(no subject)

[gwydion]

* The plane should have been grounded, looks like. "Lion Air: Pilots fought automatic safety system before fatal crash:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/28/asia/lion-air-preliminary-report-intl/index.html

* "US manufacturers say Trump tariffs will bring higher prices, not more jobs :" https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/28/manufacturers-say-trump-tariffs-to-bring-higher-prices-not-jobs-survey.html

* "Donald Trump’s Company Reportedly Planned to Gift $50 Million Penthouse in Trump Tower Moscow to Vladimir Putin:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/trump-organization-gift-50-million-trump-tower-moscow-russia-penthouse-putin.html

* "Trump org. planned to give Putin a penthouse: Buzzfeed:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-org-planned-to-give-putin-a-penthouse-buzzfeed-1384341571875

* "Deutsche Bank Offices Are Raided In Money Laundering Probe:" https://www.npr.org/2018/11/29/671820502/deutsche-bank-offices-are-raided-in-money-laundering-probe

* "Michael Cohen pleads guilty to lying to Congress:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/29/michael-cohen-making-surprise-court-appearance-in-new-york-1026107

* "Trump calls Michael Cohen a 'weak person' after new plea deal:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/29/trump-calls-michael-cohen-a-weak-person-after-new-plea-deal-1027259

* "Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-night-owl-calls-to-roger-stone-in-2016-draw-scrutiny-in-mueller-probe/2018/11/28/77d6174e-f332-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c54c74f8dee9

* I literally can't figure out how hiring a special council in accordance with the law is illegal. I wish Republicans would name the specific statue that Rosenstein has broken and explain how it constitutes a capital crime. "Trump: Rosenstein belongs in jail because 'he never should have picked a special counsel':" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/29/trump-rosenstein-belongs-in-jail-1026104

* "Cohen plea shocker exposes Trump camp lies about Russia dealings:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/cohen-plea-shocker-exposes-trump-camp-lies-about-russia-dealings-1384409667616

* "Cohen admission of lying to Congress prompts review of others:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/cohen-admission-of-lying-to-congress-prompts-review-of-others-1384442947514

* "Cohen guilty plea decision made in past two weeks: Vanity Fair:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/cohen-guilty-plea-decision-made-in-past-two-weeks-vanity-fair-1384442435653

* "Rep. Swalwell: We have 'pages of lies' of Trump camp. witnesses:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-swalwell-we-have-pages-of-lies-of-trump-campaign-witnesses-1384340035624

* "Feds raid Ald. Burke's City Hall, ward offices:" https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ed-burke-fbi-federal-agents-city-hall-council/

* "Veterans Affairs Dept. tells congressional staffers it won't repay underpaid GI Bill benefits recipients:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/veterans-affairs-dept-tells-congressional-staffers-it-won-t-repay-n941491

"They are essentially going to ignore the law and say that that change only goes forward from December 2019."

* The computer system at the VA is older than I am. O.o

* Security Theater. "This university is arming students and faculty with hockey pucks in case of a shooting:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/28/us/hockey-pucks-oakland-university-trnd/index.html

* "Senate Judiciary cancels nominee hearings over Flake's Mueller stand:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/28/senate-judiciary-nominee-flake-mueller-1025918

* If Tim Scott is your Senator, now is an excellent time to protest Farr's appointment to the judiciary. If Jeff Flake is your Senator, please contact him to tell him to stand firm on his no vote pledge until Mueller is protected. Farr has a long history of racist voter suppression up to the present day.

If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* TW: Suicide. "Asylum-seeker held in Tacoma dies, ICE says:" https://www.kuow.org/stories/asylum-seeker-held-in-tacoma-dies-ice-says

* "Columbia Teachers College professor’s office vandalized with swastikas, anti-Semitic slurs:" https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/11/29/teachers-college-professors-office-vandalized-with-anti-semitic-graffiti/?fbclid=IwAR2ivIwdj9PL74jSwS8_3hXEuw3weIL_mbsrI3syXbZ4c9cF-raCKFpfLTs#.W_8_d6z--FK.twitter

* "Skip The Salvation Army Kettles In 2018:" https://transgriot.blogspot.com/2018/11/skip-salvation-army-kettles-in-2018.html

* "Is Tear Gas A Nacho Topping:"

"Is Tear Gas A Nacho Topping" (Watch on YouTube)

* Missing Friend update: He is found and the folks down there are sorting things out.

* Jeeves and Wooster vs. Eldritch Horror: https://laughingacademy.tumblr.com/post/180508703863/chainedcoffin-chainedcoffin-antiquarians

* "Mormons pass by:" http://s-leary.tumblr.com/post/180634629037/mormons-pass-by

* Every time I see those commercials trying to sell 23 and Me DNA kits as the perfect family Christmas gifts, all I can think is that this may be the cruelest way ever to tell someone they are illegitimate, or to start epic family fights when it's discovered Uncle SoandSo is really the father. Are they targeting these ads to psychopaths?

