Hell With Thee, My Alma Mater

 From the College Fix, Cal Poly Humboldt ‘dialogues’ on race to focus on ‘fighting fascism and erasure’

This month at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt features the 28th “Annual Campus & Community Dialogue on Race,” the theme for which is “We Are Here! Fighting Fascism & Erasure.” The event website notes Professor Jason Stanley’s “ten pillars of fascism that serve an ‘us and them’ framework to seize power and dismantle democracy.”  These include “mythic past, propaganda, anti-intellectualism, unreality, hierarchy, victimhood, ‘law and order,’ sexual anxiety, favoring ‘the heartland,’ and the dismantling of public goods.”

Stanley fled Yale and the United States last year due to its “fascism,” and now teaches at the University of Toronto.

According to Humboldt Now, the event’s programs will “bring students, faculty, staff, and community members together to examine racial injustice, authoritarianism, and the possibilities of collective resistance” Through workshops, presentations, performances, and facilitated conversations, the weeklong event creates opportunities to consider how racism intersects with other forms of oppression. CDOR welcomes people of all backgrounds into a shared process of reflection, learning, and action.

The 2026 theme focuses on the relationship between fascism, racism, and ultranationalism. It asks participants to examine how political narratives can be used to enforce social hierarchies, designate groups as outsiders, and weaken democratic institutions.

The organizing committee, made up of students, faculty, and staff, aims to explore what it means to fight fascism from a “poly-TEK” vantage point, one that names and engages with Indigenous perspectives like Traditional Ecological Knowledge in a “polytechnic” university. Speakers will talk about the relationships between AI, colonialism, and eugenics.

The October 19 “keynote event” discussion will be led by “feminist and decolonial scholar of science and technology studies” Anita Say Chan (pictured) of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Chan’s book “Predatory Data” purports to “show how technological systems can reproduce inequalities affecting immigrants and other marginalized communities.”

The 21st and 22nd respectively feature Roberto González, whose research “focuses on technofascism and the effects of algorithmic policing and surveillance on communities of color,” and Abby Abinanti, California’s first Native American to pass the state bar exam and serve as state judge. Abinanti “incorporates traditional cultural values and rehabilitative practices into judicial proceedings, offering alternatives to conventional criminal justice models,” the press release notes.

According to Cal Poly Humboldt Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies Professor Mike Atienza, “we don’t talk about race in our everyday lives,” and thus these conversations can be held in a “really supportive and principled space.” Atienza’s faculty page notes he collaborates with “performance artist” Maria Arte Susya Purisima Tolentino to “use the form of drag to analyze transnational media representations and discourse about the lives of Filipina/o/x people.” 

Georgia and I are both alumni of Humboldt, first as Humboldt State College,which became Humboldt State University while we attended, and then Cal Poly Humboldt after we graduated. Of course, both of us majored in sciences (she chemistry, me oceanography and biology), so other than the mandatory social studies and art requirements, we were not subjected to anything like this.

I think we can safely rule out donating to the school now, not that we ever did before.

Beach Report 10/6/26

It was cooler today, in the upper 50's. Because the wind was low, I braved it in shorts, but Georgia dressed up. It worked for me.

The tide was on the way down, and there was a lot of gravel to look through.

We found 16 sharks teeth, including this Snaggletooth, one nice fat Black Drum tooth, and a small shark vertebra.

Beach Report 4/11/25

A fine Spring day, sunny, a bit breezy from the north, and on the borderline between shorts and t-shirt or jeans and long sleeve shirt. I opted for the later, and was a bit warm at the end of the walk.

This looks good here, but most of the beach was sandy, and a bit too rough to look in the surf.

Consequently, fossil hunting was tough. This medium size Snaggletooth upper was the best of five total teeth for the two of us.

A Walk in the Park

As I alluded to in today's Flotsam and Jetsam, it is Spring Break for schools here, and Georgia got a notion that we should take Gabby on a hike. She selected a trail at Calvert Cliffs State Park, a few miles south, which has a number of trails from the main park area down to a short beach. It is one of the few truly public access to the beach in the County. 

