wolfeh

joined 2 years ago
MODERATOR OF
[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

When Olmec takes LSD...

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

The argument is over

What argument?

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

By convincing ourselves that we can't.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago

"When correctly viewed, everything is lewd."

— Tom Lehrer

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 24 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Being an old person, I seem to remember that the "Moral Majority" and "Satanic Panic" folks were mainly (though not entirely) Replublican.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Politics affects life. If political news happens to be uplifting, it should be allowed.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Telling people to commit suicide, transphobia/dogwhistles, and violent language will not be tolerated. I have seen all of the above in this thread, and I have removed the comments.

Anyone continuing to post these comments will be banned as per the Lemmy.World Terms of Service Section 1.1 ("Attacks on people") and Section 1.2 ("Discrimination against minority/at-risk groups").

Neither this site nor this community allow transphobia or violent rhetoric.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I don't think we need a rigid constitution or anything complicated. This community has been chugging along well so far.

The simpler and more straightforward the rules are, the better.

 

This month for the first time, 16- and 17-year olds will help decide Newark’s school board members thanks to a measure passed last year, just the third reform of its kind in the nation.

Article by Lauren Gill

archive.ph Mirror

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

More to snuggle.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

It no longer exists.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Is "Weird Al" Yankovic still going to be on the plane? He was in all of the original movies.

 

Article body:

The School District of Philadelphia says it will allow transgender students to compete in sports that match their identity. This decision comes in response to recent rule changes made by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Board of Directors to restrict transgender participation in school sports in order to comply with one of Donald Trump’s executive orders.

The executive order in question threatens to revoke federal funding from educational institutions that permit transgender athletes to compete on sports teams matching their gender.

On February 19th, the PIAA held a meeting to discuss the policy changes. One topic addressed at this meeting was Executive Order 14201, entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The board approved the motion to remove their transgender policy and amend section 4—article XVI in the bylaws handbook. The section covers mixed-gender participation in both in-season and out-of-season rules and regulations.

The section used to say, “Where a student’s gender is questioned or uncertain, the decision of the Principal as to the student’s gender will be accepted by PIAA.”

The rewording now substitutes “gender” with “sex” and replaces “Principal” with “school.”

The amendment added reads as follows: “In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order 14201 entitled ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’, dated February 5, 2025, schools are required to consult with their school solicitors relative to compliance with the Order.”

The policy shift would apply to all school districts in the state of Pennsylvania despite contradicting state laws banning gender discrimination, as well as Title IX, which bans sex-based discrimination in education, which some lawyers argue bans anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in schools.

The School District of Philadelphia plans to continue allowing students to compete participate in sports teams aligning their gender in accordance to state laws.

Christina Clark, communications officer for the School District of Philadelphia, said in a statement, “The district will continue to align its practices to support its LGBTQ+ students in accordance with Board Policy 252 for transgender and gender non-conforming students.”

Board Policy 252 forbids school staff from disclosing a student’s chosen gender identity to not only other staff and students but to parents as well and says that transgender and gender-nonconforming students shall be permitted to participate in sports and physical education classes in a manner consistent with their gender identity.

Staying resolute in their policy could pose issues, especially when competing against PIAA-compliant schools. Kristina Moon, an attorney with the Education Law Center, suggests “they could comply or they could challenge it in court, or with a complaint.”

Trump’s order threatens to cut school funding for noncompliance. Philadelphia uses federal grant funding to support special education services and early childhood development programs, which make up nearly $619.3 million of its $4.5 billion operating budget.

It’s not just Philadelphia that’s refusing to comply with Trump’s order.

Recently, New Jersey’s athletics association for school districts, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), affirmed that it would not be changing its policies on trans athletes, saying that the organization’s policies are designed to be consistent with state law.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) also refused to change policies for the same reasons. When asked to comment on their decision, a spokesperson for the CIF sent an email stating: “The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records,”

One of the boldest acts of defiance concerning this order came from Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D). After the president called her out for not complying with his order during a governors’ meeting he hosted at the White House, Mills confronted him directly. She informed him that his order doesn’t take precedence over state and federal laws, and Maine would not comply. Mills ended by saying, “See you in court” after Trump threatened to end all federal funding to Maine.

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submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by wolfeh@lemmy.world to c/buyitforlife@slrpnk.net
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22583951

I'm currently still using my CanoScan F910114 from ~2006 (pictured). The light recently burned out, but it still works for scanning documents if I add some contrast and brightness after the fact. Not great for photographs, though.

