Reading

Entry tags:

drugs

The global Fentanyl crisis

Over the last decade, fentanyl and its analogs, extremely potent synthetic opioids, have overtaken prescription painkillers and heroin to become the leading cause of overdose deaths, especially in North America. In the US, synthetic opioids now account for the majority of drug-related fatalities among those ages 18–45, with over 100,000 overdose deaths in 2021 and 2022 alone.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-north-american-fentanyl-crisis-and-the-spread-of-synthetic-opioids/

These lethal drugs don't just appear out of nowhere. Trafficking networks orchestrate a 3-part supply chain: precursor chemicals (largely sourced from China) fuel large scale laboratory production, often in Mexico and Canada, before distribution into the US and beyond. A major Reuters investigation found that China's lax chemical regulations have enabled these precursors to be shipped widely, sustaining the epidemic.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/drugs-fentanyl-supplychain/

( Read more... )

(no subject)

It's been another busy month, with:

A post about spreading the word about the June 14 protests

chestnutpod posted links to two grass-roots jail-support organizations
Link to a Republican congressman's op-ed against Trump's big bill
Contacting the Department of Energy about section 504"
a guide to writing to ICE detainees

toastykitten posted several links to anti-war stuff
Organizing a Congressional district office visit
Some ideas to block the horrible reconciliation bill

Thanks to everyone who posted.

Here's a poll to tell us what you've been doing:

Poll #33322 June check-in

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14

View Respondents

This month, I

View Answers

called one of my senators
8 (57.1%)

called my other senator
8 (57.1%)

called my congressmember
6 (42.9%)

called my governor
2 (14.3%)

called my mayor, state rep, or other local official
1 (7.1%)

diddid get-out-the-vote work, such as postcarding or phone banking
1 (7.1%)

voted
0 (0.0%)

sent sent a postcard/email/letter/fax to a government official or agency
5 (35.7%)

went to a protest
5 (35.7%)

attended an in-person activist group
2 (14.3%)

went to a town hall
0 (0.0%)

participated in phone or online training
1 (7.1%)

donated money to a cause
8 (57.1%)

worked for a campaign
0 (0.0%)

did textbanking/phonebanking
1 (7.1%)

took care of myself
7 (50.0%)

not a US citizen, but worked in solidarity in my community
1 (7.1%)

did something else (tell us about it in comments)
2 (14.3%)

committed to action in the coming month
5 (35.7%)

As always, everyone is free to make posts about any issues and actions they think the comm should know about. You can also drop some information into a comment to our sticky post if you'd like the mods to do it.

If you're looking for information on anything else, you can use our tags to check for any ongoing actions or resources relevant to the issues you care about. I try to keep the tag list up-to-date. If you need a tag added, you can DM me.

Entry tags:

offtopic,
science

Friday offtopic. Time is three dimensional?

Mankind is wrong since 1905 ― Experts detect the real dimensions of time

This guy has an interesting theory, and claims this time it can be tested. In a nutshell, he argues time is three dimensional and space is just a consequence of that, so a byproduct. Which in essence turns General Relativity on its head. Literally.

The three dimensions of time he posits:

1. The first line, which would be the direct line that we know.
2. The second would allow us to access alternative versions of the same moment. It would be as if we could revisit an ordinary day and discover what it would have been like if we had made different choices.
3. And the third temporal dimension would allow the transition between these different possibilities.

Entry tags:

Panel Voting is OPEN!

There are so many options to vote for and so much variety. Come check out all that is up for offer. See what ones you're interested and get your votes in! I can't wait to see what makes the cut. This is going to be a busy con! DC-Slash Con

A bulletin board with voting options

Entry tags:

Ideas to block the current bill

There are 17 medical professionals in the current House of Representatives. 11 are Republicans. Trying to argue on most issues with the bill is difficult with such a tight deadline, but the one item most people -- including Congressional Representatives -- are reacting to negatively is the closure of Rural and Regional hospitals. This should be a negative for all of the Republicans, but the ones who understand what lack of medical provision can do should be especially ripe to listen, perhaps even be persuaded.

