(no subject)

[gwydion]

* There is a Dengue outbreak in Japan. O.o This is a nasty mosquito born illness than can go hemorrhagic if one is unlucky. (I had a coworker casually mention having caught it in the Peace corps as a young man. No one else at the table seemed suitably impressed but me). Dengue's a big deal in tropical areas and nightmarish painful. The outbreak in Tokyo tracked the 34 cases to a single park. They have been Dengue free in Japan since the end of the second world war. Climate change and increased travel explain why it's range is spreading again.

I know I don't write much about Dengue, but it's on the list of pathogens I keep an eye on, like rabies and ebola.

* Vladamir Putin has been bragging that he could conquer all of Ukraine including Kiev in two weeks as part of his blackmail of the EU.

* We are sending troops to fight Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

* "Terrorism is a form of provocation:"

* "A Ferguson fundraiser mystery:"

* "The unlikely ascent of America’s gay uncle, George Takei:" http://www.out.com/entertainment/2014/08/12/america-gay-uncle-george-takei

* I consider stealing, posting, and/or viewing nudes without the woman's consent to be a sexual violation. Women, yes including celebrity women, have a right to privacy that includes who gets to see their bodies under what conditions. The people we ought to be shaming are those involved in stealing, publishing and viewing these pictures non-consensually, not the women who have been violated. To be clear there is nothing wrong with anyone regardless of sex or gender posting nude pictures of themselves (as long as they are of age). However, posting someone else's nudes without their consent robs them of agency and is _not_ about empowering them, but violating them. There are plenty of consensual nudes on the internet, so if it's not about it being non-consensual, why look at these particular pictures? Yeah, I thought so.

* It's finally cool enough to turn off the fans at night. They didn't get to our patio Tuesday after all, which means our plants are scattered all over the landscaped bits outside. Let's hope the HOA doesn't fine us. The cats were really freaked out by us bringing in the furniture and several plants. They had no idea what to make of it.

* Fundraiser to pay insurance and back rent: http://djinni.livejournal.com/507872.html

Comments

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

My parents knew George Takei from long ago when he was a member of the Japanese American Citizens League that my father was president of at the time. He had written a book about his acting career on Star Trek and autographed it for my parents. He did not paint a flattering picture of William Shatner, although that's not surprising. My folks said he was a really nice guy ( Takei, not Shatner). At the time of course he had not come out because it was not acceptable to do so.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

The time I met him in the late '80's, he was gracious and charming. I have a lot of respect for him as a person and for his activism.