Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* "The resignation of three Tory MPs is a dire warning to the party:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/20/resignation-three-tory-mps-dire-warning

* "India demands Pakistan take action and 'stop misleading' on Kashmir attack:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/asia/imran-khan-kashmir-attack-intl/index.html

* "Spain's PM calls snap general election for 28 April:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/15/spains-pm-calls-snap-general-election-for-28-april

* "Haitians seek water, food as businesses reopen after protest:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/haitians-seek-water-food-as-businesses-reopen-after-protest/2019/02/18/faac31e6-3390-11e9-8375-e3dcf6b68558_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6097c385cbb5

* "Putin: We’ll Target U.S. if Trump Deploys Missiles in Europe:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-well-target-us-if-trump-deploys-missiles-in-europe

* "AP source: FBI had backup plan to save Russia probe evidence:" https://apnews.com/eda560d7427e4840bd988b0c194ed240

* "Justice Department preparing for Mueller report in coming days:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-preparing-for-mueller-report-in-coming-days/2019/02/20/c472691c-354b-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.55eaef97e364

* "Michael Cohen granted delay in reporting to prison:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/20/politics/michael-cohen-jail/index.html

* "A.G. change may test steps taken to protect Trump investigations:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/a-g-change-may-test-steps-taken-to-protect-trump-investigations-1445890627805

* "Andrew McCabe: Mueller report should be made public:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/andrew-mccabe-tells-chris-hayes-the-mueller-report-should-be-public-1445820483717

* "Andrew McCabe tells Chris Hayes the president may be compromised:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/andrew-mccabe-tells-chris-hayes-the-president-may-be-compromised-1445824579513

* "Andrew McCabe Had Robert Mueller As A Boss:"

( Embed: )

* "Andrew McCabe: There Was No 'Coup' To Remove Trump:"

( Embed: )

* Meanwhile in autocracy news. "Justice Clarence Thomas Calls for Reconsideration of Landmark Libel Ruling:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/politics/clarence-thomas-first-amendment-libel.html

* "Trump Attacks The Times, in a Week of Unease for the American Press:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/us/politics/new-york-times-trump.html

* "Hill Democrats say Education Dept. tried to interfere in probe, remove investigator:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hill-democrats-say-education-dept-tried-interfere-probe-remove-investigator-n973256

* "Facing ethics violation, Wilbur Ross says he didn’t mean to file inaccurate financial disclosures:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/20/facing-ethics-violation-wilbur-ross-says-he-didnt-mean-file-inaccurate-financial-disclosures/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5d38532a77d1

* "U.S. agency to cancel $929 million in California high-speed rail funds:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-rail-idUSKCN1Q82TH

* "White House prepares to scrutinize intelligence agencies’ finding that climate change threatens national security:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-readies-panel-to-assess-if-climate-change-poses-a-national-security-threat/2019/02/19/ccc8b29e-3396-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e194932e11ba

“We’re doing our best to try and counter this myth that CO2 is a dangerous pollutant,” he said. “It’s not a pollutant at all. . . . We should be telling the scientific truth, that more CO2 is actually a benefit to the earth.”

* "‘Sustained and ongoing’ disinformation assault targets Dem presidential candidates:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/20/2020-candidates-social-media-attack-1176018

* "Democrats see return of divisive social media manipulation:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/democrats-see-return-of-divisive-social-media-manipulation-1445893699603

* "Kamala Harris - Seeking the Presidency to Preserve "The Truths We Hold" - Extended Interview:"

( Embed: )

* "Ex-Sessions spokeswoman to join CNN as political editor:" https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/19/sessions-sarah-isgur-cnn-political-editor-1174527

* "CNN’s hiring of a GOP operative as political editor is even worse than it looks:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/cnns-hiring-of-a-gop-operative-as-political-editor-is-even-worse-than-it-looks/2019/02/20/93d03fa4-350b-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.97b5708a0cde

* "White House moves forward with wall funding despite lawsuits:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/trump-wall-funding-emergency-lawsuits/index.html

* "Pelosi urges members to back resolution terminating national emergency:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/20/politics/pelosi-resolution-national-emergency/index.html

* "Help wanted: Rural America needs immigrants:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/12/help-wanted-rural-america-needs-immigrants/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9e94cd055c11

