Kenji
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elementaleucology.com
Kenji
@elementaleucology.com
1.8K followers 2.1K following 8.8K posts
Healer | Miraculist | Cultural engineer

Black queer strategist and organizer committed to a habitable earth and joyful embodiments of the erotic. (Some NSFW)

https://campsite.bio/the_eucologist
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elementaleucology.com
I'm not impressed. At all.

#COP30

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Screenshot from Fiona Harvey's article in The Guardian, titled "'Fossil fuel giants finally in the crosshairs': Cop30 avoids total failure with last-ditch deal" and published Monday, November 24th, 2025. It details the negotiations and talks of world players at this year's COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil. The cropped text reads: "Alongside the oblique commitment in the legally agreed text of the deal, countries will begin work on a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, but this will be largely a voluntary initiative, led by Brazil, that will report back next year. Addressing the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions needed in order for the world to stay within the 1.5C limit was also put off to next year. Developing countries secured a tripling to $120bn of annual finance to help them adapt to the impacts of extreme weather, but that sum will not be delivered in full until 2035. Workers will benefit from a 'just transition mechanism' to help people working in high-carbon industries to shift to the clean economy, but commitments to include 'critical minerals' – needed for renewable energy components, but whose extraction has been dogged by human rights abuses – were excised, at the behest of China and Russia."
November 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
elementaleucology.com
This is the most complete list I've seen of the programs likely to have federal student loan offers reduced should reclassification go unchallenged.

Note that outside of professions that mandate reporting, the most commonly pursued degree programs broadly involve digital or financial auditing.
A list of degrees the Education Department is seeking to reclassify as non-professional. It lists the following: - Nursing (MSN, DNP, NP, Nurse, Midwife, CRNA) - Physician assistant - Occupational and physical therapy - Counseling and therapy fields - Public health (MPH, DRPH) - Health administration - Education (all specialities) - Social Work (BSW, MSW) - IT, Cybersecurity, Engineering - Business (MBA, Accounting) - Arts and Architecture - Audiology - Speech-language Pathology
November 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
elementaleucology.com
Following a lengthy Q&A, there's a review of the RTA budget.

CFO and Deputy ED of Finance Kevin Bueso presents thus, spending time reiterating the RTA objectives as outlined by the Northern Illinois Transportation Act (NITA):

Background on NITA here:
metroplanning.org/illinois-pas...
Slide from the RTA presentation on current responsibilities in the budget as defined by NITA. It features Black text against a white background and lists the following: - Enhanced services agreement for service planning, fare modelling, and capital prioritization - Parking minimum/zoning update - Aligning joint development work - Expansion of Access pilot program to CTA and Pace - Access to Transit projects with RTA/NITA funding
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
elementaleucology.com
I'm a bit behind in covering everything, but working to make things accessible and clear.

Following Leerhsen, Chief Financial Officer Tom McKone presents the budget overview, noting a helpful injection of funds from the state and clarifying that security services does include some CPD involvement.
Screenshot of an image from CTA's 2026 budget snapshot focused on revenues, which notes ~$1.4B in traditional funding alongside ~$160M from the state through direct allocations and reimbursements, $364M from sales of passes and fares. Also shown are ~257M in Operating Reserves. The screenshot shows a slide of these categories placed to the right of a green pie chart, with each section separated by tone and gradient. Screenshot of an image from CTA's 2026 budget snapshot focused on expenses, which notes ~$1.6B in labor costs, ~$35M for injuries and damages, and $82M for security. The screenshot shows a slide of these categories placed to the right of a green pie chart, with sections separated by tone and gradient.
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
elementaleucology.com
Following this CTA President Nora Leerhsen begins their presentation, noting that ridership is the highest it's been in six years with October 2025 being the best month in that period.

"People are attracted to our [public] investment in a way that comes out in ridership [improvements]."
Slide from the CTA presentation on current ridership focused on people and containing a collage of images, including a young woman in braids proudly holding a certificate and a group photo of a woman holding a young child while a man looks at the child fondly. It notes more than 2,000 people will be hired by the end of the year and that there are, on average, over one million weekday rides. 62% of adults without a license over the age of 65 use CTA.
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
elementaleucology.com
CFO Morris provides brief remarks on the operating budget plan for 2026, which notes that revenues remain relatively static compared to last year and will decrease in following years.