If I'm not able to replace the light, I might be in the market for a new scanner. Are there any that you all recommend for durability and potential repairability?

Obviously no electronics are truly going to be BIFL, but I figure I can at least aim high and see what I can find.

Edit: Thank you all for your replies! I'm probably going to go for a used Epson Perfection v600 or v700. I've learned a lot about scanners following your leads.

5
submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by wolfeh@lemmy.world to c/buyitforlife@lemmy.world
 

I'm currently still using my CanoScan F910114 from ~2006 (pictured). The light recently burned out, but it still works for scanning documents if I add some contrast and brightness after the fact. Not great for photographs, though.

If I'm not able to replace the light, I might be in the market for a new scanner. Are there any that you all recommend for durability and potential repairability?

Obviously no electronics are truly going to be BIFL, but I figure I can at least aim high and see what I can find.

 
 

Ryan Krzak (YouTube: RWappin), the creator of popular fan music videos for the Weird Al tracks "Albuquerque" and "Everything You Know is Wrong," was hired by Al to animate the "Uptown Funk" segment of his latest release, "Polkamania!." That segment starts at 2:24.

This is similar to how Al liked Jarrett Heather's "Shop Vac" video, and asked him to animate his track "Word Crimes". Jarrett Heather, incidentally, is also in this latest video. He animates the "W.A.P." segment.

The Weird Al-fan dynamic is something more wholesome than can be described. There's a genuine love there.

"Weird Al Yankovic is America's modern pop-rock genius"

— Kurt Cobain

 

This is "Weird Al" Yankovic's latest polka medley track, an art form he's been perfecting since his first in 1984.

He worked with twelve different animators in the production of this video.

Animator Credits:

  • Cyriak – “Helena Polka (Al’s Version)”
  • David Wachtenheim & W/M Animation – “Bad Guy” & “Shake It Off (pt. 2)”
  • Augenblick Studios – “Hello”
  • Ghostbot / Alan Lau, Roque Ballesteros, and Roman Laney – “Flowers”
  • Jack D. Evans – “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
  • Vivienne Medrano/Spindlehorse – “Vampire”
  • Liam Lynch – “Old Town Road”
  • Jarrett Heather – “Despacito” & “WAP”
  • Bill Plympton – “Shape of You”
  • Ryan Krzak – “Uptown Funk”
  • KukoMitzu – “Thank U, Next”
  • Victor Yerrid & Melanie Mandl – “Shake It Off (Pt. 1)”

..

"Weird Al Yankovic is America's modern pop-rock genius"

— Kurt Cobain

 

archive.ph | Original Article (Contains ads and trackers)


Driver faces hit-run homicide in Marion County bike crash

by Matt Rawlings August 14, 2023

Brian Hammons, 55, faces hit-run and criminally negligent homicide charges.

SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) — A man turned himself into investigators on Sunday after fatally striking a bicyclist on a highway, then leaving the scene, according to Oregon State Police.

Brian Hammons, 55, faces hit-run and criminally negligent homicide charges.

Just after 7 p.m. Saturday, police say they responded to the collision in Marion County on Hwy 64 near milepost 5. According to investigators, the bicyclist, Harley Austin, 42, was riding south in the bike lane on Hwy 164 through the intersection of Talbot Rd SE when Hammons, who was driving a Dodge Ram 3500, turned onto the highway and collided with Austin.

Austin was taken to Salem Hospital, and was later pronounced dead, OSP said.

Authorities allege that Hammons left the scene after the arrival of medical personnel but before law enforcement arrived. He turned himself in the next day and was lodged in the Marion County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing. Any witnesses of the incident are being encouraged to contact OSP, referencing case SP23-252845.

 

A ransom note, copied word for word from a template from a Catholic organization, was sent to the Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library after two women followed the instructions of an anti-LGBTQ+ organization and checked out every potentially queer or trans book they could find. It backfired.

 

Archived article | Original article (contains ads and trackers)

Full article text is below.


“Oops, bike lane was a mistake… Uh, good luck turning right”: Commuter protests “worst cycle lane in the world” – which runs down the middle of the road and was designed “just to save 20 parking spots” – with homemade signs

From the boulevards of Paris to the sunny streets of San Francisco… Never say I don’t take you anywhere on the live blog.

Well, over in San Fran (that’s what they call it, isn’t it?), a controversial cycle lane – which runs, for some reason, up the middle of a main city street – and the “dangerous, ridiculous” construction signs which currently run along it, have inspired one bike riding commuter to install her own, cutting bike lane signs. Valencia Street cycle lane signs 4 (Danielle Baskin)

The new cycle lane on the Californian city’s Valencia Street runs down the middle of the road, with traffic passing on either side.

