Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* It's been a truly terrible several weeks here at the Cat Asylum. A longer explanation is below. I have literally weeks of newslinks I haven't posted. My body is doing incredibly painful things. On top of the brakes emergency, we've had snow bad enough to knock out power in a bunch of places in town and imprison me likely for at least another week, and we've had some of the wiring fry, an expensive prospect that I haven't much hope of solving short of a miracle.

So 2021 continuing the streak, really. I have reached the fuck it point and am posting the aggregate with the understanding I'm sitting on I'd guess 100-200 prepped links that aren't included and that weeding and sorting are likely a bit rough.

* "200 years ago, everyone lacked democratic rights. Now, billions of people have them:" https://ourworldindata.org/democratic-rights

* "Afghans push through snowy Alps toward new lives in Europe:" https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-migrants-trek-through-alps-seek-new-future-02613cb26351c9249c27ee20f5d1681f

* "Lesbian risks life and flees Afghanistan to escape forced marriage to Taliban brute:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/27/afghanistan-lesbian-taliban-forced-marriage/

* "Shining shoes for a piece of bread:" https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-59761535

* "Guterres in Lebanon: Fair elections in 2022, an ‘essential opportunity’ for voices to be heard:" https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108552

* "Lebanon's Aoun calls for defence dialogue, hinting at friction with Hezbollah:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-president-calls-national-dialog-reach-understanding-defense-economic-2021-12-27/

* "Security forces loyal to Somalia PM gather outside presidential palace:" https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-says-supports-somalian-pms-efforts-rapid-credible-elections-2021-12-28/

* "Why Authoritarian Regimes Bother With Elections:" https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/12/hong-kong-stunt-election-democracy/621071/

* "Hong Kong universities remove more monuments marking Tiananmen:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59752089

* "Hong Kong pro-democracy news site closes after raid, arrests:" https://www.npr.org/2021/12/29/1068696336/hong-kong-police-raid-pro-democracy-news-outlet-arrest-6

* "'Erasing history': Russia closes top rights group, capping year of crackdowns:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-orders-closure-top-rights-group-2021-12-28/

* "How the Kremlin Is Militarizing Russian Society:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/world/europe/russia-military-putin-kremlin.html

* "Georgia: The rise of the right:" https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-59763185

* "We should all be worried by what Liz Truss is doing to our equalities watchdog:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/24/trans-equality-watchdog-liz-truss/

* "Barrister who slammed Stonewall trans inclusion advice given key equalities role:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/20/stonewall-akua-reindorf-ehrc/

* "Why North Shropshire result is good news for Labour as well as Lib Dems:" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/17/north-shropshire-byelection-result-good-news-for-labour-lib-dems

* "The Secretive Prisons That Keep Migrants Out of Europe:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/12/06/the-secretive-libyan-prisons-that-keep-migrants-out-of-europe

* "Indian Christians fear attacks or jail over conversions:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59724425

* "Arrests, Beatings and Secret Prayers: Inside the Persecution of India’s Christians:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/world/asia/india-christians-attacked.html

* First they came for the Muslims, then they came for the Christians....

This all looks part of the same violent Hindu nationalism that strips away basic rights and encourages violence and torture from both police and mobs.

* "Myanmar massacre: two Save the Children staff among dead:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/28/myanmar-massacre-two-save-the-children-staff-among-dead

* "The ultra-violent cult that became a global mafia:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59614595

* "The U.S. predicted his downfall but Maduro strengthens his grip on power in Venezuela:" https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1061290155/maduros-grip-on-power-in-venezuela-only-gets-stronger

* "Chile breathes sigh of relief as pro-LGBT president elected over far-right bigot:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/20/chile-election-gabriel-boric-president-lgbt/

* "Nonbelievers across Africa risk freedom and family support:" https://apnews.com/article/africa-religion-nigeria-ce936d8627ca1c233e479961ac440944

* "Kenyans find rural lifeline after Covid city exodus:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59630164

* "Bruno Le Maire - An Inclusive Future for France:" https://www.cc.com/video/v9jyq7/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-bruno-le-maire-an-inclusive-future-for-france

* "Mali Says Chad to Send 1,000 Additional Troops as France Backs Off:" https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-12-18/mali-says-chad-to-send-1-000-additional-troops-as-france-backs-off

* CW: Torture "Jailed for the killing of Haiti's president, five suspected assassins say they're innocent:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/18/americas/haiti-assassination-colombian-prisoners-exclusive-intl-cmd/index.html

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* "Omicron infects 70 times faster than previous COVID strains:" https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/586074-omicon-infects-70-times-faster-than-previous-covid-strains-study?rl=1

* "A tantalizing clue to why omicron is spreading so quickly:" https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/12/15/1064597592/a-tantalizing-clue-to-why-omicron-is-spreading-so-quickly

* "UK data suggests hospitalization is less likely with omicron:" https://apnews.com/article/covid-omicron-variant-symptoms-hospitalization-less-likely-8ed5a786604ac1df349464296aa7e3c8

* "Europeans Ponder Living With, Not Defeating, Covid:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/world/europe/europe-covid-pandemic-omicron.html

* "Spain's COVID-19 infections soar after Christmas:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spains-covid-19-infections-soar-after-christmas-2021-12-27/

* Let Them Eat Cake. "Why is anyone surprised at Boris weaselling his way through another scandal?:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/08/boris-johnson-christmas-party-downing-street-covid/

* "Ecuador: Coronavirus vaccination mandatory for most citizens:" https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ecuador-coronavirus-vaccination-mandatory-citizens-81919392

* "Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment :" https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a

* "Game changer: New Covid treatment pill could be key to ending pandemic:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/game-changer-new-covid-treatment-pill-could-be-key-to-ending-pandemic-129431621896

* "CDC recommends Moderna, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines over J&J's:" https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/blood-clot-rates-after-jj-vaccine-higher-than-previous-estimates-cdc-advisers-2021-12-16/

* "Chris Hayes: How the booster shot messaging got muddled :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-how-the-booster-shot-messaging-got-muddled-129230405826

* "'No slack in the system': Struggling hospitals despair at prospect of Omicron wave:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-no-slack-in-the-system-struggling-hospitals-despair-at-prospect-of-omicron-wave-129243205641

* "Maddow: If you've been putting off vaccination, the time to do it is now.:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-if-you-ve-been-putting-off-vaccination-the-time-to-do-it-is-now-129251909682

* "'It's a balancing act': New CDC guidance weighs practicality but raises questions:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-it-s-a-balancing-act-new-cdc-guidance-weighs-practicality-but-raises-questions-129740869850

* "Hospitals' concern: Volume of Omicron cases could counter lower hospitalization rate:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/hospitals-concern-volume-of-omicron-cases-could-counter-lower-hospitalization-rate-129340997873

* "Army: 98% of active duty got COVID-19 vaccine by deadline:" https://www.kvoa.com/coronavirus/army-98-of-active-duty-got-covid-19-vaccine-by-deadline/article_ef26a17e-5e87-11ec-82a0-43255e602142.html

* "White House labels Orange County Florida ‘rapid riser,’ as state reports 29,568 COVID-19 cases:" https://www.orlandosentinel.com/coronavirus/os-ne-florida-coronavirus-dec-17-20211217-zbdv6y3cefd3lnqa2wqazfrlzi-story.html

* "University of Texas sees 'alarming' spike in COVID-19 cases likely due to omicron variant:" https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/12/16/ut-austin-spike-covid-19-cases-likely-omicron-variant/8923174002/

* "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he’ll take fight against federal vaccine mandate for large businesses to Supreme Court:" https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/17/vaccine-mandate-businesses-texas/

* "Kansas City COVID-19 deaths more than doubled in the past week, data shows:" https://amp.kansascity.com/article256597306.html

* "Kansas hospitals brace for 'long, tough winter' of COVID. Here's what experts fear if omicron surges.:" https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/12/16/covid-19-kansas-hospitals-omicron-transfers-surge-full-beds/8908272002/