New Funding, they are excited to note, will increase significantly, by ~$220M as compared with 2026.
Screenshot of the slide on Metra Chicago's 2026 budget context. It notes that the $1.1B budget is $50M higher than 2025's due to inflation, a few service expansions, and hiring increases. Screenshot of the operating budget plan for Metra Chicago which shows the 2025 estimates as well as 2026-2028 projections. It notes that revenues will remain relatively static compared to last year but decrease modestly in subsequent years. It also highlights a prominent increase in New Funding in 2027.
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
elementaleucology.com
CEO James Derwinski begins his presentation by giving a brief overview of the strategic plan and providing some by-the-numbers highlights, saying that Chief Financial Officer James Morris will provide an overview of the budget plan and outlook.
Screenshot from Metra Chicago's overview of current service. Next to a pie chart reflecting the racial breakdown of the workforce (35.5% white - dark blue, 34.6% Black - orange, 25.9% Hispanic - burgundy) are bullet points with present-day realities. The slide notes more than 300 workers are veterans, that there are 1155 miles of track (488 route miles) and 243 stations. 692 trains are used across the week, 273 on Saturdays, and 181 on Sundays.
November 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
elementaleucology.com
Following Metzger's comments CFO Maggie Schilling presents budget highlights for Pace overall as well as suburban service specifically.

In 2026 operating revenues are expected to increase $1M while expenses will increase by ~$50M. This will result in the service ending up $45.7M in the red.
Screenshot of the 2026 budget that highlights that funding will continue for several garages (Southwest, River, Wheeling), the replacement of 22 diesel buses with electric and hybrid options, 17 improvements to paratransit vehicles, and on-board voice and radio modernization. Slide from the final budget for Pace's suburban service. In the 2026 budget operating revenues are expected to increase about $1M while expenses are set to increase by ~$50M. The net effect of this is that Pace service will be in the deficit by $45.7M by the end of the year.
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
elementaleucology.com
Metzger follows up on Pace safety and security to transition to customer satisfaction. Here's a slide from the presentation:
Slide from Pace suburban transit on customer satisfaction that highlights rider demographics and presents highlights. According to the slide: - 76% are transit dependent - 83% have household incomes below $75K - 13% are 65 or older The areas of greatest satisfaction were in the areas of Service Value, Total Travel Time, and Available Service to Destination.
November 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
elementaleucology.com
Speaking on the safety of the route Metzger says collaboration with law enforcement is essential as Pace courses across 274 jurisdictions. She takes a moment to celebrate the "million milers," drivers and other frontline workers that ensure rider safety and security.
Screenshot of an image of a slide on 'Safety and Security' from Pace's Review on 2025. An image of workers in neon adjacent to a Pace bus and a Metra rail line sits next to the three areas: Safety & Security, Training & Preparedness, and People & Presence.
November 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
elementaleucology.com
Considering I was formally diagnosed with GAD three years ago, this is... kind of remarkable.

#selfhealing
Image of the results of an attachment style quiz depicted as a bar chart. Beneath 'Your Results' in black font are bars for Anxious, Avoidant, and Secure. The Anxious bar is unfilled and grey and says 0%, the Avoidant bar is partially filled in a teal color and says 25%, and the Secure bar is completely filled in an electric green color and says 100%.
November 17, 2025 at 3:00 AM
elementaleucology.com
Something at least partly responsible for tonight's trouncing:
Image of black and red text against a white background that reads "Black Internationalist Feminism."
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 AM
elementaleucology.com
Yeah, the Tribune Editorial Board tried similar. In 2023. With the Black progressive mayor Mamdani's field organizing strategy emulated.

Lots of backhanded compliments, casual antiblackness, voter condescendion, and attempts at narrative manipulation.

www.chicagotribune.com/2023/04/05/e...
Screenshot from the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board article, published April 5th, 2023, and titled "Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson found a place in his acceptance speech for God. But not Barack Obama." It reads: "He found a place for God, but not, strikingly, for Barack Obama, inarguably the most important leader this city ever has produced. The omission was telling, a reminder that the progressive movement of which Johnson now is a Midwest standard-bearer, feels ambivalent about the former Chicago community organizer and his more pragmatic legacy. The city, and the nation, have traveled far away from 2004, when Obama delivered the unforgettable keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in front of 9 million viewers and began his meteoric rise. Many of Johnson’s most enthusiastic voters were still in middle school." Screenshot from the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board article, published April 5th, 2023, and titled "Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson found a place in his acceptance speech for God. But not Barack Obama." It reads: "But there’s another factor we saw at our endorsement meetings. Given the stated philosophy of this page, with its longtime belief in limited government, transparency in public leadership, freedom of speech, public safety as a priority and its pro-business outlook, Johnson and his campaign surely surmised that he had an uphill battle to gain our endorsement. And, indeed, he did not. We already had concerns about the growing scope of influence and radicalism of the Chicago Teachers Union before their preferred candidate landed in the runoff. And we also felt there were better progressive candidates who did not have the backing of so powerful a union, and who had done a better job at actually answering some of the harder questions rather than wriggling rhetorically away."
November 5, 2025 at 7:20 AM
elementaleucology.com
Where have we heard this before? 🤔

