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ladyredmoon13 · 1 month ago

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DCXDP PROMPT

GPS Shenanigans

So it's a regular Tuesday for Danny. He woke up late, got to first period by the skin of his teeth, got his lunch knocked out of his hands by Dash. You get the picture. Even after all that, the universe decides to throw in a ghost attack standard with this glorious day that he was having.( Sence his sarcasm? Good!)

Anyways, it was all very normal for him by now. Very predictable. What wasn't predictable was the natural portal opening up and the Ghost he was fighting to see it as an opportunity and blast him through it. He was annoyed, even more so when the portal shot him out in the Bremuda Triangle.

Not really knowing which way to go to get home, he takes out his phone and puts in his home address, hoping to get back before the Ghost he was fighting could reek more havoc. And maybe soup them up before his test sixth period.

All was going great. He was making great time flying back. He might even wrap things up to make it to fifth period and tell Tucker and Sam about the weird event of the day. Only his phones GPS takes him to Paris, Texas. Okay, not where he ment to go, but it was alright. He can just put his address back into his GPS and be on his way home again.

Only this time, he ends up in Seattle, Washington. What? Alright, the third time is the charm. Then he ended up in Star City. What?! He tried again and ended up in some small town in Kansas. So he tried again and nearly crossed the border to Mexico.

Completely fed up at this point, Danny then restarted his phone, did two virus sweeps, and changed the settings a bit before bringing his GPS up again. Putting his address into it, again! And was on his way home, AGAIN! Only for the stupid app to take him to another random location that he most definitely did not want to be. AGAIN!!!

Grounding himself on the roof of another apartment building, Danny cursed his luck and his phone and decided to play around with the GPS settings to see if that would do anything. Because now it was nighttime, and all he wanted to do was go home, collapse in his bed, and think of a way to convince his parents not to ground him for skipping school.

As he angrily grumbles to himself, he notices a dark figure land on the roof not too far from him. Looking up from his phone screen, Danny is shocked to see the one and only Batman staring him down not even fifteen feet away. Huh, guess he was in Gotham then.

"Uh, hi-hello, Mr. Batman, sir." Danny stuttered anxiously. 'Smooth Danny, smooth.' He thought to himself as he cleared his throat before continuing." Don't mind me. Im just trying to get my stupid GPS working-" he said with more calm than he felt." At Melbourne and 6th, make a u-turn." A macanical female voice said from Danny’s phone. Oh, he must of accidentally turned on the audio voice assistance function while messing with the settings.

"At Melbourne and 6th, make a u-turn. Then go straight till Wellmore Avenue." The GPS voice said making Batman hum curiously." Those street names don't exist in Gotham." He said making Danny double check what city the GPS said his location was." It's saying I'm in Gotham." He tells the older hero." Turn left on Wellmore Avenue. Keep left and go straight for twenty six miles."

"I literally haven't moved." Danny complained to the device in his hands. Not expecting an answer from the phone but getting one from the black clad vigilante just feet away now." I take it this is not the first time this has happened bassed on your reaction." It wasn't a question but Danny still answered it like one. Shoulders sagging with a sigh Danny nods and turned to the Dark Knight

"It's been acting like this all day. No matter what I do, every time I put in my address into the GPS app on my phone it'll take me to the most random places. I've been coast to coast already and almost flew to Mexico. I've tried restarting it, I played around with the settings and locations. Nothing helps." He complains frustratedly.

"Make a u-turn at-"

"Shut up you!"

Danny gets thrown through a natural portal during a fight and ends up getting spit out in the bramuda triangle. He trys to get home be using his phones GPS but unbeknownst to him the phone was damaged, either during the fight or because of the triangle; and it keeps giving him random directions to literally anywhere but Amity Park. He finally gets so frustrated that he lands just to see what the heck is going on with his phone when Batman shows up. Having seen a very agitated meta fly over and stop in his city.

Here's a question for you. Why, in comics do they never have GPS for people who can fly, and im not talking about like in helicopters. Im talking about people with the ability to fly. Sure they can see everything while they're up there but that doesn’t mean they know where they're going, where they are, or how to get there from so high up. I myself have lived in my hometown for most of my life and I still need a GPS to tell me where some things are. Your thoughts?

#dc x dp crossover #batman #danny phantom #danny fenton #gps #danny has no sense of direction #so he relies on gps #it still doesn't help him lol

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evidence-based-activism · 6 months ago

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why are women worse at driving compared to men?

They aren't.

Most Recent Statistics

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a USA-based "independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization" about "motor vehicle crashes" [1]:

73% of motor vehicle crash deaths were of men/boys in 2022

In fact, men have outnumbered women in crash fatalities for every year since 1975 (when data started being collected)

Male crash fatalities were significantly more likely to be intoxicated than female fatalities

Male crash fatalities were also significantly more likely have been speeding than female fatalities

More Data

In a 2023 report, the World Health Organization [2] looked at crash data worldwide, and found men are 3 times more likely than women to be killed in a car crash.

A 2021 study by researchers in England [3] found "men pose higher per-km risk to others than women". To be clear, this means that even after adjusting for amount of distance driven, men are more dangerous drivers than women.

A 2024 report by the French government [4] found 78% of road fatalities were male and 75% of those seriously injured were male

This 2023 study by researchers in Spain [5] found "the results point to Spanish women paying closer attention to traffic regulations, behaving more carefully." (Where "traffic regulations" refers to things like speeding, seat belt use, phone use, "overtaking offenses", etc.)

This Turkish study [6] found that men self-reported less driving safety behaviors than women.

This Texas (USA) study [7] also found men self-reported less driving safety behaviors than women. (And despite the fact that "males reported more behaviors than females that would put them at higher risk of collision ... men have more confidence in their driving skills than women." We should note here, that this is clearly false confidence.)

This study [8] interviewed young drivers in nine European countries and found "the main difference between [young male and female drivers] is not strictly related to judgment of the perceived risk probability but rather to the level of concern experienced about the consequences of the risk." In other words, young men (the highest risk group) are aware of the risks to themselves and others ... they just don't care.

This study of data from 32 countries in "8 cultural cluster" [9] found "men [value] crash risk behaviors more than women do in all cultural clusters observed". They also found "the greater acceptance of risky behavior by males is observed in all cultures."

It's also important to note that these higher fatality rates for men are in spite of the fact that car safety standards are designed and tested only on a male-standard [10, 11]. Women are, in fact, at higher risk than men of injury and death when they are in a crash. This makes the fact that men still outnumber women in crash fatalities all the more significant.

Stereotype Threat

I talk about stereotype in a few posts, including this post and this post.

So, we should also note the effect of the (false) "women are bad drivers" stereotype.

This study [12] found that inducing a stereotype threat "reduced [female driver's] state driving self-efficacy, and further increased mistakes in driving tasks" as compared to a control group.

This study [13] found that "women under stereotype threat ... doubled the number of mistakes" as compared to a control group. They also found the women believed they drove poorly in all conditions.

This study [14] found the same using a driving simulator.

This study [15] found "significant differences in how female drivers were evaluated ... in groups where stereotypes were emphasized or countered ... [but not] in the group where stereotypes were neutralized."

So, not only are women already better drivers than men, we would be even better if society stopped perpetuating this stereotype.

References below the cut:

“Fatality Facts 2022: Males and Females.” IIHS-HLDI Crash Testing and Highway Safety, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, June 2024, https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/males-and-females.

Global status report on road safety 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization;2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Aldred, R., Johnson, R., Jackson, C., & Woodcock, J. (2021). How does mode of travel affect risks posed to other road users? An analysis of English road fatality data, incorporating gender and road type. Injury prevention, 27(1), 71-76.

