Alex Zorach
@cazort.bsky.social
(They/them) I run bplant.org, and like tea, walk+bike+transit, sex positivity, board games, swing dancing, and 31 tone equal temperament, among other things.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cazortz
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/cazort/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cazortz
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/cazort/
Reposted by Alex Zorach
It looks very much like the Department of Homeland Security memo seeking to revoke Ozturk's visa copied language directly from the Canary Mission website. Is DHS just following the "deport list" from an anonymous website? donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-attack...
April 14, 2025 at 2:36 AM
It looks very much like the Department of Homeland Security memo seeking to revoke Ozturk's visa copied language directly from the Canary Mission website. Is DHS just following the "deport list" from an anonymous website? donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-attack...
People think #glutenfree = healthy, but among packaged products, a lot of it is junk: ultraprocessed foods relying on refined starch, with almost no protein and fiber. I bake with gluten-free whole ingredients high in protein and fiber, and I want companies to do the same. #baking #nutrition
Most Gluten-Free Food is Unhealthy And People Don't Know It
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
April 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
People think #glutenfree = healthy, but among packaged products, a lot of it is junk: ultraprocessed foods relying on refined starch, with almost no protein and fiber. I bake with gluten-free whole ingredients high in protein and fiber, and I want companies to do the same. #baking #nutrition
The signal group chat leak shows a wild lack of competence from people who have been appointed to sensitive national security positions. Why did it happen? I argue the incompetence is a result of #Trump selecting for personal loyalty at the expense of all else, including integrity and competence.
How The Signal Group Chat Leak Happened Because of Trump Valuing Loyalty Over Competence
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
April 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The signal group chat leak shows a wild lack of competence from people who have been appointed to sensitive national security positions. Why did it happen? I argue the incompetence is a result of #Trump selecting for personal loyalty at the expense of all else, including integrity and competence.
#intersex people are not as rare as most people realize. I talk a little about definitions, erasure/invisibility, non-consensual medical treatments, and the diversity of intersex people's experiences. I think reflecting on these topics is illuminating and I want us to talk about them more!
Intersex People: Why They Are More Common Than You May Realize, And Important to Talk About
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
#intersex people are not as rare as most people realize. I talk a little about definitions, erasure/invisibility, non-consensual medical treatments, and the diversity of intersex people's experiences. I think reflecting on these topics is illuminating and I want us to talk about them more!
Sleep is one of the biggest life hacks. Enough high-quality #sleep makes everything better: #mentalhealth, physical performance, memory,creativity, there are even some surprising benefits. We as a society need to shed our anti-sleep bias and start recommending everyone to focus on sleep.
Sleep Is The Ultimate Life Hack, Boosting Physical & Mental Health, Creativity, & Immune Function
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Sleep is one of the biggest life hacks. Enough high-quality #sleep makes everything better: #mentalhealth, physical performance, memory,creativity, there are even some surprising benefits. We as a society need to shed our anti-sleep bias and start recommending everyone to focus on sleep.
100% agreed, it's appalling too that Bloomberg, a usually-reputable outlet, is playing right into Elon Musk's PR machine. We need to do more work to network with these media outlets so they stop doing his dirty work for him.
It's a real disservice to the public to pretend that this person's absurd predictions are in any way remotely realistic. She and her company have wiped out billions of dollars in investors' money, and propping it up with good PR just puts more investors at risk, shoveling good money after bad.
Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management remains bullish on Tesla and expects the stock will hit $2,600 in five years, or almost 10 times its current price
March 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
100% agreed, it's appalling too that Bloomberg, a usually-reputable outlet, is playing right into Elon Musk's PR machine. We need to do more work to network with these media outlets so they stop doing his dirty work for him.
I hear a lot of talk about #landlords and greed that I think misrepresents how the #housing market actually works. Supply and demand is the big factor driving housing prices and rising rent; landlords have a lot less influence in the system than most people realize.
Short Supply + High Demand, Not Landlord Greed, Causes Soaring Rents
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I hear a lot of talk about #landlords and greed that I think misrepresents how the #housing market actually works. Supply and demand is the big factor driving housing prices and rising rent; landlords have a lot less influence in the system than most people realize.
