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Sunday, August 17th, 2025

    Time Event
    2:39p
    Climate disaster looms globally, AUS

    An Australian report on dangers of growing climate disaster, probably to be released in September, warns that *under some scenarios major systems — including electricity networks, transport routes, food production and supply, and the financial sector — could struggle to cope with rising temperatures and escalating extreme events.*

    This is not surprising, but for a major government to acknowledge it will be a step towards recognizing reality.

    2:39p
    Wildfires in Spain

    *Spain wildfires are ‘clear warning’ of climate emergency, minister says.*

    So many institutions have worked to distract people from this that most people who learn about a big wildfire fail to think immediately that "This is global heating!"

    2:39p
    Canadian wildfires

    *More than 470 Canadian fires classified as "out of control" as scientists say [global heating] exacerbating the burning.* The fires have burned 28,000 sq mi so far.

    The burning in turn fuels global heating.

    2:39p
    Urgent: Federal workers union restoral

    US citizens: phone your congresscritter and urge per to sign the discharge petition for the bill to restore the right of federal workers to negotiate as a union.

    If you phone, please spread the word! Main Switchboard: +1-202-224-3121

    2:39p
    Urgent: Harvard teetering

    Everyone: call on Harvard not to cave to the zombifier: defend academic freedom.

    2:39p
    Urgent: Medical insurance duties

    In the US: Tell Trader Joe's to provide medical insurance for all its staff.

    Here's how to make the actionnetwork.org letter campaign linked above work without running the site's nonfree JavaScript code. (See https://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html for why that issue matters.)

    First, make sure you have deactivated JavaScript in your browser or are using the LibreJS plug-in.

    I have done the next step for you: I added `?nowrapper=true' to the end of the campaign URL before posting it above. That should bring you to a page that starts with, "Letter campaigns will not work without JavaScript!"

    They indeed won't work without some manual help, but the following simple method seems adequate for many of them, including this one.

    To start, fill in the personal information answers in the box on the right side of the page. That's how you say who's sending the letter.

    Then click the "START WRITING" button. That will take you to a page that can't function without nonfree JavaScript code. (To ensure it doesn't function perversely by running that nonfree code, you can enable LibreJS or disable JavaScript by visiting that page.) You can finish sending without that code By editing its URL in the browser's address bar, as follows:

    First, go to the end and insert `&nowrapper=true'. Then tell the browser to visit that URL. This should give you a version of the page that works without JavaScript. Edit the subject and body of your letter. Finally, click on the "SEND LETTER" button, and you're done.

    This method seems to work for letter campaigns that send the letters to a fixed list of recipients, the same recipients for every sender. Editing and revisiting the URL is the only additional step needed to bypass the nonfree JavaScript code. I'm sure you'll agree it is a small effort for the result of supporting the campaign without opening your computer to unjust (and potentially malicious) software.

    2:39p
    Urgent: Harvard standing

    Everyone: call on Harvard to stand firm for academic freedom and human rights.

    Here's how to make the actionnetwork.org letter campaign linked above work without running the site's nonfree JavaScript code. (See https://gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html for why that issue matters.)

    First, make sure you have deactivated JavaScript in your browser or are using the LibreJS plug-in.

    I have done the next step for you: I added `?nowrapper=true' to the end of the campaign URL before posting it above. That should bring you to a page that starts with, "Letter campaigns will not work without JavaScript!"

    They indeed won't work without some manual help, but the following simple method seems adequate for many of them, including this one.

    To start, fill in the personal information answers in the box on the right side of the page. That's how you say who's sending the letter.

    Then click the "START WRITING" button. That will take you to a page that can't function without nonfree JavaScript code. (To ensure it doesn't function perversely by running that nonfree code, you can enable LibreJS or disable JavaScript by visiting that page.) You can finish sending without that code By editing its URL in the browser's address bar, as follows:

    First, go to the end and insert `&nowrapper=true'. Then tell the browser to visit that URL. This should give you a version of the page that works without JavaScript. Edit the subject and body of your letter. Finally, click on the "SEND LETTER" button, and you're done.

    This method seems to work for letter campaigns that send the letters to a fixed list of recipients, the same recipients for every sender. Editing and revisiting the URL is the only additional step needed to bypass the nonfree JavaScript code. I'm sure you'll agree it is a small effort for the result of supporting the campaign without opening your computer to unjust (and potentially malicious) software.

    2:39p
    PFAS in biology

    A crucial clue begins to explain how PFAS cause biological effects, including medical problems.

    2:39p
    California, on gerrymandering in Texas

    *Chair of state’s house Democratic caucus said they will return once California submits new congressional map to offset losses in Texas.*

    I read an article that claimed that if every state's ruling party does the maximum gerrymander, the Republicans will have an enormous advantage. I don't know whether that is true, or whether it is feasible for every state to do that. If all that is true, then we may be doomed to tyranny. It may not all be true — perhaps there are limits to what they can gerrymander.

    In any case, one conclusion that does not follow is the conclusion that Democrats should give up this battle rather than fight it.

    I think it would be best for the Texas Democrats to hold out as long as it takes. Texas cops can't arrest them in another state.

    2:39p
    Putin deal for the wrecker, AK

    Putin said he will try to bribe the corrupter to hand him Ukraine.

    I was chagrined by the idea that this might work. But it didn't.

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