“2023 Road Safety Annual Report | French Road Safety Observatory.” French Road Safety Observatory, ONISR, Sept. 2024, https://www.onisr.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/en/road-safety-performance/annual-road-safety-reports/2023-road-safety-annual-report.

Castro-Nuno, M., & Lopez-Valpuesta, L. (2023, May). Traffic compliance effect of more women behind the wheel: Pride or prejudice?. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 98, p. 102727). Pergamon.

Özkan, T., & Lajunen, T. (2006). What causes the differences in driving between young men and women? The effects of gender roles and sex on young drivers’ driving behaviour and self-assessment of skills. Transportation research part F: Traffic psychology and behaviour, 9(4), 269-277.

Bergdahl, J. (2005). Sex differences in attitudes toward driving: A survey. The Social Science Journal, 42(4), 595-601.

Cordellieri, P., Baralla, F., Ferlazzo, F., Sgalla, R., Piccardi, L., & Giannini, A. M. (2016). Gender effects in young road users on road safety attitudes, behaviors and risk perception. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 1412.

Granie, M. A., Thevenet, C., Varet, F., Evennou, M., Oulid-Azouz, N., Lyon, C., ... & Van den Berghe, W. (2021). Effect of culture on gender differences in risky driver behavior through comparative analysis of 32 countries. Transportation research record, 2675(3), 274-287.

Linder, A., & Svensson, M. Y. (2019). Road safety: the average male as a norm in vehicle occupant crash safety assessment. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 44(2), 140-153.

Kahane, C. J. (2013, May). Injury vulnerability and effectiveness of occupant protectiontechnologies for older occupants and women. (Report No. DOT HS 811 766). Washington, DC:National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Song, J., Song, X., Bai, J., & Liu, Y. (2024). The influence of gender driving stereotype threat on the driving performance of female drivers and its mechanism. Current Psychology, 1-12.

Moè, A., Cadinu, M., & Maass, A. (2015). Women drive better if not stereotyped. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 85, 199-206.

Yeung, N. C. J., & von Hippel, C. (2008). Stereotype threat increases the likelihood that female drivers in a simulator run over jaywalkers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40(2), 667-674.

Özkan, B., Azık, D., & Öz, B. (2024). Impact of Stereotype Threat on Evaluating Female Drivers' Skills. Trends in Psychology, 1-18.

#feminism #patriarchal culture

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batboyblog · 1 year ago

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Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #22

June 7-14 2024

Vice-President Harris announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is moving to remove medical debt for people's credit score. This move will improve the credit rating of 15 million Americans. Millions of Americans struggling with debt from medical expenses can't get approved for a loan for a car, to start a small business or buy a home. The new rule will improve credit scores by an average of 20 points and lead to 22,000 additional mortgages being approved every year. This comes on top of efforts by the Biden Administration to buy up and forgive medical debt. Through money in the American Rescue Plan $7 billion dollars of medical debt will be forgiven by the end of 2026. To date state and local governments have used ARP funds to buy up and forgive the debt of 3 million Americans and counting.

The EPA, Department of Agriculture, and FDA announced a joint "National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics". The Strategy aimed to cut food waste by 50% by 2030. Currently 24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste, and food waste accounts for 58% of methane emissions from landfills roughly the green house gas emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants every year. This connects to $200 million the EPA already has invested in recycling, the largest investment in recycling by the federal government in 30 years. The average American family loses $1,500 ever year in spoiled food, and the strategy through better labeling, packaging, and education hopes to save people money and reduce hunger as well as the environmental impact.

President Biden signed with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a ten-year US-Ukraine Security Agreement. The Agreement is aimed at helping Ukraine win the war against Russia, as well as help Ukraine meet the standards it will have to be ready for EU and NATO memberships. President Biden also spearheaded efforts at the G7 meeting to secure $50 billion for Ukraine from the 7 top economic nations.

HHS announced $500 million for the development of new non-injection vaccines against Covid. The money is part of Project NextGen a $5 billion program to accelerate and streamline new Covid vaccines and treatments. The investment announced this week will support a clinical trial of 10,000 people testing a vaccine in pill form. It's also supporting two vaccines administered as nasal sprays that are in earlier stages of development. The government hopes that break throughs in non-needle based vaccines for Covid might be applied to other vaccinations thus making vaccines more widely available and more easily administered.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $404 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. This brings the total invested by the Biden administration in the Palestinians to $1.8 billion since taking office, over $600 million since the war started in October 2023. The money will focus on safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.

The Department of the Interior announced $142 million for drought resilience and boosting water supplies. The funding will provide about 40,000 acre-feet of annual recycled water, enough to support more than 160,000 people a year. It's funding water recycling programs in California, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada and Texas. It's also supporting 4 water desalination projects in Southern California. Desalination is proving to be an important tool used by countries with limited freshwater.

President Biden took the lead at the G7 on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The PGI is a global program to connect the developing world to investment in its infrastructure from the G7 nations. So far the US has invested $40 billion into the program with a goal of $200 billion by 2027. The G7 overall plans on $600 billion by 2027. There has been heavy investment in the Lobito Corridor, an economic zone that runs from Angola, through the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Zambia, the PGI has helped connect the 3 nations by rail allowing land locked Zambia and largely landlocked DRC access Angolan ports. The PGI also is investing in a $900 million solar farm in Angola. The PGI got a $5 billion dollar investment from Microsoft aimed at expanding digital access in Kenya, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The PGI's bold vision is to connect Africa and the Indian Ocean region economically through rail and transportation link as well as boost greener economic growth in the developing world and bring developing nations on-line.

#Thanks Biden #Joe Biden #us politics #american politics #Medical debt #debt forgiveness #climate change #food waste #Covid #covid vaccine #Gaza #water resources #global development #Africa #developing countries

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atsadi-shenanigans · 5 months ago

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FSBE 9 - Date Night

You get some.

On AO3.

It don’t work.

“Yet,” Gale stresses. “Which is the entire point of testing. We’ll try again here in, oh, three days’ time? That’s all part of a research strategy. Documentation.”

Man is such a nerd. It’s adorable. Especially since it seems to be pulling him outta that shitty ass commandment from his bitch-ass goddess to blow himself up.

Gods ain’t fucking shit. Goddamn shocker.

Astarion waits at your tent when you stagger over. You’re only a little bleary-eyed, just enough to soften his features and sharpen your tongue.

“Fuck,” you say.

“Hello to you as well, my sweet,” he says. “I take it that means the wizard is finished with you?”

You reach the tent. He does seem to have cleaned up. His hair is in its usual floof, his camp shirt only slightly musty (not a lot of washing y’all can do between a lava lake and this dump).

You ain’t cleaned shit, and you’re a beat down dog, tonight.

“Well?” Astarion says. Waits while you stand there like a loser.

You know, intellectually, that Gale is right. Standardized testing documents changes in a gradual process. One test, especially the first one, don’t necessarily mean shit. If he’s right about the other thing (your lungs go tight trying to form the word because you fucking failed, goddamn worthless) it’ll take time. Like learning any skill. Like them rich bitches from Texas who pay a hundred grand to get a Sherpa local to haul their ass up Everest. Even they gotta spend time at base camp. Let their body adapt. Can’t double the red blood count overnight, and trying tends to cause swelling in the lungs or brain. And then, like, death.

“Still a dud,” you say and almost bite the inside of your cheek to distract from the way your throat tightens.

“A dud?” He sounds out the word like somebody taking a bite of foreign food. Slow. Careful.

Oh, the limits of dirt potion.

“Means I don’t work,” you say.

He cocks his head to the side. There’s something on his face, around the edges of his eyes…then it’s gone, slipped beneath the surface as his usual smarm ass grin spreads across his lips. “You work for me, darling.”

