(no subject)

* They took the Compound in Tripoli, but Gaddafi and Saif are still at large. Sporadic fighting continues within the Libyan capital. The bulk of remaining government forces have fallen back to Gaddafi's home town.

* Libyan government forces were holding about 30 reporters and support personel prisoner in their hotel when I wrote this. No guarantee it's still true when you read it.

* There was a 5.8 earthquake on the east coast, centered on Northern Virginia, the worst on the east coast in 67 years, but don't worry, the Republicans want to defund earthquake preparedness and early warning systems. After all, earthquakes don't effect "real Americans," right? Luckily both nuclear reactors closest to the epicenter offline. Although one of the back up diesel generators didn't kick on, a meltdown was avoided. Luckily the reactor near NYC that should have been decommissioned twenty years ago and is dangerously close to the city didn't melt down down. We are incredibly lucky, really.

* My Mom was far enough north that the earthquake was more adventure than scary. I talked her through what to do in case there is a more serious one in her area as well as some generalized disaster planning. Basically, she's hosed if she's without electricity for more than a day, as that's how long it is before her oxygen dissipates out of the tank. She's already got a hospital go bag for medical emergencies, with books, a change of clothes, and meds. She's already planning to shelter in place through immediate disaster, then move out to her car when things settle down, as she can run some of her equipment off the motor there, then move out of the disaster zone when it's safe to do so in the car, again, because she can not go without her equipment. She's kept emergency food, water, and blankets in her car since forever. We're both well aware, that a blizzard or hurricane could kill her if she looses power and can't get out of the area to somewhere that's not hit. She is so fragile these days, it's scary really.

* I did everything I can do as far as bureaucracy and errands. I can only hope the paper I need will come in the mail tomorrow. I even got a new string for my cinnabar dragon. I bought it back when I was an undergrad in Eugene, though I'm not sure which year, so the black trimming thingie I got out of the notions section of a fabric store is between 16 and 19 years old. It gave way over the weekend. The new one is not as nice, because they did not have the right kind of trim in black, but it's strong and serviceable. I have hopes of another 15 plus years.

* I see Bachmnann is still out claiming gas will magically drop to $2.00 a gallon with no actual plan to make it so and no signs that she understands the Economic and Geo-political forces that effect the price in the real world.

* I see Republicans in general are out lying that 40-50% of Americans pay no taxes. The actual number is 18%, most of whom are elderly or disabled. Even the poorest of the poor pay FICA. they contribute proportionally more of their income to social security than the middle class do. Middle class folks pay the highest rates of course, while the rich pay the smallest percentage of their income.

Republicans are still demanding we increase the tax burden of the poor to, you guessed, give even bigger tax breaks to the rich as part of their platform for the next election. After all, what is fairer than taking even more from those that have the least to give even more to those who have the most and contribute the smallest percentage of their income on average, right?

Equalizing the tax burden is not class warfare against the rich: failing to equalize it, nay making it worse is class warfare by the wealthy against everyone else.

* Moody's has downgraded Japan, which is rather expected due to the earthquake and financial events over there. There is talk of a small business stimulus, which frankly makes a lot more sense than what we are doing over here right now.

* They are studying paint to see if they can stop the degradation of Van Gogh's yellows: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i08/8908scene4.html

* Bio-warfare in the revolutionary War: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/08/george-washington-biowarrior.html

* On the burning of a 15th century converso: http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=234415

* On the Pendle Witch Trial: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14490790

* "Ancient Egyptians believed in coiffure after death:" http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20809-ancient-egyptians-believed-in-coiffure-after-death.html

The tone of this article is a little strange as we do the same thing only with hairspray and the like.

* Apparently Roman Fashion was more complex than is generally described: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,781214,00.html

There's some weird gender policing towards the end, but otherwise interesting.

* They found an interesting bog body in Ireland: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/3000-year-old-bog-body-is-likely-sacrificed-Irish-king-127898048.html

* A new study of the Great Pestilence in London: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/17/black-death-rats-off-hook

* Perfume from the Mary Celestia: http://bernews.com/2011/08/150-yr-old-perfume-found-in-shipwreck/

* "For sale in Sweden: Three-bed house, includes skeleton:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14566625

* And it was at this point my eyes started to cross. I've been going short of sleep and it shows. If it's important, PM or email and I'll get back to you.

