<unnamed>

Public Key

npub1500cnrpw4qhfnl67savct7wnncedxzezmkwtucyf3uj0626tnyeqyd4yl7

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs28huf3sh2st5ela0gwkv9l8feuvknpv3dm897vzyc7f8a9d9ejvsprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqyqq3ucenn

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Last Notes

2026-08-13 15:11:17 CEST

This is always a tough time of year for me. I am happy that the city of Charlottesville closed Heather Heyer way to through traffic running at killing speed through the memorial, at least for the day. I still hope that we can fix this for more than one day a year. #SafeStreets #cville #Charlottesville #DowntownMall https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/08/12/heather-heyer-way-closure-marks-nine-years-since-her-murder-white-supremacist-attack/

2026-07-26 02:20:25 CEST

https://www.richmonder.org/for-decades-richmond-mandated-tidy-lawns-a-new-proposal-would-give-native-plants-more-leeway/ “a great tool to promote our beautiful Richmond native plants and pollinators” #RVA #conservation #gardening #pollinators #PlantNatives

2026-07-26 01:58:08 CEST

- reply

“environmental taxes can improve the environment and increase economic efficiency simultaneously” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigouvian_tax

2026-07-26 01:52:50 CEST

- reply

Huh, sourdough crust. I don’t hate the idea

2026-07-26 01:38:19 CEST

https://apnews.com/article/data-centers-virginia-groundwater-gov-spanberger-study-564e5d3c2520190bbfa5c7dbd0c6409f “We’re standing on the ledge” #Virginia #CleanWater #conservation #AIBubble #zoning #PigouvianTaxes

2026-07-25 21:14:35 CEST

- reply

Someone whose only interest in saving lives is whether or not they have to hit the “save lives” button is not worth listening to

2026-07-25 19:15:28 CEST

Looking at ancient billion year old rock at Afton Mountain and thinking about where the dinosaur bones went after they washed away. Maybe in the floodplains downstream of the fall line? #Virginia #fossils

2026-07-25 15:42:49 CEST

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1168013 “follow official advice, move away from active fires when it is safe, avoid unnecessary travel and wear a well-fitting protective mask if they must go outdoors” #wildfire #climate #disaster

2026-07-25 03:58:01 CEST

- reply

The piece is here https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2026/new-homeownership-measure-puts-people-first

2026-07-25 03:57:41 CEST

I agree this is a better way to measure homeownership. By this measure 54.8% of Virginians are actually homeowners, a bit higher than the 53.1% national average. #HPOP #housing #DataQuality https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-homeownership-rate-minneapolis-fed-study/

2026-07-24 22:08:08 CEST

- reply

Honestly, I want to really believe that it is physically incapable of killing me and my family. I don’t think my robot vacuum can get hacked and go on a killing spree. I really need to believe that about any other machine entering my home.

2026-07-24 20:47:25 CEST

- reply

Entirely natural yes

2026-07-24 20:46:26 CEST

- reply

Do I find any of this likely in the next two years? My friend, I do not. But things can change in our lives and there may be a time when the health and safety of the vast majority of Americans becomes a policy consideration at the federal level. #hope

2026-07-24 20:44:36 CEST

- reply

For those that don't want to get rid of the whole thing (and my REALTOR friends have mentioned this to me more than once), we could put some reasonable caps on it, so that the subsidy is less focused on the wealthiest households. Just capping it at $20,000 per househould per year would save $17 billion a year. Pretty good!

2026-07-24 20:41:30 CEST

- reply

Wealthy people are unbelievably well represented in the US Congress.

2026-07-24 20:38:23 CEST

- reply

The authors look at a few more meaningful reforms than my relatively humble tweak. Why not just get rid of the whole thing? Well, that would open up $25 billion a year in new revenue. That's not nothing. It could probably be used for something productive, or just used to pay off debt.