And you can’t help it. It’s so fucking cheesy. Punctures right through the balloon of self-pity and it bursts out of you in a high snort. “Oh my god, you’re such a dork.”

He don’t even lose his grin. “A what?”

You shake your head. The literal etymology aside, you don’t wanna ruin the mood explaining. Besides, the two of you standing out here all but screaming “hookup” to anybody with a set of eyes…

You lift the tent flap. Duck inside. He follows after you.

“No owlbear this time?” he says.

Just your bedroll and your bag. You ain’t got no fancy rugs or nothing. Even if you had been inclined to start hoarding (and you was), the Underdark took everything. You probably didn’t need half a dozen mismatched forks anyway, right?

“I asked Wyll to take him,” you say.

“Oh~,” Astarion fucking drawls. Gives a shoulder shimmy. “Wanted the two of us alone at last?”

There ain’t no goddamn reason for you to get shy now. You was alone with him for over a week down in them caves. Sleeping in his tent, going full Poo-bear. And yeah, he was blind for that one, but you was wrapped up in only his blanket, cooch out, as he lit a fire in his hand to warm you.

All that before he done stuck his fingers up inside you.

Yet here y’all are. You dropped the fur baby off with a sitter and brought home a man. Elf. Vampire. And it’s taking all you got not to squirm at his proximity.

Especially as he closes the distance between y’all.

“It’s been days since I’ve tasted your lips,” he says. Like a normal person. “It’s all rather distracting. All I can think of, when I ought to be paying attention in battle. Terribly dangerous if I’m lost in remembering the next time we’re attacked.”

Holy god, you wonder when he came up with that one. If he practiced it in his head. How many times he did to make it come out like that. Fucking weirdo. (Yet your insides do a little loop-de-loop anyways.)

He’s so close. Offering you, well, you ain’t quite sure yet. But being close is nice. His touch is nice. And you feel rotten. Tired and sore, and that’s before you get to anything physical. All you want is to lean against him and let everything else disappear for a bit.

“So you’re saying I should kiss you better?” you say.

“I wouldn’t want to presume,” says the man sliding his hands along your hips to draw you closer as goosebumps sweep up your arms and down your thighs.

“I mean.” Your breath ghosts over his lips and you also have to fight the urge to twist away. It seems too…intimate. Almost rude. “It’s to save your life, right?”

“Most certainly.”

He’s so hard to figure out. So many different facets. And some of them is downright nasty. Then he goes and does shit like this, and it tugs at something inside you. A fishhook you went and swallowed, reeling you in by the guts.

“We can’t have that,” you say.

He closes the last, lingering distance.

You kissed him all of what, three times? Does one count each session or each kiss? Cause it turns out they come in groups. All blending together into a moment. Lips gliding. The vibration of his voice as he makes small noises. The mortifying sigh that escapes your nose as you fucking relax into him.

And then his cool fingers circle your wrists (arms hanging at your sides like a dork because you ain’t sure what to do with them) (you are, you just…it’s too forward). Bring them up to place your hands at his neck.

You squeak. Can’t help it. Regress twenty years into a sitcom teenager.

He breaks off. Seems more softly amused than anything, thank fuck. “My sweet little treat. You’re flushed, darling.”

You try (and fail) to regain your breath. Without panting all over him. “That’s supposed to happen.”

“Mmm,” he says. Nuzzles against the side of your face like a man-sized cat. “Only when you’re with a talented lover.”

This one comes out a giggle. A soft huff. When he pulls back again, he’s wearing the softest smile you ever seen.

Then he’s sitting. Tugging you down after him. You straddle his lap and your pulse thunders in your ears. Your stomach does a somersault as his hands circle around to the small of your back and he pulls you close. Spread over his lap again.

He kisses you more. Slips a little tongue, this time. And hey! You still ain’t used to that! Still make weird sounds and then your skin burns as you shudder in his grasp.

His lips move, slide up the side of your face. Up to your ear. “How would you like it this time, lover?”

Holy fucking god.

Nobody. Nobody. Has ever said anything like that to you. Your mouth goes dry as all the moisture in your body seems to slam down between your legs.

Any way you want, you want to say. Barely stop yourself (as the ghosts of shameful past scream in your head).

You search his face. Soft. Smarm. All heavy-lidded. The fingers of his left hand brush softly up and down the back of your neck (should you mimic that).

He’s done this once with you. And he didn’t get anything…reciprocal with it. You ain’t sure it’s okay to ask again. Relationships is about sharing, right? So he should have a turn. Right?

“Do you, uh.” You start strong. Chicken out halfway through. Then force yourself to commit like a grown ass woman straddling a man’s lap. “Do you want a turn?”

Yes. Great. Excellent phrasing there, Ripley. So mature. So self-confident.

He leans away a few inches, you think so he can see your face. Something in his eyes…but then it’s gone. And he’s all liquid lust again.

“But what of you, my sweet?”

Oh jesus. God help you. Fucking talking is hard. This is bullshit.

“I mean. I got to. Y’know. Last time.” It’s not sexy to cringe while straddling a man’s lap. Nobody’s lap, but especially not his when y’all are, well, dating (holy fuck). “And you didn’t. I mean. Unless later you, uh. Which is fine! I’m not. It. It doesn’t bother me or nothing!”

He blinks at you. Doesn’t seem like he’s gonna laugh in your face? Just looks…puzzled. “Are you asking if I’ve touched myself?”

No. Cool. Y’all’re talking about masturbation now. This is fine. Totally okay. You’ll just collect yourself, wish him a good night, and then walk outside to join the legion of shadow puppets.

“You don’t have to answer that,” you say. You’re dodging. Covering. It’s stupid obvious, but you don’t care because you wandered into an area you shouldn’t be in, and you need to get out and get out now. “Sorry. I just thought. Um. If you wanted. Uh.”

But he leans in so close his features go blurry. Might as well’ve slapped a hand over your mouth.

“You want to know?” he says, voice gone silky.

Holy shit.

…has he?

Oh neat, now your own voice done left the chat room. You hope it’s having a nice fucking time hanging out with your missing social awareness, common sense, and thirty-five-years-old fucking sense of maturity.

Then Astarion pecks you on the lips. Pulls you flush against him. “Shall I tell you, darling? How I took myself in hand thinking of you? Imagining you just…”

His hips lift. Yeah, he’s hard. He grinds right up against you and it punches the air clean outta your lungs.

“Like this?”

Grinds again. That is an erection. Rubbing between your legs. Y’all are both fully clothed, but that don’t diminish the knowledge one fucking bit.

He did. Holy fuckballs.

He lowers his head to kiss your neck. The tips of his fangs graze your skin as he suckles. He’s gonna leave another mark. Goddamnit.

“Would you like to know how I pictured you? Taking me so sweetly? Singing so prettily as I filled you?”

You clap a hand over your mouth. Who even talks like this?

“Do you think of me, darling? When you touch yourself? When you retrieve that toy of yours?”

Good god almighty, the man is obsessed with your dildo. But, not in a bad way. You think. You heard of that. It, like, challenges some guys and their sense of masculinity or whatever. But this seems almost…envious?

You think of him sliding down, onto one of his own, mouth falling open and you accidentally grind down hard on him.

So now you have to cover for that. “I. I haven’t. Used that, I mean.”

He still rocks you against him. Jesus lord, y’all are dry humping. This is goddamn dry humping.

“Whyever not?” he says.

“C-can’t just. Drop it into the camp pot, can I? Need to boil that sunuvabitch. So I don’t get Faerun herpes.”

One hand stays on the back of your neck. The other slides down, across your hips. Over your thigh. Traces up to the juncture between your legs. He lifts his head to look at you, a silent question. Asking permission.