(no subject)

* They took the Compound in Tripoli, but Gaddafi and Saif are still at large. Sporadic fighting continues within the Libyan capital. The bulk of remaining government forces have fallen back to Gaddafi's home town.

* Libyan government forces were holding about 30 reporters and support personel prisoner in their hotel when I wrote this. No guarantee it's still true when you read it.

* There was a 5.8 earthquake on the east coast, centered on Northern Virginia, the worst on the east coast in 67 years, but don't worry, the Republicans want to defund earthquake preparedness and early warning systems. After all, earthquakes don't effect "real Americans," right? Luckily both nuclear reactors closest to the epicenter offline. Although one of the back up diesel generators didn't kick on, a meltdown was avoided. Luckily the reactor near NYC that should have been decommissioned twenty years ago and is dangerously close to the city didn't melt down down. We are incredibly lucky, really.

* My Mom was far enough north that the earthquake was more adventure than scary. I talked her through what to do in case there is a more serious one in her area as well as some generalized disaster planning. Basically, she's hosed if she's without electricity for more than a day, as that's how long it is before her oxygen dissipates out of the tank. She's already got a hospital go bag for medical emergencies, with books, a change of clothes, and meds. She's already planning to shelter in place through immediate disaster, then move out to her car when things settle down, as she can run some of her equipment off the motor there, then move out of the disaster zone when it's safe to do so in the car, again, because she can not go without her equipment. She's kept emergency food, water, and blankets in her car since forever. We're both well aware, that a blizzard or hurricane could kill her if she looses power and can't get out of the area to somewhere that's not hit. She is so fragile these days, it's scary really.

* I did everything I can do as far as bureaucracy and errands. I can only hope the paper I need will come in the mail tomorrow. I even got a new string for my cinnabar dragon. I bought it back when I was an undergrad in Eugene, though I'm not sure which year, so the black trimming thingie I got out of the notions section of a fabric store is between 16 and 19 years old. It gave way over the weekend. The new one is not as nice, because they did not have the right kind of trim in black, but it's strong and serviceable. I have hopes of another 15 plus years.

* I see Bachmnann is still out claiming gas will magically drop to $2.00 a gallon with no actual plan to make it so and no signs that she understands the Economic and Geo-political forces that effect the price in the real world.

* I see Republicans in general are out lying that 40-50% of Americans pay no taxes. The actual number is 18%, most of whom are elderly or disabled. Even the poorest of the poor pay FICA. they contribute proportionally more of their income to social security than the middle class do. Middle class folks pay the highest rates of course, while the rich pay the smallest percentage of their income.

Republicans are still demanding we increase the tax burden of the poor to, you guessed, give even bigger tax breaks to the rich as part of their platform for the next election. After all, what is fairer than taking even more from those that have the least to give even more to those who have the most and contribute the smallest percentage of their income on average, right?

Equalizing the tax burden is not class warfare against the rich: failing to equalize it, nay making it worse is class warfare by the wealthy against everyone else.

* Moody's has downgraded Japan, which is rather expected due to the earthquake and financial events over there. There is talk of a small business stimulus, which frankly makes a lot more sense than what we are doing over here right now.

* They are studying paint to see if they can stop the degradation of Van Gogh's yellows: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i08/8908scene4.html

* Bio-warfare in the revolutionary War: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/08/george-washington-biowarrior.html

* On the burning of a 15th century converso: http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Judaism/Article.aspx?id=234415

* On the Pendle Witch Trial: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14490790

* "Ancient Egyptians believed in coiffure after death:" http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20809-ancient-egyptians-believed-in-coiffure-after-death.html

The tone of this article is a little strange as we do the same thing only with hairspray and the like.

* Apparently Roman Fashion was more complex than is generally described: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,781214,00.html

There's some weird gender policing towards the end, but otherwise interesting.

