A mountain of debt at the voting rights organization of Stacey Abrams has resuIted in dozens of layoffs as the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and election denier struggles to keep her pet project afloat. News of Abrams’ plight, first reported by the Atlanta Constitution-Journal, comes as Fair Fight, founded in the wake of her 2018 loss, faces a restructuring of its $2.5 million in debt. Finance records indicate Fair Fight has just $1.9 million in cash on hand.
Lauren Groh-Wargo, a top aide to Abrams during her second run for governor in 2021, said in an interview she will be returning to manage the cuts, which amount to between 25 and 75 percent of all staff.
The Iayoffs, approved by the group’s board, will decimate a liberal organization that arguably delivered two U.S. Senate seats for Democrats and helped President Joe Biden narrowly win Georgia in 2020. Fair Fight has raised more than $100 million since its inception.
Much of the group’s financial bIeed can be attributed to protracted legal battles. After True the Vote, a conservative voter organization, attempted in 2020 to throw out 250,000 voter registrations, Fair Fight pursued a court battle for more than three years.
Last week a federal court ruled against Fair Fight. A second case against the state of Georgia over absentee ballot restrictions resulted in a Ioss and an order to pay the state back $231,000 in legal costs.
The Hidden Helpers of Communication: Insulators
Have you ever looked at a telephone pole and noticed those glass or porcelain pieces on top? They might look like just decorations, but they actually have an important job in communication. These helpful items are called insulators, and they help keep our electrical wires safe and our phone calls clear.
Safeguarding the Flow of Electricity
Insulators have a key job: they stop electrical wires from touching the pole or the ground. Imagine trying to make a long-distance call, and your voice suddenly cuts out after a little while. That wouldn’t be fun, right? Insulators make sure all the electricity stays in the wires so our important phone calls can keep going without any problems.
The Variety of Insulators
These simple objects come in many different styles and colors. While a lot of the older insulators were made from glass or porcelain, some were made from wood and glass, and even animal parts! You’d be surprised at some of the unusual materials used. The size of the insulator is important too. Smaller ones are used for telephone and telegraph wires, while larger ones are made for high-voltage electrical wires. It’s like having a special section for insulators based on how much voltage they can handle!
Keeping Voltage in Check
When it comes to power lines, the voltage affects how big the insulator needs to be. Electricity can be a bit tricky and might try to jump across a distance. That’s where the design of insulators helps out. Insulators with wide “umbrella” shapes and large lower parts act like careful bouncers at a nightclub, keeping the wires away from the pole and stopping any accidents from happening.
A Surprising Hobby
Believe it or not, collecting insulators is a popular hobby! This started becoming popular in the 1960s when utility companies began burying their wires, leaving a lot of old insulators behind. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. People who collect insulators come from all different backgrounds. Some like these glass pieces for how they look and use them to decorate windowsills and gardens, adding a bit of shine to their space. Others look for specific types of insulators. Prices can vary a lot; you might find one for less than a dollar or even get one for free at flea markets!
A Historical Touch
Most insulators that collectors have are between 70 and 145 years old, and some types haven’t been made since the early 1900s. Anything that’s old and no longer being produced often becomes collectible, and insulators are no different. They hold a piece of history and connect us to a time when communication was just starting to grow.
Appreciating the Role of Insulators
The next time you see one of those interesting glass or porcelain insulators on a telephone pole, take a moment to appreciate how important they’ve been in the history of communication. They might seem like old items, but they’ve made a lasting impact on how we connect with each other, whether through a phone call or a quick text message. Who knows? You might even feel inspired to start your own collection and join the many people who find beauty and history in these simple artifacts!
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