I Didn't Quite Finish the News.

[gwydion]

* "Gilets jaunes protests: Eiffel Tower and Louvre to shut amid fears of violence:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/06/french-government-warns-of-weekend-of-great-violence-protesters

* "The Guardian view on May and parliament: a pattern of contempt:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/05/the-guardian-view-on-may-and-parliament-a-pattern-of-contempt

* "Canada arrests Huawei CFO, who is wanted by US authorities:" https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/05/canada-reportedly-arrests-huawei-cfo-facing-us-extradition-for-violating-iran-sanctions.html

* "Senators grapple with ways to punish Saudis over Khashoggi death:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-khashoggi-senate/senators-grapple-with-ways-to-punish-saudis-over-khashoggi-death-idUSKBN1O51VS

* "Trump's economy fails by his own metrics:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-economy-fails-by-his-own-metrics-1391003203909

* "Bush's Funeral Wasn't About Trump. But Of Course It Was.:" https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/12/05/george-hw-bush-funeral-trump-washington-222763

* "Trump aide's appearances on RT channel are focus for Russia inquiry:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/06/ted-malloch-rt-trump-russia-investigation

* "Public Defender Mysteriously Appointed In Butina Case:" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/public-defender-mysteriously-appointed-in-butina-case

* "Multiple facets of Trump-Russia scandal reach benchmark moments:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/multiple-facets-of-trump-russia-scandal-reach-benchmark-moments-1391161411880

* "Documents point to illegal campaign coordination between Trump and the NRA:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/12/nra-trump-2016-campaign-coordination-political-advertising/

* "Former U.S. Attorney General Barr may return to job:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-barr/former-u-s-attorney-general-barr-may-return-to-job-washington-post-idUSKBN1O5278

* "Klobuchar: Whitaker a 'walking conflict of interest':" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/klobuchar-whitaker-a-walking-conflict-of-interest-1391167043904

* "New White House counsel to arrive as Democrats, Mueller close in:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/04/cipollone-new-white-house-counsel-1043868

* "Trump To Pick Heather Nauert, Former Fox News Anchor, As U.N. Ambassador, Source Says:" https://knpr.org/npr/2018-12/trump-pick-heather-nauert-former-fox-news-anchor-un-ambassador-source-says

"There have been other missteps, including the time when she cited D-Day — the Allied invasion of Normandy against the Nazis — as an example of America's strong relationship with Germany."

* "Congress approves short-term spending bill to avert government...:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-budget/congress-approves-short-term-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown-idUSKBN1O522G

* "GOP Rep. David Valadao Concedes To Democrat TJ Cox In California House Race:" https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/david-valadao-concession-california-house-race_us_5c088478e4b0844cda4fc3c2

* Ouch. "Every vote counts - even if you're the candidate:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/every-vote-counts-even-if-you-re-the-candidate-1390986307779

* "Apparent NC election rigging scheme has been going on for years:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/apparent-nc-election-rigging-scheme-has-been-going-on-for-years-1391103043835

So he openly admitted to election fraud a while back, which a simple google search would have revealed. They must have known when they hired him.

Also, why hasn’t he been arrested?

* "McCready: 'Harris needs to come clean' on NC vote irregularities:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/mccready-harris-needs-to-come-clean-on-nc-vote-irregularities-1391160387990

* "Making President Trump’s Bed: A Housekeeper Without Papers:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/trump-bedminster-golf-undocumented-workers.html

* TW: Pedophilia. "USA Gymnastics Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy:" https://www.npr.org/2018/12/05/673861714/usa-gymnastics-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy

"But as The Wall Street Journal explained, the filing "will put an automatic stop—perhaps permanently—to depositions and discovery related to USA Gymnastics in lawsuits filed by Mr. Nassar's victims.""

* "Trump's EPA proposes looser carbon limits on new coal plants:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-coal/trump-to-roll-back-carbon-rule-on-new-coal-plants-idUSKBN1O519C

* "US to ease oil drilling controls protecting imperiled bird:" https://apnews.com/abaee2a70c394ab5afc449a1489a2fd6

* "The U.S.-China Trade War, Trump's Undocumented Housekeeper & Justin Timberlake's Damaged Vocal Cords:"

* "Is America Becoming a Cashless Society?:"

* I actually think about this every time I go Downtown and I get angry every time. About a half decade ago, they tried to switch all of downtown from meters to a drop box system. The guys that own the fish store and all their small business neighbors were furious. Sure, they hated the meters and wanted free parking Downtown and would have happily taken an increase in their business tax in exchange, since paid parking is bad for business.