Cyclists using it are protected by the odd plastic bollard and small rubber kerbs. They have also had to, for the last three months, navigate the large construction signs currently lining the centre of the bike lane for its duration.

Mission Local reports (link is external) that plans for the cycle lane were approved, despite lukewarm support, in a bid to avoid removing delivery spaces on either side of the road. As the bike lane has been built, several cyclists have crashed – including into the signs – and traffic experts have been scathing of the scheme (link is external), describing it as “an abomination” and the “worst infrastructure I have ever seen anywhere in the world”.

Over the past week – in a bid to highlight the absurdity of the cycling ‘infra’ – a local cyclist has launched her own protest by swapping out the much-derided constructions signs with satirical ones of her own making. Valencia Street cycle lane signs (Dylan Hunn, Twitter)

Nine new signs appeared along the cycle path last week, each highlighting the problems with the lane’s layout.

“Uh, good luck turning right,” read one, while another said: “LOL IDK how you will merge.”

Others included: “We regret this bike lane”, “Good luck cyclists”, “LMAO We didn’t think this thru”, “If fire truck comes IDK”, and ““Oops bike lane was a mistake”.

The anonymous jokester, who commutes on Valencia Street every day, told the local paper that she installed the homemade messages because she finds the original signs “pretty ridiculous”.

“They’re an obstruction to cyclists, and also extremely confusing,” she said, noting that on one of her rides she saw one of the signs cracked in half after a cyclist hit it. That inspired her to make slogans lampooning the “dangerous” nature of the signs themselves. Valencia Street cycle lane signs 3 (Danielle Baskin)

Explaining her “good luck turning right” sign, she said: “If you have a green light and the cars have a green light, there’s this little square you have to wait in, but you don’t have much time. You have to make eye contact with drivers and let them let you make a right turn.”

Meanwhile, her fire truck-related sign was a result of the local authority’s decision to also make the cycle lane the designated lane for emergency services.

“Imagine you’re on your bike and there’re cars on both sides, and then the fire truck comes down. Where do you go?” she asked. Valencia Street cycle lane signs 2 (Danielle Baskin)

Despite encountering some opposition from the local authority – who promptly took the signs down – the cyclist returned over the weekend to keep spreading the message.

“Ultimately, I don’t think it’s the best vision for Valencia Street,” she said of the much-maligned cycling infra.

“They did all this just to save 20 parking spots. It’s frustrating because Valencia would be such a nice street, if the focus was on bikes and pedestrians.”

 

Archived article | Original article (contains ads and trackers)

Full article text is below.


Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof declared bankrupt

by Toby Sterling

July 18, 2023 5:09 PM EDT

AMSTERDAM, July 18 (Reuters) - Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof has been declared bankrupt and administrators are considering whether it can sell assets and restructure to save the business, the company said on Tuesday.

VanMoof, which raised 100 million euros ($112.56 million) to expand internationally as sales boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, filed for protection from creditors last week.

A company statement said that a judge at the Amsterdam District Court had declared the company's Dutch operations bankrupt on July 17.

Two administrators named to oversee the company "are continuing to assess the situation at VanMoof", including whether it can sell assets, reorganise and continue to operate.

VanMoof bikes feature a sleek, simplistic design with the battery built into the frame and have become common on the streets of Amsterdam, where the company was founded in 2009.

Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that the company, which sold bikes for more than 2,000 euros ($2,250) each, suffered from high costs to maintain and repair bikes while they were under warranty. About 200,000 have been sold worldwide.

Amsterdam police on Tuesday said their telephone lines were being flooded with customers complaining of "theft" because they paid for bikes that have not been delivered or because they have bikes being repaired at the company's stores, which are now closed.

"The police cannot do anything for customers, regardless of how distressing this may be," a police statement said.

"A bankruptcy is a civil dispute and not a criminal issue."

The VanMoof statement noted that the company's international subsidiaries are not part of the bankruptcy. The company declined to comment further.

NOS reported that brothers Taco and Ties Carlier, VanMoof's founders, had thanked the company's workers in an internal email sent to its 700 employees.

"We are sad, but above all we feel proud of what we accomplished," the email was reported as saying.

($1 = 0.8890 euros)

Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Louise Heavens and David Goodman

 

Alternative link: YouTube


There are more cases than you might think of empathy in all sorts of other animals. Growing up, my dog protected one of our cats from two other cats who bulled her.

Does anyone else have any experiences like that?

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