Oct. 29th, 2020

gwydion: (Default)
* "Muslim Countries Denounce French Response to Killing of Teacher, Urge Boycott:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/world/europe/French-Muslims-Turkey-crackdown.html

* "Belarus protests: National opposition strike gains momentum:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54684753

* "Jubilation as Chile votes to rewrite constitution:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54687090

* "Pakistan: deadly bombing at Peshawar religious school:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/pakistan-blast-at-seminary-in-peshawar-kills-injured

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* "The Tree That Could Help Stop the Pandemic:" https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/10/single-tree-species-may-hold-key-coronavirus-vaccine/616792/

* "Coronavirus: Europe's daily deaths rise by nearly 40% compared with last week - WHO:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54704677

* "Mexico admits Covid death toll much higher than official number:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/mexico-coronavirus-death-toll-much-higher-official-number

* "Covid: Brazil's coronavirus cases pass five million:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54447346

* "Covid-19: How the Czech Republic's response went wrong:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54639351

* "Doctors expect 'Covid catastrophe' in Syria:" https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-54697587

* "They're key allies of Benjamin Netanyahu. They're also fueling Israel's big COVID-19 spike:" https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-10-25/ultra-orthodox-netanyahu-allies-fuel-israel-coronavirus-spike

* "Iran Reports COVID-19 Death Every Four Minutes, Extends Curbs:" https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-10-26/iran-reports-covid-19-death-every-five-minutes-hospitals-struggle

* Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.A for 10/28/20 are 8,767,000. The official death toll is 227,000. The real number is likely much higher.

* "Wearing masks could save more than 100,000 US lives through February, new study suggests:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/health/masks-ihme-model-study-wellness/index.html

* "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

* O'rly? "White House science office takes credit for 'ending' pandemic as infections mount:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/white-house-science-office-ending-pandemic-432827

* "Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Trump ‘doesn’t seem to care’ about those impacted by the pandemic:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/sen-elizabeth-warren-says-trump-doesn-t-seem-to-care-about-those-impacted-by-the-pandemic-94715461817

* "Coronavirus in Kansas: 80 more deaths, 1,488 new cases:" https://www.ksn.com/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-in-kansas/coronavirus-in-kansas-80-more-deaths-1148-new-cases/

* "Rural Nebraska sees an increase in COVID-19 cases:" https://www.1011now.com/2020/10/27/rural-nebraska-sees-an-increase-in-covid-19-cases/

* "South Dakota surpasses 10,000 active COVID-19 cases:" https://www.aberdeennews.com/news/local/south-dakota-surpasses-10-000-active-covid-19-cases/article_ec5e38b6-161d-11eb-855b-a797d3927a1d.html

* "Global pandemic hits home in the West Virginia mountains:" https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-virus-outbreak-football-west-virginia-2a69c2e79d3772e5018c6badacaaf315

* "El Paso Funeral Homes Prepare Refrigerated Units To House Bodies As COVID-19 Cases Soar:" https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/10/23/el-paso-funeral-homes-prepare-refrigerated-units-to-house-bodies-covid-19-cases-soar/

* "'We're in a crisis stage': Texas border city reels from coronavirus surge:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/27/covid-coronavirus-el-paso-texas-surge

* "'Scared of what's coming': Health care workers across St. Louis warn of rising COVID-19 infections:" https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/scared-of-whats-coming-health-care-workers-across-st-louis-warn-of-rising-covid-19/article_300fb559-5eed-5d2a-b3ad-1e5b0ed227be.html

* "Coronavirus levels rise in Helena, East Helena wastewater:" https://helenair.com/news/local/coronavirus-levels-rise-in-helena-east-helena-wastewater/article_52975205-7f09-5369-a8f7-97e218d9d944.html

* "Record hospitalizations in 17 states in just the past week: WaPo:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/record-hospitalizations-in-17-states-in-just-the-past-week-wapo-94813765899