* "‘I am dreaming of a way to kill almost every last person on earth’: A self-proclaimed white nationalist planned a mass terrorist attack, the government says:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/self-proclaimed-white-nationalist-planned-mass-terror-attack-government-says-i-am-dreaming-of-a-way-to-kill-almost-every-last-person-on-earth/2019/02/20/61daf6b8-3544-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d9131fcb7b83

* " Martina Navratilova Comes Out As A Transphobe :" https://transgriot.blogspot.com/2019/02/martina-navratilova-comes-out-as.html

* "Proposed testosterone limit ’flawed’ and ‘hurtful’, say Caster Semenya’s lawyers:" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/feb/19/caster-semenya-lawyers-testosterone-limit-flawed-hurtful-iaaf

* "'The story of a weird world I was warned never to tell':" https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-42951788

* Yes this is a tumblr thread, but it sums up the Measles data really well and has sources: http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/182948117320/washington-state-is-in-a-state-of-emergency-due-to

* "Rubella gave me a disability. This is my message to anti-vaxxers:" https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/19/opinions/measles-outbreak-anti-vaccine-movement-disability-sjunneson-henry/index.html?__twitter_impression=true

* "For nearly 2 decades, Grand Canyon tourists were exposed to radiation beyond the federal limit, safety manager says:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/20/health/grand-canyon-radiation-museum-trnd/index.html

* "Hacker Breaks Down 26 Hacking Scenes From Movies & TV:"

( Embed: )

* "Brexit III: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver:"

( Embed: )

* "Invasion Of The Presidential Candidates:"

( Embed: )

* "The Most 'Bernie' Way To Kick Off A Campaign:"

( Embed: )

* "Trump Asked A Favor Of Matthew Whitaker:"

( Embed: )

* "America's Homegrown Opioid Crisis:"

( Embed: )

* "Drunk History - Drugs:" http://www.cc.com/episodes/5ws81b/drunk-history-drugs-season-6-ep-606

* "Late Late Live Tinder w/ Fan-Favorite Trevor:"

( Embed: )

* "Danielle Brooks - Black Woman:"

( Embed: )

* I did manage to forage Wednesday, which was good because we needed the perishables. The line was huge and I had to park far away.

We went out to do the thing where he tries to drive the car to the mechanic, but it sure sounded like engine and nor starter or alternator, so it had to be towed. This may be it for his truck and his car needs about $2000.00 of work to be drivable, so idk what happens next.

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

* Trans Helplines: https://www.translifeline.org/

* Want to complaint about Betsy DeVos's plan to coddle college rapists? https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/29/2018-25314/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-sex-in-education-programs-or-activities-receiving-federal#open-comment

* Donate to HIAS to help refugees: https://act.hias.org/page/6048/donate/1

* Want to contribute directly to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services fund? "Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services:" https://www.raicestexas.org/

* Support Kids at the Border: http://brigdh.tumblr.com/post/175022384240/support-the-kids-at-the-border

* The Rainbow Road and other ways to help Gay Refugees: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/160470723507/the-rainbow-railroad-is-helping-gay-men-escape

* Upset about the abuse of big cats by people who shouldn't be allowed to keep them? Big cat rescue is trying to change laws to protect wild animals. "Cat Laws:" https://bigcatrescue.org/cat-laws/

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

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not 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.

* This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

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

* This is a cool person and the swimsuits are being made from an ethical source. LGBTQIA+ swimsuits: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NerdyKeppie?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=24021616

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion

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

* I have been following the forensics debate and bombing realated discussion, but given how terrible I feel physically, and my need to be lying down ASAP, I'm going to do the lazy thing and link to the most basic thing instead of trying to engage with the more complicated aspects. "N.Y., N.J. bombings suspect charged with 5 counts of attempted murder:" http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ny-nj-bombings/ahmad-rahami-identified-n-y-n-j-bombings-suspect-officials-n650306

* "One-on-one with Elizabeth Warren:"

( Embed: )

* What I want to know is more about his misappropriation of Sandy disaster funds. "Christie knew about lane closings?:"

( Embed: )

* Michael Steele is such a delight. "Priebus warns: Get on Trump train - or else:"

( Embed: )

* "Because Hillary Listens (And now I do too) :" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/150545693090/because-hillary-listens-and-now-i-do-too

* Michael J. Morell on National Security and Clinton vs. Trump: http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/150663030102/during-a-33-year-career-at-the-central

* It became clear yesterdayish, that the weekend sluggishness was me actually being sick. My body is continuing inconvenient and all around unpleasant. Apologies for where this likely shows in my writing.