* "Tennessee nursing homes to enforce vaccine with federal mandate back in place Wednesday:" https://newschannel9.com/news/coronavirus/tennessee-nursing-homes-to-enforce-vaccine-with-federal-mandate-back-in-place-wednesday

* "New York state reports highest number of daily Covid cases of entire pandemic at more than 21,000:" https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/17/new-york-state-reports-highest-number-of-daily-covid-cases-of-entire-pandemic-at-more-than-21000.html

* "‘We've Never Seen This Before in NYC': COVID Positivity Rate Doubles in 3 Days on Omicron Spread:" https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/weve-never-seen-this-before-in-nyc-covid-positivity-rate-doubles-in-3-days-as-omicron-spreads/3454450/

* "NYC offers 500,000 free rapid Covid tests, 1 million masks amid case surge:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nyc-offers-500000-free-rapid-covid-tests-1-million-masks-amid-case-surge/vi-AARTnRJ

* "Classroom closures spike as COVID-19 cases climb in NYC:" https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/education/2021/12/16/nyc-doe-school-closures-spike-as-covid-cases-climb-in-nyc

* "Several NYC Restaurants Temporarily Close Due to COVID Spike:" https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/nyc-restaurants-are-closing-due-to-covid-surge

* "As Virus Cases Surge, New Yorkers Feel a Familiar Anxiety:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/nyregion/new-york-covid-cases.html

* "U.S. Surgeon General decries Fox News commentator urging conservatives to ‘ambush’ Dr. Fauci:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jesse-watters-urging-conservatives-to-ambush-dr-fauci-decried-by-u-s-surgeon-general-129330245886

* "House oversight committee releases report detailing efforts of Trump administration officials to 'undermine' Covid-19 efforts in US:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/17/politics/house-committee-trump-covid-19/index.html

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* "Congress approves import ban targeting forced labor in China :" https://apnews.com/article/science-business-china-asia-beijing-d73f6a5b82a58209480f5aa010895100

* "President Biden reaches year's end with growing list of successes:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/president-biden-reaches-year-s-end-with-growing-list-of-successes-129655877954

* "Manchin says he won't vote for Biden's Build Back Better Act:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/manchin-says-he-won-t-vote-for-biden-s-build-back-better-act-129114181654

* "Rep. Cori Bush: It's "not a huge surprise" that Sen. Joe Manchin won't vote for Build Back Better:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/rep-cori-bush-it-s-not-a-huge-suprise-that-sen-joe-manchin-won-t-vote-for-build-back-better-129118789504

* "Wearied by Manchin perfidy, progressives eye 'two track process' to achieve BBB's goals:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/wearied-by-manchin-perfidy-progressives-eye-two-track-process-to-achieve-bbb-s-goals-129244229595

* "Manchin negotiated in bad faith to obstruct bill that would help his state Joy Reid says:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/joe-manchin-slammed-or-withdrawing-support-for-biden-s-build-back-better-bill-129331781669

* "Bernie: Striking workers ‘courageous’ in face of Kellogg’s ‘abrasive’ tactics :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/bernie-striking-workers-courageous-in-face-of-kellogg-s-abrasive-tactics-128943685558

* I hope they win. "Workers at candle factory hit by tornado file class-action lawsuit against employer:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/16/us/mayfield-candle-factory-lawsuit-tornado/index.html

* "MLK III on King holiday: "No celebration without legislation":" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/mlk-iii-on-king-holiday-no-celebration-without-legislation-129117765664

* "The Senate filibuster isn't what it used to be because the Senate isn't either:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/the-senate-filibuster-isn-t-what-it-used-to-be-because-the-senate-isn-t-either-129053765588

* "Senate Democrats get serious about protecting elections, voting rights:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/senate-democrats-get-serious-about-protecting-elections-voting-rights-128958021557

* "Sen. Klobuchar: I would get rid of the filibuster in a minute if I could:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/biden-agenda-struggling-due-to-gop-conservative-democratic-senators-discussed-by-sen-amy-klobuchar-128948293717

* Have something you want to tell your Senators? If you can't safely 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.

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* "Accountability elusive as Trump's Big Lie runs amok in Wisconsin:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/accountability-elusive-as-trump-s-big-lie-runs-amok-in-wisconsin-129341509806

* "Absent accountability, Republicans run roughshod over election system in Wisconsin:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/absent-accountability-republicans-run-roughshod-over-election-system-in-wisconsin-129341509594

* "Republicans bullying election officials achieve their ends even in failure:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/republicans-bullying-election-officials-achieve-their-ends-even-in-failure-129431621674

* "Republicans overhaul local election board, look to eliminate six of seven polling stations:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/republicans-overhaul-local-election-board-look-to-eliminate-six-of-seven-polling-stations-129434181622

* "Fmr. top general warns of potential ‘2024 insurrection,’ urges preparedness:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/fmr-top-general-warns-of-potential-2024-insurrection-urges-preparedness-129231941834

* "Michael Eric Dyson: American democracy is only as good as we are willing to fight for it:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jan-6-capitol-insurrection-anniversary-a-reminder-of-our-endangered-democracy-experts-say-129649733982

* "Is this seriously who Republicans want representing Georgia instead of Raphael Warnock?:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/is-this-seriously-who-republicans-want-representing-georgia-instead-of-raphael-warnock-129502277945

* "California's Out Insurance Commissioner Gets Reelection Backing:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2021/12/15/californias-out-insurance-commissioner-gets-reelection-backing

* "Softening Trump political potency seen in endorsement flops, limp ticket sales:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/softening-trump-political-potency-seen-in-endorsement-flops-limp-ticket-sales-129051205777

* "Lawmaker targeted by Trump shares disturbing death threat voicemail:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/lawmaker-targeted-by-trump-shares-disturbing-death-threat-voicemail-129648709644

* "New details paint 'insane' picture of how right wing media obtained Biden daughter's diary:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/new-details-paint-insane-picture-of-how-right-wing-media-obtained-biden-daughter-s-diary-128959557852

* "Sketchy Chinese company under investigation is well suited to partner with Donald Trump:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/sketchy-chinese-company-under-investigation-is-well-suited-to-partner-with-donald-trump-129502789793

* "Legal expert says Trump lawsuit against New York attorney general will likely be thrown out:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/trump-lawsuit-accusing-new-york-attorney-general-of-bias-will-likely-be-thrown-out-expert-says-129233477757

* "Republican Party helping Trump pay his personal legal bills:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/republican-party-helping-trump-pay-his-personal-legal-bills-wapo-128956997854

* "Basis of new Cohen lawsuit over Trump abuse of power warrants concern among Americans:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/basis-of-new-cohen-lawsuit-over-trump-abuse-of-power-warrants-concern-among-americans-129051717673

* "Jan. 6 committee weighs possibility of criminal referrals:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/nyt-jan-6-committee-weighs-possibility-of-criminal-referrals-129230917531

* "Legal expert: DOJ must immediately conduct 'full-blown' Jan. 6 probe:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/legal-expert-doj-must-immediately-conduct-full-blown-jan-6-probe-129492037712

* "Joy Reid: House GOP is trying to throw all the sand it can into Jan. 6 probe gears:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/house-minority-leader-attempting-to-install-jim-jordan-on-jan-6-select-committee-129495109652

* "Jim Jordan and Trump's coup: The calls were coming from inside the House:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/jim-jordan-and-trump-s-coup-the-calls-were-coming-from-inside-the-house-128938565877

* "Legal expert believes Jim Jordan text to Mark Meadows is probable cause for criminal charge:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/rep-jim-jordan-text-to-mark-meadows-probable-cause-for-criminal-charge-legal-expert-says-129041989724

* "Rep. Aguilar on why Rep. Jordan was never ‘fit to serve’ on Jan. 6 committee:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-aguilar-on-why-rep-jordan-was-never-fit-to-serve-on-jan-6-committee-129420357806