* BPAL: Krampus (2012) (Yule (LE)): Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches. Just Below shoulder. https://www.ebay.com/itm/BPAL-Krampus-2012-Yule-Limited-Edition/302973983569

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

* Trans Helplines: https://www.translifeline.org/

* Espy is running to be the first black Senator from Mississippi since reconstruction against a woman who thinks lynching jokes and voter suppression are funny. Investing in him now is an investment in the future. Donate Here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/espy

* Naral https://actnow.prochoiceamerica.org/donate/supportnaral/#.W7nPzmNRfIU

* Planned Paranthood: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/hkv0R7LN0E-Q-U5mXFaXRA2?sourceid=1004272&ms=4NALz1800K1N1A&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4I2IxID03QIVA7bACh3CCwHWEAAYASAAEgKlD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

* "Resources for Male Victims of Abuse:" http://butlerbookbinding.tumblr.com/post/178933672694/resources-for-male-victims-of-abuse

* Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is doing a fundraiser for legal defense of refugee children in ICE detention. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/activism/deliver-them-from-the-hands-of-the-wicked/

* Donate to HIAS to help refugees: https://act.hias.org/page/6048/donate/1

* Want to contribute directly to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services fund? "Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services:" https://www.raicestexas.org/

* Support Kids at the Border: http://brigdh.tumblr.com/post/175022384240/support-the-kids-at-the-border

* How to help Rohingya refugees: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/world/asia/rohingya-aid-myanmar-bangladesh.html?emc=edit_nn_20171012&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=50784086&te=1&_r=0

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:
Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

* This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

* Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* This is a cool person and the swimsuits are being made from an ethical source. LGBTQIA+ swimsuits: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NerdyKeppie?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=24021616

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion

* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/1925021.html

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.comn

Comments

[psybelle]

I have sympathy for everybody but the higher-ups in this round of VA scandal...

(I spent mebbe 5 years as an employee of a VA hospital in the medical research end of things in the mid '90s, and the (proprietary, of course) software was atrocious. I basically refused to use the in-house email system because it was so obtuse - can't remember what that dinosaur was called, but ye gods I would have preferred using PINE)....

So, yes, the software is a disastrous nightmare, upgrading it will make cleaning the Augean stables look easy, the grunt-level employees who will bear the burden of whatever fixes TPTB decide to implement are in a no-win situation, and the veterans deserve to have their benefits tripled at minimum.

[gwydion]

I am not angry at the poor workers doing their best. I AM angry at politicians who have known for literal decades a 50 year old computer system was not a good idea and refused to pay to buy proper equipment and like a whole extra staff to do the upgrading, because that's pretty much what's needed at this point. Clearly they haven't enough people running the system as is and the equipment is so old it can't communicate with anything built this century which is a problem they've known about and has been getting progressively more accute since at least the forever wars started. Seems to me at this point it would be more sensible to triple the staff and really the fuck throw money, exertise, and manpower at the problem for once instead of bailing a sinking boat forever, which seems to be the plan.

I blame the shits at the top at the VA too, because that's been a problem off and on for as long as I can remember too, but the whole having three random assholes with no clue run it for fun ou of a country club situation is... I have no fucking words for that.

I never blame the poor bastards doing their damndest for not glory and inadequate pay with inappropriate and inadequate equipment any more than I blame some poor minimum wage bank teller when the folks running the bank operate it as a criminal enterprise.

I believe in focusing the blame not on the easiest target, but on the folks with the most power to help and harm who make the shitty decisions that get us all here. They want us to turn on each other so we won't turn on them and demand justice. I say turn on the folks with the actual power when an organization goes wrong.

[tibicina]

I just keep occasionally seeing posts about family arguments which break out when it turns out the family isn't Italian, they're Czech or whatever.

I'm sort of vaguely bemused about the popularity of the DNA kits, but I also know that I have a serious amount of 'Nope, family history is pretty darn well documented' going on. Like, the least well documented portion of my family tree, we know what town they came from in Switzerland and there are still traceable cousins there and a bunch of businesses under the last name from that branch.

I also, actually, have some pretty serious reservations about some of the information from the kits, because there's a lot of stuff I'm not sure can really be traced as closely as they claim with our current genome mapping. (e.g. one of the 'my family's all really upset' posts was someone going 'apparently we're Swiss, not Italian' and... given the Italian/Swiss border and Tocino and what I know about Northern Italian cuisine and it's relation to Swiss cuisine... I just disbelieve that they have good enough genetic markers to actually make that distinction.) And maybe it's just that the actual information provided has all the margin of error data, but none of the people using the kits understand it. I don't know. I just... am dubious.

Though to your concern, with the information they give, it could /potentially/ show up that someone was adopted or not the child of their assumed father, but if the actual father was the uncle (who was the brother of the father), it almost certainly wouldn't show and would give very similar results and definitely wouldn't show unless you'd gotten DNA samples from both of them to send in as well. (Honestly, the paternity test between two brothers is something which can have a serious margin for error anyway unless you get lucky. There's too much DNA in common there.)

[gwydion]

Italian, french, and German all arenative languages in Switzerland and I completely agree that there is just way to much movement across the borders there and most places really for a specific nationality to make any sense using genetic markers. Like Modern France, The Low Countries, and Germany were periodically one thing and the borders in that area move like hopscotch rope even in recent history, with armies rolling over and intermarriages, etc.. can anyone ever really be one thing? It is no different in the past.

I am also concerned about the DNA data mining by the actual companies themselves, which I've seen reporting on.

In any case, I think DNA kits for the whole family is not nearly the fun Christmas gift they are pretending in the ads.