* This ends up being a really good discussion of bias in archaeology, simplistic reporting, forensics, and the fashion industry. No really. http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/150660585307/elodieunderglass-clatterbane

* "Kafka’s Joke Book:" http://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/150662164412/kafkas-joke-book

* "Fashion Police and Grammar Police:" http://xkcd-rss.livejournal.com/441088.html

* Sex and Rape in ASoIaF vs. GoT: http://turtle-paced.tumblr.com/post/150616988747/in-your-numbers-post-up-through-season-3-you-note

* "Cheryl’s Landing Part 2: The Implications:" http://www.fandomfollowing.com/cheryls-landing-part-2/

* "Sunday Sweets For Pirates:" http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2016/9/18/sunday-sweets-for-pirates.html

* TNG 3 Rewatch:
- Allegiance. I know this pre-dates Babylon 5, but I like the B5 version of the Picard half of this plot. I know this pre-dates Deep Space 9, but they did the paranoia in a way more interesting way in that first season plot where they get imprinted by an alien artifact. Patrick Stewart's acting is excellent, but the plot makes me itch for reasons I can't put my finger on. Also the Enterprise half really underlines the creepiness of Deanna using her powers to spy on the crew, which is somehow still not addressed.

- Captain's Holiday. My favorite Deanna Troi moment in the series so far is her threatening Picard with a visit from her mother.

- Tin Man. Wow, the unethical use of telepathy is Star Fleet really makes the horrors of the Babylon 5 Psy Corps look reasonable by comparison. *shudder*

-Hollow Pursuits. I feel like watching Barclay's personal fantasies is an invasion of privacy for a character already accorded so little dignity, especially as they seem to be played for laughs. I have a lot of questions as to why group bullying of someone clearly suffering from social anxiety is considered acceptable in Starfleet instead of compassion and treatment, as would seem a more appropriate response. I have a lot of feelings about this one, but not many words at the moment.

- The Most Toys. Another entry in the Data Personhood theme. Data is kidnapped by a collector and treated as an object d'art instead of a person. This plot has been done so often before and since, from Twilight Zone and old school Doctor Who to just this summer on Killjoys, I'm not sure how much one can say. Data's means of resistance reminds me very much of myself as a child. Data decided to kill, even if they prevented the actual killing. This has it's own implications even though it was the right choice. Data lied to Riker. This too has it's implications.

- Menage a Troi. Olympic Lwaxana Troi dodging and Ferengis being gross all in one episode. Lwaxana Troi pressuring Deanna to marry. Lwaxana Troi cock blocking Deanna while simultaneously pressuring her to marry. Even more Ferengi sexual harassment now with stalking and kidnapping. Ugh. This is one of two episodes I can think of (the other being DS9 season One) where Lwaxana actually displays good qualities. Of course she displays them in both cases after the worst of her qualities being on display. She's such a terrible stereotype of a smothering mother, who also uses her telepathy and other people's knowledge of her having telepathy to humiliate people for her own amusement, that those rare occasions when there is a point to her outside of being awful it's a startle.

- Sarek. Ah, the heartbreaking Vulcan Alzheimer's episode, played as Shakespearean tragedy.

- Transfigurations. Wait, Worf's been with one woman once, why is he the one coaching Jordi on dating? I am too tired to do the gender and command style analysis this deserves.

- The Best of Both Worlds. I love that Picard references the Emperor Honorius seeing the Goths coming up over the hill. I love Guinan's response about resilience and diaspora. Boy were the Borg creepy before repetition stole all the mystery. I remember how freaky this episode was when it was new.

******

* Louisiana is having a major flooding disaster, the worst disaster in this country since Sandy. Want to help? https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation

* "How to help Flint, Michigan:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/how-help-flint-michigan

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

* Donate to help refugees "UN Refugee Agency:" http://donate.unhcr.org/international/general

* 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.comhttp://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/asia/indonesia-drug-executions/

* Russia has violated Turkish airspace as part of their bombing campaign against moderate rebels against Assad.

* We deliberately bombed a Doctor's Without Borders staffed Hospital in Afghanistan.

