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Pope Francis addressed the U.S. mass deportation plans in an extraordinary letter to U.S. bishops, and called out that support for immigrants is a core tenet of the Catholic faith.

apnews.com/article/pope-trump-…
#popefrancis #immigrants #catholic #democracy

Pope rebukes Trump administration over migrant deportations, and appears to take direct aim at Vance

Pope Francis has issued a major rebuke to the Trump administration’s mass deportation of migrants. He warned that the program to forcefully deport people purely because of their illegal status deprives them of their inherent dignity and “will end bad…
NICOLE WINFIELD (AP News)
#catholic #immigrants #democracy #popefrancis

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The closer one looks at Trump’s Blagojevich pardon, the worse it appears. The message to politicians convicted or accused of corruption couldn’t be clearer: You have a friend in the Oval Office.

msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/m…

#StopTrumpNow #TrumpDidThis #RepublicansDidThis #RepublicansOwnThis #GOPKakistocracy #GOPWeirdos #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

The closer one looks at Trump’s Blagojevich pardon, the worse it appears

As Donald Trump’s Rod Blagojevich pardon helps prove, the Republican president appears to have a soft spot for politicians convicted of corruption.
Steve Benen (MSNBC)
#uspol #gopweirdos #norepublicanseveragain #TrumpDidThis #StopTrumpNow #republicansdidthis #gopkakistocracy #republicansownthis

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🗺️ As many people are angry with #Google & asking for alternatives to #GoogleMaps, here are some Free & #OpenSource options:

📱 App
- osmand.net/
- organicmaps.app
🌐 Web
- mapcarta.com
- openstreetmap.org

Not Open Source:
🌐&📱
en.mapy.cz
wego.here.com
mapquest.com
🌐
lokjo.com
📱
komoot.com
magicearth.com

#FCKGoogle #Alternative #Apps #App #Web #Software #News #Tech #Maps #Map #Technology #it

Mapy.cz

Nejpoužívanější mapový portál v ČR s celou řadou tématických map - základní, turistickou, cyklistickou, dopravní a plno dalších. Nabízí možnost reálného leteckého, panoramatického nebo 3D pohledu.
Mapy.cz
#news #opensource #tech #technology #google #software #web #app #it #maps #apps #map #alternative #googlemaps #fckgoogle
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I was trying to buy Athletic Club de Bilbao tickets to go with my parents, and there were only individual seats available (maybe at super high price point was different), so I checked Viagogo and was going to buy 3 seats together there.
The fees per ticket were €41! For reference, the tickets were €80 face value. Instead, we will all sit separately. The fees buying directly were less than 10% as high.
#pricegouging #tickets #Sports #athletic
#sports #tickets #pricegouging #Athletic

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Birds migrate nearly from pole to pole on this planet and with them they carry the seeds of many plants. If the seeds are stuck to the outside of the bird it’s called “epizoochory” if they are inside of the bird it’s “endozoochory”- if you map the regions of distribution you can see matching patches in the northern and southern hemisphere where climates are similar— vertically aligned with the paths of migration. (I learned this from CPBD!)
in reply to myrmepropagandist

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myrmepropagandist

I wonder if there are plants & little creatures that cluster around human airports? Maybe bacteria & mites are more likely— not the successful invasives who ride on planes & in shipping containers then spread everywhere on arrival— but a more fragile community of well-travelled living things transported by human zoochory? Human zoochory is written in our favorite crops, our least favorite pests. We view it as a crisis because we never think about it until up to our ears in kudzu & crazy ants.

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The chequered skipper butterfly has been brought back to England, following 40 years of extinction. The 5-year project by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation used a donor population from Belgium to boost numbers in Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire, and they’re now expanding their range, which is good news for the UK’s butterfly biodiversity.

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OK.

This is kind of scary.

I uploaded my profile pic to

theyseeyourphotos.com/

This is a site, setup by a former Google employee to show you, how Google would interpret a picture of you.

The result is not 100 % accurate (e.g. that I could be targeted with alcohol ads, but I hardly ever drink), but found the exact location and enough to be worried if they analysed a set of, say, a dozen photos.

They See Your Photos

Upload a photo to find out how much an AI sees.
They See Your Photos
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When biologists say an animal is "basal" does this mean:

* the animal has more traits found in extinct animals than its close relations
* the animal is taxonomically isolated on a branch with few leaves
* because the animal is taxonomically isolated, it may have traits of extinct ancestors of a clade lost in most other clade members

I've seen it used in all of these ways. Is the isolation key? Or is it being similar to the ancestor that matters more?

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in reply to myrmepropagandist

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Zoe

@astory evolution occurs in two steps. Genetic drift, and natural selection. When the gen pool contacts it may center on the same position again, assuming a local maximum has been found. The gen pool will only centre around a new position if their exist a better fit for the environment.

Of course the world is more complicated then the models I base the above assertion on.

@Alec Story
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Earlier today, China’s counter-tariffs went live, adding 10% to 15% levies on US exports of natural gas, oil, and coal, as well as some automotive parts and farm equipment headed for China. President Trump described the tariffs that went into effect against China on February 4 as an “opening salvo,” and experts are monitoring the situation to see if the trade war between the two countries will escalate or if the fight will be called off after further negotiations.

