Book Club Recap
The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want
by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
by Irene Kim
With each passing day, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking over more of our daily lives— from summarizing emails to narrating articles to powering chatbots.
Is AI a boon or a menace? Does it help us streamline tasks and find useful solutions? Or is it bewildering us with misinformation, putting us out of work, and destroying our environment? And who really reaps the benefits of using AI?
About a dozen book club attendees met on May 21 to discuss The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want by linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna. The book discusses the technologies comprising AI, the shortcomings of using it, how companies are marketing AI’s capabilities, and ways we can resist its encroachment on our lives.
Leader Cara Benson kicked off the session by asking everyone for their thoughts on the term “AI.” Reactions included: anger and resentment at the theft of humans’ creativity and labor, fears about job loss and environmental devastation, hope about better medical diagnoses and procedures, and skepticism that AI would be used for the good of humanity rather than to benefit a very few.
Attendees shared stories of friends whose careers had been eroded by AI and acquaintances who suffered from AI psychosis. More than one attendee suggested that AI could be a good servant but a bad master, and that it should be kept on a short leash.
honestslate@honestweight.coop
HWFC’s 50th Anniversary: 1976–2026
for new merch celebrating our 50th: insulated bags, totes, T-shirts, and more.
Reflecting on AI CEOs whose commencement speeches were met with boos from graduating students, one attendee marveled at the speakers’ tone deafness and entitlement.
“AI can be a good servant, but a bad master.”
One person enumerated the broad tasks that AI is currently performing: automating input and facilitating decision making, classification of data, recommendations, transcription, and translation, and text and image generation. Cara mentioned that AI is not really intelligence so much as data manipulation, that it will never develop consciousness.
When one person labeled themselves a Luddite, Cara explained that the original Luddites were not strictly anti-technology; instead, they were fierce protectors of workers’ rights in textile mills in the early 19th century. When mill owners brought in au-
tomated machines that threatened to put weavers out of work, the Luddites pushed back by destroying the machines.
Discussing parallels with the industrial revolution, the group talked about the myth that AI, while eliminating some low-skilled
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2 Honest Slate June 2026
AI: Book Club Recap
continued from page 1 jobs, will make workers’ jobs easier and free them to perform at a higher level. AI may create some jobs, Cara said, but these mainly consist of babysitting and training machines. AI takes in vast amounts of data and requires humans to correct and fact check its output. AI companies are exploiting large numbers of people, primarily on the African continent, as fact checkers who are paid starvation wages and subjected to toxic, graphic, and violent content. As a result, many suffer from PTSD or suicidality.
The group also talked about AI being marketed as “inevitable”: we can’t beat it, so we might as well join it, learn to write good prompts, and fall into line. One attendee observed AI companies are chiefly focused on gaining investors and generating revenues. Others talked about how powerful, rich corporations use AI to exploit marginalized communities.
In addition, the vast majority of information fed to AI’s machine models is biased toward the wealthy and powerful, who are also (and not coincidentally) those best able to use AI.
Attendees talked about the necessity for AI regulation and the challenges of enforcing existing regulations, pointing out that states’ AI regulations have been largely eviscerated by the federal government.
Discussing the possibility of pushing back on AI, the group shared stories of people penalized for giving AI access to confidential data, and offices developing strict limits on how to use AI. One attendee pointed out that most people actually fear AI, contrary to the hype; others gave examples of people protesting the building of data centers in their communities.
The group discussed the seductive convenience of AI and other technologies, such as cell phones, versus the tolls they take on us: higher anxiety and depression, loss of skills and livelihood, theft of intellectual and creative works, and environmental destruction, among others. Attendees agreed that being aware of AI’s limitations and fighting back against its mindless use are two powerful ways to prevent it from eroding our lives. Cara encouraged attendees to resist overusing AI, call out and ridicule AI “slop,” and be vigilant about the shortcomings of AI-generated content.
Spicy Nuts & Seeds
This combination of spices, almonds, and seeds, with the addition of a little honey or maple syrup, will have your taste buds singing. If heat isn’t your thing, reduce the amount of cayenne or omit altogether. The spices are anti-inflammatory; the seeds and almonds are a good source of minerals, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. All ingredients can be found in the bulk section at HW. Toss in a salad, add to sauteed greens, or eat just as they are. Be forewarned, these little gems are highly addictive!