* "CIA expert: Can you imagine what’s on Mark Meadows’ encrypted Signal app?:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/mark-meadows-plotted-with-six-house-republicans-to-overturn-2020-election-washington-post-reports-128945733905

* "Legal expert believes Jim Jordan text to Mark Meadows is probable cause for criminal charge:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/rep-jim-jordan-text-to-mark-meadows-probable-cause-for-criminal-charge-legal-expert-says-129041989724

* "Many who mock the Jan. 6 committee actively plotted with Trump’s White House:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/trump-s-phone-calls-with-jim-jordan-on-jan-6-of-interest-to-house-select-committee-129423941806

* "Jan. 6 committee requests testimony, documents from Republican Rep. Scott Perry:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jan-6-select-committee-investigating-capitol-insurrection-reportedly-considering-more-criminal-referrals-129332805580

* "Legal expert says Department of Justice is ‘not doing its job' regarding Jan. 6 prosecutions:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/jan-6-plot-reportedly-launched-by-steve-bannon-and-peter-navarro-analyzed-on-the-reidout-129731653881

* "'Rosanne didn't radicalize herself': After death on 1/6, family seeks accountability:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/-rosanne-didn-t-radicalize-herself-after-death-on-1-6-family-seeks-accountability-129653317889

* "'We took the Capitol’: Proud Boy pleads guilty to Jan. 6 conspiracy charges:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-we-took-the-capitol-proud-boy-pleads-guilty-to-jan-6-conspiracy-charges-129493061593

* "Jan. 6 rioter provides evidence that may impact sentencing:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/jan-6-rioter-provides-evidence-that-may-impact-sentencing-129039429661

* "'We took the Capitol’: Proud Boy pleads guilty to Jan. 6 conspiracy charges:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-we-took-the-capitol-proud-boy-pleads-guilty-to-jan-6-conspiracy-charges-129493061593

* "D.C. Attorney General Files Civil Lawsuit Against Proud Boys, Oath Keepers:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/d-c-attorney-general-files-civil-lawsuit-against-proud-boys-oath-keepers-129117253787

* "Right’s ‘celebration of violence’ on full display at Turning Point USA convention:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/right-s-celebration-of-violence-on-full-display-at-turning-point-usa-convention-129328197797

* "Rep. Bass on Kim Potter guilty verdict: Communities fear she'll get a slap on the wrist:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/kim-potter-guilty-verdict-for-killing-daunte-wright-could-still-result-in-slap-on-the-wrist-rep-bass-says-129494597620

* "‘Surprising is an understatement’: Civil rights attorney on Kim Potter verdict:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-surprising-is-an-understatement-civil-rights-attorney-on-kim-potter-verdict-129493061543

* "Lawyer of Tulsa Race Massacre survivors: We must have closure, know where the mass graves are:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/tulsa-race-massacre-survivors-have-lawyer-send-letter-to-department-of-justice-requesting-federal-investigation-129732677906

* "US regulators lift in-person restrictions on abortion pill:" https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a

* "FDA makes access to abortion medication by mail permanent:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/fda-makes-access-to-abortion-pills-by-mail-permanent-128959045505

* "Campaigner Christie Elan-Cane dubs gender-neutral passport ruling an 'abomination':" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/15/christie-elan-cane-supreme-court-passport-ruling/

* Another reason to boycott all JK Rowling: https://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/671138868165296128

"But, of course, the law doesn’t (shouldn’t) discriminate, and if autistic teens and/or adults can’t legally consent to treatment of gender dysphoria, we can’t legally consent to the treatment of anything. We won’t be able to access any treatment or medication without approval from a responsible adult."

* "Jury Awards $4M to Trans Boy After School Denies Him Restroom Access:" https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2021/12/15/jury-awards-4m-trans-boy-after-school-denies-him-restroom-access

* "Uber Reportedly Blocked Trans Drivers’ Accounts For Being “Fraudulent”:" https://www.advocate.com/news/2021/12/15/uber-reportedly-blocked-trans-drivers-accounts-being-fraudulent

* CW: Elder Abuse. "How Nursing Homes Hide Profits While Residents Suffer:"

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* "How do Outbreaks End? Vaccines and Recovery: Crash Course Outbreak Science #14:"

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* "Debunking Anti-Vax: The Real History About Andrew Wakefield:"

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* "Autopsy: Severe brain trauma in ex-NFL player who shot 6:" https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-health-shootings-football-15b2c553682a7d122dbbc0d1eb76731c

* "Fresh Express Announces Recall of Fresh Salad Products Due to Potential Health Risk:" https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-express-announces-recall-fresh-salad-products-due-potential-health-risk

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* "Chile Writes Its Constitution, Confronting Climate Change Head On:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/climate/chile-constitution-climate-change.html

* "‘Receding before our eyes:’ Vancouver Island glaciers likely to be all gone by mid-century:" https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/receding-before-our-eyes-vancouver-island-glaciers-likely-to-be-all-gone-by-mid-century

* "Super Typhoon Rai slams into the Philippines as rescue operations get underway:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/16/asia/super-typhoon-rai-philippines-intl-hnk/index.html

* CW: Dead Children. "Bouncy castle tragedy: Emotional police commissioner reveals 40 kids involved - NZ Herald:" https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/bouncy-castle-tragedy-emotional-police-commissioner-reveals-40-kids-involved/MNAAFFSSGHKDLTBUTYRMNR5ZOY/

* "Rebuilding tornado-ravaged Kentucky town could take years:" https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-kentucky-weather-mayfield-d67943a53d55d95db354011b45bfd995

* "Hurricane Ida Recovery Reveals Climate Change Inequalities to Come:"

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* "Entangled whale cannot be freed with newborn calf close by, ocean experts say:" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/15/entangled-whale-cannot-be-freed-newborn-calf

* "Archbishop Desmond Tutu dies at 90:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/26/africa/desmond-tutu-death-intl-hnk/index.html

* "Tributes pour in for anti-apartheid leader and LGBT+ ally Archbishop Desmond Tutu:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/26/desmond-tutu-death-lgbt-ally-anti-apartheid/

* "Harry M. Reid, pugnacious Senate majority leader, dies at 82:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/harry-reid-dead/2021/12/28/775787dc-43f9-11e8-bba2-0976a82b05a2_story.html

* "Queer Black Feminist Writer bell hooks Dies at 69:" https://www.advocate.com/people/2021/12/15/queer-black-feminist-writer-bell-hooks-dies-69

* "Joan Didion, peerless prose stylist, dies at 87:" https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/23/joan-didion-dies-526068

* "'Dallas Buyers Club' director Jean-Marc Vallée dies:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/entertainment/jean-marc-vallee-obit/index.html

* "Princeton teaches Ge'ez for the first time:" https://classics.princeton.edu/department/news/princeton-teaches-geez-first-time

* "Sweden's Gavle Christmas goat torched... again:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59696442

* "U.S. Warns Russia Not To Take Ukraine | Earth's Black Box Will Record Humanity's Demise:"

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* "Meanwhile... Woman Seen Breastfeeding Her Cat On A Flight | Omicron (The Band) Is Not A Virus:"

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* "Fox News Christmas Tree Fire Wasn't Politically Motivated | The Debt Ceiling Shouldn't Be A Thing:"

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* ""He's Destroying His Legacy" - Scared Fox News Hosts Texted Mark Meadows During Capitol Attack:"

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* "As Wrong As It Gets - Republicans Don't Want You To Know What Happened On Jan. 6th:"

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* "GOP Says Covid Is Overhyped | Sheriff In Hot Water Over Pic Of Santa Getting A Gun Permit:"

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* "On The Next Season Of Succession: Who Will Replace Chris Wallace?:"

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* "Omicron Is Taking Over & Teachers Dash for Cash:" https://www.cc.com/video/srbo0b/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-omicron-is-taking-over-teachers-dash-for-cash

