(no subject)

* "Populist party backs Draghi as Italy’s new PM in online vote:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/populist-party-backs-draghi-as-italys-new-pm-in-online-vote/2021/02/11/47fe1eca-6c9f-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html

* "UK government will fine universities for canceling hateful speakers in new ‘war on woke’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/14/universities-fined-cancel-transphobic-speakers-free-speech-champion-government/

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* "WHO grants emergency use listing for Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine:" https://www.politico.eu/article/who-grants-emergency-use-listing-for-oxford-astrazenca-vaccine/

* "81-person orgy broken up by police for breaking coronavirus rules:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/04/81-person-french-orgy-paris-police-covid-coronavirus/

* "Coronavirus in Zimbabwe: Nick Mangwana apologises for 'medical assassins' slur:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55797903

* "Zimbabwe receives 200,000 doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/15/africa/zimbabwe-sinopharm-vaccine-china-intl/index.html

* "South Africa in shock after AstraZeneca vaccine rollout halted:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55999678

* "Half of coronavirus deaths were in the winter:" https://flowingdata.com/2021/02/10/half-of-coronavirus-deaths-were-in-the-winter/

* "New, Daily Coronavirus Cases Drop Below 100K For First Time In Months:" https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/02/15/968005388/new-daily-coronavirus-cases-drop-below-100k-for-first-time-in-months

* Ya think? "As States Expand Access to Vaccines, Supply Isn't Keeping Up:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/world/coronavirus-vaccine-access-supply.html

* " The U.S. Bought Rapid Covid-19 Tests to Help Control the Virus. Now Many Are Unused:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-s-bought-rapid-covid-19-tests-to-help-control-the-virus-now-many-are-unused-11613397601?mod=hp_lead_pos6

* "Inside the Worst-Hit County in the Worst-Hit State in the Worst-Hit Country:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/02/15/inside-the-worst-hit-county-in-the-worst-hit-state-in-the-worst-hit-country

* "Thousands of Covid-19 vaccines wind up in the garbage because of fed, state guidelines:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/thousands-covid-19-vaccines-wind-garbage-because-fed-state-guidelines-n1254364?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

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* "As Biden Reopens ACA Enrollment, Are You Eligible To Sign Up Or Switch Health Plans?:" https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/02/15/967366282/as-biden-reopens-aca-enrollment-are-you-eligible-to-sign-up-or-switch-health-pla

* Good riddance! "White House deputy press secretary resigns after threatening reporter over story about him:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/media/tj-ducklo-resigns/index.html

* "Hard-hit restaurants feed COVID doctors, nurses to survive:" https://apnews.com/article/hard-hit-restaurants-feed-covid-doctors-5914100cccb1c14859e73c0e7930ba49

* "'This is not justice.' Tenant activists upend U.S. eviction courts:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-evictions-insi/this-is-not-justice-tenant-activists-upend-u-s-eviction-courts-idUSKBN2A8112

* "Amazon faces biggest union push in its history:" https://apnews.com/article/amazon-workers-union-c8493c24dabe7609de8fec8716460737

* I support the Fast Food Workers strike and the Amazon Strike.

* "Democrat Mckayla Wilkes comes out as bisexual during fight to unseat house leader:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/mckayla-wilkes-bisexual-steny-hoyner-democrat-congress-lgbt-sexuality/

**** Impeachment ****

* So there you have it: only 7 Republicans ion the senate are in favor of keeping democracy. The rest hate America so much that they are all think violently over throwing the government in favour of a fascist autocracy is a good idea.

* "Senate acquits Trump of inciting deadly Capitol attack:" https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/trump-impeachment-trial-day-5-468985

* "LGBTQ+, Other Civil Rights Groups Enraged by Trump Acquittal:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2021/2/13/lgbtq-other-civil-rights-groups-enraged-trump-acquittal

* "There are no more checks on Presidential power.:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/1790762.html

* "Capehart asks Democrats to eschew impeachment cynicism to ‘save our democracy’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/trump-s-acquittal-in-second-impeachment-trial-analyzed-in-capehart-s-bye-line-101020229750

* "Sen. Klobuchar applauds House managers for most bipartisan impeachment trial vote in history: https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/trump-s-second-impeachment-trial-vote-celebrated-as-most-bipartisan-in-history-by-klobuchar-101022277560

