https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_effect

The Matthew effect of accumulated advantage, sometimes called the Matthew principle, is the tendency of individuals to accrue social or economic success in proportion to their initial level of popularity, friends, and wealth. It is sometimes summarized by the adage or platitude "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". The term was coined by sociologists Robert K. Merton and Harriet Zuckerman in 1968 and takes its name from the Parable of the Talents in the biblical Gospel of Matthew.

related somehow to the [[Lindy effect]]?

Ein Report zum Stand der Dinge bei der Entfernung von CO2 aus der Atmosphäre (CO2 Removal) ist in der zweiten Version erschienen. Insgesamt ist die CO2-Menge, die mit anderen Mitteln als der Wiederaufforstung im Pflanzen von Bäumen aus der Atmosphäre entfernt wird, extrem gering. Der Bericht kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass die Pariser Klimaziele ohne CDR unerreichbar sein werden, dass aber CDR ohne deutlich mehr Investitionen und eine schnelle Verringerung von Treibhausgasemissionen wirkungslos bleiben wird. https://www.derstandard.de/story/3000000222642/treibhausgase-aus-der-atmosphaere-saugen-wo-wir-bei-der-co2-entnahme-stehen

note the "honey of the ancients" description here with a tangential nod to the commonplace tradition

see: <br /> - https://hypothes.is/a/mCsl9voQEeuP3t8jNOyAvw<br /> - https://hypothes.is/users/chrisaldrich?q=tag%3A%22jonathan+swift%22+tag%3A%22commonplace+books%22

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/04/campaigners-get-go-ahead-to-challenge-plans-for-oilfiield-in-lincolnshire-wolds

Ein von 1000 Wissenschaftler:innen unterzeichnetes Papier, das sich für den Konsum vom Fleisch ausspricht, ist das Ergebnis einer PR- und Lobbying-Aktion der Fleischindustrie. Es diente der Beeinflussung der EU-Kommission. Der EU-Agrarkommissar übernahm die Argumentation. Offenbar ist es mit Hilfe der sogenannten Dublin Declaration, die von Fachleuten als wenig qualitätvoll beurteilt wird, gelungen, die EU-Kommission von ihrer ursprünglichen Absicht, Einschränkungen bei der Fleisch- und Milchproduktion zu vertreten, abzubringen. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/27/revealed-industry-figures-declaration-scientists-backing-meat-eating

Staaten, die von der Viehwirtschaft abhängig sind, haben über Jahre großen Druck auf die FAO ausgeübt, Forschungsergebnisse zu den Methanemissionen durch Vieh zurückzuhalten. Wichtige Berichte wurden nicht publiziert. Wahrscheinlich wurde auch das volle Ausmaß der Treibhausgasemissionen durch die Viehzucht bewusst nicht dargestellt. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/20/ex-officials-at-un-farming-fao-say-work-on-methane-emissions-was-censored

Livestock's Long Shadow: https://www.fao.org/3/a0701e/a0701e.pdf

Said in the context of his pending crucifixion, with respect to a woman who had poured expensive ointment on Jesus.

This is an interesting proposition in this passage with respect to lots of what he'd said about the poor in the past. See also the Beatitudes

relationship to the idea of "Waging war on poverty, but not on the poor"?

Eine Gruppe von NGOs hat ein Konzept für eine Klimaschaden-Steuer ausgearbeitet, zu der Öl- und Gasgesellschaften ausgehend vom von ihnen verursachten CO2-Ausstoß herangezogen würden. Würde die Steuer in den OECD-Ländern mit 5$ pro Kilotonne CO2 beginnen und sich jährlich um weitere 5$ erhöhen, stünden 2030 jährlich 900 Milliarden $ vor allem für den Loss and Damage Fund zur Verfügung, der bei der COP28 beschlossen wurde.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/29/taxing-big-fossil-fuel-firms-raise-billions-climate-finance

Bericht: https://www.greenpeace.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CDT_guide_2024_embargoed_version.pdf

Die durchschnittliche Oberflächentemperatur der Ozeane erreicht Anfang April mit 21,1° einen neuen Höchstwert. Die Temperaturen sind seit 1980 nahezu linear gestiegen. In diesem Jahr dürften sie durch das El Niño-Phänomen noch weiter ansteigen, sodass u.a. mehr marine Hitzewellen zu befürchten sind. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/08/headed-off-the-charts-worlds-ocean-surface-temperature-hits-record-high

