Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jessica McCarty

RichThompsonAK @richthompsonak.bsky.social · 4h

‘Miserable’: Hundreds sheltering in Western Alaska schools in dire conditions

"In Kwigillingok, some 400 people were sheltering at the school, without functioning toilets ... in Kipnuk, where the water plant wasn’t working and electricity was limited."

www.ktoo.org/2025/10/15/m...

'Miserable': Hundreds sheltering in Western Alaska schools in dire conditions

The state is evacuating the vulnerable and trying to find safe shelter for all. "We're moving as fast as we can," the incident commander said. "We know that folks are miserable."

www.ktoo.org

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Eric Williams @geoliminal.bsky.social · 1d

the "protein powder has a zillion percent lead in it" story explains a LOT of the conversations i overhear while waiting for a bench to free up

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 1d

This is basically all open ag burning and prescribed fires in timber areas within the southeastern U.S.

This is not wildfire smoke.

NOAA HRRR smoke forecast CONUS @conus-smoke-forecast.envismo.social · 1d

Near surface smoke forecast for the CONUS area.

Model run: 20251014T01:00 UTC

Data from NOAA's HRRR CONUS (https://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrr/)

Note that this product comes with absolutely no guarantee of availability, accuracy or completeness.

#Wildfires #Smoke #AirQuality

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 2d

Something to learn today - a little over 1/2 of U.S. state names are derived from Indigenous words and languages.

brilliantmaps.com/us-state-nam...

Where Do US State Names Come From? - Brilliant Maps

The map above shows the origins for US state names. The vast majority come from Native / Indigenous words, followed by English related names (royalty, places or aristocracy), then names coming from Sp...

brilliantmaps.com

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

bleary @bleary.off-the-records.com · 2d

If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.

Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
2? Questions
I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 4d

I posted this ~8 years on a different social media platform.

I’m sure I’ll repost this again in several years on whatever replaces social media.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 4d

My long held opinion is that the Norwegians should stop handing out peace prizes.

Like, they are damn near batting a 1000 for awarding it to folks who have or want to start military conflicts.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Patrick Wyman @patrickwyman.bsky.social · 7d

Watching antisocial driver behavior in the school drop-off line makes it really clear that the pandemic destroyed whatever few shreds remained of the social compact, just pathological selfishness on display every day

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 8d

Yeah, that’s my experience as well.

Because higher learning / post-secondary education is hard for everyone. But some folks have it hard in every other space and place and time of the life. Which is like raising hard ^ struggle. Acknowledging that does take away one’s accomplishments.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 8d

This was in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky. Those well-to-do kids were not locals, they were the offspring of (mainly goodhearted) educated outsiders who came there to save the hillbillies. But they didn’t get survival because they didn’t and wouldn’t live it.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 8d

When I was in AP English I (the only student from below the poverty line) argued against every other student (from well-to-do families) that a reason many poorer parents don’t read to their kids is that they don’t have time cuz they are trying to survive. The rest of my class dismissed my argument.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 12d

Even when I was a bratty teenager, I never understood making fun of people for liking the music they like.

I don’t like all music, & fans of certain genres are puzzling to me (lookin’ at you, Latino/Hispanic fans of self-described racist pop country musicians).

Let folks like what they like.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 12d

I made pumpkin blondies with chocolate chips today. No eggs or oil. Yum 😋 🎃🍫

(2/31)

Homemade chocolate chip blondes made with pumpkin and oatmeal. No eggs or oil.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 12d

You know those AI nostalgia generated videos are 1,000% missing the mark when the “algorithms” didn’t just copy & paste an entire episode of ‘Community’ to represent the late 2000s / early 2010s.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 13d

Old folks in Appalachian Kentucky will tell you that during that administration, they would trap groundhogs, or “Hoover pigs”, for stew. 🍲

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Dr. Crystal A. Kolden @pyrogeog.bsky.social · 13d

Published today: our new paper showing a 44-year trend of increasing global wildfire disasters (fatalities and economic losses) due to climate change-induced extreme weather. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Climate-linked escalation of societally disastrous wildfires

Climate change and land mismanagement are creating increasingly fire-prone built and natural environments. However, despite worsening fire seasons, evidence is lacking globally for trends in socially ...

www.science.org

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 13d

I’m furloughed. A bit less science than usual.

This begins my spooky 👻 🎃 season thread. #SpookySeason

(1/31)

youtu.be/70NrA13iYlw?...

TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by RISEN

youtu.be

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 15d

Sacramento was nice.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 17d

The stupidest timeline.

On 28 September 2025, Probability of USA federal government shutting down on 1 October 2025 according to online betting market Polymarket: 69%.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 18d

A few years ago I stumbled onto an interview with the actor who plays “Mayhem” (AKA The Vulture in Brooklyn Nine Nine). This man never has to pay for a drink. The number of women apparently into this persona is pretty damn high.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 19d

Can you enroll in college? Then guess what - your professors can’t talk to your parents unless you are a minor or give them permission too. Because of FERPA.

Cut the cord, people.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 19d

The parenting culture in California is so foreign to me.

Many treat their young adults (18-30) kids like actual minor children.

I will not do that, causing conflicts. If the federal + state governments treat you as an adult (you can vote, join the military, pay taxes, own property), so do I.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 20d

OMB instructing federal agencies to prepare RIF plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, reports Politico. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a shutdown

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

www.politico.com

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 22d

Spending most of my time searching for fat bears this week.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Climatologist49 @climatologist49.bsky.social · 26d

Same, tbh.

NPR @npr.org · 26d

The famous bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park are enjoying an abundance of salmon, and even some playtime, as they pack on pounds to prepare for the winter.

Fat Bear Week is here early, and the bears are fat and playful

The famous bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park are enjoying an abundance of salmon, and even some playtime, as they pack on pounds to prepare for the winter.

n.pr

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