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015...
Cropped screenshot of the headline and summary of an article from The Guardian, titled "The Disappeared: Chicago Police Detain Americans at Abuse-Laden 'Black Site'," dated February 24th, 2025, and published by Spencer Ackerman. It details exclusive revelations at the time, including the detailing of police brutality, one protestor's shackling absent the legal extension of their due process rights, a missing child, and the death of one man.
November 2, 2025 at 3:27 AM
elementaleucology.com
Encouraging.

Raising taxes on fuel purchases will sensibly improve the state's position on climate while increasing fare tax rates across the board should improve CTA efficiency and access for Chicagoans.

#transportation
#freedomofmovement
Screenshot of an image from an article in Capitol News Illinois titled, 'Latest Chicago transit funding plan appears to avoid statewide tax increases' by Ben Szalinski and published October 30th, 2025. It reads: "The bulk of the funding, $860 million, would come through redirecting sales tax revenue charged on motor fuel purchases to public transportation operations. Another estimated $200 million would come from interest growing in the Road Fund — a state fund that is typically used for road construction projects but can also be used for transportation-related purposes under the state constitution. The plan calls for raising the existing Regional Transportation Authority sales tax by 0.25 percentage points, to 1% in Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will counties and 1.25% in Cook County. That tax hike will generate $478 million."
October 31, 2025 at 5:55 AM
elementaleucology.com
There's still time to fill out a witness slip for Illinois' legislative session tonight to fund public transit, according to @betterstreetschicago.org.

Directions and the link below:
ilga.gov/House/hearin...
Screenshot of an email from the transit advocacy group Better Streets Chicago requesting that Illinois residents file witness slips in support of a legislative funding package. White text on a black background reads: "How to file a witness slip: 1. Follow the link and fill out your contact information 3. Under 'firm/business' put 'self' or your workplace if authorized) 4. Under 'representation' put 'self' again 5. Under 'position' choose subject matter 'SB2111' and 'proponent' 6. Under 'testimony' choose 'record of appearance only' 7. Then agree to the terms and click 'Submit Witness Slip'" There is no #2, likely missed in the rush to get the message out. Beneath the text is a dark blue button that reads "File a witness slip!"
October 31, 2025 at 1:28 AM
elementaleucology.com
As of a half hour ago I've seen folks push to file witness slips NOW if they can. Link and directions below:

ilga.gov/House/hearin...
Screenshot of an email from the transit advocacy group Better Streets Chicago requesting that Illinois residents file witness slips in support of a legislative funding package. White text on a black background reads: "How to file a witness slip: 1. Follow the link and fill out your contact information 3. Under 'firm/business' put 'self' or your workplace if authorized) 4. Under 'representation' put 'self' again 5. Under 'position' choose subject matter 'SB2111' and 'proponent' 6. Under 'testimony' choose 'record of appearance only' 7. Then agree to the terms and click 'Submit Witness Slip'" There is no #2, likely missed in the rush to get the message out. Beneath the text is a dark blue button that reads "File a witness slip!"
October 31, 2025 at 1:25 AM
elementaleucology.com
Probably best to refer to the people whose lives were RUINED by this device as 'enslaved persons' rather than 'slaves'.

Spirits don't take kindly to casual dehumanization and they move VERY QUICKLY this time of year.
Image of a beige building with a white roof and rectangular cut-outs for windows leaning uneasily next to a largely empty parking lot while angry, thick brown clouds of smoke swirl in the distance. Several vehicles are partially obscured, but the lettering on the building announces it unambiguously: CITY HALL Photo by Victoria Balderrama of KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, Texas.
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 AM
elementaleucology.com
Today is a science day!