* "No, Native Americans aren't genetically more susceptible to alcoholism:" http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/2/9428659/firewater-racist-myth-alcoholism-native-americans

* "Broadway Star Makes Passionate Post After Child With Autism 'Disrupts' Show:" http://themighty.com/2015/09/broadway-star-makes-passionate-post-after-child-with-autism-disrupts-show/

* On the mistaken assumption that the speech of straight white men is the default when it clearly isn't. http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/130249281335/we-know-from-decades-of-linguistic-research-that

* "Just Because it Doesn't effect You Personally Doesn't Mean It's Not Oppressive:" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/130333694400/robothugscomic-new-comic-link-to-full-comic

* "Dad Sends His Little Girl Off to School in A Sundress:" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/130271959895/dad-sends-his-little-girl-off-to-school-in-a

* A long line at the Post Office when I went to mail one of my late payers ended up nixing an errand, but I got everything else done on the list for today except squeezing juice, which hurts and is exhausting. One more late payer left. How many weeks after an auction ends is it reasonable to start an ebay dispute? This person is habitually slow paying, but has always paid up in a shorter time than it's been. I tried emailing them to ask if they were okay, then again to ask when they planned to pay over the weekend. No response.

Djinni discovered that they now sell vegan marshmallows locally, so I can haz marshmallows! Omnomnom! If it were cooler out I could make cocoa with marshmallows! I miss toasting them, but I no longer have means of toasting them.

* Ebay, One More time:

A Low Candle-Lit Room 2013 (LE, Yules): (Company says: Candle wax and waxen "skin," rotting leather and reeking damp wood, and the ashes of a yawning, cold fireplace.). 3/4 Full.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301757378182?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

* 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 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

* "Parents Reportedly Throwing ‘Measles Parties’ To Infect Their Unvaccinated Kids:" http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/02/09/3621020/measles-parties-california/

* "I’m Autistic, And Believe Me, It’s A Lot Better Than Measles:" https://medium.com/the-archipelago/im-autistic-and-believe-me-its-a-lot-better-than-measles-78cb039f4bea

* "I'm an Anti-Braker:" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/110451381855/im-an-anti-braker#notes

* "Public transportation barriers help maintain inequality:"

( Embed: )

* "Why millions of Americans cannot vote:"

( Embed: )

* "Betsy Hodges pushes for better community policing:"

( Embed: )

* "“Fascism is rising in America”: The Koch brothers and democracy’s dispiriting demise:" http://www.salon.com/2015/02/08/fascism_is_rising_in_america_the_koch_brothers_and_the_painful_demise_of_democracy_partner/

* "The ocean is broken:" http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1848433/the-ocean-is-broken/

* "California Authorizes Oilfield Dumping into Drinking Water:" http://earthfirstjournal.org/newswire/2015/02/08/california-authorizes-oilfield-dumping-into-drinking-water/

* "1937-1938: Portraits of African-American former slaves:" http://mashable.com/2015/01/31/former-slaves-photos-united-states/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link

* "How Black History Month came to be:"

( Embed: )

* "Michaela DePrince: ‘There are practically no black dancers in ballet, so I need to speak out’:" http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/feb/08/michaela-deprince-ballet-memoir-sierra-leone

* "Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying In Alabama After U.S. Supreme Court Action:" http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/us-supreme-court-denies-stay-in-alabama-same-sex-marriage-ca#.bxYAzwRdak

* Dear CNN, People who are not gender fluid or one of the other very specific non-binary identities don't "change gender." Some people do transition. Some even have "Gender Confirmation surgery." The phrase "change gender" implies that a person was one gender and the transition changes them to a different gender. From the context, what you mean is "change gender presentation to match their actual gender" or "transition." "Transition" would be shorter and more accurate. Why not use that if you must, but I don't think you should be speculating about this at all absent a coming out announcement, so fuck you all around.

* "'Penis-shaped' Toronto bus station map removed by transit officials after going viral:" http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2015/02/penis-shaped-toronto-bus-station-map-removed-by-transit-officials-after-going-viral.html

* "Fairy Tales are NOT all straight white heroes and Women Sans Agency! I swear!:" http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/110595604025/fairy-tales-are-not-all-straight-white-heroes-and

* Bias in Libraries: http://seananmcguire.tumblr.com/post/110461798600/i-find-the-position-because-we-dont-have-x#notes

* This. "The Walking Dead, Season Five, Episode Nine: What Happened and What's Going On:" http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2015/02/the-walking-dead-season-five-episode.html