Using the shortest trail, the red trail, it's still a 1.8 mile hike down to the beach. It's an easy trail, which starts along a small stream, which then widens out into a vast, beaver pond filled wetland before finally emptying into the Bay. 

Gabby did pretty well on the way down, only getting a case of the "are we there yets" around 2/3ds of the way down. Mostly, she looked for fallen trees (lots), and butterflies (the Spring Azures and Tiger Swallowtails are out), water beetles, frogs and turtles.

Duck tails. 

We reached the beach in due time, and given the warm weather, there were lots of visitors. Not that I really needed to, but I did make a couple of passes up and down the short beach and found 8 sharks teeth, all small and pretty worn. I would say it's easier here than our home beach. 

Despite the slight uphill, we made the walk back up pretty easily, with Gabby leading the charge, with energy to spare to spend a half hour at the playground at the park.

Beach Report 1/17/26

Lower 40s under a snakeskin sky, with a southwest wind that didn't touch the beach.

The tide was about dead high when we arrived, but it was right on astronomical so there was plenty of beach.

Georgia called me over to see if I wanted to take a pic of this one before she picked it up. Heck yah! 

A very pretty 1 11/16 inch White Shark upper! 

A little later, I found my consolation prize, this 1 1/4 inch Snaggletooth shark lower. Most days this would be a winner. 

But she wasn't through humiliating me, finding this Geoduck pearl. 

Beach Report 11/29/25

A seasonally cold, clear day, topping out near 40 F. Fortunately, the wind was very slight.

It was a blow-out tide, almost a foot lower than the astronomical prediction. As blow-outs often are, it was mostly sand, but there was some productive gravel.

Of the ten teeth, this 1 1/2 inch White Shark that Georgia found well above the waterline was the best. Look at the pretty colors on that one! Curses, foiled again.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Zohran takes NYC, Dick Cheney Dead

Overall it was a bad night for Republicans. Not unexpectedly, Zohran "Kill the Jews Quietly" Mandami won the NYC electoral contest with a slight, if clear majority, putting the worlds city with the most Jews in the hands of radical Islamist. This should be amusing, from a distance. Abigale "the Spook" Spamberger, also heavily favored, took the governorship of Virginia. But in two races where Republicans were thought to have a fighting chance, Democrat Jay "Two Bullets" Jones beat Jason Miyares for Attorney General, and Democrat "What's Her Name?" Mikie Sherrill won the New Jersey Governor seat over Jack Ciattarelli. To round out the bad news, California voted in Gavin Newsom's Prop 50 gerrymander, intended to take five house seats from Republicans, and in Georgia, voters ousted two Republicans from the Public Service Commission.

From NYPo, Zohran Mamdani wins 2025 NYC mayoral election — wastes no time in declaring war on Trump in victory speech and Nonhostile takeover: How the Democratic Party gave in to radicals like Mamdani. Dmitri Bold at TownHall, New York City Has Fallen, Socialist Mamdani Elected Mayor Tim Burchett @timburchett, "New York City has fallen, and @uhaul is about to make a bunch of money." Spiked claims Zohran Mamdani’s rise is fuelled by generational resentment. PJM's Stephen Kruiser, It's Come to This — Republicans Rooting for Andrew Cuomo. At Althouse, "'Shame on Sliwa! Shame on Sliwa!' dozens of people at the front of the room jeered, apparently blaming Sliwa, a Republican, for Cuomo’s loss." . . . "I'm reading "Nobody likes a sore loser – but Cuomo declines to bow out gracefully/Despondency reigned at the Ziegfeld Ballroom – and then the defeated candidate found it hard to praise the victor" (The Guardian)." CityDeskNYC @CityDeskNYC, "Automated by @rhetor_ai Sadiq Khan’s advice to Mamdani? A masterclass in ideological fraud. Khan didn’t “moderate”—he hid his radicalism behind PR stunts while letting London rot. Now he’s coaching Mamdani to sanitize his own extremism: BDS cheerleading, NYPD defunding, and rent freezes that’ll collapse housing." Jerry Dunleavy at JTN, Mamdani leans into Sarsour support, Muslim faith & ‘Islamophobia’ claims in campaign finale. "Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor of New York City, and he is rallying his fellow New York Muslims to help make that happen. At the end of the day, Mamdani is playing that "race card" — and hard." From Ace, Muslim Supporter of Zohran Mamdani: If Mamdani Wins, "They [Christians, Jews, Non-Muslims] Will Be At Our Feet" Plus: Trump to Communist-Islamist New York City: Drop Dead. Mark Lucas at Da Fed, I Fought A War Against Radical Islamists Like The One New York Is About To Elect. Correction, did elect. Michele's Substack, As the Birds Circle, "New York City faces Mamdani -- and the new Socialist Left." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair cites Fetterman: Mamdani Aside, Democrats Aren't Embracing Socialism. TBD.

