Tuesday and Wednesday's Post

* "Many killed and wounded in Afghanistan visa stampede:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54627270

* "End Sars protests: People 'shot dead' in Lagos, Nigeria:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54624611

* "End SARS: Queer Nigerians are being abused, humiliated and killed by a corrupt police unit – and it’s nothing new:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/end-sars-nigeria-police-protests-lgbt-gay-community/

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* "Covid-19 and Public Health: A Message from Crash Course:"

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* "Covid: Bolsonaro says Brazil will not buy Chinese-made vaccine:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54619730

* "Covid: Wales to go into 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday:" https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54598136

* "Ireland is first European country to reimpose a lockdown amid a coronavirus resurgence:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ireland-is-first-european-country-to-reimpose-a-lockdown-amid-a-coronavirus-resurgence/2020/10/21/4bf2ffe6-139e-11eb-a258-614acf2b906d_story.html

* "Czech Republic is reinstating its strict face mask rules:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/20/europe/czech-republic-coronavirus-mask-mandate-intl/index.html

* "Coronavirus: Belgium facing 'tsunami' of new infections:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54602999

* Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.A for 10/21/20 are 8,261,000. The official death toll is 221,000. The real number is likely much higher.

* "The coronavirus pandemic has caused nearly 300,000 more deaths than expected in a typical year:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-excess-deaths/2020/10/20/1e1d77c6-12e1-11eb-ba42-ec6a580836ed_story.html

* "CDC to passengers and workers: Wear a mask when you are on a plane, train, bus or other public transit:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/19/cdc-mask-plane-train-bus/

* "CDC says the U.S. is now seeing a 'distressing trend' in coronavirus outbreak:" https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/21/coronavirus-cdc-says-us-is-seeing-distressing-trend-in-outbreak.html

* "CDC expands definition of who is a ‘close contact’ of an individual with covid-19:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/coronavirus-close-contact-cdc/

* "As Coronavirus Surges, Select Subcommittee Releases White House Reports Contradicting President Trump on Testing, Masks:" https://coronavirus.house.gov/news/press-releases/coronavirus-surges-select-subcommittee-releases-white-house-reports

* "Newly released reports show White House saw Covid crisis worsening as Trump downplayed:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/newly-released-reports-show-white-house-saw-covid-crisis-worsening-as-trump-downplayed-94271557783

* "Researcher: 1 in 30 eastern Idahoans actively spreading COVID-19:" https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/news/state/idaho/researcher-1-in-30-eastern-idahoans-actively-spreading-covid-19/article_bab3726f-bff8-5165-87d2-6a604835ed34.html

* "North Dakota Covid cases per million among highest rate of all countries globally:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/north-dakota-covid-cases-per-million-among-highest-rate-of-all-countries-globally-94264389812

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* "U.S. weighs labeling leading human rights groups ‘anti-Semitic’:" https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/10/21/state-department-weighs-labeling-several-prominent-human-rights-groups-anti-semitic-430882

* "Trump Records Shed New Light on Chinese Business Pursuits:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/us/trump-taxes-china.html

* "NYT exposes Trump Chinese bank account, millions in China-connected deals while president:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/nyt-exposes-trump-chinese-bank-account-millions-in-china-connected-deals-while-president-94274117555

* "Obama Mocks Trump’s Chinese Bank Account: ‘They Would’ve Called Me Beijing Barry’:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/us/politics/obama-trump.html

* "Trump didn't order declassification of Russia docs despite tweets, Meadows says:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/20/politics/meadows-trump-twitter/index.html

* "Trump Called The $10 Million A Loan. His Campaign Called It A Donation. Who Paid It Back, And How?:" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kenbensinger/trump-campaign-10-million-2016

* "Trump lackey Mike Pompeo ‘appalled’ his own staff with speech to anti-LGBT+ group that backs conversion therapy:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/20/mike-pompeo-secretary-of-state-florida-family-policy-council-conversion-therapy/

* "Barrett was trustee at private school with anti-gay policies:" https://apnews.com/article/south-bend-only-on-ap-amy-coney-barrett-minnesota-virginia-a8bbabea9ee4d2fb13c6079c09f2f075