But he says it, too. “May I?”

This is crazy. He’s crazy. You’re more crazy. A couple hours from killing a man (thing) and going into shock, and it turns out tomfoolery really does turn the brain to scrambled eggs. Because while part of you know this is a terrible idea and you might be a horrible fucking person. The rest of you? Doesn’t really care right now.

“Yes,” you say.

His hand slips between your legs to stroke the outside of your pants. It ain’t nowhere near like him dipping under that blanket in his tent in the Underdark. But it’s still enough you gasp and arch against him.

His lips find your throat again. His fangs scrape. You shiver against him. Then the hand behind your neck moves. Comes around to the front of your stays. He don’t ask, this time. Don’t even try to get under them; he done went and picked up how you shy from that (though sweet baby jesus, the thought of his mouth on your nipple, teeth nibbling…)

“It sounds like we ought to build our own fire, then,” he says. It takes you a minute to connect conversations. “And I don’t just mean like this.”

His hand disappears before his cool fingers slide over the hem of your pants. Settle on the buttons. You’re already slicker than a shit chute. Can feel it as you move.

“I could help you ready for it, darling,” he says. “Bring you to it, just like this.”

He gets the front open. His fingers move down, over your lower belly.

“I could watch you take it.”

But that. That one’s too far. Eyes on you, the whole congregation witnessing your shame. You can’t stop the flinch.

Astarion pauses. Looks to you, his gaze sharp. He plays airheaded, but you seen him demolish critters and people, and the way he looks at you now is similar. There’s brains behind them eyes.

“No,” he says. “Perhaps not that.”

He releases the front of your stays to guide you down to kiss him all sweet and gentle again. Just as his fingers slip inside your drawers and find your clit.

“Oh,” he hums directly into your mouth. “You certainly liked part of that, though. Is it the thought of using it, perhaps? Shall I hold it for you?”

You make a noise. Too loud, too loud. The others will hear. They know (or suspect, bare minimum) what’s going on in here, but you don’t gotta go hollering about it. Might literally die if anybody says anything tomorrow.

The image though. You only got to use that toy a few times (wasn’t even sure it’d fit, but some prep work and going slow and it was fine; only stung a little at the very first).

His fingertip brushes over your clit again. The contact jolts through you.

“You’re quite riled up,” Astarion says. “We mustn’t wait so long between the next time, hmm? Not when we can have this.”

Man sounds a bit frazzled, the edges of his words fraying. Even as he circles you, fingers slipping through the mess down there. Caressing slow and sure, until you start rocking against him despite yourself. You need more, goddamnit. You done this the one time with him, but your body remembers. It already knows his touch brings pleasure. It leaps at it. You want it. God almighty, you want it.

“Please,” you whisper, cheeks burning. “Astarion…”

“Mmm, yes?” His fangs linger over where he likes to bite you. Fingers trace up your spine as his other hands works inside your pants. It occurs to you that the only one holding you against his touch is you. You are the one putting pressure on his hand. And that sets your body on fire.

His tongue presses against your neck. And the idea just pops in there. All on its own. Too many movies. Too many social media posts. But.

You lift a hand. Press it carefully to the back of his head where his hair is downy soft, beneath the stiffer parts he must pomade up into them swoops. You urge him closer, to bury his face against your neck.

“Please,” you say again. “You can. You can.”

He bites. Hot, sharp pain lances up the side of your neck. You gasp and pull away. But that presses his other hand harder between your legs and it hits. The pleasure. The pain. How he grabs the back of your neck, moaning into you and the way his scent fills your nose and the wet sounds of him touching you and suckling at your neck.

The orgasm rips through you. Sends you bucking against him, trying like hell to stay quiet. Slapping your hand over your mouth even as you cradle his head, pressing him to you. You come right on his hand again, his fangs buried in your neck.

This, you realize, is how you’re going to accidentally train yourself into the most embarrassing Pavlovian response in human history.

#fsbe #these two shitheads #bg3 #astarion #astarion x tav #tavstarion #smut chapter #how you train an embarrassing Pavlovian response #tavstarion fic

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darkmaga-returns · 3 months ago

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Key points:

The parents authorized release of the medical records to CHD.

The 6-year old child was recovering from the measles (and was out of danger from dying from the measles), but developed pneumonia.

The hospital gave the child the WRONG antibiotic combination (deviating from the standard of care).

The child got worse.

The doctors should have tried the correct antibiotic at that point, but did nothing.

The test results on the culture revealed the type of infection and the doctor ordered the correct medication, but it was ordered to be started 10 hours later (instead of immediately).

The correct medication was started after it was too late to stop the infection.

Note: the community avoids vaccines due to too many vaccine adverse events in the community. Apparently, the gaslighting (“this is normal”) is not working in this community.

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sngl-led-auto-lights · 1 month ago

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In Europe, cars need to be well maintained: correctly positioned headlights, no headlight tint or windshield tilt, working headlights, etc. Why doesn't the US enforce this the way Europe does?

The disparity in vehicle maintenance enforcement between Europe and the U.S. stems from differences in regulatory frameworks, cultural priorities, and legal structures. Here’s a detailed analysis:

Regulatory Philosophy and Standards

Europe’s Harmonized System:

Europe follows UN Regulations (e.g., ECE R112 for headlights), which standardize vehicle safety across member states. These rules mandate periodic technical inspections (e.g., MOT tests) to ensure headlight alignment, proper functionality, and restrictions on tints or modifications . Focus on Proactive Safety: EU regulations prioritize preventing accidents through strict maintenance checks, including headlight beam patterns and glare control .

U.S. Self-Certification Model:

The U.S. relies on self-certification by automakers under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Once a vehicle is sold, enforcement shifts to states, with inconsistent inspection requirements. Only 31 states mandate annual safety inspections, and rules for headlights (e.g., alignment, tints) vary widely . Emphasis on Post-Market Liability: The U.S. system prioritizes addressing issues after accidents occur, often through litigation rather than preventive measures .

Legal and Jurisdictional Fragmentation

State Autonomy in the U.S.:

Vehicle regulations are largely state-controlled. For example: Some states ban headlight tints entirely, while others allow limited tints (e.g., Texas permits non-reflective tints) .

Windshield tilt rules depend on local interpretations of "obstruction" .

This fragmentation creates loopholes and uneven enforcement. Europe’s Centralized Oversight:

EU directives (e.g., Roadworthiness Package) require member states to implement uniform inspections, including checks for headlight misalignment and illegal modifications .

Cultural Priorities and Public Perception

Europe’s Safety-Centric Approach:

European drivers and regulators view vehicle maintenance as critical to collective safety. Strict lighting rules (e.g., anti-glare headlights) align with dense urban environments and high pedestrian traffic . U.S. Emphasis on Individual Freedom:

American culture often prioritizes personal choice over regulatory mandates. Aftermarket modifications (e.g., tinted headlights) are popular, and efforts to standardize inspections face resistance as "government overreach" .

Technological and Economic Factors

Cost of Compliance:

Europe’s inspection regimes (e.g., Germany’s TÜV) are costly but funded through fees. In the U.S., many states avoid inspections to reduce taxpayer burden . Automaker Influence: U.S. automakers historically resist stricter regulations to avoid production costs, whereas EU policies incentivize innovation (e.g., adaptive LED systems) .

Legacy Infrastructure:

U.S. vehicle safety standards (FMVSS 108 for lighting) have lagged behind Europe in adopting adaptive technologies like matrix LEDs, reducing the impetus for maintenance rigor .

Enforcement Mechanisms

Europe:

Regular inspections include dynamic headlight testing to ensure beam alignment and intensity .

