aaronsalmon

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

I can no longer even doom-scroll here. The content is propaganda. So obviously toxic to stoke fear and division. Fingers crossed we jump timelines soon. Until then I’ll be on Threads. Take care of yourselves. Keep building friendships and community out there. We need each other.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@huskyslim @DecodingFoxNews Same. Born in '75 I identify as an Oregon Trail Generation "Xennial".

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@JayMewes My first little dude this this. Absolutely tortured at drop off. I had such a hard time with it. Turned out that he would completely recover a few minutes after I left. He grew out of it after a few months. Hang in there!

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@okdan That was the high water mark for my personal digital media collection… haven’t really even thought about it since!

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@benholmen I suggest bookmarking this. (currently age 57) We good. https://t.co/7BDjoy72ne

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@benholmen @kenwheeler Ive also had luck with https://t.co/9xOqjIXi1d for things of that sort.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@naima @stickermule Same. This one hurts. I wildly rec'd them over the years. So done now.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@midwestern_ope Counterpoint: These have made hundreds of midwestern towns better.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@CyclingOrange Same. They occupied multiple buildings in the heart of our downtown that are still vacant. It really hurt our downtown growth and momentum that we had going.

[Nicholas A. Christakis @NAChristakis]

The University of Chicago, as usual, striking the right balance. Worth reading in full. It is exactly right.

President Alivisatos’ Note on the Encampment (April 29, 2024)

Dear Members of the University Community, Just a few hours ago, a group of students established an encampment on the Main Quad as a form of protest. This particular tactic is now in widespread use at universities across the country. At some, encampments have been forcibly removed, with police arresting students and faculty in chaotic scenes that are disturbing. At others, encampments have persisted, despite attempts to shut them down with force. In some cases, encampments have resulted in major disruptions to learning and the activities of the university community.

Free expression is the core animating value of the University of Chicago, so it is critical that we be clear about how I and my administration think about the issue of encampments, how the actions we take in response will follow directly from our principles, and specific considerations that will influence our judgments and actions.

The general principle we will abide by is to provide the greatest leeway possible for free expression, even expression of viewpoints that some find deeply offensive. We only will intervene when what might have been an exercise of free expression blocks the learning or expression of others or that substantially disrupts the functioning or safety of the University. These are our principles. They are clear.

Two recent examples illustrate how we bring these principles into real action. First, last quarter a student group secured university permission to cover a large fraction of the Main Quad with a massive Palestinian flag consisting of thousands of tiny colored flags. The exhibit was accompanied by signage exhorting passersby to “Honor the Martyrs,” and it was staffed by students at tables during certain hours. Those students could explain to passersby why they thought it important to feature this installation, why they thought that language was appropriate, and any other views occasioned by their installation. While this protest and accompanying message were offensive to many, there was no question that it was an exercise of free expression. It stood for weeks until the end of the approved time, at which point the student group removed it, making way for others to express their views in that space as they might see fit. This example should make it clear that we approach the issue with no discrimination against the viewpoints of those participating in this encampment. We adhere to viewpoint neutrality rigorously.

As a second illustrative example, in November, a group of students and faculty undertook an occupation of Rosenwald Hall, a classroom and administration building. That was a clear disruption of the learning of others and of the normal functioning of the University. After repeated warnings, the protesters were arrested and released. They are subject now to the University’s disciplinary process, which is still pending. In short, when expression becomes disruption, we act decisively to protect the learning environment of students and the functioning of the University against genuinely disruptive protesters.

There are almost an unlimited number of ways in which students or other members of the University community can protest that violate no policies of the University at all; the spectrum of ways to express a viewpoint and seek to persuade others is vast. But establishing an encampment clearly violates policies against building structures on campus without prior approval and against overnight sleeping on campus.

I believe the protesters should also consider that an encampment, with all the etymological connections of the word to military origins, is a way of using force of a kind rather than reason to persuade others. For a short period of time, however, the impact of a modest encampment does not differ so much from a conventional rally or march. Given the importance of the expressive rights of our students, we may allow an encampment to remain for a short time despite the obvious violations of policy—but those violating university policy should expect to face disciplinary consequences.

The impact of an encampment depends on the degree to which it disrupts study, scholarship, and free movement around campus. To be clear, we will not tolerate violence or harassment directed at individuals or groups. And, disruption becomes greater the longer the encampment persists. With a 24-hour presence, day after day, we must for example divert police resources away from public safety for our campus and our community.

If necessary, we will act to preserve the essential functioning of the campus against the accumulated effects of these disruptions. I ask the students who have established this encampment to instead embrace the multitude of other tools at their disposal. Seek to persuade others of your viewpoint with methods that do not violate policies or disrupt the functioning of the University and the safety of others.

Sincerely,

Paul

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@scottmontesano They could move Hobbs to the Oakwood mall area and expand it in the process. Hobbs currently is not the best use of that riverfront property imo.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@benholmen YES!! So glad it worked out!!!! 100% cloud cover at home =(

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@benholmen LOLOL. Thankfully just river water!!

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@BriannaWu Been following you since GG and you consistently come across as authentic and effective. Some hedging is crucial – the media wants clips that divide and can be viewed as offensive to some, which becomes a distraction away from the point you were making. Keep on keepin' on! 💪

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@kristinhersh Aw HBD! 'Your Dirty Answer' alone has helped get me through SOME TIMES. Love this album. Thank you! 🙏

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

.@harper I wish I had this when I was photoshopping @Messina2012's face onto different animals for his weekly campaign briefs.

[Jeff_synthesized @JeffSynthesized]

AI can show you things that you have never seen before. What’s your favorite humanimal?

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@historyinmemes This is all i want in retirement.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@NatPurser @SamAdlerBell All roads lead to Asheville. 0.5% Nick Drake here – is there a support group...or, is this it?

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@LinusEkenstam go to urgent care asap - if it's lyme (it looks like it), you need to start meds asap.

[aaronsalmon @aaronsalmon]

@LinusEkenstam ~88k