* They found an interesting bog body in Ireland: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/3000-year-old-bog-body-is-likely-sacrificed-Irish-king-127898048.html

* A new study of the Great Pestilence in London: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/17/black-death-rats-off-hook

* Perfume from the Mary Celestia: http://bernews.com/2011/08/150-yr-old-perfume-found-in-shipwreck/

* "For sale in Sweden: Three-bed house, includes skeleton:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14566625

* And it was at this point my eyes started to cross. I've been going short of sleep and it shows. If it's important, PM or email and I'll get back to you.

(no subject)

This just in from the BBC: There is weapons fire where Gaddafi's forces are holding 30-40 reporters and support personnel without food. There are a couple international diplomats being held there also it sounds like. There is serious worry about the safety of the hostages.

(no subject)

* The reporters being held by Gaddafi's forces have been freed and are as safe as can reasonably expected given they are still in Tripoli.

* Gaddafi Loyalists are randomly shooting at civilians in Tripoli and other areas with pockets odff resistance. Loyalists have also taken four journalists hostage.

* Greenwick and I discuss Libya and Syria related stuff over here: http://gwyd.livejournal.com/1159157.html?view=2270453#t2270453

* I will let you know when/if they catch Gaddafi and Saif.

* There is rather a scramble on to secure radioactive isotopes, chemical weapons, and shoulder mounted surface to air missiles in Libya, as they would sell well on the black market. There's been reasonable success locking down the first two, but only a tiny fraction of shoulder mounted units have been recovered, which is a matter for serious concern.

* Remember how I've been saying they should treat banks that use robo-signing to steal houses to which they are not entitled as a Rico case? After all the value of the houses puts it well over the felony bar and Bank of America and others are acting as a huge criminal enterprise involved in large scale theft and breaking and entering. If the mafia did something like this, they'd be facing criminal charges. Instead, they are negotiating for impunity in exchange for a lump sum unlikely to cover all the people who've been harmed. Instead of jail terms and fair payment plus damages, those in charge of criminal enterprises such as bank of America are getting of scot free in exchange for one term's worth of profits. One of the attorney's general standing in the way of this deal has been dismissed for not be favorable enough to the interests of the banks, which are the only people that matter, after all. I mean, so what if a whole lot of middle class Americans had their houses stolen, we wouldn't want to force the banks to follow the law, right?

* My paperwork did not come, but a little package from tibicina did.

* After the cleaning, the water in the pool is always startlingly soft. Not very buoyant without the salt and mineral build up, but a treat to move one's limbs through. The pool was almost deserted today, and by the time I was done, I was literally the only person in the big pool. There was one kid in the diving pool and two in the kiddie pool. It was just weird for it to be so quiet and empty, especially after Monday's crowding. The young man I'd written about and his smoking hot aid were in the hot tub, along with one of those old couples that have come to look like each other. They didn't touch often, but when they did, you could see that they still loved each other so much. It was touching. By the time I finished my physio, I was alone, and the total number of swimmers was down to two in the kiddie pool, as the team that came after was still having orientation.

When I came out, I discovered m and his aid still parked out front, the aid doing hydration in an agitated manner. I was startled and asked if everything was okay. It turned out the swing shift aid was 40 minutes late and the cute aid had left his phone at a friend's place. the friend was at work, the numbers were in the phone. We tried and failed to come up with a strategy, then I let the man vent for a while. It didn't feel right to abandon them, even though there was nothing much to be done. Eventually Swing showed up, and I took off. I was good, gentle readers, I did not flirt, as the aid is way too young for me. Nothing wrong with looking though.

* This does an excellent job of putting into words the problems and concerns I'm having with True Blood and why I no longer give a fiddler's fart about what happens to Sookie any more. I've been having trouble writing about this stuff which is why I have so little to say this season. It's pretty much all spoilers, so do read if you haven't seen last Sunday's episode: http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2011/08/true-blood-nobody-leaves.html

* My connection is acting up, so I may be slow/minimally available this evening.

(no subject)

* The reporters being held by Gaddafi's forces have been freed and are as safe as can reasonably expected given they are still in Tripoli.