* "Mark Meadows Held in Contempt:" https://www.cc.com/video/piaqpv/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-mark-meadows-held-in-contempt

* "Dul-Sayin' - The History of Kwanzaa:" https://www.cc.com/video/lrx340/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-dul-sayin-the-history-of-kwanzaa

* "If You Don't Know, Now You Know - China's Africa Investments:" https://www.cc.com/video/xhwr8p/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-if-you-don-t-know-now-you-know-china-s-africa-investments

* "Man with Thong Mask & MLK's Family Calls for No Celebration:" https://www.cc.com/video/63uk0a/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-man-with-thong-mask-mlk-s-family-calls-for-no-celebration

* "Viral Clip Of Runaway Airport Luggage Is The Pixar Film We Needed | Seditionist Roundup Round Up:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dxsJAbchko&list=PLiZxWe0ejyv8n24CSzVDLGdvDR1qCX6jY&index=2

* "Santa Song - SNL:"

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* "Hotel Ad - SNL:"

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* "The Global Warming Christmas Special - SNL:"

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* "The Viral Cat Spreading All That Misinformation Has Been Found:"

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* "Men Writing Women...Badly:"

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* "Santa Is Packing Heat:"

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* "The Hallmark Channel Presents: Frankenclaus:"

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* "The Late Show Presents: A Conspiracy Carol:"

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* "Colbert's "Lord of the Rings" Rap Celebrates 20 Years Of The Greatest Trilogy In Movie History:"

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* Today I learned that Tumblr forcing me to look at the severed lady bits and buttocks from behind ad is significantly less disturbing than the dismembered anatomically correct torso, though still very do not want. I want to be clear that I don't judge people who buy these sex toys, I just think the images should be opt in.

* I've been thinking a lot about the Figure Skater, now choreographer, Kurt Browning. There were a lot of figure skaters I loved in his era, but there was something about him that really made him linger in my mind. I think that special something was that he fundamentally looked like he loved what he was doing. Oh, he definitely wanted to win, and he had bad skates like everything else, but that fundamental love was baked into his choreography, into his artistic expression, into the style of every element. It radiated out of him in interviews too.

The longer he skated both as an amateur and professional, the stronger his personal voice was in his work. He didn't always make choices to my taste. That happens when you have a strong and particular artistic voice. Still, I adored so many of his routines and even the ones that weren't for me were memorable.

At some point after he started to do choreography, some skater would come back from summer training completely transformed. They wouldn't be skating like him, but they would be skating with a new joy and with their own clear voice. They would have new routines that fit them like gloves, that helped them reach out to the audience, that gave them a particular magic they'd never had before. I would watch them and think "I wonder if they've been working with Kurt," and they almost invariably have.

What a beautifully gift to give the world.

I've no idea what he's like as a person beyond his public persona, but damned if he hasn't had a beautiful ripple effect in the world.

* So this is what's going on with me. My AS has been really terrible the last two months. It's hard to explain the level of debilitating too someone who's body works. To give yo and Idea of how hard basic stuff is, on the twenty third, it took me four hours to get dressed and do physio. My legs kept buckling as I shuffled about trying to do the bare minimum as far as feeding cats, fish, and myself. I literally scream from pain and nearly went over when I tried to feed Livia.

It's why the post schedule is so weird and I why I have...idk a couple weeks of link back log as of this writing. I am doing what I can, but even my high pain threshold ass can't make this work. The barometer has been yoyoing, and that generally just fucks me up.

So on the twenty forth, I was going to run out to grab a last minute thing before the store closed with the last of my EBT. Three hours for dressing and physio, two cats in cling mode. To give you an idea of the cling level, I was trying to put my shoe on, got as far as one sock and getting a shoe half on when Tavy leapt onto me and proceeded to nap in my arms. Me: Well I guess I'm doing lungs before instead of after the errand.

I was latter than I meant, but surely the shop was still open, right? We're a fairly secular college town. It is not that cold, but I step out to find flurries and a thin layer of snow on my car, though none sticking yet on the ground. I grew up with snow. the quality of the air and the look of the flurries told me they would be sticking soon. I figure I should be fine on a fifteen minute errand, but I'd been snowed in all weekend.

The temperature kept dropping noticeably; the snow was coming faster. Shop was closed. I likely would have made it if I'd fought Tavy over the shoes, but no matter. I'd guess I was gone five to seven minutes and it was brutal cold and coming down hard by the time I'd parked again. Squirrel had work and the driving was scary. I'd guess we got six inches, which is a lot in a town where the only people with snow tires either regularly commute over the Mountain pass or are skier/snowboarders. Our large town/small city has a snow plow, but they hit the big streets first, and generally the snow is melted before they get streets like ours, our worse the last three streets I lived on. My current street is an increasingly busy feeder instead of the true back streets I've always lived on between coming North and this place. Saturday it warmed up just enough for what little melted to freeze over after dark making it incredibly unsafe after. Squirrel was white as a sheet when he got home from work 7ish Sunday morning. It had snowed hard all night and my end of town the wind was so high it was blowing nearly horizontal. The cats sat in the window watching in fascination. It did that all day, i suspect, as it was still going past noon when I looked.

Luckily Squirrel didn't have work, and I don't leave the house unless all paths and streets are clear except for emergencies as I don't want to break anything or tear ligaments. The snow it utterly beautiful, but I'm someone finding the hobble to the bathroom challenging, and i don't want to go to the ER and spend a month laid up like last time.

Except the fire alarm kept going off. Nothing was on fire. I'd been trying to get him to change the battery in his detector for a couple of months, but he kept spacing it. I knew it wasn't mine as I changed them last... it was before I got my second shot end of March, so I'd say less than a year ago, but not by a lot. The little detectors are wired to the big ones. It went on for hours, waking people up, terrifying cats. I finally gave him a battery, because I had one, being exactly that sort of anal retentive and the chirping will drive me bats because of my sensory stuff. (I hate being caught without an emergency 9 volt). A couple hours passed, but I could hear it chirping in his room again and it went off again, because of course it did. He pulled it out, which the management company hates. his theory is it's old and the equipment needs replacing, so I guess I'm staying up to deal with them.

I am tired and everything hurts, and I've lost track of how long the aggregate posting gap is. I am sorry. It likely won't be any better until the weather evens out.

* Tuesday I went to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, flipped on a switch, and there was a flash of light and blue sparks. Attempts to flip the fuse elicited more of the same. This means no microwave, not bathroom or kitchen lights, no small appliances, no bathroom electricity at all. We suspect the wiring's fubared. squirrel is wondering if this it what was setting the fire alarms off. So I'm staying up to call iyt in, but i haven't much hope of a solution any time soon with snow and the holidays.

We've been waiting for nearly two years for them to connect squirrel's bathroom vent to the outside. They took three years not to fix a hole they put in my ceiling. I gave up and paid for fixing it myself. Who wants to bet they don't consider wiring burning in the walls an emergency?

* ...And We’re hosed. Even though the contracts said things inside the walls are them, they are making us pay for the wiring.

I have no idea how we’re going to manage it. I have no idea what it will cost even to get an estimate.

Bonus and extra 70.00 uncovered copay came in. Why the fuck not?

paypal.me/Gwydion
are there any lawyer friends/legal aid places that might remotely type up an official-sounding letter for free?

* FAQ: Everyone is asking some version of: "Are there any lawyer friends/legal aid places that might remotely type up an official-sounding letter for free?"

( They answer to this and what we are doing is very, very long and complicated: )

Wishful thinking though and best not to plan on it, so I am focusing on practical stuff like how to learn to live without non-major appliance power in the darkest parts of the Cat Asylum, and setting long term solutions in motion (See Parts One and Two).