* "8 million Americans have gone into poverty amid coronavirus pandemic, study says:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/8-million-americans-slipped-into-poverty-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-study-says-94180933868

* "McConnell warns White House against making stimulus deal as Pelosi and Mnuchin inch closer:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/20/trump-economic-stimulus-pelosi/

* "Nancy Pelosi: From the beginning, Trump and McConnell haven’t taken the pandemic seriously:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/nancy-pelosi-from-the-beginning-trump-and-mcconnell-haven-t-taken-the-pandemic-seriously-94178373896

* "White House looks at cutting Covid funds, newborn screenings in ‘anarchist’ cities:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/20/white-house-cuts-city-funds-coronavirus-430498

* "Rule Change for Last Debate Seeks to Limit Interruptions:" https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/19/us/trump-vs-biden?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#trump-who-withdrew-from-the-last-debate-seeks-changes-to-the-next

* "Trump and Biden Will Be Muted for Parts of Their Next Debate:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/politics/trump-biden-muted-debate.html

* Meanwhile in autocracy news...."Trump ups pressure on Barr to probe Bidens as election nears:" https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-william-barr-elections-20fd56b64801dd83b1657c630a1ebdfa

* "Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/19/hunter-biden-story-russian-disinfo-430276

* "Intel director issues high-drama, low-clarity warning on Iran, Russia election operations:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/intel-director-issues-high-drama-low-clarity-warning-on-iran-russia-election-operations-94368325679

* "DNI Ratcliffe message in classified briefing different from public remarks: Schumer:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/dni-ratcliffe-message-in-classified-briefing-different-from-public-remarks-schumer-94365253997

* "Local election officials warned about security holes in election infrastructure: WaPo:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/local-election-officials-warned-about-security-holes-in-election-infrastructure-94366789982

* "Trump keeps attacking Hunter Biden, but Trump’s kids have been accused of ethics violations:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/trump-keeps-attacking-hunter-biden-but-trump-s-kids-have-been-accused-of-ethics-violations-94260293933

* "Trump wants to make the election about ‘corruption.’ Here’s why that could backfire.:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-wants-to-make-the-election-about-corruption-here-s-why-that-could-backfire-94357573547

* "HHS lawyer: Trump’s drug cards could violate election law:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/16/hhs-lawyer-trump-drug-cards-election-law-429989

* "Trump ends ‘60 Minutes’ interview, attacks Lesley Stahl on Twitter:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/20/trump-ends-60-minutes-interview-430466

* "Sen. David Perdue mocks Kamala Harris’ name at Trump rally:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/sen-david-perdue-mocks-kamala-harris-name-at-trump-rally-94011461769

* "Joy Reid: Republicans distancing from Trump are pretending they haven’t been his sycophants:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/joy-reid-republicans-distancing-from-trump-are-pretending-they-haven-t-been-his-sycophants-94179397711

* "Carrollton mayoral candidate arrested on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining mail-in ballots:" https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/08/voting-fraud-arrest-carrollton/

* "Lesbian Sheriff Candidate: I Know Discrimination and Will Fight It:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/10/20/lesbian-sheriff-candidate-i-know-discrimination-and-will-fight-it

* "Lesbian congressional candidate’s virtual debate hijacked by racist and homophobic trolls:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/lesbian-congressional-candidate-mary-fay-virtual-debate-racist-homophobic-trolls/

* "Early-voting numbers: U.S. on pace for record early turnout:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/elections/early-voting-numbers-so-far/

* "Colorado reports 'bonkers' increase of 2,400 percent in early voting:" https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/521349-colorado-reports-bonkers-increase-of-2400-percent-in-early-voting

* "Supreme Court Rules Pennsylvania Can Count Ballots Received After Election Day:" https://www.npr.org/2020/10/19/922411176/supreme-court-rules-pennsylvania-can-count-ballots-received-after-election-day

* "Democrats are cheering a Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots. Here’s why it’s worse than it looks.:" https://www.vox.com/2020/10/19/21524177/supreme-court-voting-rights-pennsylvania-republican-boockvar-amy-coney-barrett

