Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* "More than 10,000 join peaceful anti-Netanyahu protest in Jerusalem, for fourth week in a row:" https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-thousands-in-jerusalem-for-anti-netanyahu-demo-protesters-allegedly-attacked-1.9057410

* Well, fuck. "Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa brothers strengthen grip in landslide election win:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/sri-lankas-rajapaksa-brothers-strengthen-grip-in-landslide-election-win

* "Macron promises help, Beirut residents vent fury at leaders:" https://apnews.com/9d10149b5d5f3e0e837edd6d5a8e0d8f

* "Indian Ocean island nation Mauritius scrambles to counter oil spill from grounded tanker:" https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-mauritius-indian-oil-spill-20200808-qhoekdvajnbtre6dk4qtduixuu-story.html

* "Nearly 40% of A-level result predictions to be downgraded in England:" https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/07/a-level-result-predictions-to-be-downgraded-england

The plan is to institutionalize wealth and social inequalities by over riding teacher assessments in favor of a percentage system that harms students from less privileged backgrounds.

Look, I’m American, but I furious on behalf of both teachers and students. They are not treating these teachers like professionals who know their kids and how to do their jobs. They are fucking over students for classicist bullshit reasons, and none of it takes into account natural variation

And seriously, I've DONE grading for kinds who missed a portion of the term. you just use the grades you have. It's not that hard. Like you can't reasonably penalize a kid because their parents moved during term. Teachers know how to do this.

Grading on a curve based on three years previous performance? A, not a big enough sample size, and B institutionalizes inequalities and punishes kids on the bubble. Also, in real life out in the field, you get better and worse years. One class will randomly have 10 kids with serious intellectuals challenges and an extra dollop of asshole kids, or a toxic combination of personalities. Another class will get an extra helping of gifted or just a magic social dynamic.

There is shit you can't predict, like that one kid with learning disabilities who happened to look like Peeta in the Hunger Games movies (Which weren’t out yet, but that’s pretty much what he looked like only younger) in the 8th grade I student taught who was sweet and charismatic and the bright girls all took turns tutoring him so he was performing above what you'd expect even on stuff he did completely independently, or that kid with learning disabilities and massive executive function stuff who really loved his paper topic and worked incredibly hard on it and pulled out a grade in spring in English that might have looked like cheating compared to previous terms, but I was literally standing right there when he wrote it. Statistics can't account for me randomly being really into Latin senior year and getting near perfect scores on every test because I finally got a teacher I liked enough to actually work for instead of resist.

Using statistics leaves out the chance of the exceptional and punishes middle of the road kids who really pulled out the stops for whatever reason. Maybe they randomly got a higher percentage of kids who were really good at math or extra motivated for some reason this year.

My entire grade was notoriously nightmarish for every teacher we hit. We had an above average level of assholes and future sociopaths and they'd work together to torment teachers in often creative and psychologically adept ways. (Not me personally, but my grade in aggregate). As a group we caused several nervous breakdowns and drove several people out of the teaching profession entirely. Our grades weren't average either because, you know massive disruption. We also had a lot of kids with trauma (see assholes and future sociopaths and add in some incredibly psychologically abusive stuff from staff, targeted at already traumatized or marginalized kids). There was a ton of attrition in grades 4-9 because of mental health stuff, as in kids being pulled out for health and safety reasons sent to less traumatic and violent prep school. Would it be fair to judge the grade ahead or behind based on my classes scores? Would it be fair to average all three of those grade sets and impose a curve based on them on the grade below them?

Statistical average doesn't prove individual performance.

Or maybe,just maybe, we should just the fuck give kids a break because there's a fucking pandemic on.