* Our Financial Situation continues Scary: http://www.gofundme.com/cuovws or Lethran@gmail.com

* How scary bad are the police in St. Lewis County? This man has been on the force 35 years with no one objecting to his behavior until rioting police in Ferguson drew national media attention. "Officer suspended after ugly rant:"

( Embed: )

* Want to know the thing that really scares me about Ferguson? The official statement about the suspending of that officer this week claims it was because he used "inappropriate language" and that otherwise he was following "standard police procedure." Think about that for a few minutes. The police officials are saying that it is standard police procedure in Ferguson, and presumably in the country as a whole, to point a loaded gun at the heads of innocent citizens who are not in commission of a crime and threaten to kill them for no particular reason and to refuse to give your name. Let's leave aside the list of charges any non-police member would have for doing that. Let's pretend for a moment the police in Ferguson aren't lying about this the way they seem to habitually do about everything else. How is this even remotely acceptable? Would not any civilized society decide that this should be the opposite of the way police routinely operate and fire all the police who don't get why there is a problem with treating citizens this way?

I also think that as using the n-word and other racial slurs is considered reasonable professional behavior in both the Ferguson police and Prosecutor's office all people in supervisory positions in both departments need to be fired and replaced along with any employees that go along with those policies. If you can't see why routinely referring to citizens of the community and colleagues in the police department and prosecutors office this way is part of the problem, you clearly are part of the problem also.

* ""Truly unexpected" pink granite boulder of ancient Scottish Picts revealed in Moray:" http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art493898-Truly-unexpected-huge-pink-granite-boulder-ancient-Scottish-Picts-revealed-Aberdeenshire

* "Violent aftermath for the warriors at Alken Enge:" http://phys.org/news/2014-07-violent-aftermath-warriors-alken-enge.html

* "Merovingian necropolis reveals 300 graves:" http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/07/2014/merovingian-necropolis-reveals-300-graves

* "Medieval church discovered in Podlasie:" http://www.naukawpolsce.pap.pl/en/news/news,401376,medieval-church-discovered-in-podlasie.html

* "Ikea bags stuffed with the human remains of 80 people found in church:" http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/ikea-bags-stuffed-with-the-human-remains-of-80-people-found-in-church-30480698.html

* I do not own a teapot, and am in the habit of brewing my loose leaf in mugs the size of pots, but as it turns out, I like drinking my tea from my gran's china, so tonight I tried brewing the tea in the mug, putting a lid on there, and pouring it into the cup. It was a little messy. I'm tempted to unwrap the silver service and use that, but I'd need to buy polish if I'm exposing that too air, and i haven't money to spare just now. Still, I like drinking from the china and I might make this work with practice.

* Ebay Auctions, 1ish day. One no bid:

( Embed: )

* Fund raiser to help us keep our place: http://djinni.livejournal.com/507872.html

* Djinni and Greenwickpress are getting married. Here is their gift registry in case folks want to get them something: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/19HV6IL24HX58/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v

* Pro-Russian troops fired "warning shots" at unarmed Ukrainian troops protesting the take over of the Crimea.

Kerry is flying to Kiev for purposes of Diplomacy, where people are still camped in Independence Square to show they want reforms to continue.

Putin has ended the maneuvers on the border, but is claiming this was the scheduled end date.

* Apparently, Angela Merkel of Germany was so alarmed by Putin's behavior on the phone, that she called our President to warn him that Putin "is in his own world." Apparently today's press conference was generally alarming enough that there is now a debate as to whether he is mentally ill or just faking mental illness or if we are looking at someone living in the Russian Intelligence version of the FOX "News" bubble were all the "facts" are twisted or made up to fit preexisting prejudices with no attention to outside objective reality.. Either way, I suspect diplomats and strategists are all recalibrating their projections re: Russia and the Ukraine. I know I am. I'm going to need to watch the press conference, but I have things I need to sort out first. Things just became a different kind of scary because they just got a whole lot less predictable.


