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#publicgood — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #publicgood, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Reuters: Trump administration threatens to cut federal agencies’ support for Smithsonian. “President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut federal agencies’ ‌support for the Smithsonian, marking its latest escalation against the institution.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/reuters-trump-administration-threatens-to-cut-federal-agencies-support-for-smithsonian/
  2. Reuters: Trump administration threatens to cut federal agencies’ support for Smithsonian. “President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut federal agencies’ ‌support for the Smithsonian, marking its latest escalation against the institution.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/reuters-trump-administration-threatens-to-cut-federal-agencies-support-for-smithsonian/
  3. Reuters: Trump administration threatens to cut federal agencies’ support for Smithsonian. “President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut federal agencies’ ‌support for the Smithsonian, marking its latest escalation against the institution.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/reuters-trump-administration-threatens-to-cut-federal-agencies-support-for-smithsonian/
  4. Reuters: Trump administration threatens to cut federal agencies’ support for Smithsonian. “President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut federal agencies’ ‌support for the Smithsonian, marking its latest escalation against the institution.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/reuters-trump-administration-threatens-to-cut-federal-agencies-support-for-smithsonian/
  5. Reuters: Trump administration threatens to cut federal agencies’ support for Smithsonian. “President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut federal agencies’ ‌support for the Smithsonian, marking its latest escalation against the institution.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/reuters-trump-administration-threatens-to-cut-federal-agencies-support-for-smithsonian/
  6. The Lens: Meta’s data center will be the biggest in the U.S., but no one knows who they’re hiring. “Research shows that AI data center facilities are landing in Black and low-income communities already treated as environmental sacrifice zones. In Louisiana, the two neighboring towns have a majority Black population, but residents fear that the jobs are not reaching them.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/the-lens-metas-data-center-will-be-the-biggest-in-the-u-s-but-no-one-knows-who-theyre-hiring/
  7. The Lens: Meta’s data center will be the biggest in the U.S., but no one knows who they’re hiring. “Research shows that AI data center facilities are landing in Black and low-income communities already treated as environmental sacrifice zones. In Louisiana, the two neighboring towns have a majority Black population, but residents fear that the jobs are not reaching them.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/the-lens-metas-data-center-will-be-the-biggest-in-the-u-s-but-no-one-knows-who-theyre-hiring/
  8. The Lens: Meta’s data center will be the biggest in the U.S., but no one knows who they’re hiring. “Research shows that AI data center facilities are landing in Black and low-income communities already treated as environmental sacrifice zones. In Louisiana, the two neighboring towns have a majority Black population, but residents fear that the jobs are not reaching them.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/the-lens-metas-data-center-will-be-the-biggest-in-the-u-s-but-no-one-knows-who-theyre-hiring/
  9. The Lens: Meta’s data center will be the biggest in the U.S., but no one knows who they’re hiring. “Research shows that AI data center facilities are landing in Black and low-income communities already treated as environmental sacrifice zones. In Louisiana, the two neighboring towns have a majority Black population, but residents fear that the jobs are not reaching them.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/the-lens-metas-data-center-will-be-the-biggest-in-the-u-s-but-no-one-knows-who-theyre-hiring/
  10. The Lens: Meta’s data center will be the biggest in the U.S., but no one knows who they’re hiring. “Research shows that AI data center facilities are landing in Black and low-income communities already treated as environmental sacrifice zones. In Louisiana, the two neighboring towns have a majority Black population, but residents fear that the jobs are not reaching them.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/06/the-lens-metas-data-center-will-be-the-biggest-in-the-u-s-but-no-one-knows-who-theyre-hiring/
  11. The Guardian: It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta. “Ushering in hope for the future of technology requires changing Meta’s leadership now, so that the future is collectively imagined and built upon a new reputation and commitment. Zuckerberg does not deserve another chance simply because he can afford it. We as a society ultimately pay for his mistakes. Now is the time for […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/05/the-guardian-its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-resign-from-meta/
  12. The Guardian: It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta. “Ushering in hope for the future of technology requires changing Meta’s leadership now, so that the future is collectively imagined and built upon a new reputation and commitment. Zuckerberg does not deserve another chance simply because he can afford it. We as a society ultimately pay for his mistakes. Now is the time for […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/05/the-guardian-its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-resign-from-meta/
  13. The Guardian: It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta. “Ushering in hope for the future of technology requires changing Meta’s leadership now, so that the future is collectively imagined and built upon a new reputation and commitment. Zuckerberg does not deserve another chance simply because he can afford it. We as a society ultimately pay for his mistakes. Now is the time for […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/05/the-guardian-its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-resign-from-meta/
  14. The Guardian: It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta. “Ushering in hope for the future of technology requires changing Meta’s leadership now, so that the future is collectively imagined and built upon a new reputation and commitment. Zuckerberg does not deserve another chance simply because he can afford it. We as a society ultimately pay for his mistakes. Now is the time for […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/05/the-guardian-its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-resign-from-meta/
  15. The Guardian: It’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to resign from Meta. “Ushering in hope for the future of technology requires changing Meta’s leadership now, so that the future is collectively imagined and built upon a new reputation and commitment. Zuckerberg does not deserve another chance simply because he can afford it. We as a society ultimately pay for his mistakes. Now is the time for […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/09/05/the-guardian-its-time-for-mark-zuckerberg-to-resign-from-meta/
  16. The Journal (Ireland): Meta, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn didn’t act on 77% of misinformation reported during Áras race. “SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES failed to act on the vast majority of electoral disinformation reported by researchers ahead of last year’s presidential election, a new report shows. The report also criticised the companies for not demonstrating an understanding of the context […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/08/27/the-journal-meta-tiktok-youtube-and-linkedin-didnt-act-on-77-of-misinformation-reported-during-aras-race/
  17. A quotation from Bertrand Russell

