@cdarwin@c.im Congrats!
Looks like there's more than one hero Tom Holland. https://www.comicsands.com/musk-holland-odyssey-backlash?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=infeed&utm_campaign=linkprogram
@georgetakei@universeodon.com Lupita isn't even the first woman of color to play Helen of Troy.
Orson Welles' 1950 Paris stage production of Time Runs, which cast a 22-year-old Eartha Kitt as Helen of Troy. Her performance earned widespread acclaim and helped launch her international acting career
1
Confidence Is Not the Same as Truth: What my mother, social media influencers, and AI hallucinations have in common
I have a lot of great memories of mom, aka M'dear. She had an infectious laugh that would fill a room until its echoes were bouncing off the walls.I was very curious as a young child and M'dear would answer my every question with unshakeable confidence.Even if she was wrong.
misterdubs
#OnThisDay #PeoplesHistory #USPol
JUNE 8, 1961: FREEDOM RIDERS ARRESTED
Freedom Riders traveling from New Orleans, Louisiana to Jackson, Mississippi were arrested in 1961.
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/freedom-riders-arrested/
@DemocracyMattersALot@mstdn.social I was also fortunate to meet a Freedom Rider, Rev. James Dennis. My parents grew up in his church (he later performed their marriage).
Why sophrosyne, an ancient Greek virtue, matters more than ever in the age of AI share.google/sacL9GxDcbZAkTu4l
Could VGER return in 2031?
On August 28, 1988, A Technician Misplaced A Single Hyphen. It May Ruin A 2031 Mission To Land On Asteroid 1998 KY26. | IFLScience share.google/ajWFjPQqt2BO6hueh
Plastic test tubes can be harder to take photographs through, but at this time of year when we all carry a few testtubes in our bag in case we see a queen ant, it can be a lot safer! (You can always gently move her to a new tube when you get home.)
And that's a reminder too. Have a tube ready. No one wants to have to bring a queen home in an emptied out pill box or chips bag.
Spring is in the air and royalty is everywhere.
@futurebird@sauropods.win You actually collect queen ants? What do you do with them once you have them?
1
#3GoodThings @3goodthings
Three good things this day.
1. My Chaste tree has the most beautiful purple blooms
2. A #bumblebee is visiting those blooms
3. My son's blackberry bush is fruiting this year
Remote activity:
@futurebird@sauropods.win Nostalgia has been a pleasant experience for me. In fact, until you posed the question I didn't know it could be any other way.
Remote activity:
@futurebird@sauropods.win I would say that nostalgic content has gotten more appealing because I get to share that same content with my kids.
The world can feel full of depressing news.
So tell us something good—whether it’s a small win in your life, a major breakthrough in the world, or anything in between.
#positivevibes
@meidastouch@threads.net My oldest daughter is home from college, for the weekend. The six of us are together again!
JUST IN: Virginia just adopted a new law that forbids sheriffs and local police from contracting with ICE — if ICE doesn't say it'll follow state laws & agree to let its agents be prosecuted.
Everyone seems to agree ICE won't promise that, and that this spells the end of ICE contracts in Virginia.
The governor had asked for an amendment to the bill when it reached its desk; the legislature agreed to it yesterday, making it law.
https://boltsmag.org/virginia-bill-on-local-contracts-with-ice/
@danielnichanian@threads.net @ZhiZhu@newsie.social Now that the seal has been broken, maybe more states will follow Virginia's example.
David Attenborough turns 100 years old on the 8th of May.
He is a human who has spent his time loving the diversity of life on this planet. His documentaries helped emphasise the biodiversity crisis while also infectiously spreading this love of other species.
My partner and I are thinking of having a small, gentle event on the day to recognise his life. Maybe a walk with friends, taking moments to stop and acknowledge the creatures around us.
Want to join us, wherever you are in the world?
@ephemeral@mograph.social @Kimberley@ecoevo.social My kids, now teenagers, were raised on many of his documentaries. I think celebrating his life in such a manner is a great idea.
Iran War Dispatch: The Zero Hour
**Monday, April 6, 2026
The 10-day extension has officially expired. As of 8:00 PM EDT, the "Hormuz Deadline" has passed without the reopening of the Strait. We are now entering a phase of the conflict where energy infrastructure is no longer off-limits.
**⚡ Operation Epic…
misterdubs
Post 4: 🔨 The Forge (Local Resilience)
The Headline: Brenham Support: Operation Epic Fury Relief
The News: The local human cost of these metrics is evident in our own community. American Legion Post 48 continues to provide emergency cash for military families struggling with the “worry and doubt” of current deployments.
Discussion: “What is one specific way we can help a military-connected family in Brenham navigate the stress of this ‘endgame’ phase this week?”
Running List: Verified Independent Journalists & Agencies
Focusing on high-accuracy satellite and ground-level reporting:
Shayan Sardarizadeh (BBC Verify): Specialist in debunking AI fakes and verifying satellite imagery.
Tal Hagin (OSINT Analyst): Expert in vetting social media footage for recycled war imagery.
Factnameh: Exiled Iranian fact-checking team providing real-time debunking of state propaganda.
HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency): Primary source for verifying civilian infrastructure damage.
