Words Matter

 

This meme reminds us tthere have been instances where programs or materials were inappropriately altered or removed due to artificial intelligence (AI) systems or human reviewers misidentifying certain terms as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or gender issues, even when they were not. Three examples include:

1. Pentagon's Misidentification of 'Enola Gay': The U.S. Defense Department, in its effort to eliminate DEI-related content, used AI tools that flagged the term "Gay" in historical records. This led to the removal of content related to the "Enola Gay," the World War II bomber named after the pilot's mother, Enola Gay Tibbets, despite having no connection to DEI or gender topics.

   people.com

2. Removal of 'Diverse' from Museum Descriptions: During the implementation of Executive Order 14168, which aimed to eliminate DEI programs, certain government websites removed or altered content containing specific terms. For example, the Department of the Interior's description of its museum collection had the word "diverse" removed, even though it referred to the variety within the collection and was unrelated to DEI initiatives.

   en.wikipedia.org

3. Flagging of Scientific Research Grants: At Connecticut universities, approximately $17 million in scientific research grants were flagged for promoting DEI initiatives. This scrutiny was part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI programs, leading to the identification of projects containing DEI-related terminology, even when the research was unrelated to DEI or gender issues.

   ctinsider.com

These cases show that using AI or broad rules to find DEI or gender content can cause mistakes, removing or changing things that have nothing to do with DEI. Which in turn is EXACTLY why we should not be going in with a chainsaw mentality. Of course, the most basic reason we should not be making cuts (using the current methods) is that the spending was approved by Congress. 

Meme's of the Week

Musk's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Tesla stock continues to plummet, and sales aren’t exactly setting the world on fire either.

Today, SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight ended with—wait for it—another explosion. According to AP News, “SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced a ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly’ during the ascent engine firing.”

A "rapid unscheduled disassembly" is, of course, just a fancy way of saying it blew up.

The good news? No people were on board. The bad news? Well, if you’re Elon Musk, this was not the highlight of your day.

Meanwhile, over in Musk’s latest chapter of “Management Gone Wild,” PINO (President In Name Only) held a cabinet meeting today to clarify that it is, in fact, their job—not Musk’s—to approve employment terminations. PINO has decided that instead of Musk’s “chainsaw” approach to layoffs, they should opt for a more surgical “scalpel” method when deciding which federal workers to cut. This revelation is probably cold comfort to the 10,000 workers Musk already sent packing.

In another development, PINO decided to grant some exemptions and postpone parts of the tariffs in Canada and Mexico, possibly after glancing at the stock market and realizing he’d lit it on fire. Unfortunately, the damage may already be done, as the market continued its downward spiral even after the announcement. Car dealerships, however, are breathing a temporary sigh of relief with the 30-day tariff delay—especially since the average cost of an imported car was set to jump by $12,500. Apparently, there’s a magic number at which consumers stop buying cars. Who knew?

And now for something slightly less depressing: According to legal expert Joyce Vance, a federal judge in New York just delivered a significant blow to the Trump administration. In a case brought by a coalition of state attorneys general, U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a preliminary injunction preventing Trump from overriding Congress’ funding decisions. Translation: All those so-called billions that Musk slashed as “fraud and waste” (which he later admitted were just things he personally deemed wasteful) might actually be reinstated.

All of this to say—Elon Musk probably had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. For federal workers and democracy? Not a bad one at all, despite the ongoing PINO-induced chaos of the last 45 days.

Connections

When life feels a little flat, there’s no better cure than catching up with a friend. Today, my friend Kara and I hopped on a Google Meet for a good old-fashioned chat—minus the coffee shop, but with all the stimulating conversation. Kara is newly retired, and from the sounds of it, she’s got this whole retirement thing down to a science. She’s filling her days with purpose, adventure, and—shockingly—learning to sleep in each morning. Meanwhile, I’m taking notes on how to improve my daily retirement schedule (gasp - she joined a gym). Can’t wait to catch up with Kara again next month.

Tonight, I tuned into a Zoom presentation by former Congresswoman Marie Newman (Illinois) titled Building Political Power & Movements. You know how some talks feel like they could have been an email? This wasn’t one of them. Newman delivered some solid, no-nonsense advice for anyone looking to make a difference.

One of her key takeaways? Stop assuming you know what’s on people’s minds—ask them. She pointed out that one of the biggest mistakes Democrats made in the 2024 presidential campaign was presuming that voters shared the same concerns. Instead, she recommends starting conversations with:
"Here is our shared experience. How do we work to change it?"

It’s a simple yet powerful way to connect, organize, and take action.

