Notices by Kit Malone (thekitmalone@hoosier.social)

Happy #internationalwomensday

Trans women are women.

But you don't have to agree with me on that to know that demonizing people for a harmless characteristic, telling the public they are an "enemy within," and passing highly targeted legislation intended to deny them access to public life is immoral, undemocratic, and dangerous to us all.

Like you don't have to have any particular position on gender to know that isolating a group of people and purposefully ginning up public resentment against them with misinformation and propaganda is going to lead to something terrible.

All the cis people who insisted that they had a right to be "skeptical" and that they "weren't hateful" and would "speak out if we were really being threatened" are curiously silent these days.

In #trans people, right-wing extremists have finally found the perfect minority threat. An insular, minuscule group about which the general public knows little. They're primed to believe any ridiculous made-up nonsense.

The rhetoric is getting more extreme literally by the day. Academics can debate gender theory and feminist critiques, but out here in reality-land we can see very well where this is leading.

That should concern anyone with a conscience.

That "first they came for" poem says you should speak up for certain minorities because eventually you'll be a target too.

But you know, you could also speak up simply because it's wrong to target people. Self interest isn't the only reason to oppose oppression.

@voxofgod The story is that the author was a Lutheran pastor and Nazi sympathizer who turned against the movement after witnessing the horror that it caused. I think that's ok. I think the poem is ok. I just think it's a cliche that is overused by the simple minded.

Consider good old-fashioned canning jars for freezer storage – they stand up well if you use a little common sense:

* Don’t overfill them – leave a full inch of space at the top.

* Let the contents freeze thoroughly before fully tightening the lid (to release air pressure).

* Thaw gently, after removing the lid. I’ve had no issue thawing my frozen canning jars in a pot of water on the lowest heat, or in the microwave on defrost.

#EverydayThrift #Survival

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If jars don’t work for you, there are re-usable silicon bags and other alternatives. I use glass because it’s cheap (often free), easy to clean, and widely available.

Whatever your preference, it’s past time to ditch plastic if you can. For your health, and for the planet.

https://www.earthday.org/ditch-plastics-to-protect-our-planet/

#EverydayThrift #Survival

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This #EveryDayThrift is a multi-toot love letter to GLASS!

Hubs finally got me to read the research on the health and enviro harms of PFAS and microplastics. I didn’t want to -- I told him I had enough problems.

But he was right and I’m convinced.

It's HARD to get plastic totally out of your life, so start with low-hanging fruit.

For instance: when I do my shopping I go out of my way to find alternatives to my favorites that aren’t packaged in plastic.

#Survival

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One of the lowest of hanging fruit are all those plastic bags and plastic storage containers.

Glass is naturally food-safe, one of the most easily recycled materials and is also widely available -- jars and bottles can be had for pennies at thrift stores. Much of the food you buy comes in a completely reusable glass container.

I re-use glass in my fridge, my pantry, and my spice drawer. I like the eclectic look it gives my kitchen.

#EverydayThrift #Survival

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Listening to the latest @404mediaco podcast episode detailing the hacks on DOGE's website.

Just wanna shout out their coverage these days. Talk about the exact right investigative journalists for this exact moment. Really grateful that they exist.

Once you do any serious reading about the supply chain your tech comes from, recycling and repurposing old tech starts to feel like the only even kindof ethical way to continue.

Hey there #HoosierSocial-ites! My pal and IPB editor extraordinaire Lauren Chapman just bridged her bluesky account to the fediverse!

I follow her avidly, and love her coverage of LGBTQ developments here in Indiana.

Follow away:

@laurenechapman.bsky.social

#HoosierMast #INLegis

Trump's torching every group that broke for him in 2024 and it shows how little he actually cares about the party he's the head of.

He's not interested in expanding the GOP - he's gonna leave them holding the bag.

He doesn't care what happens to downstream candidates in 26. And he doesn't care what happens in 28 - if there's even an election.

He's gonna get his (safety from consequence and lotsa cash) in the next 2 years and coast to retirement someplace tropical and safe from extradition.

I know it's personalizing but it's *incredibly* demoralizing to spend 16hr work days responding to sobbing parents, working the Trump EO situation in my community, trying to keep on top of my state's horrible slate of bills, only to come to the internet to see the general sentiment from the peanut gallery is that nobody is doing anything.

I don't need a cookie, and I'll stop for no one, but some of you have no idea what those of us who've been doing this for a long while are managing.

Social media by level of average user's resistance:

Facebook: "Guess I heard something but my grandson says it's fine."

X: : racist bot tries to sell you NFTs:

LinkedIN: "Join my webinar on realigning corporate priorities to achieve synergies and maximize shareholder value."

Bluesky: "everything is terrible and we're all going to die... but what can you do"

Fediverse: I'M JUST GONNA PERSONALLY MIRROR THE CDCs WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN KEEP USING IT.

I'm over all these endless, cliched liberal editorial cartoons of Lady Liberty cowering in distress or otherwise helpless and beset by ills.

Hopefully "the resistance" has more in them than passive, immobile defeatism. I'm ready to see her kicking ass with the rest of us.

Advice from someone who cares/thinks a lot about effective messaging?

Don't use the acronym. Say the words "diversity, equity, and inclusion." Slowly and with emphasis.

Every time.

Don't let them hide their opposition to these basic, common sense, and popular ideas behind an acronym.

Some easy cleaning related #survival tips. Remember those cleaning supply shortages?

You can make a reasonable hand sanitizer with high proof vodka and aloe.

Straight up vinegar is just about as good a surface cleaner as almost anything.

Most liquid detergents are far more concentrated than they need to be, to encourage you to use more. Water them down. Or use less. Don't be a sucker.

New wave of folks hitting #Fedi - reupping the old #Introduction!

I'm Kit! I'm a political strategist by trade and a #musician / #geek. I'm also a mod here at #HoosierSocial.

I believe all humans deserve and can achieve dignity and grace. I love to meet new folks who share that value.

I post about #politics, #election policy, #Indiana, #inlegis, #civilrights #LGBTQ stuff, and other things like #cooking and my family.

Here's a selfie I took @ a Joan Jett concert recently!