Post 3: 🔍 Verification Alert (The AI Identification Checklist)
The Headline: Spotting Deceptive Media in the Fog of War
The News: Today is International Fact-Checking Day. With AI-generated “fakes” like the manipulated footage of the USS Abraham Lincoln circulating, it is critical to verify before sharing.
The CoreSignal Verification Checklist:
- Check for Physics Glitches: Look at smoke, fire, and water. AI often struggles to render these consistently over more than a few seconds.
- Cross-Reference with Satellite Data: If a video shows a building destroyed, check if firms like Planet Labs or Maxar show the same damage from overhead.
- Source Vetting: Is the footage from a verified independent journalist (see our running list) or an anonymous social media account?
- Identify the “Lure”: If the media seems designed to provoke immediate anger or panic, pause. It may be an emotional lure.
Discussion: “Using the checklist above, what was the last ‘breaking news’ video you saw that you now suspect might be a deepfake or recycled footage?”
Post 4: 🔨 The Forge (Local Resilience)
The Headline: Brenham Support: Operation Epic Fury Relief
The News: The local human cost of these metrics is evident in our own community. American Legion Post 48 continues to provide emergency cash for military families struggling with the “worry and doubt” of current deployments.
Discussion: “What is one specific way we can help a military-connected family in Brenham navigate the stress of this ‘endgame’ phase this week?”
1
Post 2: ⚓ The Choke Point (Market & Supply Chain Volatility)
The Headline: Oil Hits $119 as Naval Engagements Intensify
The News: Global energy markets have reacted sharply to the ongoing blockade. Brent Crude peaked at $119 per barrel on April 1, marking an 86% increase from pre-war forecasts ($63.85).
Naval Status: USCENTCOM reports that 17 Iranian warships and one submarine have been neutralized in the Strait of Hormuz to date.
Brenham Impact: With Brent Crude remaining well above $115, local logistics and retail costs in Washington County are expected to remain elevated through the spring.
Discussion: “Oil prices have nearly doubled since February. At what point does this global ‘choke point’ begin to fundamentally change how you operate your local business or household budget?”
Post 3: 🔍 Verification Alert (The AI Identification Checklist)
The Headline: Spotting Deceptive Media in the Fog of War
The News: Today is International Fact-Checking Day. With AI-generated “fakes” like the manipulated footage of the USS Abraham Lincoln circulating, it is critical to verify before sharing.
The CoreSignal Verification Checklist:
- Check for Physics Glitches: Look at smoke, fire, and water. AI often struggles to render these consistently over more than a few seconds.
- Cross-Reference with Satellite Data: If a video shows a building destroyed, check if firms like Planet Labs or Maxar show the same damage from overhead.
- Source Vetting: Is the footage from a verified independent journalist (see our running list) or an anonymous social media account?
- Identify the “Lure”: If the media seems designed to provoke immediate anger or panic, pause. It may be an emotional lure.
Discussion: “Using the checklist above, what was the last ‘breaking news’ video you saw that you now suspect might be a deepfake or recycled footage?”
2
Iran War Dispatch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Post 1: ⚡ The Storm (Damage Assessments & Satellite Data)
The Headline: Isfahan & Kharg Island: The Cost of Air Operations
The News: New satellite imagery from Planet Labs and SPOT CNES reveals the extensive scale of damage from recent strikes.
Isfahan Sector: Independent reports from the Iranian Red Crescent and verification agencies now confirm that 17,353 residential buildings and 4,122 commercial/industrial facilities in the Isfahan area have sustained damage. This includes “cultural jewels” and regional administrative buildings.
Kharg Island Terminal: Imagery confirms at least 12 distinct impact sites on Iran’s primary crude export hub. Destruction is visible at the main export terminal and several large storage tanks.
Discussion: “With over 21,000 structures damaged in a single sector, how do these metrics change your understanding of the ‘strategic’ nature of the current air campaign?”
Post 2: ⚓ The Choke Point (Market & Supply Chain Volatility)
The Headline: Oil Hits $119 as Naval Engagements Intensify
The News: Global energy markets have reacted sharply to the ongoing blockade. Brent Crude peaked at $119 per barrel on April 1, marking an 86% increase from pre-war forecasts ($63.85).
Naval Status: USCENTCOM reports that 17 Iranian warships and one submarine have been neutralized in the Strait of Hormuz to date.
Brenham Impact: With Brent Crude remaining well above $115, local logistics and retail costs in Washington County are expected to remain elevated through the spring.
Discussion: “Oil prices have nearly doubled since February. At what point does this global ‘choke point’ begin to fundamentally change how you operate your local business or household budget?”
3
Iran War Dispatch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Post 1: ⚡ The Storm (Damage Assessments & Satellite Data)
The Headline: Isfahan & Kharg Island: The Cost of Air Operations
The News: New satellite imagery from Planet Labs and SPOT CNES reveals the extensive scale of damage from recent strikes.
Isfahan Sector: Independent reports from the Iranian Red Crescent and verification agencies now confirm that 17,353 residential buildings and 4,122 commercial/industrial facilities in the Isfahan area have sustained damage. This includes “cultural jewels” and regional administrative buildings.
Kharg Island Terminal: Imagery confirms at least 12 distinct impact sites on Iran’s primary crude export hub. Destruction is visible at the main export terminal and several large storage tanks.
Discussion: “With over 21,000 structures damaged in a single sector, how do these metrics change your understanding of the ‘strategic’ nature of the current air campaign?”
4