Non-compliant vehicles are barred from roads until repaired.

U.S.:

Enforcement is reactive (e.g., ticketing for broken headlights after a traffic stop) .

Aftermarket modifications often escape scrutiny unless they cause visible safety risks .

Key Takeaways Factor Europe U.S. Regulatory Framework Centralized UN standards with strict inspections Decentralized, state-led rules with weak federal oversight Safety Priority Collective safety via preventive maintenance Individual freedom with post-market liability Inspection Rigor Mandatory, technology-driven checks Limited to no inspections in many states

Conclusion Europe’s rigorous enforcement stems from harmonized regulations, cultural emphasis on preventive safety, and centralized oversight. In contrast, the U.S. system reflects historical autonomy, economic pragmatism, and a preference for individual liberty over uniformity. While Europe prioritizes avoiding risks through maintenance, the U.S. often addresses them after the fact through litigation or fines. Bridging this gap would require the U.S. to adopt more cohesive federal standards and invest in inspection infrastructure—steps that face significant political and cultural hurdles .

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usafphantom2 · 4 months ago

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Newly Emerged Photos Show F-35C’s Mirror-Like Coating with Damaged Tiles After Intensive Testing

Stefano D'Urso

F-35C mirror-like coating damaged tiles

Some previously unseen photos recently emerged online, showing one of the U.S. Navy’s F-35Cs which received a peculiar mirror-like coating. The photos, kindly shared with us by @TimHPatriot, were captured at Midland airport, Texas, in November 2022 and show the F-35C BuNo 168842 parked on the ramp.

The photos, dating back to November 2022, show the second “chrome” F-35C with its peculiar mirror-like coating degraded over time during testing, before the aircraft was returned to its original livery.F-35C BuNo 168842Testing on the aircraft carrier

Notably, the tiles of the coating appear to be heavily degraded or corroded. According to the photographer, the pilot said the coating “were to help with the salty air on the skin, but the tiles kept peeling off in flight.” If the pilot’s explanation was correct, this would be in contrast with one the most likely theory that was shared so far, the reduction of the infrared (IR) signature of the aircraft.

It would make sense for the tiles to peel off in flight if they were not just painted, but applied over the F-35’s paint with an adhesive, similarly to vinyl films which are often used to temporarily apply special markings or liveries to aircraft. As for the salty air, another F-35C with a similar coating was tested aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) aircraft carrier, while the one in the photo and another one were often spotted in the desert environments of Nellis AFB, Nevada, and Edwards AFB, California.

As we reported at the time, the first aircraft to be spotted with the new coating were F-22 Raptors. The F-22’s delicate radar absorbent material (RAM), which requires extensive maintenance to avoid a quick deterioration, was often seen heavily deteriorated, especially on non-combat coded aircraft used in training.

The F-35C BuNo 168842 with the special coating parked at Midland airport, Texas, in November 2022. (Image credit: @TimHPatriot)

A U.S. Air Force 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron’s (TES) F-22 Raptor operational test pilot once mentioned in an interview that the coatings were experimental solutions which were being tested to see if they made it easier to maintain the sustainability and reliability of the aircraft.

This could have very well been the same reason behind the F-35C’s new coatings, making more likely the explanation of the pilot of the aircraft in the latest photos. In fact, during the first operational deployments of the F-35C aboard aircraft carriers around the world, it has been noted that the RAM showed significant wear and tear in the demanding maritime environment, with what appeared to be rusty-looking deposit all across the aircraft.

F-35C BuNo 168842

The F-35C in these “new” photos had been already spotted at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in May 2024. In August 2024, newer photographs provided a better look at its peculiar coating while arriving at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu, California. The aircraft is assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) out of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

F-35C mirror

The F-35C XE-105 sporting the new coating. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

The coating was applied to not interfere with access panels, weapon bays, sensor and antenna areas, landing gear doors and so on. Also, it appears that this coating was applied over the standard grey livery of the F-35C and they appearance changes depending on the angle on observation. The tiles have different dimensions and shapes, with some areas showing larger diamond-shaped tiles, while other area have smaller diamond or triangle-shaped tiles.

The F-35C XE-105 is only the latest of many aircraft to be seen with this new mirror-like coating, following two F-22 Raptor and a F-117 stealth fighters that have been spotted flying since November 2021. The layout of the F-35’s coating is similar to what was seen on the F-22, with what appear to be small, mirror-like tiles that have been extensively applied on the nose section, weapons bay doors, fuselage and also inner and outer face of the twin tails.

As for the F-22, the coating has been applied to not interfere with access panels, weapon bays, sensor and antenna areas, landing gear doors and so on. Also, it appears that this coating has been applied over the standard grey livery of the F-35C and they appearance changes depending on the angle on observation. The tiles have different dimensions and shapes, with some areas showing larger diamond-shaped tiles, while other area have smaller diamond or triangle-shaped tiles.

Chrome F-22

The Chrome Raptor about to land at Nellis AFB on Mar. 17, 2022. (Image credit: Steve Fortson)

Many theories emerged about the origin of these coatings, but without any official confirmation. The most credited ones were testing activities related to counter-IRST (InfraRed Search & Track) technologies or targeting systems, some kind of radar absorbent material (RAM) replacement or a passive laser defense system.

The photos captured at Midland airport might be the last of the aircraft before it was returned to its standard livery. In fact, the airframe 168842 was spotted in early 2023 with the usual grey livery, without the mirror-like coating. The F-35C later changed also its Modex from XE-105 to XE-101, but remained still assigned to VX-9.

It is unclear, however, which were the results of the testing and if it reached its objectives before the coating was removed.

Testing on the aircraft carrier

Another F-35C with a mirror-like coating, this time assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125, was was photographed during a touch and go on Nov. 30, 2023, on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The aircraft carrier was underway conducting routine operations in the Pacific Ocean, with the “Rough Raiders” of VFA-125, a Fleet Replacement Squadron from NAS Lemoore, California, embarked.

F-35C Mirror

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sonny Escalante)

This was the first time, at least to our knowledge, that this exotic scheme of the F-35 was spotted in a carrier environment. This time, however, the coating was not applied extensively as in the other cases, but can be seen only on both sides of the vertical tails and wings, while the fuselage has the standard F-35 coating.

The “chrome” coating alternated dark and shiny patches, making up three larger stripes of different colors. While it was unknown why the new coatings are being used by a FRS on an aircraft carrier, a plausible hypothesis we posited was a test in the harsh maritime environment with aircraft subject to a high volume of flight activity.

Thanks again to @TimHPatriot for allowing us to use his photos!