Das Tempo der Temperaturerhöhung an der Oberfläche der Ozeane ist auch für erfahrene Forschende schockierend. Besonders hoch ist es im Nordatlantik, dessen Erwärmung zu schwereren Hurricans führen könnte. Aber auch der Südatlantik und damit das antarktische Meereis sind betroffen. Die Ursachen sind nicht geklärt; das El Niño-Phänomen reicht zur Erklärung nicht aus. Es könnten Feedback-Mechanismen eine Rolle spielen. Die New York Times hat mehrere Wissenschaftler befragt.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/27/climate/scientists-are-freaking-out-about-ocean-temperatures.html

Infografik: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/02/07/multimedia/27cli-newsletter-02/2024-02-07-sst-hottest-january-index-superJumbo-v2.png?quality=75&auto=webp

Zusammenfassender Artikel über Studien zu Klimafolgen in der Antarktis und zu dafür relevanten Ereignissen. 2023 sind Entwicklungen sichtbar geworden, die erst für wesentlich später in diesem Jahrhundert erwartet worden waren. Der enorme und möglicherweise dauerhafte Verlust an Merreis ist dafür genauso relevant wie die zunehmende Instabilität des westantarktischen und möglicherweise inzwischen auch des ostantarktischen Eisschilds. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/31/red-alert-in-antarctica-the-year-rapid-dramatic-change-hit-climate-scientists-like-a-punch-in-the-guts

link to https://hypothes.is/a/FjbXGHnSEe6Qd4eEukSDKA

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/matthew-perry-friends-actor-dies-apparent-drowning-54-rcna122643

Die Extremwetter-Ereignisse dieses Jahres entsprechen den Vorhersagen der Klimawissenschaft. Der Guardian hat dazu zahlreichende Forschende befragt und viele Statements in einem multimedialen Artikel zusammengestellt. Alle Befragten stimmen darin überein, dass die Verbrennung fossiler Brennstoffe sofort beendet werden muss, um eine weitere Verschlimmerung zu stoppen. Festgestellt wird auch, dass die Verwundbarkeit vieler Communities bisher unterschätzt worden ist. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/28/crazy-off-the-charts-records-has-humanity-finally-broken-the-climate

https://matthew-van-der-hoorn.notion.site/matthew-van-der-hoorn/Book-Reading-bc745728387b4369b5b63739292c9ce7

van der Hoorn's suggestions for reading

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iiXQKOXrZxfuMJXwAW-1aPtgoJ8rssfN/view

Mr. Hoorn's version of how I take notes.

aka:<br /> - Mr. Hoorn (Asp. Learning Expert) - Odd-Job_Man https://www.reddit.com/user/Odd-Job_Man/ - Mind Academy (w/ Discord channel) - Hypothes.is account: https://hypothes.is/users/MrHoornTheScholar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abomination_of_desolation

Hintergrundartikel zum möglicherweise bald beginnenden Tiefseebergbau, dessen ökologische Folgen enorm sein dürften und wissenschaftlich noch nicht eingeschätzt werden können. Zentrales internationales Konfliktthema ist die Rolle der internationalen Meeresbodenbehörde ISA: Die Metalle, die in der Tiefsee abgebaut werden können, sind vor allem für Erzeugung und Speicherung erneuerbarer Energien interessant.

https://monde-diplomatique.de/artikel/!5943456

Todo: Climate Reanalyzer

„Niemand will hier Recht haben.“ Der Guardian hat sieben australische Klimawissenschaftler:innen zu ihren Reaktionen auf die aktuellen Reordtemperaturen gefragt. Alle sind schockiert, und alle betonen, dass die Entwicklung seit Jahren vorausgesagt wurd und sich verschlimmern wird. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/25/northern-hemisphere-heatwaves-europe-greece-italy-wildfires-extreme-weather-climate-experts

Der Guardian hat James Hansen und andere Klimawissenschaftler:innen zu den aktuellen Hitzewellen interviewt. Hansen geht davon aus, dass sich die Erhitzung der Erde beschleunigt. Auch Forschende, die diese These nicht teilen, nehmen an, dass am Ende dieses Jahrhunder ähnliche Temperaturverhältnisse wie im Pliozän (vor 1-3 Millonen Jahren) herrschen werden, wenn sich die aktuellen Trends bei den Emissionen fortsetzen. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/19/climate-crisis-james-hansen-scientist-warning

