But also @happify.bsky.social also has valid critiques of sidewalks as infrastructure that doesn’t work

Went biking today (that’s why you didn’t recognize me). Was so so so whiny for the first three miles. “I thought biking was supposed to be easier than walking!” “My legs are tired.” “Why doesn’t biking use any of the same muscles as walking?” and on and on.

Turns out back tire at 5psi will do that.

Sad news about what the city of Minneapolis is telling sidewalk inspectors is a compliant winter sidewalk: "If sand or salt was placed down, an attempt was made and sidewalk is considered compliant."

Sprinkling salt on an otherwise untouched sidewalk: "an attempt was made"

And a little bit of it is that our metro-area care systems are already under strain with health care settings being targeted (overhearing talk of related staff shortages when I was in for an appt last week). I want to reduce additional stress to those systems.

Also also, just to be clear, the wastewater data referenced in this is from four treatment plants in MN, but not directly the metro. Given how exponential spread works, the particular risk factors for it in the metro since Jan 24th, and the effectiveness of masking, I'm alerting my circles anyhow.

Also, keep in mind that the infection rate is based on population but not everyone feels/is safe going to school/work/gatherings right now, so the denominator is functionally lower in MN right now (therefore chances of infectious person in a gathering space is higher).

(Still spitballing armchair)

I’m absolutely sure that’s not helping anything, not the least because of how that stress and fear and dehumanization isn’t helping the immune system.

I’m seeing: X0,000s go to observer training, then help pack food, then caucuses, work/school and maybe some smaller at home gatherings between…

Unfortunately, I think it might be the inverse at least as much. Unmasked people desperate to help neighbors crowding into fairly small, poorly ventilated churches/gyms repeatedly for stuff like observer training and caucusing last Tuesday.

I’m thinking* this is the result of the combo of massive over-capacity m indoor gatherings of (unmasked) people wanting to help neighbors targeted by ICE and also in person caucusing, all in spaces without sufficient air filtration/ventilation.

* Untrained. Untested. Spitballing.

Heat map using CDC data and PMC estimate of prevalence

Breaking: The CDC reports SARS-CoV-2 levels *quadrupled* in Minnesota in the past week.

Using harmonized wastewater estimates, we project 1 in 12 people in Minnesota are actively infectious. This is equivalent to a 59% chance of exposure in a room of 10 people....

That looks like some of the really tough stuff—I can’t imagine how long it took! Excellent work clearing it!

A sidewalk path cleared through ice across an alley

Watching @happify.bsky.social clearing curbs with a vengeance inspired me to go clear some mid block alley crossings. Lot of work! But smoother getting through now!

A huge giant 20+’ puddle completely covers a walk/bike path at night. Icebergs float in it. A highway runs under it.

The same well/bike path, still very wet, but cleared of the puddle for safe passage by foot or wheelchair or bike

Here it is earlier in January when we cleared it of water (3rd and worst of three very flooded portions of the bike path). The water was 4” deep for about 10’, then tapering off for another 10-15’. My flame’s boots weren’t waterproof so I shoved ALLLL OF THAT WATER over a snowbank with a shovel.

A huge giant 20+’ puddle completely covers a walk/bike path at night. Icebergs float in it. A highway runs under it.

The same well/bike path, still very wet, but cleared of the puddle for safe passage by foot or wheelchair or bike

Here it is earlier in January when we cleared it of water (3rd and worst of three very flooded portions of the bike path). The water was 4” deep for about 10’, then tapering off for another 10-15’. My flame’s boots weren’t waterproof so I shoved ALLLL OF THAT WATER over a snowbank with a shovel.

Did some bike path clearing today. Took a while, but not nearly as bad as it was when we got it early-mid January (I hacked at it a bit yesterday, but fruitlessly with just the chopper). Tools used: ice chopper + wide blade shovel to push the water over the snow dams.

We do it for you! We don’t want neighbors isolated at home and scared for their safety going out because of ice or ICE.

Definitely noticing that with more and stronger people wielding multiple metal tools against the ground!

I got one stretch adjacent to an empty lot that was every ice choppers dream. 1-2” thick ice just popped up with the sliding motion, except periodically when I could chop 6” in and have three chunks 18” with one single motion. I need video to share, it’s very satisfying

Looking from the sidewalk to an intersection where a path just barely wide enough for a wheelchair has been cleared through three inches of hard packed ice. Ice chunks/debris remain visible on the right side.

Also still corners like this one that need the choppiest of ice choppers, which was so difficult solo! That ice pack is so dense even the warm up will take ages to dispel it.

Out again today, and lots of water removal combined with ice chopping. Pro-tip: an ice chopper is also a pretty decent paddle to throw the water onto/over the boulevard. You think it can’t possibly work, but then suddenly the sidewalk is no longer submerged.

One friend keeps talking about bringing their rotary chipping hammer/sds drill thing, but is concerned about getting water all up in it.

Trying to remember to bring our chipper to school patrol this week!

Yeah, I’ve got some Questions after knowing exactly who is cleaning some corners that you’d think the city would be trying to do. Clear ice, not diy traffic calming!

Living up north, I have wanted a tool like that ever since. And I think about the women a lot. Living through a Blockade, and then taking the great pride they did in Keeping Streets Safe. /end

And these women, who had lived through so much, would chatter the entire time, solving the world's problems among themselves, gossiping, commenting on passersby, scolding or advising them as they deserved, always taking great care to clear All The Ice. 4/

The scraper was too heavy to lift too far, but little lifts were all it took to shatter the ice. They'd leave the shards and then someone else would come by later in the day and shovel them all into the street, where they would either melt or get plowed or shoveled into a truck. 3/

They would come out in brigades in long coats and fur hats and heavy boots and move slowly down a block, lifting the scrapers maybe two inches every time, and dropping them on their blades, breaking ice that was sometimes five inches thick. Lift and drop, lift and drop. 2/

Something I think about all the time is when I was living in SPb, Russia, there were these armies of old women -- most of them Blockade survivors -- whose job was would clear ice from sidewalks with large cast iron scrapers. Basically shaped like a flooring scraper, but all one piece, and heavy. 1/

It is sooooo fun! That corner was particularly gnarly intermixed with the fun, but highly recommend giving it a try!

A photo taken from ten feet up looking out at an intersection from one corner. Two people stand in front of a totally clear curb ramp with their backs to the camera. One has a red and black flannel shirt that says “end ice” on the back.

Today, I scrambled up to the top of the biggest of our three piles of ice chunks to take a photo of my friends when we finished. Reminded me of scrambling to the top of a much cleaner (and even bigger) corner pile at @wedge.live’s behest some years back.