@TheAviationist.com

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tameblog · 1 month ago

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After years of testing, we have finally perfected the ultimate chocolate cake recipe. Our recipe has been tried and loved by tens of thousands of people worldwide, all of whom agree that it is the most amazing chocolate cake ever. We promise, once you try this recipe, you won’t go back to the others. For more delicious cake, try our Most Amazing Texas Sheet Cake. Why Our Recipe It’s Moist! — One of the key measures of a chocolate cake is whether or not it is moist. This one checks every box! One Bowl —The batter is made in just one bowl, so no combining wet and dry ingredients separately. Rich Chocolate Flavor — This cake is rich and fudgy, making it a true indulgence for any chocolate cake lover. This fudgy chocolate cake is so decadent, it has gained the nickname “The Matilda Cake” because it looks just like the cake eaten by Bruce Bogtrotter in the movie Matilda. And I’ll take that as a compliment! This cake really is the chocolate cake of my dreams. Ingredient Notes All-Purpose Flour:The main structural component. It provides the cake’s texture and body. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: We recommend Hershey’s cocoa powder as it’s widely available. You can also use higher-quality options like Ghirardelli or those from specialty chocolatiers, though they may be more expensive. Baking Soda & Powder: Check the expiration date to ensure proper leavening. Granulated Sugar: Stick with standard granulated sugar for best results. Buttermilk: Adds moisture and a slight tang to balance the sweetness. Warm it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to bring it to room temperature quickly. Eggs: Room-temperature eggs make for a fluffier cake. To warm eggs quickly, submerge them in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes. Vegetable Oil: Provides essential moisture for the softest cake texture. Vanilla Extract: Use a full tablespoon to bring out the bold vanilla flavor. Opt for pure vanilla extract if possible for the best results. Types of Cocoa Powder Cocoa powder is an important ingredient in many baked goods and can affect the flavor and texture of the final product. It is important to use the type of cocoa powder specified in a recipe, as using the wrong type can alter the balance of flavors and sweetness. There are several types of cocoa powder available, each with its own distinct flavor and properties. Unsweetened cocoa powder, specifically Hershey’s brand, was used in this cake recipe as it is the most widely available. You can also use higher-quality cocoa powders such as Ghirardelli or those from specialty chocolatier shops, but they can be expensive. It is recommended to avoid using inexpensive store brands as they tend to not produce the best results. Dutch-process cocoa powder is a type of cocoa that has been treated with an alkali to neutralize its acidity. It has a milder flavor and darker color than natural cocoa powder, and is also easier to dissolve in liquids. When using dutch-process cocoa powder in place of unsweetened cocoa powder in a recipe, it is important to consider that it may behave differently due to its lower acidity. However, in this recipe, dutch-process cocoa can be used without making any other modifications. *For the dark-colored frosting in these photos, Hershey’s Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder was used. Pan Size Adaptions This chocolate cake recipe yields approximately 9 cups of batter total, or 3 cups for each of the 9-inch layers. Here are some popular pan sizes and the approximate amount of batter needed for each individual pan: 9×2-inch round pan: 3 cups batter 8×2-inch round pan: 2 1/4 cups batter 13×18-inch sheet cake pan: 6 cups batter 9×13-inch pan: 6 cups batter 12 standard cupcakes: 3 cups batter 10-12 cup bundt cake pan: 8 cups batter As a general rule, cake pans should be filled 2/3rds of the way full for cake baking, unless otherwise specified in the recipe. It’s always a good idea to check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached, the cake is likely done. You can also gently press the center of the cake with your finger – if it springs back, it is probably ready to be removed from the oven. Frosting Options Chocolate Ganache: Only 2 ingredients—chocolate and heavy cream. It’s often used as icing or as a filling. Some chefs even use it as a dipping sauce paired with fruit like strawberries. You’ll also see it on donuts and cupcakes. It’s rich, thick, and sweet. Chocolate Fudge Icing: Icing is often used interchangeably with frosting. Frosting does tend to be a bit thicker, while icing is usually smoother and easier to spread than frosting. This cooked chocolate icing is made with buttermilk, which thickens it up and gives a slight tart taste. Buttercream Frosting: Buttercream is our go-to frosting for most cakes, and it’s pretty easy to see why once you’ve tried it. It is perfectly sweet and creamy, and tastes fantastic. We can eat this stuff by the spoonful, however, we promise it is even better on top of a cake or cupcakes. Cream Cheese Frosting: This frosting is creamy, thick, and has a slight tang. Simply add cocoa powder for a chocolate version. Pistachio Buttercream Frosting: This frosting has a smooth, buttery consistency with a slight crunch from the blended pistachio nuts. This frosting pairs so well with chocolate cake. Think Dubai chocolate bar—the combination can’t be beat. Sweetened Condensed Milk Frosting: A simple and easy way to make a creamy, sweet frosting. Whether you are making chocolate or vanilla frosting, it only takes 3 ingredients! Even Layers Like a Pro Weigh the Batter: Use a kitchen scale to divide the batter equally between the pans. Weigh the empty pans first, then weigh them again with the batter to ensure they’re evenly distributed. Level the Batter: Once the batter is in the pans, gently tap each pan on the counter to release any air bubbles and even out the surface. Trim After Baking: After the cakes are fully cooled, use a serrated knife or a cake leveler to trim any domed tops. This step ensures a flat surface for stacking. Use Baking Strips: Baking strips wrapped around the outside of the pans can help prevent doming and create more uniform layers. Storage Instructions Store the assembled cake in an airtight container or cake dome at room temperature for up to 2 days. For cream cheese or perishable frostings, store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze Unfrosted Layers: After wrapping in plastic wrap, add a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before decorating. Freeze Frosted Cakes: Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving. More decadent chocolate desserts… Source link

#KITCHEN_AND_DINING #AMAZING #CAKE #CHOCOLATE #CHOCOLATE_CAKE #RECIPE

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invincible-selfxmade-punk · 2 months ago

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Hopefully my last teaching rant. Lol

I understand that we need to test. I understand that we need data. I understand that we need to compare how students are doing not only to how they did at the first of the year but how they are doing in relation to each other and students around the country. I know this is critical for Teacher accountability.

I don't think anyone understands how many tests their kids have to take if they live in Texas. And I don't think this is unique for our district.

On top of Benchmark testing that we do three times a year which are 3 hour long tests,

On top of the end of the year state tests,

On top of the monthly a unit tests,

We have what is called Maps testing. These tests are three times a year and are not graded but simply used to measure student growth throughout the year..

So every 2 to 3 weeks the kids are being tested for something.

We have started adding huge incentives to some of these tests. The only problem is there's no incentive for the state test at the end of the year. And that's the big one. Sometimes that determines whether they go on to the next grade. It definitely determines whether or not they're going to have summer school or not. But because we do not get the results back until June even though it is computerized, we do not give incentives for it. We used to. When I first started we would test in April and get back results at the end of May and so we had a lot of incentives.

So the obvious problem is that by the time the kids get to the state test at the end of the year but they are exhausted and they are fed up and it is just one more test that they are not going to be compensated on and they give up. So we are seeing great results on a map testing and then by the end of the year test scores are plummeting.

You would think somebody would realize this and think you know maybe we need a few less tests. I don't think fourth graders need Benchmark testing. There has to be some way we can get rid of some of these tests.

We are making our kids anxious and burning them out. And we are literally setting ourselves up for failure because our grades as teachers and as schools hinge on the end of the year standardized test and these kids are just too tired to take by the time we get through testing them on everything else.

But what do I know? I just work here.

#fourth grade #teaching #teaching to the test #testing #burnout #State standardized testing #american education #teaching in Texas #elementary school

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shelyold · 1 month ago

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#KITCHEN_AND_DINING #AMAZING #CAKE #CHOCOLATE #CHOCOLATE_CAKE #RECIPE

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rjzimmerman · 10 months ago

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Something’s Poisoning America’s Land. Farmers Fear ‘Forever’ Chemicals. (New York Times)

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer. It was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sludge out of landfills.

But a growing body of research shows that this black sludge, made from the sewage that flows from homes and factories, can contain heavy concentrations of chemicals thought to increase the risk of certain types of cancer and to cause birth defects and developmental delays in children.

Known as “forever chemicals” because of their longevity, these toxic contaminants are now being detected, sometimes at high levels, on farmland across the country, including in Texas, Maine, Michigan, New York and Tennessee. In some cases the chemicals are suspected of sickening or killing livestock and are turning up in produce. Farmers are beginning to fear for their own health.

The national scale of farmland contamination by these chemicals — which are used in everything from microwave popcorn bags and firefighting gear to nonstick pans and stain-resistant carpets — is only now starting to become apparent. There are now lawsuits against providers of the fertilizer, as well as against the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that the agency failed to regulate the chemicals, known as PFAS.