Guter Bericht der New York Times zu der neuen Publikation über die Verschiebungen der Erdachse, die als Ergebnis des schmerzens von eisschild und Gletschern, aber auch der Entnahme von Grundwasser festgestellt wurden. Die Daten über die Drehung der Erde, die von Satelliten gemessen werden enthalten auch Informationen für die Klimaforschung. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/climate/groundwater-earth-spin-axis.html

How does this book speak with respect to Immerwahr's How to Hide an Empire?

The transcription on this from .pdf via Hypothesis is dreadful! In particular for the card sizes. The actual text reads as:

1. Devices for note-taking. In taking notes of reading, use slips of paper the size of the standard library card (3 x5 in.). For more extended notes and for typewritten notes, the standard half-sheet (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.) is usually the most satisfactory size. For special purposes still larger sheets are sometimes essential. In any extended investigation the use of different colored slips or different colored inks for certain classes of notes will often prove a convenient and time-saving device. It is especially desirable, thus, to distinguish bibliographical data from subject matter. Each slip should contain only a single note. Put a topical heading at the top of each slip of subject notes and a reference to the volume and page of the authority quoted.

This will be much more interesting given that he'd first written about this topic in 1908 and has accumulated more experience since then.

Look for suggestions about the potential change in practice over the ensuing years.

Is the original version extant in his papers?

of course this also depends on the overall quality of the work and not just the length...

One can't help but notice that Dutcher's essay, laid out like it is in a numbered fashion with one or two paragraphs each may stem from the fact of his using his own note taking method.

Each section seems to have it's own headword followed by pre-written notes in much the same way he indicates one should take notes in part 18.

It could be illustrative to count the number of paragraphs in each numbered section. Skimming, most are just a paragraph or two at most while a few do go as high as 5 or 6 though these are rarer. A preponderance of shorter one or two paragraphs that fill a single 3x5" card would tend to more directly support the claim. Though it is also the case that one could have multiple attached cards on a single idea. In Dutcher's case it's possible that these were paperclipped or stapled together (does he mention using one side of the slip only, which is somewhat common in this area of literature on note making?). It seems reasonably obvious that he's not doing more complex numbering or ordering the way Luhmann did, but he does seem to be actively using it to create and guide his output directly in a way (and even publishing it as such) that supports his method.

Is this then evidence for his own practice? He does actively mention in several places links to section numbers where he also cross references ideas in one card to ideas in another, thereby creating a network of related ideas even within the subject heading of his overall essay title.

Here it would be very valuable to see his note collection directly or be able to compare this 1927 version to an earlier 1908 version which he mentions.

Online

• https://ies.sas.ac.uk/people/matthew-fay

Short Bio

Over the years, Matthew has turned his hand to several disciplines, from high school teaching to theatre directing, before taking the MA in the History of the Book at London University. He is now undertaking research for a PhD on an archive formed by his great-grandfather, Frank Fay (1870-1930), an Irish actor and producer, who collaborated with W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory on the plays that were performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Matthew is interested in the provenance of books and theatre history.

Bibliography

• Thesis: ‘The Fay Archive: Towards a Checklist and Copy-specific Analysis of Key Research Items by W. B. Yeats, J. M. Synge and Lady Gregory.’ (in progress)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/09/alito-roe-sir-matthew-hale-misogynist/

Matthew Daniel Eddy https://www.dur.ac.uk/directory/profile/?id=1715

• 0:37 - need to recognize the networked nature of today's media
• 0:37 - need to recognize the networked nature of today's media
• 0:48 - work within traditional media literacy and build on things that have worked for decades, but recognize what has changed and use the strengths of networked media
• 1:05 - how do children check sources on the internet
• 1:20 - one of the simplest ways is to follow the links back to the source
• 1:34 - when it's a photo, you can do a reverse image search
• 1:50 can do a news search and sort by date to see if the news story is current
• 2:45 - misinformation campaigns happening - mixing genuine content with misinformation
• 3:25 - some create alternate identities or fake accounts
• 4:25 - important to get a sense of how reliable a source is
• 4:35 - what is the purpose of the source and what is their business model? - is there accuracy and reliability in this, then likely will trust it as a source