* "'Natural experiment' paints clear picture: Masks work.:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-natural-experiment-paints-clear-picture-masks-work-94815301608

* "In Mississippi, more White people now have gotten Covid-19 than African Americans. Attitudes about masks might help explain why, official says:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/health/mississippi-coronavirus/index.html

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* "Ballrooms, candles and luxury cottages: During Trump’s term, millions of government and GOP dollars have flowed to his properties:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ballrooms-candles-and-luxury-cottages-during-trumps-term-millions-of-government-and-gop-dollars-have-flowed-to-his-propertiesmar-a-lago-charged-the-government-3-apiece-for-glasses-of-water-for-trump-and-the-japanese-leader/2020/10/27/186f20a2-1469-11eb-bc10-40b25382f1be_story.html

* CW: Rape. "Federal judge rebuffs Justice Department's bid to aid Trump in defamation case:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/federal-judge-trump-jean-carroll-defamation-432736

* "Trump Weighs Executive Order to Show Support for Fracking:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-weighs-executive-order-to-show-support-for-fracking-11603825225

* "As Election Nears, Trump Makes a Final Push Against Climate Science:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/climate/trump-election-climate-noaa.html

* "Senate confirms Barrett to Supreme Court, cementing its conservative majority:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/senate-court-barrett-trump/2020/10/26/df76c07e-1789-11eb-befb-8864259bd2d8_story.html

* "Amy Coney Barrett confirmed for Supreme Court, putting decades of progress on LGBT+ rights at risk:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/27/amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court-confirmed-sworn-in-senate-vote-lgbt-rights/

* "As virus resurges, so does fear of more economic pain ahead:" https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-small-business-united-states-economy-4d1f3221f83c5a9f31d9e1ced2e3203c

* I admit, I'm really enjoying him being his own Anger Translator. "Obama’s New Gig: Gleefully Needling Trump:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/us/politics/obama-trump-biden.html

* "Sen. Sherrod Brown: Biden is the most pro-worker candidate ‘we’ve nominated in a generation’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/sen-sherrod-brown-biden-is-the-most-pro-worker-candidate-we-ve-nominated-in-a-generation-94716997879

* Extended Pete Buttegeig Interview:

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* "Rev. Barber: Democracy is ‘being hijacked in front of our faces with no shame’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/rev-barber-democracy-is-being-hijacked-in-front-of-our-faces-with-no-shame-94805061809

* Extended John Brennan Interview.:

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* "Local doctors again ask Trump to cancel rally amidst area COVID-19 surge:" https://lacrossetribune.com/chp/local-doctors-again-ask-trump-to-cancel-rally-amidst-area-covid-19-surge/article_b031dc42-fe45-5839-9842-b93fabac02e0.html

* The plague rat goes to south Carolina instead of staying in quarantine. "Vice President Mike Pence to visit Greenville to thank Lindsey Graham, local chair says:" https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/26/vp-mike-pence-rally-greenville-sc-thank-lindsey-graham-amy-coney-barrett/6040860002/

* "Supreme Court Blocks Curbside Voting In Alabama, An Option During Pandemic:" https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/926472968/supreme-court-blocks-curbside-voting-in-alabama-an-option-during-pandemic

* "As election nears end, efforts to stifle vote intensify; history shows: perseverance pays:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/as-election-nears-end-efforts-to-stifle-vote-intensify-history-shows-perseverance-pays-94814789696

* "Voters In Alabama’s Largest County Could Have Their Ballots Thrown Out After A Court Ruled Instructions They Were Sent Are No Longer Valid:" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/alabama-ballots-witness-wrong-information-jefferson-county

* "Most People in Jail Can Vote. Many of Them Don’t Know It.:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/jail-voting-suppression.html

* "This Is The Backstory Of The Viral Photo Of A Black Woman Holding Her Son While Waiting In Line To Vote:" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/dana-clark-viral-photo-early-voting-covid19-blm