Ingredients:
2 c raw sunflower seeds
2 c raw pumpkin seeds
2 c raw sliced or slivered almonds
1 Tbsp coriander
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp cumin
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1.5 tsp cayenne
2¼ tsp coarse salt
¼ c maple syrup or honey
Directions:
•Preheat oven to 350º.
•Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
•In a small bowl, combine the spices and blend well with fork or small whisk.
•In a large bowl, add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and almonds.
•Add the maple syrup or honey, mixing well to ensure seeds and almonds are coated evenly.
•Add ⅓ of spice mixture at a time, mixing well each time to distribute spices evenly.
•Spread mixture evenly onto prepared baking sheets.
•Bake for ~20’, stirring and flipping nuts every 5’. Time may depend on oven, baking sheets, and preference for doneness. Remove from oven; let cool. Mixture will crisp as it cools.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Can be refrigerated or frozen for longer keeping. —Nina Martinson
Did You Know?
Cooperative Leadership Manager (CLM) Peter Waldmann communicates with staff regularly. Here’s just one example of how employees are kept informed from a recent staff email.
We had a fantastic sales week, with total sales up 8.39% from the previous year. We recorded 13,483 customer transactions, with an average spend of $57.15, representing a +4.59% increase from last year.
NCG provides purchasing power to 237 stores across 40 U.S. states.
Honest Weight Food Cooperative has belonged to National Co+op Grocers (NCG) for over 12 years. NCG is a business services cooperative providing local grocery co-ops with the scale and purchasing power of a large national chain, which helps lower prices for shoppers while preserving each store’s independence and community focus. Currently, NCG has 168 member co-ops operating 237 unique storefronts across 40 states, with a combined annual sales volume exceeding $2.8 billion.
Why is this important? It levels the playing field and enables cooperatives to remain competitive within the grocery landscape. NCG offers several cost-saving benefits, including reduced credit card fees, lower product costs, and lower vendor fees.
In simple terms, when we purchase items like cereal or store supplies, we benefit from the purchasing power of 237 stores. Additionally, NCG provides some of the best retail practices and offers business troubleshooting and guidance as needed.
“We will stand proud and reflect positively.”
We are anticipating a new competitor to enter our market area in August, Costco. We are focusing on doing what we do and highlighting our differences and strengths. More on that in future communications. But for now, and for sure, I know that after 50 years of operations, and with our amazing team, we will stand proud and reflect positively.
Thank you for your continued efforts!
Q & A Q & A SUGGESTION BOX
Suggestion Box answers are provided by our Honest Weight managers and departments.
Q: This is one of my favorite co-ops ever! Our co-op in Buffalo got rid of member time investment and it doesn’t feel as co-op-y at all anymore and this place is amazing. I’m shopping every time we stop here. ♥
A: Thank you very much for the compliment and for taking the time to write.
Q: Chicken Caesar salad in the Deli is soooo good!!
A: Thank you so much. We will let the team know.
Q: No onions/scallions in the rice. Please, no more onions in all the food.
A: We are considering adding plain steamed rice to the hot bar.
Q: Can we please get some more IQ protein bars? I like the peanut butter ones and the almond ones. Thank you.
A: Done! On our order! Thank you.
Q: It would be lovely if some of the quinoa items went back to the white color instead of mixed. It’s a different texture. I don’t buy the mixed stuff. At least switch sometimes. Thank you.
A: In Bulk we have black, white, red, and mixed. We also have it in aisle 1.
i n o a
Q: Please get all Sadaf products.
A: Currently, our distributor does not carry Sadaf products.
Q: I love the gluten-free Saratoga GF cookies (Schuylerville). They are the best GF and it is hard to find good GF cookies anywhere. I come to HW 1–2x a week but these cookies are there so rarely.
A: Thank you for the suggestion. We will look into this.
Q: Heather shrubs. Rio bush too! Mix it up a little.
A: We are unable to add this to our plants selection at this time. Thank you.
