(no subject)
Jul. 7th, 2012 06:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* Today Libya had their first free elections. They were picking a legislature to start the process of forming a government.
* More on Debtor's prison in the US as a way to increase the tax burden on the poor and create a permanent underclass: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46979738/vp/48104425#48104425
* Fighting back against illegal practices that land poor people in Debtor's prison: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46979738/vp/48104466#48104466
* It turns out Mitt Romney thinks that George W. Bush's economic policies didn't do nearly enough damage to the economy as his economic plan is all about doubling down on the discredited "trickle down" economic theory. Sigh: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/melissa-harris-perry/46419672#48104344
* "Yollada Getting Drama Already:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/07/yollada-getting-drama-already.html
* Today was my idea of perfect weather. Not to hot, not too cold, high pale clouds, a breeze blowing over the hill from the bay. I took one of my special real sugar root beers, a book needing finishing, and a folding chair out on the patio and let the black cats have a ramble. Unfortunately, late in the walk, a bee showed up who really liked my BPAL. I am allergic, but haven't possessed an epipen in something like a decade. I am not phobic, and am one of those people who sits still and lets the bee buzz about until it loses interest rather than flailing about in order to encourage it to sting. Still, I am not particularly happy having a bee brushing against my neck. All this would have been fine, except Mache had just gone inside and the screen door was still cracked. Hector chose this moment to make his break for freedom. By the time I'd unhooked The Butt from my ankle, carefully set down the book, and slowly edged away from the extremely persistent bee, Hector had lept the garden wall. He saw me coming and beelined for the parking lot. I stood there calling him, knowing damned well that by the time I'd gotten out the step ladder, hobbled up it, and tried to shamble after him, he could be long gone. I also knew he generally comes when called and is terrified of the big blue room, what with him having been abandoned in it to starve as a kitten. My gamble paid off, and he was soon galloping right back in utter terror of the great outdoors. He zipped inside, I crooned praises and gave him the pettins once he'd calmed down enough to take them. (I never yell at a cat for escaping, as it discourages them from returning; I always praise and make a fuss over a cat who comes back inside when called in order to reward the coming back in when called behavior. Cat psych 101 and why I hardly ever have trouble getting them to come back in.) I finished my short story with the bee "helping", then got the Butt back in. Well, the first half hour was relaxing at least.
BTW, my system of supervised walks in good weather out back has had my hoped for effect of redirecting the black cat interest in escape to the back door. Neither of them have darted out the front door between someone's legs in the this calendar year so far. They will come greet Squirrel or I when we return from errands or what ever, but while still under foot are under foot inside instead of escaping and needing chasing. This is much safer for everyone involved. They can generally be persuaded to back up and let us carry packages inside, and there is less risk of bad things happening to them, like one of them not getting caught and being trapped outside with cars and wildlife.
* Cleolinda's Spider Man review explains so much: http://cleolinda.livejournal.com/1028689.html?style=mine#cutid1
I'm definitely not going to see it, but I'm glad I read that.
* "The Land of Stories: When the fourth wall is a doorway:" http://lettersfromtitan.com/2012/07/06/the-land-of-stories-when-the-fourth-wall-is-a-doorway/
* "What do Disney princesses and urban fantasy girls have in common?:" http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/452136.html
* I thoroughly endorse this review of "Chicks Kick Butt:" http://big-wired.livejournal.com/294516.html?view=481140&style=mine#t481140
* Word: http://neo-prodigy.livejournal.com/1077699.html
* Bwahahahaha! http://xkcd.com/1078/
* More on Debtor's prison in the US as a way to increase the tax burden on the poor and create a permanent underclass: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46979738/vp/48104425#48104425
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* Fighting back against illegal practices that land poor people in Debtor's prison: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46979738/vp/48104466#48104466
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* It turns out Mitt Romney thinks that George W. Bush's economic policies didn't do nearly enough damage to the economy as his economic plan is all about doubling down on the discredited "trickle down" economic theory. Sigh: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/melissa-harris-perry/46419672#48104344
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* "Yollada Getting Drama Already:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/07/yollada-getting-drama-already.html
* Today was my idea of perfect weather. Not to hot, not too cold, high pale clouds, a breeze blowing over the hill from the bay. I took one of my special real sugar root beers, a book needing finishing, and a folding chair out on the patio and let the black cats have a ramble. Unfortunately, late in the walk, a bee showed up who really liked my BPAL. I am allergic, but haven't possessed an epipen in something like a decade. I am not phobic, and am one of those people who sits still and lets the bee buzz about until it loses interest rather than flailing about in order to encourage it to sting. Still, I am not particularly happy having a bee brushing against my neck. All this would have been fine, except Mache had just gone inside and the screen door was still cracked. Hector chose this moment to make his break for freedom. By the time I'd unhooked The Butt from my ankle, carefully set down the book, and slowly edged away from the extremely persistent bee, Hector had lept the garden wall. He saw me coming and beelined for the parking lot. I stood there calling him, knowing damned well that by the time I'd gotten out the step ladder, hobbled up it, and tried to shamble after him, he could be long gone. I also knew he generally comes when called and is terrified of the big blue room, what with him having been abandoned in it to starve as a kitten. My gamble paid off, and he was soon galloping right back in utter terror of the great outdoors. He zipped inside, I crooned praises and gave him the pettins once he'd calmed down enough to take them. (I never yell at a cat for escaping, as it discourages them from returning; I always praise and make a fuss over a cat who comes back inside when called in order to reward the coming back in when called behavior. Cat psych 101 and why I hardly ever have trouble getting them to come back in.) I finished my short story with the bee "helping", then got the Butt back in. Well, the first half hour was relaxing at least.
BTW, my system of supervised walks in good weather out back has had my hoped for effect of redirecting the black cat interest in escape to the back door. Neither of them have darted out the front door between someone's legs in the this calendar year so far. They will come greet Squirrel or I when we return from errands or what ever, but while still under foot are under foot inside instead of escaping and needing chasing. This is much safer for everyone involved. They can generally be persuaded to back up and let us carry packages inside, and there is less risk of bad things happening to them, like one of them not getting caught and being trapped outside with cars and wildlife.
* Cleolinda's Spider Man review explains so much: http://cleolinda.livejournal.com/1028689.html?style=mine#cutid1
I'm definitely not going to see it, but I'm glad I read that.
* "The Land of Stories: When the fourth wall is a doorway:" http://lettersfromtitan.com/2012/07/06/the-land-of-stories-when-the-fourth-wall-is-a-doorway/
* "What do Disney princesses and urban fantasy girls have in common?:" http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/452136.html
* I thoroughly endorse this review of "Chicks Kick Butt:" http://big-wired.livejournal.com/294516.html?view=481140&style=mine#t481140
* Word: http://neo-prodigy.livejournal.com/1077699.html
* Bwahahahaha! http://xkcd.com/1078/