The drop boxes though? Their sales revenue had dropped 60%. The small business protested the shit out of it and they put the meters back (instead of going with a small business friendly free parking/higher business tax model, but baby steps). The thing is though? The area around the Courthouse and Library had no small businesses to protest, so they put in the dropboxes, and along with the parking lot next to the indie theater, they "upgraded" to smart phone only payments a year or two ago.

I have no smart phone. A lot of poor people don't have smartphones.

This means that there is no parking near the indie theater or the little museums for poor people. That means that if there are no free disabled spots near the Courthouse, I can't park close enough to pay my taxes, etc.. That means if there are no free disabled or drop off spots in front of the Library, I can't use it.

When they put in smart phone/credit card only parking places, they are saying, "We don't want poor people going to these businesses, these restaurants, these theaters. We don't want poor people in our libraries and our courthouses." It seems to me really fucking contrary to logic and purpose to bar poor people from the library and the courthouse, especially as BPD loves pulling people over for driving while poor, etc., and the people using the library most are poor, but there you have it. All these things are only intended for rich people now.

* "Switzerland's Responsible Gun Nuts Pt. 1:"

* "Robert Mueller's Holiday Greeting Cards:"

"Robert Mueller's Holiday Greeting Cards" (Watch on YouTube)

* "The Trumps, Obamas & Clintons All In One Row:"

"The Trumps, Obamas & Clintons All In One Row" (Watch on YouTube)

* "Flynn's Sentencing Memo Was So [Redacted]:"

"Flynn's Sentencing Memo Was So [Redacted]" (Watch on YouTube)

* Sauron's Names: http://the-alexandrian-alchemist.tumblr.com/post/180695547236/sauron-and-his-names

* "My general rule of thumb: you don’t have to believe in everything, but don’t fuck with it, just in case.:" http://the-alexandrian-alchemist.tumblr.com/post/180880666746/theindependentconservative

* Vikings: I have said before how much i liked the way all the actor's playing Ragnar's sons took little pieces of Travis Fimmel's performance and worked them into their own performances, so that they all manage to resemble Ragnar, but in subtly different ways.

I particularly enjoyed Bjorn's actor going Full Ragnar when rejecting Rollo last week. It was so clearly a deliberate in character choice to play up the resemblance that is usually mostly hinted at in order to rub it in. Beautiful.

I noticed Ubbe's actor doing it almost as much in that one on one with Alfred, to deliberately emphasize the parts of Ubbe's character that are like his father's, and the the parallels with Ragnar's relationships with both Athelstan and King Ecbert.

The acting on this show tends to be uneven and the plot's been a hot mess for years, but there are reasons I stay. I am still angry we never got the Athelstan/Ragnar scene we deserved. A whole lot of plot gets left dangling because the show can't focus.

I'll likely keep watching fascinated as long as they keep making them because the things they do right are fascinating and often unique. So few shows have this sort of generational scope and the way they layer meaning is almost as complex as Black Sails.

Almost.

Damn, I miss Black Sails.

* The Good Place musing: Is Accounting also the Bad Place?

* "Many Partings in a Changing World:" https://www.thefandomentals.com/lotr-reread-many-partings-changing-world/

* BPAL: Krampus (2012) (Yule (LE)): Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches. Just Below shoulder.

*****
* 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/

* Want to complaint about Betsy DeVos's plan to coddle college rapists? https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/29/2018-25314/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-sex-in-education-programs-or-activities-receiving-federal#open-comment

* "Trump’s New Wall to Keep Out the Disabled:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/opinion/trumps-disability-public-charge.html

They are soliciting public comment on these draconian regulations until December 10th here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=USCIS-2010-0012-0001

* 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

Comments

[tibicina]

I think accounting is meant to demonstrate that a certain kind of 'neutrality' ends up not actually being neutral at all. So... it's not the bad place, but is the structural support of the current hegemony. It's all the people who think 'we have to listen to both sides' means 'we have to weigh what both sides say equally, even when one of those sides is clearly lying/misleading.'

It's also the people who look at computers predicting that black people are more likely to be criminals and decide that that just means that it's clearly true rather than going 'wait, if we put in data compiled from a biased system, we will simply exacerbate that bias while giving it the imprimatur of neutrality'. (For the record, the useful phrase when dealing with most computer people around why this is a problem is 'Garbage in, garbage out' or 'but the data is corrupted by racial bias.')

Actually, now I'm wondering if part of this whole arc wasn't a reaction to that exact news item from a few years ago.

[gwydion]

That is really good, and way deeper than I was thinking. I was just responding to the poor bastard evaluating "new sex things" who clearly was in a personal bad place and the way that whole office seemed to be a form of torment for everyone inside it. :)

Yours is way better and more clever.