    All the governments of the world adopt elaborate methods of concealing truths which they consider undesirable, and inflict various forms of penalty upon those who spread knowledge which is thought bad for the population This applies especially to knowledge of the kind which is considered seditious, and the kind which is considered obscene. I shall not give instances, since, if I did, I should myself fall under the ban of the law.

    Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English mathematician and philosopher
    Education and the Social Order [Education and the Modern World], ch. 1 “The Individual versus the Citizen” (1932)

    More about this quote: wist.info/russell-bertrand/853…

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #bertrandrussell #censorship #control #freepress #freespeech #government #knowledge #obscenity #pornography #publicgood #sedition #suppression #treason #truth

  18. Beyond the Map: Surveying Then and Now | Ordnance Survey [UK]
    --
    youtu.be/RkOkapW66OU?si=1jLLwW <-- shared video
    --
    H/T @Ordnance Survey
    “Britain's map has changed a lot over the years - and so has the way it's made.
    Meet Brian and Will, OS Surveyors from different generations, sharing how surveying has evolved and what it means to help map Great Britain. Here's part one of their story.
    From long days in the field with paper maps and handwritten notes to modern GPS and digital technology, surveying has come a long way. But one thing hasn't changed: the people behind the map…”
    --
    “Will's grandfather Brian helped map Britain. Today, Will does the same job with very different technology.
    Together, they reflect on their careers as Ordnance Survey surveyors, sharing stories from different eras of surveying.
    From paper field books to GPS and digital mapping, discover how surveying has evolved, how maps are made, and the technology behind the data millions rely on every day.
    Whether you're interested in mapping, surveying, geography, cartography, or the history of Ordnance Survey, this is a fascinating insight into the people and processes that help put Britain on the map…”
    #UK #OS #survey #history #GIS #spatial #mapping #Britian #surveyors #GreatBritian #family #technology #oldschool #cartography #geography #careers #publicservice #publicgood #publiclands #civilservice #UK
    #OrdnanceSurvey

  19. The Conversation: Meta‑backed research finds exposure to ‘untrustworthy’ social media is rare. The fine print is less reassuring. “A new study published today in Science Advances offers the most rigorous answers yet. It comes from a collaboration between Meta and academic researchers who studied the 2020 United States election. It was run from inside the machine – on the live feeds of […]