Q: Siete chips, Mexican street corn flavor.
A: On the shelf in aisle 2.
Q: Can you get the produce stickers to scan at self checkout? Someone has to help every time they scan and don’t register.
A: You can enter the SCU # at self checkout. We are trying to get them all to scan but the stickers themselves are inconsistent. Have someone show you where to enter the #.
Q: The parking lot is tough to push a cart on! Please fix it.
Q: Please repaint yellow curbs!
A: The budget for repaving and repainting has been approved & will be done very soon.
Q: Please consider providing a second computer for MOs working in SMS files. Now that there’s only one, it can be difficult to find a place to work.
A: This is a rearranging project we are working on.
Q: I would love to buy a new Co-op t-shirt, sweatshirt, or hat!
A: It’s in the works with our new Marketing Department.
Q: Super Great Deal. Messaging: Can it include the word “Member” in front of “discount”? Members are confused.
A: A Super Great Deal is less than your Member discounts. Member discounts do not get included on Super Great Deals. We do not double the discount.
Q: Please carry Nats Rawline raw cakes tiramisu. Delicious! Vegan and gluten-free.
A: We are waiting for a response from the manufacturer.
Q: Nursery should not stock lily of the valley.
A: Nursery manager reports that Members have requested lily of the valley.
Q: Can we get Maggie’s scalloped quarter socks in a large? All the medium ones are teeny tiny!
A: Emily reports that she is unable to order Maggie’s in a size large. They are available directly through Maggie’s.
Q: I was under the impression that the Coop would be getting an audit department so that all products would ring up accurately at the register. Will this still happen? Ever?
A: This is being considered in the 2027 fiscal budget. It would include a scan coordinator responsible for point of purchase signage and data scan integrity.
Q: Zen vegan oat milk puddings. You have chocolate but [previously] had it in rice pudding. I’ve been checking for several months and I haven’t seen the rice pudding since. My suggestion? Get it again! LOL. Thanks.
A: The Deli offers Zen cookies and both chocolate and rice coconut milk puddings. Thank you.
Q: You always run out of chocolate croissants and still have a dozen iced donuts. Can you order another tray of croissants?
A: Thanks so much. Our chocolate crois sants are very popu lar, and although we proof and bake them on site, they are or dered from the Plac id Baker [Troy] and stored in our facility. At this point it is a space issue to store more so we cannot offer.
Q: Hands-free foot door opener for bathroom door.
A: Thanks for the suggestion. This really only works in multi-stall bathrooms. You would still need to use your hands to lock and unlock the door.
Q: One day…in-house homemade pasta? Thanks for considering.
A: Thank you for the suggestion. Currently we do not have space, equipment, or staffing to have this be feasible in the Co-op.
Q: Gutzy apple sauce fortified with vitamins.
A: This is not available from our distributor.
Q: Please bring back maple coconut tofu in the Deli!
A: Thank you for the suggestion, but it will not be back because it was not a great seller.
Honest Slate 4
Board Decisions
At the June 2, 2026, HWFC Board of Directors meeting, the Board:
•Amended the June 2, 2026 Board meeting agenda by changing “discussion” to “discussion/decision” for the last Board work agenda item in section 13, Board Administrative Assistant Job Description.
•Approved May 12, 2026’s Board of Director Meeting minutes as presented.
• Reappointed Jen Barkan as a Member-Owner to the Personnel Committee effective immediately continuing through November 2028.
•Approved Retail Workplace Violence Prevention Policy as presented in the 06-02-26 Board meeting packet for addition to the HWFC Employee Manual.
•Approved the Anti-Racism Committee plan to invite the Underground Railroad Education Center to make a presentation at HWFC, date TBD, and to provide appropriate payment to the presenters using ARC committee funds budgeted in FY2026 for a portion of the presenters’ fee and committee funds budgeted in FY2027 for the remainder of the presenters’ fee and event refreshments.
•Added additional 6pm Board of Directors meeting on June 9, 2026, to hear proposed FY2027 budget presentation and make a de-
Editors & Contributors
Cara Benson
Stephanie Conde
Eva Glassman
Elisa Grimm
Lynn Huntington
Don Kennison
cision on recommending the budget to the Membership for a vote during June 21, 2026’s Regular Membership Meeting.