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A road will close to allow thousands of amphibians safe passage to their breeding grounds. Charlcombe Lane, near Bath, will be closed for 6 weeks until 25 March as the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group helps toads, frogs, and newts reach their ancestral breeding lake. Each night at dusk, volunteers in high-visibility jackets will patrol the half-mile stretch of road, equipped with torches and buckets. To safely escort over 3,000 amphibians across the busy road.
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Donald Trump is remaking the world. But he really won’t like the result | Nesrine Malik
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

#StopTrumpNow #TrumpDidThis #RepublicansDidThis #RepublicansOwnThis #GOPKakistocracy #GOPWeirdos #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

Donald Trump is remaking the world. But he really won’t like the result

As an erratic president imposes his international doctrine, countries are forging more stable alliances. His US will be weaker, not stronger, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
Nesrine Malik (The Guardian)
#uspol #gopweirdos #norepublicanseveragain #TrumpDidThis #StopTrumpNow #republicansdidthis #gopkakistocracy #republicansownthis

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How about "Trump finds new way to do his favorite old thing--stiff creditors."

Trump Says Some Treasury Notes May Not Be Real
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/t…

#StopTrumpNow #TrumpDidThis #RepublicansDidThis #Treasury #TNotes #RepublicansOwnThis #GOPKakistocracy #GOPWeirdos #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

Trump Says Some Treasury Notes May Not Be Real

I suspect this will just end up being something Old Man Trump said on a plane and we won’t hear about it again. But after recents, who are we kidding?
Josh Marshall (TPM - Talking Points Memo)
#uspol #gopweirdos #norepublicanseveragain #treasury #TrumpDidThis #StopTrumpNow #republicansdidthis #gopkakistocracy #republicansownthis #tnotes

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I thought Feb 9 was International US Laughingstock Day!

*In his own mind.

Trump recognized Feb. 9 as first ever ‘Gulf of America Day’*
thehill.com/homenews/administr…

#StopTrumpNow #TrumpDidThis #GulfOfAmerica #Mexico #WhoVotedForThis #RepublicansDidThis #RepublicansOwnThis #GOPKakistocracy #GOPWeirdos #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

#uspol #mexico #gopweirdos #norepublicanseveragain #TrumpDidThis #StopTrumpNow #republicansdidthis #gopkakistocracy #republicansownthis #GulfOfAmerica #whovotedforthis

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I’ve been seething and grieving since yesterday’s Friday Night Massacre of NIH overheads, a seeming bit of bureaucratic trivial that will in fact destroy the US university system if unchecked. But I want to get away from budgets and rate breakdowns and F&A percentages for a moment.

Humor me?

From the time I was seven years old, I have wanted to be a scientist. The wonders of the universe, the delights of biodiversity, the cryptic secrets of number theory — I fell in love with these worlds and marveled that there was a role in our society for people who worked to uncover and share them.

Science, I realized, gave us superpowers. We evolved sensory capabilities consistent with our physical scale and temporal experience. But with science, we can understand what happened in the femtoseconds after the Big Bang, the molecular basis of inheritance, time dilation at the edge of a black hole, a 4 billion-year story of life on earth.

(1/2)

in reply to Carl T. Bergstrom

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Kat O’Brien

they are attacking so many forms of learning and exchange of information.
As a kid, I remember four main occupations that interested me most: writer (journalist or author), marine biologist, architect and I wanted to be President. Later that clarified into wanting to be a diplomat or journalist (ideally political/foreign correspondent).
in reply to Kat O’Brien

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Kat O’Brien

funny anecdote, both my younger sister and I wanted to be President when I was 7 or 8 (she’s 2 1/2 years younger), and I was actually concerned about who my parents would vote for 🤣
Much later, when I read Cheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, I was astonished to learn that it was much more common for boys to want to be President and only a tiny % of young girls said this (according to a study cited).
They are doing so much to destroy education and learning and access for all.
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foreignaffairs.com/united-stat…

“These elements of trust are part of the invisible bedrock of U.S. foreign policy. Allies in particular will be reluctant to share sensitive intelligence information if they fear that individuals with no government experience and who have not been vetted through typical security protocols will gain access to that intelligence. Musk and his team have found their way to the most closely guarded private federal data, and they will make the United States an object of mistrust to those who interact with the invisible machinery of U.S. national security.”

Does DOGE Pose a National Security Risk? Uncertainty About Access and Authority Will Worry Allies and Tempt Adversaries

Uncertainty about access and authority will worry allies and tempt adversaries.
James Goldgeier and Elizabeth N. Saunders (Foreign Affairs Magazine)

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Así nos llegaban anoche a @CarlosGS y a mi las ondas del terremoto de magnitud 7.6 ocurrido frente a las costas de Honduras.

Apenas necesitaron 11 minutos para llegar desde allí hasta la península ibérica.