You see why I’ve been short handing it. :)

* I am so used to normal blackouts that I am having a vaguely surreal time dealing with the current crisis. This is not a complaint, just an observation. The house we moved into just before I started high school was super prone to blackouts, just like the part of town where I've lived a majority of the time since I moved up here for third college, used to get regular black outs. The ones back East could be a day or two long, and happened a bunch of times in the November through December with such regularity, we all had assigned blackout chores in my family. We get little black outs here all the time, also most in November or December, but blackout season starts in October and runs until true spring. Most years we lose power all night at least once. Sometimes we have a good year or a bad year. Sometimes it's a day or two, but that's rare.

I'm that person with emergency candles and battery lanterns and black out contingency plans, so I have a battery lantern where I can grab it entering the bathroom with what light reaches from the living room. I have a stronger lamp set up further in that I can use the cheap light to find. (If the cheap light breaks it's not a big deal. I don't want to risk the expensive light where I can knock it off and break it easily or near water.) It a good spot to grab it if I need it in the kitchen. I'm basically living off stockpiled emergency vegetarian cup of soups because low mobility/low visibility stove top cooking is harder than it sounds because while I can navigate in there okay, it's hard to see details and the counters are in shadow. The range light and hood are dead, which means things like pasta aren't a good idea. I can make tea and cup of soups safely so it's that and cold foods and energy bars right now. I may branch out into stove top regular soup heating, but I can't walk away and sit down while I do that.

I desperately needed a bath so in the period Wednesday midday while I was waiting for return emails and phone calls, I took a bath. That's the surreal part. I've had power go out mid bath a bunch of times. I have a protocol for it. Turn off water (to save what hot water is left) and motor (so it doesn't turn on when the power does. I think there's a safety shut off when power goes out, but I don't want to chance it. Turn on the good emergency bathroom lantern (Stored where I can easily grope it in the dark, but where it's apt to stay safe from falls and water). Finish shampoo and rinse. Turn off any other switches that were on. Use the good emergency lantern to do last meds and set things up as far as bedroom emergency lighting for when I inevitable shamble out later to pee or if I'm unlucky and have to start the next meds cycle in the semi dark.

So water heater's on a dedicated circuit. So is my tub. I don't worry about either as they were city inspected at the beginning of the pandemic. It was so fucking weird to have hot water and the hydrotherapy motor going while bathing by light of a battery lantern. Did my head in, it did.

(Long term readers may remember the city buying me a new tub and my doctor managing to talk them into jets for my back and shoulders on medical grounds. These have been a life saver given how much my joints have deteriorated in the intervening twoish years. It was a whole saga that involved most of the plumbing and a bunch of appliances being replaced along with small stuff like us getting working exterior doorknobs).

Nearby Millenial has spiked hiking boots and lives a long block away in my old complex, so came for her shift. She also has a head lamp. (She's legally blind, but has low vision and walks around at night, so has things like a reflective safety vest and a powerful headlamp. She does chunk of her job by touch and she is very, very good as an Aid. Not kidding 10 out of 10). Picture her doing the dishes with her headlamp on. Picture us endlessly moving from dark to light flipping dead switches. She did a brilliant job today.

Still so fucking surreal to watch her doing it.

unless we are super super lucky in the morning, This will likely be how it is for weeks or months. If we are unlucky, this is our life now. I will get used to it, but it's strange.

It was just weird.

* "It's A Sweet Day For A Winter Wedding:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2021/12/26/its-a-sweet-day-for-a-winter-wedding

* "Sunday Sweets: Your Holiday Happy Place:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2021/12/19/sunday-sweets-your-holiday-happy-place

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* "Help Kevin Strickland After Wrongful Conviction:" https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction

* My Oldest Continuous friend's Elder Cat is getting up there and her special diet and health care for kidney failure is expensive. Gigi is a sweet, extremely cuddly girl and could use extra help. "Click here to show your support to Karrin Jackson's story *SupportGigiInHerOldAge:" https://www.spotfund.com/story/18393388-9914-4f6c-9f99-876aa019bdee

* Help LGBTQIA+ people escape Afghanistan: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lgbtq-afghan-refugees-rebuild-their-lives

* "The Rainbow Railroad:" https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/take-action

* Organizations working for reproductive rights in Texas: https://minoanmiss.dreamwidth.org/796848.html

* Even more Organizations working for reproductive rights in Texas: https://wendelah1.dreamwidth.org/788132.html

* Want to help Kimi Cole run for statewide office in Nevada? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kimi-cole-4-nevada-1

* I used all the bill money to fix my brakes. I need about 250.00-300 to cover bills for the month. Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion

( Links Underneath: )

* "River Seine peaks in flood-hit Paris:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42856634

* "Fighting rages in south Yemeni city:" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42858270

* "U.N. employees in Gaza demonstrate against U.S. aid cut:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-usa-un/u-n-employees-in-gaza-demonstrate-against-u-s-aid-cut-idUSKBN1FI1G7

* "Russian jet flies within 5 feet of US Navy plane, Pentagon says:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/29/politics/russia-jet-us-navy-black-sea/index.html

* "Trump Tower Russian Lawyer Exposed in Swiss Corruption Case:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-tower-russian-lawyer-natalia-veselnitskaya-exposed-in-swiss-corruption-case

* O.o "Trump interview: 'I'm very popular in Britain. I get a lot of fan mail':" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/29/donald-trump-interview-piers-morgan-im-very-popular-in-britain-get-a-lot-of-fan-mail

* "Deadline looms for Trump and Russia sanctions:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/28/trump-russia-sanctions-deadline-373106

* "Trump letter to African leaders: Tillerson to make 1st visit:" https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/trump-letter-to-african-leaders-says-tillerson-to-visit-soon-181087/

* "Trump’s foreign policy mishaps escalate:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/trump-davos-speech-trump-booed-at-davos-1147977283766

* "Has Trump engendered the downfall of U.S. evangelicals?:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/trump-evangelicals-trump-evangelical-supporters-remain-1147968579989

* Music has always been political. "Hillary Clinton, Cher, Snoop and others read 'Fire and Fury' excerpts at 2018 Grammys:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/28/entertainment/hillary-clinton-grammys-2018/index.html

* "On Flight to Davos, Trump Erupted Over DOJ Role in Russia Probe:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-29/on-flight-to-davos-trump-erupted-over-doj-role-in-russia-probe

* "For Impeachment Referral, Mueller Would Need Rosenstein:" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/for-impeachment-referral-mueller-would-need-rosenstein

* "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stepping down:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fbi-deputy-director-andrew-mccabe-stepping-down-n842176

* "Trump’s complaints against McCabe included Comey's ride home:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-gripes-against-mccabe-included-wife-s-politics-comey-n842161

* "New emails reveal Scott Pruitt was personally involved in erasing climate data from EPA website:" https://thinkprogress.org/scott-pruitt-epa-webiste-0b4f50ef76c4/

* "Melania Trump’s Military Flights Before Her Move to Washington Cost More Than $675,000:" https://www.wsj.com/articles/melania-trumps-military-flights-before-her-move-to-washington-cost-more-than-675-000-1517221801

* He's such an extreme coward he hasn't met with constituents for more than a year. "Frelinghuysen won’t seek reelection:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/29/frelinghuysen-wont-seek-reelection-374133

* "Reality sets in DACA deal might not get done:" https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/29/politics/daca-deal-reality/index.html

* "Chelsea Handler leaves show to get women elected:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/chelsea-handler-and-emily-s-list-work-to-elect-women-1147553859830

* TW: Rape. "Will GOP return Wynn’s money amid abuse allegations?:" http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/steve-wynn-accused-of-repeated-sexual-misconduct-1147515971871

* TW: Rape. Look, I absolutely support rape survivors of any gender. After all, a majority of our soldiers raped by other soldiers every year are cis men, and rape and molestation are no less harmful to people who aren't women. I want to make super clear this rant is not aimed at survivors regardless of gender. The last thing I want to be doing is trying to silence survivors of any gender cis or trans, binary or non-binary.