* "Rep. Plaskett says impeachment trial needed ‘more Senators with spines’ not more witnesses:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/trump-impeachment-trial-managers-not-calling-witnesses-addressed-by-house-impeachment-manager-rep-plaskett-101021253509

* "Some Republicans who shirked impeachment responsibility pass buck to law enforcement:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/some-republicans-who-shirked-impeachment-responsibility-pass-buck-to-law-enforcement-101080645577

* "Who is Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, whose tweet upended Trump’s impeachment trial?:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/13/jaime-herrera-beutler-impeachment/

* "Rep. Lieu on why Democrats chose not to call impeachment witnesses:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-lieu-on-why-democrats-chose-not-to-call-impeachment-witnesses-101072965962

* "Impeachment secret ballot may have been possible, but not likely:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/impeachment-secret-ballot-may-have-been-possible-but-not-likely-101076549977

* "Expectation of litigious delay tempered interest in calling impeachment witnesses:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/expectation-of-litigious-delay-tempered-interest-in-calling-impeachment-witnesses-101078597531

* "Impeachment manager mystified at Pence's silence after targeting by Trump for mob attack:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/impeachment-manager-mystified-at-pence-s-silence-after-targeting-by-trump-for-mob-attack-101079621518

* "One Legacy of Impeachment: The Most Complete Account So Far of Jan. 6:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/us/politics/capitol-riots-impeachment-trial.html

* "Trump Celebrates His Acquittal, Says The Impeachment Was Part Of A 'Witch Hunt':" https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates/2021/02/13/967700796/trump-celebrates-his-acquittal-says-the-impeachment-was-part-of-a-witch-hunt

* "Trump escapes conviction but even his allies say he’s damaged:" https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/trump-impeachment-witch-hunt-469001

**** End Impeachment ****

* "Six hours of paralysis: Inside Trump’s failure to act after a mob stormed the Capitol:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mob-failure/2021/01/11/36a46e2e-542e-11eb-a817-e5e7f8a406d6_story.html

* "Pelosi announces plans for '9/11-type commission' to investigate Capitol attack:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/15/politics/pelosi-capitol-attack-commission/index.html

* "New York Prosecutors Investigating Trump’s Manhattan Properties:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-prosecutors-investigating-trumps-manhattan-properties-11613241198?mod=djemalertNEWS

* "Fmr. Trump attorney Cohen wants next AG to ensure Trump faces NY state charges:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/trump-impeachment-trial-acquittal-analyzed-by-trump-s-former-attorney-michael-cohen-101017669524

* "Graham’s post-election call with Raffensperger will be scrutinized in Georgia probe, person familiar with inquiry says:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/lindsey-graham-georgia-investigation/2021/02/12/f12faa82-6d6b-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html

* "Backlash against January 6 insurrection drives new interest in running for office:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/backlash-against-january-6-insurrection-drives-new-interest-in-running-for-office-101079109934

A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey

* Dejoy is still destroying the Post Office. "Postmaster general’s new plan for USPS is said to include slower mail and higher prices:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/12/dejoys-new-plan-usps-slower-mail-higher-prices-sources-say/

* CW: Abuse, Pedophilia. "Eliza Dushku becomes latest Buffy cast member to speak out over ‘toxic’ Joss Whedon controversy:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/14/buffy-vampire-slayer-eliza-dushku-toxic-abuse-joss-whedon-controversy/

* CW: pedophilia, sexual abuse, animal abuse. "We Need To Talk About Armie Hammer.:"

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* CW: pedophilia, sexual abuse, animal abuse. Re: Armie Hammer. I do think it's important to make distinctions between what is and isn't acceptable. Vore not my thing, but that isn't the problem here. Again Consensual non-consent is way not my thing, but it can be done ethically. I'm not judgey about things done ethically. Fantasies aren't an issue either.

The issue here is the creeper stuff (sending people unsolicited threatening sexual material, boundary pushing, lack of after care), and the out right not okay stuff like grooming underage people, animal abuse, rape, doing particularly extreme kinks without a safe word and the real risk of traumatizing, physically harming, or killing some one. Breath play can literally kill someone. Doing it to someone without enthusiastic consent and then going way further than promised is right the fuck out.