• 5:10 - impact that we don't get our news from a limited number of sources
• 5:45 - some of these sources are from friends on social media, others are algorithmically determined
• 6:08 - some advantages and disadvantages - the old model was news curated in a newspaper; new model has the potential of getting news we may not have gotten in the old model
• 6:20 but in the old system you had gatekeeping and 'provenance'; in online news it's sometimes an effort to see where the information originates; gate keeping falls to us now
• 7:05 we need to train young people to do this
• 7:30 how should we teach this?
• 7:35 - with the concept approach you don't need to feel like an expert

• 7:40 - success teaching media literacy from the key concepts for three decades; begin from these
• 7:52 - media are constructed;
• 7:55 - they have commercial considerations;
• 7:58 they have social and political implications;
• 8:00 that audiences negotiate meaning;
• 8:05 that each medium has a unique form and the form influences the content
• 8:20 these can be applied to any form of media and adapted to any grade from K-12

• 8:30 so the key concepts of digital literacy are paralleled and are in addition to those, they don't replace the original five concepts
• 8:40 now have implications of digital literacies in that they are networked so we need to understand the idea of the network
• 8:50 understand that content now is shareable, that this is the default rather than the exception
• 8:55 - the ways the tools we use influence not just the content but the ways we use them
• 9:05 - this has an impact, an ethical dimension
• 9:10 - these can be applied in any context and to any grade level
• 9:20 - we have a full digital literacy curriculum that we offer (speaking about Media Smarts Canada); it has lessons on seven different aspects that a teacher or school board can use
• 9:45 - the value of the key concepts is teachers can modify these resources to their contexts
• 9:50 - teachers have in those key concepts what is essentially a GUIDING STAR to understand what they are supposed to be achieving with these lessons

Among the list of offerings that John Robinson of Rockbridge County is willing to make to the President of the University and the Directors of the Literary fund for locating the University in Lexington, are slaves. Moreover, he is willing to offer all 57 of his slaves. The fact that one individual would own 57 slaves in mind-baffling. 57 slaves are more humans than students in some of my larger classes here at UVA. This line of the Rockbridge Gap Report is cringe inducing for a 21st century reader. Perhaps back in 1818 when the document was written ownership of that large a number of slaves was the norm. It is completely dehumanizing to think that slaves, real humans, could be offered as a trade for a favor. However, the progress that society has made regarding equality of mankind is noteworthy, although much progress remains.

This is an interesting take on the relationship between an individual and an institution. The writers of the Rockfish Gap Report are saying that what an individual at the University wants to do with theirself is entirely up to that individual and the actions of that individual do not have any reflection upon the values or beliefs of the University as a whole. On one hand, this makes sense as individuals have free will to do as they please and an institution like a University shouldn't really compromise that. However, one could also see it that the University is a governing body responsible for its members and their consequent actions. Therefore, the University could be liable for the actions of its members. Either way, the University's job is to educate its members and should uphold a certain code of conduct - for decency's sake.

This is a statement that seeks to justify the money that is being made by the university for the education of the students that attend. More specifically, it briefly highlights all the categories that expenses can be classified into. Similar to today, I believe that these broad categories are being used to hide little hidden costs. Just like going to college today, these little hidden costs add up to make a significant contribution to the cost of attending college. The rest of the document continues to elaborate more on these categories, but I still feel that there is an element of hidden costs.

This proposed object starts off so optimistically, by saying that the university wishes to provide its students with the knowledge necessary to succeed as a citizen. However, the second half of the proposed object brings up the fact that the schools goal is to provide males with this knowledge. Considering the time period that these proposals were made, this statement is obviously referring to white males. Therefore, this particular object does not give every citizen the information that is needed for the transaction of their own business.

This objective seems a bit ironic to me especially considering the kind of exclusivity of the type of students that attended when UVA was first founded. Also, it's hard to ignore the fact that at UVA they are meant to "correct action" and "render themselves examples of virtue to others", both good moral values, except while African Americans were being oppressed and not given the same opportunities as these men attending the University. Lauren L.

