Don't blame me, I voted for the other guy. (Politics General)

@Dustcan
It’s not paywalled for me? I’m not even a subscriber for it.

@Dustcan
I mean, that’s how republicans view children it feels like.

A new study has found that since 1988, school segregation by race has increased by 64%, and economic (rich v poor) segregation has increased by 50%, a trend of which I was already well aware of. In addition to increased segregation between white and black students, it’s also happening with Asian and Latino students.

Two things are driving this trend, per the study: The rise of the “School Choice” movement to use public funds to send children to private schools, and the end of court oversight over school integration efforts.

I’d known for a while that “School Choice” was a Trojan horse for the eventual abolition of public education, but it really should have occurred to me the degree to which it could also be used to re-segregate schools.

Seems like that audit Trump swears he’s been on for the last 9 years is now saying he owes over $160 million in back taxes.

Meanwhile I’m recycling paper straws.

@Dustcan
…How does paper straws even work?

@Meanlucario
Same as the paper cups they’re put in.

Paper can be surprisingly durable and water resistant, believe it or not.

Look at cartons. With proper treatment (read:wax) it can hold liquids for weeks without dissolving.

~~very badly in my experience ~~

I’ve yet to see a paper straw perform even remotely like that. Most of the time the bottom is already disintegrating by the time I’m done eating. And I eat fast.

@Background Pony #1F81
@Background Pony #7120
Which is why Dustcan said “with proper treatment”. Of course, fast food companies are more inclined to cut corners.

Yeah I got a box of the quality stuff. They each can last you days if you clean them right.

Get the cheap stuff meant to be disposable and you’ll be lucky to last the meal.

We’re out here having to use cheap paper straws while Taylor Swift takes her private jet out to the next town over and back.

@Dustcan
Just buy stainless steel straws and clean them with a brush. They’re like $6 and last forever.

She did give us some pretty funny plane memes though. That’s almost worth a climate change or 2.

Alabama and Florida have recently made “lab grown meat” illegal. Ostensibly to protect cattle ranchers.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
What weenies. Let them make artificial meat that is healthy and tasty.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Of course it’s Florida and Alabama.

@Background Pony #7120
All paper straws I saw were flimsy like this. It’s because unlike paper cups, they aren’t coated in polymer. This means you can compost them with clean conscience. Not sure about recycling them with other paper; at least my local guidelines state that wet paper is unsuitable for recycling.

@Background Pony #1D40
Wax is technically a chemical (unless beeswax), so yeah to be green they can’t be coated with anything. And in the case of metal straws, I don’t relish the idea of cutting my tongue or lip open on them, so I’m glad plastic straws are legal in my state (honestly I should get a lifetime supply of them beforehand in case some federal law is passed. I regret not stocking up more on incandescent bulbs).

I hate to break it you but water is a chemical, too.

They are thicker than plastic ones and rounded. Or did you manage to somehow find ones with sharp burrs, which are a guaranteed lawsuit generator?

@The Smiling Pony
Nom I’ve been drinking a chemical all my life :P Next you are going to say Protean is a chemical?

Face Eating Leopards feasted well on this Pro-Life Hag mocked here:

I have a set of metal straws I bought from Target.

They’re not sharp at all, clean easily, come in a variety of sizes (I have one big enough for boba tea), and they have the neat bonus of conducting the cold, which is quite pleasant on hot days. Particularly nice for mixed drinks. I’ve got a short one that fits nicely in a rocks glass, perfect for an old fashioned.

Biden and Trump have agreed to a debate set for July 27.