2026-07-24 20:34:36 CEST

- reply

I've posted previously that just cutting yachts out would be helpful (though I expect my wealthy and well-connected friends in the yacht industry disagree!) #Yacht #inequality https://oaksmithyachts.com/blog/maximizing-tax-benefits-by-classifying-your-yacht-as-a-second-home

2026-07-24 20:31:22 CEST

Thinking about federal housing policy and how it could ease off of subsidizing demand from wealthy households to open up more supply to those that need it, especially first time home buyers with limited cash on hand. My old friend the mortgage interest deduction jumps to mind #housing https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/mortgage-interest-deduction-options-reform

2026-07-24 19:58:45 CEST

- reply

what in Voynich’s name!? https://web.archive.org/web/20140821022011/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/08/03/top-5-webcomics-a-softer-world-a-girl-and-her-fed/

2026-07-24 19:40:33 CEST

- reply

"science is tied to class interests" Fascinating. They just changed the class out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism

2026-07-24 19:06:01 CEST

- reply

Ooh, The Band is a fun one. I was able to see the drummer Levon Helm shortly before he passed, wonderful show, though sad.

2026-07-24 18:53:31 CEST

- reply

A whole generation found him from the finale of the O.C. and Imogen Heap's cover of Hallelujah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_on_The_O.C.

2026-07-24 18:45:05 CEST

https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-07-23/habitat-for-endangered-species-in-virginia-will-no-longer-be-federally-protected “officials are reviewing the potential scope and impact of the change” #Virginia #conservation #birding

2026-07-24 18:24:54 CEST

- reply

And out. Much much more on this in coming years, I promise. My immediate thought after the presentation is that although our accessibility implementation plan was called out I want more clarity on the role and priority of accessibility here. A major lesson of our failed efforts to improve safety downtown is that accessibility is a major barrier to project success if it is not prioritized from the start. #accessibility #ADA

2026-07-24 18:17:38 CEST

- reply

Councilor Snook after fixing some audio problems asks how the Planning Commission can contribute to this as required by state law. Deputy City Manager Freas confirms the Planning Commission will be involved and this will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with state law. (Thank you!)

2026-07-24 18:11:08 CEST

- reply

Councilor Payne notes that there are state and federal code barriers that make it hard for us to address urban transportation needs. True! I have this on my workplan for this legislative year. Mr. Chambers confirms this will be considered as part of this plan. #VALeg

2026-07-24 18:02:51 CEST

Interesting little study on one Canadian School Streets program that was only live on Fridays. They found a 10% boost in active travel on those days vs. the rest of the week. #SchoolStreets #SafeRoutesToSchool #BikeTooter https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12992877/#Sec8

2026-07-24 17:38:40 CEST

- reply

Councilor Payne noting that the most dangerous places like 5th Street are also the most difficult to fix. Mr. Chambers confirms this is true. This has been noted in plan after plan for many years. https://www.29news.com/2022/04/20/new-memorial-unveiled-5th-st-charlottesville/

2026-07-24 16:57:14 CEST

- reply

Staff are working to get a Request for Proposals to get external consultant support on this ASAP. This is a giant lift and we need help. Question for Council on whether or to what extent the Planning Commission should be involved. 😇 Public kickoff is planned for this Fall 🚀 #RFP

2026-07-24 16:06:09 CEST

- reply

SIXTEEN! Yes! The last one is "Performance metrics and monitoring guidance". This one has been much on my mind in the last few months. Councilor Fleisher is even more passionate than me on this topic. There needs to be some way for the public to know what is happening, when it is happening, what is done, what is on hold or canceled, who to direct questions to. #transparency

2026-07-24 16:03:33 CEST

- reply

Fifteen is another favorite of mine: "Needed ordinance changes". Our local code is very old and fights itself and is reflective of the technologies and priorities of yesteryear. This will be a ton of work but it is much needed. We know our dueling speed limit regulations are in this but probably much more is coming. #TwentyIsPlenty

2026-07-24 15:59:41 CEST

- reply

Fourteen is "Future planning and programming efforts" As we do this we will learn how much we don't know and what is needed next. We'll write that down and then hopefully we will do those things next in a more timely manner. #PlanPlanning

2026-07-24 15:57:03 CEST

- reply

Lucky thirteen is very close to my spreadsheet-loving heart: "A unified capital plan list, with priorities and timelines" I am regularly asked what is happening and when and I currently say "I don't know and no one else does". We need to fix that. #CapitalPlanning #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments

2026-07-24 15:35:53 CEST

- reply

Ben Chambers mentions that our neighbor Albemarle County is also working on a mobility plan at the same time as we are and we are comparing notes. I can not quickly find any reporting or public information on this effort in the County, this may be the first public mention, or I've just had my head down on other matters. #AlbemarleCounty https://www.albemarle.org/government/community-development/learn-more-about/transportation

2026-07-24 15:30:49 CEST

- reply

Twelve: "Processes for future plan updates". We can't let it get this bad again, we have to figure out how to build something we can maintain into the future. This is hard since we are still trying to fix the mess we have inherited.