Capt. Ed reads the WaPo's Virginia Aside: Oh, By The Way, Deranged Texter Jay Jones May Be Unfit. It doesn't matter now, he's Virginia's chief law enforcement officer now. Liberty Unyielding thinks Virginia is likely to raise taxes if Democrats win Tuesday’s election. 

From Insty, DEM TURNOUT IS HIGH BECAUSE THEY PAY PEOPLE: DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "In the worst-case scenario, the correct takeaway is: “wow, look at these foundations spending billions to have full time activists to turn out the vote” The WRONG takeaway is: “we should have made a deal on the shutdown” Quote DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "This is why I call low-turnout, off-year elections a structural problem for Republicans. These are a partial list of Ford Foundation grants alone that directly or indirectly relate to electorate mobilization. Now multiply that by about a dozen high-wealth foundations and donors. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "I just came across this in an Open Society Foundations document about how to fix public “mistrust” of liberal "democracy," and I honestly feel sick reading it. I've read many alarming quotes, but few are so "mask off" like this. "I believe the time has come for a responsible, courageous elite, those who care far more about addressing the genuine social problems than about election results. Only a political elite with vision, prudence and a focus on the general good—to whom the electorate… can cede part of their sovereignty in the elections—will be able to justify public trust and spearhead... our struggle to survive."" Read that again. . . " ThePersistence @ScottPresler, "BREAKING NEWS: Independent voters were NOT included in the poll books. Now, every independent in Chester County has to vote a provisional ballot. This is for ALL of Chester County. How does this even happen? Share everywhere. On phone w/ legal."Chester County, PA" @instapundit@instapundit, "When it comes to blue-state voting foulups, never attribute to stupidity what can be explained by malice." Quote ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena, "Having apparently a confederacy of dunces running the Chester county voter services is no excuse for what is happening in Chester county Pennsylvania polling locations; there are 75,000 voters not in the binders & they don’t have enough provisionals. x.com/scottpresler/s…" A Larry video at Hat Hair, Polling Places Evacuated: Suspicious NYC Ballots on Election Day.

At NRO, Dick Cheney, One of the Most Influential Vice Presidents in U.S. History, Dies at 84. AP celebrates Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84. Capt. Ed merely says RIP to an American Original: Dick Cheney. However, Ace in Dick Cheney Dead at 84. "Although obituaries identify Cheney as a rock-ribbed Republican, of course he became a progressive Democrat in the last ten years of his life." A Larry video at Hat Hair, Dick Cheney’s Death Sparks a Stunning Truth About American Longevity, declining. Althouse likes her NYT, "As vice presidents go, Mr. Cheney was a singular figure: more powerful and less ambitious for higher office than any vice president in modern times...." and "I don’t believe the White House is involved in that planning … flags have been lowered to half-staff in accordance with statutory law.", "Said Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt, quoted in "Dick Cheney, former US vice-president, dies aged 84," teased on the front page of the London Times as "Trump pays no tribute to Dick Cheney after his death." The Times helpfully notes "US law mandates half-mast for ten days following the death of a vice-president," rubbing it in that Trump is shutting up about Cheney."

