Notices by Frances Larina (frances_larina@sfba.social)

"Out of an abundance of caution, FEMA said its disaster assistance teams will be stationed at fixed locations instead of going door-to-door, which has been the agency's common practice in the past."

If you have a disability, or know someone who does, or just know someone who might grow old someday soon, or someone who might get injured in a future natural disaster...vote Democratic Party up and down the ballot. This is the sort of future Republicans have been pushing for over the last decade.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fema-crews-relocate-reported-threats-armed-militia-hurricane-helene-relief/

"The widespread ridicule of Trump’s statement has obscured that this attack on Ohio’s immigrants is part of an attempt to regain control of the Senate. Convincing Ohio voters that the immigrants in their midst are subhuman could help Republicans defeat popular Democratic incumbent senator Sherrod Brown, who has held his seat since 2007. Brown and Montana’s Jon Tester, both Democrats in states that supported Trump in 2020, are key to controlling the Senate.

Two Republican super PACs, one of which is linked to Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), have booked more than $82 million of ad space in Ohio between Labor Day and the election and are focusing on immigration."

https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/posts/pfbid02B2YK5WuKbZ73dRiYmouDytJ76FUHYgBPcAEpeCftXWdqXU3ZoyuzwHaRVJYhoz9l

Anyone have Trump bingo cards ready for the debate yet? My sister and I are both going to be watching and messaging each other & it would be fun to play as we do.

We're too old for the drinking game, with him we'd be three sheets to the wind in the first ten minutes.

An interesting turn of events...

"Tennessee's transgender care ban is challenged [via amicus brief] by dozens of Republicans"

"“Parents know what is best for their children far better than the government does,” the 31 Republicans, including several currently serving lawmakers, argue in a brief to the Supreme Court."

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/tennessee-trans-care-ban-republicans-challenge-rcna169028

The plot thickens. It's not just Robby Starbuck; Republican state AG's are in on it.

“Conservative state attorney generals sent letters to corporations warning them that they could expect to be sued if they continue to advocate and promote DEI practices within their organizations that could be construed as counter to the Supreme Court ruling, even though the Supreme Court ruling had no bearing on those corporate initiatives.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/28/ford-joins-list-of-companies-walking-back-dei-policies.html

It would be very good to boycott Lowe's for their overt show of support for Republican attacks on LGBTQ people's equality.

But be sure you let them know that you are doing so, and why.

Background info if you are unaware:
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article291529415.html

Please use, copy and signal boost the information below.

------------------------------

Lowe's contact information:

Generic VP of customer experience mailboxes:
vpcustexp@lowes.com
dfri@lowes.com

Lowe’s executive customer service contacts:

Chief Executive
Marvin Ellison
1000 Lowe’s Boulevard
Mooresville, NC 28117
marvin.ellison@lowes.com

Executive Vice President of Operations
Vincent Scalese
1000 Lowe’s Boulevard
Mooresville, NC 28117
vincent.scalese@lowes.comv

Director Executive Customer Relations
Ronda Harlow
1000 Lowe’s Boulevard
Mooresville, NC 28117
Ronda.harlow@lowes.com

Also, a potentially semi-anonymous web-based "contact us" form intended for media relations can be found here:

https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/contact-media-relations

Remember the trans woman space camp employee Republicans had removed just by pressuring? Now they're going after gym memberships. The goal is to erase us from society in places where they can.

https://www.lincolnnewsnow.com/news/state/ellisville-gym-revokes-transgender-womans-membership-citing-her-online-comments/article_09f5865e-b551-5b7b-b1e6-d22f761f373d.html

I'm sorry; I can't stop laughing.

Apparently at least 6 big companies won't insure Tesla's $80k+ Cybertruck in some states. Partly because they're so incredibly expensive to repair, and partially because parts are only available directly from Tesla and they're very expensive. Plus the liability of a vehicle that is marketed as being rigid so as to protect the passengers - the part not said out loud is that it does so at the expense of the people in the other vehicle.

In those states the only viable insurance is from Tesla. That's right, Tesla. Otherwise, they can't be driven & they can't be sold. Which might not be so bad except Tesla's policy is expensive and Tesla gets real time constant surveillance of driving habits AND ADJUST RATES ACCORDINGLY.

Also? The states where nobody will insure the Cybertruck & the 12 states where Tesla is licensed to sell insurance ARE NOT THE SAME STATES. NY, for instance.

I can't see why Cybertruck owners would complain though; it seems like a Libertarian dream to me!

@evangreer

There's an even bigger danger, as if the harm it will do to LGBTQ kids isn't enough. And it's why tech companies are pushing for the bill.

Mandatory positive identification. In order to ID 16 and above/below users, everyone must be positively identified. Meaning anonymous access to the Internet in the USA will disappear. It's been the holy grail of data companies for at least 20 years.

Also, imagine what a fascist US government would do with such info.

@AnarchoNinaWrites

It will affect *everyone*. Tech companies have for years tried to force every user to have to positively identify themselves.
Data brokers love it because each individual will be tracked, always. Fascists love it because there can be no anonymous dissent.

"Generative AI requires massive amounts of power and water, and the aging U.S. grid can’t handle the load"

Remind me why we're doing this again? I mean, as a society.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/28/how-the-massive-power-draw-of-generative-ai-is-overtaxing-our-grid.html

Elon Musk:

STOP CALLING IT TWITTER!

(deadnames his own child)

I'm mildly amused by the people on the left who are, just now, just today finally discovering for themselves that the New York Times is in fact, evil.

I fondly remember back in the day how we all fretted that anything online was there forever.

We were so naive. Oh, and by the way?

After August 25th, 2025, all goo.gl links will respond with a 404 error. Google announced in a blog post that “the time has come to turn off the serving portion of Google URL Shortener".

It's almost like the Internet has become so corporatized, all that matters is content that is directly profitable.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24201734/google-url-link-shortening-service-shut-down-support

California:
"This law will protect trans kids!"

Elon:
"I hate trans kids! I'm moving Twitter to Texas!"

Trans politicians and journalists:
"I'm still not going to abandon the platform, it needs me."

🙄

Trans Floridians haven’t been able to update birth certificates since 2023

For years, trans Floridians could update their birth certificates. Now, without any changes in law, they no longer can do so; they are simply denied. The denial letters offfer conflicting requirements that supposedly haven't been met. And challenges from lawyers are simply...ignored.

https://19thnews.org/2024/07/florida-transgender-updated-birth-certificates/

Feminists and queer people for the last half century:
Women should not be reduced to their reproductive role.

Katy Perry:
My new video about women's empowerment will feature a giant uterus!

@danielbowmaniel @ianhecht @StillIRise1963

If I may add?

Journalism as a field has always striven toward some sort of integrity and purity.

As businesses however, news outlets that hire them have likewise always striven to target an audience or a culture and shape their product to appeal to them. Or manipulate them, the line is often a blur. See: WWII, Cold War, pre-war capitalists vs socialists, North vs South states, and so on.

Alden Global Capital alone has bought over 600 newspapers across the USA over the last 20 years. First thing they do is fire the newsrooms, sell the real estate (possibly to a sub company so they charge rent to themselves) leverage the paper with debt and just leave it on the life support of long time subscribers and advertisers. Oh, and they donate heavily to GOP causes and candidates.

Journalism never did "fall apart", it was the owners of the news corporations intentionally tearing down the platforms.

We finally know why some people got COVID while others didn’t

https://theconversation.com/we-finally-know-why-some-people-got-covid-while-others-didnt-233063

I see Elon is now posting homophobic comments in addition to transphobic. Is this new or have I just not been paying attention?