I uncover a relationship between passive watching videos on autoplay, hate comments, and mental health. I talk about how mindful watchers are more likely to leave constructive comments, and how I approach moderation on videos that get non-constructive comments. #hate #youtube #mentalhealth
How Passive Watching Through Algorithm Recommendations Fuels Hate & Non-Constructive Comments
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I uncover a relationship between passive watching videos on autoplay, hate comments, and mental health. I talk about how mindful watchers are more likely to leave constructive comments, and how I approach moderation on videos that get non-constructive comments. #hate #youtube #mentalhealth
The debate about #trans people in sports pisses me off. People talk about "fairness", but sports have never been fair, and never will be. Whether it's genetics / body characteristics, or wealth / social class / opportunity. Can we stop pretending? And stop debating this issue? It feeds #transphobia
Debating of Trans People in Sports is Stupid: Sports Have Never Been Fair
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 16, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The debate about #trans people in sports pisses me off. People talk about "fairness", but sports have never been fair, and never will be. Whether it's genetics / body characteristics, or wealth / social class / opportunity. Can we stop pretending? And stop debating this issue? It feeds #transphobia
What does and doesn't it mean for a plant to be native vs. introduced? It's generally good to favor native plants, but this post explains why it's not as simple as native = good, introduced = bad. You need to look at each plant's #ecology. #nativeplants #invasiveplants
What "Native" or "Introduced" Mean: Myths and Misconceptions
Moving beyond using native or introduced as buzzwords, and looking deeper into the ecological meanings of these terms.
bplant.org
March 11, 2025 at 5:24 PM
What does and doesn't it mean for a plant to be native vs. introduced? It's generally good to favor native plants, but this post explains why it's not as simple as native = good, introduced = bad. You need to look at each plant's #ecology. #nativeplants #invasiveplants
I talk about being pressured both by psychiatrists, other therapists, and society, to take #antidepressants. Drugs are only one of many treatments for #depression. I'm not anti-drug, I just want us to acknowledge that there are many treatments for depression, including diet/nutrition, and exercise.
Pressure To Take Antidepressants, From Psychiatrists/Therapists, and Society
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I talk about being pressured both by psychiatrists, other therapists, and society, to take #antidepressants. Drugs are only one of many treatments for #depression. I'm not anti-drug, I just want us to acknowledge that there are many treatments for depression, including diet/nutrition, and exercise.
I hear a lot of people complaining about food prices. But we are spending less on food than before. This video is about our system which involves small, regular trips to a local store w/ good produce, and occasional trips to a rotation of different groceries with different strengths. #frugal
How Shopping at Different Grocery Stores Can Save Money & Improve Your Life
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I hear a lot of people complaining about food prices. But we are spending less on food than before. This video is about our system which involves small, regular trips to a local store w/ good produce, and occasional trips to a rotation of different groceries with different strengths. #frugal
Reposted by Alex Zorach
Bro, why do you like riding trains?
Me:
Me:
March 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Bro, why do you like riding trains?
Me:
Me:
We are well-aware of the way curated/algorithmic feeds cause #addiction, conflict, echo chambers, and other #mentalhealth harm. But what about invasive #notifications? I talk about how the internet, and #Facebook have changed over the years and share about my mental processes related to it!
Social Media Notifications as a Cause of Conflict & Negativity
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We are well-aware of the way curated/algorithmic feeds cause #addiction, conflict, echo chambers, and other #mentalhealth harm. But what about invasive #notifications? I talk about how the internet, and #Facebook have changed over the years and share about my mental processes related to it!
Knowing and talking to your #neighbors can build #tolerance of #diversity, helping us to break out of the #echochamber. It can lower #crime, promote #publichealth through #walkability, and promote #sustainability. This video both explains the benefits, and a little bit about how to do it!
The Importance of Knowing and Talking To Neighbors
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
March 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Knowing and talking to your #neighbors can build #tolerance of #diversity, helping us to break out of the #echochamber. It can lower #crime, promote #publichealth through #walkability, and promote #sustainability. This video both explains the benefits, and a little bit about how to do it!
One of the worst things about the #michelleobama reforms was the heavy emphasis on #caloriecounting. In this video I give three compelling examples of how and why calorie counts can be misleading, and the energy we absorb from foods is affected by other factors than just their calorie content.
Why Calorie Counts on Foods are Unscientific and Misleading
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
February 16, 2025 at 7:28 PM
One of the worst things about the #michelleobama reforms was the heavy emphasis on #caloriecounting. In this video I give three compelling examples of how and why calorie counts can be misleading, and the energy we absorb from foods is affected by other factors than just their calorie content.
Columbia University has gone full fascist-authoritarian. I can't imagine wanting to attend after this. Cooperating with people trying to deport students and charge supporters of the pro-Palestine movement with terrorism, taking an "any criticism of Israel = antisemitism" stance.
The Columbia Network Pushing Behind the Scenes to Deport and Arrest Student Protesters
For Columbia University alumni and faculty on a behind-the-scenes WhatsApp group, speaking out for Palestine or criticizing Israel is tantamount to backing Hamas.
theintercept.com
February 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Columbia University has gone full fascist-authoritarian. I can't imagine wanting to attend after this. Cooperating with people trying to deport students and charge supporters of the pro-Palestine movement with terrorism, taking an "any criticism of Israel = antisemitism" stance.