* "Here are 6 signs Trump may use DHS stormtroopers to stop Democrats from voting:" https://web.archive.org/web/20200724125324/https://www.alternet.org/2020/07/here-are-6-signs-trump-may-use-dhs-stormtroopers-to-stop-democrats-from-voting/

* "Cities Gird for Election Day Unrest:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-26/cities-gird-for-election-day-unrest

* "How Voter Intimidation Could Get Uglier:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-07/how-voter-intimidation-could-become-violent-in-2020

* "Millions of ballots yet unreturned as time for reliable postal delivery passes:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/millions-of-ballots-unreturned-as-time-for-reliable-delivery-passes-94814789676

* "In Wisconsin decision, Supreme Court foreshadows election night cliffhanger:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/26/in-wisconsin-ruling-supreme-court-foreshadows-election-night-cliffhanger-432725

* "Justice Kavanaugh parrots Trump talking points on mail-in ballots:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/justice-kavanaugh-parrots-trump-talking-points-on-mail-in-ballots-94807621980

* "Walter Wallace Jr. Struggled With Mental Health Issues, Family Says:" https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/walter-wallace-jr-struggled-with-mental-health-issues-family-says/2575493/

* "Police shooting interrupts hearing on proposed police oversight commission:" https://whyy.org/articles/police-shooting-interrupts-hearing-on-proposed-police-oversight-commission/

* CW: Rape. "The rape survivors facing an ‘impossible choice’ in Brazil:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54447343

* "Judge throws out case of 47 Nigerian men accused of gay sex after prosecutors fail to even show up:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/28/nigerian-men-gay-sex-birthday-party-hotel-lagos-judge-case-dismissed-prosecutors/

* "‘We just don’t want to die waiting’ Powerful mural highlights shocking reality of trans healthcare in the UK:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/27/trans-healthcare-uk-gender-clinic-bristol-mural-stokes-croft/

* "After 36 long years, a transgender veteran has finally been granted the honourable discharge she deserves:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/10/27/transgender-trans-veteran-honourable-discharge-us-airforce-military-gender-dysphoria/

* "Fear and anxiety spike in virus hot spots across US:" https://apnews.com/article/fear-anxiety-spike-virus-hot-spots-us-83702dcb8b7d1d766e098b250e85f528

* "The Cute Critter Rewriting Our Understanding of Prehistory:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-was-first-domesticated-animal

* "How Cities Can Reclaim Their Streets From SUVs:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/how-cities-could-push-back-on-pickups-and-suvs

* "'Chainsaws tearing through my heart': 50 arrested as sacred tree cut down to make way for Victorian highway:" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/oct/27/djab-wurrung-directions-sacred-tree-cut-down-victoria-western-highway-upgrade#:~:text=The%20Victorian%20government%20has%20cut,tree%2C%20was%20felled%20on%20Monday.

* "Utah advocate who helped Pacific Islander community fight COVID-19 dies of virus complications:" https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/27/utah-advocate-who-helped/

* "Old Chinese building ‘walks’ to new location to make way for Shanghai’s new commercial centre:" https://theglobalherald.com/news/old-chinese-building-walks-to-new-location-to-make-way-for-shanghais-new-commercial-centre/

* "Like Flies On What? Stephen Colbert Goes LIVE After The Pence-Harris VP Debate:"

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* "Quarantinewhile... Should We Really Unseal That Hidden Mummy Door In Egypt Right Now?:"

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* "Learn To Dance Like Donald Trump!:"

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* "Desperate Donald Trump Attacks Dr. Fauci, Dances For Votes On The Campaign Trail:"

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* "Haunted Elevator (ft. David S. Pumpkins) - SNL:"

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* A Gothmas prezzie came with my food drop off today. I’m saving it for Samhein. https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/633194239222743040/a-gothmas-prezzie-came-with-my-food-drop-off

* I had three things I was supposed to do Tuesday. I forgot two of them. Sigh. Luckily none of them was a doctor's appointment.