* "Texas can reject mail-in ballots over mismatched signatures without giving voters a chance to appeal, court rules:" https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/19/texas-mail-in-ballots-signatures/

* "Fire intentionally set inside ballot box in Baldwin Park, officials say:" https://abc7.com/ballot-drop-box-fire-vote-by-mail-election/7155522/

* "Beto O'Rourke: Despite GOP voter suppression tactics, people are voting in record numbers:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/beto-o-rourke-despite-gop-voter-suppression-tactics-people-are-voting-in-record-numbers-93935173963

* "Jon Ossoff: Georgia is the frontline for the ongoing struggle for voting rights:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jon-ossoff-georgia-is-the-frontline-for-the-ongoing-struggle-for-voting-rights-94011973742

* What to do if they try to turn you away at the polls: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/632722905827016704/witches-ofcolor-rachelhaimowitz-lynati-a

* This is a different Republican terrorist trying to kidnap and murder a different democratic politician. "One arrested in threat to kidnap and kill Wichita mayor over COVID-19 mask mandate:" https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article246513655.html

* Who thinks they'd let a non-white terrorist out on 10,000 bail? "Man charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot released on bail:" https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-charged-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-released-bail-73714803

* "Trump rhetoric inciting domestic terror: Michigan Governor Whitmer:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-rhetoric-inciting-domestic-terror-michigan-gov-whitmer-94273605561

* "USPS told its postal police officers to stand down, igniting concerns about mail-in ballot security and sparking another lawsuit against the agency:" https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/usps-sidelines-postal-police-officers-election-mail-in-ballot-concerns-2020-10-1029702754#

* "U.S.Postal Service pulls uniformed police from protective patrols: WSJ:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/u-s-p-s-pulls-uniformed-police-from-protective-patrols-wsj-94272581758

* "Supreme Court to review Trump’s border wall funding and ‘Remain in Mexico’ program:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-remain-in-mexico-border-wall/2020/10/19/b592a658-120a-11eb-bc10-40b25382f1be_story.html

* "Supreme Court to take up Trump border wall spending, asylum enforcement:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-take-trump-border-wall-spending-asylum-enforcement-n1243870

* "Lawyers: We can't find parents of 545 kids separated by Trump administration:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/lawyers-say-they-can-t-find-parents-545-migrant-children-n1244066

* "‘Gender reveal Karen’ accused of violent racist attack on Black family over private party:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/gender-reveal-karen-saratoga-california-black-family-party-elijah-johnson/

* CW: Rape. "Justice Dept. Says Trump’s Denial of Rape Accusation Was an Official Act:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/nyregion/jean-carroll-trump-rape-lawsuit.html

* "Ofsted chief tells Orthodox Jewish teachers threatening LGBT+ boycott to accept inclusive education – whether they like it or not:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/20/ofsted-chief-inspector-lgbt-education-jewish-orthodox-schools-amanda-spielman-eli-spitzer/

* "Pope Francis endorses same-sex civil unions in' major step forward':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/pope-francis-civil-union-laws-same-sex-couples-gay-lgbt/

* "Northern Ireland finally gets full marriage equality as LGBT+ activists celebrate ‘last jigsaw piece’ becoming law:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/22/northern-ireland-marriage-equality-civil-partnerships-conversion-love-equality-robin-walker/

* "TikTok Bans Conversion Therapy and White Supremacist Content:" https://www.advocate.com/media/2020/10/21/tiktok-bans-conversion-therapy-and-white-supremacist-content

* "Citi Bank Allows Trans, Nonbinary Cardholders to Use Chosen Name:" https://www.advocate.com/business/2020/10/21/citi-bank-allows-trans-nonbinary-cardholders-use-chosen-name

* "‘Concerned’ Mormon sent anonymous complaint to neighbours about Pride flags. They probably weren’t expecting this response:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/19/concerned-mormon-letter-complaining-pride-flags-response/

* "Three Grindr users shot in one night after ‘arranging hook-ups with the same teen’. He’s just been charged with murder:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/grindr-shooting-texas-damarion-degrate-shooting-gay-men-waco-texas/

* "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uses mammoth Twitch debut to demand trans rights in front of 700,000 gamers:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/aoc-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-twitch-among-us-trans-rights/

