(no subject)

[gwydion]

* Remember how I said that there is worry the Russians might invade the Ukraine? Russian troops are holding "surprise maneuvers" on the border with Ukraine and have their military planes on alert. This doesn't mean they will necessarily invade, just that they want to be ready to and to make sure people know they can at a moment's notice. This is why this is the wrong time for the heavy handed threats that the Republicans want us to make and why the statements from the Administration are so carefully worded. This is a time for chess, not checkers, as it were, and the President's light and nuanced hand on the foreign policy tiller is the right approach if we want to give the Ukrainians time to work things out for themselves instead of Putin imposing his solution.

* A band of armed men have taken over government buildings in a major port in the Crimea and have raised the Russian Flag.

* "Dick Cheney Broke US Military, now blames Obama for Cuts:" http://www.juancole.com/2014/02/cheney-military-blames.html

* "Oops: GOP Bill Would Strip 1 Million Workers Of Health Coverage:" http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/todd-young-obamacare-bill-cbo-report

* "It’s Official: White Folks in Red States are the Biggest Food Stamp ‘Moochers’ in the Country!:" http://aattp.org/ts-official-white-folks-in-red-states-are-the-biggest-food-stamp-moochers-in-the-country/

* "Massive offshore wind farms'€™ unexpected benefit: Hurricane protection:" http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/02/massive-offshore-wind-farms-unexpected-benefit-hurricane-protection/

* "Lonely Cows Are Slow Learners :" http://news.discovery.com/animals/lonely-cows-are-slow-learners-140226.htm

* "GOPer: Ranchers Should Shoot 'Wetbacks' Crossing Border Illegally:" http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/senate-candidate-wetbacks-ranchers

* "Why I left the GOP:" http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/

* ""I Don't Think We Accept These," Says TSA Agent, Peering at D.C. License:" http://www.loweringthebar.net/2014/02/i-dont-think-we-accept-these-tsa.html

* "Rand Paul Blocks Surgeon General Nominee For Saying Gun Violence Is A Public Health Threat:" http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/02/26/3332741/rand-paul-hold-murthy-guns/

* "Michael Dunn Compares Himself To Rape Victim In Newly Released Calls From Jail:" http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/02/18/3300561/michael-dunn-compares-rape-victim-newly-released-calls-prison/#

* "Sympathy for the Shooter: How America Has Become a “Stand Your Ground" Nation:" http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/02/_stand_your_ground_nation_from_trayvon_martin_to_jordan_davis_how_our_understanding.2.html

* "Today Is The Anniversary Of Trayvon Martin's Murder:" http://www.transgriot.blogspot.com/2014/02/today-is-anniversary-of-trayvon-martins.html

* "A thought on an aspect of representation and racism:" http://greenwick.livejournal.com/278176.html

* Satire. "A modest proposal for national identity cards:" http://jlake-feed.dreamwidth.org/411597.html

* More Satire. "Arizona Confronting Awkward Realization That Gay People Have Money, Buy Stuff:" http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2014/02/arizona-confronting-awkward-realization-that-gay-people-have-money-buy-stuff.html

* "Fox's Tucker Carlson: It's "Fascism" For Businesses To Have To Treat Gay Customers Equally:" http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/02/26/foxs-tucker-carlson-its-fascism-for-businesses/198232

* "Texas Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2014/02/texas-gay-marriage-ban-struck-down.html

* "Anti-Gay Policies Are Driving Huge Numbers Of Millennials From Church:" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/millennials-gay-unaffiliated-church-religion_n_4856094.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

* Greenwick found. "Lambda Legal Expands Rights Advocacy, Launches Mobile-Friendly Resource For Trans Americans:" http://transnews.org/2013/07/16/lambda-legal-know-your-rights-transgender/#transrights

* Greenwick found. "First Ever Trans Lead Character Coming To U.S. Prime Time TV:" http://transnews.org/2013/09/17/first-trans-lead-character-us-tv/

* Greenwick found. "Trans Clothing Swap in London Gears Up For Eighth Event:" http://transnews.org/2013/08/09/trans-clothing-swap-in-london/

* Greenwick found. "Kinsey Institute Receives Grant to Study Transgender Issues in the U.S. Military:" http://transnews.org/2013/08/23/kinsey-study-transgender-military/

* Glee 5:9 "Frenemies:"


This is a pretty logical place for us to be narrative arc wise given the things this season has been saying about competition, control, and who is and isn't heard this season. Given all the foreshadowing and the individual journeys of the characters it would have been weird if we didn't have an episode like this. Knowing it was coming didn't make it any less unpleasant to watch. I think Kurt's assholery here was the hardest for me personally to watch. What I liked best about the way Glee chose to approach this is they made no one all the way right or all the way wrong (though there were degrees of right and wrong). Instead of doing the easy thing for the viewers and letting us pick a side in each conflict, they forced us into the uncomfortable situation of wincing for everyone. This felt true in a way that most art talking about these sorts of conflict often aren't. I also think it's interesting that they chose three such different places to leave the three pairs at the end of the hour.

I have a whole lot of half formed thoughts about Blaine in this episode. He is the bridge between the two worlds. He is at the same time a mediator in two of the conflicts while also papering over conflict in ways that ultimately made (Kurt/Starchild) or I suspect will make (Tina/Artie). I am of the opinion that while things seem calmed down for those two conflicts, they aren't finished. I think the bit around Blaine and privelge was fascinating, but I need to poke at it some more.

I am wondering about Kurt's role in the Rachel/Santana conflict. how much of this has to do with his role regarding death and mourning, and what does that say about Blaine and his role in the other conflicts?



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