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/07/31/the-conversation-meta-backed-research-finds-exposure-to-untrustworthy-social-media-is-rare-the-fine-print-is-less-reassuring/
  20. Watching A #NOAA #Webinar on Flash Droughts
    --
    noaaresearch.webex.com/wbxmjs/ <-- shared NOAA Summer Science Series individual webinar
    --
    drought.gov/what-is-drought/fl <-- shared NOAA overview technical article
    --
    star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAA <-- subscribe to the NOAA Summer Science Series
    --
    doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-006 <-- shared paper
    --
    communities.springernature.com <-- shared technical article (derived from paper above)
    H/T @Jeffrey Basara PhD, MBA | Chair and Professor - Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell | Co-Founder - American Prime Sustainable Solutions
    [Flash floods? not TOO hard to conceptualise.
    Flash drought? harder to 'get my head around', but H/T / presenter does an excellent job!]
    "Not all droughts are the same. In some cases, drought rapidly intensifies at subseasonal to seasonal scales with significant impacts to agriculture and water resources along with the increased propensity for heatwaves and wildfires. Like all droughts, flash drought begins with a precipitation deficit. However, both evaporative demand and soil moisture are critical flash drought variables, and identifying and monitoring the desiccation of the terrestrial surface is key for determining flash drought development and associated impacts. While recent advances in knowledge and monitoring of flash drought have occurred, fundamental questions remain in the state of the science. What are the overall mechanistic relationships between atmospheric demand, evaporative stress, terrestrial desiccation, and precipitation that drive the progression of flash drought? Do regional characteristics of the environment impact the evolution of flash drought? What are the scales of predictability for flash drought? Finally, how will flash drought frequency and intensity evolve in a changing climate system"
    --
    "Flash drought intensifies rapidly due to changes in precipitation, temperature, wind, and radiation. These changes in the weather increase evapotranspiration and lower soil moisture. Flash droughts can cause extensive damage to agriculture, economies, and ecosystems if they are not predicted and discovered early..."
    #water #hydrology #fedscience #publicgood #hydrologicdrought #waterdeficit #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #watersecurity #risk #hazard #humanimpacts #streamflow #riverflow #groundwater #surfacewater #climate #weather #climatechange #extremeweather #atmosphere #metrology #regional #global #farming #agriculture #fluvial #pluvial #rainfall #precipitation #cloudcover #energy #heat #temperature #ET #evapotranspiration #farming #agriculture #foodsecurity #waterresources #dynamicsystems #watermanagement #flashdrought #drought #susceptibility #monitoring #prediction #model #modeling
    @noaa

  21. If Acts Happened Today, Would We Call It Communism?

    For many, "communism" has become less a political philosophy and more a conversation stopper. But is every effort to use our shared resources to care for the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable really communism? This article examines the difference between political labels and biblical principles, comparing the teachings of the early Church with today's political rhetoric.

    polymathchristian.wordpress.co

  22. PsyPost: Updating Wikipedia pages boosts public trust in scientific organizations, study finds. “A recent study published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education has found that updating Wikipedia pages for scientific organizations improves public access to accurate information.”

    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/17/psypost-updating-wikipedia-pages-boosts-public-trust-in-scientific-organizations-study-finds/
  23. Influence Of Modeling Assumptions On Pedestrian Evacuation Success For Non-Eruptive Lahar Hazards At Mount Rainier, Washington
    --
    doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.1 <-- shared paper
    --
    sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6 <-- shared, related open data source
    --
    [I still remember working on and being fascinated by lahars being an engineering geologist in Washington State (and from my time studying in New Zealand), although (of course) not to this level of detail/focus]
    #volcano #lahar #evacuation #exposure #model #modeling #engineeringeology #risk #hazard #naturalhazard #MountRainer #Washington #USA #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #emergencymanagement #GIS #spatial #mapping #publicsafety #hazardzone #vulcanism #downstream #debrisflow #massmovement #monitoring #detection #geostatistics #demographics #atrisk #fedscience #publicgood #fedservice #opendata
    @USGS

  24. Provisional Land Use Data From Water Year 2024 Is Now Available On [CA]DWR Atlas, CNRA Open Data, And SGMA Data Viewer For Public Use
    --
    gis.water.ca.gov/app/CADWRLand <-- shared web-based CDWR datasets / map
    --
    “The collected data is used by various federal, state, and local agencies, academic researchers and private consultants , and can help estimate the amount of water available for agriculture. Using this information, farmers can adapt and make decisions to better manage scarce water supplies more effectively.”
    #GIS #spatial #mapping #California #download #opendata #water #hydrology #datause #datasharing #download #landuse #spatialanalysis #spatiotemporal #wateryear #DWRAtlas #statewide #CNRA #SGMA #publicdata #publicgood #usecase #crops #croplands #cropmapping #counties #countysurvey #CADWR #DWR #groundwater #irrigation #wateruse #watermanagement #federal #state #local #webmapping #agriculture #watersecurity #foodsecurity #watersupply
    #CaliforniaDepartmentOfWaterResources

  25. Spotted on LinkedIn: Adopt a Station. From the front page: “Congress has voted to rescind public media’s funding. Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a station.” You can either select an NPR station by state or discover stations which have lost significant revenue and need immediate help.

    https://rbfirehose.com/2025/07/22/spotted-on-linkedin-adopt-a-station/