I know a few others here are on Substack, and I really encourage folks with accounts to follow the conversation on Notes around how Substack is exploring growth.

It's an interesting exchange between the site's team and users. Lots of folks are talking constructively about pros and cons of the follow feature, subscription classes, the possibility of topical categories, highlighted excerpts...

In other words, a *real* conversation. For a site expressly for paid writing, this is a welcome sight.

#Science #Essays #ScientificLiteracy

This is a lovely reflection on science narratives in biology, and the non-neutrality of the terms and metaphors we use to describe our world.

Recommended especially to folks who read my piece on Wednesday, on science narrative problems in cosmology. https://aeon.co/essays/biology-is-not-as-hierarchical-as-most-textbooks-paint-it

Today there are stations of the cross presentations in public spaces.

It's a very brutal spectacle around which our culture has been built. You've got children watching as a choice is made between brutalizing one of two people, then soldiers whipping Jesus in public, then all the violence to come...

The sheer hypocrisy of so much Western outcry over children being allowed to learn about other violence in their national histories, or different forms of love, when *this* is annual pageantry.

There are SO MANY GOOD VIBES on the feed today!

I don't know who laced everyone's coffee with sunshine, but I like it!

This one is for all my writer friends here, but especially @Graci, @NiveusLepus, and @lenaoflune .

Be careful not to make this all-too-common mistake! 😉

One last note for the night:

It should surprise no one that as a humanist I worry about how quick we are to dismiss each other's humanity.

Every group contains multitudes, and we're all vulnerable to being whipped into hate along demographic lines.

This is an awful time for the world. Tensions are high, and we're all looking for people to blame for how much has gone wrong.

Try to act like you, and everyone around you, is doing the very best they can with the info they have.

'Night, CoSo. 🕊️

I have no extra cash to provide, but if anyone would like a reader for their writing--for a market-fit assessment, a "positivity" read (focusing on what's working), or deeper developmental revision--I have years of experience as an editor, writing tutor, book reviewer, and published SF author; and I'm on hand to trade labour for your donation to J's hard work making #CoSo all shiny and chrome.

#lifesupport #cosonauts
#WritersOfCoSo #SFF

https://donorbox.org/countersocial

For the last few weeks, I've been eating a lovely bowl of rice with onion and egg as my main meal, with some granola for dessert.

But tonight I think the world is an awful enough place that a little treat is called for, this supper.

A very solemn Maundy Thursday to all our Christian friends here on CoSo.

This secular humanist feels like a *lot* of human beings are paying for the sins of fellow human beings right now.

So we shall grieve together--and keep on working for something better, too.

Relatedly:

This is why climate change mitigation is an issue with huge implications for women's rights, and those of other historically marginalized groups.

Our climate-stressed world drives up resource scarcity and a perceived need to secure territory that feeds extreme nationalist movements and yields more military conflicts. These reduce quality of life for everyone.

Mitigating the effects of climate change would reduce initial strain. But we're so, so far from taking it seriously enough.

This morning I wrote in part on the exploitation of violence against women at cost to the victims. I also mentioned the impact of hyper-militarized societies on gender equality.

Yesterday we learned that Saudi Arabia is now leading the UN women's rights forum. Now we learn that the Taliban is going back to stoning women in public. Oh, and Gambia is on the verge of unbanning FGM.

And we all know what's on the line for women in the US. These are hard, regressive times. 🕯️

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/mar/28/taliban-edict-to-resume-stoning-women-to-death-met-with-horror

Filed under: "Journalism's doing just fine, why do you keep asking?" 🙃

"A recent review found The Richmond Standard had published 434 stories that touch on its owner, Chevron, since the site's inception. Eight refer to flaring incidents. None cite oil spills. The majority of the stories that mention Chevron focus on profiles, awards ceremonies, community projects and celebrations it throws on such occasions as Black History and Hispanic Heritage months."

#MediaLiteracy
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1239650727/chevron-fossil-fuel-richmond-standard-california-news

Grist is now open for free contest submissions until June 24.

Pay attention to the judges, Omar El Akkad and Annalee Newitz. They have very literary-in-crowd sensibilities, and that will doubtless inform how they read the submissions.

I imagine there'll be a little more fondness for tech or SoCal-inspired solutions, and a *lot* of love for a well-crafted line.

Write what moves you!

But keep in mind that a good idea won't be enough.

#SFF #ClimateChange #WritersOfCoSo

https://grist.org/climate-fiction/imagine-2200-contest-submissions/

I was so sure that today’s newsletter would be a “lighter” meditation, but there was just too much to say about the psychological damage of war, and the struggle to cope with global trauma and propaganda cycles while also trying to live with integrity much closer to home.

It is very difficult to live "at human scale" in the world right now.

Take good care of your grieving hearts, while doing the best you can, with all the compassion you can muster from where you are.

https://mlclark.substack.com/p/artificial-intimacy-and-everyday

Averil Stedeford
"The Heavy Stone"

#Poetry #Grief