A major financial life hack is having a brokerage account. You don't need to be wealthy to open one. In this video I explain how everyone can benefit from them. It opens up a lot of options, helping you move money faster, avoid fees, and access higher interest rates on savings.
How Having a Brokerage Account Can Benefit Everyone
YouTube video by Alex Zorach
youtu.be
February 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A major financial life hack is having a brokerage account. You don't need to be wealthy to open one. In this video I explain how everyone can benefit from them. It opens up a lot of options, helping you move money faster, avoid fees, and access higher interest rates on savings.
Reposted by Alex Zorach
I have reported on business since 2013. Plainly, uncertainty and chaos are bad for business. It makes it hard to buy inventory, organize staffing and logistics, invest in property or equipment, as well as figure out projected expenses and revenues. And everyone suffers due to trade wars.
February 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I have reported on business since 2013. Plainly, uncertainty and chaos are bad for business. It makes it hard to buy inventory, organize staffing and logistics, invest in property or equipment, as well as figure out projected expenses and revenues. And everyone suffers due to trade wars.
For anyone in #newarkde there is a petition to stop the city from clearing 6 acres of forest to build ball fields that will be essentially given to Newark Charter school for free. Everyone I talk to opposes this. If you live in Newark, please sign: www.ipetitions.com/petition/sav...
Petition Save Folk Memorial Park from Development!
Save Folk Memorial Park from Development!
www.ipetitions.com
February 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
For anyone in #newarkde there is a petition to stop the city from clearing 6 acres of forest to build ball fields that will be essentially given to Newark Charter school for free. Everyone I talk to opposes this. If you live in Newark, please sign: www.ipetitions.com/petition/sav...
I would support this. Question though: do you know if there are any index funds that would invest in everything in the S&P except Tesla? In the absence of doing this, investors could shift their assets into a smaller index such as Russell 2500, which would avoid all big tech stocks.
There is no more effective way to hit back at Musk's unelected coup than divestment from Tesla stock. I highly recommend that someone with experience around institutional investing take up divestment as a political tool, to track these divestments and encourage/pressure others to follow suit.
February 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I would support this. Question though: do you know if there are any index funds that would invest in everything in the S&P except Tesla? In the absence of doing this, investors could shift their assets into a smaller index such as Russell 2500, which would avoid all big tech stocks.
Reposted by Alex Zorach
Laws that hurt trans women also hurt cis women
PinkNews [Jan 24] -- Rep. Lauren Boeber [R-CO] wrongly accosted a woman she believed to be openly trans Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) in the Capitol House women's room angrily telling her, “You shouldn’t be here.” --only to have to return and apologize. [HT denisenorris.bsky.social]
Trump fan Lauren Boebert left red-faced after 'accusing cis woman of being trans'
Republican Lauren Boebert was left red-faced after reportedly accusing a woman in a bathroom of being Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride.
www.thepinknews.com
January 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Laws that hurt trans women also hurt cis women
I don't put much energy into actively maintaining RateTea any more, but I did just go on and killed all links to Twitter/X. Doing my part. At first when Musk took over Twitter, I didn't like it but I didn't think such extreme action was warranted. Now with his descent to the far-right it clearly is.
January 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I don't put much energy into actively maintaining RateTea any more, but I did just go on and killed all links to Twitter/X. Doing my part. At first when Musk took over Twitter, I didn't like it but I didn't think such extreme action was warranted. Now with his descent to the far-right it clearly is.
I spent like an hour going through Facebook posts where people were discussing how Instagram has banned #democrat and related hashtags and FB has auto-followed Trump's account on millions of accounts. And...advocating people switch to BlueSky and Tumblr. Hopefully we'll get a few new friends here!
January 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I spent like an hour going through Facebook posts where people were discussing how Instagram has banned #democrat and related hashtags and FB has auto-followed Trump's account on millions of accounts. And...advocating people switch to BlueSky and Tumblr. Hopefully we'll get a few new friends here!
Reposted by Alex Zorach
Make sure to read the change log for January 7, 2025. It's stunning what they affirmatively decided to allow. transparency.meta.com/policies/com...
Hateful Conduct | Transparency Center
Meta regularly publishes reports to give our community visibility into community standards enforcement, government requests and internet disruptions
transparency.meta.com
January 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Make sure to read the change log for January 7, 2025. It's stunning what they affirmatively decided to allow. transparency.meta.com/policies/com...