2026-07-24 15:29:03 CEST

- reply

Eleven is "Overall funding strategy for transportation project portfolio". We have some tools now and more this month than last month, but the overall toolset here is a hundred years old and is designed to turn gasoline sales into rural roads into gasoline sales. We will have to learn with our partners in Richmond as we try to do something new here in an urban context. #PayAsYouGo #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments #TaxReform #LandValueTax https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/highway-bond-referendum-1923/

2026-07-24 15:21:05 CEST

- reply

Ten is "Policies and investments needed for parking demand management" We have a ton of work to do here and a troubling lack of information on what we have done and are doing. Thankfully there has been huge progress on this in the field in the last fifty years to learn from. #ParkingReform #Shoupista https://parkingreform.org/resources/cookbook/

2026-07-24 15:11:45 CEST

- reply

Nine is "Policy updates needed for regional plans associated with regional growth patterns" Believe it or not there are other localities surrounding Charlottesville but they are much more automobile dependent and they work and shop and eat and socialize and go to school here. We have to work with them for this to work at all. We have a long way to go here. #regionalism #TJPDC https://infocville.com/2026/05/08/in-a-divided-vote-mpo-policy-board-moves-forward-with-two-smart-scale-projects-without-city-support/

2026-07-24 15:07:03 CEST

- reply

I'm up and fully caffeinated. I think we have eight more deliverables to get through. Seems like a lot! Starting an hour and five minutes in #cville https://www.youtube.com/live/S-aH2eZU71s?si=NeUS7NpqQ638fX0f&t=3952

2026-07-24 15:05:41 CEST

- reply

This reminds me of the old 1920s promotional postcards in the US. Agreed, I love the optimism
https://cdn.masto.host/cvilleonline/media_attachments/files/116/975/081/945/838/937/original/dbcff2dfea1f3e48.png

2026-07-24 14:46:16 CEST

- reply

And yes, love that book. I forced my students to read and draw it last year. I’m debating doing that this year or covering it in lecture and forcing Key to the City instead

2026-07-24 14:44:56 CEST

- reply

“The primary drivers are true here and everywhere else. Aging in place, the No. 1 driver. Second driver is adult children that can’t afford rent or certainly to buy a home. Third is a need for more income, rental income”

2026-07-24 05:50:32 CEST

- reply

I'm getting a little sleepy, might have to pick this one up tomorrow. So far though this is a ton of work but it will do a lot of good. Really excited to see this finally moving forward after so many years of hard work.

2026-07-24 05:49:27 CEST

- reply

Eight is "Guidance for emerging and reported needs and solutions and changes to the traffic calming request process" We do have problem report and ticketing system thanks I believe to former city communications head Brian Wheeler which is so much better than our previous "nothing" system, but yes huge opportunities for improvement here. https://www.charlottesville.gov/666/Service-Request

2026-07-24 05:45:14 CEST

- reply

Seventh is updating the Standards and Design Manual again. This was my subcommittee as a baby commissioner. It's important, especially since we updated the development code, but very technical. https://www.charlottesville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/470/Standards-and-Design-Manual-PDF

2026-07-24 05:43:04 CEST

- reply

Sixth is "Framework for identifying and prioritizing projects". We have wasted a lot of time and money and disappointed a lot of people and allowed unsafe conditions to persist for years because we didn't have this. This is essential. https://infocville.com/2022/09/22/ctb-briefed-on-cancellation-of-charlottesville-smart-scale-projects/

2026-07-24 05:37:06 CEST

- reply

Fifth is updating our old Streets That Work design guidelines, which correctly identified a lot of these issues we are talking about here and gave us some guidance on how to fix them but didn't help with conflicts and intersections. We have those! https://charlottesville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/482/2016-Streets-That-Work-Plan-PDF

2026-07-24 05:31:08 CEST

- reply

Fourth is "Vision and Goals". We have a transportation chapter of our existing Comprehensive Plan that lays this out, but we have learned some things and finished some things since that was written. ✅ https://www.charlottesville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7073/Comprehensive-Plan-Document---2021-1115-Final?bidId= page 55

2026-07-24 05:28:31 CEST

- reply

Third is "Additional existing conditions analysis." This is getting all of the transportation data we are missing on what we have in place now.

