This week’s #SundayScientistShoutout is Betty Reid Soskin (born 1921)!

Soskin is a ranger with the @NationalParkService and at the age of 99, she is still serving as a ranger.

The oldest ranger to ever work as a National Park Ranger!

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Soskin was born in Detroit to Lousisanna Natives with Creole and Cajun backgrounds.

She spent her early childhood in New Orleans, LA until a hurricane/flood caused them to move to Oakland, CA.

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During WWII, Soskin worked as a clerk for Boilermakers Union A-36, a Jim Crow all-black union auxiliary where she assisted Black American workers who had to move frequently.

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After this, Soskin and her husband (Mel Reid) started a small black-owned business (Reid's Records) specializing in Gospel music before moving to Walnut Creek, CA, in the 1950s so their children could attend better schools.

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In Walnut Creek, they were faced with racism after moving into a white suburb

This lead Soskin to became an active member of the Black Caucus of the Unitarian Universalist Assoc. - becoming a songwriter in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s

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Soskin also served as a rep for CA State Assemblywomen Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock, where she aided in the early planning stages and development of a park to memorialize women’s role on the Home Front during World War II.

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Soskin’s work lead to the formation of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park was established in 2000 to create a place for people to remember the contributions women made towards WWII efforts.

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Soskin’s increased involvement with this process lead her to become a park ranger for @NatlParkService in her 80s!

She regularly conducts park tours and serves as an interpreter to visitors, explaining its history, sites, and museum collections.

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Soskin has received many awards over her on-going career as an activist and ranger, including

CA Woman of the Year - 1995
Builders of Communities & Dreams by National Women’s History Project - 2006

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https://t.co/FVJeY1MWIs
Soskin also received

WAVE award for "Women of Achievement" -2010
National WWII Museum Silver Service Medallion -2016
Robin W. Winks Award For Enhancing Public Understanding of National Parks - 2018

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Soskin also received congressional recognition from Mark DeSaulnier in 2020.

She also released a memoir entitled “Sign My Name to Freedom” in 2018.

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Park Ranger Soskin has said (commenting on her life in 2015 at the age of 93)

"Wish I'd had [the] confidence when the young Betty needed it to navigate through the hazards of everyday life on the planet. But maybe…”

[continued]
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#SundayScientistShoutout
“...I'm better able to benefit from having it now – when I have the maturity to value, it and the audacity to wield it for those things held dear."

Another inspiring and motivating #SundayScientistShoutout!

(13/n)
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1) राजा पाण्डु को ऋषि किन्दम का श्राप

एकबार महाराज पाण्डु शिकार खेलने वन गए।झाडियों के पीछे कुछ हिल रहा था। मृग है सोचकर राजा ने बाण चलाया जो जाकर ऋषि किन्दम और उनकी पत्नी को लगा।वे दोनो रति-क्रीड़ा में लिप्त थे।

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..स्वयं अपनी रानियों कुंती व माद्री के साथ वन चले गए।पांडवों का जन्म भी कुंती को ऋषि दुर्वासा द्वारा दिए गए मंत्र से हुआ था जिसमे किसी भी देव का स्मरण कर उस देव से कुंती,पुत्र प्राप्त कर सकती थी।एक बार माद्री पे मोहित हो जब पांडु ने उसे स्पर्श किया,उसी क्षण पांडु की मृत्यु होगयी।


2) उर्वशी का अर्जुन को श्राप

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Fake chats claiming to be from the Irish African community are being disseminated by the far right in order to suggest that violence is imminent from #BLM supporters. This is straight out of the QAnon and Proud Boys playbook. Spread the word. Protest safely. #georgenkencho


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Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.


Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.


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