Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

first term should read first year.

Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

Eat that steak now.

Soon it won't be available/affordable in Trump's America.

Tired of winning yet?

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 10h

Screwworm, which is a major threat to cattle and is already affecting beef prices, is advancing toward our southern border faster than expected.

No wall will keep it out. And the USDA inspectors who monitor it are currently furloughed.

Cuellar: Furloughed USDA inspectors can’t check for New World screwworm

A South Texas congressman says U.S. Agriculture employees who are responsible for checking for New World Screwworms and ensuring the pest doesn’t cross the border have been furloughed and are not w…

www.borderreport.com

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

This is not accurate.

Hoover was a one term president, elected in '28. The '29 crash came in his first term in office.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

911...I'd like to report a murder.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

That's wild.

I'm lucky that my likely-never-to-be-acted-upon luxury brand covet is a vintage Rolex Oyster (not a perpetual). I don't have desires beyond that.

(Maybe a really elegant suit one of these days.)

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

Shoes are tough. I've got great hiking boots—Salomons that have lasted for years & will likely outlive me. (My feet seem to like Salomon's lasts, as it happens). I've had bad luck with the sort of mid-tier stuff, Merrels and the like; they feel fine in the store but are done in 6 months-1 year.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

Not at all.

I'm a Marmot fan, though I mostly buy their outerwear. Patagonia stuff holds up pretty well, and I'm very happy with a Columbia shirt I bought in June (for $90--not cheap.)

But some of the stuff I used to trust i don't anymore.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 2h

streetcar=streetwear.

Damn you autocorrect...and damn me for my persistently terrible proofreading.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 3h

The US achieved measles elimination status in 2000. We will lose it soon (if we haven't already).

We are willingly and needlessly putting our children (and a lot of older adults) in harms way because RFK Jr. needed a new grift to cover the cost of his Hyannis house.

www.kff.org/other-health...

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Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 6h

I regret to inform you

www.anarchistfederation.net/youre-invite...

www.anarchistfederation.net

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 3h

I'm perfectly prepared to believe that stuff marketed for the label may not be well made, but gear used in harsh real world applications costs a lot but does so for a reason.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 3h

Similarly, at least some of the technical gear I prefer for streetcar really does come with a longer life & better backing. A year or so ago, Marmot gave me enough store credit to buy 2 winter coats becoz they couldn't fix the zipper on a life-time warrantied high-altitude parka I bought in 2003.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 3h

I'm sure that's so in the brand-recognition end of luxury stuff.

But I find it still true for shoes. Spending up for well made footware has bought me longevity (and in some cases, the ability to replace soles, which too many shoes now don't permit.)

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 3h

It was an honor to join Sunday services at the Historic Union Baptist Church in Harlem this morning. My thanks to Reverend Brian D. Scott for the conversation and welcome.

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unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 9h

People are spontaneously posting up near any laborers or street vendors they spot. Just saw a rapid responder guarding a man working on a building exterior. Many things are terrible today but lord, this stuff matters.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 10h

There are a tremendous number of ICE watchers out in Rogers Park this afternoon after some early morning abductions.

People are guarding churches and patrolling alleyways. Ran into Alderperson Hadden. First timers tell us they're primed and ready to use their whistles.

Know your rights flyer in Spanish on street pole

Alderperson Maria Hadden on street corner

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

This brings to mind Captain Vimes boots theory of wealth. Rich people pay a lot of money for well made boots that last them a decade or more. Poor folks buy crappy boots that they can afford that then wear out in a year. By the ten year mark they will have spent way more than the rich guy.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 6h

to add a data point to this thread, i just bought a j press MIUSA shirt that ran me $185.

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 7h

This two-parter below is exactly why it's hard to make clothes in the United States.

Let's look at how much it costs to produce a button-up shirt in the US. 🧵

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

Read this thread.

There's a lot of stuff that we expect to be cheap that should be more expensive if those who make it and get it to the ultimate customer are to have a living wage.

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 7h

This two-parter below is exactly why it's hard to make clothes in the United States.

Let's look at how much it costs to produce a button-up shirt in the US. 🧵

Someone on Twitter replies to me: "meh. buy american or stfu."

Two hours later, in a separate thread, the write: "$30 for a single button-up is ridiculous unless it is decent quality silk."

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

IMHO: Don't ignore the present. Comparativity offers an interesting comparison between '30s Germany and the US now: see how easy it is to lose what seemed/seems like invulnerable advantages. And if your students are willing to talk, why not? (Though I would understand if they were to feel at risk.)

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

And that was roundly debunked by a lot of sources that TFP did not see fit to acknowledge.

Caitlin Flanagan's attempt to truthwash serial partisan bullshit purveyor is much more revealing of Flanagan (herself a polished propagandist) and her editors than it is of Weiss's critics.

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 15h

Last I checked the GOP controls all branches of our government.

Tweet from MeidasTouch: “Wow that’s crazy. Who’s running the federal government?”
Below, Acyn’s tweet quotes Rep. Mike Johnson: “If you look at polling, people’s faith in the federal government is at an all-time low. Why? Because they don’t see that it’s being done well.”
A C-SPAN screenshot shows Johnson speaking with another man standing beside him.

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Kristen Immoor @kristenimmoor.bsky.social · 9h

Enjoyed the New Yorker interview with Tim Curry, a free-wheeling conversation in which there were several sensitive questions about his paralyzing stroke. But oh my goodness, why was there no follow-up at all to this staggering answer? www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

Screenshot of text from the interview:

You’ve always been an incredibly physical performer: your strut during “Sweet Transvestite” in “Rocky Horror,” or the way you run around unfurling the mystery at the end of “Clue.” Do you still feel that in your body? Does that live somewhere in you still?

I think it does, but it’s angry. My mobility is angry to get out. But it’s not happened yet. I do a certain amount of physical therapy. I did a whole bunch of it at Cedars-Sinai, and I got very close, I think, to walking. That was tantalizing. For insurance reasons, I had to withdraw. And I have a visiting physical therapist now, but I can only really do exercises from my bed, which is pretty pathetic. It’s not going to get me walking, I don’t believe.

[I have underlined the sentence "For insurance reasons, I had to withdraw."]

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Assaad Razzouk @assaadrazzouk.bsky.social · 12h

Good climate news this week
1 Global: Renewables generation surpasses coal for 1st time
2 Global: Renewables have cut fossil-fuel imports for more than 100 countries
3 Global: Solar and wind generation grew in 1st half by more than overall demand increased in the same period

1/5

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 5h

The Supreme Court’s 2025 term will decide critical election and voting rights cases that could reshape American democracy. I explain what is on their docket and what cases deserve your attention.

Please watch and share.
youtu.be/0iKo6YdLxhA

Supreme Court's SHOCKING New Agenda Revealed!

YouTube video by Democracy Docket

youtu.be

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

I hate to break this to you, but "free speech" does not mean speech to which only positive responses are permissible..

Too many Free Speech warriors seem to think that the concept requires those who disagree to simply listen and not dissect--and express derision when appropriate.

As here.

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Boston Tom Levenson @tomlevenson.bsky.social · 4h

The Jets are the true north of American football.

You can orient yourself anywhere in the league to their ineptitude.

It's kind of reassuring, actually.

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