2026-07-24 05:24:53 CEST

- reply

First is a project management plan and then a public engagement plan. Those are pretty standard for any big public plan like this and we are working to continually improve how we do these.

2026-07-24 05:23:24 CEST

- reply

Okay, this is the bit I was most interested in, we are looking at 16 different deliverables for this project. That's so many actually. This will be a ton of work and cost a lot of money, but it will be extremely helpful getting the things done we say we want. I hope we will figure some things out here that will help others in North America do something similar.

2026-07-24 05:20:38 CEST

- reply

Fascinating! Only about half of us drive alone every day and that number is trending down. That's pretty unusual by American standards. Working from home appears to be pushing that number down. "Pretty unique" by Virginia standards. "Our walking is way high". We are higher than every other college town. Possibly the Downtown Pedestrian Mall is part of that. #DowntownMall #UVa #walkable #AmericanCommunitySurvey

2026-07-24 05:14:40 CEST

- reply

Showing a slide called "Key Findings from Review of Existing Data". Our population doubles during the daytime, which today means a whole lot of single occupancy vehicles moving all at once in our ten square miles. There are a lot of things we don't know about current parking and safety issues. We can't pave our way out of regional growth.

2026-07-24 05:03:25 CEST

- reply

"we looked at all these plans and they don't all match up" I can confirm this.

2026-07-24 05:01:22 CEST

- reply

Mr. Chambers is showing a slide showing things we have actually accomplished that we have in our prior plans. Those include transportation improvements in the new development code requiring bike storage and no longer requiring motor vehicle storage (I take a small amount of credit here) and "substantial completion of the unprotected bike lane network". That "unprotected" word there is important as my #BikeTooter friends know.

2026-07-24 04:54:32 CEST

- reply

Shout out to Sean Tubbs here and clarification that this is not the transportation study required by the recent zoning lawsuit. This was already planned before we knew about the lawsuit. This matches my own recollection but I appreciate city staff clarifying it. #litigation #StudyFight

2026-07-24 04:51:08 CEST

- reply

One of the big problems we have here when we try to do anything with transportation, even just maintain what we have, is that we have many conflicting transportation plans and they all allocate the same space for different uses, so every single project is a plan fight. That doesn't work, it's confusing, it's expensive and it promises results we can't achieve.

2026-07-24 04:45:18 CEST

- reply

Hey remember how I exciting I was about the citywide mobility plan? 46 minutes in, here we are. Let's go! https://www.youtube.com/live/S-aH2eZU71s?si=yfmPJckcV_F3zReY&t=2787

2026-07-24 04:38:50 CEST

- reply

Good question from Councilor Fleisher, we are talking about 0.6 miles of public right of way. In a city that is ten square miles, this is a meaningful amount of space.

2026-07-24 04:37:59 CEST

- reply

I haven't dug into this but I have a nasty suspicion https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/renewal/#view=0/0/1&viz=cartogram

2026-07-24 04:29:45 CEST

- reply

Here is the alignment near the big Preston intersection (on the left here). It is very complicated.
https://cdn.masto.host/cvilleonline/media_attachments/files/116/972/574/532/141/059/original/dd35a53a79471ce2.png

2026-07-24 04:16:29 CEST

- reply

Some interesting imagery from the new designs for Rose Hill Drive. This is a confusingly wide stroad connecting to a wide urban renewal era avenue, both in a historically Black and low income area of the City called Rose Hill. Challenging context here.