Some people want Consensual non-consent, but you absolutely have to stick to negotiated limits, do safe words and after care, etc.. Ethical standards have to be highest in more extreme kinks.

I couldn't do CNC or breath play. I wouldn't want to do it, but I feel that way about shit play and adult babies and I don't judge them either as long as it's done ethically. (Ex: I had a friend who was in Germany and thought he'd signed on for mild BDSM and had it turn out to be surprise Scheisse after things got going. Not okay.)

But if you are into it? Fine. Just negotiate it properly and pursue it ethically.

Acceptable mid sex surprises are things like: One time a guy and I were going at it so hard we fucked right off the edge of the bed and ended up doing it upside down and it was amazing. Surprise Scheisse or choking is a hard no.

So enjoy your fantasies and if you are into varsity level type kinks definitely pursue them consensually and ethically with adults who want to be there, but don't be creepy or abusive. Use safe words. Don't surprise people. Stick to negotiated limits and if you aren't sure either check or don't do it.

It's not the ethical kinksters who are the problem, it's an abuser trying to use kink as cover for terrible behavior that's the problem.

* "DUP education minister falls over himself defending colleague who shared ‘ex-gay’ propaganda:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/15/dup-peter-weir-nelson-mccausland-gay/

* "Bills Restricting Trans Student Athletes Advance in Three States:" https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2021/2/12/bills-restricting-trans-student-athletes-advance-three-states

* "Bigoted Republican scores own goal with bill to stop ‘trans men from competing in girls sport’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/trans-school-sports-bill-florida-republican-anthony-sabatini-lake-country/

* "'Immoral' Republican condemned for shamefully comparing non-binary people to animals:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/john-fillmore-arizona-republican-trans-non-binary/

* "13-year-old girl banned from riding the school bus after declaring she's a lesbian:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/12/izzy-dieker-coming-out-lesbian-americus-school-kansas-homophobia-bus/

* "Devious sperm 'poison' their rivals, forcing them to swim in circles until they die:" https://www.livescience.com/mouse-sperm-poison-t-haplotype.html

* "Why Rhinos Fly Upside Down Over Namibia:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-move-rhinos

* CW: Animal death. "A Group of Orca Outcasts Is Now Dominating an Entire Sea:" https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/01/orcas-killer-whale-resident-transient/617862/

* "Frozen wind turbines contribute to rolling power blackouts across Texas:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/15/us/power-outages-texas-monday/index.html

* "One day, your home could be made with mushrooms:" https://www.theverge.com/22257120/mushroom-bricks-mycelium-sustainable-building-materials

* "In Violation of Einstein, Black Holes Might Have ‘Hair’:" https://www.quantamagazine.org/in-violation-of-einstein-black-holes-might-have-hair-20210211/

* "Researchers Levitated a Small Tray Using Nothing but Light:" https://www.wired.com/story/researchers-levitated-a-small-tray-using-nothing-but-light/

* "Scientists develop transparent wood that is stronger and lighter than glass :" https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/scientists-develop-transparent-wood-that-is-stronger-and-lighter-than-glass-1.5902739

* "Conch shell in French museum found to be 17,000-year-old wind instrument:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/10/conch-shell-in-french-museum-found-to-be-17000-year-old-wind-instrument

* Infrastructure matters. "How Early Megacities Emerged From the Jungles of Cambodia:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/ancient-cambodian-megacities

* "Deathbed confession from an 18th-century highwayman reveals a surprising failed gay hookup:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/13/horsham-museum-thomas-munn-highwayman-deathbed-confession-gay-hookup/

* "Kickass Women in History: Queen Nanny:" https://smartbitches-feed.dreamwidth.org/2781205.html?style=mine

* "American Democracy Is Only 55 Years Old—And Hanging by a Thread:" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/voting-rights-act-democracy/617792/

* I love this. I hope they keep doing it. "The pandemic has cancelled New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parade. So thousands are creating ‘house floats.’:" https://www.inquirer.com/life/new-orleans-mardi-house-floats-gras-coronavirus-pandemic-parades-20210213.html

* "The Rise and Fall of Britain's Biggest Pram Collection:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/jack-hampshire-pram-collection

* "Meet the people fighting to keep a language alive online:" https://restofworld.org/2021/bringing-urdu-into-the-digital-age/