The government shutdown hit a new record for length. At Hat Hair Capt. Ed speculates on the Schumer Shutdown: Dems Readying the Towel?, John Sexton, Trump: 'Terminate the Filibuster Now' and The Shutdown Endgame. Streiff at RedState hopes Democrats Are About to Experience the Pain of the Filibuster. "The plan is that in exchange for a promise of a future vote on the Obamacare subsidies, at least eight Democrat senators will vote for the clean continuing resolution. It is that vote that will bring home the reality that using the filibuster as a tactical weapon is not a great idea." From Twitchy, Olivia Julianna's Attempt to Blame Republicans for Obamacare Increases By Showing What SHE Pays BACKFIRES. From TNP, 21 Democrat States Are Refusing to Turn Over Illegal Immigrant SNAP Data: USDA Secretary. Capt. Ed, More Trump: Dems Better SNAP To It, Or Else.

From RCP, Trump Was Right Again: Too Much Winning. Atop Da Hill, The results are in: Pollsters are still underestimating Trump. NewsBusters lists The Most Interesting Moments from President Trump's Return to '60 Minutes'. Sarah Anderson at PJM, Trump on Venezuela: Maduro's Days Are Numbered but No War.

Marc Andreessen @pmarca "Oh thank God." Quote Polymarket @Polymarket "JUST IN: Jim Cramer says we're officially in a bear market." 

At Hat Hair, Guys Who Work for a Living Think Dems are 'Weak,' 'Woke' and Unfocused and Dave Strom, There Are Liars, and Then There Are Designated Liars. Gail Heriot at Insty, says FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS VOTE FOR THE GUY WITH THE HAIR GEL: "Kenin Spivak gives you details on something I hope you already knew in your gut: Gavin Newsom must never be the President of the United States of America. Make sure your parents, spouse, siblings, children, cousins, nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends know too." Dave Manney at PJM, The Congresswoman Who Forgot Which Flag She Serves. She didn't forget; she lied when she took her oath of office.

Matt Margolis at PJM says This Looks Like the Smoking Gun in the Case Against James Comey. Mary Chastain at LI reports Emails Show Comey Authorized Leaks, Expected to Work for ‘President-Elect Clinton’ “Good job my friend!” John Sexton, Justice Department Defends Comey's Prosecution, Urges Judge Not to Throw Out Case. From Twitchy, Mike Davis Says Evidence to Dismiss James Comey’s Indictment Includes a Damning Bombshell. From Ace, James Comey Accuses Trump of Political Weaponization. Then the US Attorney Prosecuting His Case Presented His Emails, Showing His Intention to Please Hillary Clinton and Secure Her Election. "And secure his own position in the would-be Hillary Clinton administration he wanted to play Internal Spymaster and Dissident-Hunter in."

Fox reports Trump foe Boasberg hit with articles of impeachment "Rep. Brandon Gill filed impeachment articles against Judge James Boasberg on Tuesday over his role in 'Arctic Frost'." Matt Margolis, Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Rogue Judge Boasberg. Matt Vespa is scandalized that Trump's Phone Got Seized by Special Counsel in Arctic Frost Spy Probe.

Jeff Charles at TownHall repeats This Is What a Federal Judge Said About the Sandwich Throwing Case. "Before jury selection started Monday, the judge presiding over Dunn's trial seemed to acknowledge how unusual it is for a case like this to be heard in federal court. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated to the bench by Mr. Trump, said he expects the trial to last no more than two days "because it's the simplest case in the world."" At Althouse, "I could feel it through my ballistic vest. It kind of exploded all over. You could smell the onions and the mustard.", "Testified CBP Agent Gregory Lairmore, quoted in "Border Patrol agent recalls moment DC sandwich slinger’s sub 'exploded all over; him: ‘You could smell the onions'" (NY Post). The lawyer for Sean Charles Dunn, on trial for assault, appealed to the jurors' sense of proportion: "It was a harmless gesture at the end of him exercising his right to speak out... He did it. He threw the sandwich. And now the US Attorney for the District of Columbia has turned that moment — a thrown sandwich — into a criminal case, a federal criminal case charging a federal offense."" Somebody should throw a sandwich at the judge. From the Pop Times, Federal Judge Rules It’s ‘Cruel and Unusual Punishment’ to Deny Pedophile of Gender ‘Affirming’ Care. Amy Curtis at TownHall reports A UK Judge Just Acquitted Climate Activists Who Vandalized Stonehenge. Breaking911 @Breaking911, "A UK court has acquitted two “Just Stop Oil” activists accused of defacing Stonehenge, with the judge citing their climate change motive and affirming that people have the right to protest in a democracy, even if others disapprove."

