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Oct. 20th, 2012 06:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwydion* I had a huge post that got eaten. I will do my best to reconstruct it.
* Malala Yousafzai is still medically at risk, but is recovering remarkably well. She is out of her coma and can reportedly stand and write. Wow!
* If people want to do something to help the cause of Education for girls for which Malala was shot, they might consider going here to help: http://educationenvoy.org/
* Like the Catholic Church, it turns out that the Boy Scouts of America have been systematically covering up child molestation and hiding it from the Police to “Protect the victims.” After all, letting the molesters go free to molest more children protects children way better than arresting the offenders. Riiiiiight. Is anyone surprised that Boy Scouts cared more about ass covering than the welfare of the children they insist they are thinking of? I’m not.
* Joe Walsh, previously best known for attacking Tammy Duckworth for daring to be a disabled combat veteran in public, went after women's rights broadly yesterday, insisting that despite claims by physicians Organizations like American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there is no such thing as abortions to save the life and health of the mother. The Doctors beg to differ, citing conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, Preeclampsia, caner requiring chemotherapy, D&C's after miscarriage, etc.. Joe Walsh insists those are "rare" in his correction today, insisting that thousands of women should die unnecessarily in the name of Life. After all, most of those deaths are imaginary and who would know better, a relentlessly misogynistic male politician; or Obstetrician, the folks recording death statistics, and the families of the women who's deaths he claims are imaginary? It's disgusting.
* This does a good job of explaining the US position regarding China when it comes to tariffs and currency manipulation.
* "Nova Scotia's NSRAP Pushing For Trans Human Rights:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/nova-scotias-nsrap-pushing-for-trans.html
* "Memphis Passes Inclusive Non-Discrimination Law:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/memphis-passes-inclusive-non.html
* "Swedish Appeals Court Overturns Trans Rape Acquittal: http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/swedish-appeals-court-overturns-trans.html
* "RIP, Janette:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/rip-janette.html
* I did watch the Al Smith dinner speeches. I honestly think MCain was way better four years ago than Romney was this time. I also think President Obama was better four years ago than he was this time. It’s a matter of taste. I am inclined more towards self-deprecating and self mocking humor over insult humor, and this years speeches were mostly pretty nasty. The speeches four years ago were simply more to my taste. I do not think there is any objective measure of comedy, and I know the pundits really liked this set, probably because they were more viscous.
* We’ve been getting campaign flyers for about two weeks. Yesterday, the non-partisan voter guide came. Today we got a partisan one. tate and local races are getting ugly on TV. Yesterday, I saw my first Romney ad. (We’re not a swing state, so there’s mostly down ticket and issue advertizing.) The ballots aren’t here yet, but I expect them soon.
This is an important election as Marriage Equality is on the ballot. So are Charter Schools and some important environmental stuff.
* Long time readers know how I feel about charter schools. They are objectively no better that Public Schools with equivalent populations (SAS, ESL, Special Ed, Behavioral issues, etc). The Charter schools that look better are the ones that cherry pick students, thus further concentrating student with serious problems in the Public Schools while making themselves look better. In many states, there have been serious abuses of children, teachers and administrators with inadequate training and/or background checks, imposing religious ideas on students, financial malfeasance, huge waste of resources, etc.. Mostly charter schools are about breaking the teacher’s unions. After all, teaching already doesn’t pay a living wage, so lower teacher pay and taking away retirement and health benefits is an excellent idea according to Republicans. If, a the adverts suggest, we need charter schools because they can be “more flexible” because they are freed from school reform regulations, then wouldn’t it be simpler and cheaper to repeal the so-called reforms causing the problems and allow the Public Schools the same flexibility?
Let’s talk about the economics of building a school for a minute. The three biggest expenses are the library, the cafeteria, and the gym. As a result many poorer districts have started doing combined campuses where they can have the elementary and Middle school students share those three and maybe the play ground. It is cheaper, but there are obvious safety issues for the younger students. Now imagine taking money from already cash strapped public schools to build new experimental schools instead of using them for things like upgrading, expanding, doing maintenance, hiring enough teachers, etc. on existing schools. In Texas and Michigan, often they’d fund the Charter School build, then discover there were no operating funds left, so you end up with an empty school and all that waste of funds that could have gone to beefing up an existing school library, buying computers, and hiring teachers. I don’t know for sure that’ll happen here, but it has in every state they’ve instituted Charter schools so far. I think that as charter schools always mean lower pay teachers and worse conditions for students, the smart money is on that continuing if we do it here. Just saying.
* "TBLG Americans For Obama Video:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/tblg-americans-for-obama-video.html
Bring Tissues. Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Billie Jean King, George Takei, Wanda Sykes, Zachary Quinto, and Chaz Bono talk about what the President’s support for our civil rights means to them.
* "Anti-Equality Ads hurt and are dehumanizing:" http://djinni.livejournal.com/453061.html
* "Woman Arrested for Calling 911 About Bologna Sandwiches:" http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/19/woman-arrested-for-calling-911-about-bologna-sandwiches/
* John Stewart and Mitt Romney's "Binders full of Women.