* "Legalizing vigilantism:" http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/legalizing-vigilantism.html

* "Filthy rich but secretly terrified: Inside the 1 percent’s sore-winner backlash:" http://www.salon.com/2014/02/18/filthy_rich_but_secretly_terrified_inside_the_one_percents_sore_winner_backlash/

* "Voynich Manuscript partially decoded, text is not a hoax, scholar finds - Medievalists.net:" http://www.medievalists.net/2014/02/20/voynich-manuscript-partially-decoded-text-hoax-scholar-finds/

* "Jonathon Ross steps down from the Hugo Awards:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2014/03/jonathon-ross-steps-down-from-hugo.html

* Watch the skies for flying pigs! "http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/03/01/watch-this-fox-news-hosts-heartfelt-apology-to/198300:" http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/03/01/watch-this-fox-news-hosts-heartfelt-apology-to/198300

* "It's a Vlad, Vlad, Vlad, Vlad World:"

( Embed: )

* Bonus Patrick Stewart! "Phony Obamacare Horror Stories:"

( Embed: )

* This does a good job addressing the creepy. "Barbie on the Cover of Sports Illustrated:"

( Embed: )

* My guess that they fucked up my last bloodwork in a completely different way than they messed up my blood work the time before seems to be supported by yesterday's blood work and my new Doctor's opinion. We had a talk about treatment goals and hormones. I added some info she hadn't picked up about how my body reacts to high doses and we came up with a new dosing plan. We're scaling me back up, but slower and not as high as she expected to. I still need a chest x-ray, and I need to reschedule some stuff.

I really needed a day off today, as my body is particularly uncooperative, but that needs to wait for Thursday.

* "Character Study: Dr. Martha Jones:" http://nashvillegeeklife.com/2014/02/character-study-dr-martha-jones/

* I admit, I've been thinking Jared Leto = Buddy Christ from Dogma since the Globes. I am so glad it's not just me.

* NWS "The Oscars Have Just Become NSFW.:" http://gazerlog.com/oscars-just-become-nsfw/

* The Clutch:

Why do I link so many things about unwelcoming elements of Geek Culture?

( Cut for length: )


It’s us or it’s them, folks. Who would you rather hang out with, a bunch of privilege soaked bullying douchebags endlessly quizzing people to make them prove they have the right to be there who fling around homophobic and racial insults, or you know, the rest of us? Because it’s one or the other really. We let the assholes chase away the decent people, our culture will die.

We need to take our damned culture back. Bullies take silence for consent. We need to get each other's backs. We need to say something if we see or hear something. We need to intervene if someone is being creepy, or racist, or quizzing people, or generally being a jerk. We need to decide as a culture that this shit shall not stand. We need to push back on the privileged bullshit and take our spaces back.

* Nothing to Prove - Geek Girls & The Doubleclicks:

( Embed: )

* It's looking like oil companies have been in the practice of faking refinery fires or exaggerating the damage from smaller fires in order to dramatically increase prices for pure profit. An example of this it the 5.00+ gasoline prices in California this Summer. Still we subsidize them.

* Let's talk about finally ending the War on Terror.:

( Embed: )

* More organized Republican voter fraud and the Republican plans to do yet more damage to the country:

( Embed: )

* "Central Auckland super brothel approved:" http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8020161/Central-Auckland-super-brothel-approved

* Anti-rape condom: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20008347-10391704.html

* Porcupine Mating, because we can't really talk about this enough: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/11/porcupine_sex_mating_behaviors_involve_quills_musk_penis_spikes_fights_and.single.html

* "The AP doesn't want you to use "homophobia":" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/11/the-ap-doesnt-want-you-to-use-homophobia.html

* On the Elmo scandal: http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/11/get-me-my-axes-better-make-that.html

* "There is more than a little hubris in a member of an extremist minority claiming ownership of an entire country to the detriment of the other three-quarters of the population. But then the old cry of “America, Love it or Leave it” always had overtones of “America as I imagine it” rather than “America as it is” or “America as it was meant to be.”There is more than a little hubris in a member of an extremist minority claiming ownership of an entire country to the detriment of the other three-quarters of the population. But then the old cry of “America, Love it or Leave it” always had overtones of “America as I imagine it” rather than “America as it is” or “America as it was meant to be.” http://www.politicususa.com/america-christian-nation-it.html

* My instinct to order all the PRNs was a good one. My last meds pickup kicked me into catastrophic coverage. December's meds are free! Yay! I got a bunch of things needing doing done today including half of the beginning of the month stuff. Of course an asshole stole my assigned spot while I was out doing stuff, forcing me to parallel park elsewhere and slog up the hill in the rain. I do not see how me being gone two hours signals that I don't live in my apartment and thus don't need parking to my neighbors. Unfortunately, they routinely do this at night so we can't have them towed. Sigh.