From Fox, Orlando’s Pulse nightclub shooting inspired ISIS-linked Halloween terror plot: court docs. Dave Strom notices CNN Stealth Edits Article on Dearborn Plot From 'Islamophobia' Theme to 'Terrorists Caught.'

Mike Cantrell finds AI Bias: Google AI Says GOP Senator Is a Sex Offender. Sounds like Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has a good case for a slander suit. From Fox, Conservative mom sued for calling DEI teacher 'woke' celebrates as defamation case tossed, "Wisconsin appeals court rules terms like 'woke' and 'White savior' are protected opinion, not defamation," unlike, say, 'rapist'.

Steve Stewart-Williams @SteveStuWill, "“If women are behind on a metric, it’s recorded as inequality. If men are behind, it’s recorded as parity. You read that correctly: The index is explicitly designed so that men cannot be seen as disadvantaged, no matter how far behind they fall.”" 

This is a masterpiece.. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/vm6MF8j2Yo

— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) November 2, 2025

Some links left at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 11.04.25. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: The Beatings Will Continue garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Beach Report 10/21/25

A gorgeous fall day, with temperatures in the mid 60s. I haven't posted much, but the beach has been changed a lot recently, with the passing of the recent nor'easter causing a lot of erosion. I'm not worried; the sand will return.

A stiff SE wind barely touched the beach, but left enough surf to mix the shell hash.

Georgia found the best tooth of the day, this 1 1/2 inch White Shark. It's only 1/8 shorter than the current leader on the kitchen window sill. I found a small, beat dolphin tooth, much rarer, but not as photogenic.

One of the things the erosion exposed, the old motor (with some remains some wooden boat attached), that we haven't seen for a few years. Check out how much it has degraded in the last 15 years.

Beach Report 9/11/25

It's been rough the last couple of day, so even though it was calm today, there was a lot leaf debris washed up on the beach.

We had rain this morning, so it was overcast and 70 when we started out, the sun came out during the walk and made it at least feel a little warmer.

The best of 42 teeth, I found this one within 5 minutes of getting onto the beach. A Mako shark, possibly the rarer Isurus retroflexus, basically the same as the modern Long-Finned Mako. 

Mark Frazier Sunrise Garden

Tomorrow is the first day of school for Gabby, and Georgia said that we should go do something, anything. A neighbor suggested a small park up in North Beach where they had Koi ponds, flowers and some sculptures. 

The park is called  the Mark Frazier Sunrise Garden, at Bayview and 3d street. It's a nice little park, with a couple of Koi ponds connected by little streams, and the advertised flowers and sculpture. A few pictures. It's right across the street from the boardwalk, and would, indeed, have an excellent view of the sun rising over Chesapeake Bay.

Mark Frazier was a former county commissioner and Mayor of North Beach

A bronze GBH

After visiting with the fish, the flowers, the butterflies, the sculptures, and a friendly local dogs, we found a Mexican restaurant and had lunch.

A driftwood lion. 

A stainless steel Ecphora.

A most uncomfortable chair. 

Swamp Mallow.

The driftwood mermaid is less convincing than the lion.

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on the Pickerel weed in the Koi pond.

Beach Report 4/29/25

Another fine spring day on Chesapeake Bay, with temperatures around 70 F, and only a few light clouds. The wind was southwest when we started (west is best), but switched to southeast somewhere along the way. 

Georgia was the clear winner today with this best of the year (so far) Cow shark tooth. She found it on one of the most heavily trafficked part of the beach, the narrow spot between the water and the cliff near the path back up to Matoaka. 

Then she rubbed it in with another half. All in all we got about 35 teeth. 

Beach Report - 4/19/25

A gorgeous spring time day, with temperatures reaching the low 80s, partly cloudy, and with a strong southeast breeze that was almost completely absent on the beach thanks to the cliffs and tree.

The tide was only about half way down when we set out, but it was low enough to make around the big orange slide that blocks the way to the upper beach much of the time.

The sand and gravel was almost perfect for finding sharks teeth. We found 60, but the sizes were nothing special. This upper Snaggletooth was about the largest of the lot.