdity of the situation. It's a deflection from the sorrow of living in a country with a government so incompetent, vindictive, and cruel, as to finding itself having to proscribe a group that is largely harmless, because that group doesn't like the government supporting genocide.

Glitzersachen 1d ago

@pmb00cs @vashti @2legged

So this was not an allusion to Live of Brian?

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@glitzersachen @vashti @2legged the original post of mine was certainly inspired by the life of Brian.

@pmb00cs Let's all remind ourselves that in democratic societies, WE are 'government'. Their crimes are ours. WE are incompetent, vindictive, and cruel, and those we elect only manifest our sins more coherently. It's not Labour that's to blame. It's the gang of half-brained gammons down at the pub who are. We elected all these people. Because WE are stupid enough.

If you want to fix this, you need to start locally, and raise up your community, to be better people and smarter voters.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym and how do we change the system, if not by ridiculing and criticising those in power when they do things we disagree with?

It's nihilistic to say it's everyone's fault because we elected this government. I certainly didn't. There is room for dissent, and room to believe that things can be changed for the better. But change starts with something, why not mockery?

@pmb00cs Like it or not, real democracy happens across pub tables, lunch counters, and property fences. It's hard, thankless work, and can't be a jerk about it or it will fail, and you can't have your cool, cool friends cheering you over your shoulder. It requires humility and an acceptance of compromise for the sake of everyone's interests, in balance with each other.

I'm a powerful believer in mockery as a tool for change, and advocate it frequently. But it only works when based in truth.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym real democracy happens when meaningful choices can be made at the ballot box. You're right that which choices get made are not as much a function of campaigning as they are a function of day to day conversations. But don't discount the power the system grants those who decide what choices we vote on, and how our votes choose the outcome!

@pmb00cs Again, 'the system' is just another manifestation of the choices WE make, however removed. As with 'government' and 'the media', or (in the US) 'lobbyists', etc., abstract terms like this are -- however sincerely believed -- really just a cop-out, a way to try to relieve ourselves of the hard challenge of self-government. I don't accept such excuses. We CAN overcome them. It just requires enough of us making a sustained effort, and then remaining vigilant to maintain the results.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym no! "The System" is the collected choices of those in a position to make them going back to the last cataclysmic change of the system. In England that is a long history. The common person is only afforded so much ability to affect change within the rules. It often takes breaking the rules to bring about change. Democratic responsibility is a myth that is useful for us to believe, but the system isn't built like that, no matter how much we want it to be, or how much it should be!

@pmb00cs Anyone may run for Parliament, and anyone may vote for them. The hard truth is that the People are really to blame. WE are The System, or at least run it. The People just happen to be very stupid, that's all. It's tragic, but true.

If you want it to change, you must lobby your fellow citizens. It's hard, unpleasant, unfun, and thankless, but is the only real option that exists. Anything else is a cop-out, I'm sorry. We own all this. We need to manage it intelligently.

@pmb00cs I know that people don't want to hear this. And I don't like to say it, either. But hard truths are just that, and must be faced. No amount of faith will save you from diving into a canyon; truth will out, and facing it head on can prevent calamity.

Self-government is HARD, and demands much more from the People than many people are willing to give it. Not because they can't, but because they WON'T. They're like spoiled little children.

@pmb00cs Nearly a third of Americans sat out Election 2024. That's just shameful. It was apparently too much work for them to actually vote, for (or against) anyone. But they all seem to have plenty of time and energy to bitch and moan constantly. That's just embarrassing, and there's no excuse for it.

We the People are our own real worst enemies, and we just need to grow the fuck up and make a real effort.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym more than a third sat out the 2024 election in the UK (turn out was ~59.7%). That is bad, but it is also not entirely down to apathy. Apathy certainly plays a part, and it is useful for those in power to blame apathy. Psychology is a science, and we are not as different as we would like to believe. We can be manipulated. Propaganda works. Blaming the population requires either endorsing illegal direct action, or absolving the powerful of their games. I don't accept either!

@pmb00cs Yes, and we must actively work against that, every day -- not accept it as an excuse, and throw our hands up in despair. Nefarious agents will continue to work against the common good, and we must meet that effort with our own. They do not have powers or advantages that we do not. They must make the effort. And far too many of us do not. It really is as simple as that. A reasonable man, even a slow one, can be persuaded to objective reality, if someone makes the effort.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym "They do not have powers or advantages that we do not."
They have money, or the ear of people with money. Wealth accumulates wealth in the system we live in. And wealth affords its holder influence. If you think the playing field is level it's either because you have wealth, or because you haven't been paying attention. We can fight that, and we can win, but don't think that this makes us equal.

@pmb00cs If you were on the Titanic while she was going down, would you spend time and energy arguing with people who insisted there was nothing that could be done?

The world's problems will not be solved by those who are better at making excuses instead of exploring solutions, or distracting those willing to try.

I wish you well in your journey. Goodbye.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym would I be in first class, and therefore have access to the lifeboats, or would I be in steerage, and so be doomed to die in freezing water?

You chose your counter example poorly.