* Thank you deepseasiren for your kind card and gift. I am contemplating how best to apply it.

* "Glee: Queerness, danger, and desire:" http://lettersfromtitan.com/2012/11/27/glee-queerness-danger-and-desire/

* Cheap tea samples: http://paintedpixies.blogspot.com/p/try-some-tea-samplers.html

* Solid Chocolate Baby Heads: http://www.neatorama.com/2012/11/29/Solid-Chocolate-Baby-Heads/

* Yoko Ono attempts menswear: http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/yoko-onos-fashions-for-men-perfect-for-hot-bods.html

* Someone really needs to tell Severus Snape that Proactiv "gets rid of Dark Marks."

* Revised casualty figures for the popular attacks on Islamist headquarters is now eleven. The protesters have turned over weapons, headquarters, and captured Islamists to the government, including one wanted in the murder of the US Ambassador.

* It's sounding like several of the protests being attributed to the YouTube video had/have little or nothing to do with the video while others do. No surprise that US news outlets are doing a crappy job of separating out the various things people are protesting. Most outlets also seem to be missing that in most places the vast majority of moderates are not involved, or the way that individual political conditions in the different countries play into the who, wheres, and whys of the protests, and that the folks protesting mostly live in countries where the State has controlled all means of expression for a generation or more so free expression is hard for folks to get their heads around. Sigh. I wish we still had a strong forth estate.

* Act Up and Occupy:

( Embed: )

* What's the Wallstreet protest movement doing with some of the donated money? Buying debt at auction and forgiving it.

* On Charter Schools:

( Embed: )

* The profit motive and Criminalization: http://psybelle.livejournal.com/793284.html

* "There is a BIG Problem With America’s Justice System:" http://letterstoconservativeparents.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/mom-dad-there-is-a-big-problem-with-americas-justice-system/

* Etruscan Pyramids: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120917/NEWS04/709179956&source=RSS

* Ignore the sensationalistic headline. This is a piece on Alexander the Great's adoption of Persian dress and Persian royal hunting habits: http://www.historytoday.com/tony-spawforth/alexander-cross-dressing-conqueror-world

* Understandable skepticism about the Richard III coverage by a professional historian: http://www.historytoday.com/blog/2012/09/richard-iii-and-leicester-car-park-bones

* "Sheldon Tapestry Map may have the first depiction of the Rollright Stones:" http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Ancient+stones+revealed+on+tapestry/27052

* So it's almost bed time last night. The cats and I are chilling. Suddenly there is a rhythmic sound like a thousand crickets coming from fish tank corner. Cats perk up, "Is that a predator, or tasty, tasty insects we can catch." Me, "Damnit, I knew that valve was damaged." Cue half an hour of me searching for a better valve and trying out various equipment combos, plus mopping up the back wash. I really need to lay in more spare valves and legs when I go to the fish store next.

* "Introducing G.O.B., The First Tampons Designed By The Men Of The GOP:" http://www.mediaite.com/tv/introducing-g-o-b-the-first-tampons-designed-by-the-men-of-the-gop/

* Don't be a creep: http://big-wired.livejournal.com/303345.html

* "Paranormal Steampunk and Dystopian Erasure - the Unpleasant Implications" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/09/paranormal-steampunk-and-dystopian.html

* "thought of the day:" http://cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com/419941.html

* The Swing Cakes: http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2012/9/23/sunday-sweets-swing-cakes.html

* Wow that show The Monkees was racist!

* The Syrian government is shelling civilian neighborhoods in Aleppo. When I went to bed last night, the government had a foothold in a Western neighborhood, but by the time I got home from errands this evening, the Opposition had overrun that position, capturing a few tanks. This is a big deal as up until now, the Opposition was trying to fight tanks and artillery with hand guns and AKs. It also means that 2-3 million civilians are no longer as trapped in the city where they were facing not only artillery and helicopter gunships, but food, water, and power shortages. There are still shortages, but the Opposition holds the road to Turkey which means supplies can get in and people can get out. 85 people died today in the fighting, 25 in Aleppo. Iran, Russia, and China continue to stand firm behind Assad's genocide.

* They have been sterilizing HIV positive women against their wills in Namibia. There are accusations it's also happening all over Southern Africa in other countries. You all know how I feel about forced sterilizations whether in this country or others. I believe in bodily autonomy and the right to decide what happens to and inside one's own body. It was wrong when we did it here, and it's wrong when they do it there.