2026-07-24 04:07:25 CEST

- reply

City staff and Councilor Oschrin attended the National Association of City Transportation Officials this year. I find them an essential resource here in congested, car-dependent North America. I remember when I was the only one here talking about NACTO best practice and now I am learning about the newest and best methods from city staff. We have come a long way in just a few years here. #NACTO https://nacto.org/our-work/

2026-07-24 03:58:20 CEST

- reply

Some exciting improvements here. We are now harmonizing repaving schedules with safety improvements. This does slow down repaving, but it means that we can make safety improvements once well and not immediately rip it up for repaving. #ProcessImprovement #Repaving

2026-07-24 03:56:26 CEST

- reply

Estimate here that 75% of streets can be quickly updated to 20 mph #TwentyIsPlenty

2026-07-24 03:51:01 CEST

- reply

We're finally talking about lowering speed limits! This is another one that we've talked about for years. Speed kills. "The speed is set to a dangerous standard". Ben Chambers noting that we have been working on this for ten years. Yes. 🤦 #SafeStreets

2026-07-24 03:47:17 CEST

- reply

Some interesting logistical challenges to allows dockless Veo scooters to cross the magic border over to Albemarle County. Right now they die at the border, I assume making a sad beep. Sidewalk rules are a barrier here. They are banned on Charlottesville sidewalks but would be encouraged on County sidewalks. #Veo https://www.charlottesville.gov/612/Dockless-Scooters-Bike-Share

2026-07-24 03:42:17 CEST

- reply

Our ebike voucher lottery continues to be popular, as expected. Sign ups are live now until the end of July https://connect.charlottesville.gov/charlottesville-e-bike-voucher-program

2026-07-24 03:40:14 CEST

- reply

Interesting to learn that our fare free transit system creates some data gaps. We know people are transferring but we don't capture those transfers since there is no friction. Shelters and benches coming soon, finally. I have had many questions on this over the years.

2026-07-24 03:38:38 CEST

- reply

Ben Chambers: "I'm a little bit late this year." Very happy that we got here. Better late than never. Love that our safety improvements to the 5th Street stroad is moving forward. Love that we finally know what bus stops we have and how they are working. Probably overdue. #transit

2026-07-24 03:35:01 CEST

I'm stealing some time tonight to listen to Monday's presentation on our upcoming and much anticipated Charlottesville Mobility Plan. #cville #TransportationPlanning https://www.youtube.com/live/S-aH2eZU71s?si=HdAv-QgzAlsAw99i&t=710

2026-07-24 03:23:39 CEST

- reply

oh wow, even goats can’t handle it. They still eat it obviously, they’re goats https://www.goatworld.com/health/plants/jimsonweed.shtml

2026-07-24 03:21:16 CEST

- reply

interesting! I haven’t run into this but it looks like herbicide is best practice, which I personally avoid for obvious reasons. Might want to consult a pro on this one https://extension.psu.edu/toxic-weed-in-the-landscape-jimsonweed/

2026-07-24 01:45:28 CEST

- reply

💜

2026-07-23 17:20:53 CEST

- reply

This is a few years old now but this has a lot of information about Ms. Johnson's years of incredible service to our community. I have often said "We need more Joy Johnsons" https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/as-resident-led-redevelopment-begins-in-charlottesvilles-public-housing-communities-ms-joy-johnson-reflects-on-a-lifetime-in-housing-advocacy-so-far/ #PublicService #PublicHousing

2026-07-23 17:17:50 CEST

Inbox: The Charlottesville GOOD foundation is hosting a celebration of the great Joy Johnson on July 24th, 2026 5:30-10:00 PM at the Brick Cellar at Dairy Market. There will be jazz and conversation 5:30-6:30, then a housing forum 6:30-7:30 (thankfully I'm not talking) and then a dance party with DJ Runway 7:30-10 PM. #cville #housing #jazz

2026-07-23 15:30:28 CEST

- reply

Impressive, I’ve never tried that one. Agreed that color is great

2026-07-23 14:40:37 CEST

- reply

From door knocking I can report that people who are worried about eating and not getting kicked out of their apartment are much less likely to vote. When the house is on fire you don’t rehang the drapes.

2026-07-23 14:39:31 CEST

https://virginiamercury.com/2026/07/22/uva-study-shows-how-housing-affordability-policy-civic-engagement-and-voter-turnout-connect/ “When people receive meaningful financial relief, they become more likely to participate in the political process” #housing #democracy #poverty

2026-07-22 13:35:02 CEST

- reply

LLMs that were trained by the people here: priceless, perfect, godlike.
The trainers: useless, worthless trash, hollowed out husks devoid of purpose or meaning

2026-07-22 12:55:07 CEST

- reply

Oh interesting, I’ve seen this idea attributed to Aristophanes, but best I can tell it comes from words written by Plato that he gave to his character Aristophanes based on and maybe mocking the original. Ideas are complicated! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symposium_(Plato)

