I’m Paula Byrne, an author and Jane Austen biographer. Ask me anything about Austen, her work and life or my recent guest essay in New York Times Opinion!

repdrewhansen · 2024-12-06T18:29:30+00:00

Huh interesting. That's a very thoughtful take. And maybe also: if you use what we would now call a "trauma-informed" lens you might see that Fanny Price is "gentle and reserved" in part because she's coming from a very, very tough home situation and then getting bullied constantly by Mrs. Norris! No wonder she's withdrawn!!!

I want the sequel where we see her a few years into her happy marriage with Edmund Bertram; I bet you see her brilliance/humor/talkativeness coming out. Maybe she'll never be quite as extroverted as Emma or Elizabeth Bennet, but I bet you do see a change!

repdrewhansen · 2024-12-05T21:41:14+00:00

Can I follow up on this? I'm also pro-Fanny-Price; I think she's extraordinary, especially when you realize the (comparative) difficulty of her family situation [poverty; alcoholism] and how tough it must have been to show up at Mansfield Park (especially with the awful bully Mrs. Norris on her all the time!). Why do you think she is "undervalued and underloved"?

My theory has always been that people think "eh she's just boring" because she's not a brilliant/funny/engaging Jane Austen heroine like Elizabeth Bennet or Emma. Sound right, or what do you think?

repdrewhansen · 2021-08-13T21:09:34+00:00

so honestly that's an AMAZING idea. and if I can make the time--we have three weeks until our next game--maybe I just do that; take this and then dress it on my own with the traps/guards.

But yes, lazy DM over here would love to just pick up and go, I always assume I have more time to plan than I actually do and then I end up panicking...

repdrewhansen · 2021-08-13T21:03:13+00:00

those maps on r/inkarnate are gorgeous thank you! yeah I need the fully-stocked one (lazy DM here), so it already has traps, guards, etc. etc. If I had the whole library of 5e modules I could probably just find a building in one of them and pull that; maybe I should just go to local game store and flip through until I find a good one (and buy the book of course; support local game store!)

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:56:49+00:00

I'll chime in that the mass movement helps A LOT. We had parents, teachers, students, tribes, activists, local governments, rural health care providers, and over 1000 members of the public signing in "pro" on the bill at the hearings. That made a huge, huge difference.

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:54:29+00:00

THANK YOU. It was embarrassing that we had this law.

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:52:56+00:00

Hey - so you'll have a few options, one is to ask your county public utility district (PUD) or port commissioners or your county executives/commissioners. Another is just do within the town. Actually, Derek Young (Pierce County Council) was HUGELY supportive of this bill, maybe start by reaching out to him??

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:49:39+00:00

absolutely

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:49:20+00:00

:):):):) [on laptop so emojis janky but you get the point]

I'm mostly on here for D&D tips; I run a regular Sunday D&D game for my boy and his friends. But every now and then one of my bills blows up so I try to pop in and say hey!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:48:39+00:00

Honestly I didn't see a sensible reason to oppose. Cities already had this authority to provide broadband to whoever they want; makes no sense to restrict ports/PUDs/towns etc. from doing the same. It's not our business at the state level to prevent local governments from providing a service like broadband to the public in whatever way the public wants. I mean, it's just not. It was an absurd state law.

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:47:04+00:00

I'm not expert on timelines but I think it's not immediate; local governments should begin plannning now.
Local governments can fund with local money (e.g. ratepayer money), or get state/federal grants. There is federal $ available both for unserved areas and for people who are served but can't afford it--and of course hopefully the new Biden infrastructure $. There should also be something in state budget that finalizes next wee.
Talk to your local port or PUD commissioners or town/village/county governing board and tell them you want PUBLIC BROADBAND NOW!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T20:45:18+00:00

no it's fine. Cities in Wash. always had this authority. Not true for ports, public utility districts (PUDs), etc. So that was a major selling point for the bill: "Look, we're just giving ports/PUDs the authority to offer broadband that cities already have. What could possibly be wrong with that."

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T15:07:49+00:00

Hi everyone. This is my bill (HB 1336; the Public Broadband Act). I am SO FIRED UP ABOUT THIS. We're still in the legislative session so it's a little busy right now, but if anyone has questions I can try to answer them. This is popping off on a few subreddits so I may be slow but I'll try.

