good morning from Cville! May your light shine brightly through the clouds

“Why is it that governments so often seek to regulate and control who will be publicly grievable and who will not?” As relevant a question today as it was 10 years ago when this essay was written

“One way of posing the question of who ‘we’ are in these times of war is by asking whose lives are considered valuable, whose lives are mourned, and whose lives are considered ungrievable.”

I care deeply about public ed. Always have, always will. During my time in CCS, I served as a Student SB Rep. As a 1st year at UVA, I was appointed by VA Gov. Northam as a member of the first VA African American Advisory Board, where I co-chaired the education subcommittee. zyahnabryantforccs.com

Associate Professor of Data Science Mar Hicks spoke with Fast Company about AI hype & why nothing about AI is inevitable. To read @histoftech.bsky.social's interview with @rachelauslander.bsky.social, click here: https://bit.ly/4mrhzWZ

"Do not greenlight this outrageous price hike. Do not leave us in the dark."

"Everett also suggested in the opinion that public meetings should accommodate the public, not the other way around. “The point is about openness and access to the public; it is not about how many chairs are in a room, it is about making sure there are enough chairs.”

"The evidence is clear, and the law is even clearer: So-called “skill games” are bad news for Virginians. They disproportionately target vulnerable populations, generate crime and put community safety second to profit."

Hey folks, have you heard about #WeekWithoutDriving? Please join me for the local Cville area experience. Here's a link for more information and to signup: livablecville.org/weekwithoutd...

Let’s keep fighting, folks. And while we’re fighting, let’s not lose sight of the better world we need to build afterwards!

The Rivanna Trail’s Loop de ‘Ville Trail Festival is coming up on Saturday, September 27th. There are many events, including short and long distance hikes, runs, and mountain bike rides. There will be 7 aid stations around the 20 mile loop with snacks and drinks. Learn more at loopdeville.org

Louder for the voters in the back! Lisa Larson-Torres and @zysaidso.bsky.social are the only ones up for election who are serious about alternatives to armed police in our schools. Please vote accordingly!

I’ve recently heard from friends & community members that some of my campaign yard signs have been stolen or damaged. While it’s disappointing, I’m grateful that signs can be replaced; our movement cannot be erased that easily. The youth shall rise, as we always have. zyahnabryantforccs.com

Hope is not a strategy but it's an important tactic and better alternative to apathy or resigned fatalism. I choose hope

After many decades of practice, I thought by now I'd be better at sleeping

What is this water dropping from the sky? Oh, to be alive for the return of legendary events! #cvillewx

Grace Lee Boggs: "We can begin by doing small things at the local level, like planting community gardens or looking out for our neighbors. That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously."

In case you’re wondering where the 4 city school board candidates (for 3 spots) stand on SRO’s:

Please join me in voting for Zyahna Bryant for Cville School Boatd

Now that Cville has eliminated parking minimums, are there businesses that could turn parking lots spaces into outdoor seating? And, any suggestions for good candidates?

There's even more evidence that we humans cannot carbon-capture our way out of the GHG-emissions jam that we're facing. The transition to a post-carbon economy requires leaving fossil fuels in the ground

I built a Mastodon bot that reports on Covid wastewater levels, which gives me weekly updates on how cautious to be depending on where I'm going. It turns out that @wvgg.co ported it to Bluesky and improved it, with twice weekly updates! Insta-follow for me. Recommended.

And don't send your kids to school sick, please!

I’m happy about Mitch Rosner taking the helm of UVA Health. He cares deeply about the community and isn’t going to run the health system like an absentee narcissist. People have a lot of respect for him and his priorities are right. www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...

COVID-19 is spreading in our community ➡️ we keep each other safe ➡️ stay fully vaxxed/boosted — Fall 💉s are here ➡️ wear an n95 mask in enclosed spaces w/ others & keep your distance outside ➡️ monitor air quality and ventilate indoors ➡️ test after symptoms ➡️ long COVID can be debilitating

🚲🚶🏽🥳

Worth reading this short article—it has actual good news

We’ll enjoy good company & refreshments as we write our reps about prioritizing a living wage, repealing VA's so-called “right to work” law and more. Postcards, stamps, & suggested language, provided! A Labor Month Action ! #SolidiaritySeptember #WorkersOverBillionaires

I live next door to a multi-unit rental property with a mature Tree of Heaven that is supporting a VERY large infestation of Spotted Latern Flies. I decided to give a trap a try, which I installed this afternoon. It’s an elaborate thing designed for commercial operations. 1/3

Take a few minutes to read this. It’s quite good.

This is the sort of journalism that power hates, because reading it gives you individual stories AND the whole picture, written by someone who lives where the story is. It’s not news. It’s professional journalism.

More local info at livablecville.org/weekwithoutd...

This looks to be a great event

I have nothing to say

TOMORROW. Student-led action (25+ student groups)! Organizers ask community members to SHOW UP in solidarity + bringing signs if possible.

Check it out!

A great thing for students who live in close proximity to a college campus, is it's a time in their life with lots of options for getting around without a car. Imagine if universities put the same effort into helping their employees do the same

Click through to watch the video and then sign up for our local Week Without Driving experience at livablecville.org/weekwithoutd...

Today! Look forward to seeing a whole bunch of y'all today

Support our local CAT Workers on Monday by riding public transportation. #SolidaritySeptember #WorkersOverBillionaires

Reminder!

Stand out from the rest with an Ordinary Award

Interested in environmental justice & how gender inequalities are embedded in technology infrastructure? Join us for the 4th Gender & Tech webinar, Sept. 29 11am EDT, with Paz Peña Ochoa & @tamigraph.bsky.social. Free & open. Registration: virginia.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Co-org w/ @yasmincurzi.com

Reminder!

Are you on the job market this year in an area that could be considered data science adjacent (any field/discipline, incl. humanities)? If so, UVA’s school of data science will be hiring for several posts this year—send me a mesg if you’re interested and I can tell you more about the timeline/jobs👍

For anyone interested in UVa / local history this is well worth taking the time to read / scroll through