It's interesting to see the phrase "alliance between church and state" when all throughout my previous history classes they'd focus on the separation of church and state. I don't find this university to be particularly religiously driven. There are religious studies classes available, and any student can choose to take them. There are clubs and organizations for every religion, and there are a multitude of churches on or near grounds, the most notably being the Chapel. Although there are many religious opportunities for students and it maybe tied into the structural foundation of this university, I admire its acceptance of people of different beliefs, creeds, and religions.

Many students here at the University have no idea why we refer to the grounds in the way we do, myself included. It just seems to be tradition. Here in the Rockfish Gap report, the term "grounds" appears a whopping 2 whole times! I assume that it's from this document that we derive our tradition of calling our university "grounds." It's crazy how something so small has become so engrained in our student culture.

It may be worth questioning as to whether or not this term invokes a sense of superiority and/or pretentiousness through its use both in the student body and in an outsider's view of the university.

Jedidiah Park

This statement stood out to me because it lines up with my belief that college allows one to grow as a person, to be able to become independent, and to be able to find your own path. So far in my short time at UVA, I have been able to begin to figure out my own path. A lot of people close to me tell me I should study something else or I should do this or do that but I don't let that influence what I want to do. I am calculating for myself, and expressing and preserving my ideas.

I wonder why Jefferson believed that dormitories accommodating two students would help with uninterrupted study. In my experience, living with another person doesn't really help with uninterrupted study. The roommate can be distracting even if they don't intend to be. I wonder why Jefferson decided have dorms accommodate two students instead of just having all single rooms. I know in other countries, their dorms are all single and I watched an interview with a foreign student and they too wondered why American dorms are double occupancy.

I find this statement in the document appalling. The founders portray blatant racism within the first paragraph as they decide upon the foundation for the University. I find it baffling that a university designed for the bettering of an entire state would exclude its benefits from such a large segment of the population for which it was designed. Furthermore, it is concerning that issues regarding the exclusion of certain groups of the population remain an issue today amidst the twenty-first century. However, it is encouraging that the University and the larger population of the United States have made great progress towards removing these racist beliefs.

-Jenna Taylor

I found this section of the document inspiring. This empowering belief regarding education is still held today at the University of Virginia and in today's broader society. Although the founders of the University prove to be quite discriminatory and immoral throughout many sections of the document, their argument here, that education betters a man, brings a hint of optimism to this section of the report.

-Jenna Taylor

This sentence really shows the dichotomy of the present and the past. It is clearly demonstrated that the slaves are not seen as people, but are instead seen as property. The word "also," while being used to show the end of a list, also subtly says that slaves are afterthoughts, even when speaking of properties.

I find it very intriguing that the very first task of the commissioners was to look for a site for the school, rather than going over the ideals, values, and goals that are mentioned later on in the report. I read that Jefferson wanted the site to be so beautiful and the school to gain such notoriety that people from even out of state would "drink of the cup of knowledge". Having the physical site in mind could have given the commissioners the motivation and inspiration to set values for the future university.

This really stood out to me. I may be wrong, but it seems as if the administration of Washington College (currently Washington and Lee) proposed the absorption of the school into the new UVA school system. For a school that seems now to pride itself on its independence, it's funny to think that they very well could have ended up as part of the University.

The focus on healthiness and fertility reminds me sickeningly of the treatment of slaves and of women throughout history, as land, a place for a school to be built, was regarded in the same way that human beings were -- property; only worthy of life if they met specific criteria. A slave was only useful if it was healthy enough to perform the work necessary of its existence (as the slave owners thought). If a slave could not work in a field or in the home, they were a useless slave and often times killed for their inability to perform. The fertility of a slave and it's ability to reproduce was profitable as slave owners were able to buy a slave (if they raped their females) or two (male and female), and have their slave continue to produce more slaves and therefore more bodies able to do the slaveowner's biding. Such is similar to the view of women, as health and fertility were the most important aspects of a woman to society, besides obedience. Women's fertility could be manipulated and used for gain of both men and society. In some instances, women were only considered worthy of life if they produced male offspring. Such is seen in royalty, as King Henry vehemently believed that Catherine "was condemned by God not to have a boy and that Anne would provide him with one". This belief that the only worth of a woman is their ability to produce male heirs was carried into society for a long time after the Tudor times. And although the thoughts towards women are not as strict in modern society, the stigma towards women unable to have children or who do not want children has continued into modern society.