* I've been watching the latest row between UK andfrance over refugees, and I have to admit, in France's place I'd be very tempted to step down patrols to rescue missions only. <.< >.>

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* "How a Popular Medical Device Encodes Racial Bias:" https://bostonreview.net/science-nature-race/amy-moran-thomas-how-popular-medical-device-encodes-racial-bias

* "There Is Little Evidence That Mass Transit Poses a Risk of Coronavirus Outbreaks:" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-is-little-evidence-that-mass-transit-poses-a-risk-of-coronavirus-outbreaks/

* "India passes two million Covid-19 cases:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53674857

* "Fauci says he'll repeat the importance of public health principles 'until I'm exhausted':" https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/07/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html

* Republicans continue to insist that slowing testing deliberately is the right thing to do as if you don't test for Covid you don't have cases, much in the way if you don't test for cancer no one gets it and if you don't take a pregnancy test you can't get pregnant. "Virus testing in the US is dropping, even as deaths mount:" https://apnews.com/aebdc0978de958f20ab3f398cdf6f769

* "Ben Rhodes: Trump ‘literally withdrew us from the rest of the world’ with WHO decision:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/ben-rhodes-trump-literally-withdrew-us-from-the-rest-of-the-world-with-who-decision-89678917541

* "‘Like a Horror Movie’: A Small Border Hospital Battles the Coronavirus:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/us/texas-coronavirus-rio-grande-valley-starr-county.html

* "'We are no less American': Deaths pile up on Texas border:" https://apnews.com/c5da90cb311e320d9ece7310b4fe257e

* "He fled Congo to work in a U.S. meat plant. Then he — and hundreds of his co-workers — got the coronavirus.:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/he-fled-the-congo-to-work-in-a-us-meat-plant-then-he--and-hundreds-of-his-co-workers--got-the-coronavirus/2020/08/06/11e7e13e-c526-11ea-8ffe-372be8d82298_story.html

*********************************************************************************************************

* "TikTok threatens legal action against Trump executive order:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/07/tiktok-trump-executive-order-392558

* "Trump advisers hesitated to give military options and warned adversaries over fears he might start a war:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-advisers-fears-military-options/index.html

* "Pompeo Warned Russia Against Bounties on U.S. Troops in Afghanistan:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/world/asia/pompeo-russia-afghanistan-bounties.html

* "Appeals court rules for U.S. House over subpoena for ex-White House lawyer:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-trump-idUSKCN25326S

* "Covid-19 Pandemic Triggers Wave of Long-Term Unemployment:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-pandemic-triggers-wave-of-long-term-unemployment-11596817137?mod=hp_lead_pos5

* "Queer Black Americans have taken a ‘disproportionate’ financial hit during COVID-19 by every measure:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/07/black-lgbt-covid-19-americans-disproportionate-economic-impact-coronavirus-pandemic-report-human-rights-campaign/

* "James Carville on Trump deferring payroll tax to next year: Not very good policy, a lot of people not on a payroll:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/james-carville-on-trump-deferring-payroll-tax-to-next-year-not-very-good-policy-a-lot-of-people-not-on-a-payroll-89751109777

* I don't understand how he has the power to do that. I thought the Congress was the only branch empowered by the constitutions to make appropriations. "Coronavirus relief package talks stall; Trump might use executive actions to bypass congress:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/07/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/

* "Bennet Statement Following President Trump’s Inadequate Executive Orders to Extend COVID-19 Economic Relief:" https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=5E7FC20B-13A0-47FE-BA67-7E78FA9E396F

* "Facebook Fired An Employee Who Collected Evidence Of Right-Wing Pages Getting Preferential Treatment:" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/facebook-zuckerberg-what-if-trump-disputes-election-results

* "Russian anti-Biden election interference finds ready conduit in Republican senators:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/russian-election-interference-finds-ready-conduit-in-gop-senators-89763397688

* "Sam Seder: Trump flails for reelection strategy after Plan A falls apart:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/sam-seder-trump-flails-for-reelection-strategy-after-plan-a-falls-apart-89756229774

* "Trump campaign reportedly considering whether to weaponise transphobia to save the president’s flailing re-election bid:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/07/donald-trump-campaign-november-election-weaponise-transgender-rights-lgbt/

* "Postal Service overhauls leadership as Democrats press for investigation of mail delays:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/07/postal-service-investigation-dejoy/

* "Postal Workers Union head confirms slowdown of postal service:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/postal-workers-union-head-confirms-slowdown-of-postal-service-89754181966

* "Hybrid Schooling May Be the Most Dangerous Option of All:" https://www.wired.com/story/hybrid-schooling-is-the-most-dangerous-option-of-all/