I also rescued an elderly lady who accidentally locked herself out. I was up getting juice about 2:30AM when I heard a knock on the patio door. It was a maskless woman. i made her wait while I got masks. (I gave her one of the free disposables with the too tight ear elastics since she'd only be needing it for this transaction. She was out papering voting reminders, forgot her key and lost track of time. (I suspect she was out doing this in the middle of the night to get around the HOA assholes). It gets cold here at night, even though it's still nice by day. Of course I wasn't going to make her wait until a locksmith could come in the morning. I'm not a monster. She'd left her apartment itself unlocked, but needed help getting into the building itself. I am pretty sure it was the lady I made get in the elevator so I could pass the day I went to the doctor.

She kept wanting to apologize. I kept saying it was fine, our lights were on and Iwas visibly awake. Really I just wanted her to go through the door so we could stop breathing near each other even with masks, but I get it. I'm sure every bit of socialization was telling her not to knock on a stranger's door at 2:30 in the morning. I had the whole Halloween display lit up, which she complimented. Everyone else on the ground floor really would have been asleep and she really could see me moving around inside and likely see and hear the TV from the patio door.

I worry about her though, wandering around maskless for short trips to recycling and to do voter postings, even though these are short trips someone with COVID could have used the elevator, but she's not my Mother and there is nothing I can do.

Update: I stayed up until the library opened to do the curbside exchange. (Sleep? What's sleep?) On the way out, I spotted the Woman's hand lettered sign. It was a special plea to Millenials and Gen X to Vote with no partizsn language, but the meaning was clear. Hand lettered. If she did all the entrances to all the buildings, she must have made ten copies by hand.

HOA had pulled it down by the time I got back, so it didn't even quite make it to 11AM. All that work! I checked the recycling beside the door in hopes I could rescue it, but it was gone.

Jesus fuck! Please vote, y’all! It’s our last damned chance.

* In other news we had two longish outageds and lots of server hiccups. This really is jjust Tuesday's post. Wednesday is all lined up on Rupert waiting to go when the aggregate's up.

* I watched the recent Globe production of Twelfth Night and it was stunningly queer even by the standards of one of Shakespeare's queerest plays. We are talking giant bearded drag queen in gold lame singing "We are Family" queer and the best use of a drag king I've ever seen in a play in their version of Malvolio. There interpretation of Aguecheek is memorable on a whole new level. I loved their Viola. Wow!

* Snerk. https://twitter.com/cstross/status/1321097427739443207

* "Every Time Someone Dresses Like A Boy In Daphne Du Maurier:" https://www.shatnerchatner.com/p/every-time-someone-dresses-like-a?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjEzMzc4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxMzkwMzAxNywiXyI6Ikg2bGdXIiwiaWF0IjoxNjAzNTIyODgwLCJleHAiOjE2MDM1MjY0ODAsImlzcyI6InB1Yi01Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.F4kTNnXRXhjgF1yrzFLRicYPyvJ_9SMhiKzMs46ArRk

* He's not wrong. "That USS Indianapolis Scene From "Jaws" But It's The Boys In The Band:" https://www.shatnerchatner.com/p/that-uss-indianapolis-scene-from?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjEzMzc4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjoxMzkwMzMxNywiXyI6Ikg2bGdXIiwiaWF0IjoxNjAzNDMzMzUwLCJleHAiOjE2MDM0MzY5NTAsImlzcyI6InB1Yi01Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.OF06vrqc6VCsU0xEiZLRSEhlg_H2qfyQIPxQYBIsQ50

* ToS: Season 2 Rewatch:

- 2.19: A Private Little War. (CW: Rape)

They turn up on a pre-contact planet to find they suddenly have flintlocks, a big tech leap. When Kirk surveyed them they were peaceful,now they are fighting. He seeshis old friend walking into an ambush. He throws a rock to disrupt it, allowing his friends to flee. Spock is injured as they flee the gun men and they don't know if he'll survive.