I live in Georgia. Rich McCormick is Georgia District 6, and I live in District 1. But he's more likely to respond to someone from the same state, especially if he has Senate or Gubernatorial ambitions in the future.

The list I found is through The Patients Action Network. If you are in a District with one of these Republican representatives, particularly if they specialize in Emergency or Family medicine, start calling and/or emailing. If you are in the same state, email them and let them know you have a long memory if they're thinking of statewide offices.

In the meantime, send support to the few Republicans in the House who have already voted against it and continue to oppose it. At the very least, let's make them miss their deadline for vacation.

Entry tags:

poll,
topic

Monthly topic

All right folks, because it's a new month now, we should keep our tradition with the Monthly Topic. The one you guys chose for July was:

AI Regulation: Striking the Balance

And here is the poll for August.

What should be the next monthly topic?

1) Weaponised Nostalgia: The Politics of the Past

2) Techno-Authoritarianism

3) Deglobalisation: Retreat or Realignment?

4) Youth and Dissent: Gen Z vs the System

5) Conspiracy Theories We Kind of Wish Were True

(Feel free to suggest more topics)

Rebuilding journal search again

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

(no subject)

Name: Val

Age: 47

I mostly post about: Being Gen-X, Canadian, ramblings of day to day life, my mental health, sometimes the state of the world (though I try to keep that to a minimum), what I'm currently reading, Nelson shenanigans (my cat)

My hobbies are: I knit and crochet; writing, watching movies/television (mostly drama and British telly), reading, 'cozy' colouring with alcohol markers, music (love to listen to new things)

My fandoms are: I used to be very into fandoms 10 or so years ago, but not so much anymore. It can be exhausting.

I'm looking to meet people who: above all, are kind. 20+ of age, and have some interests in common. It would be ideal if you like to comment on entries.

My posting schedule tends to be: aiming for daily, but likely a few times a week. I'm journaling again at the suggestion of my therapist.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: the usual: racism, anti-LGBTQIA+. I used to be a big Harry Potter fan, but no longer and I generally stay away from those who still embrace the fandom, JKR, and the books/movies.

Before adding me, you should know: I'm a very kind and sensitive person and try to be thoughtful and respectful when commenting on others entries, so I hope to receive the same in return. Also, I have an odd sense of humour and I use "LOL" and "<3" a lot.

Entry tags:

OMG! Less than a month until DC-Slash

You read that right, less than a month to go! Today is the last day to register at the early bird rate of $10 and tomorrow we start panel voting. We've got over 100 panel suggestions. The deadline for submitting a vid is July 14th! We've got programming spread across multiple time zones so multimedia slash fans from all over can enjoy themselves. Check it out! https://www.dcslash.org/dc-slash-con

Plot Bunny in a rocket

(no subject)

Name: Blythe
Age: 37

I mostly post about:
Life on the Cornish coast, daily swims in the sea, studio days at the pottery wheel, what’s blooming in the garden, what I’m reading (mostly mid-century women writers), the small rituals that keep me steady, and occasional thoughts on slow living and soft rebellion.

My hobbies are:
Ceramics, sea swimming, baking things that go with tea, reading literary fiction (especially anything with layered domestic dynamics and quiet emotional collapse), pressing flowers into notebooks, and making seasonal playlists.

I'm looking to meet people who:
Write or read with heart, find beauty in the everyday, value kindness, know the pleasure of a well-brewed pot of tea, or also spend entire evenings choosing which notebook to start. Anyone who understands that joy and sadness often walk hand in hand.

My posting schedule tends to be:
Softly inconsistent— I'm aiming for 2-3x week, sometimes once a week, sometimes three times in a day if I’m feeling chatty or emotionally unspooled. Usually seasonal—more reflective in winter, more playful in summer.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are:
Cruelty, racism, snobbery, homophobia, transphobia, or taking yourself far too seriously. I’m not here for edge for edge’s sake.

Before adding me, you should know:
I write a little like I talk—long, meandering, full of parentheses and feelings. I will absolutely comment on your post about moss or jam or the book you half-finished three years ago. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to be soft on purpose.

Entry tags:

Friday offtopic. Let's make ignorance expensive again.