In Michigan, among the first states to investigate the chemicals in sludge fertilizer, officials shut down one farm where tests found particularly high concentrations in the soil and in cattle that grazed on the land. This year, the state prohibited the property from ever again being used for agriculture. Michigan hasn’t conducted widespread testing at other farms, partly out of concern for the economic effects on its agriculture industry.

In 2022, Maine banned the use of sewage sludge on agricultural fields. It was the first state to do so and is the only state to systematically test farms for the chemicals. Investigators have found contamination on at least 68 of the more than 100 farms checked so far, with some 1,000 sites still to be tested.

In Texas, several ranchers blamed the chemicals for the deaths of cattle, horses and catfish on their properties after sewage sludge was used as fertilizer on neighboring farmland. Levels of one PFAS chemical in surface water exceeded 1,300 parts per trillion, they say in a lawsuit filed this year against Synagro, the company that supplied the fertilizer. While not directly comparable, the E.P.A.’s drinking-water standard for two PFAS chemicals is 4 parts per trillion.

#agriculture #farming #forever chemicals #toxic chemicals #fertilizer #PFAS #municipal sewage

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meeedeee · 4 months ago

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Measles cases increasing in West Texas & other parts of the USA. Best protection is vaccination. Some adults may need boosters.

1. Born after 1957 & vaccinated before 1968, vaccine was weak.

2. Between 1968-1989, you received just 1 dose instead of standard two doses

3. Before 1971, no mumps or rubella vaccine was included

Talk to your doctor or local health department about whether to get a second shot. You can also do a titre test which is a blood test to test your immunity to measles, mumps or rubella

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/21/nx-s1-5304458/measles-vaccine-booster-health

#USA #Health news #measles #vaccination

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mariacallous · 7 months ago

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In October of 2023, weeks after the Hamas attacks on Israel, Columbia University’s brand-new president, Minouche Shafik, asked Nicholas Lemann, dean emeritus of the journalism school, to co-chair a Task Force on Antisemitism. Like elite campuses around the country, Columbia was roiled by campus protests; students and faculty were trading letters about Israel and many pro-Israel students began raising concerns about antisemitism.

Lemann said he felt obligated to say yes as a faculty member and as a Jew who had been engaged in previous campus debates over Israel, countering colleagues who supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel.

“I believe you have an obligation to stand up for what you believe in, even if it’s unpleasant,” Lemann told me in a recent interview.

In the year that followed, the campus environment only got more heated, with a spreading pro-Palestinian encampment movement, anti-Israel protests on or near the campus and, in late April, a student takeover of the school’s Hamilton Hall that was broken up by the NYPD. Shafik stepped down in August, citing “a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community.”

The task force (whose other co-chairs are Ester Fuchs, director of the Urban and Social Policy Program at the School of International and Public Affairs, and David Schizer, the Law School dean emeritus) released its first report in March. It detailed the “isolation and pain” experienced by Jewish students and the “particularly terrible treatment” meted out to Israeli students. The report concluded that the university was not doing enough to discipline unauthorized protests.

A second report in September, issued after listening sessions with close to 500 students, said pervasive antisemitism on campus “affected the entire university community.”

“We heard about crushing encounters that have crippled students’ academic achievement,” read the report. “We heard about students being avoided and avoiding others, about exclusion from clubs and activities, isolation and even intimidation.”

Aggrieved members of the Jewish community welcomed the task force’s conclusions; critics said its report’s definition of antisemitism would stifle legitimate criticism of Israel.

Two more reports are due, including one this month.

While other Ivy League campuses have been convulsed by the protests, Columbia — located in the heart of the country’s largest Jewish community — has become the epicenter of a range of debates surrounding Oct. 7 and the war that followed: how to define and combat antisemitism; whether and how to cap free speech, campus protest and academic freedom; the discourse around political diversity and charges that elite universities have become hotbeds of “wokeness.”

Lemann and I discussed these and other issues after his recent appearance at Limmud New York, an all-day festival of Jewish learning held at Manhattan’s JCC on the Upper West Side, where he lives. There he attends Minyan M’at, an egalitarian service that meets at Ansche Chesed, a Conservative synagogue.

Before serving as the dean of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism from 2003 to 2013, Lemann worked variously as a writer and editor at Texas Monthly, The Washington Post, The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, where he is a staff writer. He graduated Harvard College in 1976, and wrote about higher education and standardized testing in “The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy (1999), among other books.

Our conversation was edited for length and clarity.

How are things on campus these days? What’s the mood and how heavy are the protests?

It’s been fairly quiet, as it has been at other campuses. Most protest in the center of the campus is much smaller, much less visible than it was last year. However, the campus is locked, you have to have a valid ID to get into the campus. And when you enter the campus, there’s a lot of private security people all over the place. So the big question is, if you didn’t have the campus locked and you didn’t have the private security people, what would happen?

Behind the scenes, or less visibly, there’s a pretty intense disagreement about what the rules for protest are and what body within the university owns them and enforces them.

How do you respond to readers who are inclined to condemn the pro-Palestinian protests on campus, and to condemn the institutions for not doing more to clamp down on threatening rhetoric, or to chalk up the anti-Israel sentiment to a sort of far-left takeover of the liberal arts. What might they be missing?

I have a lot of conversations about this, and I often get some kind of theory about why this issue is playing out in the way it is at Columbia and other elite universities. One that I hear a lot is it’s all about funding from Qatar. Another theory is that it’s all about DEI offices, or post-colonial theory. I don’t want to discount any of those completely, but I want to give a somewhat different big picture.

It’s what I call the blind man and the elephant theory of major private universities [in which key players only perceive their own small part of a larger truth]. Universities like Columbia are blessed with a whole bunch of different stakeholders, all of whom do things that help make the university work and are really essential. So the one you hear about from the left is the fabled “Zionist donors.” But that’s only one group, and it’s not that big of a group. Much bigger groups include alumni, parents, staff, students and government officials at all levels. All these folks are crucial players at the university, but they rarely encounter each other directly, and each has quite a different vision of what the university is and what its core mission and values are. This particular conflict really brings that into the sunlight, and that’s one reason why it’s been so divisive.

Why is that? Why did that kind of confluence — and divergence — of all these stakeholders exacerbate what happened after Oct. 7?

Protest is constant at Columbia, but the level of protest we were seeing last year was by far the highest I’ve ever seen in my 21 years at Columbia. Most of the causes that sweep through the university are on the left, and this one is too. But in most cases, these stakeholder groups that I mentioned are pretty much on the same side of the issue — everybody’s against climate change, or supported the post-George Floyd wave, and things like that. In the case of [Israel and Palestine], significant stakeholders or subgroups within the stakeholder groups 100% passionately disagree about the question at hand. That’s uncharacteristic of most of these university protest waves.

That sounds like a liberal consensus on the part of students, faculty, administration and donors broke down over Israel. Does that support or contradict the conservative critique that the Ivies are hotbeds of “wokeness?” At Limmud I heard you say that colleges have become undergraduate business schools.

At the Ivies, the percent of students majoring in the humanities and the softer social sciences is, in almost all cases, the smallest it’s ever been in the history of these universities. You’ve seen a massive switch in undergraduate interest into predominantly two fields: economics and computer science. I don’t know what the number is. My joke is that if you stop a student on the campus and say, “Can you tell me the starting pay at Google, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey,” they’re going to be able to tell you.

And paradoxically, or maybe naturally, the more diverse these universities get, the more this is going to be true. If mom and dad are multi-millionaires, it’s okay to major in English or history or classics. But if you’re the first person in the family to go to college or your parents are in debt, they want you to do something that’s going to get you a well-paying job right after you graduate.