* This is going to be incredibly deadly. "Cuomo OKs New York schools for in-person instruction:" https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2020/08/07/cuomo-oks-new-york-schools-for-in-person-instruction-1305884

* "Virus keeps spreading as schools begin to open, frightening parents and alarming public health officials:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/virus-keeps-spreading-as-schools-begin-to-open-frightening-parents-and-alarming-public-health-officials/2020/08/06/7ef4f362-d80d-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html

* "Health directors told to keep quiet as Fla. leaders pressed to reopen classrooms:" https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200807/health-directors-told-to-keep-quiet-as-fla-leaders-pressed-to-reopen-classrooms

* "Charles Booker: We are dealing with the trauma of gun violence as a public health crisis:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/charles-booker-we-are-dealing-with-the-trauma-of-gun-violence-as-a-public-health-crisis-89680453861

* CW: Dead Animals "VULTURES, FORENSICS, & BORDER POLICY: Why Migrant Bodies Disappear:"

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* "Brittany Gilliam, handcuffed with kids by Aurora Police, says their apology is ‘not good enough’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/brittany-gilliam-handcuffed-with-kids-by-aurora-police-says-their-apology-is-not-good-enough-89679941752

* "Breonna Taylor warrant was part of gentrification scheme, attorneys say:" https://www.ajc.com/news/breonna-taylor-warrant-was-part-gentrification-scheme-attorneys-say/gWlfh0zwq84wL0AshqizmM/

* "Joy on 'pig laws': ‘The rot from slavery is still with us in a thousand different ways’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/joy-on-pig-laws-the-rot-from-slavery-is-still-with-us-in-a-thousand-different-ways-89751621631

* CW: Rape "E. Jean Carroll, Who Accused Trump of Rape, Can Go Forward With Suit:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/nyregion/jean-caroll-donald-trump-lawsuit-rape.html

* "Satanic Temple says religious freedoms exempt abortion rights from state laws:" https://kutv.com/news/nation-world/satanic-temps-says-religious-freedoms-exempt-abortion-rights-from-state-laws

* "Terrified queer Poles are fleeing the country as homophobic president Andrzej Duda is sworn in for second term:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/06/poland-president-andrzej-duda-swearing-in-homophobia-lgbt-rights-same-sex-marriage-family/

* "‘Violent and homophobic’ cyclists threaten same-sex couple simply for asking them not to use a private lane:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/08/homophobic-hate-crime-rothwell-caistor-west-yorkshire-cyclists-queer-couple/

* Looks like William is really putting the "Shat" in Shatner yet again. Bonus points for making our lives all about him.

* "Autism Tropes in Media:"

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* "Devastating impact of lockdown on LGBT+ mental health laid bare as study reveals seven in 10 are suffering from depression:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/08/lgbt-mental-health-lockdown-queeratine-study-university-college-london-sussex/

* "The (Real) Delusion That You're a Corpse:"

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* "'I'm not Batman': Libertarian presidential candidate makes light of bat bite:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/08/jo-jorgensen-bat-bite-libertarian-392698

* CW: Dead People, Body Horror, Dissection. "A Brief History of the Dead in Art:"

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* "ICONIC CORPSE- Warrior Women Scorned!:"

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* "The Mask Slackers of 1918:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/us/mask-protests-1918.html

* This is even faster than that time a new character was so obnoxious we hunted and killed him about an hour in: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/625855710003118080

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

* Want to help people in Beirut? https://karolinadeaen.tumblr.com/post/625576504313741312

* Organizations to help trans folk: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/620857152453640195/about-us

* "How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely

* Master Post for how to help organizations fighting Police violence: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/620861026680881152/oberynmartell-list-of-black-lives-matter-and

* How to donate to Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm?source=ADD200U0U00&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=googlepaid&utm_content=brand&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz8D9kYu46QIVqh6tBh2WogxQEAAYASAAEgK4FfD_BwE

* "More on the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation and Reaffirmation Act:" https://amaebi.dreamwidth.org/1769250.html

* "Covid 19 Support for Indigenous Communities:" https://bibliomancer7.tumblr.com/post/616704253038395392/covid-19-support-for-indigenous-communities