I'd argue that Facebook doom scrolling is far more damaging "in its current state":

Scientists just completed the first brain scan study of ChatGPT users, "the results are terrifying"!

It appears those "ChatGPT users bad" posts are usually projection mixed with a sprinkle of elitism and a big ol' spoonful of insecurity. It's like they know something powerful is happening, but instead of learning how to use it, they slap on a "let me gatekeep intelligence" sticker and act like typing your thoughts into an interface is brain rot. Bro, you typed that take into a smartphone while scrolling TikTok and calling it a mental detox.

Let's be real. Tools like ChatGPT don't replace thinking, they expand it. When used well, they:
Help you frame and explore ideas more efficiently
Connect you to relevant knowledge and sources
Offer new perspectives that challenge your assumptions
Save you time on the small stuff so you can think about the big stuff
Let you actually enjoy learning again

The real fear behind memes like this is often about gatekeeping, the idea that if more people have access to nuanced thinking tools, the traditional power structures lose their grip.

So yeah. You're not being zombified. You're leveling up. It's not cognitive laziness. It's cognitive leverage. That's the key difference.

I mean, come on. If Plato had a tool that could help him cross-reference every myth, idea and dialectic while brainstorming his next philosophical banger, you think he'd be like, "No thanks, I prefer to suffer manually"?
Hell no. He'd be running "Republic GPT" faster than you could say "Forms".

Entry tags:

nato,
trump

The NATO deal

News just came from The Hague, where Trump led a surprisingly smooth NATO summit. In a nutshell:

Trump got his headline win: NATO leaders agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 (3.5% for core military costs, 1.5% for broader security needs). This came after steady pressure from him.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/

He affirmed his support for Article 5 (collective defense) after earlier doubts. "I stand with it ... that's why I'm here," he said.

And yes, Trump wasn't shy calling out Spain for opting out. He even hinted at tougher trade negotiations: "We're going to make them pay twice as much."

Trump framed this outcome as a major victory for the US, NATO, and Western security. "We had a great victory here," he said. Very Trump style.

Of course this was classic Trump. All drama, all deal. He held NATO's feet to the fire and walked away with a commitment no one thought possible. Yes, some allies grumbled, but getting everyone (even Spain with its carve‑out) to sign on to 5% is no small feat. It's a win that gives Europe more skin in the game and lets Trump claim he secured billions more for US made arms. Credit where credit is due. He played it like a champ: commanding, unapologetic, and very on-brand.

This will be a highlight of Trump's, that's for sure.

Entry tags:

Party Online with DC Slash this Fifth of July!!!

Come hang out with your fellow slash fans as we kick off the summer with a little tech, a little history, and a whole lot of fun!

🛠️ 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US) – Con Tech Panel
New to Zoom? Wondering how to navigate Discord like a pro? Join us for a casual walkthrough of everything you need to know for DC-Slash Con 2025. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your cat if they like keyboards.

🎬 3:00 PM Eastern Time (US) – Watch Party: 1776 + Hamilton
It’s a Revolutionary Double Feature!
We're cueing up 1776 for some glorious Founding Fathers camp, then jumping into Hamilton for music, drama, and possibly a sing-along (no judgment).

The party begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time (US) and usually runs until 5 or 6 pm. Here's the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91462849358?pwd=TzNLZnplUDFCcVVTUE96dzhmam9Odz09

Entry tags:

DC-Slash House Party

Come hang out with your fellow slash fans as we kick off the summer with a little tech, a little history, and a whole lot of fun!

🛠️ 2:00 PM – Con Tech Panel
New to Zoom? Wondering how to navigate Discord like a pro? Join us for a casual walkthrough of everything you need to know for DC-Slash Con 2025. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your cat if they like keyboards.

🎬 3:00 PM – Watch Party: 1776 + Hamilton
It’s a Revolutionary Double Feature!
We're cueing up 1776 for some glorious Founding Fathers camp, then jumping into Hamilton for music, drama, and possibly a sing-along (no judgment).

No Binge Weekend for Escapade

We won't be having a binge this weekend due to Escapade and our regular attendees taking part in their virtual con.