* “First of all, who else keeps binders of women? Serial killers. Okay? It’s true. Every serial killer movie, the cops bust into the guy’s apartment and what do they find? Binders of women. Binders of women, and then they open up the freezer and a head pops out. I’m not saying that’s who Mitt Romney is. I’m not saying he’s not.” - Bill Maher on Mitt Romney’s “Binders full of women.”
* I managed to get my car damaged assessed by the designated body shop, and pick up my package at the Post Office (the things I failed at yesterday). My Mummer box was amazing! It was beautifully packaged with gorgeous bags and wrapping paper, full of wee spiders. There were little things; like a wind up ghost; zombie caution tape; a gorgeous cigar box full of votives, chocolate, and pressed flowers; and two kinds of attractive skeleton decorations. She also found vegan marshmallows, which is not easy at all. The best thing of all was a stunning bird beak mask in white, black, and gold, that I think will go really well with my 18th century frock coat. she could not have known how useful the mask would be but I've really excited about that. The excellent il_volpe is making me an Oz box for imps, but I am also needing a new bottle box, and this cigar box is going to be perfect for that. I have sprayed the packing tissue with catnip, and the wee beasties have been having plenty of of with that as well. Also, talk about excellent timing, being the day after my birthday, when I had time to play with new toys, but still being birthdayish! All around win!
* There was a point in the ‘80’s where there were all these androgynous people were outfits that were sort of blending punk, new wave, and what would soon be called Goth sensibility. There was a certain sort of cut to the long coat, asymmetrical hair cuts, label buttons, and jeans. I can’t quite put it into words, but I thought it was hot then and I still find it appealing in vintage photos. I miss it. I’ve got my buttons on the lapel of my rifle coat (Knotwork trans symbol, Rainbow queer, and a Rainbow Yin yang). They aren’t the buttons I would have worn back then as the logos and slogans are different, and my silhouette is far from what it was back then when I was a scrawny distance runner. Still, every time I see the buttons and the rifle coat in my peripheral vision as I go about my business, I am suddenly lighter of heart.
I really need to get my asymmetrical cut trimmed.
* "A Furious, Semi-Coherent Rant about Subtext:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/10/a-furious-semi-coherent-rant-about.html
* "On the lack of representation and general exclusion of folks like us and how that feels growing up:" http://greenwick.livejournal.com/143858.html?style=mine
* "Gendernaut:" http://passionandsoul.livejournal.com/1313209.html
* "Glee: The costume department weighs in:" http://lettersfromtitan.com/2012/10/17/glee-the-costume-department-weighs-in/
* Malala Yousafzai is still medically at risk, but is recovering remarkably well. She is out of her coma and can reportedly stand and write. Wow!
* If people want to do something to help the cause of Education for girls for which Malala was shot, they might consider going here to help: http://educationenvoy.org/
* Like the Catholic Church, it turns out that the Boy Scouts of America have been systematically covering up child molestation and hiding it from the Police to “Protect the victims.” After all, letting the molesters go free to molest more children protects children way better than arresting the offenders. Riiiiiight. Is anyone surprised that Boy Scouts cared more about ass covering than the welfare of the children they insist they are thinking of? I’m not.
* Joe Walsh, previously best known for attacking Tammy Duckworth for daring to be a disabled combat veteran in public, went after women's rights broadly yesterday, insisting that despite claims by physicians Organizations like American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there is no such thing as abortions to save the life and health of the mother. The Doctors beg to differ, citing conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, Preeclampsia, caner requiring chemotherapy, D&C's after miscarriage, etc.. Joe Walsh insists those are "rare" in his correction today, insisting that thousands of women should die unnecessarily in the name of Life. After all, most of those deaths are imaginary and who would know better, a relentlessly misogynistic male politician; or Obstetrician, the folks recording death statistics, and the families of the women who's deaths he claims are imaginary? It's disgusting.
* This does a good job of explaining the US position regarding China when it comes to tariffs and currency manipulation.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
* "Nova Scotia's NSRAP Pushing For Trans Human Rights:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/nova-scotias-nsrap-pushing-for-trans.html
* "Memphis Passes Inclusive Non-Discrimination Law:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/memphis-passes-inclusive-non.html
* "Swedish Appeals Court Overturns Trans Rape Acquittal: http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/swedish-appeals-court-overturns-trans.html
* "RIP, Janette:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/rip-janette.html
* I did watch the Al Smith dinner speeches. I honestly think MCain was way better four years ago than Romney was this time. I also think President Obama was better four years ago than he was this time. It’s a matter of taste. I am inclined more towards self-deprecating and self mocking humor over insult humor, and this years speeches were mostly pretty nasty. The speeches four years ago were simply more to my taste. I do not think there is any objective measure of comedy, and I know the pundits really liked this set, probably because they were more viscous.
* We’ve been getting campaign flyers for about two weeks. Yesterday, the non-partisan voter guide came. Today we got a partisan one. tate and local races are getting ugly on TV. Yesterday, I saw my first Romney ad. (We’re not a swing state, so there’s mostly down ticket and issue advertizing.) The ballots aren’t here yet, but I expect them soon.