* "Navajo Nation COVID-19 Relief Fund:" http://www.nndoh.org/donate.html

* "NYSCI has a set of activities and resources up on their website:" https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/2999942.html

* "How to Help Librarians and Archivists From Your Living Room:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/archives-to-browse-from-home

* "Free Meals:" https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals

* "Learning Through Play: 101 Ways To Keep Young Minds Occupied At Home:" https://www.marksdailyapple.com/importance-of-play/

* Free lessons: https://www.mybluprint.com/

* CDC Foundation: https://www.cdcfoundation.org/give/ways-to-give

* "SUPPORT WORKERS IN CRISIS:" https://ofwemergencyfund.org/

* "Make to Give - Support Our Medical Personnel:" https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/

* "Snopes on COVID-19 Fact-Checking:" https://www.snopes.com/2020/03/20/snopes-on-covid-19-fact-checking/

* "Help the California food industry survive this crisis:" https://www.change.org/p/governor-gavin-newsom-support-the-california-food-industries-most-vulnerable-workers

* "Support Artists Impacted By the Covid-19 Pandemic:" https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-covid-19-fundraiser

* Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey

* The Indivisble guide exists to help you organize effective resistance: https://indivisible.org/

* Here’s a list of vulnerable republican senators up for election this year:

Martha McSally - Arizona
Susan Collins - Maine
Cory Gardner - Colorado
Thom Tillis - North Carolina
Pat Roberts - Kansas
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler - Georgia
Joni Ernst - Iowa

Here’s a list of vulnerable democratic senators that NEED votes to keep their seats:

Doug Jones - Alabama
Gary Peters - Michigan

* Want to get rid of Mitch McConnell? Help Amy McGrath: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mcgrath2020-dd-om-gsearch?utm_source=g&utm_medium=om&utm_campaign=dd&utm_content=om_g_dd_20190709_g-dd-namenat-search_namedon-nat_amosdn&refcode=om_g_dd_20190709_g-dd-namenat-search_namedon-nat_amosdn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5IL1uLKa6gIVcz2tBh1njwpEEAAYASAAEgLCYvD_BwE

* Want to get rid of Lindsey Graham? Help Jaime Harrison: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_harrison_fr_q12019_jaime-a?refcode=MS_AD_D-DD_2019.03.08_X_GG_KW__X__eyJjcmVhdGl2ZSI6IkFkZCBEb25hdGlvbiBOb3ciLCJhdWRpZW5jZSI6IkphaW1lSGFycmlzb24ifQ&recurring=TRUE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4a_583I5gIVC8RkCh0MowFeEAAYASAAEgIXZfD_BwE

* There's a decent chance of flipping this Senate seat blue. Want to help? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ads-mek-egsearch_dtd?refcode=ads-200108-gs-evergreensearch-dtd-natl-mix-8753679275-87807510469-410037583123-%2Bmark%20%2Bkelly%20%2Bdonate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpKSR192K5wIVAsNkCh0EeAFSEAAYASAAEgLY7fD_BwE

* Want to help Ritchie Torres beat a homophobe in New York? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dkendorsestorres?refcode=20200605fpdn1mid

* Want to help Doug Jones defend his seat against a Trumpist homophobe? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/stand-with-doug?refcode=gaa1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx8n4rdfT6gIVvxitBh0BfQmNEAAYASAAEgJSwfD_BwE

* Want to help Sara Gideon unseat Susan Collins? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/adopt-me-dem-susan-collins-seat

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* Some RL friends of mine who were barely scraping by just lost one of the part time jobs they collectively hold and it's really fucking things up for them. These are good people, who do so much for others. Want to help? https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-gig-worker-get-through-the-winter/share

* "Keep Me Safe! Help me get a gate organized by Briel Moore:" https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-me-safe-help-me-get-a-gate?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet+expWdV

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal [email protected] or paypal.me/Gwydion

* If you are interested in helping, right now the Cat thing we need most is:
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-signature-selects/dp/147047

The dry food I was going to try is this one: https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-flatland/dp/176663

* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/2108835.html