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Aug. 23rd, 2012 05:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* 230 people died in the fighting in Syria Monday. Among them was a Japanese journalist was killed in the fighting in Aleppo. The sectarian violence has spread to Lebanon with armed clashes between Sunni supporting the Syrian opposition and Alawites supporting Assad. Assad;s refusal to step down is now destabilizing neighbors.
* The Prime minister of Ethiopia has died and it sounds like people are not sure what happens next. He's ruled for 20 years or so and there doesn't seem to be proper provision for replacing him, despite the length of his illness.
* I apologize for not explaining what's going on in South Africa but, but the idea of trying makes me tired. I'll try anyway: South African miners are working in incredibly dangerous conditions and feel that they should make enough in recompense to pay to educate their children. The mine owners disagree, citing drops in platinum prices due to the global economic crisis. Two competing unions moved in, one favoring more aggressive tactics than the other. There has been fighting between the unions as well as the police massacre I already mentioned. Mine owners said they'd fire everyone who doesn't go back to work by the deadline, but this wouldn't allow them time to attend the funerals. International pressure looks to have convinced the mine owners to wait until after the funerals to start firing people for Unionizing. The South African Council of Churches has talked the management into negotiating, something they originally weren't willing to do. The messy thing going on under the surface is there's a whole bunch of baggage left over from Apartheid, and images from the massacre remind people of that making the whole thing way more intense than even a deadly labour dispute would normally be. I'm not anything close to a South Africa expert and don't feel competent to touch the nuances.
* Russia has joined the WTO.
* There is a tropical storm about to hit Haiti, where people are still living in tents after the earthquake two years ago. Fingers crossed for it not becoming a hurricane.
* This year's West Nile risk is particularly bad, with 42 dead so far, mostly because the weather favors mosquitoes. Those with immune suppression are most at risk.
* Chavis Carter's shooting death in custody has been ruled a suicide. I suspect I'm not the only one who still has questions.
* Because Texas has made health care incredibly hard for women who are not wealthy to get access to heath care, some apalling things are happening. We are on our way bck to the days of the coat hangers:
* Rachel Maddow explains a hilarious thing going on politically in my state:
* "Being the Only One in the Room:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/08/being-only-one-in-room.html
* Greenwick was over today, and there were car issues (my fault), so I was basically disconnected all evening. As a result, I'm way behind on everything, especially added to two days of connection issues. The computer thing got sorted today, BTW. Also, my watch band broke, yet another unbudgeted expense. Mache went in way early, and I thought it was about all the disruptions lately, but when I called them for goosh, I discovered she's limping. She doesn't want to put weight on the right forepaw, and it looks line she lost another claw. She ate, drank, and used the box once I found her and carried her to the feeding station. I gave her a long pettin and there is no sign of fever. I'm going to keep close watch, spoil her rotten, and hope she heals quickly like she did last time.
* Dayum: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2012/08/22/some-alone-time/
* The Prime minister of Ethiopia has died and it sounds like people are not sure what happens next. He's ruled for 20 years or so and there doesn't seem to be proper provision for replacing him, despite the length of his illness.
* I apologize for not explaining what's going on in South Africa but, but the idea of trying makes me tired. I'll try anyway: South African miners are working in incredibly dangerous conditions and feel that they should make enough in recompense to pay to educate their children. The mine owners disagree, citing drops in platinum prices due to the global economic crisis. Two competing unions moved in, one favoring more aggressive tactics than the other. There has been fighting between the unions as well as the police massacre I already mentioned. Mine owners said they'd fire everyone who doesn't go back to work by the deadline, but this wouldn't allow them time to attend the funerals. International pressure looks to have convinced the mine owners to wait until after the funerals to start firing people for Unionizing. The South African Council of Churches has talked the management into negotiating, something they originally weren't willing to do. The messy thing going on under the surface is there's a whole bunch of baggage left over from Apartheid, and images from the massacre remind people of that making the whole thing way more intense than even a deadly labour dispute would normally be. I'm not anything close to a South Africa expert and don't feel competent to touch the nuances.
* Russia has joined the WTO.
* There is a tropical storm about to hit Haiti, where people are still living in tents after the earthquake two years ago. Fingers crossed for it not becoming a hurricane.
* This year's West Nile risk is particularly bad, with 42 dead so far, mostly because the weather favors mosquitoes. Those with immune suppression are most at risk.
* Chavis Carter's shooting death in custody has been ruled a suicide. I suspect I'm not the only one who still has questions.
* Because Texas has made health care incredibly hard for women who are not wealthy to get access to heath care, some apalling things are happening. We are on our way bck to the days of the coat hangers:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* Rachel Maddow explains a hilarious thing going on politically in my state:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* "Being the Only One in the Room:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/08/being-only-one-in-room.html
* Greenwick was over today, and there were car issues (my fault), so I was basically disconnected all evening. As a result, I'm way behind on everything, especially added to two days of connection issues. The computer thing got sorted today, BTW. Also, my watch band broke, yet another unbudgeted expense. Mache went in way early, and I thought it was about all the disruptions lately, but when I called them for goosh, I discovered she's limping. She doesn't want to put weight on the right forepaw, and it looks line she lost another claw. She ate, drank, and used the box once I found her and carried her to the feeding station. I gave her a long pettin and there is no sign of fever. I'm going to keep close watch, spoil her rotten, and hope she heals quickly like she did last time.
* Dayum: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2012/08/22/some-alone-time/