* "A trans woman and her partner flew a Pride flag on their lawn. Suddenly, gunfire was exploding into their home:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/bullet-shot-window-trans-pride-flag-same-sex-couple-michigan-allendale-county/

* "Report: Most LGBTQ+ Students Verbally Harassed in School:" https://www.advocate.com/youth/2020/10/20/report-most-lgbtq-students-verbally-harassed-school

* "Teens Did Surprisingly Well in Quarantine:" https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/10/how-teens-handled-quarantine/616695/

* "Autistic Bristol teenager Oliver McGowan's death was 'avoidable':" https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-54602417

* "OxyContin maker to plead guilty to federal criminal charges, pay $8 billion, and will close the company:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/business/purdue-pharma-guilty-plea/index.html

* "Pragmatics: Crash Course Linguistics #6:"

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* "Two gay penguins determined to become fathers steal egg from lesbian neighbors:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/21/gay-penguin-couple-fathers-stole-egg-lesbian-pair-dierenpark-zoo-amersfoort-netherlands/

* "Rimming Was Everywhere in the Middle Ages, but Not for the Reason You Think:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/rimming-was-everywhere-in-the-middle-ages-but-not-for-the-reason-you-think

* "The Industrial Economy: Crash Course US History #23:"

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* "Queer Hollywood Arranged Marriages! // Queer History 101 [CC]:"

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* "You might be surprised who's moving into those sad, abandoned malls:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/business/malls-repurpose-empty-stores/index.html

* "Vending Machines Aren’t Tailor-Made for the Pandemic After All:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-10-13/japan-vending-machines-at-risk-of-becoming-retro-vintage-novelty

* "Machu Picchu Reopens for a Single Stranded Tourist:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/machu-picchu-reopens-single-stranded-tourist-180976047/

* "A Disturbing Twinkie That Has, So Far, Defied Science:" https://www.npr.org/2020/10/15/923411578/a-disturbing-twinkie-that-has-so-far-defied-science

* "The World Health Organization: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Deep Cuts: Society and Queer Horror (Video essay):"

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* I was late for my own zoomparty because what I thought wasa quick trip to the Starbucks drive thru for my free birthday drink turned into a major drama, but the party was good, and it was nice seeing people, if only remotely. I had a ton of good rp after.

Monday, I had a socially distanced visit with a friend in which we bundled up and sat in lawn chairs near the gazebo with our masks, and chatted from a safe distance. a lady walking her dog hailed us from an even greater distance to enthuse about my decorations. It really did warm my heart. My suspicion that it was good to have something cheerful in times like these proves correct. There were also prezzies which I am enjoying.

Today, I had a lot of phone calls, only one of the spam (Fraternal Order of Police shouting about lawlessness. I blocked him again. Sigh). The rest was one degree of important or another, including a really long phone call about services I may or may not get. I slept in, and then the cats took turns sitting on me for loves. Livia is really leaning in on the experiment of sitting on me after she's done with her pet. it turned out to be a really good day for her.

I need to stay up for physio.

* I did manage to stay up for the first physio appointment, and even found it without trouble despite having misplaced the name, address, and directions. The mental map I made a month ago based on Receptionist directions proved accurate. Yay clear direction and still functioning memory. I don't like being inside with strangers during a plague, but their screening and check in procedures felt pretty good, including a ceiling high receptionist enclosure with a paperwork passthrough. They have a strict mask and distancing policy. The therapists wipe down the seat as soon as you stand up and thoroughly clean the rooms between patients. They even gave me a free plastic eye guard to go over my glasses. It's as good as it gets, really, given the givens. I got my prodding and a gentle stretching exercise to do at home. The lady was nice and seemed to get my sense of humor, which helps. The real torture starts Saturday.