I've been watching the discourse in the last couple months around issues of rape, sexual assault, and sexual Harassment lately, and I just wanted to say that I am incredibly sick of cis men who've never been harassed or assaulted holding forth about how wrong people who have actually been harassed, assaulted, molested, raped, etc. should and should not be reacting to allegations of the same in the media. I am tired of cis men who've never experienced anything along these lines trying to police, tone police, and silence people (regardless of gender) who have experienced these things first hand.

Right now? Is time to shut up and listen if these issues have never effected you personally, because if it hasn't happened to you, you *gasp* aren't an expert. No really. Ignorance and privilege do not magically make you unbiased. Now is a good time to listen and thing and maybe expend a little empathy instead of trying to shut down a conversation that makes you uncomfortable. It should make you uncomfortable. You know who is way more than uncomfortable? A thirteen year old girl being chased by a pack of cat calling construction workers, for example. She is not merely uncomfortable, she is TERRIFIED, and even if she out runs them to safety the fact she wasn't physically harmed doesn't take the trauma away.

I heard a certain privileged cis male asshole make the case on TV this last week or so that we shouldn't take things like this seriously and just focus on the violent rape. I've heard a lot of cis male celebrities and pundits make variations on the theme of we shouldn't include certain things they want to carve out in the discussion. I say we can focus on *gasp* more than one thing at a time, and the last people who should be deciding what things we should discuss and protest are the people who've never once feared for their safety walking down a street, on a date, in a bathroom, at work, etc., who've never been attacked by a friend, a family member, a partner, a date, a stranger.

Maybe just shut up and listen for once and let people who actually know what they are talking about hold a debate.

* "Wonder Woman 2 will be the first production to adopt new anti-sexual harassment guidelines:" https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/22/16918368/wonder-woman-2-producers-guild-america-pga-anti-sexual-harassment-guidelines

* "RNC finance chair Steve Wynn resigns after sexual harassment allegations:" https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/27/steve-wynn-resign-rnc-finance-chair-sexual-misconduct-accusations-373768

* "Dem senator calls for probe into USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal:" http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/370583-dem-senator-calls-for-investigation-into-us-gymnastics-sexual-abuse

* "11,000-yr-old baby tomb found in SW China:" http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/19/c_136909114.htm

* "Iron age discovery at housing site sheds new light on history of town:" http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/iron-age-discovery-at-housing-site-sheds-new-light-on-history-of-town-1-5361316

* "Ancient tripartite-city of Xiongnu a special religious and meeting site:" http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/16/c_136900293.htm

* "Ancient Cliff Tombs Discovered in Southwest China:" https://www.archaeology.org/news/6285-180118-china-cliff-tombs

* "18 tombs unearthed in North China:" http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/16/WS5a5d6468a3102c394518f7de.html

* "Possible Remains of ‘Lost’ Monastery Discovered in Scotland:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/possible-remains-lost-monastery-discovered-scotland-180967838/

* "Headless body is not C18th Scottish clan chief, say experts:" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/19/headless-body-is-not-scottish-clan-chief-simon-fraser-experts

* "18th Century inn abandoned during Clearances is unearthed:" https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/18th-century-inn-abandoned-during-clearances-is-unearthed-1-4666340

* "The evidence for the Tasmanian genocide:" https://phys.org/news/2018-01-evidence-tasmanian-genocide.html

* "Naomi Parker Fraley, the Real Rosie the Riveter, Dies at 96:" https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/obituaries/naomi-parker-fraley-the-real-rosie-the-riveter-dies-at-96.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&referer=

* "Paris zoo shut after 50 baboons escape:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/26/paris-zoo-shut-baboons-escape

* "Cable News Chyrons Tell The Bizarre Story Of Trump's First Year In Office:" https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cable-news-chyrons-captions-trump-first-year_us_5a60fd2de4b0b3f7fa12fc33?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000313

* "Selma: Crash Course Film Criticism #3:"

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* "Chucky Lee Byrd - SNL:"

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* "Flight Attendants - SNL:"

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* "Next: For Men - SNL:"

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* "George W. Bush Returns Cold Open - SNL:"

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* So Sunday, the viruses and my chronic stuff ganged up on me all at once. I gave myself permission to skip forage, but as it turned out, my sleep quality was so low I went anyway, as not going would have involved me not being much more rested and then having to go Wednesday. It was not a good forage, alas. I was also literally the second day of free tax prep and my paperwork came end of last week. They'd moved it from the library to a mazelike church which I approached from the wrong side to get accessible parking so stairs, so many stairs. I did read more than a hundred pages of the new John Guy Elizabeth, detailing the later years of her reign, which tend to get short shrift, while I waited. So that's more bureaucracy gone, but it also meant I had to carry all the forage in myself, Squirrel having left for game hours previously.

When I got home there was a package full of exciting experimental candied orange rinds from a friend and a lovely card. Thank you. :)

* Poison Ivy Salad: http://gallusrostromegalus.tumblr.com/post/170292162973/please-i-have-to-know-how-the-hell-did-you

* It just occurred to me that Cassian from Rogue One is the kind of man Han Solo is pretending to be in A New Hope.

* "Okay, but imagine Sam Vimes in the Avengers Universe.:" http://butlerbookbinding.tumblr.com/post/170265898964/okay-but-imagine-sam-vimes-in-the-avengers

* People reacting to being asked who the President is to check brain function: http://satyrday.tumblr.com/post/170251228891/epaulettes-wildlyannoyingdoofus-these-kinds

* "Sunday Sweets: The 10 Cutest Cakes Of All Time*:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2018/1/28/sunday-sweets-the-10-cutest-cakes-of-all-time.html

* Star Trek, The Animated Series:

- 1.8 The Magicks of Megas-Tu. They get caught in an "Energy tornado" in a vaccuum which somehow works like a terrestrial tornado and basically takes them to meet what looks an awful lot like Lucifer, "Lucian." *side eye* McCoy just called Spock "not very natural." WTF?!? Is it just me, or is cartoon McCoy a suppurating asshole? He seems to be constantly insulting Spock for no reason without even the excuse of a disagreement. I think Spock has a good basis for a hostile work environment claim. There follows an infomercial for "Magic." Lucian's hiding them from something, apparently. At which point Spock starts doing magic, which attracts the thing Lucian was hiding them from, who turns out to be Asmodeus.... Frankly, the plot isn't making all that much sense outside of Spock working out that the local physical laws are based on belief and thus being able to work magic himself. Anyway, they get sent to the stocks in Salem, where they discover these aliens were twined with Earth history. Sigh. Anyway, they are pissed about the persecutions. So Spock gets to be lawtyer for the defense at the trial of the human race. They decide they are likely safe from humans based on the records of how they got here, but the now revealed Lucifer is to be condemned to eternal solitary and the humans take up for him, so Kirk has a magic fight with Asmodeus which the animation is not up to portraying with cheesey results. Kirk's willingness to die for Lucifer is a test, so they are all friends now. This episode was a mess. There were some nice little bits of dialog in there but it was a mix of rehashed plot and incoherence.

- 1.9 Once Upon a Planet. They return to that planet they found where whatever one imagines turns up in robot form, only they get attacked by Alice Through the Looking Glass characters even though no one imagined that, and they get trapped down there. It turns out the Planetary AI is rebelling and thinks Uhura and the others are slaves of the Sky Machine (the Enterprise). The machines are trying to use them as hostages, but more than one is redundant so they plan to "turn them off" IE: kill most of them. Uhura understandably objects. The Keeper is dead and buried under a monument, so he's no help. They order a phaser bore to try to get through the core alloy, but the ship is malfunctioning so no dice. The main party gets attacked by Pterodactyls and a giant cat and their phasors are dead. The main group incapacitates Spock to take advantage of the injured guest transportation system. Meanwhile, the Planet is taking over the ship, causing havoc. Kirk hitches a ride and they find Uhura and the AI, who is tired of being a slave and has aspirations of travel via the "Sky Machine." Scotty is not even a little amused by the computer being assembled by the Starship computer in the Computer bay. They explain that they aren't slaves and that if it stops attacking people, then visitors could come to it, thus saving the need to travel. The AI agrees. They have Shore leave after all. This one is so much better than the previous one.