As a result, the humanities and the less quantitative social sciences feel beleaguered and abandoned and marginalized within the university. They don’t have as many faculty slots as they’d like to have. They can’t accept as many PhD students as they’d like to. They have trouble placing their PhD students after they get their degree. And as a result of that, the faculty in these departments, feeling isolated, tend to move further to the left.

That’s an explanation for the humanities faculty moving left: because they are not the heart and soul of the university anymore, they feel abandoned and ideologically in opposition to the rest of the campus. But what about student activists? Is their activism spurred by this sense of marginalization?

It might be that many of the [pro-Palestinian] protesters are themselves pre-business majors. The way I put it is, it’s a long running part of the culture of elite universities, going back to their religious roots, that they see themselves as sort of moral beacons unto the world. You’re trained to think of yourself as an unusually talented person who has a right or an obligation to stand up against injustice and make their voice loud and proud, even though, on many of these issues, they haven’t really studied that particular issue. Some of what happened last year is that many students see this as a morally urgent moment in which Israel is clearly in the wrong, but they couldn’t pass a detailed test on the history of Israel or the conflict.

I hear complaints from parents of Jewish students that the university classroom has become a place of indoctrination. There are calls from donors like Bill Ackman at Harvard or anti-antisemitism groups to punish or remove faculty for participating in the pro-Palestinian protests, or for expressing views that were construed as antisemitic or incendiary. On the other side, it’s a bedrock principle among faculty that they should be able to investigate, discuss and teach issues in their field without interference from administrators, boards of trustees, donors or anyone else. Do you see a shift in how universities view academic freedom, and is it even possible?

If you ask the average Columbia parent, “Have you ever heard the term academic freedom?” — I think a lot of them would say no. And a lot who have heard of it couldn’t define it. Meanwhile, and paradoxically, faculty members believe that academic freedom is the core inviolable principle of the university.

Academic freedom and free speech are not the exact same thing. Generally, freedom of speech is uncurated and academic freedom is curated. Freedom of speech means anybody can get up in the public square and say whatever they want. Academic freedom means something different: If you do a tremendous amount of work and cross a lot of bars in your academic field, you’re given the right to teach what you want in the classroom. But that’s not the same as saying any professor can do anything and it’s protected by academic freedom. Academic freedom is about classroom teaching and research. You can’t propagandize in class, or you shouldn’t. There’s a power imbalance. The job of the professor is to get the student thinking, not tell the student what to think. It’s quite possible to articulate that set of values around classroom teaching, but within the university that is quite difficult, because there’s a very, very strong tradition of faculty autonomy in teaching and research.

Has your antisemitism task force addressed the distinction between free speech protection and academic freedom protection?

We said in our last report that was published right before Labor Day that we were going to address what goes on in classrooms in a subsequent report.

Do you worry that Jewish donors and Jewish parents and stakeholders are representing a set of illiberal values that the Jewish community is not usually associated with? Going back to Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Jews have rallied around the idea that their own safety is tied into the democratic idea of free speech and that the cure for bad speech is more speech, or, as Brandeis put it, “the fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones.” Is putting limits on speech or academic freedom a place Jews want to find themselves in?

I get letters all day from parents and alums who say Professor So-and-So gave a speech, you know, 1,500 miles away from the Columbia campus. And here’s the text, and why aren’t they fired? And my position would be that’s not part of their academic life as a Columbia professor, so they should have some protection.

The best you can hope for is to have very clear rules for how the university works, and to try to create a greater degree of shared understanding than there is now around what are the values of the university. Even if you say “Jewish parents and stakeholders and others should not think these things,” you can’t just turn that off. There’s an educational process that is needed that would take a while and has to be conducted by very senior leadership figures in higher ed.

And does that go both ways — persuading outsiders of the value of academic freedom and telling insiders that it has limits?

Yes, defining it precisely, and telling people the history, and making the case that this institution they want to be part of is based on academic freedom, so you know you should be careful if you’re against it, and then, on the other hand, the term shouldn’t be used sloppily to mean faculty members have an absolute grant of autonomy in all senses.

One criticism of the second report has to do with how you define antisemitism, and the objection that anti-Israel criticism can be too easily construed as antisemitism. The report says that antisemitism could manifest as “targeting Jews or Israelis for violence or celebrating violence against them” and “exclusion or discrimination based on Jewish identity or ancestry or real or perceived ties to Israel.” How did you try to separate antisemitism from anti-Zionism? Are you satisfied with the definition that you came up with?

Our co-chair, David Schizer, is a lawyer, and he’s been the owner of the definition question. What we get from the other side is the charge that any definition that imagines there can be any relationship between anti-Zionism and antisemitism will be used as a pretext to shut down all criticism of the state of Israel on campus. We’ve never been associated with trying to do that. And in my own Jewish life, everybody I know does nothing but criticize the state of Israel, 24/7. So I do think it’s a red herring to say that our real goal is to prevent anybody from being allowed to criticize the state of Israel and its policies.

But at what point do they cross the line?

First of all, our task force’s job is not to solve the Middle East and to come up with Middle East policies. Our job is to think about the campus climate generally, and the comfort level of Jewish students in particular. The university has an existing toolkit for this kind of thing, which is built around the vocabulary of impact and intent. The standard in that case is that it’s not just what you meant by a comment — it’s how the person received it. That’s not the same as saying in all cases that a remark that has a negative impact is absolutely banned. Rather, it is a consideration of the impact that things have on identity-based groups. If a critical mass of people are experiencing something that makes them feel intensely uncomfortable, then we need to talk about it.

Your second report included testimonies from many Jewish students about their experiences of feeling threatened or excluded or discriminated against for their support or perceived support for Israel and Israelis. I am assuming you included that in order to describe and explain that discomfort, and how identification with Israel is a normative aspect of being an American Jew.

It’s a very difficult issue to explain to people. I don’t need to explain to people in my congregation that being Jewish and the state of Israel are not two completely unrelated topics. But a lot of people at Columbia are completely mystified, or pretend to be, by why so many Jewish people think there’s a connection. They don’t know much about Jewish life or Jewish history, or what it means to be Jewish.

Are you still bullish on the idea of the Ivies? I ask this because we’re hearing anecdotally that there’s some erosion within the Jewish community, some of whose members feel the elite schools may not be a home for Jews anymore.

I would say it depends on who you are, what kind of experience you have, and what you expect. Jewish kids come in a lot of different flavors. For some of them, it’s a very, very lightly worn identity. People like that I don’t think would feel uncomfortable at Columbia.

But if you are in another part of the Jewish world where you come from a more observant family, you went to a day school, you had a gap year in Israel, you might say, “I just really don’t want to be around people constantly professing anti-Zionist sentiments.” Maybe you wouldn’t be that comfortable.

On the other hand, [that same kind of person might say], “I love being in an environment where there are a lot of loud and proud anti-Zionists, because I want to fight, not with my fists, but engage with those people and really be part of a big political debate on campus.”

Let me ask you to put your journalist hat on: Is there any story that hasn’t come out that you wish people would know — that, amid all the sound and fury, there’s something on campus that’s just not being reported? It could be good news. It could be bad news.

You know the journalistic maxim: When a plane lands safely, that’s not news. So there’s all sorts of wonderful things happening at Columbia, but they’re what you’d expect. So I’m not advocating that they be news. What I see missing the most goes back to our conversation about the nature of universities. Daily news coverage tends to focus on incidents, and it’s hard to understand incidents if they’re disconnected from each other. So one day, the protesters dump red paint on the Alma Mater statue, so they look bad, and then another day, the police come and haul away the encampments, so maybe the protesters look like innocent victims. It seesaws back and forth, and it’s hard to see how this fits into the context of what a university is. That’s what I see missing the most.

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