Some of us have the opportunity to change the system from within. Some of us simply do not. The difference is entirely down to luck.

@pmb00cs You vastly over-estimate the intelligence of the average police captain (in any country).

"Whops, that was a mistake, wasn't it? Sorry!" - "Whops! Sorry again!" - repeat ad infinitum. Getting released later is small comfort to those who already collected their lump, no matter how 'mistaken' the cause.

The goal, in all cases, is to discourage dissent. And we all know why. It's already an outrage that a group that has only committed some vandalism is equated with Carlos the Jackal.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@wesdym the police are going to harass these groups anyway. They are, by their nature, breaking the law. Sometimes in quite benign ways, sometimes in more disruptive ways. Direct action is almost always illegal. That's why I said "someone" and not "I". I don't endorse the actions taken by Palestine Action, I just don't think the government response is proportionate. I also think they had a point. Our government shouldn't be supporting genocide, anywhere, even when being committed by an ally.

Linda 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇹1d ago

@vashti @pmb00cs @2legged the Gov will never be able to stop direct action. The new group is called “Yvette Cooper” and they’ve already targetted a logistics firm involved in transporting weapons to Israel. Going to be hilarious watch the weak pathetic influenced by the Israeli lobby Cooper proscribe herself

MightyPirate™ 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@pmb00cs @2legged
Life of Brian vibes intensify

@pmb00cs @2legged

The Palestine Liberation Organisation has a nice ring.

Linda 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇹1d ago

@pmb00cs @2legged already formed - they’ve called themselves “Yvette Cooper”.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@Lassielmr @2legged that is genius level trolling, and I am here for it!

Nicovel0 🍉1d ago

@pmb00cs @2legged I heard somewhere of someone setting up a direct action group calling itself “Yvette Cooper”, so that when Yvette Cooper makes them a proscribed organisation any expression of support for Yvette Cooper will be a criminal offence

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈1d ago

@Nicovel0 @pmb00cs @2legged I have heard of this too and I want it to happen, it's beautiful and absurd

Glitzersachen 1d ago

@pmb00cs @2legged

Whatever shit that might have been. But, yes.

Craig Stewart 1d ago

@glitzersachen @2legged well spraying paint on RAF jets, thereby showing the incompetence of the government's security arrangements, is what ended up getting them proscribed, so stuff like that.

Tim Panton 15h ago

@pmb00cs @glitzersachen @2legged Technically not even the RAF's jets it seems https://consortiumnews.com/2025/06/30/craig-murray-hedge-fund-owns-raf-planes-targeted-by-palestine-action/

Craig Murray: Hedge Fund Owns 'RAF Planes' Targeted by Palestine Action

Untangling the ownership of the RAF's Voyager refueling aircraft shows how public money lavished on U.K. “defence” winds up rewarding rich financiers. By Craig Murray CraigMurray.org.uk If you thought Royal Air Force (RAF) jets were owned by the RAF, think again. The RAF squadron targeted

Consortium News

Craig Stewart 14h ago

@steely_glint @glitzersachen @2legged well that doesn't smell of corruption at all. No siree.

hackersquirrel 1d ago

@pmb00cs
Bloody splitter!
@2legged

@pmb00cs
SPLITTERS!

@pmb00cs
Someone created s group called Yvette Cooper.
@2legged

Angela Glansbury 🚽16h ago

@pmb00cs @2legged
palestine action action

Orange Menace 2d ago

@2legged I may have said this before, but the police do love a soft target.

MightyPirate™ 🏳️‍🌈1d ago

@OrangeMenace @2legged preferably one that's easy to hit with their car

@2legged Aside from the obvious (police courage etc), probably so much fun for her...

Badgardener 2d ago

@VeroniqueB99 @2legged

Pretty sure Sue is living a full and enriching life, which eclipses all of ours - yours included.

That was a cheap shot. Feel shame.

@Badgardener @2legged

Yes indeed (though I'm super proud of her in case that was unclear! What a lady!!!)!
(I edited it because was bothered with how it was taken)

@Badgardener @VeroniqueB99 i was being sarcastic.
What on earth is your point?

Badgardener 2d ago

@2legged @VeroniqueB99

Not directed at you, as per the way Mastodon orders its replies. Thought your post was trenchant.

@Badgardener @2legged @VeroniqueB99 context collapse strikes again.

Edelruth In The Wrong Timeline 1d ago

@Badgardener @2legged @VeroniqueB99

I had to look up "trenchant".

Great word. A veritable hit!

Rupert V/2d ago

@2legged @Badgardener It is a tough design choice as to what to do with replies to a deleted reply.
Personally I'd go with a placeholder "Veronique deleted her stupid comment" rather than reparenting the replies to it, but it's not like that's the only reasonable option.

🔶Mark Nicoll 3.5%🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇳1d ago

@VeroniqueB99 @2legged
It's not the first time she's been arrested, she supported extinction rebellon a few years ago.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-60868573

Extinction Rebellion vicar protester has conviction quashed

Sue Parfitt had been fined for her part in an Extinction Rebellion protest near Bristol.

BBC News