Notices by Imogen (imgn@mastodon.social), page 5

Narrated by the UK mathematician Hannah Fry, this short animation explores how the evolution of the understanding of zero has helped shape our minds and our world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjdLKjLam0

I had a weird dream last night that I was resisting giving my pronouns to Google and government websites that were insisting on it. (They are she/her, by the way.)

I wish language was never gendered and we weren't so obsessed with sexing things. I remember as a microbiologist, scientists struggled to identify the sex of certain species that didn't conform to the binary. Nature rarely does. In my lab, we used numbers and polarity to describe mating types. Maybe I will change my identity to 2+ 🤓

One of my grandmothers emigrated to America from Ukraine in the 1920s, leaving most of her family behind. She often lamented why her siblings in Odessa never wrote to her. We later learned that Stalin had killed them all, along with most of our other relatives there. Empire-building, regardless of its justifications or the lunatic dictator behind it, never ends well for the people.

I am getting really sick of these anti-trans views. They are completely illogical to me. Especially when they come from people who claim to be radical feminists and environmentalists. I am glad that indigenous groups are distancing themselves from this transphobic nonsense. We see more problems from privileged people (often white cis-males) coopting movements and using their egos and influence to sow discord within. Then they whine about being "canceled." Fuck off.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/06/nevada-transgender-rights-environmentalists-lithium-00001658

The Linda Lindas are back (and older!) performing live for World Cafe in Los Angeles at EastWest Studios.

#Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSyJWDHI3AI

@tagomago Yes, exactly. They cited them as influences in the interview too :)

Yes! Hardcore punk from Chile. I've missed this sound and sentiment.

Diavol Strâin in #Music https://youtu.be/TbrqKS5vtH0

My Social Media Market Summary

Facebook: Family and friends IRL who show they are annoying or less interesting online

Instagram: People trying to look good for others and worrying about their image

LinkedIn: Coworkers competing to impress their bosses or get a new job

Reddit: Racists and sexists? And crypto-bros

TikTok: Twerking

Twitter: Brands and others tweeting into the algorithmic void. And bots

Mastodon: Real people having real conversations about important or interesting stuff

@tagomago It's only going to get worse with all the space junk up there. But they assure us that the moon is "well-built to take that sort of abuse." 😠

Many Americans are struggling financially, yet our tax money is being used to fuel this man-child's destructive fantasies.

Part of one of Elon Musk's SpaceX rockets is expected to crash into the dark side of the moon in March https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2022/01/26/elon-musks-spacex-rocket-space-junk-hit-moon/9230274002/

I am looking for a new city/town to move to in the next few months. It has to be in the continental US due to some work constraints. I would love to get some feedback from the #fediverse. Please brag or rag about your home here. I need ideas! Anything goes. Seriously. I am a nomad. (Boosts welcome.)

Fuck, I Hate the Cold by Cowboy Junkies in #Music

@tagomago ✈️🌤️

Just a reminder that disagreeing with someone (or a group of people, system or mainstream establishment) does not mean you are an independent thinker. It also does not make you an anarchist, punk, rebel, revolutionary or whatever. Because disagreement alone is not an idea or opinion; it is merely an identity. One likely born out of distrust in authority or a need for belonging. Radical thinking involves a solid viewpoint tied to experience, facts and ideally positive action.

I think it is time to remove the "joined on" date from social media. It is a subtle dark pattern that encourages people to sign up and stay on services merely as a badge of some kind. Most early adopters jump around a lot, so this date is irrelevant anyway. Also, it has the potential to create a power differential between legacy users and newbies wanting to join the conversation. Anything that can manipulate behavior or social structure (however small) should be reconsidered in ethical design.

Tzeporah Berman: The bad math of the fossil fuel industry

"Our governments are regulating emissions, but not the production of fossil fuels."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz6pXdA4fxQ

Feminism Backwards by Rosita Sweetman in #Books

Women perform 66% of the world's work, but earn 10% of the world's income. Women own 1% of the world's property and comprise 70% of the world's poor. 90% of billionaires are male.

This is the Yellowjackets theme song you were referring to @tagomago

No Return by Anna Waronker and Craig Wedren

#Film #Music https://youtu.be/X6X2uEAbzJs

@tagomago I haven't used Patreon, so I am probably not the best person to ask. But I like the free and flexible tools that Open Collective provides for project owners. Liberapay seems good too, but it is still pretty limited.

@tagomago So I guess you are considering adopting the philosophy of "the end justifies the means." I wonder if it is possible for both the action and consequence to be morally right. I do feel that process is often as important as outcome because it too can lead to transformative change.

Anyway, it is not that difficult for causes and projects to accept donations in a different way. Most would be happy to if they saw benefit. I recently signed up for Open Collective https://opencollective.com

RIP Ronnie Spector #music legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrVbawRPO7I