Whoa. Terrifying. Thanks for sharing that.

(I had this random thought last night that we'd all be safer if someone - long enough ago that folks wouldn't get twigged off about it being inaccurate - had declared Independence Day like February 4th and then it would be generally damper and folks could set off fireworks at like 5pm and call it done.)

They're guessing based on labels on barrels, but admitted they want to test everything because they don't trust that the contents match the labels. It's ugly. They showed some photos - they'd stick the logs inside these huge pressure chambers to force the chemicals into the wood, then pull them out and let them drip dry over the ground. Where people walked through it, tracking it all over the site. That somehow people were complaining for 40 years and the EPA only got allowed on site in Dec 2022 is sobering. (DEQ fined them in 2020, but still, absolutely wild how blatant this was and frankly lacking in any sense of care for their workers or community. And I'm not impressed with the regulatory response. Like how did they not know this was happening?)

All right! I finally made it! For the record, it's taken me consistent attempts and two computers since Friday to create a lemmy account and then log in here. I trust other people are also trying, but it's a heck of a exercise in patience. (I've been on Mastodon since 2017, so not new to the vagaries of the fediverse, but this was seriously testing me.)

Anyway - thank you! Glad to have Eug (and those folks across the river) in the house!

The 5th St Market area is all marked off for Butte to Butte in the morning. It's my first time running it so I don't know how much of a party the finish line is, but there's almost 3000 folks registered, so it could be really fun (I hope it will be!) But also I think it should be wrapping up before noon (but I could be wrong.)

I downloaded Contact as an app and it's helping with the log in issues. Navigation is still a little clunky and I keeping hitting bad gateway errors but it's improving!

Oh that's cool! I'm always partial to hills, so my favorites are Wild Iris, Blanton and Hendricks. Alton Baker and the river paths. Dorris Ranch is a great meander and Mt Pisgah of course. I feel like I'm saying all the obvious things. I'm curious what other people are thinking of.

Verdict - nope, finish "festival" not so fun! I mean it was fine if your idea of a good time is a half banana and some water and lots of sweaty people. Definitely a kindly, supportive atmosphere, but nothing much for spectators. It's funny, with so many people registered and running, you'd think even the ice cream place would be open? Or the chocolate place in the market area, if not any booths or tables. Very weird. Was anything else going on in town today?

That is so cute!! 😍

I don't think we federate with lemmy.world, so I couldn't even see it!

What's weird is that I still can't log in here unless I'm on my ancient laptop. Tablet won't open (I get the login page but it won't take) I've tried clearing the caches. Hopefully the bugs get worked out soon!

It is my in town favorite!

Yeah I didn't want to sound ungrateful but I think I'm definitely spoiled with way more swag and goodies at events like this

I got the Korean Corn which is somehow corn niblets immersed in cheesey goo and spicy deliciousness on sourdough (vegetarian) my partner got a buffalo chicken, I think also on sourdough. We split a cup of watermelon chunks and cucumber soaked in balsamic glaze. I'm not usually a watermelon person but this was so lovely and flavorful.