* "Malaysia Has Turned Lion Dancing Into a Gravity-Defying Extreme Sport:" https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/lion-dance-competition-malaysia

* "The life and death theatre of espionage | Jonna Mendez | TEDxBermuda:"

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* "The Scarlet Witch and Marvel’s Gay Power Couple:"

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* "The Next Pandemic: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "The Magical, Wonderful Road to Impeachment - Trump Acquitted:" https://www.cc.com/video/30y9c9/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-the-magical-wonderful-road-to-impeachment-trump-acquitted

* "New COVID-19 Variants in U.S. & Cuomo's Nursing Home Scandal:" https://www.cc.com/video/vdh5xj/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-new-covid-19-variants-in-u-s-cuomo-s-nursing-home-scandal

* "Second Impeachment Trial Cold Open - SNL:"

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* "Gorilla Glue - SNL:"

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* "What’s Your Type? - SNL:"

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* "Women’s Theater - SNL:"

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* "Pelotaunt - SNL:"

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* "Weekend Update: Stephanie Green on Conspiracy Theories - SNL:"

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* "The Negotiator - SNL:"

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* "Marjorie Taylor Greene's Conspiracy Theories, In Song:"

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* "Harriet Tubman Will Finally Become The Face Of America's $20 Bill:"

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* "Kevin McCarthy Is Playing Both Sides Of The GOP's Civil War:"

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* Snowing Day 2: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/643121384584855553/21421-1040amstill-snowing

* Tavy in his snow watching spot: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/643146578417385472/tavy-in-the-comfy-bed-he-inherited-from-elder

* I wanted to go to bed 4AMish, but I stayed up for the specialist appointment anyway. I called at8AM sharp to check for snow cancellation. It was not cancelled, so we suited up and Squirrel brought his car around to the door where the overhang means I only had t take one step in snow and none on ice. It was fine once we left our neighborhood and even there it was fine mist drizzling. It was also noticeably lot warmer. I watched it rain gently but steadily the whole appointment, slowly melting the roof snow.

I don't like being indoors with humans, but mask and distancing were excellent. The specialist was charming. I was very on with my charm the doctor humor routine, which is always useful in getting them to take my medical stuff seriously Once upon a time I held small crowds mesmerized without a microphone. Now? I bring it out almost exclusively for nurses and doctors. Sigh.

Anyway, it looks like the mechanical joint damage isn't quite as bad as it originally sounded. The real issue is the extreme fucking pain and the atrophy (in response to the extreme fucking pain). He decided it was safe to do the treatment after all. I had this in my hips before. The needle was still comically large, though not right out of a cartoon large. It hurt even more than I remember.

I did not get to bed until noonish and it was ages to get to sleep with the pain. You know how when my lungs are bad I have the ICU oxygen dream? When the pain is extreme even for me it tends to get translated into things like stabbings or what have you. In this case I dreamed I was in hospice dying of advanced cancer (Every thing above my mi thigh was horrific and I felt terrible whenever I woke, so it's not much of a stretch), and people kept trying to kill me so I kept having to fight off or charm the assassins.

By the third bathroom break I could feel the improvement though. I am still I a lot of pain just generally, but this is the rough edge of manageable. We'll know how well it actually worked in a few days, and I need to keep an eye out for infection, but I remember when we did my hips and the ground glass in the joint feeling going away. They still fucking hurt, especially in this weather, but trust me no ground glass was a big fucking improvement over ground glass. If it goes from pain scale 7-10 down to four to 7 for my dominant arm? That would be a game changer.

* Covid Vaccine Star Wars Analogy: https://xkcd.com/2425/

* "Let’s discuss what’s going on with American Gods Season 3 (and as a whole):" https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/643265933926924288/lets-discuss-whats-going-on-with-american-gods

* That's Not a Deer: https://aqua-luxe.tumblr.com/post/643251258381271040/what-do-you-mean-by-thats-not-a-deer-in-the

* "Carved Paintings by Hannah Jensen:" https://www.neatorama.com/2021/01/24/Carved-Paintings-by-Hannah-Jensen/

*****
* 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.

* "You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies From Troop Of Girls In NYC Shelter System:" https://www.scarymommy.com/troop-6000-girl-scouts-nyc-shelters/

* Cat Rescue Fundraiser: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/642429918533304320/design-a-tea-where-tea-leaves-dream-custom

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