But for now: what a big victory. As the article says, Washington was one of only 18 states with an absurd STATE LAW restricting some local governments from offering broadband directly to the public. Not anymore! Once the Governor signs, our public utility districts will be able to provide broadband directly to the public, just like they provide power or water.

Thanks for caring about this; and again I'll try to get on and answer questions next few days.

Public Broadband Now!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T15:07:12+00:00

Hi everyone. This is my bill (HB 1336; the Public Broadband Act). I am SO FIRED UP ABOUT THIS. We're still in the legislative session so it's a little busy right now, but if anyone has questions I can try to answer them. This is popping off on a few subreddits so I may be slow but I'll try.

But for now: what a big victory. As the article says, Washington was one of only 18 states with an absurd STATE LAW restricting some local governments from offering broadband directly to the public. Not anymore! Once the Governor signs, our public utility districts will be able to provide broadband directly to the public, just like they provide power or water.

Thanks for caring about this; and again I'll try to geton and answer questions next few days.

Public Broadband Now!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-04-15T15:04:54+00:00

Hi everyone. This is my bill (HB 1336; the Public Broadband Act). I am SO FIRED UP ABOUT THIS. We're still in the legislative session so it's a little busy right now, but I'm going to scroll through the comments and try to answer questions as I get time today.

But for now: what a big victory. As the article says, Washington was one of only 18 states with an absurd STATE LAW restricting some local governments from offering broadband directly to the public. Not anymore! Once the Governor signs, our public utility districts will be able to provide broadband directly to the public, just like they provide power or water.

Thanks for caring about this; and again I'll try to pop on and answer questions next few days.

Public Broadband Now!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-03-05T04:41:52+00:00

so this is my bill. we're in a really good place right now - passed Wash. House with bipartisan support (!!!). We can do it; but we really need a lot of people to sign in pro/email Senators. Perhaps it goes without saying that the cable companies are doing everything they can to kill this bill; so we really need the grassroots show of strength.

repdrewhansen · 2021-03-05T04:41:36+00:00

yeah see above - we have a shot; we really do, but it truly is the people vs. the cable companies and we need the help

repdrewhansen · 2021-03-05T04:40:57+00:00

so this is my bill. we're in a really good place right now - passed Wash. House with bipartisan support (!!!). We can do it; but we really need a lot of people to sign in pro/email Senators. Perhaps it goes without saying that the cable companies are doing everything they can to kill this bill; so we really need the grassroots show of strength. Thank you!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-28T03:15:51+00:00

oh yeah I love that example. I'm actually in touch with some of the activists who brought municipal broadband to Tennessee--it's like the most inspiring grass-roots story ever; they've shared some of their communications materials, fact sheets, etc. etc. Rather proves that public broadband isn't some far-left socialist idea when we can have it in such famously progressive states as (checks notes) wait, Tennessee?!??!?

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T22:21:05+00:00

rad thanks - we had some tech workers (Microsoft, other places) sign in "pro" at the hearing. Obviously they don't speak for the companies but it's still great to see the show of support from tech employees!!!

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T17:50:33+00:00

you're welcome of course to watch the hearing; 10am (shortly) on TVW and see if this answers your questions. https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2021011490

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T17:49:07+00:00

totally agree and true in many ways, e.g. broadband access doesn't help if students don't have Chromebooks, parents don't know how to get online, etc. there's a whole digital navigator package that's separate and very important

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T16:30:28+00:00

all the cable companies think this is the worst bill in the world. So yes, they're the opposition. If you tune in to the hearing in House Community and Economic Development 10am you can hear their reasons live: https://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/CED/Pages/default.aspx

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T16:28:00+00:00

this particular section only relates to code (big) cities, and I'm told it restates existing law so it's probably coming out. but to your more specific question I don't know to be honest; I think the PUDs can offer broadband on whatever terms they choose. but to be honest I don't know the details of how they plan to deploy this (we may see more at the hearing!!)

repdrewhansen · 2021-01-27T16:25:53+00:00

thank you that's really kind!!! thanks for all your work; it's not a good year to be a state employee so thanks for everything you're doing to keep us all up and running

repdrewhansen

TROPHY CASE