- TW: Rape. 1.10 Mudd's Passion. Ugh. They catch Mudd selling a mind control rape drug to miners. Luckily is a scam and he's not actually raping people. Spock exposes him and he has a choice of being lynched by the locals or letting the federation arrest him. He chooses arrest. He's been traveling around scamming/poisoning people. He sexually harasses Nurse Chapel, then offers her a bribe of the rape drug for her to use on Spock. All this seems rather advanced for a children's cartoon. Weirdly, it doesn't work on gay people for some reason according to the sales pitch. Nurse Chapel takes the rape drug to "analyze," but he talks her into using it to rape Spock as a test. Riiight. Of course, when she breaks the ampule it makes her all suggestible so he sends her to go rape Spock while he uses her badge to escape. Spock doesn't let her rape him, as the drug takes longer to work than she expected, so she goes to complain and realizes Mudd's escaped. The effects of the rape drug on Spock lead to him being humiliated in front of the bridge crew. Mudd releases the rape drug into the Enterprise air system and takes Chapel hostage, escaping in a shuttle. They showed this to children!!! I WATCHED this as a toddler. Eeeeew!!! Seriously, Star Fleet needs waaaay better HR. The planet Mudd fled to is full of monsters, chaos ensues. The rape drug effects Kirk and Spock, making Kirk jealous and Spock verbally affectionate, but they start to resist. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, everyone is under the sway of the rape drug. As a kid, I liked ToS McCoy, though not as much as Spock (I was a Spock/McCoy shipper as a child. Don't judge, we all have our odd parings when we were small). I have been liking him a lot less on the rewatch because he's mean and racist. I've come to quietly loathe him thanks to the Animated Series. They consider using the rape drug on the monsters to escape. Everyone gets a rape drug hangover which makes them all hate each other. Look, everyone on the enterprise can't be held responsible for what they did while drugged, but Chapel chose to try to rape Spock while sober and the fact that she failed to consummate for reasons beyond her control shouldn't be considered to mitigate the fact that she made a premeditated rape attempt on a coworker. Why don't they arrest her? Where is the Court Martial panel? Mudd gets sent off for "rehabilitation" again.

I'm really disgusted.

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

* "Help us stop the humanitarian crisis on Manus:" https://www.asrc.org.au/donate-now/

* "RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees):" https://www.givenow.com.au/riserefugee/donate

* How to help Rohingya refugees: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/world/asia/rohingya-aid-myanmar-bangladesh.html?emc=edit_nn_20171012&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=50784086&te=1&_r=0

* Help fight for Net Neutrality restoration: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/170010496350/democrats-are-just-one-vote-shy-of-restoring-net

* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey

* Trans Lifeline is one of those organizations you can call at (877) 565-8860 in the US and in Canada (877) 330- 6366.

* The Trevor Project has a 24 hour hotline geared toward helping our youth, and you can call it at 1-866-488-7386

* 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/

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com

* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/1925021.html

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com

* There has been horrific, persistent, large scale, deadly flooding in Peru with displacement on a scale I honestly can't wrap my head around. Want to help? https://www.ammado.com/community/193613

* "London attack: Five dead in Westminster terror attack:" http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39359158

* "Dmitry Orlov: Social Collapse Best Practices:" http://longnow.org/seminars/02009/feb/13/social-collapse-best-practices/

* We appear to have bombed a refugee school in Raqqa.

* "Russian paid Manafort millions to help Putin influence US:"

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* "Trump case a lesson in intelligence gathering:"

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* "Nunes muddies Trump probe with abrupt claim of new evidence:"

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* All nominations still under discussion need to be haulted. People who have clearly committed felonies (Flynn and Manafort) need to be arrested right away, and there needs to be a full proper independent inquiry to see who else needs arresting. This isn't some piddly blow job situation; this is a safety and security of the Nation and the World situation.

* "Rep Schiff: Trump Russia case now 'more than circumstantial':"

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* "Russian info-war tactics in US election continue:"

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* "No, it Really is that Bad:" http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2017/02/no-is-really-is-that-bad

* "SCOTUS integrity damaged by GOP stolen seat:"

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* "Franken questions Trump & Gorsuch’s judgment:"

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* "Former GOP chairman charged with voter fraud:"

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* "Dahlia Lithwick - The Politicization of Neil Gorsuch's SCOTUS Confirmation - Extended Interview:"

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* "Sanders: AHCA is tax plan to help the wealthy:"

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* "The Barbarians Inside the Gates: Can the Center Hold?:" https://medium.com/bioneers/the-barbarians-inside-the-gates-can-the-center-hold-25ea6408bd5e#.i3b13f53n

* "Why Is A Hate Group Meddling In An Illinois School Board Race?:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2017/03/why-is-hate-group-meddling-in-illinois.html

* This has got to be the Alaska equivalent of Florida Man. "Snake found on a plane. Yes, really... snake on a plane:" http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39349326/snake-found-on-a-plane-yes-really-snake-on-a-plane

* "Africa's Sean Spicer & Not Coming to America:"

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* "So Much News, So Little Time:"

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* "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse - Why Is President Trump Campaigning Again?:"

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* "Dalai Lama: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:"

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* "Trump's Hard Power Budget :"

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* "Steve Bannon's Bathtub Musings:"

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* "The WERD: Screw Unto Others:"

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* "Dr. Sebastian L. v. Gorka, Trump Whisperer:"

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* "Great Moments In Women's History:"

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* "Jeff Sessions Tackles Weed And The White House's (Unrelated) Paranoia:"

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* "Josh Lucas Had A Machine Gun Pointed At Him:"

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* "Ryan Reynolds & Jake Gyllenhaal Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions:"

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* "Ryan Reynolds: Big Questions With Even Bigger Stars :"

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* NWS Obviously. Wait past the credits. "Deadpool Musical - Beauty and the Beast "Gaston" Parody :"

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* I spent so many years trying to fight Doctors who were trying to gaslight me into agreeing that I wasn't sick, including that time I spent half a decade trying to convince someone to do something about Heberton, the tumor colony that was literally killing me, that even after years of dealing with a practice where the Doctor's are willing to actually treat me, it is always a huge relief that they do instead of making me waste huge amounts of energy I haven't got fighting for treatment. Decades of training has made me used to being told I am imaging whatever happens to be actively trying to kill me, which of course plays in "fun" ways with my childhood abuse. I really have no words for how I feel every time a Doctor just tries to fix what wrong instead of trying to retraumatize me out of laziness and/or prejudice.

The lab results weren't back yet, but the x-ray was definitive. This is the first pneumonia I've had in the half decade or so since I was vaccinated against it. I used to get it most years, so the vaccine was so worth it. I started antibiotic number three this morning, one of the alarmingly strong ones. At least it's only once a day, and I'm off my arthritis meds for the duration as I don't like making holes in my stomache. My body pulled one of it's little chronic illness rebellions this evening, though it is hard to tell if it's the pneumonia or the antibiotic or both or neither. They made need to change antibiotic depending on what strain it tuns out to be, but odds are I won't. This has been a bad one, acute more than half the time between the beginning of February and now. In it's own way it's been worse than the six months of lung MRSA.

In other news, Squirrel is recovering well from the influenza and Tavy has been trying terribly hard to be good, poor wee beastie.