* I see Romney is out making a foreign policy mess in Israel for no apparent reason, including one of his top advisers trying to start a war between Israel and Iran which we would have to fight in too, and Mitt Romney making racist statements about Palestinians which are now pissing off people all over the Middle east. I guess he thinks we need to spend a lot more blood and treasure on pointless imperialist wars in that region? Otherwise, why else would he be actively trying to provoke more anti-American feeling and armed conflict. Mitt Romney's Bushlike bad will tour of the world is turning out to be scary dangerous for the rest of us. If he can do this much damage to or National interests as a candidate, imagine the damage he could do if he were Commander and Chief!

* Also, why is Mitt Romney praising the Israeli socialized healthcare system for being cheap and efficient while he wants to deny US citizens the same?

* Even more on Republicans claiming them persecuting innocent individuals on the basis of vague and unfounded claims by a racist hate group is completely fair and reasonable and anyone who doesn't agree is a terrorist sympathizer: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/30/kth-gingrich-wants-muslim-brotherhood-infiltration-inquiry/?hpt=ac_mid

( Embed: )

* Republicans are cracking down on rape and incest survivors (Not the crimes or criminals, they are targeting the survivors to further punish them by taking away even more of their agency and control over what happens to their bodies): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#48409172

( Embed: )

* Remembering Thelma Glass, one of the Montgomery bus boycott organizers:

( Embed: )

* "The difference between bad things happening and being marginalized:" http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/07/the-difference-between-bad-things.html

* Thanks to oddmanrush for pointing me at this: "Zombies take on Westboro anti-LGBT protesters near Seattle:" http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/30/zombies-take-on-westboro-anti-lgbt-protesters-near-seattle/

* Anderson Cooper discovers a new piece of sexually suggestive exercise equipment that make the Shake weight look demure: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/30/ridiculist-pelvic-thrust-your-way-to-fitness/?hpt=ac_bn2

* ( Embed: )

* I went into my room last night and there were classic signs of struggle right out of a noir novel, complete with the phone upside down on the floor with the gandset off the hook. I don't know exactly what happened, but I can guess the broad outlines. I went to my room to feed Hector. LM was in there already so I gave her a pet too, and as she missed the morning treat distribution, I slipped her one. Hector, hearing a drawer open that might contain Zukes, came running. Mache, seeing Hector thought their may be treats came trotting after. I left the three of them in there alone, LM just having scarfed an illicit treat. Clearly some sort of quiet mayhem ensued.

* Today was one fail after another. First, Hector decided I only needed three hours sleep, at which point he howled me awake every 15-20 minutes from then one. As a result, I cancelled by first errand, as my function level was low and cutting an extra hour and a half of standing and walking was suddenly a must. I messed up my meds schedule, so imagine the whole rest of the day involving nausea. Then the cats slowed my whole getting out the door thing, which would have been fine if I'd skipped picking up my meds, or they hadn't shortened hours of operation at the government office I needed to visit by an hour. I then headed towards my back up plan for getting the documents copied as I had to turn copies in at a different office also and could double copy there, then night deposit the other set. Except a scary warning light came on in the car. Luckily, I had enough on my credit card for a quick fix. (I now need to budget longer term fixes for two things into next months budget. This and traffic congestion turned what should have been 45 minutes at the other office into ten minutes, which was of course about half the time I needed. Remember how scheduling was super tight for me getting everything done by the 6th? How things had to happen in exactly the right order? Yeah, this not only messed up today's bureaucracy, but the next two steps on the chain. Fingers crossed that it will all work out from here on in.

* Meanwhile, my apartment complex is getting power washed starting Wednesday and painted throughout August. This means no day parking in our spot, luckily not for the whole period, but only this week and the week we are being painted. Unluckily, there is almost no spare parking. It also means I have to bring in all the plants. I need to buy planters and did up the garden, preferably by Thursday. The money I could have used to buy more planters just went into fixing my car. There will be no new money until Friday. *facepalm*

* It turns out the metae corys are better than the pandas, given the common area configuration. Pandas are pygmys, so would be harder to see from my office area. While I can't see the whole tank, I can see most of it, and it makes me happy to watch them swimming about in there.

* "Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch Breaks His Silence on CBS' Elementary: 'I'd Be Frightened':" http://tvline.com/2012/07/29/benedict-cumberbatch-elementary-cbs/