We are checking out some new developments in nanoscience via @iinanonu.bsky.social's Schnell Symposium and hoping to catch updates from the @blackinmicro.bsky.social folks. 🧪🔬👨🏾‍🔬
Image of a Black man wearing a maroon shirt and dark glasses, fitted with a black KN95 mask. He is seated in a darkened conference hall amidst a small crowd, a cheeky grin carefully concealed.
October 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
elementaleucology.com
For folks looking to support disaster relief in Western Alaska, donations are still being accepted but only of new supplies and clothing given low capacity.

Monetary donations can be made at the link below:

alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

#YKDeltaStrong
#TyphoonHalong
#WesternAlaskaRelief
Image of a deep teal flyer with golden yellow accents. At the upper left corner reads 'Western Alaska Diaster Relief's followed by an updated list of accepted donation items. The list reads: Water, nonperishable foods, diapers, wipes, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, phone chargers, blankets, sleeping bags, cots, flashlights, hand wipes, totes, packing boxes, tape, sharpie markers, sticky labels to label boxes and items, rubber gloves, paper towels, large trash bags, duffle bags, backpacks, pillows, batteries, air mattresses with pumps. At the upper left corner of the image are two QR codes in white and black that direct to an online fundraiser and an Amazon wishlist where donated items can be purchased directly. The bottom right of the flyer repeats the accepted and desired donation items but notes that these are being accepted at a physical location--Dena'ina Center Room 6 on the second floor. It specifies that in-person donations are being accepted Friday, October 17th, 1-5PM, and Saturday, October 18th, 8AM-2PM.
October 15, 2025 at 6:23 AM
elementaleucology.com
Beans are a deceptively wild plant (complimentary).

I've tried making these Mayocobas three times now and every time prior they turned into a creamy mush.

What worked:
1) Short soak --> rinse (5m, 2-3 soaks).
2) Chilled overnight in mason jar --> rinse.
3) +Filtered water, shake jar, re-chill.
Image of a black pot of cream-colored beans sitting in a translucent brown liquid dotted with peppers, onions, and herbs. The handle of a wooden spoon extends into the pot, its bowl disappearing beneath the spicy, savory goodness.
October 9, 2025 at 7:22 AM
elementaleucology.com
Happy Harvest (Moon)! 🌕😋
Image of a round, tan ceramic plate caressing grilled chicken breast, sauteed broccolini, and roasted potatoes next to a fork and knife. The entire ensemble rests atop a pale blue cloth with a square pattern.
October 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM
elementaleucology.com
Horrific habituations.
Screenshot from a Block Club Chicago article, titled "South Side Gas Station Clerk Cheered After Giving Out Supplies To Tear-Gassed Protesters: ‘We Have To Be Human’" and dated Sunday, October 6th, 2025. The cropped portion reads: “I’ve got the bulletproof glass here,” he said. “So when I hear shots, the first thing I do is go check the cameras. I stay inside, I don’t freak out. I live in a neighborhood where I hear shots a lot, and after living in America a few years, you get used to it.”
October 5, 2025 at 11:00 PM
elementaleucology.com
Pew's lack of data capture of hispanic voters in 2016 doesn't make trendspotting easier, but it's important to note differences in attitudes based on gender among those socialized as white.

Non-Hispanic white men's support went 28% (2016) --> 27% (2020) --> 30% (2024).
Image of a table of Pew Research Center data, titled "Trump's Support Among Hispanic, Black Voters Higher in 2024 Than In 2020, 2016." It shows the voting patterns of various groups of US voters across race, gender, and ethnicity in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections. The table does not show gender breakdowns by race or ethnicity in 2016 but does show that 'white women' and women socialized as white voted for Trump in higher percentages in 2024 than they did in 2016.
October 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
elementaleucology.com
Other components of the ordinance:
Screenshot from the Block Club Chicago article titled "Obama Center Housing Ordinance Passes City Council After 2-Year Delay And Overhaul" dated September 25th, 2025. It lists additional components of the ordinance as follows: - Reserves 25 vacant, city-owned lots for the development of for-sale homes under the City Lots for Working Families program. - Allocates up to $3 million to fix up abandoned residential buildings into for-sale homes affordable to households making up to 120 percent of the area median income. - Allocates up to $3 million for property tax debt relief in the South Shore, Englewood and Lower West Side community areas. Eligible property owners must live in the buildings for which they owe back taxes, and they would receive grants of up to $5,000 each. - Identifies the specific 52 lots to be developed as affordable apartments under the 2020 Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance. - Gives tenant associations in the pilot area a chance to buy their properties before they land on the open market.
September 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM