(no subject)
Jan. 17th, 2020 07:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* "Water-stressed cities in India turn to innovation for a safe, stable supply:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/water-stressed-cities-in-india-turn-to-innovation-for-a-safe-stable-supply
* "How war and misinformation are complicating the DRC's Ebola battle:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-war-and-misinformation-are-complicating-the-drcs-ebola-battle
* "Despite outbreak, Ebola treatment and vaccine represent 'resounding scientific success':" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/despite-outbreak-ebola-treatment-and-vaccine-represent-resounding-scientific-success
* "Russian government resigns as Putin proposes reforms that could extend his grip on power:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/15/europe/russian-government-resigns-vladimir-putin-reforms-intl/index.html
* "Venezuela: convoy attacked as lawmakers barred from assembly:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/venezuela-opposition-nicolas-maduro-convoy-attack
* "Iran’s protesters reflect the Middle East’s abiding anger against injustice:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/irans-protesters-reflect-the-middle-easts-abiding-anger-against-injustice/2020/01/15/50fe8136-37e4-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html
* "Australian bushfires from the air: before and after images show scale of devastation:" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/17/before-and-after-images-show-scale-of-bushfire-devastation
* "Chile's President Sends Congress Plan to Slash Health Care Costs After Protests:" https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/01/05/world/americas/05reuters-chile-protests.html
* "Bolivia exiled ex-president Morales retracts call for 'armed militias':" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-politics/bolivia-exiled-ex-president-morales-retracts-call-for-armed-militias-idUSKBN1ZF28L
* "US troops were injured in Iran missile attack despite Pentagon initially saying there were no casualties:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/service-members-injured-iran-strike/index.html
* "Senate passes USMCA, but much work remains:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/senate-passes-usmca-in-major-win-for-trump-099744
* "Trump Tax Break That Benefited the Rich Is Being Investigated:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/business/trump-opportunity-zone-investigation.html
* "White House violated the law by freezing Ukraine aid, GAO says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/white-house-violated-the-law-by-freezing-ukraine-aid-gao-says-099682
* "Ukraine probes possible surveillance of US ambassador:" https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-probes-possible-surveillance-of-us-ambassador/
* "New figure in Ukraine scandal was taken into police custody at Trump resort last year:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/01/new-figure-in-ukraine-scandal-was-taken-into-police-custody-at-trump-resort-last-year/
* "Meet the Trump Donor Who Allegedly Stalked America’s Ambassador in Ukraine:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-is-robert-f-hyde-the-trump-donor-who-apparently-tracked-marie-yovanovitch
* "FBI investigators visit Robert Hyde's home and office:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/fbi-robert-hyde/
* "4 takeaways from the Lev Parnas interview and revelations:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/16/4-takeaways-lev-parnas-interviews-revelations/
* "Giuliani associate Parnas says Trump 'knew exactly what was going on':" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/giuliani-associate-parnas-says-trump-knew-exactly-what-was-going-n1116731
* "Parnas used access to Trump’s world to help push shadow Ukraine effort, new documents show:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/parnas-used-access-to-trumps-world-to-help-push-shadow-ukraine-effort-new-documents-show/2020/01/15/f350dd78-37f1-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html
* It turns out there was more of that Lev Parnas Interview, which I'm linking here.
* "Lev Parnas: Trump ‘knew exactly what was going on’ in Ukraine:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/15/lev-parnas-trump-knew-everything-099508
* "Parnas: 'I don't think Vice President Biden did anything wrong':" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-i-don-t-think-vice-president-biden-did-anything-wrong-76928581596
* "Parnas: Yovanovitch's anti-corruption stance made her a target:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-yovanovitch-s-anti-corruption-stance-made-her-a-target-76928581979
* "Parnas: Perry fell short in his part in Trump's Ukraine scheme:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-perry-fell-short-in-his-part-in-trump-s-ukraine-scheme-76928581584
* "Parnas: Trump helped push for visa for former Ukraine official:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-trump-helped-push-for-visa-for-former-ukraine-official-76929093511
* "Parnas describes how Trump struggled to fire Amb. Yovanovitch:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-describes-how-trump-struggled-to-fire-amb-yovanovitch-76929093782
* "Parnas: Trump Hotel 'like one big cesspool':" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/parnas-trump-hotel-like-one-big-cesspool-76926021679
* "Trump impeachment: Chief Justice John Roberts and senators sworn in as trial begins – as it happened:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/jan/16/trump-impeachment-trial-live-news-ukraine-pelosi-giuliani-latest-updates-senate-democrats
Want witnesses and testimony at the impeachment? Want press access and fully televised hearings? Don't hold your breath, but if you have a moderate and/or vulnerable Republican senator now might be a good time to express your opinion.
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/
* "GOP senators struggle to defend Trump as he continues to be implicated:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-senators-struggle-to-defend-trump-as-he-continues-to-be-implicated-76925509786
* "Tammy Baldwin on Trump's Impeachment and Her Duty as a Senator:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/17/tammy-baldwin-trumps-impeachment-and-her-duty-senator
* "Andrew Yang Explains Why The 2020 Candidates Are A Very White Bunch:"
* "How Andrew Yang Nabbed That Big Dave Chappelle Endorsement:"
* "Michael Bloomberg's Presidential Campaign Only Has One Donor: Himself:"
* "Mayor Bloomberg Explains Why He Apologized For His 'Stop And Frisk' Policing Policy:"
* This is a really good explanation for why some of us are picking warren over Bernie in the Primary. Again? I vote for whoever the fuck wins the Democratic primary, but right now vote/caucus for your favorite in the primary. Ignore electability. Obama was considered unelectable and look how that turned out. https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/190307086297/can-you-please-explain-why-you-like-warren-more
* "Trump planning to divert additional $7.2 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-planning-to-divert-additional-72-billion-in-pentagon-funds-for-border-wall/2020/01/13/59080a3a-363d-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html
* "The FBI Arrested Three White Supremacists Days Before A Gun Rally That Is Attracting "Threats Of Violence":" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/amberjamieson/white-supremacists-arrested
* TW: Pedophilia. "George Nader, key witness in Mueller probe, pleads guilty to child sex charges:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/george-nader-key-witness-in-mueller-probe-pleads-guilty-to-child-sex-charges/2020/01/13/a6824422-f67a-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html
* "Thousands of students take to the streets to protest Israeli education minister who said being gay isn’t ‘normal or natural’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/students-protest-israeli-education-minister-rafi-peretz-gay-natural/
* "Guatemala swears in homophobic new president who’s staunchly against marriage equality and LGBT rights:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/guatemala-swears-in-homophobic-president-against-marriage-equality-lgbt-rights/
* "Indonesian mayor condemned for ‘hateful raids’ on LGBT people after conviction of serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/14/reynhard-sinaga-indonesia-mayor-lgbt-raids-amnesty-international-sexual-assault-rape/
* "Trans woman awarded £9,000 in Debenhams sex-discrimination settlement after being refused Christmas job:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/trans-woman-ava-moore-settles-anti-trans-discrimination-case-debenhams-northern-ireland/
* CW: Blood. "Lesbian left bloody and bruised after being jumped by thugs in brutal homophobic attack:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/17/lesbian-charlie-graham-attack-blood-bruises-daily-mirror-hate-crime/
* TW: Suicide. "I was gay in the British Army when it was illegal. It drove me to drink and an attempt on my own life:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/12/british-army-gay-armed-forces-military-ban-illegal-trevor-skingle-royal-british-legion/
* "Labour’s Jess Phillips on transgender rights and why she’ll never throw minorities ‘under the bus’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/17/jess-phillips-labour-leadership-transgender-rights-juno-dawson-pinknews-interview/
* "Judge dismisses ‘former’ gay pastor’s lawsuit against Vimeo for banning traumatising conversion videos:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/vimeo-conversion-therapy-lawsuit-former-gay-church-united-james-domen/
* "Far-right activist tries to shame queer man for giving out ‘free blow jobs’ in bizarre ‘homophobic’ rant:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/kaitlin-bennett-liberty-hangout-youtube-sex-shame-gay-queer-oral-sex-angela-james/
* "Republican politicians somehow manage to file four anti-LGBT bills on the same day:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/anti-lgbt-bills-florida-republican-trans-kids-healthcare-shevrin-jones-conversion-therapy/
* "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Calls Out Homophobia in City Council:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/chicago-mayor-lori-lightfoot-calls-out-homophobia-city-council
* TW: Extreme Hate Speech, Pedophilia. "Minnesota Senate Leader: Sexual Assault, Bad Parenting Make People Gay:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/minnesota-senate-leader-sexual-assault-bad-parenting-make-people-gay
* "'Toss the Jello Salad,' 'SL,UT' Condom Campaign Killed by Utah Gov.:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/toss-jello-salad-slut-condom-campaign-killed-utah-gov
* "California Senator Launches Bold Plan to End HIV, STIs:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/california-launches-bold-plan-end-hiv-stis
* "People Still Think You Can Get HIV From Spit and Hugs:" https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/1/14/people-still-think-you-can-get-hiv-spit-and-hugs
* Re: battle of the Popes over clerical marriage. Yes, I'm following the RL drama between Francis, Benedict, and people claiming to represent Benedict. (I refer here to RL, not the HBO drama, New Pope). I do not plan to weigh in on the Pope said/ex-pope said situation. I'm a medievlist by training; I'm here for the doctrinal discussion.
Something I've noticed is conservative statements that seem to imply clerical celibacy has always been requirement. It wasn't for a majority of the time the catholic Church has existed. There is a big difference between a long time and always. The Catholic Church did just fine for nearly 1200 years without barring married priests. No really.
Yes, the Catholic Church has always privileged celibacy. It was considered better to be celibate, and it required it for higher offices and certain particular roles, but up until the 4th Lateran Council in 1215, odds were your local parish priest was married. For a stretch of literally hundreds of years you had monks and nuns married to each other in dual foundations. It got rarer after the vikings burned most of those, but it still happened. Sure, your hermits and anchoresses and the like were celibate by definition and if you wanted to be Pope or a cardinal or an Abbot or Abess or the like or a bishop, you had to agree to stop sleeping with your wife/husband or be unmarried/widowed, but otherwise? Encouraged but not required.
When they did finally outlaw clerical marriage, people resisted. People resisted hard. Village priests resisted hardest, because they needed those wives in the home to help run the farm that literally fed him, People just generally did not react well to having their children suddenly declared illegitimate and demands they never see their wives again. Can you the fuck blame them?
So they quietly started calling the wives "housekeepers," and the locals, being used to married priests and not really knowing or caring much about doctrinal details that didn't much effect them, blinked no eye at John Priestson following in his father's footsteps. This went on for literal centuries with periodic drives to stamp it out that weren't all that effective because tradition and human nature said otherwise.
Sure, a certain percentage of the population is asexual, but it was a lot smaller than the number needed for all the roles needing to be filled. So it often made sense to look the other way. Those parish priest jobs were hard to fill because it was not a great life. You needed a minumum level of education to do the job and you lived live a peasant. The really educated and ambitious wanted clerical jobs hat paid better, or had a better standard of living, or had scope to rise and get some power, and can you blame them? Various waves of epidemics particularly in the 14th century made it worse.
Of course telling people they can't marry doesn't stop people who aren't asexual from wanting sex. There's a reason late medieval Popes, Bishops, Cardinals, etc. had so many mistresses we know about. There's a reason that the debauched priest or monk or nun is a stock character n late medieval literature. They medieval religious argument for allowing clergy access to legal and sometimes sponsored brothels was that otherwise they'd run amok in the villages, seducing wives and daughters and the like. It was better to let them do penance knowing they'd be at i again soon than the alternative. Which also happened a lot.
(There was also just generally an issue with clergy running around raping people from well before the celibacy ruling, which I've written about elsewhere and is what Becket and Henry II were arguing about. I maintain Henry II was absolutely right that punishing rapists was better than a slap on the wrist, but Henry lost that one because of the assassination. Yes, there was adultery before 1215. It's just in a small village where everyone knows everything and your wife Right There glaring at you, you are more apt to keep it under your cassock. The occasional consensual misstep became an epidemic, and there was a whole lot less restraint on more coercive situations).
Anyway, the point is that it is hard to get people who aren't asexual to successfully forswear sex forever. Some people manage it, sure, but most don't. A lot of people who could do the work and would like too, don't get ordained. a lot of people who for one reason or another are conflicted about their desires tend to sign up and then fail to keep their vows, sometimes tragically. It tends to create massive shortages for the harder, less remunerative jobs, like parish priest in a super poor rural parish.
Letting parish level clergy, particularly in the hardest to fill parishes, marry is the most traditional Catholic solution there is, if you take the long view. It's fixing something that the 4th Lateran Council broke in 1215, and that has caused countless people grief for literally centuries. Even a limited loosening of the marriage prohibition for certain specific areas is very much for everyone's good.
I'm not a Francis fan because he's been a lot of talk and very little action on things like addressing pedophilia in the clergy or modernizing. I disagree that I am a terrorist and/or as destructive as a nuclear bomb because of my gender, and I'm not budging on that. Is he better than the other Pope's I'm old enough to remember? Definitely yes. He believes in climate change and at least pays marginal lip service to doing the right thing in some areas even though he never does anything tangible. This though? Would be something at least. Not the sweeping changes needed, but even a small bit of progress is progress.