* Gaddafi Loyalists are randomly shooting at civilians in Tripoli and other areas with pockets odff resistance. Loyalists have also taken four journalists hostage.

* Greenwick and I discuss Libya and Syria related stuff over here: http://gwyd.livejournal.com/1159157.html?view=2270453#t2270453

* I will let you know when/if they catch Gaddafi and Saif.

* There is rather a scramble on to secure radioactive isotopes, chemical weapons, and shoulder mounted surface to air missiles in Libya, as they would sell well on the black market. There's been reasonable success locking down the first two, but only a tiny fraction of shoulder mounted units have been recovered, which is a matter for serious concern.

* Remember how I've been saying they should treat banks that use robo-signing to steal houses to which they are not entitled as a Rico case? After all the value of the houses puts it well over the felony bar and Bank of America and others are acting as a huge criminal enterprise involved in large scale theft and breaking and entering. If the mafia did something like this, they'd be facing criminal charges. Instead, they are negotiating for impunity in exchange for a lump sum unlikely to cover all the people who've been harmed. Instead of jail terms and fair payment plus damages, those in charge of criminal enterprises such as bank of America are getting of scot free in exchange for one term's worth of profits. One of the attorney's general standing in the way of this deal has been dismissed for not be favorable enough to the interests of the banks, which are the only people that matter, after all. I mean, so what if a whole lot of middle class Americans had their houses stolen, we wouldn't want to force the banks to follow the law, right?

* My paperwork did not come, but a little package from tibicina did.

* After the cleaning, the water in the pool is always startlingly soft. Not very buoyant without the salt and mineral build up, but a treat to move one's limbs through. The pool was almost deserted today, and by the time I was done, I was literally the only person in the big pool. There was one kid in the diving pool and two in the kiddie pool. It was just weird for it to be so quiet and empty, especially after Monday's crowding. The young man I'd written about and his smoking hot aid were in the hot tub, along with one of those old couples that have come to look like each other. They didn't touch often, but when they did, you could see that they still loved each other so much. It was touching. By the time I finished my physio, I was alone, and the total number of swimmers was down to two in the kiddie pool, as the team that came after was still having orientation.

When I came out, I discovered m and his aid still parked out front, the aid doing hydration in an agitated manner. I was startled and asked if everything was okay. It turned out the swing shift aid was 40 minutes late and the cute aid had left his phone at a friend's place. the friend was at work, the numbers were in the phone. We tried and failed to come up with a strategy, then I let the man vent for a while. It didn't feel right to abandon them, even though there was nothing much to be done. Eventually Swing showed up, and I took off. I was good, gentle readers, I did not flirt, as the aid is way too young for me. Nothing wrong with looking though.

* This does an excellent job of putting into words the problems and concerns I'm having with True Blood and why I no longer give a fiddler's fart about what happens to Sookie any more. I've been having trouble writing about this stuff which is why I have so little to say this season. It's pretty much all spoilers, so do read if you haven't seen last Sunday's episode: http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2011/08/true-blood-nobody-leaves.html

* My connection is acting up, so I may be slow/minimally available this evening.

Help East Africa post

Originally posted by poetic_pixie_13 at Help East Africa post

The current drought in the Horn of Africa is the worst in 60 years. Between 11 and 13 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Tens of thousands of people walk for days headed to refugee camps only to die of thirst and hunger. Mothers have to choose which of their children will live, babies are born only to be left to die, women are at higher risk for sexual assault, and the instability of the famine only exacerbates existing political tensions and violence. To make matters worse there's no rain forecast until September, leaving millions of people hanging on for dear life.

I know that a lot of us might not have the financial ability to donate but please, please donate if you can, bbs. Every little bit helps. To my Canadian bbs, every dollar we donate will be matched by the government until September 16th.

( Donating Online )

( Text Donations )

( Extra Info )

Feel free to link the shit out of this post. Any suggestions or updates are more than welcome, any other links or info about helping would be loved and added into the post. I know that a lot of us can't afford to give, but if you can please, please do.