•Approved the June 21, 2026 Regular Membership Meeting notice as revised during the meeting discussion.
•Approved the following annual Board liaison assignments:
Anti-Racism Committee, Joseph Casan Communications Committee, John van Bladel Elections & Nominations Committee, Chris Johnson
Environment Committee, Asli Koksal Finance Committee, Sandra Goldmeer Honest Arts Committee, Georgia Sullivan Strategic and Long-Range Planning Committee, Chris Johnson
Membership Committee, Sandra Goldmeer Nutrition & Education Committee, Manisha Rane-Fondacaro
Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee, Jammella Anderson Governance Review Council, Yevette Buddeau The Personnel Committee liaison was not decided and is to be determined.
•Appointed Janeen Lopez to the Bylaws Panel to fill the vacant Board appointee seat, with an end date of Oct. 31, 2026.
•Approved the Board of Directors Administrative Assistant job description as presented in the meeting packet.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 pm.
june 2O26
honestslate@honestweight.coop
Contact with questions, comments, ideas.
Submissions Policy
• Maximum article length is ~800 words.
June 2026
Board Meeting Highlights
79 attended with 8 Board Directors present. “Miles to Market”
Watch for signage in Produce showing how many miles items traveled to our store. Vendors are typically paid within 30-45 days, according to CLM Peter Waldmann.
“We want to pay local vendors quicker to keep our money in Albany and circulate it faster,” he stated at June 2’s Board Meeting. Partnering with farmers is one way to support vendors and distinguish our practices from competing area stores--including the expected arrival of a Costco this year.
In the works, pending Board approval: A new olive bar; expanded selection of culinary specialties and hot food offerings; new carts, flooring, website organization, and electronic/IT functions; a new safety position distinct from regular security posts; and lighting for the parking lot!
On hold: Electric vehicle charging is on pause while management revises signage. Currently, EVs may charge free up to 2 hours, after which a $5 per hour fee applies. CDTA is involved with this benefit; stay tuned.
Budget clarity: To make the FY2027 budget completely transparent, management is providing multiple ways for MOs to access, read, review and ask questions about our budget approval. See page 6 for details.
Statement of Purpose:
Honest Slate is a platform for HWFC Membership, Staff, Management, and Governance: promoting transparency, reporting news without bias, and sustaining community.
Irene Kim
Nina Martinson
Carol Ostrow
Karen Roth
Janet Sorell
Peter Waldmann
• Material is published at the discretion of the Honest Slate team.
• Only signed work is accepted. Items are edited for length, grammar, & style.
• We may consider unsolicited material but encourage submitting ideas first.
• Letters to the Editor do not require preapproval.
Honest Slate articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. Opinions expressed in Honest Slate do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Honest Slate or Honest Weight Food Co-op.
All contents ©2026 Honest Weight Food Coop; no material appearing in Honest Slate may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of HWFC.
June 2026
COMMITTEE CORNER
Preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors (BOD) for its June 2, 2026, meeting. See Board Meeting packet for details. Approved reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
by Stephanie Conde
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
∙Subcommittee working on increasing visibility of Black-owned businesses at HWFC is having success moving forward.
∙Interested in including statement about anti-racism in HWFC Mission Statement. Welcomes input from BOD, SLRP, DEI and other committees or individuals about this idea. Suggested adding: Our mission is to actively oppose racism and promote racial equality, resulting in more equitable, participatory, and ecological ways of living.
∙Reviewing and editing Guidelines for Visiting Guests.
∙Invited Paul and Mary Liz Stewart to come to HWFC to discuss their ongoing Underground Railroad Education Center project. They accepted. Pending BOD approval, we’ll follow up with planning.
∙ Tam will meet with each committee. A date has been set with DEI.
∙Received go-ahead for tabling. Dates are set for Sat., June 13 and Tues., June 18, both from 12—1pm. Plan a Listening Table asking, “What would your life be like if racism didn’t exist?” Goal is to simply listen with respect and help folks express themselves on this subject.