This is an important election as Marriage Equality is on the ballot. So are Charter Schools and some important environmental stuff.
* Long time readers know how I feel about charter schools. They are objectively no better that Public Schools with equivalent populations (SAS, ESL, Special Ed, Behavioral issues, etc). The Charter schools that look better are the ones that cherry pick students, thus further concentrating student with serious problems in the Public Schools while making themselves look better. In many states, there have been serious abuses of children, teachers and administrators with inadequate training and/or background checks, imposing religious ideas on students, financial malfeasance, huge waste of resources, etc.. Mostly charter schools are about breaking the teacher’s unions. After all, teaching already doesn’t pay a living wage, so lower teacher pay and taking away retirement and health benefits is an excellent idea according to Republicans. If, a the adverts suggest, we need charter schools because they can be “more flexible” because they are freed from school reform regulations, then wouldn’t it be simpler and cheaper to repeal the so-called reforms causing the problems and allow the Public Schools the same flexibility?
Let’s talk about the economics of building a school for a minute. The three biggest expenses are the library, the cafeteria, and the gym. As a result many poorer districts have started doing combined campuses where they can have the elementary and Middle school students share those three and maybe the play ground. It is cheaper, but there are obvious safety issues for the younger students. Now imagine taking money from already cash strapped public schools to build new experimental schools instead of using them for things like upgrading, expanding, doing maintenance, hiring enough teachers, etc. on existing schools. In Texas and Michigan, often they’d fund the Charter School build, then discover there were no operating funds left, so you end up with an empty school and all that waste of funds that could have gone to beefing up an existing school library, buying computers, and hiring teachers. I don’t know for sure that’ll happen here, but it has in every state they’ve instituted Charter schools so far. I think that as charter schools always mean lower pay teachers and worse conditions for students, the smart money is on that continuing if we do it here. Just saying.
* "TBLG Americans For Obama Video:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/10/tblg-americans-for-obama-video.html
Bring Tissues. Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Billie Jean King, George Takei, Wanda Sykes, Zachary Quinto, and Chaz Bono talk about what the President’s support for our civil rights means to them.
* "Anti-Equality Ads hurt and are dehumanizing:" http://djinni.livejournal.com/453061.html
* "Woman Arrested for Calling 911 About Bologna Sandwiches:" http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/10/19/woman-arrested-for-calling-911-about-bologna-sandwiches/
* John Stewart and Mitt Romney's "Binders full of Women.
* “First of all, who else keeps binders of women? Serial killers. Okay? It’s true. Every serial killer movie, the cops bust into the guy’s apartment and what do they find? Binders of women. Binders of women, and then they open up the freezer and a head pops out. I’m not saying that’s who Mitt Romney is. I’m not saying he’s not.” - Bill Maher on Mitt Romney’s “Binders full of women.”
* I managed to get my car damaged assessed by the designated body shop, and pick up my package at the Post Office (the things I failed at yesterday). My Mummer box was amazing! It was beautifully packaged with gorgeous bags and wrapping paper, full of wee spiders. There were little things; like a wind up ghost; zombie caution tape; a gorgeous cigar box full of votives, chocolate, and pressed flowers; and two kinds of attractive skeleton decorations. She also found vegan marshmallows, which is not easy at all. The best thing of all was a stunning bird beak mask in white, black, and gold, that I think will go really well with my 18th century frock coat. she could not have known how useful the mask would be but I've really excited about that. The excellent il_volpe is making me an Oz box for imps, but I am also needing a new bottle box, and this cigar box is going to be perfect for that. I have sprayed the packing tissue with catnip, and the wee beasties have been having plenty of of with that as well. Also, talk about excellent timing, being the day after my birthday, when I had time to play with new toys, but still being birthdayish! All around win!
* There was a point in the ‘80’s where there were all these androgynous people were outfits that were sort of blending punk, new wave, and what would soon be called Goth sensibility. There was a certain sort of cut to the long coat, asymmetrical hair cuts, label buttons, and jeans. I can’t quite put it into words, but I thought it was hot then and I still find it appealing in vintage photos. I miss it. I’ve got my buttons on the lapel of my rifle coat (Knotwork trans symbol, Rainbow queer, and a Rainbow Yin yang). They aren’t the buttons I would have worn back then as the logos and slogans are different, and my silhouette is far from what it was back then when I was a scrawny distance runner. Still, every time I see the buttons and the rifle coat in my peripheral vision as I go about my business, I am suddenly lighter of heart.
I really need to get my asymmetrical cut trimmed.
* "A Furious, Semi-Coherent Rant about Subtext:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/10/a-furious-semi-coherent-rant-about.html
* "On the lack of representation and general exclusion of folks like us and how that feels growing up:" http://greenwick.livejournal.com/143858.html?style=mine
* "Gendernaut:" http://passionandsoul.livejournal.com/1313209.html
* "Glee: The costume department weighs in:" http://lettersfromtitan.com/2012/10/17/glee-the-costume-department-weighs-in/