Newman also threw down the ultimate challenge: Run for office! Even if you don’t win, you’re pushing your opponent to answer tough questions from the community. That’s a victory in itself.

Her three rules for advocates, activists, and future office-seekers:
✅ Be fearless.
✅ Be positive.
✅ Pace yourself. (Each week, aim for three or four action items—call a rep, attend a protest, show up at a town hall. You don’t have to do it all, just keep doing something.)

And here’s the kicker—this isn’t a six-month sprint. This is a four-year (or longer) commitment. Democracy doesn’t clock out, and neither should we.

Want more from Newman? She’s got a new book out, A Life Made from Scratch, and you can check out her latest insights here: Marie Newman’s Substack.

Storm Ahead

(this is a stock image of a snowfall in Minnesota)

As I write this, PINO is giving a speech. I just can’t bring myself to watch. His past speeches and debates have left me feeling heartsick, and I already know this one will be no different—just more vitriol and lies, his signature blend.

Instead, I’ll read about it later. That way, I can take it in small doses, process what’s said, and spare myself the immediate frustration that comes with hearing him address the American people in his usual way. I know those who voted for him find him eloquent. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on that—and on whether he’s even a halfway decent speaker.

Meanwhile, winter is making itself known. The snow started earlier this evening and isn’t expected to stop until noon tomorrow. Forecasts predict anywhere from one to four inches of snow, with wind gusts up to 45 mph. The severe weather alert warns of potential blizzard conditions and whiteouts through the night.

Joe will be driving home at 1:45 a.m., right in the thick of it. He always texts me before he leaves work, and usually, he’s home within fifteen minutes of that message. He’s prepared—emergency supplies, a sleeping bag, and the Subaru’s onboard alert system mean he won’t be stranded for long if the weather takes a turn.

Over the next couple of weeks, he’ll be heading to work an hour earlier than usual. They’ve been falling behind ever since letting go of an employee in the manual machining department two weeks ago. Now, the backlog is catching up with them.

For now, I’ll sip my tea, watch the snow fall, and wait for Joe’s text. The storm will pass, the backlog at Joe's work will ease, and speeches will come and go. Some things are worth bracing for, and others are better taken in small doses—like political rhetoric and March snowstorms.

Living in a Broken World

 

My normally happy nature is taking a beating these days. Those are the days I have to lean into my gratitude practice. Today, I am grateful for my family, my friends, and to be blessed to live on Butternut Lane among other points on my list.

I am also grateful for my blender ... I made a strawberry margarita to celebrate that my life is blessed with love. 

What are you most grateful for today?

Laugh for the Day

Every day, I try to find at least one thing that makes me laugh out loud. It’s my antidote to world angst. One of my favorite Substack writers is Daniel Piper, who (tongue firmly in cheek) calls himself a Serious Literary Author [SLA].

Today's weekly post from Piper's Diary of an Author included this entry:

24 Feb 2025:

Earlier today I felt very literary while walking down the street. I was wearing my brown-green wool coat with a brown-green turtleneck jumper, tastefully paired with a pair of brown-green corduroy trousers. I was having a particularly good literary hair day, which was emphasised by the light breeze in the air. Through my noise-cancelling headphones I was listening to the second movement of Shostakovich's tenth symphony, which put in my step a subtle writerly spring. In short, I was the very vision of a Serious Literary Author. It came as no surprise, then, that passers-by kept glancing at me and smiling, and, in some cases, even pointing. Eventually one woman tried to say something to me, so I removed my headphones to hear her telling me that my torch was shining. I thought this was a delightful metaphor for how literary I was looking, and I bowed gracefully and thanked her. It was only when multiple people used the same metaphor over the next thirty minutes that I began to suspect something might be amiss. Eventually I looked down and noticed a bright beam shining through my trouser pocket beside my crotch. My phone torch was on. As I tried to retrieve it from my pocket, I walked into a lamppost.

Since I’ve been known to tuck my iPhone in my bra and have had people inform me that my ‘boob is glowing,’ I can relate. As for walking into lampposts (or other large, innocent objects), that was more of a youthful habit—back when I insisted on reading while walking alone.

Hope you found something to laugh about today.

Turkey!

Every month, Joe and I meet up with Megan, Jeremy, and the grandkids to try snacks from a different country. We get our snacks from Universal Yum. Tonight, we gathered to sample treats from Turkey. Our box had eighteen snacks and a soda to share. 

Caleb liked almost everything! Charlotte won the trivia contest… again. I still can't figure out how our youngest family member keeps coming out on top.