∙Requests to BOD. Approve plan to have Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, Underground Railroad Education Center, visit Co-op in fall 2026 to discuss their project and history of racism and anti-racism work in Albany. Approve $2k payment to Underground Railroad Education Center for coming to speak, and approve money for snacks during Underground Railroad event.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (DEIC)
∙Discussed need for more DEI education and trainings. What is DEI? How can we interact with others empathetically and compassionately? The importance of pronouns as presentations of gender identities (practice introducing ourselves with preferred pronoun each time we meet; normalize
what is viewed as abnormal, breaking habituated language use practices). Discussed organizing events to bring people from diverse communities together.
∙Discussed budget for upcoming fiscal year.
∙Working on Strategic and Long-Range Planning Committee (SLRPC) tasks.
∙ Requests BOD provide update on HR Manager’s ongoing DEI training research.
Membership Committee (MC)
∙Noted BOD changed June RMM date from June 28 to June 21.
∙ Membership Comm will postpone planned June RMM presentation of MO Manual style & grammar updates to Membership. Will create more readable, understandable version.
∙Discussed orientations and MO involvement in Co-op. Great meeting of subcommittee Apr. 21. Reviewed function of orientations, current slide set and description used (based on PPT slides in drive) and current slide set used Mar. 9, 2020. Very close match in topic coverage. Claire will do May 4 Zoom orientation with Valerie’s support. Need to establish consistent schedule, agenda, easier notetaking/follow-up.
∙Discussed MO involvement. 50th Anniversary—brainstorm projects/recruit MOs and social or shared activities.
∙Reminded BOD of April 2026 request to consider a potluck 50th celebration / hybrid remote / in-person October RMM, including note that this should probably be decided on by July BOD meeting to give ample planning time.
Nutrition & Education Committee (NEC)
∙Tabling to promote Food and Product Manual (FPM) continued with two May sessions; more scheduled for June 4 and 16, 11:30am–1:30pm.
∙Discussed easier website access to FPM.
∙ Notified Communications Committee they may begin Style-Guide analysis of FPM.
∙Continued work on finalizing language for changes to Section 7 of FPM focusing on fluoride and carrageenan.
∙Reviewed Heavy Metals listings in FPM Section 8.
∙Suggested New Member Orientation include presentation by NEC member.
∙Requested BOD approve having an NEC member present FPM at New Member Orientations.
Elections & Nominations Committee (ENC)
∙Provided BOD meeting updates, info on recently-elected BOD officers, and status of ENC’s April requests of BOD.
∙Discussed ways to make BOD recruitment more welcoming and less intimidating. Encouraging more candidates by emphasizing support available to new BOD members and reducing perceived barriers to participation. Providing greater clarity on BOD responsibilities, including conflict of interest and recusal expectations. Holding another governance gathering to collect feedback from current and former BOD members, better communicating BOD experience, and attracting prospective candidates.
∙Discussed April RMM. Positive outcomes: ballots and approvals were completed early; hybrid Meet-the-Candidates (MTC) sessions were beneficial and increased accessibility; and the governance gathering was viewed as worthwhile and worth expanding. Opportunities for improvement include: increase standalone publicity efforts rather than relying primarily on inclusion in broader email communications (fully staffed marketing team may help support); address recurring Survey Monkey product update issues affecting data filtering and vote analysis; and further emphasize and promote the importance of MTC sessions.
∙Had ENC budget discussion to inform Finance Committee. Discussed budget needs and agreed it may be worthwhile to explore Membership survey regarding BOD participation, potentially engaging the resource that assisted ENC in 2019 with survey development and analysis.
Governance Review Council (GRC)
∙Approved April GRC minutes.
∙Made report on May 12 BOD meeting.
∙Prepared for upcoming April RMM. Reviewed project to compile HWFC documents in one place and input into SLRP. Discussed concerns about budget development process, impact on store buyers of changes in FPM, and definition of “supervisor” in context of service on BOD.
Environment Committee (EC)
Discussed hosting another Zero Waste film screening; considering showing The Plastic Detox in fall 2026 .
∙ Compiling a plastics report for review by committee co-chairs and the Board.
