Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 1d

I posted this ~8 years on a different social media platform.

I’m sure I’ll repost this again in several years on whatever replaces social media.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 1d

My long held opinion is that the Norwegians should stop handing out peace prizes.

Like, they are damn near batting a 1000 for awarding it to folks who have or want to start military conflicts.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Patrick Wyman @patrickwyman.bsky.social · 4d

Watching antisocial driver behavior in the school drop-off line makes it really clear that the pandemic destroyed whatever few shreds remained of the social compact, just pathological selfishness on display every day

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 5d

Yeah, that’s my experience as well.

Because higher learning / post-secondary education is hard for everyone. But some folks have it hard in every other space and place and time of the life. Which is like raising hard ^ struggle. Acknowledging that does take away one’s accomplishments.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 5d

This was in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky. Those well-to-do kids were not locals, they were the offspring of (mainly goodhearted) educated outsiders who came there to save the hillbillies. But they didn’t get survival because they didn’t and wouldn’t live it.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 5d

When I was in AP English I (the only student from below the poverty line) argued against every other student (from well-to-do families) that a reason many poorer parents don’t read to their kids is that they don’t have time cuz they are trying to survive. The rest of my class dismissed my argument.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 9d

Even when I was a bratty teenager, I never understood making fun of people for liking the music they like.

I don’t like all music, & fans of certain genres are puzzling to me (lookin’ at you, Latino/Hispanic fans of self-described racist pop country musicians).

Let folks like what they like.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 9d

I made pumpkin blondies with chocolate chips today. No eggs or oil. Yum 😋 🎃🍫

(2/31)

Homemade chocolate chip blondes made with pumpkin and oatmeal. No eggs or oil.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 9d

You know those AI nostalgia generated videos are 1,000% missing the mark when the “algorithms” didn’t just copy & paste an entire episode of ‘Community’ to represent the late 2000s / early 2010s.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 9d

Old folks in Appalachian Kentucky will tell you that during that administration, they would trap groundhogs, or “Hoover pigs”, for stew. 🍲

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Dr. Crystal A. Kolden @pyrogeog.bsky.social · 10d

Published today: our new paper showing a 44-year trend of increasing global wildfire disasters (fatalities and economic losses) due to climate change-induced extreme weather. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Climate-linked escalation of societally disastrous wildfires

Climate change and land mismanagement are creating increasingly fire-prone built and natural environments. However, despite worsening fire seasons, evidence is lacking globally for trends in socially ...

www.science.org

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 10d

I’m furloughed. A bit less science than usual.

This begins my spooky 👻 🎃 season thread. #SpookySeason

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youtu.be/70NrA13iYlw?...

TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by RISEN

youtu.be

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 12d

Sacramento was nice.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 13d

The stupidest timeline.

On 28 September 2025, Probability of USA federal government shutting down on 1 October 2025 according to online betting market Polymarket: 69%.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 15d

A few years ago I stumbled onto an interview with the actor who plays “Mayhem” (AKA The Vulture in Brooklyn Nine Nine). This man never has to pay for a drink. The number of women apparently into this persona is pretty damn high.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 16d

Can you enroll in college? Then guess what - your professors can’t talk to your parents unless you are a minor or give them permission too. Because of FERPA.

Cut the cord, people.

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 16d

The parenting culture in California is so foreign to me.

Many treat their young adults (18-30) kids like actual minor children.

I will not do that, causing conflicts. If the federal + state governments treat you as an adult (you can vote, join the military, pay taxes, own property), so do I.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 17d

OMB instructing federal agencies to prepare RIF plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, reports Politico. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a shutdown

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

www.politico.com

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 18d

Spending most of my time searching for fat bears this week.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Climatologist49 @climatologist49.bsky.social · 23d

Same, tbh.

NPR @npr.org · 23d

The famous bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park are enjoying an abundance of salmon, and even some playtime, as they pack on pounds to prepare for the winter.

Fat Bear Week is here early, and the bears are fat and playful

The famous bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park are enjoying an abundance of salmon, and even some playtime, as they pack on pounds to prepare for the winter.

n.pr

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · 24d

The hero we need and deserve.

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Reposted by Jessica McCarty

Scott Bachmeier @wisc-satellite.bsky.social · Sep 8

During the lunar eclipse on 07 September, the Moon briefly blocked @NOAASatellites #SUVI images of the Sun. More on the CIMSS Satellite Blog: cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-bl...

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · Sep 6

NW Compact members share firefighting resources, tech, + expertise when wildfires exceed a single jurisdiction’s capacity.

In 🇨🇦: Alberta, Yukon Territory, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, & British Columbia

In 🇺🇸: Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, & Hawaii

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · Sep 6

California joins firefighting compact with a dozen Northwest states and Canadian provinces

The Northwest Wildland Fire Fighting Compact facilitates sharing of firefighting resources and technology amongst U.S. and Canadian members —now including California — during emergencies.

www.latimes.com

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · Sep 3

Disneyland > Disney World

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Jessica McCarty @jmccartygeo.bsky.social · Aug 30

Please keep posting sunflowers 🌻, tomatoes 🍅, and pumpkins 🎃.

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