source link : http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/tudor-england/henry-and-divorce/

I find this phrase "branches of learning" interesting, as it implies that learning stems from a singular object, which in essence is a university. It is a very remarkable way to think of learning, as the university is the foundation for learning, but the different branches (topics) stem from not only what is taught officially at the university in classrooms, but also from the experiences that occur here and people that call this place home. I know that this statement did not mean what I think it means now back when it was written, but I still find it a beautiful way to talk about learning. The metaphor of a tree implies that roots in the university - the land it was built on, the people who built it, the people who used to live on this land - can affect the university and the way students learn from it and on it. Such is so applicable to today as we are attempting to embrace the rotten roots of our dear university, attempting to learn from the injustisces against humanity that occurred on and before our university.

This is a perfect example of the "pan-american" independence movement many of the founders envisioned for all of the western hemisphere. It is often forgotten that many Americans hoped that our revolution would inspire the other colonies in North and South America to revolt as well. Eventually most of them did, but not as soon as Jefferson or the rest of the founders expected. The line "with whom we shall possibly have great intercourse ere long" and the reference to "our Continents" shows their hopefulness for a free and allied America. It is no coincidence that for many years South American flags were flown alongside that of the United States on July 4th.

I think it's amazing how much consideration went into the planning of the living arrangements. Jefferson's plan had great emphasis on comfort and education. His plans also took into account potential problems like fires and sickness. I think we as a community at UVA overlook how much time, effort, and consideration went into each detail of where we live and learn and it's nice to look back on this report to see where we started.

It is clear that the University of Virginia did not people of color to attend or even be in close proximity of the University. Did they think that being in a centrally white populated area would keep the site healthy? Is that what they meant by "healthiness of the site?"

This passage, though seemingly intuitive and well- meaning, was very troubling for me. What I found troubling about it was not in the words of Jefferson and the other founders, but rather in how those principles are carried out at UVa today. In essence, I agree with Jefferson - students at UVa should be taught to understand the "principles and structure of government" and in particular their own government. I agree with him in that I think we should all have a right to be free from unnecessary restraint. However, when he says that we shall be free to do whatever does not violate the equal rights of another, I cannot help but think of the events on August 12th. It seems to me that in protecting freedom of speech by allowing these people on our grounds, we also blatantly disregarded one of our founding principles. Do confederate and nazi flags not violate the rights of blacks and jews respectively? -Ben Kava

So this is the leap. But what about work like this?

"Answers to this question are beginning to emerge from an area of work I see as connected to rhetorical ecologies, the study of object-oriented ontologies (OOO), led by Graham Harman, Levi Bryant, and Ian Bogost. Bogost’s self-described “elevator pitch” for this area of inquiry reads as the following:

Ontology is the philosophical study of existence. Object-oriented ontology (“OOO” for short) puts things at the center of this study. Its proponents contend that nothing has special status, but that everything exists equally–plumbers, cotton, bonobos, DVD players, and sandstone, for example. In contemporary thought, things are usually taken either as the aggregation of ever smaller bits (scientific naturalism) or as constructions of human behavior and society (social relativism). OOO steers a path between the two, drawing attention to things at all scales (from atoms to alpacas, bits to blinis), and pondering their nature and relations with one another as much with ourselves. (bogost.com)

There’s much more to this area, of course, no surprise given its relationship to Heidegger’s work, but this statement makes the case for a focus on things, just as theories of rhetoric as ecological inform my research methods. While OOO rejects the disproportionate historical focus of study on all things human, often referred to as correlationism, focusing on objects does not mean dismissing human-based studies so much as looking with equal rigor at all the innumerable phenomena that populate the world. This is a question of balance, as becomes clear with Bogost’s call in the last phrase of his blurb to consider objects in their “relations with one another as much with ourselves” (emphasis mine). As those concerned with activism—i.e., action mostly on behalf of people—our anthropocentrism will never recede so very much, but work like that of rhetorical ecologies and OOO opens space for us to consider the existence, movement, and effects of objects in new ways. Hence, my claim that adapted flags might do a kind of activist work on their own. From this angle, any flag objects than trigger thoughts or actions on behalf of D.C.’s disadvantaged would be doing the work of activism."

On the importance of funding middle-ground

capacity requires top and middle.

Matthew effect