6 Honest Slate
memBer-owner
Greetings Honest Weight Community,
In May, we held 3 orientations, welcoming 33 new Owners and bringing our Co-op’s Ownership to 11,981 as of 5/31/2026. 976 of these folks are currently Member-Owners and have earned the right to vote at the Membership Meeting on June 21, when we will approve our annual budget.
Our Grocery Department has reorganized to handle “cool” products in a separate Department! Not cool in the sense of awesomeness (as that applies to all HWFC’s products) but meaning foods needing refrigeration. The Chill Department (Chill, frozen and bread) is listed separately for the first time in the budget column.
Co-op governance can be a bit of a mystery
but there is no doubt that Member-Owner participation in governance is a key to our Co-op’s culture and future! Our “Committees of the Board” make recommendations to the Board of Directors and are essential to helping the Board do its work. Most committees are seeking new members; you can receive hours for visiting a committee to see if their work fits your skills and interests. Please visit our committee page to learn about the purpose, work, meeting times and find contacts for each committee.
Thanks for all you do to support this community and thanks for reading Honest Slate!
Karen and Valerie, your Member Services Team
HWFC Regular Membership Meeting
Sunday, June 21, 2026, 6pm (to be conducted remotely)
The meeting agenda will be available at the customer service desk at least 10 days prior to the meeting and on HWFC’s website at https://www.honestweight.coop/page/member-owner-meetings-22.html. Instructions to participate remotely by phone or online are posted on HWFC’s Member-Owner meeting webpage at https://www.honestweight.coop/ page/member-owner-meetings-22.html.
4–6pm Check-in • 6–8pm Membership Meeting Agenda:
Member-Owners: “We’re thankful for the Co-op because...”
Open Discussion................................................................................................
Operations and Marketing Update: presentation ............................................
Governance Review Council (GRC) Update: presentation ................................
Strategic & Long-Range Planning (SLRP) Committee Update: presentation
Anti-Racism Committee Update: presentation
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Update: presentation
Financial Update: FY 2027 Annual Budget: Presentation, Q&A, and Vote........45’ Open Discussion................................................................................................
June 19 and 6–7pm Thursday, June 11 • Thursday, June 18 in the Conference Room and via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81073676905
MOs may also review the budget independently on these dates from 10am-12pm and 1–3pm in the Conference Room. Staff and Member-Owners are welcome to attend.
Take-Home Self Review: Upon request, MOs and staff can “check out” a paper copy of the budget for personal review. Attestation forms and budget copies will be available in the Conference Room and at the customer service desk.
Are you an MO planning to invest a lot of time during the summer to bank for the rest of the year?
Empire State Plaza (Food Court)
Seeking Member-Owners for fixed weekly commitments at the Empire State Plaza Cafe. Lots of tourists and NYS employees order food here—perfect for personable people who also want to enjoy the Empire State Plaza during the summer! Weekday afternoon shifts available. Email: JesseFrayne@ honestweight.coop
Food Services
Help customers discover new favorites by offering samples of featured items, sharing product details and allergen information, and creating a welcoming experience for shoppers. Email: Danh@honestweight.coop
Front End
Seeking new Member-Owners to invest time as cashiers. Running a register is fast-paced and 100% customer-facing, and we have so much fun in the Front End! A weekly shift is required for proficiency. Many shifts available including weekdays and weekends, both during daytime and evenings. Email MorgaenHansen@honestweight.coop to learn more and schedule a first shift!
Grocery
Seeking MOs for receiving assistant shifts. You will also be trained to download invoices from UNFI, post credits, answer the door, and separate UPS deliveries. Shifts are on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30–11:30am. Email georgia.sullivan@honestweight.coop and tom@honestweight.coop
Meat Department
Seeking Member-Owners to provide customer service and wrap meat & fish. Experience preferred! Weekday evening shifts available. Email: DylanGuerrette@honestweight.coop
Chill Department
Seeking weekly MOs for a chill break from the heat who pay attention to detail and like to make things look neat for refrigerated and freezer stocking. Morning and afternoon shifts are available weekdays and weekends. Email: ChristianSchider@honestweight.coop