I hope he does it, but I'm not holding my breath. Thinking about modernizing is not actually modernizing. I am only willing to give credit for actions and I've seen so very few of those. Surprise me, Francis. Please.
* "Trump's Dishwasher Rant Is Highlight Of Rambling Pre-Debate Rally:"
* "Giuliani Acted With Trump's "Knowledge And Consent" When Conspiring With Parnas In Ukraine:"
* "Meanwhile... Sex Warning Issued For Athlete Beds At Tokyo Olympics:"
* "Ex-Pope Benedict vs. Pope Francis, Boeing 737 MAX Email Bombshell & Spotify's Playlists for Dogs:"
* "The Magical, Wonderful Road to Impeachment - Lev Parnas Adds Fuel to Trump's Ukraine Scandal:"
* The snow is finally melting and Livia's special girl food came today. I have started the tank break down. Sterilizing the dirt is a project that naturally takes time as I can only do two pie tins at a time. Progress!
It looks like the nice man comes to start fixing things like the doors and bathroom fans Wednesday. Next up is water heater and ripping out the horrible broken electric fireplace that eats my living room. Hopefully, by then will have the next stages sorted out.
...And I just realized with the weather I never turned in the extra paper work to DHHS. It means I HAVE to go out tomorrow. Squirrel says the roads are better outside the immediate neighborhood, but getting to the car is still dangerous. *crosses fingers for rain tomorrow.*
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
* Australia is on fire. Want to help? https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/190151259088
https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/bushfire-donations/11823676
Help Thirsty Koalas Devastated by Recent Fires: https://au.gofundme.com/f/help-thirsty-koalas-devastated-by-recent-fires
Mogo Zoo Fire Recovery: https://au.gofundme.com/f/mogo-zoo-fire-recovery
WIRES-Emergency Fund for Wildlife: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1386120504919105/10158318179549750/
Victorian Bushfire Appeal: https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal
"Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities:" https://www.gofundme.com/f/fire-relief-fund-for-first-nations-communities
* A small, cheap thing to help climate change if you have little money to spare: https://onetreeplanted.org/products/amazon-rainforest-peru
* How to donate to Rainbow Road: https://www.rainbowrailroad.com/donate
* Here are a bunch of state level links to help people in immigrant detention: https://taibhsearachd.tumblr.com/post/186058182962/woundability-this-4th-of-july-celebrate-the
* Angry about the concentration camps on our Southern Border? Here is a list of useful things you can do: https://medium.com/@togetherandfree/feel-helpless-amidst-the-horrific-immigration-news-youre-not-how-you-can-make-difference-today-108dc42de88e
* "More Organizations to Support Helping Refugee Children:" https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/201920.html
* Here is a massive list of things you can do to help refugees inside and outside of the Camps: https://s-leary.tumblr.com/post/185783586806/so-youve-probably-seen-the-post-going-around
* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey
* The Indivisble guide exists to help you organize effective resistance: https://indivisible.org/
* Want to support Christy Smith in the primary for Katie Hill's seat?: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_ca25
* Want to get rid of Mitch McConnell? Help Amy McGrath: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/am-website?refcode=website-nav
* Want to get rid of Lindsey Graham? Help Jaime Harrison: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_harrison_fr_q12019_jaime-a?refcode=MS_AD_D-DD_2019.03.08_X_GG_KW__X__eyJjcmVhdGl2ZSI6IkFkZCBEb25hdGlvbiBOb3ciLCJhdWRpZW5jZSI6IkphaW1lSGFycmlzb24ifQ&recurring=TRUE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4a_583I5gIVC8RkCh0MowFeEAAYASAAEgIXZfD_BwE
* There's a decent chance of flipping this Senate seat blue. Want to help? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ads-mek-egsearch_dtd?refcode=ads-200108-gs-evergreensearch-dtd-natl-mix-8753679275-87807510469-410037583123-%2Bmark%20%2Bkelly%20%2Bdonate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpKSR192K5wIVAsNkCh0EeAFSEAAYASAAEgLY7fD_BwE
* 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/
* Some RL friends of mine who were barely scraping by just lost one of the part time jobs they collectively hold and it's really fucking things up for them. These are good people, who do so much for others. Want to help? https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-gig-worker-get-through-the-winter/share
* HorrorMux is currently running a Max Mad type thing. Available Archetypes are here. I'm Martyr if you want to find me.: http://horrormu.com/index.php/Available
* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion
* If you are interested in helping, right now the Cat thing we need most is:
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-signature-selects/dp/147047
The dry food I was going to try is this one: https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-flatland/dp/176663
Or possibly this: https://www.chewy.com/instinct-by-natures-variety-limited/dp/44654
* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/2108835.html
* "How war and misinformation are complicating the DRC's Ebola battle:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-war-and-misinformation-are-complicating-the-drcs-ebola-battle