The Klingons turn up; Kirk thinks they gave them flintlocks. Wait, there was a Vulcan War? with whom? I have questions that were never answered. Sigh. They dress up as Natives and go down to find proof, breaking Star Fleet orders. the ship has to pull out to hide from the Klingons.

Bones phasers a venomous beast, but Kirk is poisoned. There can be no help from the enterprise. Kirk remembers the locals have a cure. Tyree, Kirk's friend, is now in charge. his wife wants guns; Tyree is resisting. She has a leaf that makes him horny. She sees Bones warming rocks with his phaser and decides she wants them. She pumps Tyree for information in exchange for curing Kirk. He now belongs to her.

They go to the Gun villiage and it turns out the klingons are helping them. A fight ensues. Meanwhile, spock asks nurse chapel to smack him awake. scotty stops him, but the doctor turns up and saves him. Kirk teaches the peaceful villagers to kill with guns. Bones objects on the grounds that it will lead to endless war. Kirk sees no other solution to he proxy war. They outright reference Vietnam. Kirk keeps arguing for balance of power; ones is not impressed. Bones points out that as Tyree won't tight, he'll be first to die.

Kirk tries to get the witch wife on side. Tyree spots his wife using the sex leaves on Kirk. Tyree almost shoots him, but rejects murder and the guns. Kirk is too horny to hep effectively when the east's mate comes for her, at first, but in the end he phaser's it in front of her. Bones makes Tyree show him where he left the gun.

The Witch Wife tries to take the phaser to the villagers, but they just ry to rape her. When the hill people rescuers come, they think she was bait so they kill her. A fight ensues. Kirk stops the killing. Tyree is won over to revenge and guns. Kirk expresses remorse, but it doesn't unfuck the planet, does it?

* TNG: Season 7 Rewatch:

- 7.20 Journey's End.

Wes is home on the enterprise on vacation for the academy; Picard is trying to repair his relationship with a certain admiral he doesn't get along with. A treaty with the cardassians requires moving settlements of both Feds and Cardassians that are now on the wrong side of the border. They decided over the Admiral's objections to move a group of Native Americans, by force if necessary. Picard is horrified by his orders for all the obvious reasons.

Wes and Geordi get into an argument over an upgrade. His Mother confronts him about the assholery; Wes blows up at her. Wes is being a shit. Understandably, the Native Americans resist removal. Picard invites them to dinner and they tell their story. It turns out one of them saw a vision of Wes coming.

Beverly and Picard discuss Wes. Wes beams down to the Native American settlement and they discuss how everything is sacred. Picard explains they must remove them. Picard was one of the ones that attacked their tribe 700 years ago. The Cardassians turn up to make things worse, even though they aren't supposed to turn up for several weeks. There is no reprieve from Star Fleet. The locals teach Wes about their religious traditions and he has a vision of his father.

Picard is forced to give the removal order. Wes confronts Worf about removal preparations, then tells everyone what the feds are planning. Picard and Wesley have an argument about it and Wesley resigns. Dr. crusher demands an explanation. He explains his vision and how he no longer wants to be in star Fleet. She accepts him. The Native Americans arrest the cardassian for trespassing. The Cardassians decide to send troops to occupy the planet even though the hand over time hasn't started. Picard says they are Fed Citizens and he'll take measures if they fire on them.

The captured Cardassian decides to make things worse, but attacking the Native Americans and shooting a phaser wildly. Mayhem ensues, but Wesley uses the power of his mind to step out of time. the person he was talking to turns out to be the Traveler. They leave together. The Gul has his men beamed out, preventing war. The Native Americans renounce Federation citizenship in exchange for an agreement that Cardassians will leave them alone.

I wonder what happens to them when the Klingons invade? Wesley stays with the locals.

I feel like this is an episode that i as a white person shouldn't be commenting on, except to say I am wildly uncomfortable with a god like white person going to live with Native Americans to appropriate their ways for obvious reasons.

*****
* 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

Links Underneath: )

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