Today's chore was stripping the bed and turning the mattress, which I ended up having to do by myself, which Ouch. No really ouch. We can't flip it as it's one sided, but my thought was the worst of the smell is really close to my head which I am having trouble tolerating. Also, if I was going to have another go with the enzymatic cleaner, the worst of the wet was going to be on that end and this would mean a smaller wet spot for me at bed time. To my despair I saw meds falling into the hole as I moved the mattress, and my arms aren't long enough to reach the bottom with the mattress there. Luckily, I was able to get everything the cats or I had knocked down there since January using a broom, dustpan, and a great deal of patience. Unfortunately, the bottle of essential not covered my insurance PRN, opened on impact and no way was I going to try to salvage them. Tavy "helped," by amoung other things jumping excitedly in and out of the hole. Livia wanted to "help" but it was all way too exciting for her.

Once I had the mattress repositioned I did the Nature's miracle + water + Odo-ban + baking soda thing. (A friend had suggested trying baking soda on top after the scrubbing). The baking soda was a whole drama by itself. I knew I had some. I checked where it goes. I check the fridge. I checked where I store extras of things like that. Picture me cursing. Me: Can one substitute baking powder? It might at least soak up some of the wet. I go back to the cabinet. Reach for the powder and the soda was right there in, you know, the first fucking place I looked. So I did the scrubbing and the spraying and the baking soda, and covered the thing with towels and the fan going across.

The cats officially hate all of this: The Smell. The Wet spots where they usually take their evening naps. The fan. The lack of pillows on the bed. All of it. Me: no one likes to sleep in a wet spot cats. Next time don't piss on the bed.

At which point I gimped out to make dinner and discovered Squirrel had killed the fridge fan by leaving the refrigerator door open while I was asleep, and thus not there to check when he was done cooking.

I no longer remember which refrigerator repair service we had last time. I'm going to have to stay up and call around Again. And get estimates Again. And blow the last of the birthday money on fixing the fridge Again. There is no guarantee there is enough because I blew it on things the cats and the fish needed. I think it’s enough to pay them to look at it, but I’m not convinced it’s enough to fix it and I can’t even ask Squirrel if he can pitch in because he slept through all this.

I wish he would just put his palm on the doors at the end of every use to ensure they are really closed like I do, but he can't be trained to do it, nor can he be trained to wake me up every time he uses the fridge so I can check it. I can't stop him using the fridge while I'm asleep because he has to eat.

So I'm fixing the fridge again, I guess.

* The good news: he will set money aside to help fix the frisge. The bad news: Every one is booked out into early November. I'm pretty sure I hired the same guy from last time. He's slightly cheaper and can come slightly sooner (Nov. 3rd). Let's hope it's an easy fix. The fridge is not as broken as last time. Yet. The fan is out, so it's not circulating air properly, but the freezer is still cold and the fridge cool. We have a big mixing bowl worth of store box ice up top, since the fridge part gets more use than the freezer and is a bigger space.

In mattress news: the second cleaning plus baking soda didn't solve it, but there is improvement. Also, not having a localized stink cloud right where my head goes when I sleep helps. so far it's not bad, but we'll see where it is in a couple of weeks, since the smell takes a while to rise.

* "How I Would Open My Letters, As A Frenchman And The Son Of A Man With High Hopes:" https://www.shatnerchatner.com/p/how-i-would-open-my-letters-as-a?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjEzMzc4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxMzQyODMxOSwiXyI6Ikg2bGdXIiwiaWF0IjoxNjAzMzQ3MzAwLCJleHAiOjE2MDMzNTA5MDAsImlzcyI6InB1Yi01Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.Kwm6ueQCgCP0FXfG_V15xXslBHX5ZLAoxlEji9-cSN8

* "Cats, Bats, & Cakes That Bite Back!:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2020/10/18/cats-bats-amp-cakes-that-bite-back

* "Bread of the Dead (Squid Ink Flatbread w/Mushrooms, Shallots & Herbs):" https://castellonskitchen.blogspot.com/2020/04/bread-of-dead-squid-ink-flatbread.html

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* What to do if they try to turn you away at the polls: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/632722905827016704/witches-ofcolor-rachelhaimowitz-lynati-a

* "2020 wildfires in California and the west: Everything we know and how you can help:" https://www.cnet.com/how-to/2020-wildfires-in-california-and-the-west-everything-we-know-and-how-to-help/

* Want a quick way to donate money to close senate races in hopes of flipping the senate? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ky_mcconnell_vid

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