* "Despite outbreak, Ebola treatment and vaccine represent 'resounding scientific success':" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/despite-outbreak-ebola-treatment-and-vaccine-represent-resounding-scientific-success
* "Russian government resigns as Putin proposes reforms that could extend his grip on power:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/15/europe/russian-government-resigns-vladimir-putin-reforms-intl/index.html
* "Venezuela: convoy attacked as lawmakers barred from assembly:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/venezuela-opposition-nicolas-maduro-convoy-attack
* "Iran’s protesters reflect the Middle East’s abiding anger against injustice:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/irans-protesters-reflect-the-middle-easts-abiding-anger-against-injustice/2020/01/15/50fe8136-37e4-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html
* "Australian bushfires from the air: before and after images show scale of devastation:" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/17/before-and-after-images-show-scale-of-bushfire-devastation
* "Chile's President Sends Congress Plan to Slash Health Care Costs After Protests:" https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/01/05/world/americas/05reuters-chile-protests.html
* "Bolivia exiled ex-president Morales retracts call for 'armed militias':" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-politics/bolivia-exiled-ex-president-morales-retracts-call-for-armed-militias-idUSKBN1ZF28L
* "US troops were injured in Iran missile attack despite Pentagon initially saying there were no casualties:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/service-members-injured-iran-strike/index.html
* "Senate passes USMCA, but much work remains:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/senate-passes-usmca-in-major-win-for-trump-099744
* "Trump Tax Break That Benefited the Rich Is Being Investigated:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/business/trump-opportunity-zone-investigation.html
* "White House violated the law by freezing Ukraine aid, GAO says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/white-house-violated-the-law-by-freezing-ukraine-aid-gao-says-099682
* "Ukraine probes possible surveillance of US ambassador:" https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-probes-possible-surveillance-of-us-ambassador/
* "New figure in Ukraine scandal was taken into police custody at Trump resort last year:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/01/new-figure-in-ukraine-scandal-was-taken-into-police-custody-at-trump-resort-last-year/
* "Meet the Trump Donor Who Allegedly Stalked America’s Ambassador in Ukraine:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-is-robert-f-hyde-the-trump-donor-who-apparently-tracked-marie-yovanovitch
* "FBI investigators visit Robert Hyde's home and office:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/fbi-robert-hyde/
* "4 takeaways from the Lev Parnas interview and revelations:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/16/4-takeaways-lev-parnas-interviews-revelations/
* "Giuliani associate Parnas says Trump 'knew exactly what was going on':" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/giuliani-associate-parnas-says-trump-knew-exactly-what-was-going-n1116731
* "Parnas used access to Trump’s world to help push shadow Ukraine effort, new documents show:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/parnas-used-access-to-trumps-world-to-help-push-shadow-ukraine-effort-new-documents-show/2020/01/15/f350dd78-37f1-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html
* It turns out there was more of that Lev Parnas Interview, which I'm linking here.
* "Lev Parnas: Trump ‘knew exactly what was going on’ in Ukraine:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/15/lev-parnas-trump-knew-everything-099508
* "Parnas: 'I don't think Vice President Biden did anything wrong':" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-i-don-t-think-vice-president-biden-did-anything-wrong-76928581596
* "Parnas: Yovanovitch's anti-corruption stance made her a target:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-yovanovitch-s-anti-corruption-stance-made-her-a-target-76928581979
* "Parnas: Perry fell short in his part in Trump's Ukraine scheme:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-perry-fell-short-in-his-part-in-trump-s-ukraine-scheme-76928581584
* "Parnas: Trump helped push for visa for former Ukraine official:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-trump-helped-push-for-visa-for-former-ukraine-official-76929093511
* "Parnas describes how Trump struggled to fire Amb. Yovanovitch:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/parnas-describes-how-trump-struggled-to-fire-amb-yovanovitch-76929093782
* "Parnas: Trump Hotel 'like one big cesspool':" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/parnas-trump-hotel-like-one-big-cesspool-76926021679
* "Trump impeachment: Chief Justice John Roberts and senators sworn in as trial begins – as it happened:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/jan/16/trump-impeachment-trial-live-news-ukraine-pelosi-giuliani-latest-updates-senate-democrats
Want witnesses and testimony at the impeachment? Want press access and fully televised hearings? Don't hold your breath, but if you have a moderate and/or vulnerable Republican senator now might be a good time to express your opinion.
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/
* "GOP senators struggle to defend Trump as he continues to be implicated:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/gop-senators-struggle-to-defend-trump-as-he-continues-to-be-implicated-76925509786
* "Tammy Baldwin on Trump's Impeachment and Her Duty as a Senator:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/17/tammy-baldwin-trumps-impeachment-and-her-duty-senator
* "Andrew Yang Explains Why The 2020 Candidates Are A Very White Bunch:"
* "How Andrew Yang Nabbed That Big Dave Chappelle Endorsement:"
* "Michael Bloomberg's Presidential Campaign Only Has One Donor: Himself:"
* "Mayor Bloomberg Explains Why He Apologized For His 'Stop And Frisk' Policing Policy:"
* This is a really good explanation for why some of us are picking warren over Bernie in the Primary. Again? I vote for whoever the fuck wins the Democratic primary, but right now vote/caucus for your favorite in the primary. Ignore electability. Obama was considered unelectable and look how that turned out. https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/190307086297/can-you-please-explain-why-you-like-warren-more
* "Trump planning to divert additional $7.2 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-planning-to-divert-additional-72-billion-in-pentagon-funds-for-border-wall/2020/01/13/59080a3a-363d-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html
* "The FBI Arrested Three White Supremacists Days Before A Gun Rally That Is Attracting "Threats Of Violence":" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/amberjamieson/white-supremacists-arrested
* TW: Pedophilia. "George Nader, key witness in Mueller probe, pleads guilty to child sex charges:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/george-nader-key-witness-in-mueller-probe-pleads-guilty-to-child-sex-charges/2020/01/13/a6824422-f67a-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html
* "Thousands of students take to the streets to protest Israeli education minister who said being gay isn’t ‘normal or natural’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/students-protest-israeli-education-minister-rafi-peretz-gay-natural/
* "Guatemala swears in homophobic new president who’s staunchly against marriage equality and LGBT rights:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/guatemala-swears-in-homophobic-president-against-marriage-equality-lgbt-rights/
* "Indonesian mayor condemned for ‘hateful raids’ on LGBT people after conviction of serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/14/reynhard-sinaga-indonesia-mayor-lgbt-raids-amnesty-international-sexual-assault-rape/
* "Trans woman awarded £9,000 in Debenhams sex-discrimination settlement after being refused Christmas job:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/trans-woman-ava-moore-settles-anti-trans-discrimination-case-debenhams-northern-ireland/
* CW: Blood. "Lesbian left bloody and bruised after being jumped by thugs in brutal homophobic attack:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/17/lesbian-charlie-graham-attack-blood-bruises-daily-mirror-hate-crime/
* TW: Suicide. "I was gay in the British Army when it was illegal. It drove me to drink and an attempt on my own life:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/12/british-army-gay-armed-forces-military-ban-illegal-trevor-skingle-royal-british-legion/
* "Labour’s Jess Phillips on transgender rights and why she’ll never throw minorities ‘under the bus’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/17/jess-phillips-labour-leadership-transgender-rights-juno-dawson-pinknews-interview/
* "Judge dismisses ‘former’ gay pastor’s lawsuit against Vimeo for banning traumatising conversion videos:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/vimeo-conversion-therapy-lawsuit-former-gay-church-united-james-domen/
* "Far-right activist tries to shame queer man for giving out ‘free blow jobs’ in bizarre ‘homophobic’ rant:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/15/kaitlin-bennett-liberty-hangout-youtube-sex-shame-gay-queer-oral-sex-angela-james/
* "Republican politicians somehow manage to file four anti-LGBT bills on the same day:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/anti-lgbt-bills-florida-republican-trans-kids-healthcare-shevrin-jones-conversion-therapy/
* "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Calls Out Homophobia in City Council:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/chicago-mayor-lori-lightfoot-calls-out-homophobia-city-council
* TW: Extreme Hate Speech, Pedophilia. "Minnesota Senate Leader: Sexual Assault, Bad Parenting Make People Gay:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/minnesota-senate-leader-sexual-assault-bad-parenting-make-people-gay
* "'Toss the Jello Salad,' 'SL,UT' Condom Campaign Killed by Utah Gov.:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/toss-jello-salad-slut-condom-campaign-killed-utah-gov
* "California Senator Launches Bold Plan to End HIV, STIs:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/1/16/california-launches-bold-plan-end-hiv-stis
* "People Still Think You Can Get HIV From Spit and Hugs:" https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/1/14/people-still-think-you-can-get-hiv-spit-and-hugs
* Re: battle of the Popes over clerical marriage. Yes, I'm following the RL drama between Francis, Benedict, and people claiming to represent Benedict. (I refer here to RL, not the HBO drama, New Pope). I do not plan to weigh in on the Pope said/ex-pope said situation. I'm a medievlist by training; I'm here for the doctrinal discussion.
Something I've noticed is conservative statements that seem to imply clerical celibacy has always been requirement. It wasn't for a majority of the time the catholic Church has existed. There is a big difference between a long time and always. The Catholic Church did just fine for nearly 1200 years without barring married priests. No really.
Yes, the Catholic Church has always privileged celibacy. It was considered better to be celibate, and it required it for higher offices and certain particular roles, but up until the 4th Lateran Council in 1215, odds were your local parish priest was married. For a stretch of literally hundreds of years you had monks and nuns married to each other in dual foundations. It got rarer after the vikings burned most of those, but it still happened. Sure, your hermits and anchoresses and the like were celibate by definition and if you wanted to be Pope or a cardinal or an Abbot or Abess or the like or a bishop, you had to agree to stop sleeping with your wife/husband or be unmarried/widowed, but otherwise? Encouraged but not required.
When they did finally outlaw clerical marriage, people resisted. People resisted hard. Village priests resisted hardest, because they needed those wives in the home to help run the farm that literally fed him, People just generally did not react well to having their children suddenly declared illegitimate and demands they never see their wives again. Can you the fuck blame them?
So they quietly started calling the wives "housekeepers," and the locals, being used to married priests and not really knowing or caring much about doctrinal details that didn't much effect them, blinked no eye at John Priestson following in his father's footsteps. This went on for literal centuries with periodic drives to stamp it out that weren't all that effective because tradition and human nature said otherwise.
Sure, a certain percentage of the population is asexual, but it was a lot smaller than the number needed for all the roles needing to be filled. So it often made sense to look the other way. Those parish priest jobs were hard to fill because it was not a great life. You needed a minumum level of education to do the job and you lived live a peasant. The really educated and ambitious wanted clerical jobs hat paid better, or had a better standard of living, or had scope to rise and get some power, and can you blame them? Various waves of epidemics particularly in the 14th century made it worse.
Of course telling people they can't marry doesn't stop people who aren't asexual from wanting sex. There's a reason late medieval Popes, Bishops, Cardinals, etc. had so many mistresses we know about. There's a reason that the debauched priest or monk or nun is a stock character n late medieval literature. They medieval religious argument for allowing clergy access to legal and sometimes sponsored brothels was that otherwise they'd run amok in the villages, seducing wives and daughters and the like. It was better to let them do penance knowing they'd be at i again soon than the alternative. Which also happened a lot.
(There was also just generally an issue with clergy running around raping people from well before the celibacy ruling, which I've written about elsewhere and is what Becket and Henry II were arguing about. I maintain Henry II was absolutely right that punishing rapists was better than a slap on the wrist, but Henry lost that one because of the assassination. Yes, there was adultery before 1215. It's just in a small village where everyone knows everything and your wife Right There glaring at you, you are more apt to keep it under your cassock. The occasional consensual misstep became an epidemic, and there was a whole lot less restraint on more coercive situations).
Anyway, the point is that it is hard to get people who aren't asexual to successfully forswear sex forever. Some people manage it, sure, but most don't. A lot of people who could do the work and would like too, don't get ordained. a lot of people who for one reason or another are conflicted about their desires tend to sign up and then fail to keep their vows, sometimes tragically. It tends to create massive shortages for the harder, less remunerative jobs, like parish priest in a super poor rural parish.
Letting parish level clergy, particularly in the hardest to fill parishes, marry is the most traditional Catholic solution there is, if you take the long view. It's fixing something that the 4th Lateran Council broke in 1215, and that has caused countless people grief for literally centuries. Even a limited loosening of the marriage prohibition for certain specific areas is very much for everyone's good.
I'm not a Francis fan because he's been a lot of talk and very little action on things like addressing pedophilia in the clergy or modernizing. I disagree that I am a terrorist and/or as destructive as a nuclear bomb because of my gender, and I'm not budging on that. Is he better than the other Pope's I'm old enough to remember? Definitely yes. He believes in climate change and at least pays marginal lip service to doing the right thing in some areas even though he never does anything tangible. This though? Would be something at least. Not the sweeping changes needed, but even a small bit of progress is progress.
I hope he does it, but I'm not holding my breath. Thinking about modernizing is not actually modernizing. I am only willing to give credit for actions and I've seen so very few of those. Surprise me, Francis. Please.
