*Looks like we can use an open thread. I have been so busy this week that I haven’t read anything since On the Road really yesterday. What did I miss?
This will double as a Michigan Angel match thread. We have $500 raised on Angel match #3 in the comments, but we are just $18 short of $2,000 more in the thermometer, so we’re going to do something special.
The first 5 next donation of $100 in the comments will be matched for the entire $100. And we’re going to run Angel match #4 for $400 at the same time, with matches up to $25 for that one.
At $12,500, when we finish angel match #3 with (maybe) the 5 $100 matches, and our angel puts in her $1,000, the thermometer will be at $14,000, so we would only be $1,000 way from starting the hiring process for the fellows we are funding. Fingers crossed.
Promote the Vote Michigan 2022
Well, by the time I hit publish Anne Laurie had just published something interesting, so I’ll hold this one for a little bit.
Oh, and one more thing. We are trying to come up with a great name for our group (related to the new social media initiative) and a good, fun hashtag for our postings. I’ll be putting up a dedicated post tomorrow asking for ideas, but you can get a head start overnight, if you want. You can nominate your ideas using this form, or you can list them in this thread, or you can save your great ideas for the thread tomorrow.
The form asks for your name, but you don’t need to enter a name for this, so you can just enter your nym twice.
You do not need to be participating in the initiative in any other way in order to nominate ideas, so have at it you snarky, witty, clever people.
Totally open thread.
Update: reposting from last night when not many people saw it.
Sister Golden Bear
A bit shook up right now. Found out late in the day that a coworker died. Nice guy, about my age. Never met him in person, because he worked in a different office (plus everyone is working remotely), but we collaborated on a project a few months. Life is all too short.
ChasM
I started my first Twitter feed this weekend @arbiteroftruthx – arBiter of Truth – I’m still finding my bite, but I hope y’all will come feed me.
AJ
@Sister Golden Bear:
Very sorry to hear this =/
Hope you and his loved ones get any support you need.
AJ
@WaterGirl I’ll put $100 in there right now and then edit this comment to say it’s done!
Update: $100 into the pot for equity and democracy!
Thank you for your tireless work to make all this possible (:
StringOnAStick
I just added $25. I’ve been concentrating my giving $ on Ukraine recently but wanted to add some here, especially if there’s a match available!
Steeplejack
@ChasM:
Interesting stuff so far!
Dangerman
Name? What was EFG’s call to arms? F em all? Perhaps needs a little polishing but I’d start there.
WaterGirl
@AJ: Thank you so much for that!
WaterGirl
@StringOnAStick: Thank you!
WaterGirl
The next 4 donations of $100 in the comments will be matched for the entire $100. And we’re going to run Angel match #4 for $400 at the same time, with matches up to $25 for that one.
sixthdoctor
Just kicked in $50.
WaterGirl
@sixthdoctor: Thank you so much!
WaterGirl
@ChasM:
Good one!
brendancalling
Good news: the school where I’m a full-time substitute asked me to interview for a position as an English teacher for the 2022-23 school year.
Fly in the ointment: I had already planned on moving out of Vermont for Philly or Nashville, but I’m interviewing anyway. Even with a decent salary, I can’t see how I can afford to keep living here. The state’s been in a housing crisis for years, and the pandemic only made it worse. Also, too, the winter is brutal.
WaterGirl
@brendancalling: Wow, that is great news. On the plus side, request to interview! Experience interviewing for a full-time job teaching! If you are offered the job, you will have a tough decision.
Would working a year where you are in a full-time position make it a lot easier for you to apply for full-time teaching jobs wherever you move to?
Either way, congratulations!
AJ
@brendancalling: good luck to you either way!
brendancalling
@WaterGirl: @AJ: thanks!
Definitely taking the interview. Not sure what happens after that. My lease runs out June 30, and I have made no plans to stay through summer (Chittenden county has a <1% vacancy rate, a 1BR is around $1400-$1700). But we will see.
H.E.Wolf
Many thanks to the current 2 angels for the matching funds opportunity – and to WaterGirl for M.C.-ing the MI fundraising drive!
D Gardner
I’m grateful to be in a position that I can donate $100. DONE.
Thank you for organizing. Further thanks to all of you in the commentariat for your insightful, humane, thoughtful, and uplifting attitudes.
Scout211
Open thread so I’ll drop this here. The National Parks series narrated by Barack Obama has dropped on Netflix. Just the opening segment of Obama introducing us to his childhood home in Hawaii made me start weeping. ? I had to stop because I have appointments today. I will definitely watch it but I need to wait until I am home. It just made me so nostalgic for those 8 years. Sigh.
ETA: my rural line-of-sight internet actually lets me watch Netflix in the daytime after my provider installed a new radio receiver. So that was a welcome surprise. It slows down at night when most people are home but I’ll take it.
WaterGirl
@D Gardner: Oh, thank you so much!
With 3 more $100 totally matched donations, the thermometer will be at $14,165!
WaterGirl
@Scout211: Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Sometimes I tear up or cry when I see Obama. I worked so hard to get him elected and I was filled with so much hope… these last 6 years have made for a really hard fall to earth.
Another Scott
In for $136. I’ll let the angels figure out how to matchify it.
Thanks, everyone.
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: That’s easy!
Your $100 is fully matched by angel #3. (200)
Your $36 is matched at $25 by angel #4. (36 + 25)
So that turned into $261.00!
thank you so much!
WaterGirl
With just 2 more $100 totally matched donations, the thermometer will be at $14,201!
Mike S (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)
In for another $50. Let’s keep the thermometer going
upsideways!WaterGirl
With just 1 more $100 totally matched donation, or two totally matched $50 donations, the match from Angel #3 will be complete!
WaterGirl
Happy to say that the match by Angel #3 is complete (it took one $50 and 2 $25s to get there, but we made it!)
Angel #3 is about to add her $1,000 into the thermometer.
Thank you, Angel #3, you truly are angel!!!
I can’t wait to see the thermometer at $14,051!
Ukai
Just chipped in $25.
WaterGirl
@Ukai: Thank you! Matched!
NicaKnit
I feel like this old thread is maybe not the most visible place to post this, but I just chipped in $25. Hope it still counts toward something!
WaterGirl
@NicaKnit: I’m still watching! :-)
thank you!