(no subject)

[gwydion]

* "Rep. Ro Khanna on Trump Foreign Policy:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-ro-khanna-on-trump-foreign-policy-1409825347680

* So I guess 45 thinks the US Military should be a mercenary force designed to invade random countries for the highest bidder. "Trump to American troops in Iraq: U.S. no longer 'the suckers of the world':" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-makes-surprise-visit-u-s-troops-iraq-his-first-n952081

* "Did a Queens Podiatrist Help Donald Trump Avoid Vietnam?:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/politics/trump-vietnam-draft-exemption.html

* Why?!? "President Trump asks 7-year-old if she still believes in Santa Claus:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-asks-year-believes-santa-claus/story?id=60006120

* "Trump's shaky holiday:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-shaky-holiday-1409835075719

* "Trump opens disorienting fire hose of falsehoods over the holiday:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-opens-disorienting-fire-hose-of-falsehoods-over-the-holiday-1409927747905

* "The Supreme Court takes up a secret case involving Robert Mueller and a mystery company:" https://thinkprogress.org/the-supreme-court-takes-up-a-secret-case-involving-robert-mueller-and-a-mystery-company-7319abb219dc/

* "Trump lashed out at Whitaker after explosive Cohen revelations:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/21/politics/trump-lashed-out-at-whitaker-after-explosive-cohen-revelations/index.html

* "U. S. envoy to coalition fighting ISIS resigns in protest of Trump’s Syria decision:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-envoy-to-coalition-fighting-isis-resigns-in-protest-of-trumps-syria-decision/2018/12/22/a5f42bc0-0606-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.55e4692337d1

* "Ruth Bader Ginsburg released from hospital after cancer surgery:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/26/politics/ruth-bader-ginsburg-hospital-release/index.html

* "AP FACT CHECK: Trump confuses with claims of new border wall:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-fact-check-trump-confuses-with-claims-of-new-border-wall/2018/12/25/15e92926-0882-11e9-8942-0ef442e59094_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1bbdb5dc61d9

* "Donald Trump insists shutdown will not end unless Congress funds border wall:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/25/donald-trump-government-shutdown-will-not-end-unless-congress-funds-border-wall

* "Don't hold your breath for end of government shutdown:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/don-t-hold-your-breath-for-end-of-government-shutdown-1409923651730

* "ICE Continues To Release Asylum-Seekers At Public Park In El Paso, Texas:" https://www.npr.org/2018/12/25/680087478/ice-continues-to-release-hundreds-of-asylum-seekers-into-public-park-in-el-paso

* They killed another child. Cruelty is the point. "8-year-old from Guatemala dies in immigration custody:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/25/immigration-guatemala-child-dies-1075222

* "Trump cruelty-as-deterrent border strategy yields tragedy, chaos:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-cruelty-as-deterrent-border-strategy-yields-tragedy-chaos-1409931331745

* "How the Snow Globe Was Accidentally Created:" https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-history-snow-globe

* My suspicion that they would tighten the loose thingie in the fan belt assembly free was correct. they also spotted the source of the suspected oil leak, which is inconveniently located and like to be $150-160 to fix, most of that for the labor involved in pulling things apart to get at it. I actually turned up for forage right as someone was pulling out I was less lucky at the pharmacy, but luckily it wasn't a long gimp from the overflow parking. Library and documents went well. There was a mini traffic jam of people trying to get to after Christmas sales, which I had forgotten about, what with Christmas itself having very little to do with me. I did my usual super efficient job of copying documents, which I'd pre-marked with my ID stuff before leaving home, collated it all and turned it in. As this is all the gas I have for a few weeks, I stopped in for Cat treats and B-Complex across the street where the line was ridiculous. Sigh. I did get the super cool elderly butch cashier I like at least. By the time i got out, it was full dark and rush hour. sigh. I am pretty sure the guy over in B is on vacation somewhere, so I parked there because I'm exhausted and walked out and trying to parallel park in rush hour is not my forte. I know, still an asshole to do it, but that was a lot of standing and walking. so that's all this years's money, but also all this year's obligations. I've a bunch of phone bureaucracy coming up, but it's January's problem, like taxes and car fees.

* "A Christmas movie I want to see:" http://bendingsignpost.tumblr.com/post/180254311910/a-christmas-movie-i-want-to-see

*****
* 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

[conuly]

* Why?!? "President Trump asks 7-year-old if she still believes in Santa Claus:" https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-asks-year-believes-santa-claus/story?id=60006120

The man has multiple children. I've always believed he's a crap father, but I didn't realize he was this crappy. (Abusive, yes, but this is even....)

[gwydion]

I keep thinking of when I was in first grade and a bunch of bullies surrounding this girl who still believed and deliberately telling her and mocking her until she cried. I intervened even though I knew the bullies were right, because that was so obviously cruel and wrong.

It's the only motivation I can think of to explain his actions, that he's so petty and cruel that he'd lord his knowledge that santa doesn't exist over a seven year old child.

[conuly]

Honestly, I don't like doing the Santa Lie with kids, if only because you're playing Russian Roulette with their feelings. Some small percentage of children are really hurt and feel betrayed when they find out, often with lasting effects.

However, since I live in a society that does that, I know the rule: you don't ask kids if they believe or not, because you're putting silly ideas in their gosh darned heads! And seven is still an average age to believe in impossible things like Santa, which any parent ought to know.

Man's an ass and a bad parent.

[gwydion]

It was no big deal for me as I figured it out very young by myself. First clue? Santa was my grandad. they kept trying to convince me he wasn't, but three year old me knew that was Granddad's scent and no beard was convincing me otherwise. I was stubborn; I always believed my senses over the nonsense adults often pedaled. They finally gave up, took me aside, did the santa's helper lie, and begged not to ruin it for other children. This seemed reasonable to three year old me. At five and a half I reasoned the rest, presented case for non-existence of santa with evidence and posited that the Santa gifts were from them. They gave in immediately and once again begged me not to ruin it for others. I agreed. I reasoned from there that likely the Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc. were lies. I was kind of a scary little kid in a home that encouraged reasoning fro evidence.

That time when I was seven was literally the only time I told the Santa lie and I did it because of the tears of a really sweet, gentle girl who did not deserve what was done to her.

I've never told it again. My policy is to simply smile and g along with children telling me about santa without saying anything one way or another. If I had had children I wouldn't tell the santa lie, for exactly the reason you describe.

Man's an ass and a bad parent.

Elf on a shelf is worse though. Let's get kids comfortable with a surveillance state while encouraging anxiety in the more sensitive ones as if they hadn't enough to worry about! Eeeeeew!