* "Trump's Dishwasher Rant Is Highlight Of Rambling Pre-Debate Rally:"
* "Giuliani Acted With Trump's "Knowledge And Consent" When Conspiring With Parnas In Ukraine:"
* "Meanwhile... Sex Warning Issued For Athlete Beds At Tokyo Olympics:"
* "Ex-Pope Benedict vs. Pope Francis, Boeing 737 MAX Email Bombshell & Spotify's Playlists for Dogs:"
* "The Magical, Wonderful Road to Impeachment - Lev Parnas Adds Fuel to Trump's Ukraine Scandal:"
* The snow is finally melting and Livia's special girl food came today. I have started the tank break down. Sterilizing the dirt is a project that naturally takes time as I can only do two pie tins at a time. Progress!
It looks like the nice man comes to start fixing things like the doors and bathroom fans Wednesday. Next up is water heater and ripping out the horrible broken electric fireplace that eats my living room. Hopefully, by then will have the next stages sorted out.
...And I just realized with the weather I never turned in the extra paper work to DHHS. It means I HAVE to go out tomorrow. Squirrel says the roads are better outside the immediate neighborhood, but getting to the car is still dangerous. *crosses fingers for rain tomorrow.*
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
* Australia is on fire. Want to help? https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/190151259088
https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/bushfire-donations/11823676
Help Thirsty Koalas Devastated by Recent Fires: https://au.gofundme.com/f/help-thirsty-koalas-devastated-by-recent-fires
Mogo Zoo Fire Recovery: https://au.gofundme.com/f/mogo-zoo-fire-recovery
WIRES-Emergency Fund for Wildlife: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1386120504919105/10158318179549750/
Victorian Bushfire Appeal: https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal
"Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities:" https://www.gofundme.com/f/fire-relief-fund-for-first-nations-communities
* A small, cheap thing to help climate change if you have little money to spare: https://onetreeplanted.org/products/amazon-rainforest-peru
* How to donate to Rainbow Road: https://www.rainbowrailroad.com/donate
* Here are a bunch of state level links to help people in immigrant detention: https://taibhsearachd.tumblr.com/post/186058182962/woundability-this-4th-of-july-celebrate-the
* Angry about the concentration camps on our Southern Border? Here is a list of useful things you can do: https://medium.com/@togetherandfree/feel-helpless-amidst-the-horrific-immigration-news-youre-not-how-you-can-make-difference-today-108dc42de88e
* "More Organizations to Support Helping Refugee Children:" https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/201920.html
* Here is a massive list of things you can do to help refugees inside and outside of the Camps: https://s-leary.tumblr.com/post/185783586806/so-youve-probably-seen-the-post-going-around
* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey
* The Indivisble guide exists to help you organize effective resistance: https://indivisible.org/
* Want to support Christy Smith in the primary for Katie Hill's seat?: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_ca25
* Want to get rid of Mitch McConnell? Help Amy McGrath: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/am-website?refcode=website-nav
* Want to get rid of Lindsey Graham? Help Jaime Harrison: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_harrison_fr_q12019_jaime-a?refcode=MS_AD_D-DD_2019.03.08_X_GG_KW__X__eyJjcmVhdGl2ZSI6IkFkZCBEb25hdGlvbiBOb3ciLCJhdWRpZW5jZSI6IkphaW1lSGFycmlzb24ifQ&recurring=TRUE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4a_583I5gIVC8RkCh0MowFeEAAYASAAEgIXZfD_BwE
* There's a decent chance of flipping this Senate seat blue. Want to help? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ads-mek-egsearch_dtd?refcode=ads-200108-gs-evergreensearch-dtd-natl-mix-8753679275-87807510469-410037583123-%2Bmark%20%2Bkelly%20%2Bdonate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpKSR192K5wIVAsNkCh0EeAFSEAAYASAAEgLY7fD_BwE
* 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/
* Some RL friends of mine who were barely scraping by just lost one of the part time jobs they collectively hold and it's really fucking things up for them. These are good people, who do so much for others. Want to help? https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-gig-worker-get-through-the-winter/share
* HorrorMux is currently running a Max Mad type thing. Available Archetypes are here. I'm Martyr if you want to find me.: http://horrormu.com/index.php/Available
* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion
* If you are interested in helping, right now the Cat thing we need most is:
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-signature-selects/dp/147047
The dry food I was going to try is this one: https://www.chewy.com/blue-buffalo-wilderness-flatland/dp/176663
Or possibly this: https://www.chewy.com/instinct-by-natures-variety-limited/dp/44654
* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/2108835.html