* I feel like people get intimidated by "elite" culture. People with a lot of time and money to devote to things like studying Shakespeare or classical music or high end art have a very human interest in making these things into something only the very wealthy and highly educated have a right to enjoy because they are the ones who can tease out the nuance. The thing is though that music, art, dance, theater have mostly been available to everybody to some degree. Shakespeare was for the Groundlings as well as the toffs. Church music had to reach the peasant and the rag picker as well as the Queen, King, and the Princes of the church. Art had patrons and sure, the stuff in palaces were for the very rich, but the same painters put the art on public columns and in churches too where everyone saw it. Music and dance have always belonged to everyone even if certain types were more common in one setting or another. even opera had cheap seats when it was new. The barrier between the art of the rich and the art of the poor is a very modern thing, even though we all grew up thinking there was this line between popular and high art. It is bull shit. If you like something and enjoy it, there is nothing wrong with that. your tastes may change with age and exposure and/or study, but never let any one tell you that something that gives you pleasure isn't good enough, and a hundred times that never let anyone tell you you aren't good enough to understand and enjoy something. If it makes you feel something, than that bit of music/art/theater/dance/poetry/whatever worked on some level. That needs to be enough.

It is also absolutely valid NOT to like something, even when everyone seems to be telling you you should. Everyone has a right to their own taste and don’t like anyone tell you different.

* I despise everything about the commercial where the girl mocks her mother on line for #having a cold because #every one gets them so #shut up.

* "The Walking Dead Gives Us a Tasty, Satisfying Filler Ep:" https://www.thefandomentals.com/the-walking-dead-7x14/

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com

* My thoughts are with the brave women out protesting this murder and the previous ones. "Afghan woman accused of adultery is stoned to death "Afghan woman accused of adultery is stoned to death :" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34714205

* Best of luck to Jon Bell Edwards in Louisiana.

* TW: Pedophilia. "Christian ‘Family Values’ GOP Consultant Forced Children To Perform Sex Acts In Church:" http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/03/christian-family-values-gop-consultant-forced-children-to-perform-sex-acts-in-church-video/

* "‘Responsible Gun Owner’ Gives 5-Yr-Old A Loaded Gun To ‘Shoot Bad Guys’ And Goes Drinking :" http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/03/responsible-gun-owner-gives-5-yr-old-a-loaded-gun-to-shoot-bad-guys-and-goes-drinking-video/

* "Newly elected Kentucky governor may roll back ACA:"

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* "Why is drug addiction now a political issue?:"

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* "Oklahoma Mayor’s Husband Drank Too Much — Then Dressed Up As A KKK Member :" http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/03/oklahoma-mayors-husband-drank-too-much-then-dressed-up-as-a-kkk-member-video/

* "In Victory for Public Ed, Colorado Boots Koch-Backed School Board:" http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/11/04/victory-public-ed-colorado-boots-koch-backed-school-board

* "TransGriot: HERO Dies..And I'm Pissed About It:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/11/hero-diesand-im-pissed-about-it.html

* "Earliest humans had diverse range of body types, just as we do today:" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150326204642.htm

* I have said before that cultural continuity on this scale fills me with awe. "Fayoum’s Valley of the Potters: Where Ancient Egypt Lives On:" http://egyptianstreets.com/2015/10/28/fayoums-valley-of-the-potters-where-ancient-egypt-lives-on/

* "Huge sharks love death metal, film crew finds out:" http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/death-metal-music-attracts-sharks-documentary-crew-finds-out-10381295.html

* Attn: MrBumblepants. "Extended - Panel - Science vs. Religion:"

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* I had this dream my friends for all over gathered to throw me a Birthday party. Some of them I hadn't seen since first or second college. This being my brain, they were all realistically aged up.

Readers, you should have seen this cake! This cake was glorious! It was the length of me full wingspan with arms outstretched. The bottom layer was beautifully done up to look like wood furniture, clearly hand painted, with real icing instead of fondant. The second layer had lines from Take Me to Church piped on the sides like beadwork. The base icing on the second and third layers were also proper icing instead of fondant and all three layers were different flavours. On top of the second and third layers were beautifully sculpted fondant figures of various book, movie, etc.. characters I like in a gothy cemetary setting with wee sculpted tomb stones.

Seriously, I wish this cake were real so I could show you pictures.

* "Supernatural, Season 11, Episode 5: Thin Lizzie:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/11/supernatural-season-11-episode-5-thin.html

* "Ash vs Evil Dead:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/11/ash-vs-evil-dead.html

* Scream Queens Question: Where was Zayday this episode? Did I forget an important plot point from the previous week? My brain is not anywhere near it's best right now.

* Organizations helping with the refugee crisis: http://captainofalltheships.tumblr.com/post/128790538169/an-updated-list-of-organizations-to-donate-to-help

* A list of LGBTQA Charities: http://awkward0w1.tumblr.com/post/126399233673

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com

* "ISIS executes antiquities prof Khaled al-As'ad in Palmyra:" http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/18/middleeast/isis-executes-antiquities-expert/

* North Korea has started shelling the South. The South retaliated.

* The Macedonian authorities have brutally attacked Syrian refugees trying to cross out of Greece and are now refusing them passage through their country to Northern Europe.

* "Houston Texans' Arian Foster goes public about not believing in God:" http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13369076/houston-texans-arian-foster-goes-public-not-believing-god

* TW: Rape, rape Culture. "It Was Easier to Give in Than Keep Running:"

* "'I Am Groot' Helped Teach A Young Boy With Dyspraxia How To Speak:" http://uproxx.com/movies/2015/08/groot-guardians-communicate/

* "#BlackLivesMatter Founder FB Statement On Trans Murders:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/blacklivesmatter-founder-fb-statement.html

* "August 14, 2015 Wasn't A Good Day For Black Trans Folks:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/august-14-2015-wasnt-good-day-for-black.html

* "TransGriot: The Black Trans Visibility Conundrum:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-black-trans-visibility-conundrum.html

* "TransGriot: Don't Even Dare Part Your Lips To Say 'All Trans Lives Matter'...:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/dont-even-dare-part-your-lips-to-say.html

* "Damn, Damn, Damn! Ashton Is Number 14:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/damn-damn-damn-ashton-is-number-14.html

* "KAnd Kandis Makes 15:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/and-kandis-makes-15.html

* "Missing NC Trans Woman Angel Elisha Walker's Remains Found:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/missing-nc-trans-woman-angel-elisha.html

* "Trans Woman Number 16 Has Been Murdered- RIP Tamara:" http://www.ustranssurvey.org/

* "We are trying to raise money for Tamara Dominguez funeral service here in Kansas City.:" http://www.gofundme.com/u4247w9k

* "Formally Investigate the Transphobic Violence Leading to the Rising Death Toll of Transgender Women of Color in the U.S. | We the People: Your Voice in Our Government:" https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/formally-investigate-transphobic-violence-leading-rising-death-toll-transgender-women-color-us-0

* "Mia Henderson Case Update:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/mia-henderson-case-update.html

* "What Is Trans Activism?:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-is-trans-activism.html

* "U.S. Trans Survey:" http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2015/08/trans-woman-number-16-has-been-murdered.html

* "Curating for Transgender Customers: How 5 Retailers Size Up:" http://www.business2community.com/consumer-marketing/curating-transgender-customers-5-retailers-size-01299187

* "The transgender teddy bear teaching children about friendship and identity:" http://www.theguardian.com/books/shortcuts/2015/aug/11/trans-teddy-bear-gender-issues

* "Scientist of the Day - Thomas Sandby:" http://www.lindahall.org/thomas-sandby/

* This, this, this. "Fangs For The Fantasy: The Strain, Season 2, Episode 6: Identity:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/08/the-strain-season-2-episode-6-identity.html

* "Questions and answers, #7: Who gets your stuff?:" http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/636062.html

* Ebay:

Lindworm 2012 (LE, DragonCon, Event Exclusive): (Company says: Smoky green leather smeared with crushed grasses and wild herbs). 3/4 Full. http://www.ebay.com/itm/301718133830?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

* A list of LGBTQA Charities to donate money to instead of seeing the racist Stonewall Movie that decided to portray a black trans woman activist as a cis white man. http://awkward0w1.tumblr.com/post/126399233673

* Want Game of Thrones without the creepy? We desperately need new players. We are very inclusive. "Game of Bones MUSH:" gobmush.wikidot.com

* Trying to stay afloat until September: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws or Lethran@gmail.com