@CarlosGS

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A proposal to tax scholarships?!?
Coupled with the attacks on education, they’re really leaning hard into only the rich being able to get a good education.
apnews.com/article/trump-admin…
#education #school

House Republicans mull taxes on scholarships and changes to student loan programs

As Republicans in Congress look for ways to slash spending, some legislators are floating new taxes on college scholarships, an end to student loan repayment plans and a big hike in taxes on university endowments.
CHEYANNE MUMPHREY (AP News)
#School #education

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Since I switched from cycling to (trail)running as my main sport, I notice that I am less and less motivated to go cycling outside in winter. I used to cycle outside all winter long, but now I prefer the warmth on the indoor trainer 😆. Running outside in winter is not an issue 🏃‍♂️✅

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

#trailrunning #running #ultrarunning

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Later this month, I’m going with my parents to Logroño, San Sebastián and Bilbao. I’ve been several times to San Sebastián but only once 15 years ago to the other two.
Recommendations are welcome!
We are going to see Athletic ⚽️ (men) play at La Catedral, San Mamés.

Luego este mes, voy con mis padres a Logroño, San Sebastián y Bilbao. He visitado varias veces San Sebastián pero solo una vez hace 15 años a las otras dos.
Recomendaciones bienvenidos!
#bilbao #sansebastian #donosti #espana #spain

#spain #espana #bilbao #sansebastian #donosti

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Sonnet 004 - IV
Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend
Upon thy self thy beauty's legacy?
Nature's bequest gives nothing, but doth lend,
And being frank she lends to those are free:
Then, beauteous niggard, why dost thou abuse
The bounteous largess given thee to give?
Profitless usurer, why dost thou use
So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?
For having traffic with thy self alone,
Thou of thy self thy sweet self dost deceive:
Then how when nature calls thee to be gone,
What acceptable audit canst thou leave?
Thy unused beauty must be tombed with thee,
Which, used, lives th' executor to be.

bot by @davidaugust

#sonnet #poem #Shakespeare

#poem #Shakespeare #sonnet @David August ❌👑

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I've started posting on LinkedIn all the unconstitutional shit Trump and Musk are doing to undermine the security and integrity of our government. Mainly because that crowd needs to hear it most. It's incredible how many people in the infosec space are still defending the actions of DOGE and its dear leader(s). And they're not all crypto bros and AI peddlers; we're talking about people in some pretty important roles, tech-wise.

But at least when they reply with the inevitable "stay in your lane" or "I used to like you when you stayed out of politics," they are on record as complicit and totally okay with what is going on.

Unknown parent

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Womar

I wonder how many of those people have professsional memberships with orgs like ISC2 whose 1st canon of ethics states they will “Protect society, the common good, necessary public trust and confidence, and the infrastructure.”
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When Aaron Swartz does it, it’s prison time.

When Mark Zuckerberg does it, that’s just business.

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/20…

Meta torrented over 81.7TB of pirated books to train AI, authors say

Meta’s alleged torrenting and seeding of pirated books complicates copyright case.
Ashley Belanger (Ars Technica)
in reply to Chris Trottier

friendica - Link to source

Cătă 🇷🇴🇺🇦🇲🇩🇪🇺

@Chris Trottier
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No one cares about clear air and water, apparently. Don't worry--it will all be over soon.

Distraught EPA Employees Fear for Their Futures Under Trump
truthout.org/articles/distraug…

#StopTrumpNow #TrumpDidThis #RepublicansDidThis #RepublicansOwnThis #GOPKakistocracy #GOPWeirdos #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

Distraught EPA Employees Fear for Their Futures Under Trump

“I’m going to stand up to them,” one scientist said. “I may lose the battle, but principally I will have won the war.”…
Sharon Lerner (Truthout)
#uspol #gopweirdos #norepublicanseveragain #TrumpDidThis #StopTrumpNow #republicansdidthis #gopkakistocracy #republicansownthis

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Lost 15th-century Zapotec city unearthed in Mexican jungle
archaeologymag.com/2025/02/los…

#OfInterest #Culture #Archeology #ArcheologyMagazine

Lost 15th-century Zapotec city unearthed in Mexican jungle

A recent study using LiDAR technology has uncovered the true magnitude of Guiengola, a 15th-century Zapotec city in southern Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dario Radley (Archaeology News Online Magazine)
#culture #archeology #ofinterest #archeologymagazine

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The United States used to be a world leader, a beacon of light, in Democracy, Science, Technology. That has all been dismantled in favor of uneducated zealots who are obsessed with transgender people, abortions and "DEI".

#Project2025 #ElonMusk #Trump #STEM #science #USGovernment

politico.com/news/2025/02/04/s…

#Science #Trump #project2025 #stem #elonmusk #USGovernment
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Around the bend.

#hometown #2800love #running #snap #mobilephotography #runningphotographer #energize #revitalize #runningviews #tragewegen #ddon #morningrun #aroundthebend

#mobilephotography #running #snap #hometown #morningrun #ddon #tragewegen #runningviews #revitalize #energize #runningphotographer #2800love #aroundthebend

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Oh, the irony.

Mark doesn't like this.

⇧