wepon | Link Roundup September 2022

Anti-trans stalkers at Kiwi Farms are chasing one victim around the world. Their list of targets is growing.

Kiwi Farms has become synonymous with doxxing (the release of an individual’s identifying information with malicious intent), swatting (a term for when an anonymous person sends an urgent, false tip to the police about a violent crime in a victim’s home in the hopes that law enforcement will raid it and potentially harm the person inside), and archiving controversial materials such as manifestos by mass shooters and recordings of their livestreams. The forum is a massive archive of sensitive information on their targets, which has been used to repeatedly harass them. Kiwi Farms’ most notorious section is titled “lolcows” and targets transgender people. The archive often features social media pictures of their targets’ friends and family, along with contact information of their employers. The information is used in an effort to get their targets fired or socially isolated by spreading rumors that they are pedophiles or criminals.

Investigating parents of transgender youth has agency on ‘brink of collapse,’ staff warns

In June, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Abbott and Paxton didn’t have the authority to order DFPS to undertake such investigations in the first place. However, the agency decided to continue the probes nonetheless.

Orbán gets warm CPAC reception after 'mixed race' speech blowback

One of the very first guests to speak during the three-day conference, Orbán’s speech at CPAC comes amid swift international blowback for the prime minister over his July 23 comments that Hungary must not become a “mixed-race” country, pointing to other nations in Europe with large immigrant populations. One of Orbán’s top aides resigned over his comments, saying his speech sounded as if it were given by a “Nazi.” But inside a half-empty convention hall at the start of CPAC, as expected, Orbán received a welcome reception from American activists who seemed unfamiliar with — but intrigued by — his policy of increased government spending to promote traditional marriage and encouraging citizens to have more children.

Biden to hecklers at Philadelphia primetime speech: ‘They’re entitled to be outrageous’

Biden’s speech on Thursday was centered around warning that Trump and Republicans aligned with him are threats to the country. It was framed beforehand as remarks about “the soul of the nation.”

Why an American chestnut tree in Centreville is the 'holy grail' for conservationists

The giant chestnut trees that used to dominate forests are all but gone; however, the fungus doesn’t affect the roots of the trees. The centuries-old root systems sprout new trees over and over, just for them to die young due to the blight. The species is considered “functionally extinct.”

California Passes Law Requiring Companies to Post Salary Ranges on Job Listings

Maryland requires pay to be disclosed for job postings upon request and Connecticut, Nevada and Rhode Island require disclosure during the hiring process.

Ending Free Covid Tests, US Policy Is Now “You Do You”

Unfortunately, that ethos of good vibes and abundance has apparently reached its sell-by date, even as the United States puts new Omicron boosters on tap. Recently, Coronavirus Response Coordinator Ashish Jha announced that the federal government will end its expenditures for Covid vaccines, treatments, and tests this fall. The popular federal program that sent Americans free at-home Covid tests was then shuttered on September 2. But to judge by the tenor of recent public comments, you’d think the good times were still rolling. Last month, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona stated that the new and much more limited CDC guidelines for Covid in schools should provide “students, parents, and educators the confidence they need to head back to school this year with a sense of joy and optimism.” In his comments on the end of federal funding, Jha stated, “My hope is that in 2023, you’re going to see the commercialization of all of these products.”

New York's subway now has a 'you do you' mask policy. It's getting a Bronx cheer

The messages, in MTA's trademark yellow, urged people to respect anyone wearing a mask, or choosing not to — and also gave a jokey thumbs-up to improperly worn masks, incensing New Yorkers and health experts who saw it as a thumb in the eye to people who endured being an early global epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Freight rail strike threatens supply chains, prompting White House planning

Two of the largest rail carriers that mainly operate in the Western United States — BNSF and Union Pacific — are the companies with the points-based attendance policies. More than 700 BNSF employees have quit since it rolled out a points-based policy in February. Workers can be terminated if they run out of points, even in the case of a family emergency. Missing work on certain high-impact days, or planning ahead for a single doctor visit, can result in workers losing half or more of their allotted points.

‘What Choice Do I Have?’ Freight Train Conductors Are Forced to Work Tired, Sick, and Stressed

He fell asleep, he told Motherboard, because of the punishing attendance policy the railroad enacted in February called Hi Viz, a points system that requires workers to be on-call upwards of 90 percent of their lives, depriving them of any semblance of a non-work life. (The worker provided Motherboard with recent documents verifying his recent work schedule.) At the start of February, workers got 30 points. Taking time off almost always costs them between two and 15 points. They can only earn points back by being available for work with 90 minutes’ notice for 14 consecutive days, meaning they can’t go out of town, schedule doctors appointments, or go to a movie. Use all 30 points and they get suspended and given 15 more points. Use those 15 points and they get suspended even longer and given their last 15 points. Use those and they’re fired.

Migrants on Martha's Vineyard flight say they were told they were going to Boston

The migrants said a woman they identified as "Perla" approached them outside the shelter and lured them into boarding the plane, saying they would be flown to Boston where they could get expedited work papers. She provided them with food. The migrants said Perla was still trying to recruit more passengers just hours before their flight.

Martha’s Vineyard shrugs off being the center of political debate to focus on helping migrants

“I haven’t slept well in three months,” Leonel told the paper in Spanish. “It’s been three months since I put on a new pair of pants. Or shoes.”

Britain and the US are poor societies with some very rich people

On this basis, it follows that one good way to evaluate which countries are better places to live than others is to ask: is life good for everyone there, or is it only good for rich people?

Europe investigates 'attacks' on Russian gas pipelines to Europe

The leaks were very large and it could take perhaps a week for gas to stop draining out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the head of Denmark's Energy Agency Kristoffer Bottzauw said. Ships could lose buoyancy if they entered the area. "The sea surface is full of methane, which means there is an increased risk of explosions in the area," Bottzauw said.