2026-07-19 17:39:23 CEST

Admiring some Queen Anne’s Lace. I’m surprised to learn that it is wild carrot #BloomScrolling
https://cdn.masto.host/cvilleonline/media_attachments/files/116/947/385/791/521/909/original/958412c149e1787f.jpeg

2026-07-18 18:31:49 CEST

- reply

when I look at a graph like this I always look for 1981 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Ronald_Reagan

2026-07-07 21:45:53 CEST

https://cardinalnews.org/2026/07/07/on-the-hottest-day-of-the-year-at-that-point-heres-where-the-power-came-from-that-kept-us-cool/ “We’d have to more than double solar output to replace coal even at peak solar time. We’d have to septuple it to replace both gas and coal.” #Virginia #solar #climate #shortage #energy

2026-07-07 16:11:23 CEST

- reply

Our experience here in Charlottesville was overall positive though of course no big project like this is easy or free https://www.rivannariver.org/woolen-mills-dam-breach/

2026-07-04 22:11:19 CEST

- reply

Dominion Power reports they will restore power between 5 and 10 PM. #UVa and #UVAHospital report they have power #cville

2026-07-04 22:04:27 CEST

101 degrees today in red hot Cville. A heavy storm just hit and knocked out the power. #cville #VAwx

2026-07-03 16:22:16 CEST

Attempting to install a wired Google Nest doorbell camera to hopefully reduce some of the porch piracy. I am finding this incredibly frustrating and confusing. I am trying to get a professional electrician to help. Not sure how long this will take or how much money it will end up costing me. So far I do not recommend this. #Nest

2026-07-02 14:28:19 CEST

- reply

Starting to get why some of my neighbors have pivoted to cactus!

2026-07-02 13:53:25 CEST

Garden update: several lily and tomato flowers and buds burned and I’m worried the huge butterfly bush might be dying thanks to a combination of aggressive HVAC maintenance cutting and high heat but I still have a garden today #gardening

2026-06-28 18:09:44 CEST

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-companies-contractors-slop-data-training “If these companies want quality data, then they should offer quality contracts” #AIBubble #PoisonAI #DataQuality #CopyOfACopy

2026-06-25 15:11:34 CEST

- reply

Ah, so that’s what a flash dance is. They used to talk about it a lot on David Letterman back in the day.

2026-06-25 00:51:13 CEST

https://rvamag.com/community/mayo-island-is-finally-whole.html “By bringing the entire island under unified ownership, we can advance plans that expand public access, celebrate the river’s natural beauty, and create a welcoming space for residents and visitors for generations to come” #RVA #conservation #parks #JamesRiver

2026-06-21 15:34:51 CEST

- reply

Still alive. A spider has spun a web on the largest plant’s structure. It appears to be unable to harm the group of lanternflies that have made their home by the tomatoes. I am concerned that this will become a problem. 🕷️

2026-06-18 17:45:32 CEST

- reply

I have attempted to block the current ground hog hole under the fence

2026-06-18 16:39:17 CEST

- reply

Mistakes were made. Hopefully a net improvement.
https://cdn.masto.host/cvilleonline/media_attachments/files/116/771/615/690/475/762/original/c420fb07127c3454.jpeg

2026-06-18 15:17:31 CEST

- reply

The fence has been heavily tunneled under over the years, I’m thinking chicken wire

2026-06-09 13:15:35 CEST

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer Back when I was studying environmental policy around the turn of the century, the greenhouse effect seemed like it was about to be wrapped up nicely similar to acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer but the really hard problem looked like the collapse of the Ogallala Aquifer and all of the farming that depends on it in the western U.S. Best I can tell both remain a big problem. #climate #CleanWater

2026-05-28 15:56:34 CEST

- reply

The American Founders were aware of the practice recorded in Ancient Greece and Rome, but that was very different from what would come later, generally with a time limit and no connection to birth or race. Ironically the birthplace of democracy had really a lot of enslavement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_ancient_Greece

2026-05-28 15:50:50 CEST

- reply

The idea itself is ancient and probably older than the written history we have access to, maybe to the beginning of Sumer around 4000 BC, maybe older. Agriculture cemented it as an institution that could be scaled up as civilizations rose and fell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery